Overview
- A large fire broke out at the Art Quarter on Allison Street in Digbeth in the early hours of Thursday and fire crews used breathing apparatus, two main jets and hose reels to bring it under control with no reported injuries.
- The two-storey venue was extensively damaged and appears to have been gutted, forcing immediate closure and leaving vendors unable to recover stock or equipment at the scene.
- The site housed AQ Food Hall, Birmingham’s first fully halal indoor food market, plus a barber, women’s salon and event space that offered rent-free support to some start-ups.
- Owner Jordan Patel told reporters he fears the blaze may have been deliberate because of earlier abuse and graffiti, but emergency services and police have not confirmed a cause and describe the origin as under investigation.
- West Midlands Fire Service will revisit the scene to check for hotspots while police review CCTV footage, and the loss threatens short-term livelihoods for traders and the venue’s wider community role ahead of a planned fundraising event.