Best Small Businesses in Birmingham

Birmingham’s entrepreneurial spirit makes it a hub of small businesses, started in Brum itself. Whether you're a foodie, a bibliophile, a coffee connoisseur, or a crate digger, you'll find a diverse and supportive community here. Starting a small business is never easy, but with over a million people passionate about preserving local identity and culture, Birmingham offers a promising environment for independent ventures. 

If you’re all about supporting local businesses, catch a train to Birmingham New Street as we explore some of our favourite independent shops, restaurants, and coffee spots in the city. Shoppers can reach the city by train from lots of locations across the UK with CrossCountry, including Manchester Piccadilly, Leicester, and Cardiff Central. 

Best Independent Shops in Birmingham

Birmingham is full of small shops ready to welcome customers. One of the reasons that we love shopping with small businesses so much is the care they put into creating relationships around the community and encouraging a positive buzz. If you have a good experience at any of these shops, consider leaving a good review for them, as it can be much more impactful for a business just starting out. 

The Clean Kilo

A multi-award-winning business, The Clean Kilo is one of the largest zero-waste supermarkets in the UK. Their aim is to sell plastic-free products, source food locally, and reduce food waste. You can buy all your essentials in-store or online and bring your own containers to fill up again and again. 

In addition to groceries, customers can also purchase environmentally friendly cleaning products, garden seeds, and hampers that are perfect for gifting. Their Bournville branch can be accessed by train with an alternative provider from Birmingham New Street. 

The Swordfish Records

Since 1979, Swordfish Records has been a go-to spot for vinyl lovers across the city. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting your journey, you'll find plenty to explore - along with some great conversation from true music aficionados. Prefer to pop in your earphones and lose yourself in the crates? However you like to appreciate music, you can spend hours doing just that at Swordfish Records. 

Located on Dalton Street in the city centre, Swordfish is packed with new and used vinyl, making it the perfect place to expand your collection. It’s a ten-minute walk from Birmingham New Street. 

Bear Bookshop

Located in Bearwood, Bear Bookshop is a magical place to take your little ones, where they understand the importance of learning and loving reading from an early age. This relaxing, family-friendly space was founded by a mother of three children with the hope of creating an alternative to online shopping - a place where connections can be formed between children, parents, and guardians. Today, the little shop stands as a pillar of the Bearwood community and is a must-visit if you’re looking for family-friendly activities in Birmingham. 

Alongside a wealth of established and upcoming authors to explore, Bear Bookshops also holds regular events for families, including musical storytime events and stay-and-play sessions, as well as evening book clubs for adults. The bookshop is a little further out, from Birmingham New Street, you can catch the metro to Edgbaston Village and then it’s a short bus ride to your destination. 

The Jungle Club

The Jungle Club is an independent shop in Birmingham filled to the brim with foliage. From cacti and succulents to terrariums and houseplants, The Jungle Club is a one-stop shop for your home and workplace plants. 

They also hold terrarium workshops where you can create your own self-contained ecosystem. Terrariums can last many years, and it’s thought that they can reduce stress levels and improve your mood so it will certainly be an afternoon well spent. The Jungle Club is located in Moseley, and you can reach it in just over twenty-minutes by bus from Birmingham New Street. 

Best Independent Restaurants in Birmingham 

There are plenty of ways to support local restaurants beyond enjoying a meal there. Many restaurants now offer merch so you can wear your support on a T-shirt or a tote bag. Additionally, gift vouchers are becoming increasingly popular, making for a unique present idea. 

Chance & Counters

Chance & Counters is a café with over six hundred board games and a range of excellent food. For a very affordable hourly fee, you can have access to seemingly endless shelves of games, from classics and party games to strategy and role-playing. They also hold events where you can get to know specific board games and social gaming nights where you can meet new friends. In terms of food, they’ve got you covered with burgers, loaded fries, chilli, and plenty more deliciously comforting options. 

Chance & Counters is located by the River Rea, within Custard Factory, a fifteen-minute walk from Birmingham New Street. 

The Oyster Club

The Oyster Club by Adam Stokes brings the luxurious taste of fresh oysters inland. Diners can often enjoy amazing deals on English oysters during happy hour with a range of dressings, including ginger, chilli & soy and garlic butter & gruyere. Plus, if you want to try one of the fanciest delicacies out there, The Oyster Club also serve Exmoor, Oscietta, and Beluga caviar with crème fraîche and Blinis. 

For a truly opulent dining experience, head to Oyster Club on Temple Street, a four-minute walk from Birmingham New Street. 

Vietnamese Street Kitchen

Vietnamese Street Kitchen (VSK) is a family-run restaurant with a passion for home cooking and authentic Vietnamese cuisine. With a vegan, halal, and gluten-free menu, VSK is a must-visit for inclusive and sensational flavours. Their bowls of pho are a particular favourite, served with fresh herbs and a beef or vegan broth. 

Look out for the menu items labelled grandma’s recipe, like their traditional spring rolls or Bun Cha Ha Noi, a rice noodle dish with king prawn meatballs. These will give you a truly elevated taste of home cooking in Vietnam. VSK has three locations: one in the Bullring Shopping Centre and two in Resorts World near Birmingham International Airport. 

Best Independent Coffee Shops in Birmingham 

Many independent businesses in Birmingham and beyond appreciate the importance of uplifting others, that’s why you’ll often find cafés showcasing locally sourced produce. That means with a visit to one independent coffee shop, you could also be supporting local coffee roasters, bakers, and more. 

Pause Coffee Shop and Bakery

Pause Coffee is located in Kings Heath and they’re passionate about truly good coffee. An asset to the neighbourhood, they’ve cultivated a warm, welcoming atmosphere where visitors can take a moment to relax. Plus, their cakes are to die for and have been thoughtfully baked with the best recipes available. 

Pause has an online shop, where you can order pastries, birthday cakes, ceramics, and coffee essentials. They also offer 1:1 coffee classes where you can learn to brew coffee like a pro. 

Faculty Coffee

Faculty Coffee is an independently owned coffee shop that impresses just as much with its friendly customer service as with its high-quality coffee. With a range of treats made in their in-house bakery, this cosy coffee shop with an industrial vibe is the perfect place to visit to try new and exciting coffee beans from roasteries around the world. 

Faculty Coffee is located in Piccadilly Arcade, a two-minute walk from Birmingham New Street. 

If you’re planning to visit a Birmingham local business, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.