While Birmingham's famous Frankfurt Christmas Market fills the city centre with the familiar scents of gluhwein and bratwurst, a strikingly different festive experience is emerging just a stone's throw away.
What is Gothmas?
On Sunday, December 7, the city will host Gothmas Alternative Market, a celebration for those who prefer their festivities with a darker edge. The event is the creation of The Goths Playground, a permanent year-round alternative market located in the Zellig building in the creative heart of Digbeth.
Running from 11am until 4pm, this free-to-enter event will sprawl across two floors and feature more than 25 unique vendors. Forget about traditional gingerbread trinkets and glitzy red and green baubles; here, you can stock up on taxidermy, band T-shirts, and sinister stocking fillers.
What Can You Find at Gothmas?
The market offers an incredibly diverse range of items that you won't find anywhere else. This includes House of Hecate perfumes with scents reminiscent of cathedrals and mystical spices, 3D-printed bats, original artworks, and various homeware items.
For those looking for a more permanent souvenir, Dolly Rockers Piercing will be on hand to offer tattoos and piercings, continuing their long-standing service to Brummies, previously based at the Oasis Market.
When hunger strikes, skip the Christmas hot dogs and head to Goth Burger for a burger served in a distinctive all-black bun.
A Growing Community Hub
The Goths Playground began as a pop-up market at venues like The Flapper before securing its permanent home in Zellig. Since its launch, it has flourished, becoming a vital community gathering spot as much as a retail store.
If you're making a day of it in Digbeth, the area boasts other excellent independent spots. The Bakehouse by Baked In Brick offers beautiful pastries and coffee, while the fine dining restaurant 670 Grams is situated opposite. Downstairs in Zellig, Waylands Forge provides a huge range of board games.
For lunch, look out for Kanteen, and just over the bridge on Floodgate Street, Red Brick Market hosts even more independent sellers, featuring K-Pop gifts, antiques, and unique fashion items.
