Bourke's Regulars

Bourke's Stores, like its surrounding area, has seen more affluent and prosperous times since opening 50 years ago. Located on the corner of Ladypool Rd and Stratford Rd, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, it has witnessed a huge social demographic shift from a once predominantly Irish population to now one of mixed Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin. The area also includes some of society's troubled and excluded social groups, with homelessness, illegal immigration and chronic alcoholism a normalised part of everyday existence . As well as a communal resource for food and alcohol, the store acts as a prism to look at social and individual issues, such as poverty, alcohol and substance addiction and mental health problems. It’s corner situation also provides us a physical and visual metaphor; anchored in our community, it continues to connect us to our past and the issues of today.