Food and Drink

We’ll have various options for food and drink available at UK PonyCon 2025.

Bar serving drinks and snacks

A bar located on the second floor of the building (in the foyer area next to the Mane Stage) will be open during public hours of the event (excluding Friday early registration).

The bar will serve hot and cold drinks and snacks.

Alcohol, including cider and cocktails, will only be available purchase on Friday and Saturday evenings, not during the daytime.

Hotel lobby bar

The Holiday Inn lobby bar is open throughout the day and evening serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and meals. Attendees of UK PonyCon are welcome to enjoy the hotel lobby bar even if they are not staying at the hotel.

Please note that only food and drink purchased at the hotel lobby bar can be consumed in the bar’s seating areas. The bar’s seating areas are primarily for customers of the bar.

Water bottle refill points

Water bottle refill points are located on every floor of the event:

  • Ground floor:

    • Plumbed water dispenser at otherwise unused catering service point, near the UK PonyCon first aid room

  • First floor:

    • Plumbed water dispenser at otherwise unused catering service point, near the front of the building

    • Plumbed water dispenser at otherwise unused catering service point, near the rear of the building

  • Second floor:

    • Water jugs/dispensers located on the bar

Restrictions

Please do not bring your own alcohol. Anyone found consuming alcohol not purchased on the premises will be asked to leave.

Only food and drink purchased on the premises can be consumed at UK PonyCon 2025, with exceptions for medical reasons, such as sugary foods and drinks to manage diabetes.

Nearby options

The venue is located in the heart of Birmingham City Centre. Birmingham New Street station is located a 2-3 minute walk away and contains many popular places to grab a bite to eat, including Greggs, Caffe Nero, Wetherspoons, Five Guys, and Starbucks, and shops such as Tesco Express, M&S Simply Food, WHSmith and Boots.

Grand Central and the Bullring shopping centres are a little further and have many options. The popular New Street shopping street is full of shops, cafes and restaurants.

The closest mini supermarket located outside the station is Sainsbury’s Local on Navigation Street (B5 4AX), roughly a 4 minute walk.