Credit: Cold War Steve
If you don’t know the name Cold War Steve, you probably know his work: The Brummie artist rose to Twitter fame thanks to his satirical, surrealist collages capturing the British mood. IRL, he’s now unveiled a forthcoming mural featuring figures from Birmingham’s legacy.
Set against a black-and-white photograph of 1960s Birmingham, Cold War Steve (real name Christopher Spencer) depicts local musicians like Mist, Fleur Shore, Dapz on the Map, Lotto Boyzz, Mike Skinner, Preditah, Lady Leshurr and Jaykae—representing genres from bhangra and grime to techno, rap and drum & bass—in his signature style. Plus, legends in other fields like Joe Lycett, Glynn Purnell and Alison Hammond.
To see this bespoke mural firsthand, you’ll have to head down to Birmingham’s new 9,000 sq ft food hall, where it will be permanently displayed at the heart of the venue. Society is set to open its doors in One Colmore Square on Friday, September 5, bringing together five independent kitchens, a taproom, and a dedicated cocktail bar under one roof.
Cold War Steve said, “I’ve really enjoyed working on something special for Society. It’s great to collaborate with new businesses joining the city and I love the idea of the mural being part of such a social space. As a new and very inclusive venue I wanted the artwork to shine a light on Birmingham’s younger, more diverse cultural greats and the resulting piece explodes with the colour of multicultural splendour.”
What is Society Birmingham? 
Credit: Society
Described as “more than just a food hall”, epeect Society Birmingham to be your new favourite hangout—whether it’s for weekday lunches, post-work drinks or weekend feasts. Set to host a mix of street food, craft beer, and DJs, the stripped-back community space has room for over 350 guests, too.
The first food traders, including: Birmingham’s Japanese ‘sando’ shop, Shokupan; traditional Neapolitan-style pizzeria, Amore Pizza; dry-aged smash burgers and loaded fries from Slap & Pickle; and Manzoku, serving pan-Asian street food-style dishes like katsu curry and Korean fried chicken wings.
Meanwhile, the Society bar will be the centrepiece within the space, where guests can expect one of “the largest selection of beers in the city” with thirty-six lines of the world’s best craft beer, including local breweries like Attic and Glasshouse. Plus, low-intervention and natural wines, as well as classic and in–house cocktails.
Nick Gregory, co-founder of Society, said: “Society isn’t just about incredible food and drink – it’s about a whole experience, including music and culture, and it’s about reflecting the cities we’re part of. Birmingham has such a rich cultural identity, and working with Cold War Steve to create something that celebrates that has been a dream.”
The Cold War Steve mural will be unveiled to the public on Friday, September 5, to coincide with Society Birmingham’s official launch.