bp pulse LIVE

Make sure your visit to bp pulse LIVE Birmingham goes off without a hitch. Reading up on security policies and restrictions will help you prepare for a smooth and stress-free experience.

• Re-Entry & Smoking: No re-entry is allowed. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted inside the venue. There is a dedicated smoking area on the lakeside side of Forum LIVE.
• Payment Options: All purchases are cashless. Guests can use chip and pin cards or mobile pay options.
• Prohibited Items: No outside food or drinks, cool boxes, picnic hampers, glass bottles, cans, or flasks are permitted in the venue. Professional cameras, video recording equipment, tablets, selfie sticks, tripods, large posters, golf umbrellas, and studded belts or spiked dog collars are not allowed.
• Age Restrictions: Age restrictions depend on the specific event. For all events, children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult over 18 years old. For most events, the standing areas are restricted for children under 14.

For the most up-to-date guidance and information on regulations (including bag policies), check the official bp pulse LIVE Birmingham policy page.

bp pulse LIVE Birmingham sits within a hub of entertainment, shopping, and dining that draws millions of visitors each year. Just a short journey away, the wider West Midlands region offers a rich cultural mix, from historic music halls to cutting-edge arenas that regularly host international tours, family shows, and championship sports.

• Utilita Arena Birmingham: Overlooking the city’s canals in central Birmingham, this arena welcomes up to 15,800 guests for concerts, comedy, family entertainment, and sporting events.⁶
• The Halls Wolverhampton: A live events and music venue in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, this venue is one of the leading spots to listen to live music.⁷

bp pulse LIVE Birmingham is located on the NEC campus in Solihull and offers extensive on-site parking for over 16,000 vehicles, with easy pedestrian access to the arena entrances.⁵ There are even park and charge options (30 ultra-fast and 150 fast-charge points) for visitors driving electric cars. The venue is designed for accessibility, with clearly signposted lots and dedicated spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Public Transportation: The arena is directly connected to Birmingham International Railway Station, which links to regional and national services operated by Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, West Midlands Railway, and Transport for Wales. Local bus routes also serve the NEC campus, making it convenient for visitors arriving by public transport.

Driving: For those driving, the arena is just off the M42 (Junction 6). Navigate to bp pulse LIVE, Perimeter Rd, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, United Kingdom. Nearby parking options include:

• Resorts World Multi-Storey Car Park at 45 Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1PU
• South Car Parks, NEC at Marston Green, Birmingham B92 0EH

You’ll find a mix of hearty arena classics and grab-and-go snacks throughout the concourses. Think burgers, loaded fries, pizzas, shawarmas, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options marked. Multiple bars and kiosks pour draught beer, cider, wine, spirits, and soft drinks; many stands also offer barista coffee and refillable water points.

Premium lounges and hospitality suites serve broader menus and speedier bar service on event nights. Queues move fastest if you order at contactless pay points, and most outlets open when doors do and stay serving through the main performance or game intervals.

The venue opened on 5 December 1980 as the Birmingham International Arena after 18 months of construction. Designed by Edward Mills & Partners as the seventh hall on the NEC campus, the arena combines flexible seating and clear sightlines to host large-scale touring shows, televised spectacles, and exhibition-linked events.

In September 2008, the venue was renamed the LG Arena, and work began to give the arena a major facelift.¹⁰ The £29 million redevelopment by Architects Workshop Ltd. and Arena Solutions Ltd. was completed in October 2009.¹¹ The installation of innovative Sandwich Plate System (SPS) decking saw seating capacity increased to 16,000 and more space for concessions. In addition, hospitality areas were expanded with modernised foyers, bars, and corporate facilities.

Over the decades, the Birmingham Arena has staged spectacular events from chart-topping artists like UB40, Elvis Costello, Black Sabbath, Cliff Richard, Beyoncé, and Mumford & Sons.^12,13 The arena hosted the netball tournament of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and is home to the long-running Horse of the Year Show, reflecting its role as a cultural anchor for the Midlands.^13,14