Peaky Blinders. The Real Gangs and Gangsters
at
Katie Fitzgerald's
Stourbridge
19:30
Description
Stylish and dark, the international phenomenon that?s the ?Peaky Blinders? TV series highlights the exploits of the charismatic Thomas Shelby and his violent Birmingham organised crime gang in the aftermath of the First World War. Well-dressed, captivating, and powerful, these dramatised gangsters are nothing like the real peaky blinder gangs of late Victorian and Edwardian Birmingham. |
Overwhelmingly poor, unskilled men and teenagers, they revelled in violence. Battling each other, baiting the police, and bullying the hardworking decent poor of the back streets, they abused women and, infected with racism, attacked Italians and Jews. Thugs and often petty criminals, the peaky blinders inflicted a reign of ruffianism that was ended by 1910 thanks to the provision of sporting clubs, more severe prison sentences, and vigorous policing. Under Chief Constable Charles Haughton Rafter, a Protestant Irishman, and his deputy, Michael McManus, a Catholic Irishman, the Birmingham force recruited tall, fit, and strong young men who took on the peaky blinders, having fulfilled three criteria: ?Can they read, Can they write, Can they fight?.
In his illustrated talk, Peaky Blinders. The Real Gangs and Gangsters Carl Chinn delves deeply into the reality of Birmingham?s street gangs and peaky blinders. The author of the Sunday Times number one bestseller, Peaky Blinders. The Real Story (2019), he was the historical consultant for the BBC documentaries, ?The Real Peaky Blinders? (2022). His latest book is Peaky Blinders. The Real Gangs and Gangsters. The true story of Britain?s most notorious street gangs (Blink Publishing, 2025).
Description
17 years of Musical Genius and the best Guinness in town.
We continue to put on a wide range of music here at Katie Fitzgeralds from singer/ songwriters to Blues , Folk, Jazz, Rockabilly , Pop , Indie, metal and world music. We also host Katiesfest every year featuring a wide range of younger artists plus the Stourbridge Folk Festival and once a month Stourbridge Folk Club in the cellar bar .
Jam Night...
Every second Thursday night of the month in the upstairs bar.
Irish Sessiun...
Every Wednesday night in the upstairs bar.
Katie Fitzgeralds has built a reputation for live music and parties but it's about more than that its also about history and tradition.
Originally a private house the building is over 200 years old and has been a pub since the 1830 Beer Act.
In the 19th century it would have been home to foundry workers and boatmen and would have looked out across to the Stourbridge canal arm where Foster and Rastrick built the Stourbridge Lion the first steam locomotive to run on rails in the USA.
Originally known as the Golden Lion it later became known as the Stourbridge Lion and then in 2000 it
became our home and was renamed in honour of Trina's grandmother Katie Fitzgerald who was born in Cloyne County Cork.
Trina is related to Irelands most famous hurling player Christy Ring, a son of Cloyne and is also cousin of Donal ag Cusack , Irelands first openly gay sportsman.
187 Enville Street,
Stourbridge,
West Midlands,
England,
DY8 3TB.
01384 374410
General Admission : £13.80