Muthers, lock up your children, and make them record music!…read more On a back street in Digbeth lies a hidden gem at its gentrified core. Muthers Studio offers professional music recording at incredibly cheap prices. When I first walked in I was greeted by the friendly and knowledgeable Dave, who assisted me with the mastering of a new album from a friends band I help manage. The inside of the building was well decorated, yet it still maintained that industrial Digbeth feel that surrounds the area. The level of service was outstanding and the whole building had a great vibe. I could tell he knew what he was talking about because the tracks we recorded, mixed and mastered sounded like they were cut from Abbey Road. OK, I've never been to Abbey Road and I'm guessing it isn't as rough around the edges as the building that houses Muthers. Yet Muthers has a charm that can never be reproduced. A charm steeped in history and hard labour, now replaced by an over riding ethos of art and creativity The equipment they use at Muthers is top range (analogue and digital) They also have a bar that offers soft drinks, food and tea whilst you work/chill/relax (delete as appropriate). Some well known local bands can be seen walking in and out of their respective rooms, either using the facilities for recording or practising. I found that getting into conversation with the patrons of Muthers was a very easy task. When I left I had a whole network of contacts from the Birmingham music scene. These have since proved to be very useful in my music networking! ie going out on the razzle and chatting about bands for hours. Muthers is more than studios, the company and the building is an integral part of the music scene here in Birmingham. I have had great feedback from friends across the country that I have recommended Muthers to. The patrons of Muthers tend to come back again and again, I am now a regular and signed up to Yelp to spread the word for anyone out there that wants to record their own sounds into a professional and marketable format.

When I first moved to Birmingham, I was DJing most days of the week across a combination of bars…read moreand clubs throughout the city. From this, I took an interest in music production and started to study a course that taught me how to produce music. I was using Logic which is software that you can use on your mac. Although you can download a varied collection of beats, basslines and vocal samples, I wanted to create something fresh and new. I met a male vocalist who was into the same scene as I was, dance music. His voice was amazing and we started to write some lyrics. As we were both beginners, we didn't have any experience in recording. We came across Muthers Studio and they were really helpful from the moment we called them. We hired the studio for a few hours and recorded our new voice samples which were then mastered for us (at an additional cost) so we could add them to our track. Highly recommended.

If there is one thing I hate out of the usual chores I have to say it's washing clothes....I always…read moreforget I have put a load in and end up washing everything about 4 times before it getting hung out to dry.....I'm usually trying to do too many things at once and this is the result....well not any more I found finishing touches. One bin bad of clothes...washed dried and folded...£8 that's my whole weeks washing done in an afternoon....for less than a tenner with no fuss. Ideal. The lady that works here is great and always has everything done exactly when she says...lovely service and no complaints!

Very friendly and helpful staff. Helpful in deciding size of unit required and very reasonably…read morepriced. Would use again.

Very knowledgable and helpful staff. Recommended room size and even showed me some vacant rooms…read more Excellent service

I couldn't speak highly enough of my recent experience with ABC in Walsall. Whilst I have been away…read morein hospital and in recovery I wanted a full deep clean of most of my home (which also had some extra requirements and 3rd party specialist involvement so it was a fair size project, which also needed to be done at pretty short notice) - they took the project on, professionally assessed what needed to be done, identified my needs well, and despite being busy with other jobs too, fitted my project in according to a timescale and cost agreed before they commenced work. They are a brilliant, flexible, friendly team who went "above and beyond" to help me out and fulfill my requirements, keeping in contact throughout the course of the job and making sure I was happy with progress along the way. I would absolutely recommend them to anybody, without question. 10/10 to Jim and the team from me :-)

Washland Laundry is one of those brilliant old fashioned type wash, dry, iron and dry-clean places…read more Don't think Dot Cotton and Eastenders but more the classic Levi 501's advert! Seriously, they really know what they are doing here and if I was ever stuck for a washing machine or drying clothes at some point they would be my first port of call. I had a double duvet cleaned there recently for under £10 and the service was amazing. If you drop off in the morning you can collect on the same day. The staff are very friendly and down to earth. Helpfully there is plenty of parking for customers. Highly recommended.

I now have a washing machine in the house in which I live. I didn't always have the luxury of being…read moreable to pop my clothes inside such a machine inside my house though, and before now, I've combined a visit to Aunty Audrey's with doing my washing at Washland. Not a service wash, mind you. I'm a bit of a fool in that I think there is something romantic about washing your clothes yourself in the British washeteria, hanging around, reading a book and people-watching while you wait for your load to finish. Not to mention having a sneaky peek at what other people wear! And Washland is a typical classic British laundry-A no-frills, clean and tidy place in which to get your laundry done.

This is a great little collection of shops that have uniquely remained together, even after moving…read morefrom The Swan in Yardley to Acocks Green. Entering the store you are greeted on your left by a jewellers, and on your right by a shoe repair service; And at the back of the store lies a clothes alteration department. If you are a new customer, from my perspective, you're not sure exactly what to look at first, but I'm guessing that all three areas have built up their own regular shoppers, who know exactly what they are after. I love the independence of each, and the way they have survived by supporting each other. All three staff members are also very friendly, and the store feels warming, homely and old fashioned when compared to corporate businesses. The jewellers section also stocks a variation of unusual gifts too. From Betty Boop mugs and clocks collections (which are perfect for any enthusiast), to metal money boxes and watches. So it's a great place to buy presents for somebody. Or simply get your shoe repaired.

These guys are a great example of not giving in to the big, corporate bullies. When the Swan…read morecentre was sold to Tesco they effectively lost their small, independent businesses as they had nowhere to trade. Instead of accepting that they joined forces, found a nearby shop and trade as a collective. They had been at The Swan for nearly 20 years but wouldn't have been able to afford the rent on a property individually. The result is an extremely successful, wonderful and quirky arrangement that delivers three businesses for the price of one. There is a key cutter and cobbler, a jeweller and a haberdashery. The services they offer also include engraving and clothes alterations. All three businesses are friendly, helpful and normally cost very little. If you need one of these services and are looking for a bargain then this is the place for you.

Whilst the head offices are located at Hall Green Stadium, the Hall Green Retired Grey Hound Trust…read morekennels can be found on the A491, in between junction 4 of the M5 and Hagley. This is where you go to volunteer to help exercise and look after the retired greyhounds. They are always looking for new volunteers and are really helpful and welcoming form the moment you arrive. It is always best to call or email ahead of your first visit. Walking the dogs is great fun, especially if you want a dog but find it difficult to fit in pet ownership with a busy urban lifestyle. Greyhounds are really affectionate creatures and they are surprisingly laid back when it comes to walkies - providing they don't see any rabbits! You might have to clean up some poo, but it is a small price to pay for the feel good factor of a morning spent walking around fields in the company of such lovable characters. Lots of the dogs are in search of new homes. The Trust has special procedures in place to make sure that they are lovingly and safely rehomed.

I don't like launderettes, I don't use them at all really but I had to one time because I didn't…read morehave the facilities of a washing machine for a whole week. I was so depressed at this point in time because I find going to launderettes irritating. So, I was forced to go and use this particular launderettes services and I was pleasantly surprised at how great the service was. I expected the machines to be dirty (I constantly had this imagination about what launderettes were like); but like I said this place really surprised me. Their facilities were clean and the staff were super helpful; I think they must have realised I was a little concerned. From my first initial experience with Wash World, I have now slightly changed my opinion about launderettes; not saying that I'll be using them all the time but this place is actually quite decent.

Now I rarely use launderettes, if at all. But I have a bizarre reason for going to this…read morelaunderette. At my friend's house (who is currently washing-machine-less) she did a great job of not letting me know that her olive oil had a leaky lid - so as I eagerly looked forward to some French bread and olive oil, rather suddenly I found myself covered in oil. Acting swiftly I to had abandon this simple pleasure in search of somewhere that I could wash my outfit to avoid risking it marinating in olive oil for an evening and becoming totally irreparable. Wash World provided this place and I entered, after receiving a few scowls from the locals, donning a pair of old gym shorts, a vest and left my clothes to run through while I returned to finally enjoy my French bread and olive oil. I arrived back, a thorough cycle was complete and although my clothes weren't entirely repaired Wash World was there in my time of need. I proceeded to enjoy my evening in the knowledge that my clothes weren't scarred for life, and for that I think they deserve 5 stars.