The Drum

The Legacy Centre of Excellence stands on the site of the former Aston Hippodrome in Birmingham’s Newtown area. The old theatre once drew crowds with variety shows from 1908 to 1960, hosting stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy. After the building was demolished in 1980, local leaders planned a new cultural space to reflect the area’s diverse communities. Work began in the early 1990s and The Drum opened in 1994 with an exhibition called Negritude. By 1998 it had become the United Kingdom’s national centre for Black British and British Asian arts. The centre has welcomed high-profile visitors and supporters. In 2013 Prime Minister David Cameron toured the venue with its CEO Charles Small during Black History Month. Poet Benjamin Zephaniah and musician Courtney Pine became patrons in 2014, helping raise funds for a refit. Despite its success, financial troubles led to closure in 2016. A public petition with 3,294 signatures could not prevent the permanent shutters coming down in June that year. After a three-year pause, the centre reopened in September 2019 under new management. Now called the Legacy Centre of Excellence, it styles itself as Europe’s largest independent Black-owned business and arts centre. Inside, two auditoria host performances while an exhibition space, café-bar, business suite and multimedia studio serve visitors. The Andy Hamilton Studio seats 120 and the main hall holds 350, with rooms available for private hire.