Diary Tuesday 31st March 2026 Eastercon – Travelling To Birmingham.

Pub Sign - The Old Crown - Digbeth, Birmingham

I was booked in to the 2026 Eastercon Science Fiction Convention, labelled Iridescence. This was the 25^th of the 70 Eastercons I have made it to, my first was in 1997 (at the Liverpool Adelphi). The con was not due to begin until Friday 3^rd April but I wanted to explore Birmingham and The West Midlands for a few days before it too, mainly in search of more pub signs for my collection.

Two weeks before the trip I was hospitalized due to stoma and hernia complications leading to dangerously extreme constipation and vomiting. I was worried that I might not make it to Birmingham, or relapse while I was there but I got through the break safely. Given that I was staging a play at the convention, for which my cast were preparing heavily, I was scared to death my health crisis might bring it all crashing down.

Smiley stoma bag.

I usually enjoy real ales through my convention adventures but this year I was staying sober throughout it to avoid upsetting my health further.

My journey out was easy, a bus ride to the train station and a two hour train ride to Birmingham. As is now commonplace, I had to ask someone to vacate the seat I had reserved for my journey, which was clearly marked reserved too. (It would happen again on the return trip).

Impressed by the Steampunk bull sculpture called Ozzy (After Ozzy Osbourne) at Birmingham New Street Station.

Ozzy - Birmingham New Street Station

From Birmingham New Street, I travelled by foot through Digbeth to the pub I was staying at for the first two nights, as the convention hotel was not only some distance from the city centre but also much more expensive.

The Old Crown Inn in Digbeth really is old, the oldest building I ever stayed in, dating from 1368. It is a beautiful, distinctive crooked building within walking distance of the city centre. Checking in was a breeze and my room was up a narrow creaky stairway. Fortunately, the staff were happy to assist in taking my suitcase up for me. My room number was easy to remember, being Room 1. I had a shower and loo right next door, and keys to get in through a side door if the bar itself was closed.

The Old Crown pub history plaque.

The courtyard beer garden was large and had a massive stage set up. There was due to be a DJ’ing gig by Bez from The Happy Mondays there on the Thursday evening, sadly the day I checked out and went to the NEC area for the convention.

Pub sign for Spoilers - Digbeth, Birmingham

I unpacked quickly and headed out in decent sunshine to get photos across Birmingham and Digbeth, including pubs, their signs, and some amazing street art.

Street art, Digbeth, Birmingham

As the light faded and it grew more chilly out, I got some food from a falafel stall among the market street food traders. Normally I would go on a pub crawl in the evenings but being temporarily off ale, I went to the cinema to see The Magic Faraway Tree. https://letterboxd.com/arthurchappell/film/the-magic-faraway-tree/ which I enjoyed.

I walked back to the pub, which was still open, and headed to bed, my first day over and a great success for me.

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Photos taken by me.

Arthur Chappell.