The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham

A thought-provoking museum and installation in Birmingham exploring British Empire legacies through food, art, and cultural history in Digbeth.

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The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham

The Empire Remains Shop in Birmingham is a unique museum and public installation exploring the legacies of the British Empire through food, art, and cultural history. Located on Fazeley Street in Digbeth, it features a dynamic programme of visual and sound installations, performances, and discussions that unpack Birmingham’s colonial past and its ongoing postcolonial connections. The shop window is accessible 24/7, while the site hosts changing exhibitions and events during opening hours.

A brief summary to The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham

106-110 Fazeley St, Birmingham, B5 5RR, GB
+441216439079
Visit website
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
Free
Outdoor
Mobile reception: 4 out of 5

Tuesday 12 pm-6 pm
Wednesday 12 pm-6 pm
Thursday 12 pm-6 pm
Friday 12 pm-6 pm
Saturday 12 pm-6 pm

Local tips

Visit during opening hours Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 6pm, to experience the full range of exhibitions and events.
The shop window is accessible 24/7 from Fazeley Street, allowing a glimpse of ongoing installations at any time.
Check the programme for talks, performances, and dinners that deepen engagement with postcolonial themes.
Explore the surrounding Digbeth area to appreciate the industrial heritage and canal-side atmosphere.

Getting There

Train and Walking

From Birmingham New Street Station, take a 15-20 minute walk through Digbeth to reach 106-110 Fazeley Street. The route is mostly flat and accessible, passing through an area rich in industrial heritage and street art.
Bus

Several local bus routes serve Digbeth with stops within 300 meters of The Empire Remains Shop. Bus travel times vary between 10-25 minutes from central Birmingham. Check local timetables for service frequency; fares typically range from £2 to £4.
Car

Driving to the shop is possible but parking is limited in Digbeth. Nearby public car parks are available within a 5-10 minute walk. Congestion charges do not apply, but expect busy traffic during peak hours. Parking fees generally range from £5 to £12 for a few hours.

The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham location weather suitability

Any Weather
Rain / Wet Weather
Clear Skies
Mild Temperatures

Discover more about The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham

A Contemporary Exploration of Empire through Food and Art

The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham is a site-specific public installation and museum that critically examines the British Empire’s history and its lingering cultural, economic, and ecological impacts. Founded by the London-based duo Cooking Sections, the project uses food as a medium to explore the complex networks of trade, colonialism, and cultural exchange that shaped the empire and continue to influence the present. This Birmingham iteration builds on the original London project, situating itself in the post-industrial landscape of Digbeth, a historically rich area marked by its canals and industrial heritage.

Site and Setting in Digbeth’s Regeneration Landscape

Located at 106-110 Fazeley Street, the shop occupies a prominent corner within the Warwick Bar Conservation Area, near the Grand Union Canal. The site’s façade and windows serve as a canvas for a rotating programme of installations that engage with Birmingham’s imperial past and its contemporary realities. The project is part of Grand Union’s broader efforts to revitalize Junction Works, reconnecting the public with the area’s layered histories amid urban regeneration. The shop window remains accessible around the clock, offering a continuous visual narrative even outside opening hours.

Engaging with Postcolonial Themes and Local Histories

Through exhibitions, performances, and discussions, The Empire Remains Shop interrogates the invention of ‘exotic’ and ‘tropical’ foodstuffs, the financialization of ecosystems, and the cultural imaginaries formed by colonial trade. It traces commodities like sugar, rum, spices, and cocoa, revealing their intertwined histories with Birmingham’s own industrial and cultural development. The project also challenges traditional franchise models by encouraging site-specific responses that reflect local colonial legacies, making each iteration unique to its context.

A Dynamic Programme of Art and Community Interaction

The shop hosts a rolling programme of visual and sound installations that activate the site and invite visitors to engage with the material and conceptual legacies of empire. This includes commissioned artworks, screenings, dinners, and public talks that explore themes of ecology, geopolitics, and cultural memory. The project’s long-term research began in 2013 and continues to evolve, fostering dialogue and reflection on postcolonial futures.

Accessibility and Visitor Experience

The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham welcomes visitors Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm to 6pm, with the shop window visible 24/7 from the street. Admission is free, encouraging broad public engagement. The location’s setting in Digbeth offers a vibrant urban environment enriched by canals, industrial heritage, and ongoing cultural regeneration, making it a compelling destination for those interested in art, history, and social critique.

Legacy and Broader Impact

This Birmingham franchise is part of a global network of Empire Remains Shops, each adapting the concept to local histories and contexts. It continues the critical work of unpacking colonial legacies through innovative artistic practices, contributing to wider conversations about heritage, identity, and the future of postcolonial societies.

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The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham

A brief summary to The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Train and Walking

Bus

Car

The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about The Empire Remains Shop—Birmingham

A Contemporary Exploration of Empire through Food and Art

Site and Setting in Digbeth’s Regeneration Landscape

Engaging with Postcolonial Themes and Local Histories

A Dynamic Programme of Art and Community Interaction

Accessibility and Visitor Experience

Legacy and Broader Impact

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

The Floodgate

The Selfridges Building

Workers Memorial

The River

The Best of Birmingham Trail

Chamberlain Memorial

The Coffin Works

The Cube

St Paul's Square

Boulton, Watt and Murdoch

Historic England

New hall Hill - Historical Signature!

Birmingham Walk of Stars

Newhall Hill

Pen Museum

Unmissable attractions to see

Digbeth Branch Canal

Eastside City Park

Kids' Park

Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

Millennium Point

Factory Works

Custard Factory

Digbeth Art Space

Digbeth Arena

Selfridges Birmingham

Bullring Shopping Centre Bullring

St. Martin in the Bull Ring

Horatio Nelson Statue

The Square Shopping Centre

Bullring & Grand Central

Essential places to dine

Original Patty Men

Cluck N Burger

Baked In Brick

Rico Libre — Tapas with a Twist

Kanteen

670 Grams

Manzil Restaurant

Falafel Vegan Munch

The Old Crown

BA-HA

Browns Birmingham

Land Restaurant

Mowgli Street Food Birmingham

Riva Blu Italian Restaurant & Bar, Birmingham

TAPAS REVOLUTION (Birmingham)

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

TFA Birmingham inside RedBrick Market

Retro Kimono | Red Brick Market Birmingham

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My Etsy Shop

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Menkind