St Martin’s Arts Cafe

This used to be the church hall. it’s been managed by at least 3 different organisations since it stopped being a church hall. The staff vary. i do wish they’d smile more often. I have odd cups of tea there, usually bought by someone else because I can go outside to Snaxy’s and pay 50p. The toilets vary. you’ll turn up one day and they’re pleasant with paper to dry your hands and basket emptied and on other days it’s atrocious. I spend a lot of time pushing down rubbish in bin. Sometimes there are flowers to brighten up the place. The disabled toilets are locked and you have to ask for a key which makes it inaccessible. Disabled people make a mess too you know. They have a rack of books for reading on the premises but you can also pay £1 each to take them away. I collected 4 today. I came away with an allergic reaction today and i can still taste the cleaner on my tonque. 4 – 6 sprays per table, wiped over with cloth used on other table (though instructions say use clean cloth) and after observing for a while I went over to ask what was being used. The shop used to be in there but it’s now closed and the space is being consulted over. There’s a notice ove sockets asking you not to use their elecetricity, So yes you can get WIFI but cant charge your phone, ipad, laptop etc.

Awful customer service. Very slow and inefficient. Layout of bar area is poor. Tables are clean and atmosphere is modern if a little impersonal and echoey. I’d planned to spend the afternoon here writing but I couldn’t last more than thirty mins. Most of which was waiting to order.

The Arts café is a hidden gem, perfect for retreating into on a busy saturday afternoon. It attracts a mix of people; pensioners students and families seem to frequent here. It’s located at the back of the church which can be seen from the Bullring shopping centre.
The atmosphere is busy and informal, around 15 tables and a couple of sofa’s mean that it can get fairly packed on the weekend. There is normally only 2 waitresses who play the ‘I can’t see you’ game for a while. Only when your eye balls have popped out of your skull trying to catch their attention do they finally seem to notice you. Once noticed they are pretty attentive, and food has always been serviced reasonably quickly. Staples are sandwiches, jacket potatoes, pasta etc. Expect to spend about £10 on a meal and a few drinks, the place is fully licensed if you fancy something stronger.
Profits are put back into community projects and community art is often exhibited in the main food area