Who in this day and age, doesn’t love a bottomless brunch? especially in the Summer! Birmingham knows how to put on a good bottomless brunch bab but with soo many bars and restaurants offering this, it’s hard to keep up! So, I decided to make it a bit easier for you babs and put all the places offering Bottomless brunch in the City in one place, your welcome bab!
PASSING FANCIES – DIGBETH
Every Saturday (12-4pm) and Sunday (2-4pm)
Unlimited Stella Artois, Cava and Cocktails
The long-awaited bottomless brunch from Passing Fancies is finally here! Indulge in unlimited drinks with a choice of 8 options, select 2 plates from a menu featuring 8 delicious choices, and take 90 minutes to savour the entire bottomless experience. AND, as a special treat, enjoy a complimentary arrival drink! Get ready for what promises to be the best bottomless brunch in town.
Every Saturday from 10am-5:30pm and Every Sunday from 10am-3pm
Bucks Fizz, Prosecco, Bloody Mary, Espresso Martinis AND Brewdog Punk IPA
Urban on Church Street offer a fab bottomless brunch for £34.95 per person for 2 hours filled with fun, food and fizz! Your choice of meal from their Brunch menu plus an unlimited* supply of Bucks Fizz, Prosecco, Bloody Mary, Espresso Martinis AND Brewdog Punk IPA
Delight your taste buds with great Thai cuisine, featuring fragrant curries and delectable stir-fried noodles that cater to every palate. The highlight of this culinary adventure is the opportunity to savour a 2-course meal paired with free-flowing drinks. Immerse yourself in unlimited refills of your favourite beverages, including cocktails, gin, wine, and Prosecco. Whether you choose the option with Unlimited Prosecco/Wine for £35.95 or elevate your experience with Unlimited Pornstar Martinis, Mojitos, or Pink Gin for £45.95, Zen Metro promises a feast of flavours and a lively atmosphere for a truly memorable dining affair.
Bottomless tacos – choose from 3 toppings per person with unlimited prosecco, Sol beer, Palomas, or frozen margaritas from £28.95. Non-alcoholic options available from £23.95
Bottomless Prosecco and Cocktails (Pornstar Martinis and Brambles) – choose from one or two hours of bottomless from £35pp
00’s Bottomless Brunch at The Cocktail Club in Birmingham where you will be belting out iconic 00’s tunes such as Beyonce, Gaga and Gwen Stefani! You will receive a welcome cocktail, bottomless prosecco and cocktails (Pornstar Martinis and Brambles) brunch food (half a pizza per person) and enjoy fierce entertainment for up to two hours from £35pp
Please let The Cocktail Club of any dietary requirements before your brunch so they can cater for you
DIRTY MARTINI – BIRMINGHAM
Available Monday to Friday at 4pm, Saturday 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm, and Sunday from 2pm and 4pm.
Enjoy a fabulous birdcage full of delicious bites such as burgers and chicken strips plus a choice of bottomless Martinis, G&Ts, Prosecco & Beer for £37.50 PP
Ready to book the most gram-able Brunch in town, for 90 minutes you can enjoy bottomless drinks such as martinis, prosecco, beer and more and enjoy sharing one of their brunch birdcages filled with delicious food! OFFER – join Dirtymartini from 12pm on Saturdays or Sundays-Thursdays and enjoy their martini brunch for just £30 PP
Their food birdcages come in 4 options: Regular, Vegan, Regular Non-Gluten Containing and Vegan Non-Gluten Containing, so they will need to know 72 hours before what you would like
THE LOST & FOUND – BIRMINGHAM
Friday to Sunday – Last sitting at 3pm
Select any brunch dish with bottomless Aperol Spritz, Prosecco, Mimosa, Bloody Mary, Green Machine, Strawberry and Cucumber Fizzor Italian AF Spritz (alcohol-free) for 35.00pp
Enjoy a delicious brunch at The Lost & Found where you can indulge in Spritz galore! plus Bloody Marys, prosecco and there are non-alcholic cocktails. Choose from steak and eggs, cornflake chicken waffle or English breakfast for £35pp
Choose from 2 dishes and a side for just £29.00 (PP) with unlimited drinks – Choose from a range of cocktails, mocktails, Prosecco, beer and more
Jamaya serve up a banging Jam-Roc Bottomless Brunch with plenty of Jerk chicken! Choose from Jamaican Fried wings to Jerk burgers plus wash it all down with a lovely Rum punch! A bottomless brunch that is far from basic? This is definitely it!
90 minutes of unlimited drinks (Long Island Iced tea, Sex on the beach and more) and 1x platter of delicious Vietnamese food per person – Come along with friends & family for an amazing bottomless experience for £25.99pp
Available from 11am – 6.30pm (last table sitting at 4.30pm) Mondays – Fridays and from 10am – 6.30pm (last table sitting at 4.30pm) at weekends
Unlimited Bellinis & Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Beers.
Gas Street Social located in The Mailbox has been serving up their famous bottomless bellinis since 2015. Food choices include eggs benedict, crushed avo & eggs, full & vegetarian English breakfasts alongside their legendary full English pancakes are the perfect way to start your day.
Pornstar Martini, French Martini, Noel’s Mimosa, Cherry & Cranberry Spritz, Rosé Prosecco including 2 courses (£35.95) and 3 courses (£39.95)
Noels the Mediterranean restaurant near The Mailbox offers a set menu bottomless brunch where you can enjoy dishes such as Angus Bavette steak and mini mushroom arancini. They offer vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options plus a good selection of cocktails from £35.95
Choose one main and one dessert and get bottomless Prosecco £29.95 OR Prosecco, Bubblegumtini’s and Pornstar Martini’s for £37.50
Aluna located in the Mailbox is almost like walking onto a Harry Potter set. Sparks flying, smoke filling up the bar and some of the coolest cocktail you will ever set your eyes on are here at Aluna. Great location for a Bottomless brunch, enjoy their popular rainbow bagel, vegetarian breakfast and buttermilk pancakes!
2 Courses (starter, main and side) from £40pp where you get unlimited drinks such as prosecco, beer, cocktails and champagne.
immerse yourself in a place doused in history and artistic finesse at Qavali. This first-of-its-kind restaurant takes inspiration from the mountains of Turkey and Iran, the plains of Afghanistan and the dewy fields of India and Pakistan. The food travels the same path as “Qawwali” (Sufi devotional music); and the experience is designed to entice all of your senses like no other restaurant in the city. Feast on dishes that draw upon years of culinary history and stories, such as Samsun Pide, Sikandari Falafel, Sultani Chaat, Charsi Chicken Tikka, Daal Bukhara and Adana Kebab – and all while soaking up live performances.
Treat yourself to mouth-watering brunch dishes and unlimited Prosecco, Tanqueray London Dry Gin & tonic, Aperol Spritz or your choice of flavoured Daiquiris from £32 pp
Enjoy one dish of your choice and (Brunch dishes such as Full breakfast, Eggs Royale and French Toast) bottomless drinks from £32pp. You can upgrade for +£10 per person and enjoy 1.5 hours of Porn Star Martini, Espresso Martini and Long Island Iced Tea.
Available all week -last sitting at 5pm Sunday-Friday & 3pm Saturdays
2 hours of unlimited cocktails, mocktails, Red Stripe and prosecco with any brunch dish, burger or roti from £32 pp
From sunshine-inspired Big Kingston Grill Down, to the infamous Vegan Yardbird or their twist on Avocado Smash, From £32 pp you can grab a delicious brunch dish and enjoy 2 hours of unlimited cocktails, mocktails red stripe and prosecco.
Enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless Prosecco or a choice of 4 Spritz cocktails: Aperol Spritz, Lillet Spritz, Hugo Spritz or Limoncello Spritz. Enjoy 2 courses £34 or 3 courses £39.
Enjoy a Tex-Mex bottomless brunch at Perios where you can enjoy dishes such as Buffalo wings and grilled chicken burriots with unlimited drinks such as prosecco, beer, Aqua Fresca and Daiquiris for £29pp
Choose from two options: The two course bottomless brunch served with unlimited Prosecco, Pornstar Martini, Lychee Martini, Mocktails (£45) or two course bottomless brunch served with the unlimited drinks in option two and unlimited Champagne and Rosé Prosecco (+£9.95)
Starter & Main / Main & Dessert with just Prosecco and Mimosas £32.50pp OR Pornstar Martinis and Cosmopolitans for £39.95 – Make it three courses for an extra £3.95
Enjoy Thai Bottomless Brunch in the heart of Brindleyplace where you can grab dishes such as Sweet and Sour Chilli Chicken, Pad Thai and more. Choose start and main OR main and dessert from 12pm, 2pm or 4pm.
Want a bottomless brunch with unlimited beer or prosecco? Sommar Brewery is for you! Their Bottomless Brunch in Birmingham lasts 90 minutes in which you can devour one of their delicious burgers with fries or choose one of their fully loaded fried chicken boxes plus unlimited Prosecco or any Sommar Brew Co beers
Get the gang together and head to the Brunch Social at Flight Club every Thursday to Sunday. Prosecco, bottomless pizza and the option to include a Social Darts sampler will be available. During your two-hour brunch session, you’ll have a glorious table in their bar where each guest will have a bottle of Prosecco to themselves (yes, a whole bottle!)
Enjoy a delicious bottomless brunch with pizza, pudding and plenty of beer! Freedom Lager, Devon Red Cider and bubbles are included but you can upgrade for unlimited cocktails for £8 pp
Choose from 60+ Korean dishes and 25+ from Itaewons drinks menu for2 hours for only £39 PP
Only £39 to live out your ultimate mukbang dreams! Choose from 60+ Korean dishes and any drinks from their drinks menu such as Korean Ales and cocktails, Its all unlimited! Korean bbq dishes such as pork belly, prawns and short ribs are available plus Bibimbap & Jjigae!
From Harry styles to Abba, Tonight Josephine put on fun-themed bottomless brunches for you to get DRUNK AF! From bottomless prosecco to cocktails, burgers to crispy coated red prawns to some epic performances! Grab the gals and get wild!
Staff need to be made aware of any allergies before the brunch so they can cater for you
TRENTINA – JEWELLERY QUARTER
£35 per person – pasta + soft serve ice cream + 90 min of bottomless drinks
Experience the authentic flavours of Italy with Trentina’s indulgent bottomless brunch in Jewellery Quarter. For just £35 per person, enjoy a delightful selection of pasta dishes like Fowey Mussels Linguine and Spaghetti al Pomodoro, accompanied by soft serve ice cream. The highlight of the experience lies in the 90 minutes of bottomless drinks, featuring prosecco, Angelo Porletti, Limoncello Granita, and Aperitivo Spritz. Available every Sunday.
Available on Saturdays from 12pm to 4pm, in two hour sittings
Enjoy either two courses for £38 or three for £42 with unlimited Bellinis or Prosecco
From Sticky pork bites to fried chicken and waffles, Button Factory offer a nice variety plus unlimited prosecco and bellinis – no glass shall go empty! They also put on some great themed brunches that are worth checking out such as unlimited 90’s and Drag Brunches.
These Brunches are extra AF! Luna springs hosts a range of Bottomless Brunches with fabulous themes such as the 90’s, Brunchaoke, Cosmic Disco and more. “Pure Lunacy” Brunch is on every Saturday from 3.30pm where you will enjoy 3 hours of bottomless cocktails, buckets of beer, live music and burgers! Take a look at their Bottomless Brunch events, you will definitely be spoiled for choice!
Zumhof are offering a great bottomless brunch if you love daiquiri’s and burgers. On Sundays from 12 to 6pm you will received unlimited daiquiri’s and velveteen burgers – Daiquiri flavours include frozen bubblegum, strawberry and Pineapple. Velveteen burgers are Zumhofs very own burgers that include flavours such as kimchi som loving’ and squeaky cheese.
FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS – 1:00pm to 2:30pm, 3:00pm to 4:30pm, 5:00pm to 6:30pm, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
90 minutes of UNLIMITED fizz refills, up to 3 glasses of artisan, organic, and biodynamic wines from our wine wall, up to 3 pints of craft beer on tap, or up to 3 delicious Mindful Mocktails. £35pp
If you’re a fan of Bottomless Brunch, you’ll absolutely adore our Kilo Ziro’s Graze & Refill experience, Indulge in a veggie Graze Board loaded with over 20 antipasti items, including locally sourced cheeses (vegan options available), artisan bread, infused dipping oils, crudites, foraged chutney, jams, marinated olives, mushrooms, peppers, artichokes, and more! Pair this delightful spread with a choice of Drink Refill options: 90 minutes of UNLIMITED fizz refills, up to 3 glasses of artisan, organic, and biodynamic wines from their wine wall, up to 3 pints of craft beer on tap, or up to 3 delicious Mindful Mocktails. Priced at £35 per person for a 90-minute booking.
Two hours of unlimited sweetshop cocktails for £35pp
BA-HA offer a fantastic vegan bottomless brunch at The Rainbow pub in Digbeth for £35 pp. This includes any main/2 small plates and 2 hours of unlimited sweetshop cocktails that are delicious! You also get a complimentary croissant on arrival! Vegans, you will love this!
And here we go again…Its Valentines! Love is in the air, hearts are bloody everywhere (even on the Tampax tampons this year) and we are all looking to get out of the house and avoid the couch whether it’s a romantic candle-lit intimate dinner with that special someone or attending a bingo rave with your friends! Valentines should be for everyone and here is how you can spend it in Birmingham.
TASTING MENU’SAND STAY OVER EXPERIENCES
ADAMS
Secure your spot for a truly special Valentine’s Day at Adams! Dine with Adams on February 14th for an exquisite Tasting Menu, complete with a glass of fizz upon arrival, all for £150 per person. Bookings are open for their restaurant and the exclusive chef’s table. Make this Valentine’s Day memorable with an unparalleled dining experience at Adams. Reserve your table now and treat your loved one to a night of culinary perfection!
Indulge in a romantic Valentine’s Break with The Clayton Hotel. Enjoy a delightful three-course dinner, complete with a Love Potion Cocktail upon arrival, setting the mood for an enchanting evening. After a restful night, wake up to a full buffet breakfast, making it a perfect couple’s retreat. To extend the bliss, you will recieve complimentary late check-out until 12 noon. Treat your loved one to a special getaway filled with love, culinary delights, and relaxation.
Celebrate love and exquisite flavors this Valentine’s at Punells! Indulge in a culinary journey with their 5-course set menu, featuring decadent dishes like Orkney scallop and fillet of Herefordshire beef. To add a touch of sparkle, enjoy a complimentary glass of their limited Piper Heidsieck by Glynn Purnell champagne. Book your table now for a night of romance and gastronomic delights at Punells! £125 per guest.
For one Wednesday only, Opheem will be opening its doors to create a special Tasting Menu to celebrate Valentine’s day. Booking are open now and you can enjoy a full Valentines day experience at Opheem for £150pp
For the most romantic day of the year, Chef Director Luke Tipping has prepared a special six-course menu for a special event at Simpsons “Valentine’s day Solo Diner” served in their private dining room on Valentine’s Day where you can enjoy a 6 course Tasting menu with 11 other singles from £135pp
Dine at Folium this Valentine’s day, a Modern British Restaurant, situated just off St Paul’s Square. On Wednesday 14th February they will be openfor dinner where diners can enjoy a signature menu of 12 – 15 servings from their signature menu priced at £135 per person.
Please note: Folium are unable to cater for any dietary requirements for the Valentine’s Day menu.
Join Gulp for Valentines for their New-Unromantics, the ultimate pop-up event for those seeking an anti-Valentine’s experience without the clichés! Hosted by Suzie Russell, the culinary genius behind Artisan Epicurean, this gastronomic affair is perfect for celebrating self-love. Indulge in an array of meticulously crafted dishes that play with textures and flavours, putting a twist on nostalgic classics. The experience begins with delightful canapés, followed by three small plate courses, and concludes with a dessert meant for sharing. Escape the traditional and focus on yourself this Valentine’s Day with outstanding food at The New-Unromantics.
Sunsets, cocktails and live music is the perfect romantic setting to treat your loved one this Valentine’s Day. Enjoy six courses from Orelle for £120pp.
Chef Robert Ortiz invites you to savour a distinctive Peruvian Valentine’s Menu priced at £85 per person. The evening begins with a delightful choice of a glass of bubbles or a Pisco sour upon arrival. The gastronomic journey continues with an array of tantalizing snacks, including options like Beef Tartare with quail egg and caviar, Aji de Gallina with purple olives, Tuna Ceviche with rice paper, rocoto, and cream, as well as Anticucho de Corazon featuring black truffle and potato. Indulge in the unique flavours of Yellow Corn Bread accompanied by Chia & Escabeche sauce. For starters, choose between Orkney Scallop Tiradito with yellow chili, pickled cucumber, and watermelon, or Crab & Prawn Chuppe with Cuzco corn and rice. The main course offers a selection between Pisco-poached Hake with saffron, beetroot, and Jerusalem artichoke, and Roast Pigeon with braised banana, cacao, and algarrobina. Conclude the romantic evening on a sweet note with a choice of desserts, including White Chocolate Mousse with sweet potato and passion fruit, or Pisco Madre Macerated Strawberries with organic cream and lemon verbena meringue, followed by Petit Fours to perfectly cap off the celebration.
Experience an enchanting Valentine’s Day at Le Petit Bois! Indulge in an intimate evening of culinary delights and candlelit ambiance that will surely ignite the spark of romance. Secure your table now to ensure a memorable night filled with love and exceptional flavors. Make your reservation today at just £60 per person and elevate your Valentine’s celebration at Le Petit Bois.
Escape to romance with Hampton Manor where guests will enjoy a stayover experience at The Manor House. Check-in at 3pm and be welcomed with a refreshing drink, setting the tone for your enchanting stay. Whether you choose to indulge in an afternoon wine tasting or prefer to settle into your cosy room, the choice is yours. At 7pm, enjoy a unique dining experience in the Manor House’s dining room, a glass of Nyetimber and delectable canapes await, followed by a sumptuous five-course dinner crafted by Executive Chef Stu Deeley.
Priced from £234 per person, the package includes dinner, bed, breakfast, and everything listed.
Indulge in the perfect Valentine’s retreat or a delightful day out with friends at Malvern Spa with their fabulous February offers! For couples, “You’re Berry Special” offers spa access from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, a 50-minute spa treatment, Strawberry Daiquiri, £10 allocation towards lunch, and £20 credit towards retail, all starting from £129 per person. If you’re celebrating with friends, their beloved “I’m Fond-ue You” package provides 4 hours in your private pod, a scrumptious sharing chocolate fondue delivered directly to your spa pod, and 4 hours of spa access, starting from just £89 per person. For more year-round options, visit our website and make this Valentine’s month unforgettable at Malvern Spa!
Celebrate love at its finest with Verbena this Valentine’s Day! Immerse yourself in romance with their specially crafted six-course tasting menu, featuring everything from crispy oysters to slow-cooked beef cheek. It’s a super decadent experience, perfect for treating your favourite person! Bookings are open now, so head over to their website to secure your spot for an evening filled with love and exquisite flavours.
Don’t forget to let them know if you prefer the veggie option when making your reservation.
Attention all Love Birds! This Valentine’s Day, head to Yardbirds for a special celebration. For one night only on the 14th of February, indulge in their Love Birds menu designed for two, featuring the perfect fried chicken share platter. Priced at £25 per person, savour the flavours of their delectable platter and enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbles to make your Valentine’s dinner truly special.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in style at Poli! Join Poli on Saturday 10th and Wednesday 14th February, between 5-9 pm for an intimate dining experience tucking into some of the best pizza in Brum. Enjoy a delightful spread with sharing small plates, 2 pizzas, and a decadent sharing dessert, all for just £45 for two.
Whether it’s a romantique night out or a fun gathering with friends, celebrate Valentine’s with a delectable experience at La Sante! Join them for their Cheese Fondue Evening on Saturday, 17th February, for just £18 per person. Indulge in the richness of cheese fondue, accompanied by unlimited bread and two sides. It’s the perfect way to savour delightful flavoiurs and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Book your table now for a night filled with warmth, laughter, and delicious indulgence at La Sante!
Indulge in a romantic Valentine’s celebration at Fox Hampton Lane! Enjoy their delightful lunch experience from 12pm to 2pm, featuring their normal à la carte menu or for an enchanting evening. From 6pm to 8:30pm, enjoy a tantalising 5-course menu at £65 per person. With limited availability, reservations are now open.
Indulge in romance with Coombe Abbey’s Valentine’s Day offer! Your stay includes a warm welcome with a bottle of wine in your room, a cuddly Teddy Bear, and a sweet Box of Chocolates. Enjoy a delightful three-course dinner, a cosy overnight stay, and wake up to a scrumptious breakfast the next day. Make this Valentine’s Day unforgettable with love, comfort, and exquisite dining.
Looking for something different for this Valentine’s Day? Elevate your celebration with Kilo Ziro’s exclusive Valentine’s High Tea. Savour the delights of their specially crafted menu, featuring exquisite treats like asparagus primavera arancini, french onion, thyme and olive pissaladiere, cake pops, scones and the irresistible Last Rolo tart. Who will you share yours with? And let’s not forget, You will also receive a specially selected cocktail to compliment your Afternoon Tea.
On Wednesday, 14th February, indulge in the romantic melodies of Tims Wedding Piano (back by popular demand). Tim’s enchanting music will play from 4.30pm to 9.30pm, creating the perfect backdrop for your Valentine’s celebration. (£38 per head on Wednesday) They also have two more dates (without Tims Piano, £35pp) Saturday 17th February and Sunday 18th February 2024.
MANAHATTA – THAT’S SO FETCH! GALENTINES BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH
Get in loser, we’re going to a Mean Girls Bottomless Party at Manahatta Temple Street! 💅🏼🎀 Channel your inner Regina George and head to Manahatta for a plastics-approved event in Birmingham that’s so fetch. In girl world, Valentine’s is out and Galentine’s is in – the one weekend a year to sip, savour, and spill the tea with your besties, and no one can say anything about it. Indulge in a fabulous meal and enjoy their perfectly pink cocktails for two hours while vibing to the soundtrack from your favourite movie and the brand new musical. Dress code? On Fridays we wear pink, duh! Don’t miss out on this cool Bottomless Party – tickets at £41.95 per person.
Enjoy a gorgeous afternoon tea in one of the best hotels in the City Centre – The Grand. Every Wednesday – Sunday from 1pm you can indulge in this luxurious afternoon tea full of savoury delights and super sweet treats!
BLOW WATER – IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE WITH RIOT STRING QUARTET
14th February 2024
Embark on a journey of cinematic and musical enchantment this Valentine’s Day with Blow Water at the Hare & Hounds! On Valentine’s Day enjoy a spellbinding silent film screening of “In the Mood For Love,” accompanied by the hauntingly beautiful melodies of Riot String Quartet. This local, all-female quartet, two of whom proudly bear Chinese heritage, will weave their musical magic, heightening the emotional resonance of the film. Immerse yourself in 1 hour and 30 minutes of cinematic bliss, including a Wonton Noodles break, echoing the delectable flavours of the film.
Calling all Gal Pals! Join Maisie Violet (An incredible creative specialising in maximalist interiors and DIY decorating hacks) and Hiya Petal (An amazing Midlands florist specialising in bold and beautiful blooms!) for the ultimate Galentine’s date night at the cosy and candle-lit Verbena. Embrace your creative side as you sass up your own Anthurium flower with heart and letter diamantes. Send some love with a hand-made collage card, and try your hand at marbling while upcycling a bud vase for your beautiful creation. Top it off with a slice of the best cake in town, made with love by Verbena. It’s the perfect evening of creativity, laughter, and sweet treats for you and your bestie. Date: Tuesday, 13th February | Time: 7-9 pm. Don’t miss out on the fun
Join Trentina for a Valentine’s Drink & Draw event! Gather your friends for an evening of camaraderie, wine, and creative fun at Trentina JQ on Tuesday 13th February from 7pm to 8:30pm. Tickets are £15 and includes a welcome glass of fizz, all necessary art supplies, and a mix of guided drawing and a themed creative brief. While additional drinks will be available for purchase, the kitchen is closed, so feel free to bring your favourite snacks. This inclusive event is not just for the ladies – everyone is welcome to join in celebrating the joy of friendship!
Discover a unique and delightful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year! Join The Cake Spa for their first Good Pud Club of 2024 on Friday, February 16th, at 8pm, for an evening filled with Valentine’s-themed desserts. It’s not overly soppy, making it perfect for a Galentine’s celebration with your besties, friends, or family. Bring along your loved one or your favourite people and indulge in an 8-course meal, featuring a glass of fizz as a welcome drink and 5 small dessert courses. From hot and cold puddings to savory starters and canapés, each course promises a delightful experience. All set in the charming ambiance of Main St Cafe in the heart of Whittington village, just outside Lichfield. Tickets are limited at £40 per head, so secure your spot for a sweet and unforgettable Valentine’s celebration!
Grab the girlies for a night of candle painting, cocktail sipping and pizza eating whilst listening to girl-power ballads at Laghi’s Deli in Edgbaston. Each ticket includes 2 cocktails, hand-stretched pizza, 2 candles sticks + use of candle painting supplies. Dress code is Pretty in pink and romantic reds!
Announcing ‘The Flapper Speakeasy Valentines Edition’ brought to you by The Flapper and Dominus Von Vexo of House Of Allure! This show promises to tantalise and entertain, featuring a stellar cast bringing decadence, glamour, comedy, games, and lovin’ fun to your Valentine’s celebration. Hurry and secure your tickets fast, as the last event was a big 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐔𝐓!!! Don’t miss the Valentine’s chaos – the show kicks off at 7:30 PM. Get ready for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and celebration!
I don’t think I have ever left a restaurant feeling like this…
Early on a Friday evening in December I departed Upstairs with a full belly and the knowledge I’d just experienced something totally remarkable.
Born in Sutton Coldfield (my hometown) chef Tom Shepherd’s dream was to open his own restaurant. Working at various Michelin-starred eateries including Adams, Restaurant Sat Bains and The Latymer, Tom was more than capable of doing this. He chose Lichfield and a modest, first-floor space just above his father’s jewellery shop.
Upstairs opened in October 2021 and I was booked in to go on two occasions but sadly had to cancel. I thought I’ll leave it for a while…no biggy, I’ll get in. Well, what an absolute prat I was! Four months later Upstairs was awarded a Michelin star and became the only restaurant in Staffordshire to boast the accolade. So, of course, everyone went crazy for it and Upstairs was now booked up for most of the year. I tried each time they announced new bookings, but to no avail, until one evening when they announced on social media they had a cancellation. This was my opportunity, I went to the website and booked my spot then waited desperately for the booking confirmation email. It came – I was finally in!
Josie and I arrived for our 1pm booking and received a warm welcome, we couldn’t hold back our excitement and I think the first thing I blurted out was “I have waited a long-time for this, I’m so happy”. The restaurant is pretty neat. They have the kitchen in the round where you can watch Tom’s team work their magic, a chef’s table and bar to the side, and dining tables surrounding. We immediately felt settled and cosy.
The restaurant manager Anthony introduced himself and talked us through the food options. Anthony was fantastic, so lovely and I loved we could have a little laugh with him now and again! We decided to go for the lunchtime menu that consists of four courses plus three snack dishes (£50). We did have the choice to go for the dinner menu however, I have booked in again for May so will try that one then! The drinks menu was pretty impressive with a great selection of cocktails, wine and if you’re not a drinker; mocktails and soft drinks. The Peach Mizuwari cocktail took my fancy straight away – Peach Wine with Yuzushu Sake, London Essence Peach & Jasmine Soda with Lemon twist – light, refreshing and absolutely gorgeous – It could possibly be my go-to cocktail.
“Are you ready to start?” Absolutely yes! Service is sharp yet not overbearing, we were given enough time between each course to prepare ourselves for the next. To begin, crackers and a taramasalata-style dip which was a light and delicious introduction, too delicious as I found myself scooping every inch of that dip up, is it bad to lick a bowl clean in a Michelin starred restaurant? Sod it, I did it anyway.
If I thought that was delicious, next up was the croustade – Oh…my…CRAB. Filled with crab meat, this little tinker was incredible. The flavours were popping off in my mouth like it was the 5th November, it was a powerful morsel of culinary genius! If only, I could have a pack of 50 to take home and devour whilst watching The Real Housewives.
The last snack was the Parker House Roll served with their own cultured butters (2.5% Maldon Salt and beurre noisette butter). Now I am a complete bread snob, I get it from my Mother and the problem is…I have a yeast intolerance, so my belly blows up like a puffer fish. This was worth the aftermath because it was beautiful! Not too heavy, fluffy on the inside and I held on to a good couple of pieces to accompany the next dishes.
The first course “Cauliflower” was all kinds of smokey goodness, dressed in a gorgeous nutty yet sweet sauce with Maitake mushrooms. The second course was the plaice with a Champagne velouté sauce with leek and dill. The plaice had a gorgeous golden caramel crisp texture to it and as I cut into the fish it was gleaming white and just fell apart. Combined with the sauce it melted in my mouth like butter, it was absolutely sensational.
The third dish was the Wooley Park farm pork and for me, this was the showstopper of the evening. Pork is my least favourite meat so it’s clear that I have never had any of the good stuff before. Delicate, succulent, cut into beautifully – I was completely in awe of this dish.
Before our final dish came, Tom wanted us to try his Thai green curry pre-dessert palette cleanser that I have to admit, I wasn’t so sure about. However, one mouthful of fiery spice followed by pops of sweetness, I was hooked. A really clever dish that serves as a reminder to not knock something before you try it.
Another lovely surprise was that Tom delivered our next course, the eclair, and added an extra dessert for us to try which was the Araguani chocolate sweet dessert. Araguani chocolate, crème fraiche, pecan, caramel and sherry filling was utterly gorgeous, loved the hidden surprise in the middle! The éclair was filled with pink lady apples, covered in a rich butterscotch sauce and served alongside buttermilk ice cream, it was delightful and such a wonderful dish to end a perfect meal.
Throughout our meal we felt staff were continuously accommodating and described the dishes perfectly. We were always checked on, to see if we needed more drinks and so on. I noticed that most of the staff were quite young and it’s great to see Tom taking in and training up the next generation of chefs. I am sure many have a bright future after tasting their food.
After dinner Tom showed us his future plans for the restaurant and it was exciting to see all the work taking place behind the scenes. after all the success and media covering this restaurant, it’s great to see that Tom is just a normal guy behind it all. It’s truly inspiring and I think we owe Tom a lot of credit for playing a big part in raising the flag for the North of Birmingham and shining the light on Lichfield again.Taking on board customer feedback and continuing to adapt is a massive part of the Upstairs ethos. It was clear from my conversation with Tom every customer matters and there is always room to learn and improve. This is no doubt part of the success of the restaurant and will ensure its future stays bright.
I left feeling inspired by Tom’s story. As ever he remains humble about the Michelin star but to receive a flawless dining experience and that feeling that I can achieve anything is really remarkable after one visit to a restaurant. I loved every second of Upstairs from the build-up of excitement as I sat down, to witnessing the quality and attention to detail that goes to into each dish, as well as Tom’s passion not only for his craft but for an environment where anyone stepping through his door is treated like a family member or friend. I totally get why he has so many repeat customers and am certain I’ll be one of them.
A big thank you to Tom and the team for the memorable experience and an even bigger thank you to the table that cancelled that lunchtime.
The Midland’s have an impressive list of independents, from competitive fashion brands to quirky giftware stores, and I really want to show them off to you all! It’s been a tough four years for Independent’s and for the last couple of years I have done my best to support as many as I can. So, here is to the last hurrah of 2023 supporting my Midlands independents! A lot of you depend on this Christmas gift guide from over 40,000 shopping this guide which is just incredible, it is my duty as Bab Claus to make 2023 gift guide bigger and better. So here it is, Bab about towns 2023 epic Christmas gift guide to independent shopping in and around Birmingham. This time, it’s bigger and better, with over 100 Independents featuring in this guide, I have well and truly got you sorted this year bab! All these businesses deliver across the Midland’s, so you may not even need to leave your house to do Christmas shopping this year! From gifts for the kids to gifts for that someone special in your life…that’s the dog of course! My Independent Christmas guide is here to deliver and I am hoping it will make Christmas shopping a little bit easier for households across the Midlands.
PLEASE NOTE – THIS WILL BE UPDATED WEEKLY
GIFT EXPERIENCES
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
THE GREAT BRITISH GETAWAY AT HAMPTON MANOR
The Great British Getaway is at your doorstep. If your looking to really impress your loved ones then this is for them! Hampton Manor offer a two-night stay experience that includes dinner, room, breakfast and a complimentary wine tasting from £450. With forty five acres of woodland to roam, a walled garden, a Manor House and charming Victorian greenhouses, the scene is set and your experience will surely be one to remember!
Puppy yoga has taken over 2022 and here in Birmingham, Paws and poses offers this unique experience where you can take yoga classes with the cutest furry friends! If you know someone who loves dogs and yoga then buy them a gift voucher!
Grace & Savour, a restaurant and development kitchen with five adjoining garden bedrooms set in the Manor’s historic Walled Garden. Providing guests with the opportunity to reconnect with nature, and in turn the heart and soul of the estate, the walled kitchen garden and experiencing an unforgettable dining experience led by Head Chef David Taylor and wife Anette Taylor. I experienced this in the Spring and it was truly a wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone, If you want to spoil your loved ones, then this is it!
All aboard the gin boat! This 90 minute ginspired cruise along Birmingham’s waterways is a leisurely way to take in the old and new. All while being entertained by the Midlands leading gin raconteur, The Gintleman. Learn all about the world of gin and get to taste the delicious stuff too. Guests will receive an arrival cocktail and 4 x gin and mixer combinations during their cruise, along with canapé matches. There will even be a photo opportunity to meet 90’s barging icons Rosie and Jim!
Become part of cinema history. Enjoy year round benefits including complimentary film tickets, no booking fee, exclusive member events, discounts and your own Membership Manager.
Are you a coffee enthusiast? A budding barista? If so, this experience will provide the perfect introduction to the art of making good coffee. This is a fun experience and is priced £40 per adult for two hours.
THE QUARTER WORKSHOP – MAKE YOUR OWN WEDDING RINGS
Make your own wedding rings work shop experience at The Quarter Workshopin The Jewellery Quarter, A lovely and memorable experience you will cherish forever.
Experience a Michelin Star restaurant and indulge in an unforgettable dining experience at Simpson’s. Enjoy a three-course meal for two for £130, go on treat that special someone to a real treat!
Adams, A Michelin-star restaurant in Birmingham and happens to be one of my favourites! Now, this is for someone special because Adams offers unique dining experiences that are truly spectacular throughout, from 5 courses lunch tasting menu to chef table experiences, the choice is up to you!
Chapter in Edgbaston have some great dining experiences that would make the perfect gifts to experience with your loved ones or for anyone who is a foodie! From 5 course dining experiences to Bottomless brunches, plus gift vouchers!
On the hunt for a tasty and festive food experience? Then come along to a Christmas afternoon tea with a twist at Kilo Ziro! Kilo Ziro is the UK’s first zero-waste cafe bar and refill taproom. In this experience, you will be treated to a delicious Christmas-themed afternoon tea, all provided by local, sustainable and zero-waste chefs and producers. For just £28 pp this would make a lovely gift for someone who loves a good afternoon tea!
Kibou offers a unique Japanese afternoon tea that includes a selection of sushi, sashimi, and Japanese sweets. Enjoy Japanese teas and infusions or go for a bit of bubbly, and choose champagne with your afternoon tea!
Enjoy a fantastic Cocktail Masterclass Experience with Hart & Co in Leamington Spa for £35pp Learn how to make 3 HART cocktails from their head mixologist Bjorn plus recieve a welcome drink and you will have the chance to meet the family and ask as many questions as you’d like!
Birmingham Brewing beer school is a full day course led by a Master Brewer, which will involve a combination of talks on the science and technique of brewing, as well as a guided brew on their 100L pilot kit. The day will begin at around 9am and finish around 4pm (all the set up and cleaning will be done for you, leaving just the fun bits!). Lunch is provided and once the beer is ready you’ll get some bottles to enjoy too! There are three types of this course available, ranging from beginner skills, to full-on scientific workshops. This is a great experience if you know someone who has an interest in beer and would make the perfect gift.
Depart to a luxury virtual resort, directly from Birmingham! The VR experience at Otherworld is out of this world (quite literally) and is an exciting experience to be shared with friends and family! Fight off zombies, attempt to run a restaurant and experience Otherworld.
THE ROUNDHOUSE BIRMINGHAM – PADDLE, PIZZA, AND PINT
This experience combines a kayak tour with qualified guides and an amazing pizza from their neighbours – The Distillery. You will get a chance to see Birmingham from a different perspective, no previous experience required for this guided kayak tour on the canal. It’s definitely not your average Birmingham boat tour and would make an awesome gift!
Join Grace + James for their popular Christmas wine tasting events, where you’ll have the chance to sample over 40 wines (red, white, sparkling, sweet, fortified, sherries) over the course of 2 hours. Work your way around each station, sampling as much or as little as you like from their curated selection of wines, which are perfect for the Christmas season! Deli plates will be available for you to enjoy on the day, and you’ll also be able to receive a discount on any wine pre-ordered for Christmas collection or delivery.
The Alex in Birmingham has got some fab productions on next year like Heathers The musical and Galentines podcast coming to the stage! There is also plenty of family and live comedy productions on so there is something for everyone!
A Family-owned hotel & spa in Aldridge, Walsall that is home to an award-winning restaurant, health club and luxury spa. They offer a variety of gift experiences here from Spa days to afternoon teas and full weekend experiences. The pefect gift for that special someone or for yourself!
A beer garden, baseball cages, curling lanes, and crazy table golf, sounds like a lot of fun right? Groups will love this and its a fantastic gift idea for all your mates to enjoy this Christmas
The Malvern is a 4-star boutique hotel that offers a 14-treatment room spa and a unique indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pool that is pretty amazing to see! They offer a variety of unique spa experiences from deluxe spa stayovers to pod experiences and more!
The ideal whisky tasting session for those beginning their whisky journey, or for those who just who want to discover some great whiskies from around the world. Grain and Grass are offering great whisky experiences such as this one where you can taste six whiskies in a 1.5-hour session, hosted by one of their friendly whisky experts and learn how the ‘water of life’ is made.
‘Tis the season to drink cocktails! Birmingham Cocktail weekend is a fab festival event in the City where you can enjoy £5 signature cocktails across all participating venues plus access to a series of special events and fantastic offers from businesses in the City! So why not gift your loved ones a fabuolous BCW2023 Gift voucher for the next event?! Birmingham cocktail weekend 2023 will take place from the 7th to the 9th of July and it is not to be missed, Cocktail lovers will love this!
Book one of these fabulous pizza pods and enjoy all the charm of the Sarehole Mill courtyard from within your own private ‘igloo’. These are great for the whole family and pizzas cost from £8. The pods will keep you dry and sheltered from the rain but they aren’t heated so please wrap up warm., suitable for up to 5 people.
Every child in every school has one Christmas wish, to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette’s School they’re attempting to mount a musical version! Only trouble is teacher Mr Maddens has promised that a Hollywood producer is coming to see the show to turn it into a film. Join him, his teaching assistant the crazy Mr Poppy, hilarious children and a whole lot of sparkle and shine as they struggle to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true. Nativity The Musical is on from 19th November to 7th January 2022
This 2-hour electric boat experience is certain to float your boat! Get full rental of a boat that can accommodate up to 8 people and cruise down Birmingham’s historic canals.You’ll get a full tutorial on how to drive the boat so that you can be the captains of your own ship! Each boat is dog friendly and has a nifty table at the centre so you can bring your picnic and your pup!
Warwick Castle offers a unique stayover experience for the whole family where you can stay in the Knights village. During your stay you will have access to the castle tickets, evening activities and breakfast, Kids will love this!
In July 2023, this acclaimed production will return to Birmingham Hippodrome for a strictly limited season. Set against the majesty of the Serengeti to the evocative rhythms of Africa, THE LION KING tells the story of Simba’s epic journey to fulfil his destiny as King of the Pridelands. Perfect for families – this is not to be missed!
For the print obsessed looking for inclusive slow fashion and sustainable accessories, shop BYLOUMOFFAT based in Birmingham selling truly beautiful fashion pieces that I am completly obsessed with!
Working Clasp sell a great range of jewellery from seasonal to personalised, they also sell jewellery kits which would make the perfect gift for someone who wants to get into jewellery making. Jewellery that stands out and is completley unique – You have to shop here!
Relax and pamper, Harvest offers great retreat experience days that include meditative exercise, workshops where you can create your own signature product, seasonal craft making and can enjoy a delicious lunch and light refreshments through out the day. The next one is on Saturday 26th November in Kings Heath – £135.00
I love “Love Kiki designs” I have been a fan for a while now and the jewellery is so pretty – I want to buy it all! From earrings to necklaces, these would make lovely gifts and there is plenty of designs to choose from!
The perfect gift for keeping your nails in check, NAILS BAB offer gift vouchers and some fantastic workshops. You can book a spot on the workshops via their website and for gift vouchers, please enquire with Nails Bab via Instagram.
Start your day with positivity and a spring in your step with this limited edition New Beginning Gift Box. Cultivate your daily positivity and ongoing practice of gratitude with the uplifting aroma of the essential oil candle and the journal to focus for the day ahead. The defence rollerball will promote well-being whilst enhancing your natural defences. The New Beginnings Gift Box consists of – An Essential Oil Candle (Spring Refresh), an Essential Oil Pulse Point Rollerball (Defence) and the Hidden Pearl A5 Gratitude Journal – £45.00
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) is an artist-led charity which supports artists and promotes engagement with the visual arts through a range of exhibitions, events and workshops. They stock Kate Lovery jewellery that would make such a lovely gift for that special someone, you can explore more gifts from many Artists and makers on their web store.
Rachel Whitehead Jewellery is a jewellery and hair accessories brand, inspired by the beauty and magic of the British summertime. Each of our precious jewels and statement headbands are designed and made with love in Birmingham, UK and are dedicated to celebrating your most precious moments. These would make wonderful gifts for your partners or your friends!
SHEPHERDS GROOMING– Give the gift of the best Birmingham barbers experience
Gift the gift of the perfect trim! Shepherds Grooming have some great gift experiences available from luxury full services to quick beard trim experiences. They also have a great shop online where you can buy hair styling and beard manintenance products.
Famous for serving up the best fried chicken in Birmingham but did you know that they also serve up some pretty awesome merch? From Limited edition collab tshirts with Birmingham Artist FOKA WOLF to cool totes and badges. Why not pair that with a Bonehead voucher? because every lad loves fried chicken right?
You will find Cafe Artum in the street food venue – Hockley Social Club, it takes influence from Japan’s dimly lit, ‘listening bars’. An eclectic mix of DJs play extended sets on the venue’s hi-fidelity sound system, the focus is on being inclusive, welcoming and, most importantly, celebrating music. Gift-wise they have a range of used and new vinyl records, spanning funk, soul, disco, electronic and world music. They also have magazines focusing on music, design, culture and fashion as well as natural wine available to buy by the bottle and gift cards.
Not just for adults, Punks and Chancers provides fantastic “Yes Bab” and Birmingham related merch for the lil babas aswell! From hoodies to Baby Bibs and more!
KIDS CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP AT THE CHOCOLATE QUARTER IN JQ
Kid’s Chocolate Workshops are a really fun way to learn about chocolate for kids aged 4-13 years old and are ideal for any celebration. This experience is 2 hours long and start from £25pp
Teal & Peach stocks beautifully curated collections from Independent small brands, from clothes to toys – There is also a vintage and preloved fashion collection section online where you can find great pieces for your little ones to wear!
Berylune in Leamington Spa has a great selection of kids’ toys, accessories and clothing that would make lovely gifts for the kids. My favourite items are the beautiful doll house and the “realistic” grocery box!
Get the whole family baking with these fabulous subscription boxes from The Cake Spa for just £10! New recipes each month and they come with everything you need to make some awesome bakes!
Hatton Country world has a great variety of memberships available for the whole family to enjoy unlimited entry to Hatton Adventure World all year round, Exclusive Members offer vouchers, Invitations to exclusive members events at the Adventure World, and Discounts on children’s birthday parties. These passes can be monthly paid or annually.
A captivating after dark light trail heading to Birmingham Botanical gardens this winter season. Luminate Birmingham will run nightly from Saturday 26th November 2022 until Monday 2nd January 2023 (closed Christmas Day)
A proper Brummie needs Punks and Chancers merch, and you are all in for a treat this Christmas as they have just launched new merch, from comfy hoodies to fab vibrant beanies to these lovely mittens, there really is too much to choose from here. Hoodies are £60, beanies £22 and mittens are £32.00
The one and only, Eat Vietnam are selling these great tote bags and other merch with their famous slogan “Fish sauce is not for everyone” If you are a fan of Eat Vietnam then you got to have this bag! SHOP HERE
BLOW WATER MERCH
A newly opened eatery and art space “Blow Water” inspired by Hong Kong culture and cooking, is selling some great merchandise such as T-shirts and tote bags that would make great Christmas presents this year.
Provide is inspired by the people, the history and the industries that have shaped, and continue to define Birmingham. Collaborating with other Artists, Designers and creatives to raise the Midlands profile! From fashion to homeware – A true Brummie needs some Provide merch!
A project formed by Provide Birmingham, they celebrate the very best in Birmingham! From awesome Midlands merch like this snazzy “West Mids” tote bag to plenty of Birmingham merch like the famous “Alright Bab!” tees and sweats. If you know a proud Brummie, you will find loads of gifts that they would love here!
This is the perfect gift for that hot sauce lover! This gift set contains four of their Great taste Award winners plus one extra. Sauces included are Boca Grande (the tangy hot pineapple one), La Boca del Diablo (the classic smoky one), Feugo del Verde (the milder sweet one), La Barbacoa (the BBQ one with bite) and the Nagatropolis (the really really hot one)
THE EARLY BIRD BAKERY – FESTIVE BAKES AND GIFT VOUCHERS
As with previous years,The Early Bird Bakery will be selling their delicious festive baked goodies from mince pies to cakes and these items can be gifted. There will also be larger cakes for sharing at Christmas and pastry boxes available plus gift wrapping is available on all cakes, and delivery will also be offered nearer to Christmas. Gift vouchers are also available – festive bakes will be going live soon please check in with their Instagram on updates.
Give the gift of Caribbean flavours with Tan Rosie’s complete collection of sauces, pesto and chutney, beautifully packaged with an exclusive A6 recipe book. This handy mini book contains 23 gorgeous recipe ideas and suggestions to get you cooking with their fabulous products. You can purchase for £34.99
Treat your loved ones to Miss Macaroon’s luxurious Christmas collection of gluten-free macaroons. Flavours include gingerbread spice, minced pie,Irish cream and more, priced from £22
Three bottle gift packs that come in a bespoke gift box and you can choose between the following combos: Big Hitters, Pickle Lovers and Spice Lovers – Priced at £17.
Street food Legends are treating us this Christmas to their Only Jerkin sauce range. Chilli mango aioli, hot pepper sauce and jerk bbq sauce are all available and only priced at £6.50, banging!
Headed by talented pastry chef Bharat Chandegra and supported by experienced hospitality figures Andreas Antona and Jerry Toth, Soko offers beautifully-crafted artisan delights, why not give the gift of luxurious bon bons for Christmas?! Soko’s Christmas artisan bon bon selection features six contemporary flavours and is available in boxes of 12 (£16) or 24 (£28) The perfect gift for that special someone with a sweet tooth!
Located in Hereford/Shrewsbury The Beefy Boys make a mean burger! So beefy fans will love that they are selling DIY burger kits to make at home, burger sauces and secret seasoning to make the perfect beefy burger in the comfort of your own home!
Know someone who loves fudge? if yes, then they will love the fudge from Sweetmeat Inc plus they got some great gift bundles that would make sweet presents this year!
Rourkes make some banging pies, to me, they are the best in Brum! So for me, this is a must this Christmas! Rourkes are serving up this fantastic party pie box with nine pies of your choice to try for just £30
Bostin Bakery serve up some incredible vegan cookies and this Christmas you can pick your own boxes of festive favourites for home delivery or gift vouchers for boxes of 4 and 10, starting from £12.50. These are so delicious and I can’t wait to order a box of these!
On the breadline Bakery will be selling festive pastry, cake and Christmas treat boxes later this November, and they will also be collaborating with Soko Patisseries and selling luxury chocolates! Keep an eye out and keep up to date via Instagram.
VERBENA– CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA, YULE LOGS AND MORE
Verbena Kitchen in Stirchley has got a great variety of foodie gifts available from afternoon teas to their popular Yule logs! Please keep up to date on their socials when these go live!
For the beer lovers – Attic Brewery have got a great variety of mixed boxes of beers such as the one above that includes 3 x Intuition – 4.4% – Pale, 3 x Blast – 5.3% – Berry Sour, 3 x Belgian Wit – 5.2% – Belgian Style Wheat Ale, and 3 x Louny Tunes – 6.7% – NEIPA.
A family run business based in the Heart of Staffordshire producing small batch high quality spirits such as strawberry gin and Classic London dry gin – These make great gifts and if you know a gin lover, they gotta have it!
Vinoteca is selling a great variety of Festiva boozy gift boxes of fantastic wines, proseccos and more! There are three boxes with a variety of bottles included – Perfect for the wine drinker!
Bringing that sweet sweet taste of Melbs to your home along with some really tasteful Melbs Merchandise with King Kong climbing the Cathedral. These coffee sets would be perfect for that special someone who loves coffee!
Waylands Yard have a great variety of coffee, tea and Wayland’s merchandise available for those who are a fan of this fab Independent! The InguenulTea teapot is a great gift for those who love a good brew, it makes brewing any loose-leaf tea very easy!
The Dishoom cookery book – and highly subjective guide to Bombay – paired with a selection of essential accompaniments to cook Bombay comfort food and café favourites in your own home. This hamper includes the Dishoom cookery book and matching tote bag, Dishoom Tea Towel, Dishoom Masala Dabba, Urad Dal (for the much-loved House Black Daal) and Dishoom Chilli Chutney.
Coppice lifestyle in Sutton Coldfield have a great range of hampers for everyone, from coffee drinkers to cheese & wine lovers – there is a hamper for everyone. They also sell gift voucher, homeware, flowers and more!
GET 5% OFF WITH ANY ORDER PLUS FREE UK SHIPPING WITH CODE BABABOUTFIVE
From Brum with love promotes our awesome city and the awesome independent businesses that are thriving all around us by curating gift boxes that are beautiful, tasty and indulgent and packed with awesome products from small businesses. These would make wonderful gifts and there are plenty to choose from!
The ultimate cheese and wine lover’s gift! Presented in a G+J organic cotton tote bag. You will receive for £50 – 1 x bottle of premium white/red or sparkling wine, 3 x cheese (150g of each), Fuet de Vic salami (150g), 1 x Fine Cheese Co membrillo, and a box of Peters Yard crackers
Treat someone special to the Deluxe Christmas Coffee Hamper. Containing your choice of freshly roasted coffee plus a selection of indulgent treats handpicked by Blackridge Coffee, it is certain to bring joy to any coffee lover this Christmas! Priced at £29.50 and they also have loads of great hampers and coffee gifts!
This generous hamper is full of gin, mixers, copa glasses and gin chocolates – the ultimate treat for someone special. Choose a bottle of one of Shakespeare Distillery’s range of gins and add four recommended bottles of Fever-Tree tonic and two of their large gin glasses to help you get the G&Ts iced and ready to drink! They have also included 12 yummy gin chocolates, locally-produced using their own gins. £67.50
‘The Lola Hamper’ – A selection of Neals Yard Cheeses, Maison Argaud Rillettes, England Preserves Chutney, Sheridans Crackers, Allpress Organic Brown Mills Coffee + Bare Bones award-winning Colombian Christmas Chocolate.£75
‘The Wine Hamper’ – A trio of everything you need at Christmas. Gorgeous Cremant du Loire from the infamous Catherine and Pierre Breton, An outstanding new Tempranillo from dynamic new estate Finca Venta de Don Quijote + lastly wash the day down with ‘La Magendia’ from Clos Lapeyre a classic and delicious Jurançon. £75
This Christmas, treat yourself and your family to a spectacular limited edition festive hamper from Soko Patisserie. There are only a limited number of hampers available so get your pre-orders in! email Info@sokopatisserie.co.uk
The Ultimate burger kit is here from Libertine Burger (Winner of the UK’s best burger) for burger lovers, friends or family – this kit is for everyone! Priced at £39.99 it includes all you need to make the perfect burger every time 1 x Stainless steel burger smasher, 1 x Wooden handled burger scraper, 1 x Libertine Burger branded apron, 1 x Pot of Libertine Burger patty seasoning, 1 x Libertine Burger sauce bottle, 1 x Black, wicker presentation hamper and instructions to cook the perfect Libertine Burger at home.
A taleneted new Artist James Allen sells incredible shop front digital prints of Birmingham Independents like you have never seen before! These would look fantastic in your house and if you know anyone who is lover of Birmingham Independents then they definitely need one of these prints in their home!
An Architectural Illustrator and Artist that draws incredible drawings of Birmingham icons and buildings. These can be brought via Urban Giants Instagram
Born in Birmingham Artist Alexander Edwards creates these unique visions of city skylines, buildings and landmarks in and out of Birmingham. They are fantastic and you can purchase these via Alexanders website
A watercolour and fine line artist from Birmingham, Kate creates stunning Birmingham botanical prints that NEED to be in your house! Big fan of these two and Kate has plenty more on her Etsy shop
I have been a big fan of Liv’s in Solihull for some time now, they are a wonderful independent that stocks gorgeous furniture and homeware accessories. They have taken over my Christmas list this year 😛 Shop items like these wonderful decorative mugs and CHEEKY BUM vases!
The Crackling Candle Company is owned & managed by Chloe and her partner Matt. They are a boutique business based in the Heart of Worcestershire creating and hand-pouring crackling wick soy wax candles and reed diffusers. They sell lovely gift boxes and sell candles on their own – I got the chance to meet them last year and their candles are stunning! My favourite is Gingerbread!
Why not decorate your home with your favourite drinks?! Printed Weird have these fabulous mirrors that are pretty wild! There is a great variety of homeware accesories on their website that would make the perfect unqiue gift!
An independent furniture and design store right in the heart of the UK’s creative city, Birmingham. Selling beautiful furtniture and giftware such as these lovely candles and vase.
House of two trees is a wonderful design studio that brings a great selection of in-house designed products to your home! From beautifully scented candles to centrepieces where you can show off your candles! House of two trees focuses on a mix of on-trend colours, a variety of materials and contemporary styles, you are bound to find something you love here, and the candles are my favourite!
USE DISCOUNT CODE bababouttown to get 2 MEDIUM candles for £30– Offer ends 18th December 2022
Located on the Alcester road you will find plant heaven full of tropical plants, cacti, succulents and terrariums. You will be spoilt for choice here as they offer a great variety, so if you are spoilt for choice why not gift someone a voucher where they can choose whatever plants they want!
One of my favourite florists in Birmingham – Isherwood & co produce beautiful seasonal blooms that are just stunning! Leaving your loved one speechless with these – they make the perfect gift for someone who loves blooms! The flowers above, our the Florists choice bouquet and they range from £45 to £145
Little Pricks is a great place to buy unique plant accessories, there is plenty of weird and wonderful here! From Baby Yoda plant pot heads to awesome planting kits!
Green and Wild sell some lovely blooms that would brighten anyone’s Christmas and they are also putting on some fantastic Christmas wreath workshops. Teaming up with our Smith Street neighbours, Bread and Co. Refreshments will be provided to ensure a warm and convivial atmosphere and there will be skilled professional florists that will guide you through the event so you can take home your own Christmas wreath! The workshops are held in the evening and last approximately two hours. The course venue is at Bread and Co. and the cost is £70 per person.
Minima offers timeless mid-century modern furniture, contemporary lighting & designer homeware & accessories! Its great for homeware gifts and there are some lovely gifts for under £20 such as Birmingham design magazine and Hay pocket mirror-lips!
A personal love letter to Christmas and a labour of love! If you love baking, you will love this! Lil’s parlour has brought out a fabulous recipe book full of fantastic and tasty recipes that will get you and the whole family into baking! only £19.99
Battle of the Badges – Raging Bull & Kong Combo. To mark a summer we will always remember and two new city icons, I Choose Birmingham has teamed up with Birmingham Design Festival crew to produce two limited run badges. They’re selling for £8 for one or a special combo offer of both for £13
Give the gift of cake! and these are truly incredible! From the ground bakery is a vegan bakery that offers delicious bakes such as edible cookie dough, cupcakes and more! All of their bakes are free from animal products and they still taste bloody fab! They offer nationwide delivery on postal cakes and they are also available at Red Brick Market in Digbeth
Tom Woolley, a fantastic illustrator creates these fantastic City map posters of Birmingham and the surrounding neighbourhoods. For £15 you can hang this lovely print of Bournville in your house or why not Harborne? The choice is yours!
Birmingham Museum has a great range of gifts from creators and Independents for under £20. What about some good quality coffee from Quarter Horse for £7? or The Birmingham Colour Palette Mug from Stacey Barnfield for £12.50? There is plenty to choice from, go mad!
Lobeela Studio in Birmingham sells playful & sustainable home and hair accessories that don’t break the bank! From home accessories to hair accessories – these would all make lovely gifts.
Ikon Gallery has a great selection of gifts under £20 such as books, home accessories and more. Love Brum has created This book that brings together 20 inspiring walks around the mighty city of Birmingham. Another gift idea is Birmingham Legend Joe Lycett’s handy “guidebook” that will surely leave you in stitches and win at life!
WILL I EVER PEE ALONE AGAIN? – POEMS FOR MUMS BY BRUMMIE AUTHOR EMMA CONWAY
An inspiration to us all, Emma Conway, a Birmingham Blogger has created this great book full of hilarious and uplifting poems on the highs and lows of Motherhood – The perfect gift that many moms can relate to and can have a chuckle about! Available to purchase on Amazon, WHSmith, Waterstones and so on. Hardback and Audio book available too!
Our Bab Poppy has a fabulous cook book for you to dive into this Christmas to help up your cooking game! Whether you’re completely new to the kitchen or looking to elevate your basics with clever cooking tricks, this step-by-step guidance will help you nail delicious food every time and its only £10 on Amazon!
These are just gorgeous! Milan is a talented Illustrator in Birmingham and he has created these lovely Christmas cards focusing on Birmingham landmarks that are just incredible!
Get your Merry Bab Christmas cards here! Punks and Chancers are back with some brand new Christmas cards – and heres a sneak peak. These will be on sale very soon – please check with their Instagram. Made from recycled card and printed in the Midlands. Singles £2.75, packs of 3 are £6 and megabab packs of 10 are £15.
Blooming Heck is both an eco-friendly and zero-waste concept that bloomed out of the darkness that is Covid-19 by Creator Emma Stokes. Blooming Heck uses recycled envelopes and compostable vegetable starch cellophane bags to protect the products in transit, helping to drive the brand forward and be more eco-friendly. Emma’s designs are lovely and the new festive cards are a must buy this Christmas.
I love Berylune in Leamington Spa, it’s a bit of heaven for stationery and cards! I am loving the new Christmas stock, from Christmas cards to wrapping paper, Berylune is your go-to to stock up on Xmas stationery and accessories.
ENKI in Kings Heath is a lovely little gift shop and jewellers workshop. From baby clothes to pottery to Christmas cards! These are great and they offer plenty of variety as well as Christmas wrapping accessories!
Artist James Allen has created these beautiful bespoke Christmas Cards of Silver Tree Bakery in Water Orton, Sutton Coldfield. These will be available on his Etsy page and in the bakery.
Pumpkin picking, fancy dress, toffee apples, scary films, pumpkin spice – bloody everything and of course, Halloween…I feel like every year we are getting more “American” and wanting to celebrate this spooky holiday, and why not? It’s great fun! There are plenty of events on, from running from chainsaws in mazes to cuddling up to each other at night watching Hocus Pocus but with so much on, it’s hard to keep up, right? So, I put together this very handy Halloween guide for you all to find a lot of events in Birmingham and Beyond in one place! Just call me…Babenstein? (Insert akward face)
This blog will be updated weekly! and if you would like your event to be featured on here just let me know!
FUNADULT EVENTS
LUNA SPRINGS SCARE MAZE
10th October to 2nd November 2024
Luna Springs presents MELTDOWN – Victors revenge part 2, Digbeth’s first Indoor Immersive Horror Experience. Dare to enter the realm of terror? Confront the horrors that await you in this nuclear plant meltdown and experience a horror maze like no other in Luna Springs in Digbeth. Tickets from £10.
Test your knowledge on all things Halloween, from classic horror to the history behind the spookiest holiday at The Crown pub in Digbeth. The Quiz starts at 7pm and tickets are £5pp
The castle courtyard transforms into a frightful festival of entertainment as you prepare for an evening you’ll never forget. There’s terror at every twist and turn across three thrilling scare attractions within the Castle and grounds. Tickets are from £23pp
Escape live have some great and VERY SCARY escape rooms that are great to experience with your loved ones! Whether its escaping the Jack The Ripper or piecing together clues to help Amy escape Room 13! You’ll be in for a right scare!
COFFINS, CATACOMBS AND COMBWORKS WITH COFFIN WORKS
Thursday 31st October and Thursday 2nd November 2023
Experience a taster tour of the award-winning Coffin Works Museum, an exclusive trip inside Warstone Lane Catacombs and then on to Arch 13, one of the Jewellery Quarter’s trendiest spots, to finish with a signature seasonal cocktail. Event starts at 6pm and tickets are £30.
Pick Pumpkins under the glow of the moon, adventure through Hattons creepy cabins and, though they can’t promise it won’t get a bit tricky with the residents there, treat yourself to a cheeky pint or a creepy cocktail in their bar and enjoy live music.You can also combine Pumpkin Hollow with their Spooky Drive-In Cinema and watch a hair-raising movie like Scream!
As the nights get longer, Scarefest beckons. On October’s spookiest dates, tiptoe into Alton Towers Resort for all sorts of creepy scares and shocks as its award-winning Scarefest returns for 2023 with live entertainment for all ages and our award-winning spooktacular scare experiences for the bravest of souls. Open until 9pm each day daring guests can face our head-spinning, hair-raising rides and attractions in darkness including Wicker Man and The Smiler!
During the workshop, you will learn the basics of candle making with Ellas Magical Garden: how to choose the right wicks, waxes, and oils, as well as how to use your creativity by adding your own colours and fragrances to make something special for your own home or as a gift. You will be able to make a scented (or unscented) candle in an upcycled jar and decorate it with autumnal flowers, leaves, and spices! While you wait for your candle to set, Kilo Ziro will teach you how to make a fantastic autumnal cocktail from pumpkin waste in the second part of their workshop! Tickets are £43.
Celebrate Halloween at Sarehole Mill with their spooky fantasy comic book workshop.This two hour session will begin with a brief tour of the Sarehole Mill grounds as you hear a few spooky stories about the local area. They’ll then guide you through the fundamentals of story telling and comic book techniques that will help you tell your own unique and engaging story. Theme your story for Halloween, what spooky tales can you come up with? Use collage, watercolour and ink to create vibrant and exciting pictures to imagine impossible and fantastic worlds and adventures. All materials provided and your creations are yours to take home at the end of the workshop. This workshop is for 7-15 year olds. £7 per ticket.
Rymans have a great variety of spooky workshops for you to enjoy and get creative this Season! From flower design to Halloween swag bag block workshops! Check them all out below.
Get ready to throw it back in style! The Old Crown in Digbeth is hosting a 90’s & Noughties party, so dust off those iconic Y2K outfits and head down to Digbeth’s Oldest Haunt for an epic night of nostalgia! DJ Shaun Walsh will be dropping all your favorite throwback hits to get your zombie feet moving, while DJ Ross Carley kicks off the night with killer beats! Grab your tickets now and start planning your outfit—there’s a prize for the best get-up!
EIGHTY EIGHT MILES – BACK TO THE 80’S HALLOWEEN PARTY- AT THE NIGHT OWL
FRIDAY 13TH OCTOBER – FROM 7PM
EIGHTY EIGHT MILES (Back to the 80s) Halloween Party at The Nightowl in Digbeth! Join The Nightowl as they go back to the 80’s on Friday 13th October from 7pm throwing the ultimate 80s bash With special guests such as Leah Wilcox, Overpass DJ Set, Genevieve Miles and so many more.
THE DEADSHOTS VS THE FRENZIES: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL AT THE ACTRESS AND BISHOP
FRIDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2023 FROM 7PM – 11PM
It’s double trouble at The Actress & Bishop with two great bands putting on a spooktaculer Halloween bash! Brummie legends The Frenzies are bringing their wild rock’n’roll surf and rockabilly to The Actress. The Frenzies have been a scene favourite for many years, their talent & energy is unmatched! The Deadshots are a young, raw rockabilly 4 piece based in Worcestershire. Having played up and down the country, shared stages with some of the UK’s big acts on the rocking scene and being locked down for far too long, they are ready to bring their high energy show to Birmingham.
Bongo Bingo’s are putting on a Spooky daytime bash! Head to Dale End and play a raucous round of the game with the chance to win epic prizes and money. Along with a bustling atmosphere and cool venue, you and your pals can look forward to a scary soundtrack, cheesy singalongs and show-stopping dance offs. Tickets are from £12
The Flappers renowned Halloween Fancy Dress Party returns this year, taking place on the night of Saturday, October 28th, from 8 PM to 2 AM. They’re giving it a fresh twist with a complete makeover, featuring brand-new decorations, exciting themes, and a significant addition: TWO ROOMS OF MUSIC! Yes, you heard that correctly – they’re opening up their downstairs venue, complete with a DJ and absolutely FABULOUS decorations, so prepare to join The Flapper for a thrilling undead disco.
Get ready to celebrate Halloween in spooktacular style this year! Kick&Play is taking over Dropshot Digbeth on Saturday, October 28th, 2023, from 10pm to 3am for a Halloween bash you won’t want to miss. This 23+ event is costume-only, so get your fangs and creative costumes ready for a night of thrills and chills. Join Dropshot for an incredible DJ lineup, spooky games, exciting giveaways, a costume parade, and trick-or-treat stations that will keep the Halloween spirit alive all night long.
Grab your dancing shoes, put your Halloween costume on, and prepare to watch 3 DJs battle it out to the Monster Mash. Back by popular demand, our Silent Disco night will be a night to remember so grab your friends, hit the dancefloor and enjoy everything Millennium Point has to offer. Millennium Point have teamed up with silent disco experts Silent Noize, to give you the best music throughout the night. Tickets are £12
THE NIGHTOWL “A NIGHTMARE ON TRINITY STREET” HALLOWEEN PARTY
Prepare for a spine-tingling night of nostalgia and frights at The Night Owl’s legendary Halloween bash! Join The Nightowl on Saturday, October 28th, for “A Nightmare On Trinity Street: An 80s Horror Halloween Party.” Every town has an Elm Street, and this is theirs! Expect hair-raising tunes with DJs spinning 80s horror movie soundtracks and alternative 80s hits, spine-chilling props, captivating visuals, and so much more. Dress to impress, and you might just win a prize for the best 80s Halloween costume. Grab your early bird tickets for £6 or secure your spot in advance for £8—more tickets available at the door if you dare! It’s going to be a night you won’t soon forget.
It’s BIG, it’s BAD, it’s gonna be ZEHR WILD – dust off your lederhosen and celebrate OKTOBERFEST with Luna Springs!For three weeks They will be bringing you the ultimate Oktoberfest vibes with incredible Bavarian decor, a sh*t-load of steins and their funky Bavarian band playing all the bangers with a brassy twist – promising to have you singing, spinning, and stomping on the tables.Tickets are £10 per person and includes a welcome stein and entry from 8pm – close.
The spectacular Oktoberfest celebrations at Albert’s Schloss in Birmingham go beyond its renowned bier palace, cook haus, and bakery. They also offer an array of magnificent live entertainment options to get you in the mood for Oktoberfest!
Prepare for a mouthwatering celebration featuring delicious food, refreshing drinks, and a lively atmosphere. Whether you’re a devoted foodie, a beer aficionado, or simply someone who loves a good time, the Oktoberfest Food Fest guarantees an unforgettable experience for all. The event will showcase the best of Birmingham’s vibrant street food scene, with carefully curated food stalls such as Nanny Bills, Fat Snags, Yardbirds, That’s Mature, Filthy Butties, Kebab Cartel, Surf & Slice, and Baked in Brick. Together, they’ll present an irresistible menu full of Oktoberfest specials, from sizzling bratwursts to delectable chicken schnitzels and everything in between. This festival promises to take you on a delicious journey that will satisfy even the most discerning palate.
But that’s not all! The Oktoberfest Food Fest will also host a beer hall, featuring an impressive lineup of German beers that perfectly complement the mouthwatering Oktoberfest-themed food. So, raise your stein and immerse yourself in the spirit of Oktoberfest as you discover new and exciting flavours.
Get ready for a fantastic time filled with beer and Bavarian cheer at Birmingham Bierkeller! Their bar is hosting an incredible Oktoberfest celebration every Saturday until October 28th. That’s six whole weeks of lederhosen, steins, and non-stop fun! Experience a unique Bierkeller twist on traditional Oompah-inspired songs and games, enjoy live music, and dance the night away at our late-night afterparty that keeps going until the early hours! Join them for an unforgettable Oktoberfest experience
For two weeks, the festivities will take over Birmingham’s oldest pub, The Old Crown. Don your Dirndl and Lederhosen and join The Crown for a night of live music, entertainment, and party games with live performances, authentic Oktoberfest beer from Paulaner Brauerei München, delicious German food, and a fully decorated Oktoberfest venue. Group bookings are available, email alex@theoldcrown.com to find out more.
Thinktank have a great selection of spooky events for your children to enjoy this Halloween. From spooky object handling, crafts and shows, to their annual Spooky Science Family Night.
SEALIFE CENTRE BIRMINGHAM – ASCARIUM TRICKS OR TREATS
FROM 8TH OCTOBER TO 5TH NOVEMBER 2023
Follow an immersive trail to help the witches and warlocks find their missing potion ingredients and discover some of the spookiest creatures of the sea as you explore our underwater world! Make your way to the Witch’s lair where they will cast their spell to open the treasure chest revealing a special reward!
Families can experience a stage show, choc-full of tricks and treats this Halloween. In the spookiest live stage show in town, be entertained by Freddo the Frog in his frightful Spooktacular. Expect ghoulish games, spooky songs and some devilish dancing. This ‘Fangtastic’ Family Fun Show is not to be missed.
This October bring your little monsters to LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Birmingham and get into the spirit at the ultimate Halloween adventure! There are so many fang-tastic activities to sink your teeth into as well as two awesome rides, lots of LEGO build & play zones and a 4D cinema experience at the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground!
BEASTS AND MYTHICAL CREATURES AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS
28TH – 31ST OCTOBER 2023
Get ready for magical surprises this Halloween half-term as you adventure through Birmingham Botanical Gardens and encounter interactive beasts, fairies, trolls, wizards and more! This family-friendly event is a memorable experience suitable for all ages, tickets are available now.
Dizzy Kizzy Discos is back this Halloween Halfterm at Strawberry Fields with her fantastic spooky silent disco/games/competitions/treats and Strawberry Fields is bringing a Halloween themed buffet for the children to enjoy.Kizzy has confirmed 3/4 yr olds are able to book they may need parental assistance with headsets. Fancy dress is of course welcome but not essential. Strawberry Fields Bar and Pizza oven will be open for any parents attending. Please note children must be accompanied by an adult and stay onsite during the party.
Why not treat your children to an exciting indoor family dance party showcasing house, garage, and drum and bass beats? This event will feature talented dancers, captivating performers, a cascade of bubbles, thrilling confetti blasts, mesmerizing multi-coloured lasers, entertaining parachute games, and creative face painting.Mark your calendars for the festivities, set to kick off at 4 pm on October 8th at Zumhof Biergarten. It’s an experience your kids won’t want to miss!
Experience spine-chilling thrills this Halloween as you venture into the eerie Haunted Manor at Drayton Manor. Prepare yourself for live entertainment, hauntingly spooky trails, and unforgettable moments.As the sun sets and darkness envelops the park, brace yourself for spine-tingling scares that will send shivers down your spine. Enjoy heart-pounding rides under the cloak of night, while a live DJ provides a chilling soundtrack to your evening. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to savor special spooky food and drinks that will add a sinister twist to your dining experience. To cap off each night of terror, a spectacular fireworks finale will light up the skies, leaving you with lasting memories of this hauntingly good time. Mark your calendar for this unforgettable experience, running from October 28th to November 5th. Don’t miss the chance to brave the Haunted Manor at Drayton Manor this Halloween season.
Zellig presents in collaboration with Digbeth Estate “DIGBETH HALLOWEEN OPEN DAY” – showcasing everything Digbeth! Sample a little bit of Digbeth in and around Gibb Street from midday till 6 pm. With live music presented by Punch Records and Simmerdown Festival, an Arts Fair from Digbeth Arts Space, local pop-ups, exclusive offers, street food and more! This event is free!
See the Sarehole Pumpkins float on the mill pond as the light fades in this magical Halloween event. Fun, family friendly performances which celebrate the wonderful history of Sarehole Mill and the magical spookiness of the Halloween season awaits you! Great fun for the whole family!
Kings Heath Artisan Market is back on 8th October on York Road in Kings Heath. Expect a lot of fantastic Independent makers, Artists and Producers all in Kings Heath! There is sure to be a few Spooky suprises along the way!
Explore the most frightful places in Birmingham, with their stories of restless spirits, cruel murders and menacing ghouls. Follow step-by-step instructions to reach the next place, solve the clue and get a creepy story. Find out the real life stories of dreadful events and people who lived in these places. The perfect experience to do with a friend. Fight the fright and get the clues right. Children aged 15 and under can play free of charge with the purchase of an adult ticket
This Halloween bakers will learn how to create the PEEK-A-BOO Cake. You’ll be having a monstrous amount of fun making buttercream and mischievous fondant decorations to adorn your four layer, delicious cake.
West Midlands Safari Park will be putting on some great spooky activities for the whole family to enjoy such as pumpkin picking, a spooky magic show, rides, safari and more. Bookings are advised!
Saturday 26, Sunday 27, Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 October
Prepare to be spooked as the Museum opens its doors to little devils and ghouls! Bring the whole family along to enjoy a night of trick or treats around their historic shops and houses and experience thrilling street entertainment.
The whole of October Cattows Farm will be transforming into a HALLOWEEN FARM! Enjoy the UK’s best Pick Your Own Pumpkin Experience with over 300,000 Pumpkins of all colours, shapes & sizes plus spooky experiences such as haunted maze, trick or treat street, the lost fantasy world and more.
Saturday 26, Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st October
Are you brave enough to ride the Ghost Train? There will be tricks, treats and fun for the whole family as you start your night of frights at Kidderminster Station, before boarding the train into your reserved seats for a ride out into the night. Scary characters sneak through the train’s corridors as you pass through haunted stations to Arley – but will you make it back alive?
I keep seeing burger places popping up all over the Midlands – Hanbao, Burgerboi, Burger and Sauce – the list goes on. Since the pandemic we have become even more obsessed with skyscraper burgers that require a chainsaw to get through. Fat Hippo at first look on Instagram seemed to be another joint serving up these monster burgers stacked up high and sharpened to death, they look pretty darn good but, do they taste as good as they look?
Fat Hippo opened in Birmingham city centre around three months ago and has received mixed reviews. I visited in its second week of opening. I never wrote a review about my experience as I was quite pissed at the time but all I can remember is that it was ok, but I did receive a soggy bun, sometimes we settle for anything when we have gone a bit mad on the pop! One thing I remember is feeling completely confused, as the burger I ordered didn’t look like the one that was advertised on their Instagram….
So, come one Tuesday I asked you guys where you wanted me to review next and Fat Hippo was the number 1 answer so off I trotted.
I arrived around lunchtime on a weekday. The restaurant was heaving and there was a queue outside. I waited for around three minutes then one of the waitresses saw me and took me to my table. My first thought? God I must of shrunk or something in the last two months because I don’t remember the table coming up to my neck last time…the tables are well high or maybe its because I am a shortarse.
The restaurant is loud and a little bit on the crowded side. The lady serving me was quick to serve me and patient when I was looking through the menu and was questioning some of the options. I wasn’t in the mood to fanny around with my food, so I avoided the monster burgers that total up to £13-£16 with 2 x pattys, I moved over to the “Fast hippos” that just include one patty and decided to go for the Little American for £7.50 that comes with seasoned fries. I also eyed up the trash browns and thought what the heck, let’s do it.
You can see how high up the table is to my camera aha
Diet coke costing £2.50 came first followed by the trash browns that are deep fried tater tots with liquid cheese and Cajun onion strings. Now I thought the strings were bacon, not sure where the taste of bacon came from….and they were also a little bit on the chewy side but other than that the tater tots were really nice. Plenty of cheese and didn’t come completely soaked in it, which I liked as I can’t stand soggy food.
It was a ten-minute wait for the burger after I finished half of my trash browns, my belly was starting to bubble already from that liquid cheese – thank god I was close to the toilet. The burger came and I had to laugh because when you look at Fat Hippos Instagram it is full of these monstrous piled high burgers or they just look pretty presentable, like the Vogue of all burgers however this was far from that, it looked a bit of a mess to be honest, however, when I started tucking in I actually enjoyed it.
Fat Hippo promotional image for Little America (left) and what I got (right)
Single beef patty, cheese, pickles, ketchup + American mustard. The beef patty was nice and juicy, plenty of cheese and gherkins and they got that ketchup and mustard Maccy-Ds combo going on. The chips were well seasoned, and I sat back and couldn’t really pick at anything really for £7.50 – I used to pay around £6 for a Burger King meal and was 9 times out of 10 disappointed with what turned up. The only thing I had a problem with was presentation and obviously you can see why.
A lot of people complain about the service being slow or the staff not knowing what’s going on most of the time, but I didn’t experience that. The lady who served me was an absolute delight, really friendly and always checked up on me – I was a lone ranger eating on my own and sometimes surrounded in a packed-out restaurant you can easily be forgotten about, but not here.
I certainly can’t say my experience with Fat Hippo was as bad that some people make out. I enjoyed my meal, I may have wobbled home and had a good sesh on the bog after it, but I was happily full. The problem with Fat Hippo is that it is completely over-shadowed by burger joints that don’t offer just “okay” burgers, they offer incredible burgers such as Meat Shack, Bonehead and OPM. Fat Hippo can’t compete with these big boys and so, I feel they can easily be forgotten. Many people have high expectations of Fat Hippo as well with their fast expansion and faithful following on social channels, I certainly was one of them. So, I can totally understand people being a bit miffed off that they are not getting the burger that is advertised and leave feeling they were expecting a bit more.
Would I go back again? Maybe not for a while, there are better options in the City but that doesn’t mean it should be totally struck off. Looking around in the restaurant people were enjoying it, they are willing to pay the prices and I feel Fat Hippo will follow in the footsteps of Five Guys. It’s fast food that doesn’t exactly break the bank and provides a pleasant enough dining experience, and for that you can’t grumble.
Traditional Spanish tapas is one of my favourite cuisines. Previously my go-to was Don Diego in Sutton Coldfield but that sadly closed before the Pandemic. I enjoyed many nights in there swinging back sangria and chomping on Don’s meatballs. Before you start to think you have clicked on the wrong link, let’s quickly move on to Alioli, a new Spanish tapas restaurant that has opened up in Solihull’s Touchwood shopping centre.
I was kindly invited by Alioli to experience the gypsy culture of Andalusia through their tapas dishes. Was this the tapas restaurant I had been waiting for? Well I am not telling you yet, read on you little scamp!
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
Thursday lunchtime James and I arrived and had our pick of the tables at the back of the restaurant. Alioli is decorated beautifully throughout, very traditional with splashes of red yellow and blue. I found it quite romantic in there – definitely getting those Friday night date feels. I loved the variety the menu offered but not so much the price – nearly £10 for a couple of prawns in lemon and parsley?! I wanted to find out how special these prawns were but unfortunately they never arrived! I only realised when I got home and noticed on the bill. I must have been distracted by the “Oreo Cookies” £7.50 which were grilled Murcilla de Burgos (black pudding with rice) and goats cheese, finished with paprika alioli. I am not a fan of black pudding, but it turned out to be one of my favourites of the evening.
We ordered the Chistorra al vino which is chorizo cooked in red wine £8 which was beautiful and with a piece of sourdough dipped in the sauce…It was Verdaderamente maravillosa (meaning truly wonderful in English!)
We shared the Tabla de Ibericos, a selection of cured meat which didn’t blow me away at all, to be honest some of the meat didn’t taste right to me, almost like it had been left out for too long. The dish was priced at £17 accompanied by some tiny breadsticks. I didn’t really understand what to do with them as there was no sauce that came with the selection, and my attempt to wrap a piece of ham round one failed miserably.
The Patatas Bravas were very nice, an improvement on the little tiddly ones swimming in sauce that you often find in the not so traditional tapas places. Only a little bit of brava and alioli sauce so you could really taste those crispy coated fluffy potatoes. Another dish that I enjoyed was Berenjena con Miel £6 which is crispy aubergine sticks dipped in a blob of alioli. It really took me by surprise as I am not a big fan of aubergine. Nice and crisp and wonderfully seasoned.
Service was good, I noticed a few others mentioned they received bad customer service on their visits, but I didn’t experience this at all. Very friendly, very helpful and the staff were up for a chat. We ordered mocktails: A Mediterranean Blue which was elderflower, grapefruit, Lemon verbena and cucumber, and the Flamenco Red which was raspberry, red cherry, rose and cranberries. Both were light and refreshing, great drinks to cool you down in the heat.
Overall my experience of Alioli was a pleasant one. It’s sadly not the tapas restaurant I had been praying for but it’s decent. It is quite pricey, so those on a budget may order less and leave feeling hungry. Personally, with the exception of a few dishes, I struggle to see this as good value for money. Of course Tapas can be very pricey, but I have paid around £40 at other Tapas restaurants and have felt very full and satisfied, something was missing here. My bill came to around £55 and I left feeling I could eat 2 x Stripclub burger’s from down the road. Perhaps we picked the wrong dishes and I always think new restaurants should get a second chance so Alioli will be on my “Give it another shot” list to try out in the next few months.
If there is something that Birmingham is in short supply of, it’s quality afternoon teas. We sadly lost our champion “The Edgbaston Hotel” this year and there are not many I can recommend other than Hotel Du Vin and Qavali. My biggest pet hate with afternoon teas is that many businesses think it’s more important to shove a load of sweet treats on there and totally forget about the savoury options – cue the basic bitch finger sarnies! Come on, its 2022 – let’s think outside the box. I have struggled for ages to find a well-balanced afternoon tea that hits the spot…until now.
Currently hidden behind those pesky roadworks at the Custard Factory, it is easily missed and it’s a great shame because this place is a true gem. What was once the Clean Kilo, a zero-waste supermarket that focuses on reducing waste and your carbon footprint has now transformed into the “UK’s first zero waste café bar and refill taproom”. I have to say, as soon as I stepped in Kilo Ziro I was blown away at how beautifully decorated it is throughout. The 1920s aesthetic sits at odds with the grunge exterior of this corner of Digbeth. But delightfully so. Kilo Ziro is not afraid to stand out.
Kilo Ziro’s vision is to offer THE BEST Afternoon Tea in Birmingham but have they done that? Kiro Ziro’s afternoon tea is a celebration of small businesses who have thrown in their own creations to create a delicious and special offering. Contributors include private chef Artisan Epicurean, local bakery Sunshine Bakehouse, Holly & The Ivy from The Moseley Farmers Market, Hundred House Coffee and Born Wild Tea.
When the afternoon tea arrived, I nearly jumped for joy – “Is that a load of savoury I can see?!” You know when you have those moments where time slows down and everything goes really quiet like that film, Big Fish…I had one of those moments not with a man or a dog, but with a sandwich. I was just so happy to see a good balance of savoury and sweet, and deserts that I actually love the look of – I was sick of rolling up fruit cakes and chocolate brownies in tissue and binning them when getting home.
SAVOURIES
Goats cheese, shallot marmalade and pistachio tart.
Provolone piccante and roasted pepper piadinas
Applewood smoked cheese with chutney and chive scones
Vegan sausage rolls with poppy seeds
Home-made traditional quiche
SWEETS
Freshly baked scone with clotted cream and jam
Victoria cream sponge cake round
Rich chocolate, biscuit & sultana tiffin
Chocolate, salted caramel & Honeycomb tart
You get quite a generous offering here at Kilo Ziro. Any by now you’ve probably realised this is a vegetarian afternoon tea. However, I am a meat-eater and I certainly didn’t miss it. The vegan sausage roll was my favourite as well as the victoria cream sponge cake which was utterly gorgeous. All savoury options hit the spot and delivered on satisfying my savoury needs. Maybe they could hold back on the cheese if they want to cut back – I do feel they are being overly generous with their offerings. But when that is the only criticism you can think of you know you’re on to a good thing.
The traditional afternoon tea includes a choice of tea, coffee, or iced coffee which was amazing value for £25. We decided to try the afternoon tea with cocktails which is priced at £34 and comes with hot drinks too. They use local and sustainable ingredients and work with many distilleries plus craft beer and cider brewers to reduce their carbon footprint. It was nice to receive a bit of an education on this during our dining experience as I have to admit, I know very little about managing waste. We asked our server for a cocktail recommendation and boy did he deliver. I can’t remember the name of the one I had but it was one of the server’s own creations paying homage to his mother’s homemade rhubarb crumble. Light, fruity and with delicate notes of honey, it was delicious. My sister wanted to get in on the action but couldn’t drink so he made a mocktail version of the cocktail for her which was a really nice touch.
We left with full bellies, smiles on our faces and me finally at peace that I’d found a great afternoon tea in the city. Given the bargain price of this afternoon tea, the quantity of treats you get and the delightful drinks on offer, I truly believe that it is the best afternoon tea in Birmingham. Book it immediately.
The most confusing relationship I have ever had with a restaurant has to be with Mediterranean eatery “Noels” by The Mailbox in Birmingham. When they invited me to try out their new Summer menu, I was a bit apprehensive due to the fact my last visit was a disaster and the one before that was barely average.
I’ll admit when it first opened it had promise but two disappointing meals in a row left me feeling frustrated with the place and I had almost added it to my ‘never again’ blacklist. However, something was telling me to give them another chance so when Noel’s reached out to me a year after my last visit, I gave it a third shot.
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
I visited on a Tuesday lunchtime and it was gravely quiet. I was shown to my table and given a menu straight away. You can’t deny that Noel’s is a beautiful restaurant; chic interior throughout with pops of floral. They must get a bit frustrated with the number of guests taking photos for the ‘gram’ – I, of course, was one of them! I ordered a cocktail to start, opting for the Cherry Pop that many Instagrammers will fight over, and surprise surprise, it was pretty good!
For starter I ordered the hand-dived scallops with cauliflower purée, vin blanc sauce, caviar and salmon roe for £13.95. Cooked perfectly, fresh, and full of flavour – a great start. It took around 10 minutes for the starter to come out and the staff were pretty quick with drinks. I ordered another cocktail with my pan-fried monkfish tail in a basil and lime sauce for £23.95. I ordered the Rose Gold Gimlet which was gorgeous and very sweet! Another stunning cocktail almost too pretty to touch!
The monkfish was cooked to perfection but I could do with a bit more of a kick to the sauce! The monkfish comes on its own and for £23.95 I expected some carbs or veg but you have to order separately. I opted for the asparagus with parma ham & parmesan at £5.95 and chips at £3.95, both were great pleasant enough but when you add it up it meant the main dish was around £34 which was pretty pricey.
I was quite stuffed after my main but I was eager for a sweet fix! So, I went for the petit fours for £6 and a flat white…and if you watch my stories you’ll know what happened with me and the flat white. The petit fours were very nice, small but sweet and were just enough – I am not really a sweet fan so I could only polish off three. Perfectly fine but I feel given how much Noel’s is charging it really is lacking with that extra special quality.
Staff are polite and easy to talk to, they really made the experience for me as during my last visits the staff have been less then friendly. They always checked up on me, asked me if I needed any more drinks, they were really attentive but still gave me my space.
Overall it seems that there has been changes at Noel’s in order to improve the service and quality of food. The scallops are a must and the cocktails are fabulous here. The only negative for me is value for money. Noel’s is competing with others in the city centre that can offer the same or better-quality food for a lot less. However, I can see they are trying to improve things and this latest visit was definitely the best by far. No restaurant should be hung drawn and quartered over one sub-standard visit, or even two. I finally feel at peace with Noels and I am pretty chuffed to say that I will be going back again.
PLEASE NOTE
I recently went back to Noels due to this visit being an AD/Gifted experience I wanted to see if the experience would be the same, and it was. I recieved great customer service, food was very good and overall it was a very enjoyable dining experience. Yes Restaurants can change, they can improve! I believe in 3rd/4th chances – Call me a fool, I dont care because it was worth it.
Here it is! Bab about towns 2022 fathers’ day gift guide full of wonderful and fantastic Indepedent gifts to impress your Dads and become the favourite child. From meals out to hampers to festival tickets – There is something for every Dad in this gift guide. Remember to shop Independent and support all these incredible businesses and give the gift of an Independent gem this Fathers day!
Please note I am still adding to this gift guide and if you would like to be added please email bababouttown@gmail.com
FATHERS DAY MEALSAND DEALS
THREE COURSE MENU FOR £60pp
Executive Chef, Chris Emery, has created an exclusive three-course menu for Sunday 18th June. Choose from the likes of Porc, Slow cooked saddleback pork belly, caramelised apple or 28 day aged Cumbrian sirloin,both served with seasonal vegetables. Then, take your pick from our indulgent dessert trolley!
Why not treat your Dad to a traditional Sunday Roast this Father’s Day? Ju Ju’s bespoke menu is sure to delight your Dad and the rest of the family with hearty cooking, locally sourced ingredients and the finest wines and local beers! Enjoy 2 courses for £22 or 3 courses for £25.
Tierra in Jewellery Quarter are celebrating Fathers day with this pretty sweet deal where Dads get a free dessert with their meal! If they are a massive fan of tacos then this place is for them!
The perfect present for Dads who love beer, A tour around Attics shiny new brewery.The crew behind Attic will take you around the bits you wouldn’t normally get to see, talk you through how they make the beer and give you two half-pints in the taproom to taste the final product.
A 3 day celebration of Folk, World and Roots in one of the most beautiful festival sites in the UK Moseley Park, Birmingham on 2nd-4th September Tickets available here
MILAN ILLUSTRATOR SUMMER ART CLASSES
Talented Birmingham Illustrator Milan is offering drawing & painting classes at Selly Manor include a range of supported personal projects. Develop freehand drawing & use proportional and observational techniques, including a grid system to plan your portrait. You will be introduced to shading, layering and blending techniques (this includes colour theory and paint mixing) to produce a highly realistic portrait, including tips and tools required to produce a photo-real portrait!
Is your Dad a bit of a joker or just enjoys a good laugh? The Glee Club is the perfect gift for those who enjoy a good laugh. There are various comedy nights on aswell as gift vouchers available to purchase, Give the gift of laughter this Fathers day.
he Dishoom cookery book – and highly subjective guide to Bombay – paired with a selection of essential accompaniments to cook Bombay comfort food and café favourites in your own home. This cookbook hamper includes the Dishoom cookery book and matching tote bag, Dishoom Tea Towel, Dishoom Masala Dabba, Urad Dal (for the much-loved House Black Daal), and Dishoom Chilli Chutney.
If you know, you know! Rub me Tender are serving up these epic rubs for your meats to make them banging! Priced at £12.49, these are for the Dads who love to barbeque!
Do you know a Dad who is a hot sauce lover and want to grab them the perfect gift? Well then, the Pip’s Hot Sauce Taster Set, containing 4 of our Great taste Award winners plus one extra, is just what your looking for. Each taster set comes with a 50ml bottle of our finest inc; Boca Grande (the tangy hot pineapple one), La Boca del Diablo (the classic smoky one), Feugo del Verde (the milder sweet one), La Barbacoa (the BBQ one with bite) and the Nagatropolis (the really really hot one).
Limited edition collaboration packagage with baked treats, Birmingham brewery beers and a Blooming Heck Fathers day card. £60 for 2 people or £90 for 4 people, delivered within a four mile radius of Harborne. Please DM Artisan Epicurean to order.
AWARD-WINNING confectionery made in England, from fudge bundles to Irish cream fudge sauces. If your Dad loves a bit of fudge then they will love Sweatmeat Inc.
Because everyone loves a hamper especially a Grace + James one! If your Dads a big cheese and wine fan then I would recommend having a shop online as they have a great variety of cheese and wine gifts that would make any Dad chuffed to bits!
If you are searching for the perfect Fathers Day gift, then Coppice have something for everyone here! They have hampers to cater for all tastes, from Coffee & Tea to Fizz & Red Wine! You can shop for them online or in store (Middleton)
Grab our Fathers Day gift box with 4 Brummie beers, a wooden beer mat and a special postcard.You could even add a pair of socks or switch it up for a full case of Brummie beers.
THE INDIAN STREATERY HOUSE BEER BREWED BY BIRMINGHAM BREWING CO. A pale ale with a quintessentially Indian mango flavour. The beer delivers a strong tropical presence from the mango which dances elegantly on top of the citrus hops with soft bitter undertones!
Give the gift of bloody good beer this Fathers day, Infinity Brewing have got some awesome gift cubes of their beer plus packs of 12 where you can pick your own beer and mix it up a bit!
Freedom Brewery in Staffordshire have got some awesome beer bundles to really spoil your Dad this Fathers day, How about this cool bundle of one can of each core Freedom beer, a tasting glass, a pack of Olly’s Pretzels, and a Freedom postcard all for £14.99?!
A great gift for those Dads with green fingers, The Jungle Club is a fantastic plant shop in Moseley that offers a wide variety of house plants, cacti & Succulents, Pots and Planters. Too much to choose from? then why dont you purchase a gift voucher instead so they can pick themselves!
Ikon Gallery have a great variety of gifts from books to stationery to art prints to clothing – You will easily find a great fathers day present in here!
There are some getaways that will stick with you for many years to come, this is one of them. This couldn’t have come at a better time as the week before I was feeling so down and out, to be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to go…Thank god, I did. Scenery that you could only imagine appearing in the movies, breath-taking views and a getaway that worked wonders for my mind, body and soul.
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
THE APARTMENT
Located in Waterhead, across Lake Windermere and Ambleside Pier on your doorstep, you couldn’t get a more perfect location. It’s a 3-hour journey from Birmingham and we found the journey on a Friday morning quite easy-going. Built in the 1980s, Romney Grange is located in a prestigious development on the previous site of the Romney Hotel. There is parking available and also visitor parking on the next level, checking in is very easy and within five minutes we were in. The apartment offers two en-suite bedrooms, spacious living, and stunning views across Lake Windermere As the door opens, our eyes lit up and we both dropped our bags in amazement. The first thing that comes to mind is how stunning this apartment is and how HUGE it is, you could fit a party of 30 and more in here. Beautiful throughout, each room is decorated to the highest standards and the apartment offers westerly views over the lake and onto the Langdale pikes, as well as far-reaching southerly views down Lake Windermere itself. Sliding doors lead from the lounge onto the balcony, creating a private outdoor space to relax and unwind, this was perfect for our morning coffee. The apartment was spotless from top to bottom, not even Kim Woodburn would pick up a speck of dirt in here! The kitchen/dining area was my favourite room especially when the sun was going down which was beautiful. The living room was so spacious, I think on one sofa you could fit a family of six on – I looked like a right little hobbit on it, it even made my partner James who is 6 ft 6 look tiny! Everything you need is there from extra towels to milk to an interactive guide on the iPad – Which came in very handy as Natalie (The Owner) provided all the best recommendations from restaurants to bars to walks in the area – I hardly did any investigating at all! On a table, there were maps, guidebooks and everything you need to feel comfortable and prepared for your trip to the Lakes. The bedrooms were also stunning, nice and spacious with en-suites. That bath was utter bliss and yes, I went to town with the bubble bath. Walk-in showers that provided plenty of space to wash and do the Gangnam style dance. James couldn’t believe he could fit under the shower as a tall lad he struggles with life 90% of the time so, it was nice to see him get excited about this. Plenty of wardrobe space is available and each room provided a lovely view of the Countryside.
LOCATION
Waterhead is an ideal location; it is utterly charming and the perfect starting point for your Lakes getaway! The Pier is stunning and your able to travel to different parts of Lake Windermere via boat which came in very handy – We did use the boat and we also found travelling from car was pretty easy to do too. There is bus stops right outside the apartment making it extremely easy to visit other places such as Grasmere, Bowness and Hawkshead. Travelling around from the apartment I can guarantee you will find it extremely easy. I will do a full Lake District guide on this providing bar, restaurant and things to do recommendations – keep a look out for this over the next month. There was a lovely little coffee shop just outside the apartment (literally opposite) where we popped down for a morning coffee and sandwich, it was lovely, and they do a banging cheese and onion cob! Also, opposite the apartment was a fish and chip shop, restaurant, pet shop, and post office.
AMBLESIDE
You can walk to Ambleside town centre from Waterhead – It will take you 10 minutes. A lovely little town perfect to have a pint, a little shop and enjoy a lovely cooked meal. For food, I would recommend Lucy’s on a plate where I believe I found the bargain of the century – two courses for £20 where the food was just WOW! Baby Bobotie – EH? I thought what the heck is this reading the menu but then I was politely told it’s curried mince topped with egg custard, GENIUS! For mains I had the Lamb Tagine – I was lambing mad and totally cured of my lamb obsession after eating it – truly wonderful stuff from Lucy’s. Plenty of pubs you can pop into for a pint or tea rooms for a good cream team so I would recommend popping down to Ambleside.
SLEEP/NOISE
I was spoilt for choice, as I had two bedrooms to choose from. I can confirm both beds offer a comfortable sleep, my back never felt that good after waking up! In regard to noise, I found the apartment to be very quiet, I rarely heard anyone. Mostly every morning I went onto the balcony with a cup of coffee taking in the views, I was able to write which is something I have been struggling for a while to really concentrate on, but I just couldn’t stop my pen continuously hitting off my page. Fully engrossed in my writing, I have to thank Natalie for that! A perfect place for struggling Artists that’s for sure!
HOSTS
Natalie was helpful throughout, always there if we needed any help or any recommendations. The perfect host! We were just left to ourselves which was lovely really and if I had any questions I could just message Natalie and she was very quick to respond. To be honest, everything we needed was on the IPAD which provided a list of rules, instructions on electronics and basic information about the apartment, so we rarely had to contact Natalie other than to say, how bloody happy we were!
We couldn’t have asked for something more perfect, No.10 was just what we needed to get away from the hectic city life we live and enjoy a bit of quiet time. Waking up to stunning views of the Lakes with a cup of coffee – A real pinch-me moment and trust me, you will have plenty of these when you stay here. Natalie is the perfect host, the apartment was wonderful, and we were so relaxed, It was just flawless. If you’re looking somewhere to stay in the Lakes then book No.10, I bet my beret on it you will love it…and I bloody love my beret! Truly wonderful, thank you to Natalie for inviting me.
I think I am getting the hang of this fine dining thing… I started with Adams moved on to 670 Grams and now for one of the most distinctive tasting menus in Brum (or so I thought) – The Wilderness. Located in the Jewellery Quarter, hidden away down a dark alley, you’ll wonder if you are in the right place. Entering the restaurant is like walking into Voldemort’s lair – if Voldemort liked AC/DC that is. Subtly lit, black on black and moody as fuck, I like it.
Staff are friendly enough and know what we want straight away – to be seated before time and handed the drinks menu. Good start. We didn’t go for the wine pairing, probably not the way to do it but as a 5 ft 1 lightweight who gets loud off a WKD, it’s certainly for the best. I went for the Venetian Kiss featuring salt baked peach, raspberry and elderflower. So good I ordered two more. I went for the £110 8-course dinner menu and within 10 minutes the first dishes arrived.
A plate appears with three ‘snacks’; Shrimp Doughnut, Celeriac tart – Hazelnut, and A5 Wagyu – Nori – Comte. They all hit the spot, especially the shrimp doughnut, I could order about 50 of those to go.
The fourth dish is served, and it was my favourite. The Mackerel is absolutely beautiful and was swimming in a delicious consommé that I ended up dribbling down my front. I was like a cat with a saucer of milk, I couldn’t stop lapping it up.
The fifth dish was the Cod and Iberico, it was just perfect, the way my knife sliced into the cod and it just fell apart, it still sends shivers down my spine!
Although a rather successful start, I was somewhat confused. I’ll be honest, The Wilderness is known for its “fuck it” reputation. I knew there was an edge, but I was struggling to find it in the food. But, it was early days…
The next dish was The Carrot 2022 which started to turn the night around for me. I know, how could a carrot do that?! Well my dears, this was so much more than your bog standard chantenay. Braised carrots with nitro frozen feta crumbs in fact. The frozen feta crumbs are a bit like marmite really, you love them or hate them. I really enjoyed the combination and thought it was a match made in heaven. Another dish where I couldn’t get enough of the sauce, I should of brought a bloody bib.
Next up was Barbaray Duck in Blood Orange. Now I am not a fan of duck so this dish didn’t do anything for me and I feel it would be unfair to review it. I’ll let you in on one thing, it’s cooked well. That’s all I can say. Alex informed me he could of changed the duck to something more to my liking, so my bad.
Many have seen or heard of this next dish – The Wilderness’ signature course Ch-Ch-Changes comes in the form of a Ba-Ba-BANANA. I’ve always been curious about this one and the man himself, Alex Claridge, came over to explain it. “Like banoffee pie but in a banana”. Right okay, the thing is…I hate banana. So I wasn’t looking forward to it to be honest but it was nice to finally speak to Alex, He seemed authentic and obviously passionate about what he does. When you are so passionate about something you do of course get defensive if someone says one bad word, I get it. “Eat it however you want” he says.
I decided to scoop it up in my hands but didn’t realise how much of a slippery fucker it was, My fellow diner was having a right laugh watching and I must have looked like I belonged in a zoo shrieking while the banana danced around my hands. When I finally caught the little bugger, it was surprisingly delicious. A super cool and imaginative dish and I wanted more of the same, but sadly didn’t get it.
The next plate wasn’t for me. Rhubarb with Mascarpone and Buckwheat was my least favourite dish. Firstly, it was freezing, I mean it numbed my teeth as soon as I bit into it, and it’s bloody tricky to eat as the mascarpone is proper hard, Something just wasn’t right. The dish didn’t do anything, and I just felt the flavours didn’t compliment each other.
The last course was Hot Lips. Perfectly plump, blood red and in good proportion. I was not expecting to yell “bloody hell, it’s like a Victoria Sponge!” I felt I needed a brew with it, so I ordered one. A sweet and refreshing end to a rather tasty but confusing meal.
Would I recommend The Wilderness? That is the million-dollar question. I feel like after a pretty mad year of trying out some of Birmingham’s best tasting menus, I’m gutted to say it but this was ever so slightly disappointing. I just wanted something different to the typical dishes you would find in modern, British fine-dining restaurants and I was looking for that edge that I originally thought the Wilderness would give me. Thats not to say I wouldn’t visit The Wilderness again, I will be visiting again but maybe when theres a new menu and hopefully next time it will be more to my liking. There were a few standout dishes but with the price you pay surely every dish should make you say ‘fuck that’s good!’ What I did like was the vibe in there, it’s laid back, so laid back I wore Adidas sweat pants and felt right at home. Service is on point and the rock and roll soundtrack is a nice accompaniment. However, it’s over-shadowed by other relaxed, fine-dining spots in the city that deliver that wow factor for the same price or cheaper. The quality of the ingredients is obvious, as is Alex’s talents as a chef, but I think a few will leave thinking they could of got more for their money elsewhere.
Step into an open-world, a virtual Island where you can interact with other players, choose a game and be transported to a zombie apocalypse, become a Painter in space and climb the ruins of a fallen world. The stuff you could never in your wildest imagination think would ever happen to you, Well now it can. The best VR experience in the UK “Otherworld” has finally arrived on Bennet’s Hill in Birmingham and it’s here to give you one of the coolest experiences of your life.
I wouldn’t say I am a massive gamer; I played Spyro and Crash growing up, have fond memories of playing “Abe” and making him fart all the time. Sims is a no-brainer, I feel like the whole world is addicted to The Sims, and I have spent many tireless but thrilling hours of my life, trying to turn my Sims into the next Hollyoaks soap opera. Love, Scandal, and Tragedy… boredom kicks in and you have to remove the ladder from the swimming pool enit?Now I seem to have developed a bit of a crush on Red Dead Redemption, but I wouldn’t say I am a full-time gamer, but I get why people love games. We get a massive thrill out of them and sometimes when life has been a little rough on us escaping reality for just an hour (or all day for many people) is just what we need. VR has become the next big thing in the gaming industry. I am seeing more and more of these experiences popping up and the latest VR experience to open in Birmingham is Otherworld. A futuristic VR experience, one that has a huge following and is greatly popular in London, so to choose Birmingham as their next location is a massive win for this City.
Upon arrival you will step into an episode of Black Mirror, a long room featuring spacious seating and table areas, projector walls, a departure board (very much like you see at the airport) and a self-service bar featuring beers and cocktails that you pour. We sat down and one of the staff members sat with us and explained the whole concept and how we play the games. “You won’t have ever experienced this” I was intrigued straight away; I am always looking for something new and exciting and five minutes in, I felt like Otherworld was going to give me that. We never booked online so we had to do it there and then, so it took around five minutes to do. We waited around ten minutes and then we saw our names flicker onto the departures board and were advised that it’s time to depart for Otherworld. I made a quick dash to the bathroom which was psychedelic; neon lights, robotic toilets that you can control with a remote to spray your bum and dry it, a robotic voice telling you to relax and unwind, and I couldn’t help myself, I just thought I got to have a poo in here…Most relaxing toilet experience ever.
You walk down a couple of stairs, with the flashing otherworld logo in front of you and an A.I tanoy telling you about your journey…Bloody hell, they put some effort into this I said to James. I had to admit I was a bit nervous; I didn’t know what to expect but staff are great here and reassured me that I was going to be in for a good time…
A room full of pods, no photos allowed as they want this to remain a secret, I walked to my pod (You have to be in separate pods) and staff helped me with my equipment. I was told that if we are ever in trouble (get stuck in the game) that we can press a back button and help will come, Also there are VR helpers from London who listen in and are there to help you if you get stuck.
“Enjoy Otherworld” The pod doors shut and the floor started to vibrate and the screen went black, suddenly a palette of multi-colours opened up in front of me, I opened my eyes and indeed I was transported to Otherworld on top of a hill looking down at an Island. I looked to the right and could see James as (I think he was some kind of ninja) but what made me laugh is that he’s 6 ft 6 and it captured his height perfectly as I started to get a bad neck looking up at him all the time due to me being a 5 ft 1 shortarse. Moving the controllers up and down to run, we sprinted down to the Island…Its incredible. I could feel the heat of the sun on my face, bloody hell, don’t tell me you can catch a tan as well in this experience? Then in the winter section of the Island I almost nearly lost my bloody wig didn’t I!? as the winter winds blow through you so I legged it! Can you imagine them opening the pod to that image…
The games and adventures are spread out across the Islands (in four corners) organised by difficulty, Spring being the easiest and Winter being the most difficult. We could see other players with name tags floating around, one player floated up to James raising his fists and it was an intense stand-off between each other, I couldn’t help by shouting “Fight, IT’S A REAL FIGHT!”
People were throwing bunnies off each other and there is also a giant Ferris wheel you can ride. With an hour of gaming time it was straight to the games, Arizona Sunshine (Autumn) I was advised “It’s a bit like Call of Duty Zombies” well that’s me sold so we headed there together to play.
So in this game you have to team up with your friends and survive the Zombie Apocalypse, If you like scary VR games this one is for you and I think one of the chaps from London was very amused with my Brummie screams of “OH ITS CRAWLY FUCKER AND THIS ONE IS LIKE A BLOODY CREEPING JESUS” London interrupted a few times laughing and told me I had limited bullets so there was no need to be scared. Your based in the American South-West during a Zombie Apocalypse with nothing but guns in your hands, as the time went on it got harder and harder.
The next game was Half-life: Alyx this game took 15 YEARS to be made, and when you play it, you will see why. I don’t think I will ever experience anything like this in my life, so if you’re a gamer and want to be blown away, this is the game. You are humanity’s only chance for survival, Earth has been captured by an evil alien empire known as the combine. You are Alyx Vance, member of the anti-Combine resistance, on a mission to rescue your father. When you first enter the game, you are on top of a building looking out at a futuristic skyline with what only I can describe as a War of the worlds alien shooting down buildings. Straight away I feel myself falling into the realness of the game and I am looking around for clues. Words cannot describe how amazing this game is, every detail is just incredible for example tuning a radio and turning the wheel from one station to another and picking up items and standing on a ruined building hiding from aliens – This surpassed all my expectations of VR, I honestly don’t have the words and I know you want words from me but all I can say is, You need to try this immediantly.
Within 1 hour we played two games, we got lost in Half-life, but it was worth it. Throughout the games you pick up points which are exchanged for discounts on drinks or game time, this was proper cool, and I noticed as I was just walking round the Island or throwing bunny’s I would just pick up points. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and yes, the hour went pretty fast as we were enjoying ourselves so much. Stepping out the pods we were greeted by the staff who asked how was it? James was beaming “I need this in the flat, Like I NEED IT, I can’t describe how that felt” and me, I was speechless. I just couldn’t put in to words what I just experienced but I happily told the staff “I’m coming back next week”
The Departure lounge bar is made up of 16 tap self-serve drinks featuring Peroni, Asahi, Lucky Saint and Elephant riders and cocktails from Black Lines. We cashed in our dream coins from the games for discounts for the drinks and I got a very generous £4.50 discount off my cocktail so happy days! I love the concept of self-service, it did raise a few eyebrows at first when I saw the cocktails, I decided to go for the Spicy Margarita (£7.00) which I have to admit didn’t look much but damn, it had a satisfying kick to it.
Price wise – Prices start at £13 on weekdays obviously on weekends they are more expensive, but we paid around £27 for the two of us for one hour plus had one drink so just about £20 in which I think it’s an absolute bargain. You have to download the app to go here so I would recommend downloading before as you have to scan the codes on the bar and show the staff your code to get into the pods. I have to admit; this is one of my top experiences in Birmingham and I think Otherworld are onto something showing us a little glimpse of the future. Me and James came out thinking maybe one day the internet will be like that? I don’t know. Or maybe it’s gone to our heads, but we feel like anything is possible after that and what we do know that VR in the future will become a big part in everyone’s life.
An immersive and mind-bending VR experience, that will leave you speechless but craving for more. You don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy this, Otherworld is for everyone. Transport to Otherworld for an unforgettable experience as the minutes go on you begin to forget about your everyday life and be blown away by an captivating VR experience that would only exist in your dreams but is now reality. A huge win for Birmingham.
Another day, another new restaurant in Brum. This time it’s Sri Lankan street food chain The Coconut Tree. It boasts a strong fan base with outlets in Cheltenham and Bournemouth and after my visit to their latest restaurant, I can see why…
You’ll find the Coconut Tree sitting comfy in a two storey building on Gas Street. As I walk up the stairs, I’m hit with Island vibes and splashes of rustic Birmingham charm featuring some enjoyable graffiti pieces. James and I sat opposite a vibrant bartender who really contributed to our Sri Lankan experience. The Coconut Tree is made up of small/large tapas-style Sri Lankan dishes with vegan and veggie options a plenty, but first… cocotails!
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
I am a sucker for a good cocktail or shall we say ‘cocotail’, especially in a cute AF elephant jug. I can hear you screaming basic bitch reading this! The Drunken Sri Lankan features Ceylon Arrack, turmeric infused Cointreau, fresh lime and ginger beer, but does it taste as good as it looks? HELL YES! All I need now is the sun and the beach to complement a fully stocked Tiki bar and our fantastic bartender. James’ Sriki-Tiki was like a bonfire night display…thank god I didn’t wear my cheap Shein wig. Sriki-Tiki is made up of Captain Morgan Gold rum, Mahiki Coconut rum, raspberry, pineapple and lime. They were both a fantastic introduction to The Coconut Tree, now we are excited.Service is sharp here and staff are attentive. The whole menu was explained to us and we were asked our preferences of spice, sweetness etc. We ordered around eight dishes and was advised that should be enough…
FAT SISTER (VG)(GF) £5.95
PINEAPPLE CURRY (VG) (GF) £6.40
CHEESY COLOMBO (V) (GF) £7.95
SALMON, SAY WHAAAT? (GF) £9.95
KOTTHU WITH CURRIED CHICKEN £9.95
EGG HOPPER (V) (GF) 4.50
PAROTTA ROTI (VG) £3.95
SEENI SAMBOL (VG) (GF) £1.50
Most of the dishes were quite small, and when we first looked at our food, we thought no way will this fill us up but actually, it did. Everything went so well together, the Pineapple Curry with the Kotthu, then scooped up in a parotta roti (which may I add maybe some of the best roti I have had). Ah it was blissful! To pick a favourite dish is seemingly impossible as I just couldn’t stop licking my lips and ignoring the groans of my stomach shouting at me to calm my tits and slow down eating, but I just couldn’t stop…I am addicted to The Coconut Tree.
If I had HAD to choose it would be The Egg Hopper, which to me was a bit of a bizarre dish at first but I had heard soo much about it, I just had to have it. Basically it’s a bowl shaped coconut milk pancake served with coconut sambol, caramelised onions with a hint of cinnamon, and Sri Lankan salsa. An absolute must-try and again, it went perfect with our other dishes. The Pineapple Curry was sweet and seductive, I couldn’t help mixing it with every dish and the Kotthu was packed full of flavour. Price wise it’s very reasonable and the quality is right up there.
Food went down a treat and we thought let’s celebrate with another round of cocktails, so this time we ordered The ST.Colombo (Tanquerary Gin, Elderflower, and Lemon Soda) and Yaka (Don Julio, 100% Blue Agave Tequila, Lemon, Mint & Honey) another triumph and after four smashing cocktails, The Coconut tree has moved into my top five places for cocktails in Birmingham. They are incredible. Please note they do 2 for £10 or 2 for £12, depending on the cocktail. Staff are great here, really hands on deck. There is just this great positive vibe throughout The Coconut Tree and that’s what I loved, we really enjoyed all the staff members singing along to the music whilst shaking their cocotails, made me want to get up and join in!
All I can say is Thank god, THANK GOD for The Coconut Tree coming to Birmingham, what a win for Birmingham and win for me especially as its just around the corner from my flat. This could be dangerous for the gut, I already made a name for myself “Bab about Belch”. I could be getting myself into some real trouble here but when the food is this good, I couldn’t care less! Bring on the gas!
Authentic, full of flavour and fun throughout, The Coconut Tree have certainly brought the spirit of Sri Lanka to Birmingham. They did it perfectly, Book now for cocktails and a good vibes meal with friends.
The three words that I said out loud soon as I left 670 Grams. Firstly, because it was so bloody cold out and secondly because I was experiencing a mixture of emotions. Stunned, content, extremely satisfied and angry, anger connects with the Pinch my nips because I was so pissed at myself for trying 670 Grams so late in the game. Everyone was right, soon as I mentioned I was going to 670 Grams I had people all over Instagram and Twitter messaging me, really punching in that excitement of going and high praise all round for 670 Grams. I went with an open mind and left mind-fucked…in a good way.
Booked in for 7.15, 670 Grams is located in Digbeth (Gibb Street) in The Custard Factory. It’s small but surprisingly comfortable – Graffiti plastered on the wall with grunge interior, Tim Burton meets Brum. The first words that come to mind would be “What the fuck is this” especially if you’re brought here for a special occasion by your partner for a “luxury evening of 15 courses” it doesn’t look luxurious but that’s what I love. FUCK the luxury fine-dining lets blind-side you and WOW the shit out of you…I will warn you there is going to be a shit-load of swearing in this but it’s okay, I am no pro and I like food writing enit?
Service is sharp and friendly straight away, we were introduced to Zac who I have to say was perfect from start to finish, none of this false customer business, Zac is authentic and really sold the evening for us both. He was impressive throughout. We started our evening with cocktails priced at £12 – James went for the Pineapple Express and I went for the Eye Candy. Pineapple Express was presented in a Pineapple glass – tangy, sweet, and satisfactory. The Eye Candy was my kind of cocktail that included my three favourite ingredients – strawberry, tequila and Champagne. It took us 10 minutes to settle in with our drinks and soon after the tasting menu began.
HOT & SOUR AND PINEAPPLE
A course made from all the leftovers they have in the kitchen from herb spices added to chicken stock served alongside the pineapple that is marinated in soy sauce and ketchup Manis. Both make a punchy introduction to 670 Grams, I could of had about 10 shots of that soup – We are off to a good start.
SCALLOP & LANGOUSTINE
Served with raw seasoning with aloe Vera and chilli with a dressing made 38-year-old soy sauce! Topped with a raw scallop that’s lightly torched over fire and caviar – A truly fantastic dish that is beautifully presented and the sauce was just incredible, we couldn’t help but use our fingers to wipe up all the access sauce.
MACKEREL
This course was the only course I wasn’t crazy about like the others but that’s maybe because I am not a big fan of mackerel so this may be a bit unfair to review. The mackerel is served with fresh Japanese Wasabi and frozen apple.
BHAJI
Rice Bhaji served with coriander mayonnaise and mango jelly, one delightful bite and it was all gone. Love the little tangy kick from the mango jelly.
TURBOT
Another beautifully presented dish, the pan-fried turbot with a sauce made from all the shells and heads of the fish finished with white wine and burnet lemon then topped with caviar. What a sensational dish and I remember this was the dish where a lightbulb suddenly went off in my head…MICHELIN ALERT. The excitement flowed through out and we decided to order two glasses of the Domaine Drouhin morgan red wine blend that complimented our next dishes perfectly especially with the lamb!
LOBSTER
The next dish (in which many people messaged me about to look forward to) was delicious but I wouldn’t say it was the stand out dish of the night that many praised it to be. Not your typical loaf of bread, it’s a Langoustines bread that is cooked directly on the barbecue with a home-made cheese spread and spring onion oil. The cheese spread reminded me of Dairylea but of course, at a totally different and much higher standard. The bread was baked perfectly – again, another great dish.
SWEETHEART CABBAGE
This dish was a total surprise, a dark horse that completely opened my eyes to be more open with cabbage as well, come on…it’s pretty bland as fuck, but no, 670 Grams whipped up something incredible yet again and made cabbage…SEXY. Cooked in burnt butter with a mussel sauce with wild garlic oil and crispy seaweed – OOF! Gorgeous.
CELERIAC
The perfect consistency – confit celeriac roasted on a barbecue in beef fat with black truffle puree pickled red cabbage and fresh English truffle – I bloody love truffle and I bloody loved this dish. We let Zac decide our next drink in which he said he was going to give us a glass of his favourite drink which was the Mullineux old vines white blend 2020 – An unusual dessert wine that I really enjoyed, it was like liquid gold!
NEW YORK DELI
I don’t think I have ever called a dish “A Sneaky little fucker” but hey, there is a first time for everything and this dish is exactly that. This dish doesn’t look much, it looks like a burnt truffle to be honest so when I threw it down my gob, I was incredibly surprised to all of a sudden I could taste a Big Mac in my mouth. Zac said it’s a New York Deli sarnie or a Big Mac, you choose. How? What? Why? Oh bugger it, I had too many questions to ask but I knew Kray is on some next level culinary-wizardry shit after that dish. Those are the kind of surprises I want to encounter and 670 is plenty of them.
LAMB
Now, this was just sensational – Neck of lamb braised in curry powder with a jerk chicken gravy, it was astounding, taste buds going into overload with incredible bangs of flavour and that lamb just crumbling away in my mouth was just sublime, stuff you could only imagine/feel in your dreams.
FOIE GRAS
This was one of James’s favourite courses – a dish dedicated to a great independent in Kings Heath: The Early Bird Bakery that made the perfect introduction to the desserts of the evening. White chocolate pepper ganache with blackberry and soy compote with grated foie gras.I am more of a savoury dessert kind of girl, I don’t like overly sweet puds or a pool of ice-cream on my plate, so this simple dish was just quintessential and exciting to eat especially for James, I have never seen a grown man get so excited over a little pastry…
POPPADOM
A bloody poppadum for pudding EH?! How’s that supposed to work I whinged but my god, it worked. Tomato masala chutney masala mango yoghurt ice cream cucumber and lime Espuma cucumber rice cracker. Reading this, I would just simply skim past soon as I got to the yoghurt part as I’m not a fan but to my surprise, this is one of my favourite dishes along with the lamb and New York deli. Like fireworks of Punchy and zesty flavours in your mouth, clever throughout and a real treat!
IT’S NOT TERRYS, IT’S OURS
It’s not Terry’s it’s ours, Terry fucking who? This dessert was just beautiful. Sweet, seductive and love the combination of sweet flavours and the crunchy texture from the pork scratchings…Pork scratchings and chocolate? Bloody genius trust me babs.
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
Unfortunately, I am one of those basic bitches that loves a pumpkin spice latte from Autumn to Winter, it’s basic but I don’t care. So, when I heard this was on the menu I was very intrigued. It had quite a thick texture, it does stay on the back of your throat for a bit. Silky, salty, and sweet – Yet another winning dish.
To finish we ended on sweets and chatted to a lovely couple who sat next to us exchanging restaurant recommendations. After a two-hour tasting menu with fantastic beverages, I sat back in my chair and reflected. The experience was just impressive and imaginative throughout. 670 Grams felt like no other fine-dining experience I had encountered before, it was chilled throughout, none of this poshy-noshy bullshit or pretentious aesthetic, I could chill in there with my Nike trainers listen to a bit of Snoop Dog eat great food and not feel judged. That’s my vibe, I don’t want to go to these fine-dining restaurants and feel like I’m judged by the whole room. Kray and the staff were great, Kray introduced some of the meals and was up for a chat afterwards, nothing pretentious at all, he is very likeable.
670 Grams provide the best-valued tasting menu in Birmingham, it’s a fact – 15 courses, 15 incredible courses for £70 like wherein the actual fuck do you find a bargain like that?! it’s also a fact that it’s a complete steal and that Kray was robbed of a Michelin star which is mind-boggling to me as mostly every dish was of a Michelin star level. After the news of Tom Shepard’s restaurant receiving a Michelin star and booked up until June, I could consider it a godsend for 670 Grams, as I don’t want it to get too popular that I can’t book in every month as I believe this is just the start of beautiful dining friendship between us. I think where it’s a bit pricey is the drinks as they do bump up the price, I think we spent around £130 on cocktails and wine.
Look, its bold, daring, unique and unpretentious, and I am a complete tit for just finding that out. I’m fairly confident that it is one of the top dining experiences in Birmingham and 670 grams is definitely not one to ignore. Don’t a be a tit, book it.
It feel’s more important than ever to show our Mom’s just how much we love and appreciate them for all they have done for us. From home-cooked meals to cleaning up and caring for us after our weekend benders, Mom’s are awesome! I have put together a great guide full of amazing Birmingham and Beyond businesses that are celebrating this Mother’s day. From cooked meals to gifts and activities on the day, Your Bab has got Mothers Day sorted this year.
If you would like to be added onto the guide please email bababouttown@gmaill.com
PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES ARE NOT MINE
MOTHERS DAY AFTERNOON TEA, THREE COURSE MEALS AND DINING OUT OFFERS.
KILO ZIRO – DIGBETH
Mothers day Afternoon tea from £26 – £51 pp
Enjoy one of the best Afternoon tea’s in Birmingham in a stylish Art deco Cafe/bar that is sure to impress your Mom! They offer a very unique afternoon tea, goodbye boring finger sarnies! They collaborate with a great of local bakers and suppliers to bring you this incredible Artisan afternoon tea that is full of choice and is so delicious! You can make it extra special and add a specially made bouquet from a local florist to be ready and waiting on the table upon your arrival. Please note the afternoon tea is vegetarian.
Hengata in Harborne are putting on a lovely Mother’s day meal on Sunday 19th March where you enjoy 2 for 1 cocktails all day (Their espresso martinis are a must!) and you will enjoy dishes such as King Scallops, pan-fried duck breast and Blood orange cheesecake.
Join Laghi’s Deli on Mothers day to celebrate the main woman in your life as they open up for a one-off Sunday brunch with a menu full of lazy weekend favourites and a ‘Momosa’ or two! Indulge in beautiful Italian food, this is one to book Babs!
Enjoy Mothers day at Chapter in Edgbaston, indulge in a lovely breakfast just £20 pp and you will tuck into dishes such as their homemade brisket skillet or their full English breakfast – Brunch is an absolute must here! You will also recieved a glass of bucks fizz.
Mothers day in the clouds! Orelle has just launched their afternoon tea and it looks wonderful! For £40 you can enjoy Open sandwiches, petit gâteau and sparkling rosé, with a spectacular view of Birmingham.
To book a table please email events@orelle.co.uk
THE BELFRY MOTHERS DAY AFTERNOON TEA AND SUNDAY LUNCH
The Belfry have a great variety of Mother’s Day special offers from afternoon tea to spa days, It seems The Belfry is the place to be this Mothers day! £30pp for gin afternoon tea, £40pp for a three-course Sunday lunch and various beauty/spa treatments for your Mom to enjoy, the choice is yours!
Celebrate Mother’s Day with afternoon tea made by Verbena’s talented team of pastry chefs for just £20pp. Located in Stirchley, Verbena would make the perfect choice this Mothers day!
Looking to really spoil your Mom this Mothers day? then Carters of Moseley is for you! They will be celebrating with early peaks into our their new menu, offering the choice of 9 or 11 servings where you can all enjoy incredible seasonal dishes.
Treat mum to a little luxury this Mother’s Day and book a table at Three Church road. Fancy spoiling your Mom to a Traditional Afternoon Tea from £19.95 with the option to upgrade to sparkling or G&T for £24.95. Three Church Road will also be serving up their hearty Sunday lunches where you can grab two courses for £26.50 or three for £32.50. Whether it’s a hearty roast or a light yet indulgent afternoon tea, celebrate in style this Mother’s Day at Three Church Road in Edgbaston.
Zindiya’s High Chai (From £18.95pp) brings together Indian spices and flavours through not only the range of tea blends, such as masala chai, but with savoury and sweet dishes including homemade cardamom scones, seasonal macarons from Birmingham’s own Miss Macaroon and street food favourite – the Mumbai sandwich – soft white bread filled with a vibrant coriander and mint chutney, masala spices and layers of cucumber, onion and tomato. Try something a little bit different this Mothers day!
Celebrate Mother’s Day with Edgbaston Park Hotels delightful Afternoon Tea in their 1900 Restaurant. Treat your Mom to a sumptuous selection of delectable cakes, sandwiches, and scones in a charming setting with friendly service and a warm ambiance, this is the perfect way to show your appreciation. Book now to reserve your spot.
Call 0121 414 8888 or email enquiries@edgbastonparkhotel.com to book.
HARVEY NICHOLS AND DIOR BEAUTY AT NOELS RESTAURANT
Join Harvey Nichols, Birmingham and Dior Beauty at Noel’s Bar & Restaurant for an exclusive Mother’s Day dinner.Discover the latest skincare and makeup during a beauty masterclass with the experts at Dior Beauty. Enjoy a two-course dinner, a complimentary glass of prosecco and a goody bag to take home.
Tickets are £55 per person, with £20 redeemable against Dior beauty purchases made on the night.
Unleash your creativity and bond with your loved one as you design a bespoke piece of jewellery with Working Clasp at Kilo Ziro in Digbeth. To make the experience even better, enjoy a complimentary glass of organic/artisan wine, craft beer the equivalent amount in soft or hot drinks! Create either a pair of blossom earrings and a dainty single flower necklace or a statement necklace from a selection of acrylic and wooden laser-cut charms – all materials are included and no experience required! This will take place on Sunday 19th March at 4.30pm and tickets are £38
Bean Green Kitchen in Mere Green are delivering a delicious afternoon tea that is available for collection. From satisfying savouries to super sweet treats, Bean Green have put on a pretty fab afternoon tea from £16.95 pp, BARGAIN!
To order please call 0121 439 8388 or 07507 016864
FORAGE – GRAZING BOARDS AND DESSERTS AT HOME
Forage at Coppice Lane have a range of gorgeous treats to be enjoyed at home for Mothers day from grazing platters to desserts, you can get a proper feast in for Mothers day!
Celebrate your Mothers day with a delicious vegan afternoon tea for two at home this year. Vegan sausage rolls, cheese twists, brownies, scones and you can even upgrade to this lovely mini victoria sponge. Priced at £37.99 and serves two. Collection only from The Rainbow in Digbeth
Pause and Hiya Petal have joined forces to bring you something pretty sweet this Mothers day. Moms will receive an adorable raspberry and lemon curd bento cake and a floral bunch which features gorgeous springtime blooms from curly crown tulips to pompom craspedia balls – an undeniably cute wrap of blooms that’s sure to get a big smile!
Available to pre-order now on the Pause website for you collect on Mother’s Day weekend. Numbers are strictly limited.
Hedge have made a blooming lovely bouquet of premium British tulips and beautiful, bright yellow forsythia sprigs coming beautifully arranged in a glass vase. They offer local delivery on Sunday 19th (Mothers Day), you can also pick up in store on Saturday or Sunday morning or Hedge will post your flowers nationally for additional fee.
Tutto Apposto have teamed up two fabulous businesses this year to give your Mom the ULTIMATE Mothers day pamper this year! Offering a lovely massage and the most perfect brows and lashes one could dream of having! All this together with cake, a relaxing candle and some fizz!
