Free festival on Hurst Street marks opening of Enclave tower

A free festival will be held on Hurst Street in the city centre on Saturday 17 October, open to everyone, to celebrate the opening of a new rental tower.

The event marks the completion of Enclave: Birmingham City, the latest development from Outpost Management, and offers a full day of free activities, entertainment and a look around the building.

What is on

Activities during the day include:

• free coffee, matcha and bubble tea, and gin and beer tastings from Birmingham Brewing Company
• jumbo hand-rolled sushi sessions with local sushi school Yakinori
• workshops in flower arranging, charm-making and block printing
• bespoke poems written on the spot by Birmingham's poet laureate, Bradley Taylor, and Zachariye, inspired by visitors' memories and stories
• express massages, guided meditation and breathwork
• entertainment for children

For over-18s, the party continues into the evening with a set from Birmingham DJ Michael Bird and a live saxophonist, karaoke, drag bingo, cocktails and views across the city from the 27th floor.

Visitors who collect stamps around the building can complete a digital passport for the chance to win a £200 Selfridges voucher.

"A special and exciting milestone"

Laura-Jayne Canneman, director of operations at Outpost Management, said: "We're delighted to bring the community together for what is a special and exciting milestone for Birmingham."

"A full day of fun-filled activities with something for everyone is a fitting way to celebrate the completion of Enclave: Birmingham City, a development that reflects our commitment to creating homes that support the way modern renters want to live, work and play."

Build to rent

Enclave is a build-to-rent development, where an entire building is owned by a single company and let to tenants, often with shared facilities such as gyms, lounges and workspaces. The model has grown quickly in Birmingham, where many of the tall residential towers built in the city centre over the past decade are rented rather than sold.

Supporters say build to rent offers tenants longer tenancies and professional management. Critics say rents in many of the new towers are beyond the reach of many local people.

Hurst Street

Hurst Street runs through the heart of Southside, home to the Chinese Quarter, the Gay Village and the Hippodrome theatre. It is one of the liveliest streets in the city, especially in the evenings, and the area has seen a wave of new apartment buildings in recent years as more people choose to live close to the centre.

The festival runs through the day on Saturday, with the evening programme for over-18s only.