Overview

The Bullring is a colossal shopping centre slap bang in the middle of the city. It’s so big it’s practically a landmark all its own. Whether you’re shopping for big brands, grabbing a bite to eat or hunting down a rare Jellycat in Selfridges, you’ll find pretty much everything here. It does get loud and busy but there’s plenty of space to move around as you go.

Transport & Parking

I arrived on foot, but there is no shortage of transport links to the Bullring. There is also a large car park if you are driving. Car Park: Although I was not driving, I had a quick look around the car park to get a feel for what is available. There are 52 EV charging bays, all operated by Pod Point. The bays are a standard width, so they are not ideal if you use a wheelchair or need extra space to get in and out of your vehicle. The charge points are mounted quite high, either on the wall or on a pole in front of a rubber stopper, depending on the bay. You need to bring your own cable, and you have to use the Pod Point app to start charging. Some chargers offer 11kW, while others are 7kW. It is disappointing to see so many charge points without any that appear to be properly accessible. I did not count the number of Blue Badge bays, but there seemed to be a fair few. It is worth noting that there is a heavy set of manual doors between the car park and the lifts up to the Bullring, which could be a barrier for some. Public Transport: Moor Street station is directly across from the Moor Street entrance, and Birmingham New Street station connects to the shopping centre via the Bullring Link. There is a lift for this next to the left luggage and the station's Changing Places toilet. There are plenty of bus routes that stop at Moor Street and Moat Lane. The tram also runs to the nearby New Street, Corporation Street, and Bullring stops.

Access

I came to the Bullring via the St Martin's Queensway entrance and had no trouble making my way around using my wheelchair over the tiled floors. The doors are wide, with automatic access activated by a touch pad. However, on a second visit the next day, these automatic doors were out of order. Each entrance also has several heavy manual doors. I came across several broken automatic doors across different entrances, which was frustrating. From my research, it seems this is a common issue. The walkways inside are wide and open, which helps make this busy centre feel less so. The lifts are suitable for powerchair users, though you won't be able to turn around inside them. They are spacious enough to fit several additional people. However, the lift does not have braille buttons, audible announcements or a hearing loop, which is disappointing in a venue of this size. The signage is adequate, but there are no alternative formats in use. Mobility aids, including wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and scooters, are available for free from Shopmobility, located on level -1 of the Central Car Park. I saw no signage for hearing loops on my travels, but I understand these are active in reception areas around the venue.

Toilets

I attempted to access two accessible toilets, which were in use for quite some time. The accessible toilets double as baby change facilities. I visited the rightmost accessible toilet on floor 1. The accessible toilet doesn’t need a RADAR key, and the door opens inwards. There is space for a left-side transfer, though the transfer space backs onto the door. The toilet has grab rails on either side and does not have a backrest. The red cord is on the left when seated, but it was tucked behind a grab rail and a bin, which is far from ideal. The static sink also has rails on either side, with a sensor tap and wall-mounted Dyson hand dryer. There's enough space for a powerchair user and several additional people if needed. There’s also a colour-changing light. It’s controlled by a switch on the wall. Changing Places toilet: The Changing Places toilet was out of order when I visited, which was frustrating. It requires a RADAR key and the door opens outwards, but I can't advise on more than that.

Staff

Photos