Society Birmingham
BAD RECEPTION
Back in June, the news of Hockley Social Club’s closure dropped like a bomb. As an offshoot of Digbeth Dining Club—that introduced the ‘street food venue’ to Brummies in 2012—you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just a fashion that’s run its course.
But, just three months on, the evidence now points to it simply being the victim of its own success, with impersonators having already moved into the space it’s yet to fully vacate. Now re-imagined as ‘food halls with independent kitchens’.
Society Birmingham
Society sits on the outskirts of the city centre (nearer the Children’s Hospital than the Bullring); it’s a big space too—about ¾ of the size of Hockley Social Club—making it all the more notable that it’s busy at 6 o’clock on a Thursday. It would seem, the concept is very much alive and kicking.
It’s a communal bench table seating set up, with the food offer provided by five independent kitchens; The Coffee Bar Collective, Moseley’s Amore Pizzeria, ‘Asian cooking inspired’ Manzoku, Shokupan’s ‘Japanese milk bread sandos’ and Leeds-based burger franchise, Slap & Pickle.
Society Birmingham
It’s just as well, you can order at each counter, as well as through a QR code, as we’re all struggling to get decent reception… has 3G always been this bad? It’s hard to believe it was cutting edge once.
Pepperoni pizza from That’s Amore
Between the four of us we’ve got two 7/10 pizzas, Calabrese (£14) and Pepperoni (£14); 5/10 sticky teriyaki wings (£10); and 4/10 sriracha fries (£5).
Sticky teriyaki wings and sriracha fries from Manzoku
But, the most disappointing of all is the gristle-loaded ‘Reuben’ (£14.95) with bread cut too thick (yes, I know it’s meant to be like that) but it suffocates any flavour. 3/10 is generous, there are better supermarket sandwich equivalents.
‘Reuben’ from Shokupan
Away from the lively bar area, it’s got the ‘charm’ of a motorway service station, whilst being much less comfortable. It’s definitely not a place we wanted to hang around once we’d finished our pints; the one we bought on arrival.
It’s got the feel of a corporate imagined ‘street food’ / ‘independent kitchen’ space, pushing fashion into the mainstream. What a shame it’s as a fully 3G experience.
One, Colmore Square, Birmingham B4 6AA
25/09/25
