The Floozie flows again in Victoria Square

The River, the fountain in Victoria Square better known to Brummies as the "Floozie in the Jacuzzi", has been switched back on, with water flowing through it for the first time since 2013.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Muhammad Afzal, and council leader Councillor Ian Ward led a countdown on 19 May before the water flowed from The Goddess to the lower pool.

A spa break

The fountain has been repaired and refurbished as part of a £12.4 million improvement scheme for city centre streets and squares, the first phase of which has focused on Victoria Square.

During the work, The Goddess, who had been in her "bath" for 28 years, was sent away on what the council called a six-month "spa break" to be cleaned and restored. Birmingham Museums Trust, which looks after the city's public art, worked closely with the contractor to make sure the work was done properly.

A city icon

The River was created by the artist Dhruva Mistry and installed in 1993, when Victoria Square was pedestrianised. It was intended to bring a feeling of peace and safety to the space. The large bronze figure of a woman reclining in a pool quickly earned its nickname, and has become one of the most recognisable sights in the city centre.

For most of the last decade, the fountain has not run, and its pool was planted with flowers.

"Our beloved water feature"

"It is my absolute pleasure to welcome back Birmingham's beloved water feature," Cllr Ward said. "We're looking forward to a fantastic summer with the Commonwealth Games and a golden decade for the city, this is a great way to start that journey."

"Our city centre welcomes more than 42 million people a year - and following the regeneration of Centenary Square and Paradise, it's time for the business and retail areas to be revitalised."

"Improving the public spaces around the city centre will enable us to offer a world-class welcome to all those coming here to enjoy Birmingham 2022 - and we are ready to show the world how brilliant our city is."

More changes

The scheme also includes pedestrianising parts of Colmore Row and Waterloo Street to make it easier to walk around the area, and installing permanent security measures to keep the square safe and accessible, replacing temporary barriers that had been in place for several years.

The plans were first announced in 2019, with the aim of improving the city centre before the Commonwealth Games, when hundreds of thousands of extra visitors are expected.

Victoria Square

Victoria Square, in front of the Council House and next to the Town Hall, is the civic heart of Birmingham. It is home to a statue of Queen Victoria, and it is the setting for the Frankfurt Christmas Market every winter.

With the Games just ten weeks away, the square will be one of the city's main gathering places this summer, and the return of the Floozie is a welcome sign that the city is getting ready.