Herbert Austin founded ‘The Austin Motor Company Ltd’, building his first car in just two weeks. This is where Longbridge’s life of motor manufacturing began (psst… this is why we’re called HERBERT’s Yard)

With World War I looming, a new factory extended over to Bristol Road, paid for by the Government as a part of the war effort. Longbridge did its bit, producing over 8,000,000 shells, as well as 650 guns, 2,000 aeroplanes, 2,500 aero engines, and 2,000 vehicles. Herbert Austin was knighted in 1917 in appreciation of his contributions.

Longbridge returned to it’s car manufacturing, launching the ‘Baby Austin’ aka the Austin Seven

With WW2 in motion, longbridge kicked back into motion manucacturing severe items ammunition,and over 3,000 aircrafts, including Hurricane fighters and Lancaster bombers, were also manufacutred in The Aero, an underground shadow factory.

Longbridge gained arguably its pinnacle seven years after Austin and Morris Motors merged to establish the British Motor Corporation.

The iconic Morris Mini Minor was born. It hit it off with everyone in the family (even the iconic Steve McQueen!)

Austin Rover became know as Rover Group, which sold to several companies but ended with Phoenix Consortium in 2000

Sadly the new company went into administration in 2005

Set outside the back of a relatively unknown bar at the time, Spotlight, Digbeth Dining Club opens its doors for the first time ever. Welcoming a couple of hundred people in the pouring rain.

After being approached by St. Modwen to bring a pop-up version of DDC to the town centre, the first Longbridge Dining Club takes place in the summer of 2016. It’s an instant hit.

Five year of regular Longbridge Dining Club events going from strength to strength lead to the idea of somewhere more permanent. The team at Longbridge Life, St. Modwen and DDC decided the plot of land that was free directly outside the car park was the perfect place to set up shop. ‘Herberts Yard’ is born.