Do you want to become a member of the Birmingham Press Club?

The Birmingham Press Club has a long established reputation as a media focal point, with members drawn from the press and broadcasting organisations as well as the business life of the city. For 136 years it has attracted prominent figures from the world of broadcasting, press, politics and show business to its social events.

Throughout the year we run social events ranging from Celebrity Lunches to more informal gatherings aimed at increasing social contact with professional colleagues. Recent guests to the celebrity lunches include Michael Parkinson, Germaine Greer, Sir Ludovic Kennedy, Ruth Rendell and John Simpson, who all join the long list of high calibre guests who have accepted the award of Honorary Life Membership. We have now launched the new Midland Media Awards. These are set to become the premier awards recognising the talents of the region's journalists and photographers. The Press Club Annual Ball has become one of the best nights in Birmingham's social calendar. A regular Newsletter, Membership Directory and Membership Cards are some of the other benefits of membership. The latter allow members to enjoy discounts at various establishments in and around the city centre.

 

IMPORTANT: CHANGES TO PERSONAL DETAILS

Could anyone whose personal details change - such as place of work, address, or phone number - please ensure that they inform the Press Club's membership secretary, Tony Bell. This is in order to update our database, which will ensure you continue to receive important correspondence from the Press Club about events and other matters. Tony can be contacted by phone (0121 450 4220) or email (T.Bell@birminghamchamber.org.uk)

 

Advantages of Membership for corporate members

Corporate Membership is for up to 10 people at a cost of £1,000 + VAT

• all of the advantages of ordinary membership, viz opportunity to attend all Press Club events including celebrity lunches, Midlands Media Awards, Spring Ball, Christmas lunch (includes opportunity to buy tables/tickets at discounted rates); quarterly newsletter; ‘First Thursday’ networking and Meet the Media events.
• free table for 10 at the Press Club Ball
• free entry to the ‘Meet the Media’ event (for up to 10 people, including guests)
• discount of 10 per cent per ticket at all Press Club events
• up to 10 people get membership cards, which includes the Press Club ‘benefits’ scheme giving discounts at various establishments around the city (see web site for more details); cards are transferable
• first call on sponsorship of Press Club events, including celebrity lunches/dinners, Midlands Media Awards, Press Club Ball, Christmas lunch, editors’ lunch, Meet the Media and other sponsorship in the newsletter and annual directory (more information on this is detailed in the sponsorship document)
• corporate membership is particularly useful for those who wish to network with the Midlands media
• ‘spotlight on corporate members’ section in newsletter
• enhanced entry in annual directory (to include ‘highlighted’ entry and details of business – space permitting)

A number of restaurants and other venues are taking part in the scheme - upon production of a Press Club membership card, members can take advantage of the following discounts:

• Must Dim Sum Bar and Restaurant, Newhall Street, offers 20 per cent discount off members' final bill, on production of a valid membership card.
• nitenite hotel, Holliday Street, is offering Press Club members a special room rate of £49.95 including VAT. The rate is valid until 31 March 2008 and members should call 08458 909099 and quote ref TBPCBIRM when booking.
• Bushwackers - a free bottle of wine with every meal for two people or more
• Hotel du Vin - ten per cent discount in the bistro
• Itihaas - glass of house wine per person with every meal (min two courses)
• Jjays - ten per cent off total bill
• La Vita - glass of house wine per person or bottle house wine for party of four (min two courses)
• Metro - glass of house wine per person with every meal (min two courses)
• Red Bar - 20 per cent discount on food and drink between 2-5pm daily and after 8pm Weds/Thurs
• SAS Radisson - ten per cent discount off food bill (Filini restaurant)
• Sub Lounge - spend £5 or more on food and get a free glass of wine
• Living Room - 20 per cent off all food (excludes drinks).
• Thinktank & IMAX Cinema - half price admission to these venues on production of membership card. Offer applies only to individual tickets purchased at the box office.

Members can also get a ten per cent discount off all tickets at the Hippodrome and the Alexandra theatres.

If you would like to order your Membership card please fill in the online membership enquiry form.

• Enquiry form
• Membership Application Form (download PDF)
• Free Membership Application Form (for journalists working in Birmingham) (download PDF)
• Membership fees
• Rules & regulations (download PDF)

Membership has its benefits

Membership of the Press Club brings with it a number of benefits, one of which are the discounts that can be obtained at various establishments in and around the city centre - click here for details

• Dame Ann Leslie at Opus Restaurant

  Our first event of 2009 has been confirmed, and it is a celebrity dinner at Opus, Cornwall Street, featuring the legendary Daily Mail journalist Dame Ann Leslie. Dame Ann was honoured in 2006 after a 40 year career as a foreign correspondent. She has reported on many significant world events in that time, including the fall of the Berlin Wall and Mandela's release from prison. She's had many scrapes with authority whilst covering stories, such as being chased by Mugabe's thuggish henchmen in Zimbabwe, and being shot at in Bosnia. Her date with the Press Club in May promises to be an event not to be missed - further details, including booking information, will be posted here nearer the time.

• Thursday Networking Drinks Resecheduled

  The First Thursday drinks networking event which was postponed from last week (5 February) has been rearranged for this Thursday (12 February). The event will take place at Utopia, Church Street (opposite Hotel du Vin) from 5.30 onwards. A special area will be set aside at the venue for Press Club members. We look forward to seeing you there!