The RoadHouse

Situated just up the hill from Stirchley High Street, The Roadhouse — Patrick Swayze-​free — is a venue easily missed by passersby. However once you can find the entrance, this music and comedy venue feels like one of Birmingham’s best kept secrets that you’ve just been let in on.
Recently playing host to music event Glastonbudget, The Roadhouse attracts a variety of rock and metal tribute acts like High On Maiden and Born To Be Jovi at prices of less than £10 a ticket. Alongside established music acts in the big room, the venue also offers several open mic and comedy nights which are used to showcase local talent. Monday nights are a strict music or comedy night whilst Tuesdays offer a mixture of comedy and poetry acts.
Staff and locals are welcoming and there is a large car park for designated drivers. The Roadhouse is somewhere to go for a drink, a laugh or a head bang, you can even try all three at the same time.

Tucked away at the end of Stirchley in a location you cannot see from the main road, neighboured by a canal and a venue for children’s parties, you cannot help but wonder how The Roadhouse has managed to exist for so long as a venue. I played here with one of my old bands about seven years ago and it seemed to have been around for ever then.
My sporadic visits since have revealed The Roadhouse to be a friendly enough venue with the ambience set to old school/​biker. A good sound system and a fairly standard but well priced bar make this a good place to see a band. The schedule seems to consist of a mix of up and coming indie/​rock acts and tribute acts of classic rock bands with acoustic nights on a thursday.
They also offer music tuition services but I can’t comment on these as I haven’t had need to use them. The venue side of the business I can recommend, providing the style of act playing that night is to your tastes.

The Roadhouse is a nice petite venue secluded and hidden away from public view, yet runs alongside of a wide canal which sets a nice scenery for any gigs being held on a warm summer’s day. As a frequent visitor and member of the audience for several gigs I would extremely recommend and encourage up and coming artists to organise a few nights at The Roadhouse as the stage is spacious enough for a five-​member band. The sound-​checks made there a very thorough for your reassurance of an enhanced performance and the lighting that is provided has various settings to your preference. Whist waiting for bands to begin the Roadhouse provides a capacious bar room that serves popular spirits and snacks for your refreshment. I would say to bring plenty of change if you are planning on consuming beverages at the Roadhouse as they don’t provide a debit or credit card service.

This venue is part of the newly revived and thriving Birmingham (Brum) scene. Entrance is cheap, usually only a few quid, and the drinks are student prices, which is fortunate considering most of the clients.
This venue is big on Folk, acoustic and rock. A place to check out the local talent in all it’s various forms.
The doormen are laid back and friendly. The staff rather new wave and hippy nice.
A good laid back venue for a chilled out evening.
Tune in and tune out.