Birmingham Broad Street's unsung heroes

Mar 13 2009 by William Oliphant, Birmingham Mail

Best Manager went to Trina Jones, from The Rep Theatre, while the prize for Broad Street’s best food went to the Hyatt Hotel’s Brett Sandland, who was awarded the prize for Best Chef.

Listeners to BRMB voted Gatecrasher as the street’s Best Bar.

The newly-opened venue picked up the most awards of the night by also scooping Best New Bar and Best Overall Venue, a prize voted for by Birmingham Mail readers and presented by editor Steve Dyson.

Best independent bar was picked up by Oh Velvet, now in its fourth year of business. Best Restaurant went to Edmunds.

Best International Restaurant went to Cielo and in the Casual Dining category Nando’s picked up the award again from Steve Dyson.

The 1970s and 80s venues Reflex and Flares picked up the prizes for Best Themed Venue, with Reflex coming in first and Flares second.

Top hotel on Broad Street went to the Crowne Plaza and Best Newcomer to the street went to Gatecrasher.

The Ritchie Award for Outstanding Contribution went to actor and director Ian Thompson, from The Crescent Theatre.

Joint Broad Street Awards for Excellence went to Jerry Thompson, from City Centre Management, along with Tom Watkins, a stalwart at Broad Street’s Cineworld cinema.

Best Arts and Entertainment Venue, as voted for by Birmingham Post readers, went to the Rep Theatre.

Students at Birmingham University named I Love Risa! at Bar Risa the Best Student Night Out in Broad Street.

Broad Street manager Mike Olley said: “In the last five years Broad Street has turned into a true international centre.

“It’s the businesses working together with other centres of excellence that has led to the dramatic improvement over the area in that time.

“This event is just one of the things we do to put Broad Street on the map.”