We may be halfway through the year, but there is still plenty of new food and drink options to look forward to.

Some of the new openings hitting the city centre include a Caribbean restaurant and a giant German Bavarian fun house.

And although Brum's nightclub scene currently looks bleak, BirminghamLive can reveal the city is set to welcome a new party nightspot after lockdown restrictions lift.

Read more: Treating us like muppets' - Brum nightclub bosses blast lockdown delay

There is also a cool new city centre cocktail late lounge bar, bottomless brunch haven and even a trendy chippy.

One thing is for sure - when the long-awaited Freedom Day finally comes, there will be a range of places to celebrate.

Cheers to that!

Manahatta Bar

Inside Manahatta in Manchester
Inside Manahatta in Manchester

Manahatta bar and grill is described as a "glamorous New York-inspired cocktail bar" and offers bottomless brunch and bottomless parties. The brand a has successful branches in the north of the country - including Leeds, Manchester and Harrogate. So now it's Brum's turn.

10-12 Temple Street City B2 5BN


Chinawhite Birmingham

China White Birmingham will open in the former Stories club in Chinatown
China White Birmingham will open in the former Stories club in Chinatown


Stories nightclub has closed and will be replaced by an iconic party brand.

Renowned London celebrity hotspot Chinawhite is set to launch a new club in the former Stories venue. There is also a Chinawhite in Manchester.

Clubbers can expect a complete transformation of the venue exterior and interior and a super glam experience when it opens later this year.

Stories on Ladywell Walk has not reopened since the first lockdown. James Spallone, managing director of Chinawhite told BirminghamLive; " We are delighted to be opening our newest site in Birmingham and are looking forward to becoming part of the nighttime economy of Birmingham. We hope to bring something new and unique to an already vibrant and exciting scene."

30 Ladywell Walk,B5 4ST

Fox and Chance

Fox and Chance is gearing up to open later this month
Fox and Chance is gearing up to open later this month

Fox and Chance cocktail bar is set to open at 45 Pinfold Street this month- aiming to bring a new kind of drinking experience to Brummies.

The bar is described as "offering a carefully curated menu filled with our own creations, as well as everyone's favourite classics. We look forward to helping you find your perfect drink!"

The bar is owned by three friends Callie Thirsk from London, Blaise Bachelier from Norwich, and Ryan Smith from Birmingham.

They told us: " We wanted to open a venue that feels as cosy and welcoming as your local pub while allowing everyone to enjoy great cocktails and friendly service with a backdrop of great tunes. "

Cocktails on the menu include classics such as espresso Martini as well as more original creations.

We love the sound of the Stone Fence cocktail- which "mixes the sweet and spicy nature of rye to create a great taste, perfect for sunny days". There is also The Flip the Pip - Banana-infused rum, maple syrup and stout.

Jamaya

Jamaya will replace Chung Ying Central on Colmore Row
Jamaya will replace Chung Ying Central on Colmore Row

The Caribbean is coming to Colmore Row.

The casual dining restaurant offers charcoal-grilled jerk and Jamaican fried chicken as well as burgers with a range of sauces from mild to roof-tingling hot. Jamaya uses the traditional Caribbean slow-smoke method to impart a spicy-sweet flavour and a tender texture in its marination process.

Jamay all serves up up platters, patties, burgers, rotis.

126 Colmore Row, B3 3AP

Holy Moly, Harborne

Holy Moly
Holy Moly

"Born in Harlem, raised in Brum and soon to be…. reborn in Harborne!"

Holy Moly has closed its Grand Central site and will be relocating to Harborne - as a food, drink and live music venue.

The owners told us: " Due to popular demand Holy Moly is moving to a larger site with additional outside seating and space for live music.

Located at the former Prezzo site at The Old School Yard, expect a lot of Mowtown and R&B.

Opening August 16

106 High Street, Harborne, B17 9NJ

Albert Schloss

The Grand opening of Albert's Schloss bar and restaurant in Manchester in 2015
The Grand opening of Albert's Schloss bar and restaurant in Manchester in 2015

This is a biggie, and we are very excited about trying when it finally does open!

The Bavarian bar and pleasure palace is looking at a November opening date.

Named after German-born Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, Albert's Schloss Birmingham will be the sister site to the flagship Albert's Schloss housed on the ground floor of Manchester's historic Albert Hall. The brand has applied for a late licence to serve alcohol every day until 2am as well as "host films, live music and performances".

Albert's Schloss serves up Bavarian, Czech and Alpine-influenced food, with an in-house bakery producing fresh bread, pretzels, pastries and puddings. All this can be washed down with the "very best of European biers, including Pilsner and Alpine Schnapps".

There is also an " on-trend wine list with influencers from France, Italy, and beyond."

One Chamberlain Square


The Pub at Kings Heath

The pub at Kings Heath is opening soon
The pub at Kings Heath is opening soon

The Pub at Kings Heath will open the former JD Sports shop - opposite All Saints Church on High Street and will be run by three brothers Oliver, Edward and Terrance Price from Carlow in Ireland.

The independent venue has seating for 120 covers and will also have bistro-style tables and chairs outside.

Co-owner Oliver Price told BirminghamLive: "The Pub is our vision of the perfect independent family pub where everyone is welcome - whether for drinks, to watch some sport or enjoy a meal with friends and family.

"One part of the venue will be the restaurant area - where diners can eat good quality pub dishes such as Sunday roasts, fish and chips, steaks and ploughman's lunch. Lasagne and burgers will also be available."

Qavali

Inside Qavali i will look when it opens in August
How Qavali will look when it opens in August

A brand new fine-dining concept featuring dishes from across the Persian Empire is set to open at Brindleyplace this year! Qavali, named after a style of Sufi devotional singing and originating from the Arabic word qual, meaning “to speak”, will offer a range of delicious dishes inspired by Turkish, Arabic, Persian and Indian cuisine

It opens in the former Coast to Coast venue.

9 Brindley Place B1 2HJ

Fillet of Soul

Fillet of Soul fish and chips takeaway will open in the former Buffalo & Rye
Fillet of Soul fish and chips takeaway will open in the former Buffalo & Rye

A traditional fish and chippy is opening on Bennett's Hill. It will replace the former Bitters N Twisted owned Buffalo & Rye eatery.

The Bitters N Twisted group, owned by Matt Scrivens, will operate Fillet of Soul. Mr Scriven told us: "It was a very sad decision to close Island Bar, but thankfully I was able to renegotiate my lease on the unit for Buffalo & Rye.

"The concept is very much to offer traditional fish and chips - with highest quality ingredients doing our national British dish proud.

"The colour scheme is very red, white and blue - which evoke Britishness! But it's also a very cool retro environment. We'll be playing soulful tunes - hence the name.

Perios

Perios in Shirley is opening another site in Brindleyplace next to the Be At One
Perios in Shirley is opening another site in Brindleyplace next to the Be At One

Canalside restaurant Tex Mex chicken grill Perios will open in the former unit that housed Handmade Burger Company.

It will offer traditional Mexican and Southern Texan flavours.

Choose from the likes of hola herbs, BBQ fiesta, mild chilli lime, hot chilli lime, Texan jerk, Americano's Buffalo and Haberno chilli.

There is already a branch in Shirley, Solihull, which has proven very popular with residents.

14T Brindleyplace, The Waters Edge, B1 2JB

And here's a few new places you can enjoy now...

Jojolounge

Inside Jojolounge
Inside Jojolounge

Jojolounge quietly opened in May - housed in the former unit occupied by JoJolapa Nepalese Restaurant before it moved to Frederick Street in the Jewellery Quarter. The venue is co-owned by JoJolapa owner Maddie Aulak and chartered architect Professor Kevin Singh.

As you'd expect, the design influence is heavy in this new venue - which has an airport travel-based theme.

Bottomless-brunch-at-jojolounge.
Bottomless-brunch-at-jojolounge.

Mr Singh said: " I’ve been lucky enough to spend quite a lot of time in New York and have always loved the slightly decadent look and feel of the lounge bars there. We wanted to capture that spirit of the glory days of Pan Am and the “catch me if you can” era.

"We planned for table service from the start, mostly so people could sit at the bar without others reaching over them to get served! "

Influenced by the lounge bars of 1920s New York City, the venue has been entered into the 2021 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

Foodwise Jojolounge offers small plates as well as American diner-style classics such as 10oz New York Strip, confit tomato, watercress, peppercorn sauce and fries.

JoJolapa owners Maddie Aulak and her brother, Sanju Shrestha have recently taken over the running of Edgbaston restaurant The Blue Piano.

5 5-59 Newhall St, Birmingham B3 3RB

Tierra Tacos

Food at Tierra Tacos
Food at Tierra Tacos

Tierra Tacos opened in May, replacing the JQ Coffee Cafe on Frederick Street opposite 1000 Trades pub.

It is helmed by the same team behind the acclaimed Tiger Bites Pig bao bar in Stephenson Steet.

Tierra Tacos has been successfully trading for delivery since last summer.

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Selfridges' new coat in the Bullring - pictured next to St Martin in the Bull Ring church and overlooking the Bull Ring Open Market on June 26, 2021

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The new restaurant specialises in "tortillas topped with vibrant and tasty toppings with a selection of traditional sides and less-traditional small plates accompanied with local and Mexican beers and agave cocktails!"

Other Mexican dishes include quesadillas, nachos, and Mole beef - pulled smoky beef brisket in a rich dark cacao sauce.

53 Frederick Street, Jewellery Quarter, B1 3HS


Rosa's Thai

Mains dishes at Rosa's Thai Cafe
Mains dishes at Rosa's Thai Cafe

Award-winning Rosa's Thai Cafe chain has opened at 2 Chamberlain Square - in the same building as Vinoteca.

It offers a range of Thai-inspired dishes, including Rosa's signature pad Thai, beef massaman curry, and veggie butternut red curry.

2 Chamberlain Square