Though i have never been inked here, i have a tattooist working on me and its best to stick to one,…read moresome of the work i've seen coming from here is the best i've seen come out of Birmingham and i have no doubt the rest of the team are amazing. I mainly see Mikes work and his attention to detail is amazing, if you pop in request a selection of his work to look at and see what i mean. I've heard there can be quite a waiting list here and it'll be worth it, trust me.

I have had 5 tattoos from Body Art Studio and every one of them is of the highest quality. The…read moremanager of the shop is Sam, she is by far one of the most talented tattoo artist's I have had the pleasure of meeting. She is knowledgeable and will always offer advise as to what you require or how to make something look better. But she will not force her ideas on to you. I find its always good to get a second opinion on work before its too late. The price's are very reasonable and the premises are very bright and clean. If anyone was thinking of having work done for the first time, or just adding to existing work, I can think of no better place than Bodyart Studios to have it done.

I have been meaning to write this review since 20th April 2024!…read more Really wanted my first tattoo to be meaningful and had the perfect idea. Sent through enquires around with different prices but Vivid Ink Birmingham was always my ideal place to look into. I received a speedy response from Laura and we discussed measurements and prices. Laura was so helpful on any questions I have (And there were a lot) After a lengthy weekend of consideration. I decided to go for it. Again with Laura's help and guidance, deposit paid, date booked. I also had a call a day before to confirm the appointment, thought that was a nice touch. I went into vivid ink Birmingham a bag of nerves and was shortly introduced to Denise and we sat down and discussed other options of designs but we both agreed the original design was the best (No pressure at all from Denise, just a helpful guidance on other designs which did look amazing also) We went downstairs and the artwork was commencing, another nice touch. Denise offered me a drink and a lollipop, assume to distract from the pain but none the less, still very grateful. After 2.5 Hours or so, The tattoo was complete and I'm still in shock on how well it looks and ever so grateful to Denise for completing this for me in such a way that I almost cried with Joy. If considering your first or next tattoo I would highly recommend Vivid Ink Birmingham as a go to place. I'm already considering my next one with them!

My Niece, 2 girlfriends and I traveled to Birmingham UK from Seattle USA. I was bringing my Niexe…read morehere to see where all her family on both her grandparents side came from. I contacted vivid ink on Queensway as we wanted to get tattoos of the Birmingham Bull as a symbol of our heritage and trip. Although they are always busy they kindly fit us in at short notice. They couldn't have been more welcoming and Dorean did an amazing job. The detail is amazing. Every member of staff that day proved how much they love what they do and who they work with. The shop is extremely clean and beautiful. Thank you for your awesome service. Heather Danielle Sonja and Tami Seattle,WA

For way longer than I can remember, the Oasis complex is where Birmingham's alternative types have…read morecome to buy studded belts, get tattooed or just wonder around looking at stuff. It's a vast complex containing many small businesses, and one of them is a small, neatly presented body piercers by the name of Dolly Rockers. Apart from a selection of body jewellery, and the recent addition of micro dermal implants, Dolly Rockers is all about the piercings. By all accounts, they are extremely good at this - out of the many people I know who have been pierced there, I can't think of one that has a complaint about the service they received - the piercings always heal well, and are executed with minimum amount of pain. Prices are about average for this kind of thing, and the manner of the staff is great. In conclusion, if someone in Birmingham asked me where to go for a good piercing, I'd send them here.

Businesses come and go in the oasis market. However, Dolly Rockers has been around for a good…read morewhile, and has even been expanded over the years. Pricing for piercings is average, and they do offers now and again (although I know there have been a few occasions when offers have apparently ended but are still being advertised which is a bit naughty). In that case it usually comes down to discretion of the piercers. I've had several piercings done here, and for the majority of those I have experienced efficient service from skilled and professional piercers. I would recommend this place for clean, safe piercings performed well with the least amount of discomfort.

A reasonably substantial amount of my skin is covered in ink, and a substantial part of that is a…read morework (still!) in progress by Jo Harrison. I feel that qualifies me to both review MBA and also explain why I rate it as highly as I do. The salon itself is clean, bright, airy and easy to get to. They're brilliant with hygiene and cleanliness, and the area that tattooing happens in is shielded from the entrance and waiting area, so you don't ever feel like you're being gawped at when you get your bits out to be tattooed. They don't make any ridiculous claims about being 'pain free' - because as EVERYONE knows, of COURSE being tattooed hurts! It's a process of a needle repeatedly piercing your skin and embedding ink inside you forever. If it didn't sting a little, then they're unlikely to be doing it right. The majority of slots are booked in advance - particularly if you want work done by people like Jo. I waitied a year just to get on the waiting list, then another year and a half to be seen. Dedication, or what?! That said - I've still not managed to get my piece by Jo finished. She went off on a round the world trip midway through my work, and when she came back all her prices jumped up - even for works in progress. It does feel like a bit of a fight to try and make an appointment, and those two things combined knock off that extra point to make it to 5.

The most highly regarded ink shop in Birmingham. The two owners of this place are world famous…read moretattoo artists but they are often our at conventions so in their place are some of Birminghams other most talented artists. The waiting list here is long and the price is high but your paying for the best and its with you forever so it'll be totally worth it. If you pop in or search online they can see examples of the work coming out of this studio, if you had any doubts they will soon be done. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Tattoo's scare the life out of me. I've made many stupid mistakes in my life, some of which have…read moredone some fairly permanent damage. I change my mind as often as I change my underwear, so a tattoo has never been something I've wanted to have done. Tattoos vary; they can make you look like a sailor or a princess. I don't want to look like either and have never seen or thought of something that I would want emblazoned across my body. My girlfriend has tattoos and on women I find tattoo's very sexy. I like the way they emphasise and compliment certain parts of the body. We came into Gun Ho to get my girlfriends spine tattooed; she wanted a Latin message written vertically down her back. The tattooist told her that this would be a very painful procedure, but he was willing to do it so we went ahead. The service was professional and the tattoo came in at a competitive price. The staff were friendly and understanding and if I ever manage to muster the strength to get one done I will be sure to come here again.

Birmingham is lucky enough to have four or five top class tattoo shops and Gung Ho is one of them…read more Opening only five or six years ago, Gung Ho has been busy from the word go, with founding artists Rich Pearson and Helen Brown bringing a good enough reputation to ensure the shop would have customers immediately. Pretty quickly national tattoo magazines were doing features on the shop, and the shop apprentice Lewis was eventually encouraged to start doing small tattoos, allowing "walk ins" (ie tattoos that do not need booking in advance) to become available. The obvious criticism some will make of Gung Ho is that it's expensive, and there is often a waiting list to get work from the more well known artists that work at the shop . However, if any form of art is worth paying a lot of money for, then surely tattooing is as the piece is going to be with you for the rest of your life. The same logic applies to the waiting list too - if it's going to be with you for ever, you might as well wait a few months if it's going to be with you for ever. This is definitely a place for serious tattoo collectors.

I don't have a tattoo. But I did contemplate getting one for much of my latter, adolescent years…read more I ventured around all of the proximate Kings Heath tattoo studios and from my short visits this one came out bottom for me. Now perhaps I was discriminated against because I didn't have ink diagrams of insignificant stuff all over my head and body, as I was received very abruptly by a moody bloke with a needle and a monosyllabic vocabulary. I thought 'not here then' and swiftly left. I'm quite glad I had this experience, otherwise I might have a 'symbolic' bunch of roses or skulls on my abdomen that no one else cares about. So in a way it was a valuable experience that has lead to the best outcome afterall. But for those still contemplating getting a tattoo, I've concluded from my brief inquiry that there are better studios around.

I was in the shop today. The guy - with no hair and blue eyes - was absolutely the wierdest I have…read moreever seen. I showed him my tattoo and asked him if he could make it look more arty with a portrait added on my shoulder. His vision shattered! His response was: 'It will look ridiculous'. He just left me there in the shop and continued cleaning. I was shocked! So disrespectful and unprofessional! I would ever never suggest anyone to trust this guy if it is a life-lasting tattoo you want!

Is this the best collective of tattoo artists in town? I first heard about Spear Studio through a…read morefriend who lives in Cannock. News of good tattooists travels far. When Jeni decided that she had her mind set on getting a tattoo of a bass clef and a treble clef, (these are the music signs that you see at the start of sheet music), joined together to make a heart, (ahhh) I recommended Spear. Jeni took a look at some example tattoos to gauge the skill, and she was impressed. So on a Saturday morning we went to Spear for Jeni's pre-booked appointment. (Not before some relaxants in the form of a couple of beers over the road at The Kings Head, mind). The decor is modern and informal, and it felt like we had entered a friend's flat. As someone who has had a tattoo before I winced in painful memeory when I head the buzzing of the needle start. No such pain for Jeni, mind. After half an hour the fine, clean, black lines were completed. Looking good! Then the tattooist took Jeni through after-care procedures and gave her a leaflet on looking after her tattoo, and invited Jeni to call her if she had any questions. A high level of skilled art, a stylish studio, and personal service mean that I'd recommended Spear Studio to anyone. N.B-I've advise you to book your session; although you can drop in on the chance that an artist is free, they are often booked well in advance.

Owned by tattooist Leah Moule and her husband with the tattooed face, Spud, Spear tattoo definitely…read morebelong to Birmingham's tattoo elite. Leah Moule's bold and colourful style has earned her work much praise and media coverage, including several multi page features in tattoo magazines. There two other tattooists at Spear Tattoo, both of which are female and have unique styles. It's important to note that custom work is preferred at Spear Tattoo so those looking for a more "standard" tattoo might want to look elsewhere. A recent addition to Spear Tattoo is the Karma Clinic which offers laser tattoo removal and branding services. I can't comment on these services as I know nothing about them. However, if the quality of these services are as good as the tattoos on offer you will have nothing to worry about.

Turn left onto memory lane.....I was back in the Oasis market the other day and my god it has not…read morechanged a bit! The last time I was in here I was buying flared chord trousers and band posters......but today it was all change and i was having t shirts printed for a dj set.....with the wonderful diva face of Mariah Carey...obviously. T shirt printing is only £8 if you take a T-shirt with you which I think its a stupidly good price and the quality was excellent. I felt fabulous and glamorous wearing it so thank you T shirt printing lady! Inside the market you can also get a load of hippy stuff, jewellery, bongs and smoking paraphernalia, band merch and other random treasures and delights. This is a place for the more alternative amongst us really but not exclusively. If you haven't been go and have a look as its an untouched and unchanged part of the city that is quickly becoming modernised everywhere you look. Never change Oasis market...never change.

If you've ever been into line dancing, skating, surfing, dressing up, hippies, goths or bands at…read moreany point, you'll probably have been for a visit to the oasis markets. It's spread over a few floors, which are all inside. Most of the stalls are set into each corner of the place. There's loads of stuff in here, most or nearly all of it now new stuff. There used to be a couple of vintage stalls in here but think they have moved on now. There are a couple of women's fashion stalls selling stuff like punky fish, big flares and little tops. There's a couple of Levi holders with lovely phat flares and skinny jeans, really good prices too. There's smoking paraphenalia and some kinky stalls selling fetish stuff. On the ground floor there are a couple of shoe stalls, perfect for probably the best and widest choice of Doc Marten's in Brum, these are pretty pricey though. Head downstairs for the surf stalls that sell; animal, roxy (quiksilver) mambo etc, there's a good choice of clothing and there is often a sale on. Not many accessories here, but good for rucksacks. If none of this takes your fancy you can get a tatoo or pierced while you visit. Always worth a look even if it's a little bit out of the main hub now the Bullring's been built.