JQDT welcomes progress to halt Jewellery Quarter Cafe Block repurposing

The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT), National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (JQBID) have announced they have made “positive progress” in talks with Birmingham City Council concerning the future of council-owned buildings housing businesses in the city’s Jewellery Quarter.

This comes after the jewellery associations raised concerns in October 2025 about the proposed sale of numerous properties in the area known as the ‘Cafe Block’, specifically 36 to 41 Vyse Street and 2, 4 and 6 Hylton Street.

The JQDT said that together with the JQBID, it has supported a sector response led by Jewellers of the Jewellery Quarter, a community group within the NAJ, to amplify industry voices based there in discussions with Birmingham city council.

As a result of this dialogue, the Cafe Block’s current tenants are now being fully consulted and given the chance to renew their leases.

The JQDT said this achievement offers local specialist businesses crucial reassurance, many of which are vital to the neighbourhood’s mix of jewellery and related trades.

Birmingham City Council has also dedicated itself to instating additional controls to stop the quarter’s buildings from being repurposed in ways that would subvert its historical industrial and craft-based identity. The JQDT said this assurance marks a meaningful step in preserving the long-term role of the Jewellery Quarter as a working district for makers.

In addition, the council has agreed to pause the disposal of other properties within the Jewellery Quarter, making room to continue conversations and adopt a more considered approach to the future of these assets.

All parties have committed to meeting on a regular basis for further talks, in which the JQDT will aim to address the changing needs of the jewellery trade. This includes investigating how workspace can be protected and supported in a way that corresponds with the Jewellery Quarter’s status as a World Craft City and its long-standing contribution to the UK’s jewellery industry.

JQDT chair Matthew Bott said: “We are encouraged by the progress made and the willingness from all parties to work together. The Jewellery Quarter is a unique and nationally significant asset, and it is vital that its buildings continue to support the makers and businesses that define it. This outcome shows what can be achieved through collaboration, and we look forward to continuing these discussions to secure the Quarter’s future.”

Rachel Morrish, chair of the Jewellers of the JQ, added: “I’m really encouraged by the stronger communication and growing sense of connection we’re seeing across the Jewellery Quarter in more recent times. More beneficial plans for jewellers are now starting to taking shape, both for the short term and the longer term, with real momentum building around place, people and skills, and business support.”