Rough Guides Top Ten Cities

I too am proud Nonnie. I was born and bred in Brum and still live here. I love my city. It has been much maligned over the years (mostly by people who have never been here). The city centre is lovely. The canals have been opened up with lovely canalside bars and restaurants. We have a new 'cultural quarter' in Digbeth with unusual cafes and restaurants, theatres etc I am off to the city centre today to meet family for lunch. I am chuffed to bits

Katy perhaps we should have a meeting of the Brum Appreciation Society?

I think I have been to most of the London theatres and none of them is as good as the Hippo. Symphony Hall is the best concert venue in Europe and you have more miles of canal than Venice. Haven't done the Digbeth thing yet but will get round to it.

When I worked in London a lot of people had never been north of Watford but still had negative opinions about Brum.

Brum also has more Michelin star restaurants than anywhere in the UK outside London. Love it.

It is lovely to do a trip round the canals and quite an eye-opener - I was brought up in the Midlands but had no idea about the Birmingham canals until I went on a trip a few years ago.

Nonnie - Yes we should! I know everyone loves their city but it's just lovely to get some recognition after all the negativity. We've seen Tony Bennett a couple of times at Symphony Hall and he always says that that hall along with one in Texas, has the best acoustics in the world. He always puts the mic down and sings one song with no musical accompaniment. Wonderful.

And of course Katy lots of well known people support one of your football teams, including our future king.

That's very true!