South Birmingham College’s new Fusion Centre on Digbeth High Street

Outside the Fusion Centre

South Birmingham College have sent me some information about their new Fusion Centre on Digbeth High Street, which has rejuvenated what was two run-down car dealership buildings to make a new creative centre for students at the College.

The two former Mercedes dealerships on the corner of Digbeth High Street and Coventry Street have been empty for the past four years and were rapidly becoming a blot on the Digbeth landscape.

The College has taken a five year lease on the two car show rooms and spent thousands on converting them into the Fusion Centre. The centre, which opened to students in September, now houses fashion and textiles, hairdressing and barbering and performance arts courses.

Entrance and reception area

The new centre boasts floor to ceiling windows looking out onto Digbeth High Street, providing a bright and airy space for students, but also allowing people passing by see what is happening inside. In addition, the new reception area includes a Costa Coffee shop which is open to the public, and an area where students on fashion and textiles courses can display and sell their items.

We can add this new Costa Coffee to the ever-growing list of places to get a good cup of coffee in Digbeth, the others being:

• Eastside Cafe, Coventry Street
• Yumm Deli in the Custard Factory
• Fazeley Social in Fazeley Studios
• Starbucks in Birmingham Coach Station

Is there anywhere else?

Also, I’ve asked South Birmingham College’s PR and Marketing Officer about when/if our missing Melox Marvels Dog Biscuits sign on Milk Street might be coming back, and was told:

We are still open for enrolment so the sign will stay covered for a bit longer, but it will be back I am promised!

So that’s a relief!