'Culture is for life' - 'Mischievous wordsmith' pens poignant message on iconic Birmingham pub

A rousing poster with the message 'culture is for life' has appeared on Station Street pub The Crown - a Grade II-listed venue dubbed the 'birthplace of heavy metal'. The poster appeared this week warning the city against 'selling its soul to the highest bidder.'

The anonymous message appeared to be a reply to a similar poster spotted in Manchester, which accused city leaders of prioritising 'profits over people.' Campaigners fear Station Street, which runs behind Grand Central and New Street, is under threat following the closure of The Electric Cinema and could be at risk from developers.

A campaign calling for the street to be pedestrianised and become the 'beating heart of a city proud of its heritage' has been backed by Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne and other stars. In March, The Crown - the venue where Osbourne’s Black Sabbath played their first gig - was given listed status, in a major boost for campaigners.

READ MORE: The Crown pub should be 'Birmingham Cavern Club' now it's listed

An excerpt from the poster on The Crown read: "We need to hold on to what's left of our iconic buildings before it's too late, to ensure we have spaces and places for communities to come together to create, dream and experience a life beyond the rat race. Spaces that will continue to tell our story to the world for generations to come. Culture is for life, not just Commonwealth Games."

Reacting to the appearance of the poster, the Save Station Street campaign said: "We applaud the mischievous wordsmith that created the posters. It highlights serious questions of what Birmingham wants to be. A playground for private equity and developers like Glenbrook Property (The Electric) and Toyoko Inns (The Crown) to drain residents through extortionate rents while gutting cultural institutions.

"Or a city that celebrates it's cultural history, and uses it to drive development that enhances the lives of people who live here. The Crown & The Electric being treated with such neglect is an insult to every Brummie. As is the lack of intervention by those in charge of the city over a decade. It'll see us fall further behind cities like Liverpool who are investing in culture.

"The anonymous poster maker was even considerate enough to post their statement on the window boards not the building itself. Minor disobedience with a Brummie sense of self-deprecation. We'll buy them a pint in The Crown one day for articulating the anger of Birmingham residents far better than we could!"

Following the shock closure of the Electric Cinema in February, rumoured plans suggested a row of buildings along Station Street could be demolished. Developer Glenbrook previously said it "recognises" the street's "cultural value" and was committed to preserving it as an independent cinema.

An online petition 'Designate Birmingham's Station Street a Historic, Cultural and Civic Asset' has gathered nearly 24,000 signatures to 'save' Station Street from demolition.