At first, Birmingham seemed a long way to go for a night out. But when I realised I needed to be heading to The North the next day anyway, a break in the journey seemed like a nice idea. I just wasn't so sure about it being in Birmingham... But I wouldn't hesitate to do it all again!

Nothing like the grotty city I last remember visiting an exhibition in, Birmingham seems like it's grown up into a cleaner and far more stylish place.

Our first drinking hole, Angels, got us off to a good start. Busy enough to have a lively buzz about it, but not so packed we couldn't move, there was a certain friendliness throughout this bar.

A little bemused by a sign declaring that 'customers should inform staff before using the jukebox', we wondered what might happen if they didn't. But preventing us from finding out, a live DJ supplied the tunes while we were there.

Positioned next to a small dancefloor, people seemed more interested in socialising around it, than strutting their stuff on it - perhaps saving their moves for later...