Tag: digbeth

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Food review

REVIEW: 670 GRAMS

Pinch my nips.

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.

BOOK 670 GRAMS

BAB.

Categories
lifestyle

20 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS IN BIRMINGHAM

We are doing something a little bit different babs, introducing guests posts! I have decided to team up with some of Birmingham’s best bloggers/writers and let them take over the blog. So, let me introduce the talented Small House Big Trips and the lovely bab behind it, KELLY. Kelly documents family days out and things to do with the kiddos from cheap and cheerful days out to those exciting and memorable special occasions for the little ones. The blog is jam-packed with great advice, reviews, features and more. I am so excited to team up with Kelly to bring you this fantastic guide for you to use this Summer, She has worked extremely hard on it so please give Small House big trips a follow here.

The summer holidays are nearly here and SmallHouseBigTrips and Bab About Town have decided to join together to bring you the best 20 Birmingham based things to do with your children this summer. Some are FREE, some are a little money and then we have a few splurge choices for those with some spare money to spend. 

1)LEGOLAND NINJAGO EVENT AND LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTRE

Real and virtual worlds collide, as you have the chance to enter the world of NINJAGO and complete exciting challenges alongside your favourite characters as part of the brand new AR experience! Join Lloyd, Cole, Zane, Jay, Kai and Nya to ‘BE NINJA’ on the quest to find the six golden fragments and learn their moves as real and virtual worlds collide. Restore the Golden Amulet and be rewarded as you complete the challenges. Plus, continue the adventure as LEGOLAND celebrate 10 years of LEGO NINJAGO.

  • Find the Golden ninja in MINILAND – The hunt is on to spot Lloyd, Kai, Cole, Zane, Jay and Master Wu, so they can start their adventure.
  • Meet Your LEGO NINJAGO hero, Lloyd!
  • Build a Ninja creation for a chance to win a rare Golden Amulet!
  • Experience LEGO NINJAGO in the 4D cinema!
  • Race your LEGO NINJAGO build down the zip line challenge!
  • Not forgetting all of the usual LEGOtastic activities including 2 rides!

Share the joy, lose yourself in the spirit of LEGO NINJAGO and feel what it’s really like to Be Ninja!

2) SEA LIFE CENTRE

Come and adventure into the rarely seen Antarctic landscape and marvel at the cheeky antics of the penguins as they dive into the icy waters and play in their icy home. See the shark lagoon, the reef area, check out some of the creatures that live amongst a rockpool and if you are lucky, you might get a little stroke. See Nemo fish, rays, seahorses and even an octopus and the psychic Sea Otters who enjoyed guessing the Euro 2021 results. Along with the 4d cinema, there is plenty to see and do here.

3) TREETOP GOLF

Birminghams newest family attraction, Treetop Golf provides fun for all of the family, from toddlers to Great Grandads, every one can join in. Come and play one or even both of the two indoor, 18-hole mini golf courses. Tackle the Tropical Trail or Ancient Explorer then brave the Bonus 19th hole to win a free round.With a bar serving brilliant mocktails for the little ones, cocktails for the adults, tasty pizzas and other treats, it’s a great choice for a morning or afternoon trip. If you arrive before midday you get to play the 2 courses for the price of 1.

4) THINKTANK AND BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS

Birmingham Museums have you covered over the school holidays (and pretty much any other time to be quite frank). With a number of activities over the holidays all priced really well there is something for everyone.Thinktank is the perfect day out for all the family this summer with a huge variety of fun and inspiring things to do for children (and adults) of all ages. Kids can play in MiniBrum – Thinktank’s interactive mini city where children are in charge. Children can have a go at all the different jobs that it takes to run a city in a space that was designed by children, for children.

 Visit the 4K planetarium where you can explore outer space, an outdoor science garden where engineering and mechanics come to life and fantastic industrial collections including the City of Birmingham steam engine and a Spitfire. There are also displays on dinosaurs and wildlife that will wow visitors of all ages. And a fantastic medicine section which I really enjoyed. The brand new ‘Our Changing Planet’ gallery looks at the Science behind climate change and the impact that mankind is having on the planet. 

Blakesley Hall have some superhero trails and pirate days – perfect for little adventurers, BioBlitz sessions, an insect photography workshop and The Crescent Theatre will be doing an outdoor performance of Pygmalion.

Aston Hall have the Sonia Sabri Company doing a live performance of Same Same… But Different. They also have Tall Tales doing a performance of Beauty and the Beast, a BioBlitz session and Tread the Board and Attic Theatre will be doing a live performance of Alice in Wonderland. If you love a bit of competition, the Aston Community Games are on too.

Birmingham Museums have many more events on including in the Jewellery Quarter, Soho House and more. Do check on their website where you can also prebook tickets.

5) DIGBETH FUN FAIR

Who needs to go to Weston Super Mare when you have Digbeth Fun Fair right in the Centre of Birmingham. Now featuring a beach and deckchairs too, this is a great place to visit. Rides for all ages from toddlers to grown ups. Every one will find something they will enjoy. If you’re not a fan of rides, how about the leisurely big wheel with epic views across the City?

6) BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

Birmingham Botanical Gardens offers something for everyone, be it one of the four stunning glasshouses showing tropical rainforest to arid desert, epic playground for children, tearoom and garden gift shop all surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK.

Pack a picnic and have a glorious relax on the green in front of the Victorian Bandstand.

7) RUSK UK

Birminghams biggest trampoline park, boasting an impressive 35,000 square feet of excitement and adrenaline filled fun is a must visit. With over 100 wall to wall interconnected trampolines for you to bounce on, either solo or with friends/family, battle beams, foam pits, a trapeze, basket ball hoop, slackline, wipeout and an assault course, along with a designated toddler area, there is something for everyone. 

8) LIL’S PARLOUR

Ice Cream like no other. A traditional whip ice cream, topped with a variety of different choices. Lil’s Parlour has also raised money to give FREE ice cream to those whose families may normally be unable to buy some. Contact Lil’s Parlour for the code word (if you need it and want to treat the kids) and pop along to treat your little ones.

9) CANNON HILL PARK

One of my favourite parks in Birmingham. Cannon Hill has a playground, swan boats on the lake, a mini theme park (for ages 2 to 10), outdoor adventure golf with water features, beautiful flowers, plenty of green space to picnic or have a run around and it is also the home to Midlands Art Centre (MAC) who have a cinema, theatre, art exhibitions and the cutest café for food and drinks called Book KILN Café.

Check out their website for events over the School Holidays including Sarah and Duck Theatre Show, The Greenhouse (a magical dance performance) and Horrible Histories live on stage.

10) BIRMINGHAM WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARK

Next door to Cannon Hill Park is the old Birmingham Zoo. Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is home to a unique collection of animals from across the world, including Red Pandas, lemurs, reptiles, meerkats, otters, birds, wallabies and a large collection of monkeys.

Some of the animals are endangered in the wild and the Conservation Park play an important role by participating in endangered species breeding programmes. With a café on site and small soft play too.

11) ACKERS ADVENTURE

At charity run Ackers, there is a plethora of fun and exciting activities for you to enjoy. Disc Golf, Skiing, Snowboarding, Tubing, tobogganing, Canoeing and Kayaking, archery, bell boating, bushcraft, Wall Climbing, abseiling and zip wire. Plenty for you to book on and do.

12) CADBURY WORLD

Uncover a world of chocolatey delights and enjoy a fascinating, fun-packed day out at Cadbury World! You’ll learn how your favourite confectioneries are made, play in virtual chocolate rain, and add your favourite treat to a delicious pot of warm melted Cadbury Dairy Milk. Discover the origins of the cocoa bean, before hopping aboard the magical ‘Cadabra’ ride, meeting the infamous Cadbury drumming gorilla! Plus, join Freddo and the whole gang of Cadbury characters as they whisk you away on a wondrous journey in the 4D Chocolate Adventure cinema experience, complete with motion seats. Dive into a bowl of liquid Cadbury Dairy Milk, ride the Crunchie Rollercoaster and take to the skies in a Cadbury Creme Egg airship, piloted by the Caramel Bunny.

13) MOSELEY ROAD BATHS

Grandiose Gothic Renaissance pool building with many original features. No need to book your swimming slot, check the timetable online and just turn up.

14) OLD RECTORY FARM

Although only a small farm, The Old Rectory Farm has been fully restored and operates as a demonstration farm, showing traditional methods of farming.

Animals kept at the farm include Jersey cattle, pigs, goats, ponies, ducks, chickens and geese. It is located right next to one of the best spots to watch the aeroplanes fly by. Walk along the playing fields and you’ll get right to the section where the planes take off and fly right over your heads. Perfect for any Plane enthusiasts.

15) MARTINEAU GARDENS

Martineau Gardens is a beautiful therapeutic community garden and a charity, located two miles from Birmingham City Centre. An oasis for wildlife, a haven of tranquillity, a destination for an outdoor escape, there are two and a half acres of organically managed landscape for you to explore.

Garden highlights include: an orchard growing figs, mulberries, grapes and apples, demonstration vegetable and herb beds, a woodland home (with SLINC status) to Pipistrelle bats, badgers and birds and many species of fungi, nature trail, formal garden with unusual trees and shrubs, children’s wooden shipwrecked play area, sales area selling plants and homemade jams made from the fruits of the garden, a hot house, wildflower meadows, bird hide, ponds, beehives and earth oven.

16) SUTTON PARK

Sutton Park is a 2,400 acre National Nature Reserve located 6 miles north of the city centre. It’s one of the largest urban parks in Europe and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

With open heathland, woodlands, seven lakes, wetlands, and marshes – each with its own rich variety of plants and wildlife, some rarely seen in the region, you could spend hours exploring here. Cattle and wild ponies graze on the land, you can hire adult bicycles to ride around the park, visit one of 4 restaurants/cafes in the park including a Toby Carvery, Miller and Carter, The Bracebridge and Blackroot Bistro or grab an ice cream from one of the ice cream trucks around the park. The park also has 2 childrens play areas – with Banners Gate being the best.

17) THE LIBRARY OF BIRMINGHAM

The Library of Birmingham provides a showcase for Birmingham’s internationally important collections of archives, photography and rare books. Facilities include a state-of-the-art gallery space, opening up public access to the collections. It is also home to the BFI Mediatheque, providing free access to the National Film Archive.

Other facilities include a flexible studio theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre and other informal performance spaces and dedicated spaces for children and teenagers. Why not bring your children to explore the Children’s Library here.

18) LAPWORTH MUSEUM OF GEOLOGY

Enabling visitors to explore life over the past 3.5 billion years, the Lapworth Museum showcases exceptional objects from one of the UK’s most outstanding geological collections. Our state-of-the-art galleries and range of innovative and interactive exhibits are all completely free of charge.

From rocks and fossils to volcanoes, earthquakes, and even dinosaurs, the Museum captures the imagination of all ages.

19) BEAR GRYLLS ADVENTURE

Escape the ordinary and experience the awesome at The Bear Grylls Adventure. Indoor and outdoor activity centre at The NEC Birmingham. Take part in the assault course, escape room, swim with sharks, high ropes course and more. This isn’t for the faint hearted.

20) A WALK AROUND DIBETH

Last but definitely not least, how about having a walk around Digbeth to view the amazing art work.

BAB X

Categories
review

REVIEW: LUNA SPRINGS DIGBETH

Are you surprised that there is yet another new opening in Digbeth? not really, because everyone is talking about Digbeth right now. From exciting new hospitality venues to draw-dropping street art that lures people in from all over the world to appreciate Digbeth’s uniqueness, nerve, and talent, Digbeth is the word. The latest opening in Digbeth is Luna Springs brought to you by London-based Adventure Bar Group who operate nine bars in London such as Bar Elba, Blame Gloria, and Tonight Josephine. Embracing creative energy and inspiration that buzzes through the city, located in the Digbeth Arena and surrounded by an urban concrete jungle with a splash of 80’s nostalgia,

Taking over the Digbeth Arena that currently has a capacity of 400 but will soon look to increase this to 2,500 after Co-vid restrictions lift, there is indeed, plenty of space for all. The bar area is huge which is great because as it’s such a big venue I did wonder what the ordering at the bar situation would be like when restrictions are lifted. My time slot was 2.30 pm on a Friday with three of my blogging pals, upon arrival we were asked to check-in using the NHS app and informed that we must wear masks when walking around the venue. Sitting under what can only be described as a giant Battenberg cake which was very vibrant! looking around you can see quite clearly that this venue is pretty big! Plenty of seating that is spaced out and plenty of cool street-art backdrops for those Instagram photos!

Looking at the menu, the prices for the drinks are very reasonable from £8-£10 for cocktails It’s kind of the “norm” price for a cocktail these days in Birmingham. I ordered the zombie cocktail which comes in a very quirky Tiki glass. Its Havana Club Especial rum, Pussers dark rum, velvet falernum, pink grapefruit cordial, citrus and pineapple juice, passionfruit and grenadine…Yep, its a mouthful alright! I can happily confirm that you do get a lot of alcohol for the price and it’s simply not just watered down with JUICE. The Zombie cocktail is full of flavour and was definitely giving me holiday vibes! The next cocktail I went for was the Strawberry and melon martini that was just so refreshing and tasted so gorgeous.
My favourite cocktail was the Hibiscus Margarita, you just can’t beat a good Margarita and this one was pretty darn good.

If you’re not a big fan of cocktails then they have plenty of alcohol beverages such as shooters, wine, beer and more. They also do alcohol free cocktails and soft drinks.

Cocktails are fabulous here but the waiting times are not so much, it did take a while to order and receive the cocktails however this was opening week so I expected a few teething problems. I did feed this back to the team in which I was insured this was going to be looked at. I will say however, the staff are very friendly here and a lot of fun!

Luna Springs also offer food from burgers to sides such as fries, I didn’t get to try this as I was too busy gulping down cocktails but I do remember I tried the chips and I Enjoyed them. They also have street food pop ups such as The English Indian and The Handmade Pizza Co.

The venue is superb, and really fits in nicely with Digbeth attracting students to families. Luna Springs will also be opening their Moodlight Cinema which will be pretty special and something you shoudl defiently book in to this Summer. A movie under the stars with a cocktail? Hell to the Yeah Bab. Luna Springs is most likely to be packed out throughout the Summer with its electric atmosphere and sassy cocktail menu, Another venue with no doubt in my mind will succeed and will have a thriving future here in Digbeth, The place to be is Luna Springs that’s for sure!

UPDATE
I recently attended Luna Springs again and ordered some drinks, in which this time, I didnt wait long at all. Drinks came within five minutes and service was super sharp!

Book your table now

BAB

Categories
Bars Birmingham review

THE BIG BIRMINGHAM BAKE IN DIGBETH

FAKE IT TILL YOU BLOODY BAKE IT BAB!

I tell you I’m like a walking-talking Expedia when it comes to Digbeth, dare I say it but I have another exciting attraction for you all to try out in Digbeth however with this one, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty Bab. Introducing The Big Birmingham Bake in Digbeth which is a competitive cooking experience where you have 90 minutes to create the winning bake and be in with a chance of taking home the Best Baker price. Very similar to the channel 4 GBBO but you don’t have to be an experienced baker and you don’t have to do it alone, you can work in teams of two. So I was pretty much over the moon when The Big Birmingham Bake invited me and Heather down to try out this brand new experience!

Upon arrival, you see the tent where the baking takes place. Opposite the tent is a couple of old bike containers offering a quirky sitting area where you can grab a coffee before the fun begins. When your time arrives you are then gathered together by the head baker to show/scan your ticket, then you head-on into the tent and choose your work station. A recipe card that you follow with all instructions is laid out for you as well with all ingredients (these are already weighed) ovens are already preheated and your baking tools are all there. The one thing we said on the way to the bake-off was “I hope we are not making doughnuts” not because I don’t like them, but because they are funny buggers to make, but guess what, it was Doughnut month, so of course, We are baking doughnuts kids!

Before we start we are given a short introduction by the head baker who went over the rules and safety procedures we must follow. The most important rule is “just have fun” and just like that my game face came on. I was eyeing up my competitors and I was choosing my enemies. It was like mean girls meets Bake-off, but of course it was healthy competitiveness. I had no plans to sabotage other bakers creations….or did I? Before my evil genius plans were coming together they were suddenly melted away by…

3..2..1 BAKE!

Everyone starts running around like headless chickens scrambling over the recipe cards and ingredients. The recipe is pretty straight forward it’s like GCSE Food Technology and you also have baker assistants there to help you if you get a bit beaten up with the baking. At the front, you have the shelves stacked with decorations, flavourings, and food colours. We were making two types of doughnuts. The ring doughnuts that were to be judged on presentation and the filled doughnuts that were to be judged on taste.

We decided to make toffee apple and cinnamon doughnuts. The ingredients were all over our work station as the pressure of the bake-off was mounting especially when they announce how much time you have left every 30 minutes and where you should be at. A little tip for you guys, you only live once…lick the bowl 😛 . It was great to get in touch with your creative side when it comes to decorating the doughnuts, for the ring doughnuts we went for a marble blue cinnamon icing covered in galaxy stars and eyes and for the filled doughnuts we rolled them in sugar and pink wafers using the same filling as the ring doughnuts. Like two kids in a free frawl candy shop, me and Heather got very creative with our doughnuts.

Surprisingly we didn’t find ourselves having any hiccups along the way but I noticed that there was always help whenever you needed it from the staff who are all lovely, so if you did manage to balls something up it can be fixed so donut worry about it! The time flies by your so busy with checking the times on your creations and making sure you are following the ingredients properly that you do easily lose sight of the time as well as just enjoying being part of the competition.

3..2..1 TIMES UP

We finished just in time and so did everyone else. We all brought our doughnuts to the front and you could just see a buffet of doughnuts with a range of colours and decoration, what a pretty picture. We all went around the group and explained what we made and the head baker got stuck into tasting them all which was absolutely hilarious to watch as the head baker is pretty honest, so if something doesn’t taste right they will say but of course, in a light-hearted way.

After a quick deliberation it was time to announce the results…

And we got beaten by an 8-year-old kid! but I think it was only because he said it was his birthday and well come on, we’ve all used that chestnut before, haven’t we?! Every time I go to Harry Potter world I say it’s my birthday so I get to open the doors to the great hall even when it’s obviously not my birthday resulting in the kids giving me death stares…suckers. However all the doughnuts were pretty incredible, I was with a right creative bunch and even though we didn’t win, I was proud that we actually created doughnuts and didn’t bugger it up! I took my doughnuts home and offered them to my Mom in which she responded: “ Did 5 years old make those?”…oh donut even go there sugar plum! because 6 doughnuts became 2 the very next day and I caught the culprit that was my Mother tucking into them whilst watching Judge Rinder.

The Big Birmingham Bake is truly a fantastic experience that I would recommend within a heartbeat to anyone, it’s fun, it’s exciting and competitive! A great quirky take on the Chanel 4 great British bake-off, so if you love the show, you will love this. A truly wonderful and exhilarating experience racing against the clock covered in buttercream and sprinkles, I took home two deserts: my doughnuts and myself, a sure winner in Birmingham!

Week day tickets are priced at £39.50 and weekend tickets are price at £42.50. Grab you tickets here

AMY ELIZA

Categories
Bars Birmingham

NQ64 DIGBETH- REVIEW

[REVIEW LOADING]

Introducing the newest addition to Digbeth, NQ64 is a new arcade bar located in the heart of the Custard Factory inviting gamers to relive their childhoods with classic 80s/90s arcade games that we used to rinse our parents of their money to play. Me and my friend Laura was invited to the launch night on Thursday and just like that, We stepped into a time machine and went back to the 90s to relive our forgotten youth.

Stepping into NQ64 is like stepping into the world of Stranger Things teaming up with Pizza Planet from Toy Story with, of course, a splash of Digbeth. UV lighting, neon paint and then you hear them “ITS-A ME, MARIO” “FINISH HIM” “K.O.” all the iconic phrases you would hear as a child in a 90s arcade. As a child, you would run to the nearest available game but as an adult, you now would run to the nearest bar or toilet.

The bar is not the biggest, but it seemed to have quite a few staff members behind there juggling glasses. Staff are very pleasent and interacte well with gamers. The drinks menu is on the board offering a variety of arcade-themed cocktails, beers/ales on draught and bottles. I went for the princess peach cocktail which is a peached flavoured prosecco and Laura went for Bubble Bobble which is a combination of rum/gin coconut prosecco which came in one of those ice blast cups, very quirky I like it! I found the cocktails to be quite sweet but that didn’t stop me from throwing it down me, I did opt for a pale ale in the iconic red cup which was very lovely! The prices of the drinks are reasonable, cocktails are priced at £8 and Ales around £4.50. NQ64 do not offer hot food but they do offer a variety of arcadian themed crisp such as space raiders and space invaders.

An impressive game selection here in NQ64 you have your head to head games such as Tekken, Mario Kart and even Crash Bandicoot team racing. I could spend hours on Mario kart and one thing I really like about this place is that anyone can join in with you, you come with your friends and its very impossible to make even more friends in NQ64. Time Crisis was a favourite of mine, Laura and I found ourselves shoving the tokens down the slots and slamming down on the continue button, Time Crisis did strip us the most of our tokens.The pinball machines are also great fun but I found myself coming out with sounds that I didn’t even know they existed in me. To some people, they must have sounded like “fooling around” noises. Take note Amy not to enjoy yourself too much in public places.

The prices for games are feasible, they offer a deal of 15 tokens for £6 behind the bar. When looking around you will notice 80s/90s video arcade memorabilia scattered around such as token coins and comic book covers. Good news! this place doesnt have those rob dog coin pusher “games” do you know how much pocket money I lost as a child on those Saturn machines?! You put money in and you get nothing in return, its like the gold digger of machines.

A paradise for gamers, you could spend hours in here and as for first dates, I think NQ64 just kicked Ghetto Golfs arse by taking the crown as the new first dates spot in Digbeth.

Another exciting new venue to Digbeth that is sure to have a thriving future here in Birmingham. Great vibe through out the venue with 90s hip hop playing in the background, great combination of drinks and a very generous offering of retro arcade gaming. Some would say NQ64 is a bar for “Gamer Nerds” maybe so, but it’s also a great place to let your hair down, take off that work tie and just have some good hard fun with friends. I may warn you friendships might be at stake here but the feeling of beating your friends on the driving games when they have a license and you dont is utterly delightful.

Thank you NQ64 for the crazy ride.

AMY ELIZA

Categories
Bars Birmingham review

ROXY BALL ROOM BIRMINGHAM -REVIEW

GOT BALLZ BAB?

Come on through Roxy Ball Room, another brand new addition to Digbeth that is guaranteed to be a popular attraction for all in Birmingham. Located on Heath Mill Lane just right next door to Birdies bar and just round the corner from Digbeth Dining Club, Digbeth is thriving lately with more independents and attractions opening up every month, so why not throw another one into the mix hey?! I was invited to the launch night of Roxy Ball Room, a venue offering a variety of thrilling games for all to enjoy. From bowling, beer pong to arcade games, there’s plenty to explore in this adult version of Disneyland.

Arriving at 6.15 pm the venue was already getting packed out, the sound of bowling strikes, the clinking of glasses and the cheers from groups of people already enjoying themselves and its only 15 minutes into opening time?! The venue is pretty big offering a good selection of games that are spread out on two floors. The ground floor offers bowling, arcade games, bar and a few beer pong tables whereas upstairs offers more games such as ping pong, pool tables, shuffleboards and well, even more beer pong! Right next to the bar on the ground floor is the games desk where you would book your games.

The bar offers a variety of craft beers, wines and flashy cocktails, with all that on offer we pulled the basic bitch move, glass of prosecco, please! The first thing that caught my eye when you walk into Roxy is the Arcadian basketball machines. Pumped up to shoot some hoops, like an absolute klutz I spilt my prosecco over the machine-For god sake, you silly bugga Amy. Filling up with embarrassment as I had only been here no more than 15 minutes, one of the staff members came out of nowhere advising me not to worry, cleaned up the prosecco and then like a knight in shining armour brought me another prosecco with a smile within a minute, now that’s a bloody good service right there.

After shooting some hoops we made our way to the games desk and booked the bowling, straight away we were offered a lane. The game was set up already for us and also a staff member was there ready and waiting for any drinks or food orders. It’s £8 per person per game which is cheaper than my local. The bowling is just good solid fun, I haven’t played bowling in years and the thought of juggling heavy balls for the night doesn’t really excite me, but I absolutely loved it. My friend and I were howling with laughter, I managed to pull it out of the bag and get myself a strike, however, being all “Billy big balls” from my strike, soon landed me in the gutter and losing the game. Now, If you don’t fancy bowling there is plenty of fun-filled games to get that competitive streak out of you! Why not fancy a bit of beer pong? Balls, Brummies and booze? Now that’s a cocktail I’ll have any time of the day.

Talking of cocktails, there is a variety on offer behind the bar from signature cocktails, craft beers and for groups, they provide drink packages for reasonable prices. For those who fancy a quiet night (lolz) or still participating in “Dry January” there is a good selection of mocktails and soft drinks on offer. The service is pretty sharp here, I didn’t wait long at all to order a drink (2 minutes) and being a 5 ft 1 girl, the struggle is real when ordering a drink at the bar. Again the customer service was fantastic, very friendly and accommodating.

Now on to the food, from baked to perfection pizzas to naughty dripping burgers on offer to satisfy your taste buds or to help soak some of that alcohol up Pal. The pizzas are delicious but dangerous, as Laura and I found ourselves drooling over the bar a couple of times watching the chefs bake even more pizza and signalling them to feed us more. The portions differ, if you’re not feeling that hungry you can always opt for snacks such as cracked pepper chips and Mac N Cheese bites. Roxy also offers vegan and gluten-free options, these are highlighted on the menu. The prices are spot on for the portion and quality of food you get.

Another fantastic attraction that fits in perfectly in Digbeth with its industrial “Ready Player One” interior, Electric vibes flowing throughout and Birmingham artwork honouring the city with Birmingham icons such as Ozzy Osbourne and Mike Skinner. This playground for adults is guaranteed to give all a bloody tip-top time. The prices are reasonable, the staff are fun and attentive to gamers and the atmosphere is buzzing. The only negative I would say about Roxy Ball Room is that all good things must come to an end and I didn’t want the night to end, you could balls it all up and still have a bloody awesome time in there. Round up your crew and head on down to Roxy Ball Room in Digbeth, it’s time to put on that game face and get your ballz wet Babs!

Thank you for the invite and welcome to the Digbeth family, Roxy Ball Room. To many people Roxy will be right up their alley. This place is guaranteed to become a Brummie gem in months to come.

AMY ELIZA

Categories
Birmingham lifestyle

8 things I discovered in 2019 in Birmingham

2019 was the year of discovery and finally venturing out into the world on my own. It was nice on Sunday to sit back and flick through all my photos from 2019 and seeing the drastic changes through imagery from the start of the year to the end of the year. I have learnt a few things about myself, but I have learned more about the city I live in, Birmingham. There is always going to be something new around the corner of this buzzing city whether it be a new venture, a new role model or a new Cronut. It’s crazy to think years ago I wanted to move out of Birmingham and move to London which would be such a bad move as 

  1. It’s not so much I don’t like people its the fact that I don’t like being surrounded by so many of them…
  2. I hate the tube, everyone’s running in and out of the train like they need the toilet and have chronic diarrhoea
  3. You have to pay every time you use a toilet or you have to pay for tap water…Christ, these are dark times we are living in.

Now I feel Birmingham is my home and I want to finally settle down here and be comfortable. I look forward to another year of discovery in my city but let’s just have a look back at the couple of things I discovered/did in 2019 in Birmingham.

CRONUTS

Our Birmingham bakers have gifted us the gift of the gods and they are called Cronuts. These little minxes come from The Medicine Bakery in the City Centre. They are baked to perfection, they are crispy and packed full of delicious filling that just oozes out creating a sensational mouth orgasm. Apologies for the pornographic chat, but take it from me, they are better than sex. Unfortunately for me, I introduced my mom to them so now every time I am in Birmingham which is 90% of the time I have to visit the Medicine Bakery and buy her a Cronut. I think she feels the same way too…

DIGBETH IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SPOTS IN BIRMINGHAM

last year I found myself going to Digbeth a lot more as I was doing a lot of blogger/model photoshoots in that location. I have found over the year that Digbeth just seems to grow bigger and better each year with more unique venues bursting with creativity and fun for all. Digbeth has become one of my favourite places to photograph, I can photograph kids, families, couples, bloggers and even dogs! The background is unique, its edgy, different and it makes my photos stand out. The place is crawling with not only photographers but videographers, music artists making their music videos, painters/graffiti artists, models and TV/film crews. Whether it’s a quiet sit down with a coffee at Kanteen or a buzzing night out with friends indulging in a variety of cuisines at Digbeth Dining Club, Digbeth caters for all and It’s kicking Shoreditch’s arse, period.

BIRDIES BAR- BLOODY GOOD GRUB AND BEST PLAYLIST IN ALL OF BIRMINGHAM

If you like Pina Coladas and awesome music, frigging delicious street food, palm trees, and well, a free holiday where you don’t have to get on a plane and pay the extra luggage fee, then escape to Birdies in Digbeth. This has become one of my favourite places in Birmingham to go out, day and night, its Birmingham’s very own tropical paradise. A place for all ages to mix and mingle over a cocktail, listen to some banging music ( Fleetwood Mac, Phil Collins, Catfish and the Bottlemen)and pretend they are on holiday for just a couple of hours. Intrigued? I did a review of Birdies back in October on the blog so check it out!

MY VERY FIRST GAY PRIDE

Last year I encountered my very first Gay Pride, it was full of colour, kissing, bondage and DRAG. Watching the parade and the number of people that came out to support and cheer on the people that were taking part was incredible to see. The costumes, the people and the zero fucks given is what I absolutely love about Gay Pride. It’s wild, it’s colourful and its ME! so it’s now become a tradition that I must go to Gay Pride every year with my glitter and my boobs.

THE PHOTOGRAPHY COMMUNITY

Photography credit to Rob Heath Photography and Exquisitevisualz

Last year we saw the photography community grow even bigger in Birmingham, more people entered the photography game last year and it’s great to see so much support for photographers. I see so many Birmingham social accounts like hotels, newspapers & magazines, independents and lifestyle blogs sharing photographers content daily and it offers so much exposure for that photographer. A couple of times last year I was finding my photography everywhere I was clicking on social media, I would see people commenting on my photos and tagging other people which is insane as I remember at the beginning I was so petrified to share my content to anyone! It gives you the push and the confidence we need to continue in this tough industry. I hope this year the photography community continues to grow and help promote our talented photographers.

SNOBS IS NOT SNOBS ANYMORE

2019 was the year I went to Snobs, god, it hurts so bad to call this place “Snobs” because it’s not the shithole we used to know. Snobs never played pop music, it wasn’t full of 10-year-olds and it was never snobby, the staff can clearly see you are not 10 years old so you just get a load of weird glares behind the bar. Snobs was the place where our parents would get engaged, it was acceptable to be a sweaty mess and we would have to get friends to unstick our feet from the floor. Ah sweet memories, RIP Snobs, there will never be anyone like you again

DATING IN BIRMINGHAM

So last year I was thrown into the world of dick pics, ghosting and “This is my friends” dog pics, an uncomfortable combination but that’s ONLINE dating for you. I can’t remember the last time I dated so, of course, I didn’t know what to expect. It could be a nice casual date at Yo Sushi or a date where I end up blindfolded in the back of a boot of a Ford KA (That’s my mothers warning words) but I did it. I tried dating and even though I did it when I didn’t feel ready to do so, I have no regrets. I enjoyed my dating experience of 2019, it helped to build my confidence, I got to meet a variety of characters, I went to many new places and I saw a lot of things [please insert dick jokes here]

INDEPENDENT SHOPPING

Don’t you just hate it when you see a blouse you like in a high street store like Topshop for £35 and you go into an independent or a charity shop and find something that is exactly the same or even better quality for less than half of the price? This is the ultimate tit twitcher. So last year I stopped shopping at the High street big brands and started to shop at independent shops. I found so many beautiful independent shops not just in Birmingham but around the Midlands that I can buy clothes, accessories and gifts for family & friends. I just feel the high street is pulling the wool over us shoppers eyes a lot in regards to prices and I am sick to death of wasting £100 on just 3 items! so last year I managed to save myself a lot of money (est of £600) from just boycotting the high street and giving my money to the independents that need and DESERVE it more. We all know that it ends up on eBay or the charity shops after two months of it being in the shop anyway…

AMY ELIZA

Categories
Bars Birmingham review

BATTER UP BAB-THE FLOODGATE DIGBETH

Ever wondered what the future might look like? Look no more! Step into a futuristic urban world with rooms full of exploding colour and quirky artwork covering the walls of this fantastic venue. A variety of exciting and fun fulfilling games await you with refreshing cocktails and mouth watering delicious food. I had the pleasure of attending the launch night of The Floodgate in Digbeth and this is what went down in Digbeth’s newest attraction.

Floodgate Street Digbeth

Just turned 6.30 pm me and my cousin arrived at The Floodgate named after the street its on-Floodgate Street. We were greeted by a gentleman who gave us wrist bands for the various sporting activities that await us inside. The entrance is where you would check-in and pay for the games plus signing a disclosure for the batting cages in which you must read before you enter the cages. Entering the front doors, you see the Bleachers batting cages and the very large bar area full of seats and a wide variety of drinks. The music is upbeat, people were already smiling and we were offered a drink straight away..this is my kind of shindig. 

We first had a look around with our vibrant and refreshing cocktails- very good choice on offer from gins to rum-based cocktails and plenty of beer. In the main room, you have the batting cages, the bar and doors that lead to an outside area where the independent food trucks are selling a variety of tasty and oh so satisfying food. The four food vendors are Home run pizza company, The Cookie Mumsters, That’s mature toasties and Phata Phat food. Good selection of variety there but we had to a bit of exploring first.

We finished our first cocktails and headed to play Pit Pat table golf, the UK’s first and only PitPat. A neon jungle room that is very generous in size and offers a variety of PitPat tables for you all to challenge each other and enjoy. It’s a race around the room, completing the variety of challenging Pit Pat courses that are harder than they look however I quite surprised myself, I was quite good at it.

The next room we went into was the curling lanes, this was one of my favourites and really brings the competitive side out of you… this game may cause a few argy-bargys! 3 curling lanes and more neon lights, the room also offers more seating areas where if you feel like giving up, you can go sit down and have a sulk on the sideline. What I absolutely love about this room, is the ceiling full of Slinkys, that’s right SLINKYS, it’s raining Slinkys!
So creative and so Birmingham.

The final activity is the Bleachers Baseball batting cages where we first entered. This was the one game I wasn’t too sure about, but I absolutely loved. Only one person in the cage, you must wear a helmet, and you must stand by your mark. The balls shoot out pretty fast so it may take you by surprise at first, it never gets easier you just get better! This is great fun for groups and it’s so satisfying when you finally get that perfect hit.

On to the FOOD, my goodness and what a treat you guys are in for. We were absolutely spoilt, from pizza to cookie dough balls and butter chicken, it really did fulfil my taste buds and even satisfied my picky cousins food habits(she’s a hard one to please with food) As we sat down, the food just kept coming out and it was great to talk to some of the food vendors who were so excited as well as the Floodgate staff for the long-awaited opening. A shout out to Home run pizza company which was honestly the tastiest pizza I have ever had (3 little pigs Pizza) The food is fantastic and we both left with full satisfied bellies.

Another great attraction in Digbeth to draw friends, families, parties and even first dates. The vibe in here is electric, throwing back beers to upbeat music and hearing the roars of laughter throughout the venue. Another Brummie gem, Well done Floodgate I am sure you are going to do fantastically well! Thank you for the invite, it was an absolute pleasure and we had a belter of a time!

So many exciting attractions, it is never-ending! You really are spoiling us aren’t you Brum?

AMY ELIZA

Categories
photography

PHOTOGRAPHY IN BRUM- MY FAVOURITE SPOTS

I have lived in Birmingham my whole life and even when I am out with my camera, I still manage to find spots that I have never come across before that are great for all kinds of photography. The great thing about photography in Birmingham is that it is never ending, and it’s getting bigger! A creative and colourful city that is always sparking our creativity and is always supportive of fellow creatives. It really is great to be a photographer in this city. It has given me such confidence and the ability to grow and not be afraid to be open with my style. From Visit_Birmingham to BHAMGRAM social media photography platforms driving beginners to experienced photographers to showcase their vision of Birmingham and to be rewarded with credit on social media platforms to drive more recognition to the photographer. The photography community is growing every day in Birmingham, making Brum one of the best cities out there to point your camera in and why not? Have you seen our city?! There is so much on offer here! There are so many endless possibilities to photograph in Birmingham and I want to show you my favourite spots!

DIGBETH

Home of the future creatives, an ultimate favourite of mine and I bet of so many other photographers as well. It’s like the upside down of Birmingham, endless possible shots to take in this colourful area full of talented street artists work, with exciting possibilities for all creatives. I have done a variety of photoshoots here with Bloggers, Models, couples and families. The Nightowl pink and white wall seems to be a favourite with bloggers/models, so I like using this backdrop a lot and it gives my photos a retro tone which is great as I’m a retro vintage Gal.

SNOW HILL

I am quite surprised with many of you who don’t recognise where this is. however, every time I’m on shoot here it feels like I am on a film set for a futuristic Jurassic park film. This location is very popular for model shots, but I recently did a couple shoot here and loved the results. Let’s not forget the botanical greenery walls that are perfect backdrops for all kinds of photoshoots!

COLMORE ROW

Colmore Row, Barwick St and New hall St are perfect for blogger shoots, you have the great independent coffee shops such as 200 Degrees and vibrant quirky restaurants such as Tattu. Let’s not forget the tall metropolitan office towers and Art deco features in the Birmingham Museum.

THE MAILBOX/CANALS

The view from the Cube is always spectacular to photograph and shooting from the ground floor of the cube is pretty cool aswell. The canals are very popular to photograph but you can get some pretty awesome shots if you choose your angles wisely. I would like to mention that I love photographing the Canal house as you have the beautiful high rise buildings such as HSBC and the Hyatt hotel behind it.

BRINDLEY PLACE

I went to Amsterdam back in August and fell in the love with the city. After a week after my return, with dutchy blues, I went for a walk in Brindley place. Photographing the Arena walking across the bridges I suddenly stopped “Déjà Vu” the flowers, the view of the canal, it was like I was back in Amsterdam! It sparked a few ideas for blogger and family photoshoots. Another mention is Ikon Gallery. I especially love to come here when the blossom is in full bloom in Oozells square, It makes stunning photos.

OTHER MENTIONS

The library of Birmingham- Great for views of Broad Street, The Cube, and BT Tower.

Selfridges tunnel to car park- Another great spot to take shots of the Bullring, St Martin church, and Digbeth.

Cannon hill park- A favourite for family and kids photoshoots.

The Jewellery Quarter- Great location for all kinds of photoshoots!

Great Western Arcade- Beautiful Victorian arcade, it’s like stepping back in time! perfect for portraits.

AMY ELIZA

Categories
Bars Food review

BAB, WE ARE NOT IN BRUM ANYMORE- BIRDIES REVIEW

Birmingham to classy Ibiza who says you can’t have both in a day Hey?

Birmingham has opened up its very own tropical paradise in the heart of Digbeth. Birdies is an outdoor cocktail bar with a beach/island theme selling refreshing cocktails and bloody good BBQ food. 

Right next door to Ghetto Golf and just down the road from Digbeth Dining Club, you will see the Birdies neon sign flashing amongst palm trees to lure those of us desperate for a holiday. Stepping into Birdies is like stepping into your holiday without the hassle of early morning rises, broken toilet signs and crying children. The place has been made out of shipping containers (of course, that’s Digbeth for you) decorated in fantastic art that gives that quirky edge. Open roof in the centre means it’s the place to be in the summer, however, I am wondering what they are going to do when dreaded winter arrives.

It’s order at the tills, they have a main bar for ordering the drinks and then they have the kitchen bar where you can order the food. They do not display food menus on the tables so you will have to check the main menu by the food bar. From halloumi burgers to salt and pepper chicken and even ‘Buddha Bowls’- there is a variety on offer and they even cater for vegan and gluten free.

I opted for the salt and pepper chicken fries and a cheeky can of Estrella. Once ordered, I sat back and relaxed listening to the music, the music is bloody good in here and I need the playlist ASAP. Seating area is very generous here from container seats to barstools and deck chairs. Warning: the bar area is not so generous as there is only one bar, so it gets very busy on the nights as it’s lit up with fairy lights and looks like a classy full moon party-if they ever do exist. You have a great mixture of people in here, people of all ages and it’s great to see a couple of the old gals dancing with the young lads and teaching them how the older generation get down- I learnt a few things that night…

On to the important stuff, FOOD. The food is from streetvendor Apocalypse Cow who also provides the food for Ghetto Golf. It took about 20 minutes to come but I didn’t really care about the wait as I was too busy downing my drink and enjoying my holiday. When it did come my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree (too soon? Okay, okay) My salt and pepper chicken was POPPIN’ forget bloody KFC, Birdies chicken is finger lickin’ good! Layered with a Chinese sauce, very vibrant, very tasty, and the portion sizes are very generous, I actually couldn’t finish mine as it is quite filling. I made another trip back to Birdies for the cocktails, also very refreshing and tasted great and the prices are quite reasonable here. A variety of fruity cocktails on offer and beer, so you may be stuck for choice. For all you non-alcoholics or those nursing a dirty hangover, Birdies provides mocktail versions of all the cocktails so you don’t feel left out.

Birdies is the place to be, vibrant, lively and just a pretty god damn cool place to have casual drinks in the day and then a dance on the night. The only downside I would say is the bar on the nights, it gets way too busy and you could be waiting there for 20 minutes or more to be served. In the day, its perfect and the staff are very friendly and willing to help. If you’re sad that summer is over, you can always pop to Birdies as it’s summer all year round but just don’t expect a tan at the end of it.

AMY ELIZA