Lunar New Year: Chinatown & the Gay Village, a shared history

In many cities across the UK – including in Liverpool, London’s Soho area, and of course Birmingham – both Chinatown and the Gay Village (or acknowledged queer areas) often sit side by side but how did they come to share these areas, and what of their shared histories? In celebration of Lunar New Year, we're exploring the connection shared between Chinatown and the Gay Village in Birmingham.

 “Chinese restaurants began to open the late 1950s, with the start of mass immigration from Hong Kong and southern China," Julia Robinson, Southside District Manager tells Midlands Rainbow. “The Tung Kong in Holloway Head opened in 1957 and Yeung Shing in Horsefair opened in 1958. The oldest restaurant still trading is Chung Ying Cantonese on Ladywell Walk; this restaurant opened in 1981 and is still in the same family ownership today.”

The area naturally grew throughout the 1960s and 1970s as immigrants continued to flock to the Southside. The area wasn’t officially recognised until the 1980s at which point it was dubbed the ‘Chinese Quarter’ reportedly to mimic the French ‘quartier’ system despite the fact that Chinese speakers had always referred to the area as Chinatown. The area was finally renamed Birmingham Chinatown at an official ceremony in 2024.

“Where Chinatown is currently based has always been a poorer part of the city, traditionally occupied with industry and 'back to back' housing. Wrottesley St, now packed with East Asian businesses, was once home to a synagogue. When Irish people came to Birmingham to work they settled nearby in Greens Village on Hill St. Our Southside District has always been the home for immigrants in Birmingham probably because property was cheaper than in other parts of the city,” explains Julia Robinson.

At the same time as migrants from East Asia were moving into the Southside District area of Birmingham, so too were LGBTQ+ people.

“In 1967, the Nightingale opened as a private members club, during its life it has had two Southside addresses, Thorp St and now Kent Street. We think the oldest gay bar might be the Jester. Previously known as The Court Jester, the building was put up in 1964, when the Inner Ring Road was undergoing development, and it became popular in the 1970s with the LGBT+ community, and this intensified until the late 1990s, when its popularity had fallen due to competition from newer bars in the village.

The Nightingale now on Kent Street ©Catherine Muxworthy

“It was the Jester and the Nightingale which bought the LGBTQ community to the Gay Village area, and the plethora of inexpensive property and a lack of residential units (in the 1950s-70s all the 'Back to Back' housing was demolished) made the area well suited for late-night businesses. Plus, this area has always been known for inclusivity and we feel the LGBTQ community understood this and thus felt safer here than elsewhere.

It is hypothesized that the East Asian diaspora and LGBTQ+ people in cities such as Birmingham, therefore had shared needs that overlapped during their timelines. Firstly, both communities sought areas that were inexpensive and therefore accessible. Secondly, both communities needed a ‘home’ that was close enough to the centre too; in the case of Chinese and East Asian migrants, this was so that they could trade and be commercially connected to the city centre. While for LGBTQ+ people, there was a need to be out of the way enough to feel ‘safe’ but also close enough to the centre that if someone was seen walking through the area there was plausible deniability, if needed. 

During the early part of their shared history, the two communities had little to no contact. However, with the introduction of Southside BID in 2011, they have actively been bought together.

 Pagoda lit up red ©Southside District

In recent years we have seen a supportive connection between the two communities, including in physical representations such as the Chinese Dragon dancers at the unveiling of the HIV memorial, and the Pagoda lit up in rainbow colours celebrating pride.

“These two communities, who whilst suffering marginalisation, are both very capable of great economic and cultural impact and thus tend to gravitate together naturally. This does not mean the communities blend, they often exist in isolation from each other” explains Julia, “That’s why Southside BID has been so important in bringing these communities together for greater mutual understanding. Pride and Chinese New Year festivals are great examples of this.

“Because we live and work side by side and we have so much in common with one another if we understand ourselves better. Together we are stronger and can affect more positive change, united under a banner of universal acceptance.”

Lunar New Year will be celebrated in Southside District on Saturday 1st February and Sunday 2nd February. Taking over Hippodrome Square, the celebrations will include a market, fairground rides, stage shows, lion dancing and a fireworks finale on Sunday at 5pm.