The Hive JQ

Visit Us

  • Learn With Us

    Our grade II listed building is a fantastic resource for learning about the Jewellery Quarter, trade, craft & architecture. We can offer learning experiences for schools, life-long learning groups & families. From September 2019 we are offering schools a Jewellery Quarter Experience Day for KS 2 & 3 students, working with the Coffin Works and JQ Townscape Heritage Project. Click for details... Read more

  • Heritage Exhibitions

    Every day is an Explore Heritage day at The Hive! During opening hours The Hive's Heritage Room is open for you to discover the history of the building and some of the hidden histories of the Jewellery Quarter. Our displays and art installations are free for everyone to enjoy. Just pop in and see us! Click to see images about the exhibitions... Read more

  • The Hive Gallery

    Our Gallery new can be found on the ground floor of The Hive, behind the cafe. Exhibitions are both curated by ourselves and visiting artists and exhibitors. Free entry. Our first exhibition is in celebration of John Ruskin’s bicentenary year - A Sign of Life - as part of Ruskin 200. Click here for more details. Read more

Eat Well

  • Commitment to the environment

    At The Hive we take our environmental responsibilities seriously. We only use 100% compostable, recyclable & biodegradable consumables. You will find plant starch lined paper cups, wooden take out cutlery, paper bags, paper straws, glass bottles & paper board boxes. No plastic! Within the building, all food & green waste is selectively collected & composted. Waste is taken up to the Ridan-In-Vessel Composter on the rooftop micro-farm & then to our customised worm composter in the basement. Read more

  • Rooftop urban microfarm & biodynamic farming

    In 2017 Argent College students & staff established a “microfarm” on the rooftop of the New Standard Works, providing produce for the college kitchen & Hive Café. Students grow seasonal, organic-biodynamic food crops, herbs & flowers as part of their integrated Seed-to-Table/Table-to-Seed Curriculum. In the Café we pride ourselves on using fresh, local produce. Each year the micro-farm produces hundreds of kilos of vegetable & herbs just a few steps away, leaving no carbon footprint. Read on... Read more

  • The Hive Cafe and Bakery

    The Hive has an organic café & bakery that makes 100% of the food fresh. Nothing bought in. We make every dish by hand. We get some supplied produce from our very own rooftop garden & micro-farm. We are a social enterprise offering work experience to young people at Argent College who are located in the building. We are open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 3.30pm to serve breakfast, coffee & cakes, & lunch. Read on... Read more

Be Creative

  • An Abecedarian for New Standard Works

    Richard O'Brien, Birmingham Poet Laureate 2018-2020, was commissioned to write a poem about our amazing building and all the things that have happened inside its four walls in the past, and today since its new lease of life. We hope you enjoy it! Read more

  • Craft campaigns - the Bee Yourself project

    During 2018-2019 a seven month craft project was run by The Hive, working with tapestry needlepoint artist Tina Francis. We stitched with over 1000 people as part of the project; including 11 schools and over 40 groups. The collaborative artwork is located in the cafe at The Hive. Pop in and see it! Read more

  • Craft Experiences

    Since 1879 the New Standard Works has a history of making. Products made here in the past include silver bangles, brooches, belt buckles, bottle stops, bracelets and bookmarks, wedding rings, chains, lockets, vesta cases, links and studs, pendants and jewellery of all description. The Jewellery Quarter is still home to contemporary Makers and Artisans and through our programme of craft experiences will be sharing their skills with you. Find out more... Read more