Where is 1000 Trades Square?

1000 Trades Square is at the front of Birmingham New Street Station and Grand Central Birmingham (now Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham).

St Martin's Queensway, Birmingham, B2 4NU

 

In brief

The new public square outside of Birmingham New Street Station opened in September 2015.

The Media Eye at the front of Birmingham New Street Station (September 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Built between 2010 and 2015 (along with the rebuilding of the station), it filled a void that used to be above the tracks.

Birmingham New Street Station from the Bullring (October 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

St Martin's Queensway

The square is located near St Martin's Queensway and opposite the Bullring. This view (below) is no longer possible since Bullring Link Street opened with pop-up shops.

Grand Central Square from the Bullring link bridge looking down St Martin's Queensway (October 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Media Eye

The main media eye of Birmingham New Street Station faces the Bullring and St Martin's Queensway. The adverts are always changing. You also get a Welcome to Birmingham New Street Station here. All Bar One is directly below the media eye. The taxi rank is to the left on what was formerly called Queens Drive (until the redevelopment).

Blade Runner 2049 advertised from Grand Central Square (October 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Back of Odeon

The oldest building visible from the square outside of New Street Station is the Odeon Cinema. The Moor Street Link Bridge opened in 2013 with the Birmingham New Street Station Living Wall. It links Birmingham Moor Street to Birmingham New Street station's. Inside of Odeon is a Costa Coffee that you can go to before you watch your film.

Back of the Odeon Cinema from Grand Central Square (April 2016). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

New Street Station War Memorial

The new war memorial outside of New Street Station was unveiled in November 2015 when the station was officially reopened by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

War memorial outside of Birmingham New Street Station (November 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Birmingham Pub Bombings Memorial

A sculpture designed by local artist, Anuradha Patel was installed in this public space outside Grand Central in 2018. This is in memory of those who lost their lives in the Birmingham pub bombings in November 1974. The sculpture's "leaves" bear the names of each of the 21 victims. 

Birmingham Pub Bombings Memorial in the public square outside of Birmingham New Street Station (December 2020). Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

It was unveiled during a ceremony to mark the 44th Anniversary of the pub bombings during November 2018. The day afterwards, people came to have a look at it for the first time. It is located opposite the Bullring, near St Martin's Queensway and the Taxi rank.

Birmingham Pub Bombings Memorial in Grand Central Square (November 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

One Giant Leap for Humankind 

This sculpture was unveiled in summer 2022 in 1000 Trades Square for the Birmingham 2022 Festival, ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It was sculpted by Jacob Chandler. As of 2023 it is still there, more than a year after the games and festival ended.

One Giant Leap for Humankind (June 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Still in place during autumn 2023 as seen from the top of the Rotunda during Creative Heights II.

One Giant Leap for Humankind (October 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Events at Grand Central Square

A variety of events have taken place at Grand Central Square since it opened in 2015.

 

The Big Hoot Birmingham 2015

A trail of painted owls was around Birmingham from the summer of 2015 for 10 weeks. Before being sold off at an auction for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

I See A Darkness was by the artist Ben Javens. The sponsor was Great Western Arcade. It was located at the time close to the Moor Street Link Bridge and St Martin's Queensway (if you were heading down the ramp from the Bullring Bull you would have seen it at the time).

I See A Darkness (by artist Ben Javens) near the Moor Street Link Bridge (July 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Big Sleuth Birmingham 2017

A trail of painted bears was around Birmingham and the West Midlands from the summer of 2017 for 10 weeks. Before being sold off at an auction for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

Bear it in Mindfulness was by the artist Betti Moretti. The sponso was Willmott Dixon Construcion. Was located at the front of Grand Central Square opposite the Bullring and near St Martin's Queensway.

Bear it in Mindfulness (by artist Betti Moretti) in Grand Central Square (July 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Poppy Appeal

During the Armistice 100 weekend in November 2018, there was this Veteran Land Rover Freelander collecting for the Poppy Appeal on behalf of the Royal British Legion. It was close to the station's outdoor war memorial. With several flags on the roof of the Land Rover.

Veteran Land Rover Freelander for the Poppy Appeal in Grand Central Square (November 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

TK Maxx Find Stocko

Santa's little helpers from TK Maxx were out in Grand Central Square one day during December 2018 with a large Christmas stocking. They were closed to the new Birmingham Pub Bombings Memorial. The TK Maxx store is to the left of the square and near St Martin's Queensway.

TK Maxx Find Stocko at Grand Central Square (December 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Birmingham Pride

During Birmingham Pride in May 2019, some of the bus stops outside of Grand Central Square were turned into the LGBT rainbow colours by the West Midlands Combined Authority / Transport West Midlands. Here you could get on or off a bus from the following routes: 23, 24, 61, 63, X20, X21 or X22.

Birmingham Pride bus stop on St Martin's Queensway (May 2019). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Cricket World Cup

During June 2019 while the Cricket World Cup was being held at Edgbaston, signs were up for directions to the trains and taxis. Buses on special route 501 headed up and down the Pershore Road. Spectactors going to the games, or going home, would change transport around here. Either trains from Birmingham New Street or Birmingham Moor Street. Or the Taxis.

Cricket World Cup sign on St Martin's Queensway (June 2019). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

During the spring of 2022, a banner went up on the Birmingham New Street wall in Grand Central Square welcoming visitors to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (July and August 2022). With the Be Bold Be Birmingham slogan.

Birmingham 2022 banner in Grand Central Square (May 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Birmingham Weekender - Four Lads in Jeans

A papier mache "bronze" statue called Four Lads in Jeans by the Birmingham artist Tat Vision. Unveiled on the first day of the Birmingham Weekender on the 27th August 2022. Depicts Kevin Rooney, Alex Lacey, Jamie Phillips and Connor Humpage, who posed for a photo shared online in 2019, that became a meme. Located outside of All Bar One. This statue isn't expected to last. Area being billed at 1000 Trades Square.

Four Lads in Jeans statue at Grand Central Square (August 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Construction history of Grand Central Square

May 2012

There was a crane to the left, next to TK Maxx. Hoardings were around The Void, which was open to the air above to the platforms below. There was still a road that went around it, plus the taxis on Queens Drive.

Birmingham New Street Station redevelopment from St Martin's Queensway (May 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

February 2013

From the Bullring Link Bridge to the Pallsades (not yet quite Grand Central), you could see that the builders had started to cover over The Void, in this view to the Rotunda. Police and taxis were still on the road near the wall, but it would be closed to them in the following months.

Filling the void at Birmingham New Street Station (February 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

August 2013

By the summer, The Void had been filled over, meanwhile after Half Time Switchover at Birmingham New Street Station (late April 2013), the Moor Street Link Bridge had been opened to the public.

Filling the void at Birmingham New Street Station (August 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

January 2015

The final 9 months of construction before the station would fully reopen to the public. There was fences stretching from St Martin's Queensway (near the Bullring Link Bridge) to what would be the new main entrance to Birmingham New Street Station.

Building Grand Central Square at Birmingham New Street Station (January 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

April 2015

Work continues in the new public square outside of Birmingham New Street Station, including paving.

Building Grand Central Square at Birmingham New Street Station (April 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

May 2015

There was lots of paving stones ready and waiting at the time to be laid in the new public square. With four months to go before the station would fully reopen.

Building Grand Central Square at Birmingham New Street Station (May 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

September 2015

A matter of weeks before Birmingham New Street Station would fully reopen, the race was on to complete the square in time, as the media eye facing the Bullring was getting tested.

Building Grand Central Square at Birmingham New Street Station (September 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown