Birmingham’s local services: who’s where

Birmingham’s second city status means the local business scene is properly deep. Harborne, Quinton, Bearwood, Edgbaston, Deritend, Sparkbrook – each one has its own concentration of trades and shops, and the directory covers all of it.

Around 480 Birmingham businesses are currently listed on WotsItCalled, heavy on Harborne, Quinton, Bearwood and Edgbaston. You can see everything listed in Birmingham on one page, or drill down by category below.

The local trades you’ll actually need

Birmingham’s trades scene is dense across the west-side suburbs. Quinton and Harborne have a disproportionate share of the listed electricians and plumbers, with Bearwood and Edgbaston filling in the rest. Deritend picks up more of the central commercial and workshop work.

Birmingham trades vary wildly in quality, and the gap between the reviewed firms and the non-reviewed cowboys is bigger here than in most cities. Stick to listings with real review counts, ask for Gas Safe numbers up front on boiler work, and always get quotes in writing before anyone starts.

• Plumbers – 18 Birmingham plumbers listed covering everything from boiler swaps to emergency call-outs. BDS Services handles both plumbing and air con installs.
• Electricians – 18 Birmingham electricians. ELECSAN LTD in Quinton is the standout by review count – one of the most-reviewed domestic sparks on the directory.
• Car mechanics – Birmingham garages. J C Motors and A D H Automotive in Deritend both pick up strong reviews for MOTs and servicing.
• Builders – Birmingham builders. Euro Housing Builders in Harborne is worth a look for extensions, and the Federation Of Master Builders listing is a good vetting start.

Birmingham’s size means you’ll almost always find someone local. If your first three calls go to voicemail, the category pages usually list another dozen options in the same postcode area.

Where to eat, drink, and grab a coffee

Birmingham’s food scene goes well beyond balti. The directory covers everything from the long-established curry houses to new cafes in Harborne and Edgbaston, plus a proper showing of pubs that still serve food until 9pm without charging sourdough prices.

Beyond the city-centre eating districts, Harborne, Kings Heath, Stirchley and Moseley all have their own independent food scenes that deserve proper exploration. The directory covers the neighbourhood version of Birmingham eating, which is often the best version.

• Restaurants – Birmingham restaurants including Keyih Bahri Restaurant for Eritrean food.
• Cafes and coffee shops – Birmingham cafes including Haven Centre PAYF Cafe and The Coffee Bar Collective.
• Pubs and bars – 18 Birmingham pubs and bars. The Flapper is one of the city’s best-known indie venues; THE BUG AND BARREL is another.
• Takeaways – Birmingham takeaways across every postcode.

Hair, beauty, health, and wellbeing

Birmingham has one of the highest numbers of listed beauty salons in the directory – 19 and counting. Harborne, Quinton and Greet all have multiple options, and the barber and hairdresser scene is just as well covered. Dentists and gyms round out the health side.

Birmingham’s dental and aesthetic clinic density is one of the highest in the country – partly because the city’s catchment pulls from across the Midlands. Worth shopping around on price for cosmetic work; variation between clinics can be significant for the same treatment.

• Hairdressers and barbers – Birmingham salons and barbers. Strand & Lock in Deritend is the standout for modern cuts and colour.
• Beauty salons – 19 Birmingham beauty salons listed. FOZIA’S HAIR AND BEAUTY in Greet is one of the top-rated.
• Dentists – Birmingham dentists including Teeth & Face for cosmetic work.
• Gyms – Birmingham gyms. The Pit Gym in the Jewellery Quarter and Jolene Speake Personal Training in Harborne are both well-reviewed.

Professional services

Birmingham’s professional services density is basically a given – the business centre of the Midlands needs solicitors, accountants and estate agents in volume. Quinton, Harborne and Edgbaston have the strongest concentrations of independents.

For small business work, the independent Birmingham accountants listed tend to be more flexible on fixed-fee pricing than the larger city-centre firms. Particularly worth a look if you’re a sole trader or running a small limited company.

• Solicitors – Birmingham solicitors including ASL Solicitors & Advocates.
• Accountants – Birmingham accountants. TaxAssist Accountants in Quinton is one of the most-reviewed on the directory.
• Estate agents – Birmingham estate agents. Humberstones Homes in Quinton is a strong local independent.

What’s changed lately

Birmingham’s business scene is always turning over. Harborne and the Jewellery Quarter have picked up a wave of new independent cafes, bars and salons over the past couple of years, and the wider suburbs keep adding trades and services at a steady rate. New listings go up almost daily across the directory.

If you know a Birmingham business that should be on here and isn’t, it’ll almost certainly get added – usually within a few days of someone flagging it. No charge, no signup, no catch. The directory only works because people actually use it.

The short version

• Around 480 Birmingham businesses listed, weighted toward the west side.
• Harborne, Quinton, Bearwood and Edgbaston are the densest areas on the directory.
• 19 beauty salons listed – the joint-largest category.
• Pubs, florists and electricians all tie at 18-19 – properly deep coverage.
• Every listing links through to a real phone number. No account needed to see them.

WotsItCalled is a free UK business directory. No signup, no catch. Browse everything listed in Birmingham, or find the place everyone’s on about.