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EXTRA DATE FOR THE BIG BRUM BUZ
BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ SIGHTSEEING TOUR
To celebrate the visit of the Pope and the British Science Festival in Birmingham the Big Bum Buz will be running tours on Saturday 18th September 2010 emphasising Birmingham's unique link with the world of science and the life of Cardinal Newman.
Tour times: 10.30, 12 noon, 1.30 and 3pm
Starting point: top of Church Street, off Colmore Row.
Ticket prices:
£10 per adult including concessions
£5 for children
£20 family ticket for up to 3 children free of charge
Tickets can only be bought on the bus on a first come/first served basis for this very special occasion.
BIG BRUM BUZ LAUNCH DAY 2010
Saturday 24th April
FREE half hour taster sessions as part of the St Georges Day Festival at 12 and 1pm from Victoria Square.
Normal public tour featuring the most English of Morris dancers at 3pm from the top of Church Street, off Colmore Row.
Dates: The Big Brum Buz as a hop on hop off tour will be running every Saturday from 1st May to 11th September – check the route map for bus stops – ticket valid for the day.
Tour times: 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm
Meeting point: Church Street, Colmore Row, opposite St Philip’s Cathedral – approximately one hour plus live guided round trip
Ticket prices: £10 adult, senior citizen and student
£5 (children 5 to 15 years)
£20 family ticket (2 adult + up to 3 children)
Tickets for all the regular fixed date Big Brum Open Top Buz Sightseeing tours can be purchased on the bus or booked in advance through Birmingham Box Office on 0121 303 2323 - Visit Birmingham Ticketline on 0844 8884415, or in person at the Rotunda and Airport Visitor Centres.
NEW FOR 2010 – After dinner talk or slide show – the story of the Big Brum Buz and So You Think You Know Birmingham Challenge Quiz.
NEW FOR 2010 – I would like to develop a range of products that specifically feature Birmingham industry. The range would include the Titanic whistle, the Anchor key ring/charm, the Big Brum Buz, the Bull, Deritend Pottery and more.
History
Birmingham had a sightseeing bus about 13 years ago operated by the main company in the business City Sightseeing. Now the time is right to have a bus again and this is what happened in 2009.
As a qualified Heart of England Blue Badge tour guide I have been embarrassed that Birmingham did not have a bus as I see it as an essential requirement plus a walking tour to promote any city. The unique selling point of the Big Brum Buz is that it is the ONLY open top sightseeing bus tour in Birmingham offering a complete live guided one hour tour covering the major points of interest from both an historical, architectural, cultural and contemporary aspect.
The bus brings Birmingham in line with other major cities in the UK and abroad and the tour is hosted by expert qualified Heart of England Blue Badge Guides all of whom are passionate about Birmingham.
Having approached City Sightseeing and many other bus companies nobody was interested so I subsequently, bought a bus. Central Connect operate the bus as it requires an operator’s licence and this is where we need help with funding. In 2010 Johnsons Coaches took over the operation of the bus.
Where it goes:
BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Chocolate, custard, cars, buttons, whistles and bangles – Birmingham has it all
A live guided exciting adventure through the UK’s second city – the Brummagem tour takes you to the commercial heart of the city and includes the major buildings of architectural interest. Following the road to the unique Jewellery Quarter which really emphasises why Birmingham was known as the city of a thousand trades in Victorian times we then travel along Broad Street – the Golden Mile with the Golden Boys. Picking up the highway to Edgbaston – home to the manufacturers of the city and the international cricket ground we link up with the Tolkien trail and the world famous Cardinal Newman Oratory. Entering the city from the East side we get the full panoramic view of St Martin’s Parish Church and the new state of the art Bullring shopping complex with the iconic building of Selfridges.
What it can do:
The bus is an ambassador for the city - besides running as a fixed date tour it is continually available for private hire throughout the year for corporate clients, schools, Universities, wedding parties, organisations, WI’s, etc. Check out our Days Out in Birmingham and Bus Tours page if you would like a themed event.
Marketing to date:
- Launched via the Phil Upton Show, Radio WM with coverage on Midlands Today, Central Television and local press.
- Friends of the Big Brum Buz initiative – advertising, sponsoring a seat, annual pass, promotional packages.
- Jazz Festival, Jewellery Quarter Festival, Gay Pride Festival, Arts Fest, Taste of Birmingham,
- Tour by Lady Mayoress, private hire tours for various companies including Curtins who have been involved in building over 20 of the major buildings within the city.
- Kidney Appeal for Birmingham’s Children Hospital
- Open Days for present and future students at Birmingham University, Aston University, UCB.
- Themed events – Christmas Lights and Ghostbusters Tours
- Tickets donated for various events including charities such as St Mary’s Hospice
What it should do:
Intention for 2010:
BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ SIGHTSEEING TOUR PROPOSAL FOR 2010
The concept is a chain bracelet – all of Birmingham’s people & places united together
- Bus running as a `hop on hop off’ ticketed service on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the Sunday run linked with Cadbury’s World and Aston Hall from April to September – it can be a shopping
bus.
- Branded bus – your company & the bus `become one’ - promoting your company to a highly relevant target market and developing CSR image for greater public awareness.
- Bus stops on route – Jewellery Quarter, New Street Station, Mailbox, Botanical Gardens, Barber Institute, Moor Street Station, Think Tank.
- The link with the train stations allows for the promotion of Days Out in Birmingham – the bus is an ambassador.
- Themed tours to include Tolkien, Matthew Boulton, Birmingham Rocks, Black Country, Warwick and Stratford, BBC, Brewery Tours, school visits – developing the Heart of England.
- The bus to feature in all festivals and sporting events
How people in Birmingham benefit:
Succeed economically:
The bus can bring in visitors with the opportunity of `spend’. It specifically improves the opportunity of `spend’ within the region encouraging visitors to the NEC, ICC and NIA to stay longer. It helps the local economy, in particular, by linking all tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, shops, etc., via the bus stops connected to the travel network.
Stay safe in a clean and green city:
The bus makes people proud of their city emphasizing that the rest of the UK and the World see their city as a place of interest which is worth visiting. Their community has value and they want to belong.
Be Healthy:
The bus can be used to develop care and support for older people and vulnerable children and better support for people with long term conditions and their carers.
Enjoying a high quality of life:
It is an essential requirement for any city, offering a complete live guided one hour tour covering the major points of interest from both an historical, architectural, cultural and contemporary aspect. The bus links the renowned cultural and leisure opportunities that are available in the city.
Making a contribution:
It is accessible for all members of the community allowing for people from varying backgrounds to value one another. It forges links with all communities in Birmingham and can be seen as focal point helping all communities identify with the city.
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