So today my friends I’d like to introduce you to a veritable phoenix, after adopting several guises over the years, then fighting a losing battle during lockdown, I am at The Flapper, a pub and live music venue in Birmingham.
Tucked away neatly at the end of Kingston Row, at first sight the exterior is inviting, clean and sturdy. Looking from the canalside, the elevation is stunning, very eye-catching, and interesting. Inside there are two levels, the gig section is downstairs with its own bar.
It has many plus points, among them being dog friendly, there were a few pooches having as mooch too, as The Flapper hosted a Christmas Market, to share the return to some sort of normality for businesses. It has been an incredibly stressful time for tenant Sam Campbell-Whyte, a generous and good-natured lady who is happy to have a brief chat about her work. She has been renting this pub for the last fifteen years, it has been a tumultuous time to say the least, you can feel the passion, the drive in her voice and also the despondency that the pandemic had brought to her door. It is the hope for a better time and the love for the venue that has kept the wheels rolling on this venture. The Christmas Market was a way to give back to the community, a chance for ‘independents to support independents’ and help everyone back on their feet. A beautiful message that will resonate with many people; an ethos that is inclusive, non-judgemental, and fulfilling. There were acoustic sets during the day, local musician Christie Reeves, soothed my sore ears gently with some pretty decent covers, she reminded me of Julianne Regan, all dusky and ethereally Gothic. Also present was local food hero Laura of Bite Your Brum, the principal authority on all things food and drink related, wearing her heart on her sleeve. It takes a special person to shower praise on an issue but then also not be afraid to offer balanced and sensible advice when things are not going well. The customers milled around, enjoying a drink and inspecting the array of goods the traders had on display. It was an afternoon of mingling and jingling of the tills, a lovely way to introduce and educate people who otherwise may never realise what energy and vibrancy the local area has to offer.
The venue itself is cosy, ideal for upcoming talent and intimate gigs, but I’m sure a satisfying mosh can be arranged on demand. It is strategically positioned on the cut; You get the best of both worlds, a bustling beer garden, canalside seating areas in the summer months, gleaming in the wall-to-wall sunshine. In the winter you could spend some time, cradling a drink or seven – ahem, hiccup – and watching the fresh snow fall and the icy particles glistening in the winter sun.
I’ve got everything crossed for the future success of this place, it really is a beauty, so if you find yourself in town, no need to get in a flap, you can expect a warm welcome at this waterside watering hole.
Azra Pathan
The Flapper – Kingston Row, Cambrian Wharf, Birmingham B1 2NU on Sunday 27th November