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The Away End

Championship away supporters' handbook

Away-day planner

St Andrew's, Birmingham

Everything an away end needs at St Andrew's — the route, the safe pub, and the detour worth making. Built around the full 2026–27 Championship fixture list with local event and transport alerts.

Full Birmingham guide

Selected date

Fri 1 Jan

15:00 · v Portsmouth

Ground

St Andrew's

Capacity 29,409

Away end

Gil Merrick Lower

approx. 3,000

Travel

Bordesley (or Birmingham New Street)

5 min from Bordesley, 25 min from New Street

2026–27 at Birmingham

Home fixtures

Your matchday card

Birmingham v Portsmouth

Friday, 1 January 2027 · 15:00 · St Andrew's

Kick-off 15:00
Drive to the groundWalk from Bordesley (or Birmingham New Street)

  • Leave home

    3h journey each way

    09:30

  • Pub / food

    Time for a pint and a bite

    12:30

  • At the ground

    Beat the turnstile queues

    14:00

  • In your seat

    Warm-up and team news

    14:40

Times are a guide from the published kick-off — always allow extra for engineering works and matchday road closures.

Stylised illustration of St Andrew's in Birmingham
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Getting there

  • Bordesley station — Two stops from Moor Street but a limited matchday service — most away fans walk from the city centre.
  • Walk from New Street — 25 minutes via Digbeth and Coventry Road; well-signed and busy with fans on both sides.
  • Parking — Street parking east of the ground is heavily permit-controlled; use the Digbeth or Bullring car parks and walk.
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Safe away spots

  • Digbeth food halls — Neutral, spacious and 20 minutes from the ground — the safest pre-match option for a group in colours. Map
  • Coventry Road cafés — Excellent Balti-belt curry houses, most open from midday and used to matchday crowds. Map
  • Ground concourse — Basic pies and Bovril; queues are heavy from 14:30 so go early or eat before. Map
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Worth the detour

Stylised illustration of Custard Factory, Digbeth

Custard Factory, Digbeth

Street art, record shops and independent bars in the old Bird's works.

Open in maps
Stylised illustration of Birmingham Back to Backs

Birmingham Back to Backs

National Trust courtyard houses; pre-booked timed tours only.

Open in maps
Stylised illustration of Gas Street Basin

Gas Street Basin

Canal-side walk from the centre, 10 minutes from New Street.

Open in maps
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Off the beaten track

Lower-profile pubs, cafés and corners the locals keep to themselves.

  • The Anchor, Digbeth

    Grade II Victorian corner pub with a huge cask range; quiet at lunchtime and welcoming to travelling fans.

    Open in maps

  • Warwick Bar & Grand Union canal walk

    A towpath loop behind Digbeth that almost nobody uses — 15 minutes of calm before the ground.

    Open in maps

  • Cafe Artum, Hockley

    Record shop and espresso bar in the Jewellery Quarter; good coffee before the tram down.

    Open in maps

Transport alert

New Year services

A reduced Sunday-style timetable applies on 1 and 2 January, with the last trains home unusually early.

Ground note

Away fans are asked to use the Cattell Road approach; police often close Garrison Lane before kick-off.

Ground note

Colours are discouraged in the streets immediately around the ground.

What the day will cost

Rough guide for a trip to Birmingham

Rough advance return fare per person

  • Travel£53
  • Away ticket£30
  • Drinks (3 pints)£16
  • Food on the day£14

Each person

£112

Group of 2

£225

Estimates only — fuel at 16p a mile, pints at £5.20, and walk-up rail fares can be far higher than advance singles.

Before you set off

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