After concerns over anti-social behaviour and drug abuse on one of Birmingham’s busiest routes, we walked the mile-long strip to see the challenges, and positives, first-hand
06:30, 17 Aug 2025Updated 18:18, 18 Aug 2025
Three men slump in a bus shelter, rambling and swigging from beer cans. Across the street, a stumbling group shout in disagreement, drinks in one hand, cigarettes in another.
It’s a sight more fitting of a Saturday night on Broad Street. Sadly, this is the reality at 9am on a Tuesday morning in one of Birmingham’s busiest high streets.
Here on Soho Road, Handsworth, the spiralling problem of alcohol and drug abuse is only getting worse. In a concerning video, up to six people were seen passed out in the street amid a ‘bad batch of black mamba’.
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Though an arterial route through the city, it’s one that’s now synonymous with prostitution, anti-social behaviour and lately, the “huge boom” of exempt housing. Locals have become scared to shop there, and some now even want to move from the area they’ve called home for decades.
But behind the scenes are those who are here to stay, a community that’s fighting to survive in an increasingly challenging climate.
We took a walk along the busy mile-long strip with resident and community activist, Shuranjeet Singh, to hear the real story of Soho Road as locals battle for a brighter future.
With every new betting shop, or new exempt housing that’s approved for the area, there’s another that was rejected thanks to those residents who fought back, he points out.
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As we walk along, the main issue of drink and drugs is impossible to miss. Most bus shelters we pass are occupied with intoxicated men huddled under cover. Those awake enough to move make their presence known by shouting aggressively at one another.
“This is the kind of mild peril we’re seeing intensify,” Mr Singh explains as we begin the walking tour. “Bus stops that should be shelters are now used by people who are incredibly intoxicated.
“That in itself, particularly for elderly women, is enough to not feel as safe stood in close proximity.
Shuranjeet Singh is optimistic about the future of Soho Road, citing the many new businesses opening(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
“I speak to people who want to come spend time on their high street, but don’t feel safe making their way here or while they’re there. But so many communities are still fighting which gives me a lot of hope and energy.
So much work goes on behind the scenes to improve the area, he says, but unfortunately a recent project adding artwork to each bus shelters has only helped to hide the anti-social behaviour going on inside them.
“I helped out and designed all of them, then you find out what it means in reality, police then can’t see what’s going on behind them,” he says.
Bus stop with decoration designed by the community – however it now obscures anti social behaviour.(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
An area steeped in history, Handsworth is full of beautiful, five or six bed Victorian homes. However, as more residents move out, more of these are fast becoming HMOs and exempt accommodations.
“With a dwindling perception of the area, people want to move out but don’t want to sell their properties, and families don’t want to move in, so it’s a bit of a spiral,” he adds.
Despite the problems, Mr Singh stresses that new businesses are choosing to open up here in an area boasting one of the city’s most diverse food scenes.
Via Delhi, Bocadias and Arya are just a handful of the new places to pop up in the street. In any other area, he argues empty shops would stay derelict, bringing down the appearance.
Here however, each time a shop closes up to 20 enquiries will flood in to occupy the space. Shops that have been open since the late 70s are still going too.
The old Red Lion building, which would otherwise be derelict, was revived as an open café and market(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
As we talk about up and coming businesses, a man with a beer can behind us shouts in the street about prison fights – such is the bizzare complexity of Soho Road.
“When people talk about opening up opportunities, this has been that space for the last 70 years and it still is. People are so innovative, industrious,” he continues.
“The fascinating paradox of Soho Road is that there are challenges, but it’s still seen as a place of opportunity.
Shuranjeet Singh Says Handsworth Is The Best Place For Food In Birmingham
“Handsworth is just a historically very unique place, it’s somewhere many have come to make their home when they’ve just moved to the country – with that came a lot of community work and organising.
“In the 70s it wasn’t a particularly transient place, that’s changed a lot in 15 years. It was somewhere people saw their future, but sadly now I don’t think a lot see their future here.”
Mr Singh, born and bred in Handsworth, chose to return to the area after University while his friends moved out to work in London.
“I wanted to build where my roots are. My family are all within a ten minute walk of this point,” he explains.
Several pieces of artwork have been created in Soho Road to improve the area and celebrate its culture (Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
“It’s one of the most thriving places in the city, you only have to look down and see. We have eight places of worship, but then there’s also six or seven bookies and that doesn’t look towards an optimistic future, that doesn’t make us feel excited, it’s a bit of a negative stamp on the local map.
“You have people who really like their area, but they’re almost going through boxing rounds, one they’ve just been battered, another they’ve won.”
The building housing Monga’s, a bridal shop, was due to become yet another betting shop. But thanks to the community, it was rejected and it instead now houses the bespoke store. “It’s a really good example of what could have been vs. what is,” he comments.
Monga’s, which would have become a bookies if it wasn’t for the community voicing concerns (Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
Bill House which is up for sale apparently at £3.5m. The community is currently fighting for it to be transformed(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
Locals, alongside police, are also battling another application for an aparthotel near to primary schools and a nursery. There are already problems with drunks being abusive towards parents picking up their kids, he says.
“There are businesses and community organisations offering opportunities, but then in the middle of that, we have issues with waste, housing related issues, and crime and anti-social behaviour,” he added.
“Everywhere has their challenges, but there are so many amazing things that are being done. There’s this sense of warmth here.
“There are things that happen behind the scenes, but really communities are doing so much to bring the place up. There’s so much civic pride here, but there’s a limit, and I worry we’ll reach that. To rebuild civic pride is very difficult.”