“Chinese New Year is always full of joy, optimism and celebration. But this new year celebration feels very important – we are able to finally look to the future and try and put Covid behind us.”
The significance of the biggest date in the Chinese calendar was summed up by one of Chinatown’s most hard-working and hard-hit restauranteurs during the pandemic.
James Wong is the owner of Chung Ying restaurant on Wrottesley Street. He says new restaurants, property investment and the reopening of theaters and offices means Chinatown is back in business at the start of 2022 – with a bang.
Read more:I went to one of Birmingham’s oldest Chinese supermarkets – and it was better than my local Tesco
James said: “New venues are opening up – which is a very good sign. The theaters are open again – so people are out and about, and very importantly people are going back to work in the city center.”
James Wong
Just before the Covid pandemic Chinatown welcomed Happy Lamb Hot Pot restaurant replacing the long-standing empty unit which previously housed Le Truc and the stylish Tukimi Japanese restaurant on Hurst Street.
There is also a brand new Chinese called Hey Yummy in the Arcadian alley at the back of complex – almost becoming a mini Chinatown of its own.
Takumi Japanese restaurant opened just before the pandemic
And it is not just new East Asian restaurants in the area. In April 2021 the long-standing Green Room cafe opposite the Hippodrome was replaced by Greek restaurant Mythos Taverna – offering a different kind of show to the Hippodrome opposite – with regular live music and plate smashing courtesy of ‘Zorba the Greek’.
James added: “That is the beauty of the Southside which covers Chinatown and also why we have suffered so much over the pandemic – we have a rich mix of hospitality and entertainment venues that have not been able to operate as normal.”
At the start of the pandemic, the impact of Covid was much harsher to Chinese restaurants than perhaps others in the city.
“There were so many ill-founded myths about the origins of the coronavirus and that it severely impacted trade,” explained James.
hey yummy
The restaurant boss spoke of the city’s streets having an air of ‘Armageddon’ – people were panic buying, bookings were cancelled, and families prepared to lock themselves away.
He said: “The Chinese community did not want to go out. Chinatown’s big strength has always been our community. Some restaurants have menus written entirely in Chinese – as they don’t worry about attracting custom outside the community – so when Covid fears were at their highest, it was a very bleak time.”
During lockdown, Chung Ying Cantonese restaurant remained open for takeaway and delivery – within a 15-mile radius – to keep the business afloat, with James driving to customers to deliver their takeaway.
His second restaurant, Chung Ying Central, closed permanently on Colmore Row at Christmas 2020 – due to the continued work from home rule.
James said: “It broke my heart to close Chung Ying Central, but it relied too much on the after-work and lunchtime trade which was non-existent.
Mingmoon
“But I was on Colmore Row the other day, and it was so busy – very much like the old days pre-Covid, and that is wonderful to see. It feels like the whole city is turning a corner.”
Inside Ming Moon restaurant and karaoke bar
(Image: Sanjeeta Bains)
James added: “There will be more people in town now – returning to work and there does seem to be the celebratory mood in the air.”
Due to Covid concerns, there has been no big Chinatown event – instead, celebrations will take place online as they did last year.
However, James has planned some special surprises this week – including a chance to witness the iconic New Year Lion celebration dance. See our video above.
Dorian Chan and Tommy Chan
Round the corner at Ming Moon, owner Dorian Chan is also busy preparing for celebrations and feeling very optimistic about Chinatown’s future.
As well as running Ming Moon – at all you can eat buffet restaurant, cocktail bar, and karaoke venue, Dorian owns a property management company Ease Home, with business partner Tommy Chan.
The pair help Hong Kong residents to settle in Birmingham – finding suitable housing. They have been inundated with property requests over the last twelve months.
There is a growing increase in Hong Kong Chinese not only in the city but the whole of the UK.
Chinese New Year was Tuesday, February 1 2022
Due to ongoing political unrest in Hong Kong, the UK government has set up a visa program giving 5.4 million Hong Kong Chinese – the right to come and live in the UK and eventually become citizens.
“The Hong Kong Cantonese community founded Chinatown,” Dorian told us. “Over the years, thanks to the migration of Mandarin speakers from mainland China to Birmingham – including Chinese students, our Chinatown restaurants are much more varied – showcases regional cuisines rather than just Hong Kong Chinese.
“But there is new influx of Hong Kong residents coming to Birmingham and bringing welcome investment.”
Tommy added: “We have helped many Hong Kong families to set up home here – at least a few thousand people. Birmingham is such a vibrant city and has so much going for it – with the Commonwealth Games, HS2 and of course a very strong Chinatown – the beating heart of the Chinese community.”
Priory House on Gooch Street
Key to this Chinatown’s financial health is the new Priory House. It is a swanky new residential development, with 79 luxury apartments slap bang in the middle of Chinatown. Elevate Property Group is transforming the 77,000 sq ft building built in the 1950s – which was once the home to the Forensic Science Service.
David Hofton, sales and marketing director at Elevate, said: “We anticipate strong demand from both within Birmingham and across the UK. We also expect the development to prove attractive to overseas investors with the 2022 Commonwealth Games set to cement Birmingham’s place on the map .”
Tommy told us: “The great thing about Priory House – is that it is not just about people investing money in the area. They are choosing Chinatown as a place to live. There is a lot of confidence in Birmingham as a city and the fact that we are building properties in the Chinese Quarter shows confidence and that is a lot of prosperity here.”
Dorian added: “And let’s not forgot,, there are so many other people living in Chinatown that are not Chinese. It is a brilliant location And that is only going to increase with more housing.
“These new buildings are expanding and diversifying our community even more.
“We are seeing the light at the tunnel. These new apartments are being bought by people who want to go out here – eat and drink and karaoke!
How one of the apartments will look inside Priory House
(Image: Priory House)
“This was the big problem we had in Chinatown over the pandemic – the majority of businesses in Southside are hospitality so we suffered massively.”
The growing Chinese population Is all “adding to the resurgence of the area. It means it really is the start of a fresh new year for us all. We are seeing a lot of light under the tunnel.”
Chinese New Year this year is in the Year of The Tiger and is also hot on the heels of Chung Ying’s recent 40th birthday.
As Chinatown’s oldest restaurant first opened in 1981 it is a double celebration for James.
He said: “It is actually a triple celebration for me as it’s the year of the Tiger – the year I was born!
“The Tiger is about having a fighting spirit which we’ve all really needed, and it’s about survival. There are of course still a lot of tough challenges facing the hospitality industry. But Chinatown will continue to survive and thrive.”
The Birmingham Chinese New Year celebrations will run from 5 pm to 7 pm on Saturday, February 5, via the festival committee’s Facebook page.
Look out for a surprise Lion Dance around the city to celebrate Chinese New Year today and tomorrow (February 2).
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