I don’t venture out to Harborne that often as I’m on the other side of Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield) but it has always intrigued me. The amount of independents flooding to Harborne like it’s some sort of DisneyWorld for foodies had me a tad jealous the past few months and so I vowed to go there one day in July. Of course, it neared the end of July and I had totally forgotten about it until I visited The Botanical Gardens and searched for places to eat nearby. Sat at the top of my Google search was Estado da India, it was finally time.
Please note that this experience was NOT gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
Located on a busy road it the centre of Harborne, Estado Da India is a Portuguese-Indian restaurant brought to you by the highly successful Lasan Group. Celebrating a union of two cultures, they sell a variety of tapas-style sharing plates bursting with flavour, colour and spices. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and super cosy, my partner and I both admired the artwork and the many dedications to the Portuguese and Indian cultures. Our server was lovely and very helpful, although she was new and couldn’t answer all of our questions, she tried her best to give us as much information and as many recommendations as possible.
James and I opted for the following dishes: Iberian lamb ribs, Morcela Potato, Lemon rice, Chicken Espetada, Duroc Pork Belly, Tomate Naan and Masala Fries. We waited around 10-15 minutes and all dishes came out at the same time. My first impression was that the dishes were a little on the small size, even for tapas. I looked up at my 6 ft 6 chap and thought, he’s going to be starving after this! I was wrong – the dishes are very filling. I struggled in the end to finish the last of the naan but my god, was the food delicious. Like fireworks going off in my mouth. Rich and punchy flavours and waves of spice, and everything just worked so well together.
The lamb ribs were my favourite, garnished with tangy tamarind chutney and the meat was so succulent it just melted in the mouth.Masala fries were crunchy and full of spice. The lemon rice was a refreshing partner to all the spices kicking off in my mouth and the pork belly was also sensational. The chicken espetada was very nice but would have preferred to have two portions instead of just one for £5.25. Now we all have different appetites, some bigger than others so of course, the portion sizes are not going to work well with everyone and especially big groups. As a couple, we didn’t experience this but I can see some diners raising this as an issue as they may not want to spend more money on buying more small dishes. I would suggest around five dishes each, we went for less and it worked but for those who are feeling very hungry, I would recommend five.
The bill came to £41, £20.50 each for dinner is not bad, actually it’s very good! Usually, for tapas I pay around £40-£50 for less than satisfying food so really, Estado Da India was an absolute bargain. Estado Da India ticked all the boxes for me, so much variety on offer here that of course, we will have to go back for a second visit. Many will be spoilt for choice and there were plenty of vegetarian and vegan options which was great to see! When eating out I want a menu to enrapture me and Estado Da India’s menu certainly did that. It’s worth the journey from Sutton Coldfield and it’s worth many more journeys. Estado Da India delivers on so many levels and is one restaurant that should be on everyone’s list to try out this Summer.
Rosa’s Thai Cafe is yet another London restaurant crossing over to the North and opening in Birmingham, we are the second city after all and causing quite a stir on the culinary scene. Rosa’s was founded by Chef Saiphin and serves up ‘award-winning authentic Thai food that is bold on flavour’. I adore Thai cuisine so of course, I was very excited to try this out.
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
Located in the heart of the new Paradise Circus, this is the first Rosa’s Cafe to open in the Midlands. First impressions were at odds with every other Thai restaurant I’ve been too. The decor was understated, the atmosphere pretty vacant – but then again it was a Tuesday night in the cafe’s second week of opening.
My sister and I decided to order several starter plates: crispy prawns, summer rolls, honey-marinated pork skewers, sweetcorn cakes and the obligatory prawn crackers. The portion sizes were decent, the colours were vibrant, and everything looked appealing to the eye. Lets start with what we did like: the crispy prawns were fresh and fragrant and the sweet chilli dip provided a welcome zing. The honey-marinated pork skewers were tender and juicy – a plate I would definitely recommend. Unfortunately, the rest of the dishes were disappointing. There was way too much sweetcorn than cake in the patties and virtually no seasoning. Now I know summer rolls are supposed to be served cold but are summer rolls supposed to give you brain freeze? Biting into one of these was like biting into a choc ice that’s been sitting in your mum’s freezer since 2005. Refreshing maybe but again, bland as fuck.
Luckily the mains were a bigger hit. I ordered the stir-fried beef with black pepper sauce and sticky rice. The beef was full of flavour albeit it a little on the chewy side and the sauce was just glorious drizzled over the sticky rice and scooped up with a prawn cracker. My sister ordered the fried aubergine and confirmed it was sweet, salty and moreish. It was probably the most authentic dish we picked.
The staff were very friendly and attentive, our server was fantastic and I couldn’t help but feel bad when he asked us about the half-eaten plates on our table. Admittedly my sister and I messed up by ordering mostly deep-fried dishes to start. By the time the mains came we were rubbing our tummies and exhaling like labouring women.
Unfortunately for me, Rosa’s Thai Cafe was disappointing. I felt it was lacking the flavours and spice Thai food is famous for. Where was the spice?! I felt I could have gone to another chain such as Sabai Sabai and experienced bolder flavours. After visiting Thailand and tasting authentic Thai cuisine I don’t think Rosa’s comes close. For a quick working lunch maybe – as I said, the service was excellent – but for an evening meal with friends or family it’s a strong no. I understand there can be teething problems in the first couple of weeks so I might try it later in the year, but I’m definitely not in a rush.
I’ll be honest I wanted to love it. It’s in a great spot and the cafe itself is light, breezy and welcoming. But the absence of flavour in its dishes means that Rosa’s might well be overshadowed by others in the city centre who deliver a more authentic Thai experience
It seems like Winter has been forever, ever since the pandemic hit last year we have had to wave goodbye to Summer events such as music festivals but now it looks like Summer will be returning. You will see all over social media that there is a swarm of summer events popping up from foodie festivals to Pride. Yes, Summer is back baby! So I have put together a little guide full of fantastic events that are taking place in Birmingham and beyond this Summer.
I will continue to update this blog post with new events, I am still waiting on a few to confirm but when they do I’ll make sure to pop them on, don’t forget to subscribe for updates!
JUNE 2021 EVENTS
ALFRESCO FEST AT THE ORANGERY
Available to book now from Apil-June 2021 – Ipsley – Redditch
The Orangery in Redditch have launched their fantastic alfresco experiences, introducing ALFRESCOfest a beautiful botanical festival full of botanical themed cocktails and tasty tapas taking place in an enchanted garden. Tickets are on sale now and you can book out the cute potting sheds or greenhouses. You can book your tickets here
ADVENTURE CINEMA AT AVERY FIELDS
11th – 12th June 2021 – Avery Fields – Birmingham – Tickets one sale now
This is the greatest show! An amazing Sing-A-Long outdoor cinema experience at Avery Fields in Birmingham on 11th June 2021 with a showing of the movie that has sold out cinemas all over the world and what about a classic? Dirty Dancing will be showing on 12th June 2021. You can book your tickets here
BIG FOOT FESTIVAL
18th-20th June at Ragley Hall In Warwickshire.
Big Foot Festival is a three day summer music festival celebrating the best in music, food and beer. The line up is pretty class with big bands such as Primal Scream headlining along with an incredible line up of street food and craft beer. Tickets on sale now and can be purchased here
FOODIES FESTIVAL AT CANNON HILL PARK
25th-27th June 2021 – Cannon Hill Park – Birmingham
The UK’S largest food and drink festival is back this year in Cannon Hill Park with top Chefs serving up some insanely good food, live music and fun activities to be enjoyed by the whole family! Currently awaiting more information however you can check for all updates here
JULY 2021 EVENTS
BEER CENTRAL FESTIVAL-MOVED TO 17TH AND 28TH SEPTEMBER
2nd-3rd July 2021-The Mill in Digbeth
The Craft beer festival, Beer Central is returning to Birmingham this year to bring the best in beer, food, and music. You can expect over 30 word-class breweries such as Attic Brew Co and Digbrew Co, and lets not forget the awesome goodie line up including Dishoom, Baked in Brick and more. You can buy your tickets here
BURGER FEST
3rd July 2021 – Aston Hall – Birmingham – Tickets on sale now
For all you burger lovers out there this festival is for you, Introducing Seasonal Markets Burger Fest that is taking place at Aston Hall this year. The line up is one not to miss with Flying Cows, Libertine Burger, Yardbirds and newcomers such as Meat Meets Bun and more! Live bands and DJ sets aswell as cocktails, beer and more will be flowing through out the day, DON’T MISS OUT! Purchase your tickets here
COLMORE FOOD FESTIVAL
3rd-4th July2021– Colmore Row
Colmore Food Festival is an annual celebration of Colmore Business District restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels, attracting more than 30,000 visitors. Awaiting more information about this event to be confirmed please refer to Visit Birminghams website for updates here
BIRMINGHAM COFFEE FESTIVAL-CANCELLED
3rd-4th July 2021 – The Custard Factory – Digbeth
This one is for all you coffee lovers out there! The Birmingham Coffee Festival is back, these two days will bring together the top 40 independent coffee shops and coffee culture experiences from the local area and beyond. Tickets are £8 online (£10 on the door) and you get a cute coffee tote bag included! Head on over to their website here to purchase your tickets
LICHFIELD MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
8th-18th July 2021– Lichfield town centre
The Lichfield Festival is hoping to return this year inspiring multi-arts experiences for anyone and everyone in the Midlands and beyond. Full of amazing performances and activities for the whole family to enjoy running from 8th to 18th July 2021. You can find more information about the festival here
MOSTLY JAZZ FUNK & SOUL FESTIVAL
9th-11th July 2021 – Moseley Park – Birmingham
A 3-day celebration of Jazz, Funk & Soul in Moseley Park, expect amazing live performances from The Wailers, Neneh Cherry and more. Tickets are on sale now but they are selling quickly! You can purchase your tickets here
GIN AND RUM FESTIVAL
16th-17th July 2021 – Edgbaston Cricket Club – Birmingham
The Uk’s biggest Gin & Rum Festival is touring across the UK and coming to Birmingham. Sample and discover new favourites from hand-picked guest distillers, treat yourself at their themed gin and rum bars and let your hair down with your friends! Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here
IBIZA PROMS IN THE PARK
22nd July 2021 – Tudor Grange Park – Solihull – Tickets on sale now
Classic Ibiza anthems performed by a 50 piece live Orchestra at Tudor Grange Park in Solihull. Awaiting further information but priority tickets are now on sale and can be brought here
COVENTRY FOOD FESTIVAL
23rd-25th July 2021-Coventry Town Centre
The Coventry festival is returning this year celebrating all things food, drink and culture. Celebrity chefs will be showcasing their cooking skills, fantastic street food will be available and live music. The Festival is free and you can find more information here
GOOD TIMES FESTIVAL
24th July 2021 – Mill Gardens – Leamington Spa – Tickets on sale now
Lets welcome Summer events back, while making great memories with Friends and Family. The theme of this one day festival is to have a GOOD TIME while supporting local performers, food vendors, and drink suppliers. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here
SOLIHULL SUMMER FESTIVAL
24th and 25th July 2021 – Tudor Grange Park – Solihull – Tickets on sale now
The Solihull Summer Fest returns for its 5th year running on the 24th – 25th July 2021. A 2 day festival in the heart of Solihull with a diverse mix of genres across the weekend. Summer Fest has previously featured The Human League, Level 42, The Vamps, UB40, Busted, The Proclaimers, Sister Sledge, Razorlight, 10cc, Scouting for Girls, Feeder and many more star-studded names. Each day runs from 12 midday until 10.30pm with live music, street food vendors, bars, entertainment and an exclusive VIP area. You can buy tickerts here
AUGUST 2021 EVENTS
WARWICK FOOD FESTIVAL
1st August 2021– Market Place- Warwick – Free Entry
The Warwick Food Festival is back, come and join in the celebration of the best in local food and drink. There’ll be around 100 traders cooking up a variety for you all to try aswell as bars and produce exhibitors. Live music will be on through out the day and if you head to the website here you can see what traders you’ll find there, great event for the whole family, don’t miss it!
THE INDEPENDENT BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL
14th-15th August 2021– Aston Hall – Birmingham – SOLD OUT
The Independent Birmingham Festival At Aston Hall Returns bringing you an amazing line up of Brum’s very best restaurants and street food traders serving delicious food all weekend long, washed down with craft beers, delicious cocktails, and natural wine from Birmingham’s finest bars and microbreweries. For more information head on over to their website here
SEPTEMBER 2021 EVENTS
MOSELEY FOLK & ARTS FESTIVAL
3rd-5th September 2021 – Moseley Park – Birmingham
The Moseley Folk & Arts is a family-friendly music festival with a great mix of traditional, contemporary and downright experimental folk and acoustic music. Live performances from amazing artists and bands such as The Waterboy’s, Frank Turner and Richard Hawley. Tickets are now available to purchase here
MIDLANDS WHISKY FESTIVAL
11th September 2021 – The Studio – Cannon Street – Birmingham
Any whisky fans out there? This festival is definitely for you! celebrating 10 years of Midlands Whisky Festival at the Studio on Cannon Street in Birmingham. Sample 400+ whiskies paired up with some delicious food such as cheese, cured meats and more! Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here
LEAMINGTON SPA FOOD FESTIVAL
11th-12th September 2021 – Pump Room Gardens – Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa food festival is returning this year with live kitchen with local chefs showcasing their culinary skills as well as live music, plenty of street food vendors serving up awesome food and plenty of fun for the whole family. This is a free event and you can check out their website here for more information
SOLIHULL FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL
24th-26th September 2021 – Mell Square – Solihull
Bringing a huge selection of food and drink traders in the town centre, you will be spoilt for choice with the best of worldwide cuisine. There will be family entertainment, the much-loved demo kitchen with local celebrity chefs showcasing their cookery skills, and live music. For more information head on over to the Solihull Bid website here
BIRMINGHAM PRIDE FESTIVAL
25th-26th September 2021– Birmingham Gay Village – Birmingham
Yas Bab, Pride is back! Welcoming all to our LGBTQ village, Pride is going to be quite big this year with live performances by Cheryl, Katy B and more! There will be four stages and tickets are selling fast. There will also be a community event on Friday (24th) that is free and will include community stalls, street food, keynote speakers and more! You can buy tickets here
Say HOLA! to real Authentic Mexican cuisine courtesy of Good Food Cartell right here in the Midlands. Serving Mexican food that is full of flavour, made with the freshest ingredients out of a truck at The Hearsall Inn Pub in Coventry on Craven Street. The Owner Michael invited me down to try out some of the food and was served a warning to ” not eat too much on the day” and boy was he right, an absolute fiesta de agrietamiento was waiting for us!
Now when it comes to Mexican food I have to admit, I am not the biggest fan but that’s because I have always been let down when I have had Mexican food. It’s always been a solid “No” or “It’s just okay” it has never had my full attention and the only time it has was when I was in San Diego in 2010 in the Mexican village. Nothing has come close until I tried Good Food Cartel which exceeded my expectations and has certainly got me excited again for Mexican cuisine.
The first dish was the tacos 3 for £9 or 6 for £16, bursting with colour complete with appealing garnishes and a mouth-watering aroma’s. Full of tangy sauces, shots of spice and fresh ingredients packed into a soft blue corn tortilla that is gluten-free. Fillings included chicken, cow, pig, jackfruit and cactus? Yes, cactus, and believe it or not this was my favourite filling as a non-vegetarian I preferred this to the meats. It does have a unique taste to it but I found it went beautifully with the garnishes and tangy sauces.
The second dish was the Elote £3.00 which is cooked corn on the cob covered with lime juice, cheese, honey mustard mayo and chilli mix. Tangy, Sweet, and FUCK (Yes I am going to swear in this review) it was unbelievable. I believe this is Good Food Cartel’s secret weapon because on the outside it just looks like fancy corn on the cob but the inside…Wow, its MIND-BLOWING. I don’t blame you for reading this review and thinking Amy mate, it’s corn on the cob? But honestly guy’s, this little guy blows my mind. The flavours are incredible and weirdly enough, it has that sweet taste which to me, oddly reminds me of ice cream. The third dish was the Cow Burrito-Beef brisket £8.00 with guacamole and Pico de gallo. Beautiful and full of flavour, and not messy! I can’t stand a messy burrito where it all falls out the bottom or goes soggy. Very filling but not too much, just right.
The fourth dish was the Quesadilla’s £7.00, fillings included Cow, Pig, Chicken, Jackfruit or cactus. Toasted beautifully with plenty of cheese, full of flavour and was just another mouth-watering dish that took my breath away. My favourite topping I would have to say is the Al Pastor pork shoulder that just worked beautifully with the chipotle sauce dipped into the guacamole and sour cream.
The fifth dish was Nachos £4.50, Full of layers Babs, plenty of corn Tortilla chips that pack an epic crunch combined with fresh guacamole, salsa, and sour cream smothered in melted cheese. Fantástica! All washed down with BOING Guava Juice which is a natural fruit beverage made from Guava that was refreshing and a great cleanser after such a massive feast.
This was the first Mexican meal that I have had in years where I have not felt disappointed. Good Food Cartel serves up incredible food that is bursting with flavour, made with the freshest ingredients and isn’t charging silly money such as £15 for a Burrito. Great value for money and the portions are very generous for how much you are paying, the set of 6 tacos for £16 is superb! Shared between two we felt satisfied and there was still four more dishes to go!
Michael is fantastic, full of knowledge and LOLS, he entertained us through out our feast. He really looked after us and it was very interesting to hear his story of starting up Good Food Cartel at the start of lockdown.
FINALLY, I have discovered real Authentic Mexican food that I love. The only problem is that I love it so much that I am having GFC blues! I really do hope to see them over in Birmingham this year but if not, It is definitely worth the trip down to Coventry. Thank you so much for inviting me down and congratulations to Good Food Cartel for creating something very special in lockdown for people to enjoy and making me finally fall in love with Mexican food.
You will find Good Food Cartel at The Hearsall Inn on Craven Street in Coventry. They will now be offering table service from Monday to Sunday and you will need to book your tables here at bookings@hearsallinn.com Please show your support and give Good Food Cartel a follow on socials
It’s that time again Babs, V-DAY is coming. Many businesses have already been promoting their Valentines day meals, gifts and hampers, and I thought it would be a great idea to feature some amazing independents and their Valentines day offers. As we cant celebrate outside our homes, don’t just give up on celebrating! This guide is full of some lovely ideas to spend with your loved ones or have a night in with yourself! From afternoon teas to five-course fine dining meals, this guide will surely get you in the mood for some Ol’ loving, HIT IT BARRY!
DINING IN SET MENU’S
Here is a list of restaurants and foodie small businesses who have put together awesome Valentines day meals for you and your loved one to enjoy in your own homes this V-Day. Simple and stress-free cooking, leaving you with plenty of time to snuggle on the sofa or strangle each other after a heated discussion about who used the last loo roll…
Birmingham-Pre-order by midday on Tuesday 9th Feb for Nationwide delivery on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th February 2021
From £60 for Vegetarian-From £90 for non-vegetarian-Five Course meal for two-Order via their website here
COPPICE/THE FIG & OLIVE
Sutton Goldfield-Collection only
£50-£70 V-Day Steak boxes for two-One Course Steak and wine-Please contact via telephone 0121 308 7197 and head to their website for more information here
THE CORNERSTONE KITCHEN
Sutton Coldfield-Birmingham
£45 pp non-Vegetarian five course and £35 pp for vegetarian five course– Email James@thecornerstonekitche.com to order and head to their website here to check out menu options
BAKED IN BRICK
Home Delivery-15 miles from B23 Birmingham
£30 per person-Vegan options are available-Three course menu-Please download the app to order, you can check out the menu here
LIBERTINE BURGER
Leamington Spa/Rugeley-Nationwide delivery on 12th February 2021
Teaming up with Urban Cheesecake and NICE wines for their Valentines kits for £49.95-2 burgers + sides + cheese cake + wine- order your kit via their website here
OPUS
Home Delivery from Birmingham up to 10 miles radius on 13th February 2021-Collection also available on 13th February-please check times on website.
Five course menu with complimentary half bottle of Champagne per person-£75 per person-Vegetarian options available-Order via their website here
DUBBERLEY DELICIOUS
Staffordshire-Free delivery within 10 miles radius/Collection options available
Dine at home packages-Five course set menu for £45 PP–Vegetarian options available-Order via their website here
MAKE IT REALLY SPECIAL: SET MENUS OVER £100
CANARY & KITCHEN
Birmingham/Solihull area (Please check the website to see if they cover your area)
Love in Lockdown set menu for £42.50 pp-delivery on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th-Please order via their website here
BARE BONES PIZZA
Nationwide Delivery
Valentines Day DIY Pizza kits for two with a bottle of wine from Wine Freedom in Digbeth and two milk chocolate hearts from Bloom for £34.99-Pepperoni or Vegetarian option available-Order by 7th February for delivery on 12th or 13th- Order here
LAND
Birmingham-Local delivery within 8 miles radius on 14th February and nationwide delivery available on 13th February 2021
Three/Five course vegan set menus for one or two people from £27 to £70-Wine can be paired up with meals-Order via their website here
PULPERIA/AKTAR AT HOME
Nationwide delivery-order by the end of Wednesday 10th Feb and will be shipped on 12th February 2021. Collection available from Opheem in Birmingham
£150 for five course menu with wine-South American inspired menu-Nationwide Delivery- Order via their website here
670 GRAMS
Birmingham-Collection only from 670 Grams in Digbeth
£195 set menu for two-A special V-day menu like no other-Modern fine-dining at its best including champagne/gin cocktails-Email reservations to reservations@670grams.com and you check out the menu here
THE PLOUGH HARBORNE
Collection only
Valentines Three-Course meal for £125 with wine, cheese, and ice-cream-Collection on 13th February 2021-Order via their website here
AFTERNOON TEAS
THE EARLY BIRD BAKERY
Kings Heath-Birmingham-Collection options are available too!
£45 for vegetarian afternoon tea and £50 for non-vegetarian there is also an option to have mixed for £47.50– From Savoury to Sweet options-Please order via their website here
ROCHERS PATISSERIE
Sutton Coldfield to Lichfield delivery only
£25 per person–Vegetarian afternoon tea is also available for £25-Sweet & Savoury-Add ons are available such as Spa gifts from Heaven Sent in Boldmere/Lichfield-Please email your orders to info@rochers.co.uk and you can head to their instagram here to check the menu.
VALENTINES HAMPERS
GRACE + JAMES
Kings Heath-Birmingham-Check postcodes on G+J Website
G+J popular hamper with a Valentines twist for £50-Wine/Cheese/Meats/Chutney/Crackers-Order via their website here
MISS MACAROON
Nationwide Deliveries or click and collect option available
Chocolate Lovers hamper with sparkling wine for £60-Macaroons/Chocolate/Sparkling Wine-Miss Macaroon also provide vegan hampers-order via their website here
TASTY VALENTINES DAY GIFTS
BETHEL BAKERY
Delivery to Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Walmley, Walsall, Wednesbury and Tamworth. Collection is also available.
Various V-Day treat boxes from £18 to £30-Biscuits/Cakepops/Cupcakes-order via their website here
BEKI’S BROWNIES
Nationwide Delivery-Boxes delivered on 11th February 2021
Going live today at 6pm Beki’s Brownies Valentines treat boxes for £20-Order via their website here
COOKIE MUMSTER
Nationwide Delivery
Don’t mind if I FONDUE BOX for £20-28 pieces of cookies and brownies with sauces to dip-Special message option-order via their website here
BROWNIES BY US
Coventry-Delivery to Birmingham/Solihull/Sutton Coldfield
The His & Hers Valentines box for £25-Gooey Brownies/2 bottles of Prosecco/A Box of Lindt/and a Rose-Order via their Instagram here
BOSTIN BAKERY
Free UK Delivery
Box of seven Valentines cookies for your loved ones for £16.50-Variety of flavours available-Suitable for Vegetarians-Order via their website here
Well, it looks like we don’t have to travel far to get into the festive spirit this Christmas with the newest addition to Sutton Coldfield, introducing Silver Tree Bakery. Now, you may recognise the name as throughout lockdown I was none stop ordering from them, from essential groceries to the lockdown treats such as cream tea, Silver Tree was an absolute lifesaver not just for me but for many who live in Sutton Coldfield and the surrounding areas.
Located in the heart of Sutton Coldfield, Silver Tree is a catering company, catering for events and weddings throughout Birmingham, they then turned to local heroes delivering essential groceries and treats to people in lockdown and now they have become shop owners. I was delighted for them when they announced they will be opening up a Bakery in Sutton Coldfield, and now seeing the Bakery open during the pandemic, seeing people enjoying themselves and the business thriving already, I am over the moon for them.
Located on Water Orton Lane in Minworth you will find this quirky, Scandinavian style wooden chalet accompanied with fire pit, picnic benches, and faux fur throws. A little bit of Lapland in Sutton Coldfield, We didn’t ask for it but now realised how so badly we needed this especially this time of year with the pandemic, there was not one miserable pout insight!
There is a queuing system and of course, social distancing rules put in place, as you enter the bakery there is more seating however due to Tier 3 restrictions, the seating can not be used. You can grab breakfast sarnies, cakes, bakes coffee and more, and toast your tootsies too on the fire whilst munching away on some awesome food, It’s absolutely delightful. There is also the option for click & collect on their website here where you can also order hampers and desserts such as lemon drizzle cake and Bakewell tarts.
Hot drinks are also on offer at the bakery, I opted for a cappuccino and it was a beauty alright, I spotted a few fancy hot chocolates some of the kids were tucking into however I thought scrapping with a six-year-old is not how I would like to end my year, plus, the six-year-old was way taller than me, I didn’t have a chance.
The cakes and bakes are amazing, especially the cinnamon bun, crikey, I could kick myself just for picking up one! Before I even made it into the bakery, a man stepped out and announced to the queue “The sausage rolls are the best around” so of course, I ordered two and I can confirm, That they are indeed, the best sausage rolls around…boar off Greggs.
The staff are so lovely here, I had the pleasure of meeting some of them in lockdown and it was great to meet them again and hear they are doing so well already. Smiles all around, and you can tell they are proud of their bakery, I would be to, it’s wonderful and the positivity of the staff here just make it even more wonderful.
Not just for kids, but for the whole family, Silver Tree Bakery is a must-visit for all. It was lovely to see people come together (social distance of course) enjoy good food, have a coffee and just to feel a bit of normality! The Bakery is perfect, put together so well and is just so festive, it’s impossible to not get into the Christmas spirit here. Congratulations to you all and I wish you the very best with the Bakery, I am sure it will thrive here in Sutton Coldfield.
Open from Wednesday to Sunday Wed-Fri: 8AM to 6PM Saturday: 8am to 4PM Sunday: 9AM TO 2PM
Introducing a vibrant new independent to Birmingham located in the Great Western Arcade you’ll find The Pineapple Club, A new bar that is currently slaying the Birmingham bar scene. Neon lights, pink interior, art deco furniture and the Basic Bitch photo opportunities to be had here, The Pineapple Club is bringing the EXTRA that Birmingham so badly needs!
Opened in September, bookings are filling up quite fast so I managed to book in for early October on a Friday from 5.30 pm to 7 pm for drinks and food. Arriving at The Pineapple Club you enter into the shop where they sell a variety of wines and cheeky alcohol beverages, looking a little bare yes, but its quality over quantity here Bab and there is quite the impressive selection of booze on offer. Walking up the stairs you are hit with botanical and pink neon scenes that is sure to make you eye lit up!
Straight away, this place oozes sexiness and style, So stylish with the 1920s interior with art deco styled furniture throwing in a bit of futuristic neon creating those Instagram photo shoots opportunities. We all are a sucker for a little of neon and pink so straight away my eyes lit up to this and got me quite excited!
Sitting down at our table we took a look at the drinks menu which is very impressive, you got your basic bitch cocktails like Pornstar Martini but then you got your fancy and creative cocktails such as candy club punch and Kawaii Milk. If you don’t fancy a cocktail you can always opt for Wine and beer. They also provide non-alcohol cocktails and soft drinks for those who fancy a quiet one or don’t drink alcohol. In regards to the food menu, they do a good selection of Spanish tapas inspired small plates from meat dishes such as chorizo to vegetarian dishes such as Colombian Arepas with guacamole. We did worry a bit with the amount of food we were going to order as the table was quite small so we did ask if we could change tables however this was not allowed as all tables were booked up.
For the drinks, I ordered a Candy club Punch, Beefeater pink gin, fruit wine, cranberry and vintage candy cordial, so fruity, so sweet and so satisfying. Very easy to drink too however could be going down the dangerous route as I was drinking it like fruit juice! For food, we ordered Gambas al Ajillo (prawns), chorizo, chicken skewers, Colombian Arepas with guacamole and the cheese board for two. The lady who served us was very informative, one of my friends only eats Halal meat so she was very helpful in advising which dishes would be best to eat such as vegetarian dishes.
The food came within 15 minutes, and it was quite the squeeze fitting it on the table however we managed it. The chorizo dish was beautiful but it never came with sliced bread in what the menu said (however we did ask for this and it came straight away, no problem)The prawns were cooked to perfection, couldn’t fault them and full of flavor. Colombian Arepas was surprisingly delicious (it was the least dish I was looking forward to) and the portion was pretty generous!
Unfortunately, the cheeseboard was a little bit disappointing in regards to size and variety, I expected more cheese’s and more meats HOWEVER what was there was delicious, just could do with a bit more variety. The cheeseboard also came with pickles and breadsticks, there was nothing to dip the breadsticks in so to me, it was quite random, it would have been better to have a dip (aioli) or freshly baked bread to put the cheese and meats on top. Early days of course for Pineapple Club but maybe these things can be considered.
The meal came to £60 between three £20 each, which I was very happy to pay and really enjoyed the meal. If you’re looking to improve your Instagram game and chill out with a couple of cocktails and eat some good food hit this place up! It is really thriving and quite busy in there, but no wonder, they got it right, Brum needed something like this. We need more neon, botanical, fancy pink interior and basic bitch vibes because let’s face it, we all have a basic bitch in us and we bloody love it!
There is no doubt in my mind that The Pineapple Club will continue to succeed and become a much loved independent in Birmingham by Brummies and travellers to our City. Thank you to The Pineapple Club for having us and Welcome to Brum Babs!
Secret Garden meets Narnia without the snow in Westminster tube station…Intrigued? confused? of course you bloody are. I just involved Narnia and a tube station in a review of a restaurant in Birmingham! Craft Dining Rooms is not the typical dining experience that you will find on every street in Birmingham or any City! Bringing artistry, coolness, and a very British feel giving diners a unique dining experience that they would want to experience all over again.
The last time I went to Craft was for the launch of Crafts Secret Garden back in January/February time, it’s been on the list for ages to try out and finally, on a chilly Friday afternoon, my cousin and I got to try out Craft, finally! Located just outside the ICC opposite the bridge to Brindley Place (you can’t miss it) full of blooms, sleek design, and awesome futuristic dining pods outside. Upon entering Craft, you walk through a tunnel of flowers which is an impressive touch, and I can also hear the squeal of those Instagram Girls eyeing it up for their next post, An blooming lovely great impression.Inside the venue, you are greeted by the receptionist on the front desk, and on your right is a pretty cool cocktail bar that is oh so chic! We first had our temperatures checked which was a pretty odd experience as we just stood in front of a device on the wall which looked like a camera, and then the receptionist confirmed all was well and showed us to our table, technology these days hey?!
The dining room is just stunning, it’s so sleek, so fancy and so clean! Covered with blossoms and a pop of yellow here and there making it already quite the classy dining experience my cousin and I were looking for.
A set menu is displayed on your table: starter and main for £33 or starter, main and pudding for £39, and there is also a four-course set menu for £45. We decided to go for the two-course menu, starter, and main as I am not really a pudding person! A staff member came over and collected our orders. I ordered a raspberry gin with lemonade, for my starter the salted beef, pickles and mustard, then for my main I ordered the lamb, garlic and aubergine.
The cocktails came out first, refreshing, and delicious, and plenty to get through! Within ten minutes the salted beef starter came out, I loved how quirky the dish is, very beautifully presented and it was full of flavour. Accompanied by a Brioche roll, we were off to a great start with our meal! My cousin went for the tomato soup which she said was very delicious and quite filling.
Onto the mains and the lamb came out within 15 minutes, lovely and tender, absolutely full of flavour and I will say this, that was some of the best lamb I have had in a very long time! complimented with garlic, aubergine, caramelized onion, and a variety of purees, it really was quite a powerful dish. Now, a little criticism all though the food was sensational, the one thing I would have liked to be offered is CARBS, a few potatoes would have topped of the lamb dish and filled that pesky little bit of hunger in my stomach after finishing my meal. It just would have been nice to have the option of ordering a side dish to accompany the main, maybe this is something Craft can look into?
That is all the criticism I have to say. The experience and the food is sensational here at Craft, the staff are an absolute joy to talk to, so helpful, so polite, and they really do make you feel quite important here at Craft! Our server was amazing, full of information, and was delightful!
Upon our visit, we managed to get a sneak preview of About 8 which is Crafts sister restaurant opening on 8th October which is going to be the ultimate fine dining experience and something Brum has never seen before! I won’t go into too much detail but if you’d like to know more then please do head to their website here and make sure you book yourself in!
The option of private dining is available, as Craft offers a beautiful private dining area for that special occasion, and let’s not forget booking one of the garden pods which adds a bit of uniqueness to your dining experience. For £33 for a two-course meal oozing fine British dining at its best with a side order of fantastic customer service, beautiful scenery and delicious cocktails is something not to be missed when visiting Birmingham, Craft is a must-visit for all to experience something a little bit different to your “Basic Bitch” chain restaurant dining.
Craft is that unique dining experience we all crave occasionally, however once visited you’ll be craving it once a week. The attention to detail, the creativity, and the passion that this restaurant has put in to create a positive and special dining experience to guests is something that should be admired by all. Craft dares to be different and is a fantastic representative of the foodie community here in our amazing city, which is sure to be loved by all.
WARNING: Some Seriously New High Fashion Food Coming Your Way This Summer/Autumn.
Introducing Pinch of Masala -POM- A family-run catering company in Smethwick who cater for weddings and events but unfortunately was hit hard by the pandemic, looking for ways to get business back on track they decided to offer a new takeaway service across Birmingham. This is one takeaway service that stand’s out from the rest, I can assure you. I was gifted a free meal of my choice in exchange for my views. I posted quite a few photos on Instagram and you were all gagging for a full review so here it is, expect nothing less than 5-star service and food from Pinch of Masala.
Pinch Of Masala have a website where you can order your food [here]once accessing the website you’ll realise straight away that this is not your typical Indian takeaway! Full of colour and beautiful photography, A website that is very easy to navigate around and what I love about the ordering process is that POM provides photos of all the food on the menu so you know what to expect. You can book delivery on the day or in the next couple of days which is fantastic if you are having a little gathering and inviting your friends round!
With such a large selection of meat, vegetable, and vegan dishes I did just want to order the whole menu! A Fantastic menu for all and also for vegetarians and vegans, loads to choose from! Also people with allergies there is an allergy guide on the website telling you about all the dishes and what they contain, which will come in very useful. They also have set menus, and offer dessert and BEER!
MY ORDER
Starter: Masala Fried Prawns Jackin’panko wings
Main (Feeds up to two): Palak Gosht (Lamb and Spinach) Butter Chicken
I was going to be sharing between three people so I thought this was plenty! I chose a 7 pm time slot and my food arrived at 7pm in which, from all the way from Smethwick to Sutton Coldfield was very impressive. I met the owner Dinesh who was so friendly and passionate about his business, full of positively and was just so lovely to meet. What caught my eye straight away was the most fashionable takeaway bag I had ever seen! compared to a Selfridges kind of style (but way better) I knew straight away that POM are not playing when it comes to standing out. Another impressive point was that the food came in containers that are made from plant fibre and recycling plastic! great for those who want to look after their environment and it just makes the food look a lot more appealing using these containers instead of those hideous plastic 20P boxes.
I have to say, from coming all the way from Smethwick to Sutton Coldfield and opening the lid of the food seeing the heat rise made me gasp, I just didn’t think it would be hot and ready to be served so it was such a surprise, it was like taking it out of the oven there and then. Straight away this takeaway was screaming high quality to me, The packaging, the food, this takeaway is definitely different to my down the road Indian takeaway I usually go for.
The masala fried prawns tasted perfect and very similar to Dishooms Prawn Koliwada dish, they may look small but these guys pack a powerful punch of spice however combined with my mint yoghurt dip I tamed them down a bit! Prawns were cooked very well and also went well with the little salad garnish. Onto the Jackfruit wings, a favourite for vegans! one portion gives you 5 pieces in which they are quite big and my god, tasted lovely! There’s also a little surprise in the middle [Wink Wink]
The butter chicken with the pilau rice, a little bit on the sweet side but I like sweet and it tasted so bloody good! Chicken cooked to perfection, and sauce for days! Such a tasty dish that even when finished we were all craving more!
Now I don’t usually go for lamb curries because every time I’ve have done the lamb has just been way too tough to eat so I thought I would put POM to the test and oh my, they passed with flying colours alright! Lamb was perfect, couldn’t fault it at all, every piece (I was hogging on to it…) was nice and tender. Accompanied by the mixed vegetable pilau rice this was defiantly my favourite dish! The portions of the curries were perfect and very generous, shared between three there was still a bit of curry left for even a fourth person!
The Chili Cheese Naan was BANGING! full of chilli and all the cheesy cheese you need for those sweet dreams….or nightmares. Accompanied by the garnish tub and a bit of mint yoghurt, pure joy!
The poppadoms came with a variety of sauces such as mint sauce and mango chutney, A must of course with any curry! We ordered one portion which is two poppadoms in eight pieces and that was also the perfect amount for sharing.
In conclusion, This has been one of the best takeaways this year, definitely the best Indian takeaway I have had and definitely the most stylish takeaway! Very generous portions of food that is packed full of flavour that is cooked to perfection. POM has a wide variety on offer that will tempt you to challenge yourself and try something new, and yes, it’s absolutely worth it! If you fancy something a bit different to your basic chicken tikka masala and garlic Naan then I would definitely recommend to push the boat out with POM, A fantastic new takeaway service that will no doubt in my mind will go far in Birmingham and beyond.
Delivery is Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm you can opt for delivery or pick up, they also are available on the Deliveroo app. There is a postcode checker for delivery that you can check to see if they deliver to you and also displays the fee, POM would like to mention if you live too far then you can also give them a call and they can see what they can do.
Gooey Naans, Seductive killer prawns that pack a punch and Harry Potter Butter Beer? Yes, believe it or not, I am talking about the eagerly anticipated opening of Dishoom in Birmingham.
The last two months social media has been dominated by Tiger King/Normal People memes, the cat with nine lives we call Aston Villa, and of course, The Kardashians, one lost their marbles, one faked her millions and one that just needs to be bloody single for Christ sakes. Ergh what a headache right? However, one thing that has been dominating our feeds and is “headache-free” is the exciting announcement of Dishoom opening in Birmingham on Chamberlain Square. In which, is now open operating their soft launch with 50% off food until their official opening date on 6th August 2020 was just the welcoming addition to the city that so many of us Brummies need after the last few months.
With branches operating over London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, it was only a matter of time Dishoom was going to make the wise choice of opening their next restaurant in the second biggest City Birmingham. I have heard so much about Dishroom, I have never dined there before so I was really looking forward to my first experience dining with them. I had a brief look at the menu before me and my cousin Jess went for our 5.15 pm sitting but even then, I couldn’t decide with the generous offering of food on offer.
We arrived on time and already it was quite busy, we sat in the bar area for two minutes just skimming through the menu and then we was taken over to our table. The tables are nicely spread out, the layout of the restaurant is big, spacious with indoor and outdoor seating. I was feeling quite chilly that evening so thank goodness we were sat inside. The staff wore face masks, there was hand sanitiser stations and everyone was keeping to the social distancing rules, so I felt 100% safe dining here.
The interior of Dishoom has really been thought out through out the whole of the restaurant, bringing Bombay to Birmingham (Wish I could of get more pictures, but it was so busy!) and very cleverly has its own story of Roda Irani finding her voice and incorporating that story into the design of the restaurant which is so creative and wonderful to dine in and feels like you are reliving the story. It’s classy and it’s 1930s Bombay Bab.
Within 5 minutes of sitting down, we were greeted by our server Diogo ready to take our drink orders. Diogo is absolutely fabulous, a right character that knew his stuff, he was like a walking and talking encyclopedia of Dishoom, he knew everything. Feeling quite parched I fancied an alcohol beverage, I was thinking more on the lines of a fruity cocktail but then the words “Forget beer, drink only this” caught my eyes. What came was what I can almost describe as one of those Harry Potter butter beers but tasted so much better and tasted like…well, beer. Hoppy butter paanch is a Foam beer with a butter syrup base with a sprinkle of ginger that gave it a tangy sweet kick, different but I really liked it! Jess ordered the Colaba Colada cocktail, however, Diogo came back over to tell Jess they just sold out, he asked her what does she like to drink “gin” “something sweet” she replied and with a click of his fingers “I know exactly what to get you” Diogo went away and came back with a fabulous gin cocktail with a hint of lime, fizz, and fruit that she really enjoyed.
Diogo returned to take our food orders, he talked us through the menu and suggested the number of dishes to order, he also made the best decision for us to opt for a cheese AND garlic naan instead of ordering cheese and garlic naan separately, excellent choice Diogo!
The afternoon menu has a variety of small plates, grills and curries on offer for you to share or not share! There is so much on offer that we defiantly didn’t order everything we wanted especially missing out on the exclusive Birmingham dish, the mutton korma but there is always next time right?!
We first ordered small plates of Lamb samosas and prawn koliwada that came literally in five minutes. We were told that the food in different sections may come out at different times, we didn’t really care as long as there was food! The lamb samosas were a nice light dish and tasted beautiful, as for the prawn koliwada, my goodness! these babies blew our heads off! Small and delicious but don’t be deceived these prawns pack an almighty punch, accompanied with a mint chutney dip to cool down the fire in my mouth. A little bit on the spicy side for me but tasted very nice. Both of these dishes are the perfect beer snack so make sure you order a few of Dishooms IPAS.
Now, in comes the feast! We opted for chicken ruby murray curry, paneer pineapple tikka, gunpowder potatoes, 2 x cheese and garlic naans, steamed basmati rice and the Vada Pau (Bombay’s version of London’s chip butty)
The colour, the smell, and the saliva dripping from our mouths everything just looked incredible. My favourite dish out of the food would have to be the Chicken ruby murray curry paired up with basmati rice which was an absolute winner. Silky texture, sweet, and chicken that is cooked to perfection and easily just melts in the mouth. The gunpowder potatoes tossed in butter, crushed aromatic seeds, and green herbs tasted nice, nothing to get overly excited about however, a nice accompany dish to the paneer pineapple tikka that I really enjoyed. The Paneer cheese had a gorgeous mouth-watering coating of tikka paired up with pineapple which left a cool refreshing taste in my mouth which helped to knock down some of those spices.The Vada Pau (Bombay’s version of London’s chip butty) I wasn’t a big fan off sadly, a little bit too spicy for me so all I could taste was fire in my mouth.
The naans were of course, bloody sensational. So gooey, and I am all for the cheese! it was just dripping and oh my god, I have literally just had to wipe the saliva off the keyboard thinking about this so let’s just end it here as it was pretty sexy… (apologies for the saliva on keyboard images)
The review doesn’t end here, oh no, we went for pudding Ladies and Gents, and we went for the Dishoom chocolate pudding with chili ice cream. All I got from this pudding was PURE JOY, melted chocolate mixed in with a vanilla/chili ice cream is the pairing that I need in my life, a sensational dish. Finishing off with a nice cup of Assam, the food must have knocked me out a bit because instead of asking for Assam tea I asked for “Sam” in which Diego was quite amused, Bill, please!
So, the bill came to £63.41 with the 50% off that included an optional service fee of £10.61 that we were more than happy to pay and more. For all that food and the quality, it felt like we had won the lottery with Dishoom.
The customer service is something I will always remember at Dishoom, from the host on the door to our amazing server Diogo, it was such a pleasure to dine in Dishoom as they are so attentive, and it almost makes you feel like you are the only ones dining in the restaurant. Of course, we weren’t it was completely packed out. To deliver 110% service on a packed-out Thursday with every table full and a queue outside the restaurant is absolutely fantastic and I applaud Dishoom and especially their hardworking staff.
A very happy welcome to Dishoom, a restaurant that will settle in just fine and will be celebrated by Brummies and all for a very long and foreseeable future here in Birmingham. The taste of Bombay in Birmingham is the light at the end of the tunnel that we need after the last worrying months. Thank you for the fantastic dining experience Dishoom and you will, of course, see me very soon….How does Breakfast Monday morning sound?
I would advise pre-booking your table as it’s pretty busy, you can just turn up but expect to wait! Soft launch (50% off) ends 5th August 2020 Vegetarian/Vegan friendly You can book your table here
Espresso rubbed beef brisket baps, lemon curd tarts with syringes, and cold soup?! Well, this is certainly not your basic bitch afternoon tea …
The Early Bird Bakery has whipped up an afternoon tea for us to all enjoy in the comfort of our homes. If you’re not familiar with The Early Bird they are a coffee shop and bakery that serve up creative and delicious bakes plus sensational brunch options in Kings Heath, They are pretty much bakery Gods! I live in Sutton Coldfield so when my sister invited me to hers to enjoy an Early Bird Bakery Afternoon tea my first thought was “Why is she being nice to me?” and then “Who cares? ITS FREE!!!!! YES I’M IN!”
Delivered on time and all boxed up, the afternoon tea comes with a little information booklet listing everything that you get in your afternoon tea, and how to serve, very useful and very considerate.
The Sweets you simply serve, the tea you simply pop into a teapot and the savory, well, this is where it gets a bit faffy (Yes, I just made that word up) I don’t know if this is just me but with an afternoon tea, I had it in my head to just take out of the box and pop on a tea stand to serve but not quite as simple as that. The espresso brisket and belinni you have to construct it together yourself. The kitchen was crammed with all sized cardboard boxes and pots full of ingredients so It was a bit of a faff especially when we weren’t expecting but hey ho, you get on with it. I must say everything was so fresh, the quality is outstanding and when you put it all togeather it looks great, just full of colour!
The Early Bird Bakery Afternoon Tea Includes:
Savory Spicy Tomato Gazpacho Fennel and apple sausage roll DIY espresso rubbed slow-cooked beef brisket, BBQ Sauce, slaw and brioche bun Cured salmon blini, pickles, creme fraiche, and watercress Curried cauliflower, chickpea, lentil, lime yogurt, pomegranate, raisin, and coriander salad
Cream Tea buttermilk scone x2 Currant bun x2 Strawberry, raspberry and orange jam Passion fruit and lime curd Clotted cream Morgans tea
Sweet Raspberry, white chocolate and rose macaron Lemon and early grey drizzle cake chocolate and coffee ganache cake Gin and tonic choux bun
So when you look at the amount and the sort of ingredients that have been used you would think okay, this is going to be one pricey afternoon tea but much to my surprise this has been one of the cheapest afternoons teas I have ever had, priced at just £17 per person. A small price for such an over-generous spread however comes with a few tiny issues…
The spicy tomato gazpacho tasted nice but I wouldn’t serve up as a starter before an afternoon tea. I felt it didn’t really tye in well with the rest of the spread and there is a lot going on already in the afternoon tea so I just found it to be a bit unnecessary really. The curried cauliflower salad was very refreshing however again, it didn’t tie in well with the afternoon tea. You got sandwiches, cakes, basically finger food so to throw in a salad, I didn’t quite get it however it did taste good, personally, I would have preferred a sandwich/savoury pastry instead. The lemon and drizzle cake looked lovely but biting into it I think the guys at The Early Bird Bakery when a little bit too heavy on the tea! it was quite cold, had a strong overwhelming aroma of earl grey and was soggy. A little bit of criticism but it certainly didn’t ruin the rest of the afternoon tea which was fantastic.
The espresso brisket was just pure sexiness, yes I am going to add sexiness into this review, okay! The bun was soft, the brisket was packed full of flavour and was an unusual yet satisfying touch to the afternoon tea. The sausage roll?? not your basic bitch roll we are talking about here Bab! Fennel and apple tasted gorgeous together wrapped up in flakey pastry, small yet filling and you won’t find that in your local Greggs. The blini was light yet gave a naughty little kick of flavour with the pickles, salmon and creme fraiche.
The cakes are absolutely sensational. Top-quality, the variety was all there and it wasn’t dull! it was actually enjoyable to eat, it was lovely to look at and absolutely devour! My favourite sweet would be the chocolate and coffee ganache cake. Chocolate and coffee, two powerful forces, you team those up you have yourself FOODGASMS all over the world so yeah, it tasted pretty incredible! The currant buns had a beautiful glaze that tasted wonderful warmed up with a spread of butter. The buttermilk scones tasted gorgeous especially with the orange jam, just wow! Quite different to your basic scone you would find for 35p in your local Asda but you should know that The Early Bird Bakery don’t do basic here.
Okay, so there were a few little hiccups but did it ruin my whole experience? absolutely not. There were more positives than negatives and when you think about what you get for £17, its a fantastic afternoon tea. The amount, the variety, and the quality are all there, quite surprising really for a very reasonable price tag! It was exciting to eat and it was appealing to see, and it was enjoyable to experience with the whole family in my sisters home. Maybe go down the less faff route and add in some more buns for me eh? but Fair play to the bakery for daring to be different and not going down the easy route (meaning finger sandwiches, they always look so sad…) It dares to be different, and I believe its a worthy afternoon tea for all to enjoy, not perfect but will get there I’m sure.
Thank you Early Bird Bakery
Early Bird is currently running a delivery service of their cakes and coffee to your doors, you can check out their website and orderhere. They are also now open for takeaway on Friday 11-2, and Saturday & Sunday from 10-2.
The last couple of months have been challenging, from no rules to rules, restrictions, and penalties. I have been dreaming about this day for a long while since the start of lockdown I would kick myself daily the number of times I would wake up in the morning and moan about going into Birmingham for work. Now, we can finally see the light at the end of this long and confusing tunnel, sometimes I still think Did it actually happen? restrictions are being lifted, the number of deaths are falling, and it seems, most of us are getting our smiles back. It’s been challenging but now, we are almost at the finish line, but we must stick with our strategy and still be alert. So, I thought as everything is easing up a bit, it was the right time to reunite with Birmingham, to see my cousin, and to roam through our awesome city. Would it feel like Brum? what’s changed? Will it feel normal? Am I safe? All these questions were running through my mind and a lot of you have the same questions too responding to my IG stories last week. So, I thought I would put a post together to answer those questions and give you a little glimpse of the Birmingham we all know and love.
On arriving in Birmingham it wasn’t quite the zombie apocalypse aftermath that I was expecting especially in the City Centre. I was expecting scenes from I am Legend, scrunched up rolling newspapers, empty stores, eagle-like birds patrolling the skies, and silence. What I got instead was the countdown to Christmas shopping scenes, it was like the scene’s out of The Grinch (without the explosion of Christmas decor) where all the who’s in Whoville are rushing to buy Christmas presents and carrying bags that are way too big for them- One lady had eight large bags, possibly smaller than me! People were going about their day and well, it looked like a normal “busy” day in Birmingham. Add in a couple of hand sanitiser stations, floor markings, and queues -(never thought I would see the day of people queuing up for Poundland), but other than that, it was normal until you walk past Primark…
AVOID PRIMARK
There’s me, laughing at all these sad people waiting to get into Primark on the first day of reopening, I said: “Look at all those people lining up for shit Disney merch, fluffy flip flops and face wipes, have they not heard of online shopping?” However, I find myself queueing outside Primark for £2.50 sunglasses, face wipes, and pants…You Tit Amy Langston. However, I came away with ZERO and an almighty headache. What’s social distancing like in Primark? Well, It doesn’t exist Bab. There were floor markings and hand sanitiser stations but social distancing? Out the bloody window on the way to the bloody North Pole! It just does not exist here, someone sees a bargain and another person sees the same bargain and then you find yourself walking past two people who are fighting over the last pair of Disney pants. I couldn’t believe it, I had people brushing past me, and why is it every time you go to Primark there is always someone up your arse?
Take my advice, if you really need your basic bitch wardrobe, just shop on eBay, most of the fashion in there looks like it came out in the 90’s so just hit the charity shops instead. I have to admit I didnt feel that safe in there and I wouldnt recommend to go just yet.
DIGBETH
Now Digbeth was a bit of a ghost town, it was 1 pm and no one was about just business owners having their meetings and the one group of builders eating their sorry wife’s lunches. Many businesses in Digbeth are not open, I know this week they will be so there is a lot of meetings taking place implementing safety procedures and so on. It’s so strange because whenever I am in Digbeth it’s absolutely thriving with creatives, you always bump into a street artist, photographer, or a tv crew. However, what’s so nice to see is the street art and some added additions to this colorful urban village. The blue NHS heart sign, the Hope artwork, and the massive Co-vid wall art, all are very impressive. Businesses such as Birdies, Ghetto Golf, The Night Owl and so on are all closed still, but I still couldn’t hold my excitement of walking past these once lively places and reminiscing of my drunken times there “Oh look that’s where I found a Marks and Spencer’s sandwich!” They may be closed for now but boy, the memories are still alive and well
Digbeth felt very safe, even walking past people they were keeping their distance. Also, we walked past a few venues that had builders inside so I am guessing there are going to be a few new neighbors moving into Digbeth!!
We decided to walk through China Town and the Gay Quarter which was pretty quiet, no one was about even checking out some of the street art in which, you would see one or two photographers there but it was deserted. I got to check out Bath passage in which you might have seen on social media as it had a new lick of paint…as in a lot of lick of paint! The artwork is incredible and what an amazing background for a photoshoot! If you want to check this out and not too sure where about it is, it’s off Ladywell Walk, right next door to the Cantonese Restaurant.
COFFEE SHOPS
A couple of coffee shops we walked past in Brum had queues outside such as Faculty and Java, Everyone was keeping their distance and I saw one or two employees standing outside making sure people were too., We headed to 200 Degrees which was completely empty, so weird, this place is always packed out! Social distancing procedures have been put in place in 200 Degree (floor markings, sanatizer stations) and I felt very safe in there ordering my drink. Instead of opting for the coffee I went for their summer drinks range and opted for a summer berry smoothie which was mighty refreshing as it was bloody hot as hell day! And do you know whats nice to see? smiles, Its’ nice to see that the impact of the virus hasn’t broken employees’ spirits, There are still smiles a bout.
FOOD
I know a couple of café/restaurants were open for collection, so we just decided to download the UberEATS app instead of going on the hunt for food (best option if you still feel a bit on edge) We ordered from a much loved Brummie favourite-Bonehead. “It’s not going to be the same” well you can shove that comment down your pie hole because it was just as good as eating in their restaurant! fried to perfection chicken dipped into a smoky mayonnaise sauce with waffle fries, SENSATIONAL. Ordered and ready to be collected within 20 minutes, now that some serious service in a pandemic! We decided to head to the Mailbox and chill out by the canal. It was bizarre, I am uset to seeing this place so full of life, it was quiet, really quiet. I have to say it was so lovely to sit on the canals and eat our food, it took me back to my time in Amsterdam the sun was blaring down on us, the food was delicious and the sound of water splashing against the canal walls was someway therapeutic. I think that was the most chilled out I’ve been in the last four months
KIDSARE BLOODY EVERYWHERE
Walking from The Cube towards the Birmingham Library it was starting to get a little bit busier, the tram was running, the fountains outside the library were surrounded by kids and families and sunbathers all huddled around each other. It was like anaimals gathering round the watering hole on a hot day, it was packed out! Another negative and I am sorry parents but its children. I understand that some kids can be little bastards sometimes I know, I uset to be one BUT we are in a pandemic if your kid runs up to a random kid and licks their face don’t just ignore it, DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD. I’m pretty sure if that was me going up to some random and licking their face I am most likely to get a well-deserved punch or end up in a cell for the night. The kids were knocking into all kinds of people, god knows what the parents fed them that day but it’s a worrying sight to see because of course, they are putting themselves and others in danger. Now, that doesnt apply to all children,I also saw some good eggs on that day sitting quietly or just playing with their Mothers but the Scallys need to be told.
New buildings, new businesses are popping up near the Birmingham Museum, The Dishroom terrace was something new and I could see new signage for restaurants opening soon to Birmingham where Paradise Forum once was. It’s good to know that we are still heading for the future here in Brum.
A lot quieter by the big Mama statue, few people around but all spaced out reading books, drinking their Starbucks, and sunbathing. Walking towards the Bullring/Grand Central was where it started to get very busy again, queues for the apple store, music blaring, and performers still performing..
I understand we are still learning and adapting but there are some players that don’t want to abide by the rules. Like it or not, we are a team at the moment, we are all in this together. Birmingham is on its way back returning to full glory, the businesses are cooperating but the public…not so much. Did I feel safe? yes in some areas of Brum, the shopping centres not so much. There were gang’s of kids and families of eight or more shopping near the Bullring without a care in the world if they brush past you. If your really worried about Co-vid I would advise to just avoid the shopping centres in Birmingham for a bit as I was really taken back at how selfish some shoppers are, It honestly felt like I was invisible to them.
I am not going to lie, I am quite worried about the re-opening of pubs today, I do think it will be absolute carnage. There are a lot of selfish people out there who only care about themselves and how much booze is in their liver. They are not going to like being told what they can or can not do, and If you are one of those people, just get pissed at home save someone the headache that’s working their ass off to pay bills to look after a chump like you. If you are heading out this weekend and thinking that it’s going to be “a mad night on the town with the lads” then you are sadly mistaken. Have a laugh, have a drink, bloody smile of course, but don’t just go out to get completely rat arsed because you can easily just do that at home? These independent businesses have struggled in the last couple of months, many business owners have woken up daily wondering if they are going to survive, some businesses owners are excited yet absolutely terrified for this weekend so please, understand. Be sensitive, and be kind. Remember, we are nearly at the finish line, focus, and we will succeed.
So, for the past three months, I have been quite a busy girl supporting my independents and helping those who are isolating with putting together information on how they can get in their weekly shop, keep active, and seek free advice. So many Fantastic businesses agreed to be part of The North of Birmingham blog post and it has received a pretty amazing and overwhelming response by so many people. I can see so many of you using the blog daily and it is fantastic to hear that so many of you have said the blog has opened up their eyes to wanting to shop more independently which was the aim!
I regularly post about my food deliveries via social media and a lot of you have been wanting to know what independents I would recommend and what are my favourites. So, I thought why not put together a blog post of all my favourite independent food deliveries I have had in lockdown. I regularly review restaurants, venues, etc so why not start something new and review at home?! From scrumptious cakes to fantastic DIY food kits, it seems Bab about Towns blog has been burning a hole in your pockets for the last three months and apologies, the hole is just going to get bigger after reading this post!
SILVER TREE CATERING
Silver Tree Catering is a catering company based in Sutton Coldfield, who decided to deliver essentials such as fruit & veg hampers and treats to those in isolation. They have a variety of hampers on offer from Breakfast to Cheese hampers. My first purchase with Silver Tree Catering was the cheese hamper and the fruit & veg box. I ordered before 12 pm and it came the next day. The fruit & veg hamper offered a great variety of fresh produce, very impressed with the quality and the hamper lasted for around three weeks. The cheese hamper was just amazing, a great selection of cheeses with crackers and pots of chutney with grapes. It was nice sitting out in the garden tucking into it, it was like we were transported to a wine yard in Italy until I heard one of the neighbor’s shouting in a Brummie accent “Are you making a Brew Bab?”
I have ordered from Silver tree a couple of times (I regularly buy the freshly baked bread, and the cream tea was delightful!) and will continue to do so because they are so professional and the food is high quality, just fantastic value for money. I can tell there is a lot of passion and heart that’s gone into their products, so I am happy to support a hardworking business that deserves all the gratitude that they deserve any day
In the words of King Curtis “Chicken Nuggets is like my family” but more so “What the Cluck is like my family” This right here, is the breadwinner, my absolute favourite takeaway I have ever had and boy, I’ve had a bloody lot in my time, These guys smashed it. I ordered the chicken strips platter which comes with fried cauliflower covered in Buffalo sauce, BBQ pit beans, house slaw, and the sexiest Mac N Cheese I have ever tasted jeeeeez getting me all hot & bothered over here woo! What The Cluck didn’t just impress me but impressed my fussy bugga of a Mom who now withdraws her statement that “The Bingo is the best place for Fried Chicken” now Its “What The Cluck is the best place for fried chicken” so we have an all-round winner!
The process is very simple, simply order via their website, choose what platter you want, What The Cluck will then send you a confirmation email with the date and time of delivery. When the food arrives its just a 20-minute oven job and that’s it. Super easy to make, super service & super satisfied, bloody well-done Guys that’s how you deliver a bad boy feast!!!
Fancy getting your freak on? Well, now you can at home with these fine buns! When The Patty Freaks announced they were delivering to Sutton Coldfield it caused an outcry of cheers and relief after the devastation of losing our beloved M&S for good and the closure of TGIS [Insert troll face] due to Co-Vid. as a town we needed a pick me up and wow, did the Patty Freaks deliver! Full of juice, dripping with flavour and topped with sexy buns, and gone within 10 minutes. The loaded chips are heavenly, just oozing with sauce. Oh yes, The patty Freaks delivered alright, and may I mention they delivered HOT and ON TIME food, I was given a time slot between 4.30 and 5.20 and it came dead on 4.30 so fantastic service and what a bloody treat this was! I ordered the following:
The O.G burger: Bacon, cheese, ketchup, mustard mayo and pickled onion.
Cajun chips Loaded chips with bacon, cheese, crispy onion, and BBQ sauce.
You will need to keep up with them via social media to find out when they are next delivering and a little advice, be quick! these bad boys are like Willy Wonka golden tickets so don’t be a bad egg and feel too disappointed if you miss out because they are also popping up now and again at Digbeth Dining Club!
Stay up to date with The Patty Freaks and Order here
STRIPCLUB STREET FOOD
This kit comes with a parental warning as these buns are well naaaaaughty! Stripclub Streetfood is a very popular vendor at various food markets over the Midlands especially at Digbeth Dining Club, you will often have to queue but that first bite though is worth a thousand queue waits, trust me. So when Stripclub Streetfood announced they were back on selling burgers the whole of Birmingham kind of just lost their minds a bit…
Okay so it’s not ready-made burgers delivered straight to your door but they have come up with a fabulous idea of putting together these awesome burger DIY Kits in which, you can get down and dirty with, and attempt to create the worlds dirtiest burger, I was up for the challenge. You have all the ingredients you need and instructions to follow, you can make the kiss XXX or biscoff burger or get creative and do what you like! I think this is a fantastic kit and I really do hope they stick with it because I really enjoyed it and my family members loved taking the piss out of me getting all Gordon Ramsay on their ass.
The kit is priced at £40 and To get your hands on one of these kits, you got to download the app which you can find here and place your order just like that!
Really fun, really creative, and really bloody delicious these burgers. Get the family involved, get your mates involved, and just have a couple of beers and relax eating some seriously amazing burgers.
Stay up to date with Stripclub Street Food and download their app to order your DIY burger kits here
BITE ME CAKES
This was a first, an afternoon tea delivered to my door and I can tell you, It certainly won’t be the last. If you know me, you know I am a big lover of afternoon tea so when I heard you could get an afternoon tea delivered to your door, I first called BS and then slapped myself silly after receiving the amazing service that I received that day from Bite me Cakes. The afternoon tea comes all prepared, from finger sandwiches to mini desserts just the perfect size, and just the way I like it! The afternoon tea that I received included the following:
A very generous portion of finger sandwiches with a variety of fillings: smoked salmon, chicken, cucumber & pepper, and cheese.
Scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Scones just needed to be heated up in the microwave, no fuss.
A great variety of cakes and treats such as brownies, lemon drizzle, chocolate strawberries, and more. all ready to be eaten and tasted fresh so simply serve.
Bite me Cakes caters to vegans as well, I didn’t opt for the vegan option but there were still lots of options for veggies and vegans with the afternoon tea we ordered. So this afternoon tea can be enjoyed by all, also any other allergies need to be addressed to Bite Me Cakes as they can also cater to gluten-free and dairy-free.
I was absolutely impressed with the service, the quality was fantastic, the variety was there and the amount we got, still a family of three could not finish it. Very simple to order just message Bite me Cakes and await your delivery, I was kept informed on the day regarding the time of delivery which was very helpful. The sandwiches were really tasty, the scones are big but soft and buttery, and the desserts are sweet yet VERY Satisfying and the brownies were oh so gooey! A hassle-free afternoon tea that would make the perfect treat to invite your friends and family over and to enjoy all together. So impressed, and you made our afternoon really lovely, so thank you so much for the incredible service and amazing afternoon.
New to Sutton Coldfield, Veeru’s is an Indian street food restaurant offering mouth-watering street food from Punjabi Wraps to Speciality naan pizzas! unfortunately, they didn’t have a chance to do a proper opening due to CO-VID but it didn’t let it stop them and opened up their delivery and collection services. I have had three takeaways since opening and every meal has been sensational, full of spice, full of flavour and just fantastic! My favourite dish I would say is the lamb kebab (got a nice kick to it!) but I also had the mixed grill the other week and wow, best-mixed grill I’ve had in a long time and the portion was so big that three people couldn’t even finish it. I will say that delivery time was a bit long (1 hour 20 minutes) but if I’m getting amazing well cooked and full of flavour food then I don’t care about the waiting time. You can pre-order with Veerus so maybe this something for you to consider but this is a new business that has had to think fast on their feet and adapt to change to survive, and although waiting times are a little long, I think they are doing a fantastic job giving the people of Sutton Coldfield some bloody fine and fantastic Indian street food to enjoy in their homes
Veerus really did exceed my expectations, the quality is superb- second best to non and has quickly become my favourite Indian takeaway in Sutton Coldfield. I just can’t wait for the restaurant to open, a fantastic new addition to Sutton Coldfield that will no doubt in my mind will thrive.
So, I am on week 6 or maybe it’s week 7? I don’t even know anymore; it feels like week 86 especially with my new fine-line features on my forehead. The days are long, the biscuit tin is empty again and I am slowly but surely losing my mind that I am not able to talk to friends face to face or strangers’ dogs. I think the reason I am losing my mind (I suspect everyone is losing it to) is because we don’t have any idea of when this virus will pass, and we can go back to normality. A good thing is that the alcohol cabinet has not been completed raided…just yet. It’s not all doom and gloom at home, I have been quite busy discovering new independents, developing new skills aka eating quietly and saving & planning for the future.
When the lockdown was first announced and I was told to stay at home, I was pretty pissed about it. I didn’t want to isolate but then I sat down and thought about all the things I could do and didn’t have the time before to do them, for example, a “Sex and the City all-nighter” (INSERT TROLL FACE) thats when I started to get excited and celebrate the isolation…
DAY ONE: LOCKDOWN AKA FREEDOM
DAY FIFTEEN: WELL THATS ALL MY CHORES DONE FOR THE YEAR, THIS SHOULD BE OVER SOON…
DAY TWENTY FIVE:CALLED NAN 50 TIMES TODAY AND THE WALL IS IGNORING ME!!
Of course, I wasn’t speaking to the walls, but I definitely have been speaking to the birds. It does get a little depressing when you can’t see your friends and family but I am grateful that I live with my parents still, In December I was thinking to rent in Birmingham however took the wise decision not to go forward with renting as it’s just dead money and I want to continue to see my savings rise so I can buy not rent, so best deicison I have made because god knows what I would be like on my own. So I have been keeping busy and here are a few thing that I have been doing whilst in lockdown AND a few updates on me!
INDEPENDENT SHOPPING
So, I have been focusing more on shopping independently whilst in lockdown so buying my essentials independently rather than queue at Asda for half an hour for out of date bread. I have tried out some new fantastic independents in which I have blogged about in My North of Birmingham self-isolating guide and hoping to review in my next blog post. I finally got to visit some well-known favourites such as OnTheBreadLine well known for their tasty bakes and breads, also discovering new businesses such as Silvertree Catering which have become an instant favourite of mine for delivering my essentials.
SUPPORTING BUSINESSES
Most of you will know that I have been constantly supporting local independent businesses throughout lockdown. I’d put together a self-help guide to help those who are isolating and can’t make it to the lengthy ques of Tesco, why go queue for basic Bitch Warburtons when you can get freshly home-baked bread delivered to your front door? I have been so busy every week researching and updating the blog post, I have been posting quite a lot on my social media to get the word out for businesses and the response has been incredible! Many people use the guide every day and have passed it to those who are vulnerable, what is so heart-warming is receiving messages from people who have said the guide has helped their vulnerable loved ones so much (I cried the other day because a girl messaged me saying she uses the guide every day to help her ill Dad and that it’s literally saved them) I have put a lot of hard work into the guide so it’s really lovely to hear such positive feedback from people. I have mentioned above that I will be putting together a review blog post of all the independents I have used whilst in lockdown so look out for that next!
HELLO BABY! SAY HELLO TO MY NEPHEW HENRY KIT
There’s a new member of the family, introducing Henry Kit who is absolutely lovely! Well and truly over the moon, I have a nephew! It’s a shame at the moment that we can’t hold him, so frustrating as well when you see him and he just looks like he needs a cuddle! A bit of positivity that the family needed after losing Nasher (our dog) I think as a family it all hit us really hard and it seems that we were all really down so it’s nice to have something new coming in and perking us all up.
IMPROVING AND DEVELOPING NEW SKILLS
Okay, so I have really got into my cooking lately, I love experimenting with all kinds of things (wink wink) but especially with food. Last weekend I made this pretty dirty burger and I was pretty impressed with myself using Stripclubs Streetfood DIY kit. I have also been experimenting with healthy meals as well, trying to cut out the yeast and cut down on the salt/sugar intake (that burger is definitely not an example of it) but I’ve made meat-free burritos and spicy prawn one pans, that was absolutely delicious! So, I am excited to look forward to having my own kitchen and experimenting more. I have also been topping up my photography skills, street photography/food photography/ and floral photography. It’s always great to keep creative, I have even taken up drawing again which was absolutely bizarre holding a pencil to paper as the last time I did that was in detention at secondary school, God I hate pencils.
I have also been keeping creative in the garden and dabbling with a bit of self-portrait photography, mainly focusing on my editing skills and creating something that people wouldn’t expect has just been taken in someones back garden. My Dad has also shown an interest in photography so I have been teaching him portrait photography where of course MOI as the subject, I think he’s done a pretty good job!
HAD A MELTDOWN AND CHOPPED MY HAIR
So not many people know I wear hair extensions, so It came to many as a bit of a shock when I posted this on my social media. I chopped it myself, I just watched a YouTube video, washed my hair had a swig of beer and chopped it. I defiantly look older because I didn’t get ID’d for a Gin & tonic in Marks and Spencer’s the other day and the old little Lady who lives down the road from me stropped saying “Hello chicken” to me on my daily walks now. I feel pretty free without them although they did give me confidence but I feel like I have changed so much from when I first got them I had no confidence at all and now, I just feel 100% good about myself! It’s always nice to have a change so we shall see how it goes!
DATING ONLINE? NAAAH
The one thing that kind of sucks about being single is when you are constantly surrounded by people who are not single, it’s almost like you pressured into jumping onto a dating app and speaking to the first guy that you think is a worthy 5/10. Don’t get me wrong I have been on the dating apps, but it has become quite clear that I am just not interested. They say Hi, I say Hi back, they say I have a cute face and I just ghost them, I don’t like talking online, I rather do it face to face but its look like that’s not going to happen for quite some time. So, I’ll just jump on Bumble at like 10 pm at night and talk to someone for 30 minutes, I fall asleep and thenI forget about them the next day. I sound like an absolute fuckwit and I know girls would kill me for doing it because we give guys a hard time doing it to us girls but I can’t help feeling bored and obviously a bit frisky …oh Come on, We have all been there!
When the time is right it will happen and if doesn’t happen, oh well! there is always cute dogs to keep you company!
THAT COFFEE TREND IS BALLZ
I tried that Dalgona whipped coffee trend that everyone is going mad about and well honestly, it was just a bag of balls trying to attempt to whisk the bloody thing. I tried to do it old school using my hands and well, this was the finished product, my “whipped” coffee. Just embarrassing, it’s a coffee alright without the sodding whip! never again.
Daily walks and seeing new places, It’s always good to experience something new once a week. So I like taking my bike (robbing my Dads bike) riding down the country lanes and seeing new spots. I would go through the park but it’s just so packed! full of kids running into you and complete nobs in gangs on bikes, rather go somewhere quiet and on my own and feel like I’m not in Sutton for one day! It’s like a mini-holiday without the fruity cocktails, shit karaoke and GUCCI “lucky lucky” geared up blokes.
So there you have it, a little bit of an update on me in self-isolation! Hope you are all keeping safe and looking after yourselves, also remember to check in on your loved ones now and again!
From waiting in virtual online queues for two hours to waiting in queue’s outside our local supermarkets just to grab a loaf of bread, it seems we have encountered a strange new reality that we now call “normal” in 2020. We all have been affected in many ways with the outbreak of COVID-19 and when desperate times call for desperate measures, we can always rely on community to step out and support those who need it the most. It has been a lovely sight to see, from friend’s to strangers dipping into their pockets or using their talents to promote, entertain and put a smile on those who desperately need it. I have seen so much information for Birmingham based businesses from social media posts to media coverage and articles in how you can help these businesses, but I have not seen much for the North of Birmingham where I am based. As a local myself, I have recently struggled with who’s offering what and keeping up to date with this information. So, I thought I would put together a self-help guide with lots of local information to those who are based in the North of Birmingham on where you can grab your weekly shop without leaving the house or how you can keep yourself entertained and the kids also within your living rooms. Want to know where you can shop locally for organic fresh goods? Grab your Friday night beer or learn a new skill from an online virtual class? Then stick with me, your Bab has you sorted with my North of Birmingham guide to self-isolating
PLEASE NOTE: I will try to update this post daily so if you like to be featured please send me an email via the contact page.There is still so much more businesses to add so bare with me!
BAKED GOODS, AFTERNOON TEAS AND COFFEE
OnTheBreadLine
Four Oaks-Open to the public
Owner of the Bakery Sebastian Clough opened he’s Independent bakery two years ago offering fresh-baked breads, cakes and pastries from Wednesday to Sunday. Sebastian tries to change the menu each day to be flexible so he can try new products and make different flavours work for us lucky pups to devour!
Four Oaks/Mere Green-Delivering goods to OnTheBreadLine Bakery and Locally
Simply Megan offers gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan baked treats every Thursday and Friday at OnTheBreadLine Bakery which is fantastic for people with dietary requirements who need that much deserved yummy sugar fix! If you are based in Four Oaks/Mere green area you can also make a cheeky order of Megan’s bakes by contacting her via Instagram.
A family bakery in the heart of Lichfield offering traditional baked breads, cakes and pastries. Offering a delivery service within the surrounding area, please head on over to their Instagram page to fill in an order form to get your fresh baked goods!
Although Ells Kitchen is unable to deliver their homemade meals to people doors due to supplier issues, Ells Kitchen is still delivering their fresh and healthy treats and of course, Ell’s famous granola to your doors to enjoy!
The Plants Pott Garden Centre-Lichfield-Home delivery available
Heavenly Baking Is an independent baker who provides fresh bread, handmade cakes, tray bakes, including brownies-crème egg rocky roads, Malteser millionaire shortbreads and sweet treats such as clotted cream fudge and brownie bites…Sorry, not sorry I just ruined your self-isolating diets. Send your orders here heavenlybaking@hotmail.com
Boldmere/Sutton Coldfield-Home made bakes- Home delivery
Based in Boldmere, The Little bakery delivers homemade bakes from cupcakes, brownies, mini cake loaves, tray bakes and more to your doors (They also bake bread) Special event coming up? then why don’t you purchase a celebration cake for your loved ones and celebrate? A delivery fee of £2 applies. Please head to The Little Bakery’s social media pages to check out the goods!
Rugeley-Sutton Coldfield-Variety of Bakes, Afternoon teas and Essential hampers– Home delivery on Friday only but can collect anyway
Daisy Kitchen in Rugeley is delivering fantastic treats such as cake boxes, afternoon teas and cheese sharer boxes. They also deliver essential boxes with fruit, veg, bread, eggs and milk for £20. They only deliver Fridays but you can always collect from Daisy’s any day. You can check their social media page to keep up to date with what they are offering and you can order via their Facebook page.
Great Barr-Luxury cakes and treats made to order-Collection and home delivery within 10 miles of Great Barr
Bite Me Cakes is a luxury bespoke cake maker. Their cakes and sweet treats are like no other! Only ever using the finest ingredients, such as free-range eggs, Fairtrade fruit, Belgian chocolate and much more, you can taste this as you indulge in their premium products! They also create eggless, vegan dairy-free and gluten-free bakes too. Whilst still offering celebration cakes and bakes, they are also trialling a new slice service. Now offering a selection of different bakes available each week, including cake jars, brownies, cupcakes, rocky road, cheesecake jars, and slices of large cakes of course!
Currently offering 25% discount for NHS staff as a thank you!
Solihull-Sutton Coldfield-Juices,Coffee’s, and treats-Home delivery/min order is £20 and there is a delivery charge for orders outside 6 miles.
Brew Twenty Three in Solihull are delivering their refreshing and very tasty juices aswell as Coffee and sweet treats such as brownies to our doors! All you have to do is email your order to hello@brewtwentythree.com all orders must be placed and paid for between Saturday-Tuesday by noon for deliveries on Friday. Check out their social media pages for further information on whats on offer.
Sutton Coldfield-Bespoke cakes and lockdown sweet treats-Home delivery
Bethel Bakery is selling bespoke cakes, cupcakes, Brownies, Macarons and patisseries for all occasions.These bakes are beautiful and On offer at the moment is the amazing lockdown sweet treat box for £25 just crammed with delicious treats to tuck into whilst self-isolating. Head on over to Bethel Bakeries website here to order.
Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield-Dessert Box-Home delivery
Known for their delicious and heavenly waffles, The Bournville Waffle Co. have come up with something new to treat ourselves, introducing the Dessert box. Now, I believe this will change every week and For £25 you get six indulgent desserts straight to your door! You can order via their website here and you can keep up to date with these guys via their social media pages.
Sutton Goldfield-Mere Green-Afternoon tea and more-Home delivery
Broken yolk has been keeping very busy cooking up a storm in Bean Green Kitchen and delivering lovely afternoon teas to give those who need a little pick me up during this pandemic. Their afternoon packages are homemade and include a selection of sandwiches, savouries, and chutneys as well as cakes, sweets, scones, jams and clotted cream. They can cater for vegetarians and vegans and can deliver further out. They also offer hot meals for deliveries that are available at Bean Green Kitchen in Mere Green on their pop up nights. They also deliver and prepare three-course meals for people in isolation, They will ask for your suggestions and will design a bespoke menu for you to taste, perfect for any special occasion.
The Brownie Boss is offering weekly variety boxes of their heavenly brownies with UK delivery, in which you can order via the website here, What a treat! They are also offering bespoke brownie cakes for collection and will be launching more brownie based products in the next couple of weeks so make sure you keep up to date with their social media.
Birmingham/Uk delivery-variety of Cake boxes-collection and postal order options
That Cake Company is delivering lovely homemade treats from brownies to cakesicles to your doors, really spoiling our diets here, just look at those bakes! The treats can be sent via post or you can collect, please check out their Instagram page for more information and message to purchase.
Birmingham/UK Delivery- Cookie boxes– Home delivery or collection services from Halesowen
The Cookie Mumsters are bringing the dough to our doors with their amazing cookie boxes, choose from chocolate overload and vegan cookie for your treat of the week! They look incredible! You can order via their website here and you can also collect from Halesowen. Please also check out and keep up to date with The Cookie Mumster on their social media pages.
Sutton Coldfield-Coffee/Cake/Lunch-Open and collection only
My coffee prayers have been answered! Max’s Coffee Shop is an independent family-owned coffee shop located on Clarence Road in Four Oaks. They pride themselves on sourcing their coffee and cakes from local businesses and making the savoury items themselves such as paninis and sausage rolls! They are open Monday to Friday 10 am to 2 pm and you can check out their menu on their social media pages ( which is posted every day)
Based in Walmley, Rochers Patisserie are delivering amazing lock down treats such as afternoon teas, pastry selection boxes, cheese selection boxes, celebration cakes and macarons! All made to the highest standard and look’s amazing! Please head on over to their website here and check out their social media pages below
Holy Chip! These cookies are AMAZING! The Baker Man are delivering these bad boys straight to your door, choose from a variety flavours such as Nutella to Mint Aero but I will warn you, These are seriously addictive so proceed with caution! Sutton Coldfield delivery, please head on over to their Instagram page to order!
TuttoAPPOSTO by Angelina Adamo who provides bespoke and private dining in the Midlands! Delivery and collection is available for arancini, tiramisu, cannoli, biscotti, sfogliatelle, afternoon tea, date night packages and Le grande festa parcels! Please head to their website here and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest foodie delivery news!
Birmingham/NATIONWIDE-Brownie Boxes And bespoke Brownie Cakes-Home Delivery
Beki’s brownies are delivering their amazing brownie boxes Nationwide but be quick, they sell out quite quickly as they are DELICIOUS! They are also open for bespoke private orders such as Brownie cakes, please email your request to bekisbrownies@gmail.com Make sure you keep up to date with the latest delivery dates via their Instagram
Sutton Coldfield/West Midlands-Bespoke cakes and treats-Home Delivery
Little Bakery Box located in Sutton Coldfield creating amazing bespoke cakes for those special occasions as well as cake pops, cupcakes and more delicious bakes! Egg-free and vegan cakes are also available too so head on over to Little Bakery Box’s Instagram to order!
The Little Big Bakery is an Artisan bakery in Birmingham offering mixed boxes of cronuts each week and delivering them nationwide! You can check them out on Instagram to keep up to date with the weekly boxes or head on over to their website hereto order
Birmingham-Home delivery up to 6 miles(can deliver to Sutton Coldfield)-Artisan Breads
Based in Birmingham, Orientee Bakery are offering home delivery/Collection on their Artisan breads and bakes for you to enjoy in your homes! From sourdough to cronuts, there are lots to choose from and they cater for vegans! You can order from their website here
Birmingham-Sutton Goldfield-Afternoon tea and cakes-Home delivery & Collection
Coffee Tales are delivering their amazing afternoon tea, would you look at that beauty plus its all homemade! Collection and delivery to B postcodes and orders are taken online only, £15 for one and £30 for two, absolute bargain! Please head on over to their website to order here
Willenhall to THE UK-Home Baked Cookies-Home delivery
Gooey, Home-baked cookies delivered straight to your doorstep? ER YAH WHERE DO I SIGN UP?! Bostin Bakery are delivering their sensational cookies that are made fresh to order and have a great variety of flavours for you to choose from, There are also options for vegans, HOORAH!
Sutton Coldfield-Japanese food- Contact-less delivery up to a 6-mile radius
Offering modern Japanese food that is simply delicious to your door Monday and Thursday-Sunday Stay at home & enjoy your Sushido delivery, A Sutton Coldfield favourite.
Sutton Coldfield–Lebanese street food- Takeaway and delivery
Pitalicious are offering Lebanese street food with a modern gourmet twist! From shawarma lamb to veggie falafel salad boxes- they are vegetarian and vegan friendly. Open Tue-Sun and available on Just Eat, Deliveroo and UberEats.
Boldmere-Mexican- Collection and home delivery options
Los Banditos is offering a whole bag of offers for us lucky folk within the Sutton Coldfield area offering contact-free collections and home delivery service within a 3-mile radius and £1.50 per mile after that. The offers are 2 for £10 on takeaway cocktails, 2 for £5 on bottled beers and £10 for any bottle of wine when you spend £20. Check out their Facebook page to see what’s on the menu to order and keep up to date with the deals. You can also order from Just Eat.
Mere Green-Deli Sandwich and Salad Bar-Home delivery
Bean Green Kitchen is delivering homemade and fresh food to our doors, they change the menu weekly and are happy to deliver at any time plus if there’s anything particular anyone wants, they can accommodate this. The Chicken zingers are quite the popular dish at Bean Green, and on the 11th April, they are doing a Chicken Zinger Saturday! (Zinger burger with lettuce, house mayo, fries and can for £5.95 BOSH!)
UPDATE Now offering breakfast on Saturdays Offering afternoon teas daily (except for Sundays) Offering virtual grazing boxes for people working from home, great for a virtual catch up!
Birmingham – Cantonese- Home delivery up to 15 mile radius!
Well, aren’t we lucky devils Hey? Chung Ying is offering takeaway and home delivery service up to 15 miles away that includes Sutton Coldfield, Mere Green, and Shenstone. They are also offering a lovely discount of 25% of the bill!
A popular street food vendor based in Digbeth Dining club has now finally graced us with its presence offering amazing Jamaican street food in our living rooms! Their kitchen postcode is B24 9QR and is offering home delivery within 3-mile radius charging a £5 delivery and £1 charge for every extra mile. You can pre order and check out the menu over on their Facebook page
Lichfield-Mexican bar and grill- No contact collection and home delivery
Offering takeaway booze and food with a variety of offers on offer in the Lichfield area.They cover most areas up to a 3 miles radius with free delivery, minuim order is £15 and up to a 7 mile radius the minium order is £25.Head to their Instagram page to check out the menu and order!
Sutton Coldfield/Lichfield/Rugeley-Indian Cuisine-offering home delivery
The English Indian who are well known for their Indian style Fish and chips are now spoiling us with their homemade authentic curries delivered straight to our doors! From a range of colourful and favourable dishes to choose from you can order via their website. From Thursday this week they will be delivering to Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Burntwood & Rugeley, Please check out their social media pages for menu and more information.
Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield/Lichfield-British/European street foot-offering home delivery
British and European street food winners Baked in Brick are now delivering to Sutton Coldfield/Lichfield area. Famous for their Sunday roasts (yes they are delivering roast dinners and they are insanely good) this is one delivery not to miss out on. They are following all government protocols regarding COVID-19 and can provide contact-less home deliveries. Head to their new online shop here to order your meals but be quick, they are a Brummie favourite of many!
Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield/Lichfield-Hot dogs from Brum with love- Offering home delivery
These guys aren’t messing around when it comes to hot dogs. A street food favourite in Birmingham, Fat Snags are delivering the best god damn sausages you will ever taste straight to your front doors. They are offering one dish a week made to the highest quality and following strict COVID-19 guidelines. They will be announcing new meal kits each week so please keep up to date with their social media pages!.
Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield (£3.50 fee applys to Tamworth and Lichfield area)-Indian street food-Home delivery
Indian street food vendor Full of Chaat are selling and delivering their best selling street food dishes to our doors contact-free. From Sticky Bombay Chicken to Aubergine curry (Vegan) you can email your orders here enquiries@fullofchaat.com and they are completing home deliveries on just Wednesdays as they also deliver to the NHS. So please, support this amazing independent who although, is going through a bit of a hard time is still helping others such as our key workers for The NHS. Please check out Full of Chaat’s social media pages.
You can also purchase cupcakes with your orders to celebrate the Easter week!
Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield/Lichfield– Pop up pie shop- Free home delivery to B Postcodes
All aboard The Pietanic, The pop-up pie shop is well known for its creative artisan pies just bursting with all kinds of flavour! They are delivering their Bake At Home Pie Boxes to all B postcodes (free delivery)Aprils Menu includes the classic Steak & Ale, Beef Chilli Cheese, Vegan Cheezeburger pie (Dayuuum) and more! You can choose 6 mix and match pies for £25.00! You can place an order on their website here just scroll down to the online shop, choose your choice of pies and add to cart. As easy as pie.
Birmingham/Lichfield/Sutton Coldfield-DURRRTAY BURGERS– Home delivery
The Patty freaks are offering the people in the North golden tickets to gain access to their sexy and oh so delicious burger factory…meaning home delivery service of these naughty “little” buns. You can choose from The O.G (bacon, cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayo and pickled onion) to Sweet freak (Bacon, cheese peanut butter caramel waffle, and chilli jam) Oh yeah, they teasing alright. Make sure you keep up to date with their social media pages as they delivering to Lichfield and a little birdie tells me they are also going to be delivering to Sutton Coldfield so keep an eye out!
The slow-cooked heavens have answered our prayers finally! as Sticky Beaks are delivering the slow-cooked goodness to our doors! This weeks meat selection is Pork belly in Sticky Beaks Japanese BBQ glaze and Lamb tikka with Sticky Beaks mango chutney and mint yoghurt serving a family of four with a side of their homemade macaroni cheese with garlic breadcrumb…Yeah, sod the diet. All the meat is slow-cooked and is limited in numbers so the deadline for orders will be Wednesday at 12 noon for Friday and Saturday delivery. You can email your order to stickybeaksdelivery@gmail.com
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URBAN WAFFLES COMPANY
Birmingham-Sutton Coldfield-Freshly made waffles-FREE home deliveries within 3 miles of B23/Pick up available
Basic bitch waffles move out the way for the ultimate waffles made my Urban waffles company, they offer a quirky, unique and guilt-free alternative to your standard Belgian waffle. Order in freshly made waffles (Vegan options are available) drizzled in luxurious sauces and happy treats, they offer a variety of creative toppings and flavours such as Chocolate brownie hype and Apple Crumble Spice. They offer contact-free delivery and you can order off the website here
Birmingham-Sutton Coldfield-STEAKS AND SAUCE-Home delivery
Juicy, delicious and oh so addictive! Sink your teeth into Beef on the Block, The steak is pretty orgasmic, they offer it with a variety of sauces such as chimichurri and peppercorn sauce and…NOW THEY ARE DELIVERING IT TO OUR DOORS! You can check what’s available on their social media pages below and email your order to dani@beefontheblock.co.uk
Buddha Belly has now opened their online shop where you can buy chilled Thai ready meals and have them delivered to your door. From Southern Thai Vegan to spicy pork Panang these guys are sure to kick those taste buds! Please check out their website here for food options and delivery information.
Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield-Indian Street Food-Home delivery
A favourite of mine, finally we have Phata Phat delivering to our doors their Indian street food packed with flavor and of course, good times! They are currently offering all-round buttery goodness with their butter chicken lasagne and Shahi Paneer lasagne as well as a garlic naan kit. Limited portions are available so make sure you place your order on their website here by midnight Wednesday and keep up to date with the latest news on their social media pages. This is one not to be missed!
Sutton Coldfield-Traditional Greek and Cypriot food-Home delivery
New to Sutton Coldfield we have Halloumi Express who cook traditional Greek and Cypriot meals with fresh ingredients straight from Cyprus and Greece to your doors, giving you the full Greek experience. They have a variety of options available and they do cater for vegetarians, you can check out their menu here on Just Eat.
If you haven’t tried a Stripclub burger can you really call yourself a HOOMAN?!! Stripclub Streetfood is bringing the sex to us with their incredibly HOT burger DIY kits priced at £40. You have all the ingredients you need in this kit to create your Stripclub burgers, they also will send a video before you receive your order so you can take some inspiration with your buns. In order to get your hands on one of these kits, you got to download the app which you can find here and place your order just like that!
Sutton Goldfield-Birmingham-Strips or DIY Burger Platters-Home Delivery
Starting up their doorstep deliveries is What The Cluck! delivering the crispy fried goodness to our homes and filling our bellies with insanely good chicken and more…Have you seen their Mac and Cheese?! MY GOD! however, get in quick! These bad boy platters sell out quite fast so head to their social media to order!
Birmingham-A Variety Of Street Food Options– Click and Collect
Our Prayers have been answered; Digbeth Dining is back! well kind of! They are operating a Click + Collect service (From 60 Hampton Street, Hockley, B19 3LU) every Thursday-Sunday with a different line up of awesome food vendors every week. All you need to do is order via their website here, pick your date and timeslot then collect! With amazing vendors such as The Patty Freaks and Urban Cheesecake offering up the goodies, this is one collection you do not want to miss out on! Online click and collect service only! Strictly no walks ups! Only one member per household allowed to collect.
Sutton Coldfield- Indian Street Food- Home delivery– Delivery £3 within 3 miles of B73 6EJ
New to Sutton Coldfield, Veeru’s is an Indian street food restaurant offering mouth-watering street food from Punjabi Wraps to Speciality naan pizzas! This has become one of my favourite Indian takeaways in Sutton Coldfield, I opted for the Lamb Kebab and it was absolutely sensational! 100% recommend! You can now order via their website for Tuesday-Sunday deliveries.
Birmingham-Sutton Coldfield-DIY Pizza Kits-Home delivery service
Bare Bones Pizza are a family run business who have had to adapt to change because of the virus, from mobile wood-fired pizza to delivering DIY pizza kits across Birmingham/Midlands. They have four kits for you to choose from pepperoni, Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free. The kits will come with all the ingredients that you need as well as instructions and links to watch their Youtube videos on how to make your pizzas! To order your kit head to their website here Make sure to also check out their social media pages too!
Mere Green- FILTHY BURGERS & KICK ASS CHICKEN & COCKTAILS– Collection and Home delivery Mere Green-Sutton Coldfield
FILTHY BURGERS, just two words to get the heart racing, add on Cock N Bull before that and indeed, you have arrived at Heaven’s doors Babs because these burgers are bloody heavenly. Let’s not forget the kick-ass chicken also and now, you can order it all to your door with a cheeky beverage! Cock n Bull is back up and running, delivering their sensational food and drink to your doors on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You can order via their website here and they are also available on Deliveroo….thank me later 😛
Sutton Coldfield-Italian food– Collection and Home delivery within 3 miles radius
My favourite restaurant in Sutton Coldfield possibly my favourite Italian in the Midlands is now delivering! MAMMA MIA! If you are looking for mighty fine Italian food head on over to Pizza by Goli(there is also a restaurant in Lichfield) the food is amazing (the garlic bread in sensational ) and the service is fantastica! You can order via deliveroo from 5pm to 9pm, NHS staff get 15% off and you can view the menu here
Birmingham-Sutton Goldfield-Indian Street Food- Home Delivery within 15 miles radius of Smethwick
POM is an events company that has now started to venture into the takeaway business bringing us fantastic Indian food straight to our doors! I can hand on heart say this is the best Indian takeaway I have ever had, The food is beautiful! Delivery within 15 miles radius of Smethwick from Thursday to Sunday 5pm to 10pm, You can order food via their website here
Sutton Coldfield – Home Delivery in Sutton Coldfield/Shirley and surrounding areas.
Craft Inn are delivering craft beer packs safely to your front doors, so you don’t miss out on the pub too much! They have a great selection of their micro bars covering the Birmingham/Shirley/Smethwick areas,
Spawn from a love of great beer and heavy metal, Leviathan Brewing is a Micro brewer of unique, small batch beers, using quality, natural ingredients and lucky for me is my cousin! Leviathan Brewing will be canning up a storm on Monday offering 4500 cans to sell the week of 13th April nationwide via their website.
Grab a list, choose your beers, pay over the phone or bank transfer and just like magic beers appear on your doorstep. A haven for beer lovers, Cask & Craft have a pretty impressive selection of craft beer and spirits including every girls favourite GIN GIN. Head to their Facebook/instagram page or send these Guys an email for the up to date list of beers on offer: caskandcraft@icloud.com
They offer free delivery and are available 7 days week
Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield/UK!-home delivery- Online shop reopens weekend of 13th April
Attic Brew Co. based in Stirchley is currently closed but they are reopening their online brewery shop offering a variety of beers for you to choose from next weekend. They will be offering free delivery locally and will offer a courier service for those who are a bit further out! You can order your beers here as well as some pretty cool merchandise such as tees and pint glasses.
Birmingham/delivering to all “B” postcodes-Home delivery
Multi award-winning Brewery Birmingham Brewing Co is selling their much-loved beers on their online store(Would recommend Confused Brummie mmmHMMM!) The brewery is currently closed but they are offering FREE delivering to “B” postcodes and fantastic beers that are vegan and gluten-free to your door. So soak up the sun crack open one of these beauties and just chill Babs…Thank god for beer hey?! Check out their website here
Birmingham-Sutton Coldfield- BEER INC ISOLATION BOXES-Free home delivery within 35km radius of Birmingham City Centre
Halton Turner Brewery in Hall Green has teamed up with fellow neighbourhood breweries in Birmingham to bring you these incredible “Isolation boxes” with 50% of the proceeds going towards charities such as BABS (Birmingham Association Bartenders) They include 4 banging cans of local beer, selection of bar snacks, pack of cards, puzzle cube, a Halton Turner pint glass and beer mats! (Christ Almighty that was a mouthful!) starting at 19.99! bloody bargain Babs! you can order them here
Birmingham-Erdington/Sutton Coldfield-Home delivery to Erdington and Sutton Coldfield area on Fridays!
Because wine is essential okay?! Loki Wine is delivering hoorah! They shall be delivering to the Erdington/Sutton Coldfield area on Fridays and you can shop online via the website here. If you’re not into your wine then you can always shop online with Loki and opt for something a bit stronger…Whisky my friend? Please make sure you keep up to date with Loki on their social media pages.
Lichfield- Cocktails to your door!-Free home delivery to Lichfield
Le Rêve are serving us freedom with their home delivery of cocktails! Choose from a classic Pornstar Martini to Whiskey Old Fashioned, and if your not a fan of cocktails they also have a selection of wines, beers, and non-alcholic drinks available for you to choose. You can contact them via telephone in which you can find on their website here and if you order more than one round per order you will recieve 10% discount!
Well, would you look at these bad boys! Dig Brew Co. is delivering the goods and applying a bit of FREAK to your beer stashes at home. Full of creativity and full of flavour, my favourite’s are potion and slam…also Art cars, Floorshow, California, and oh what the hell! they are bloody good and you can get them all delivered to your door! Take a look at their online shop here and check out their social media to keep up to date.
Birmingham-BOOZE,MERCH, & ART- Delivery to B postcodes
Brum’s oldest boozer has opened up an online store where you can buy a range of booze, merch and artwork. From craft beers to Gin baby! these Guys got your weekends covered delivering to any “B” postcodes as well as artwork to quirk up your cribs and some seriously good Brum merch to make your fellow Babs well jel.
Lichfield/UK Delivery-COCKTAILS-Home Delivery and UK Postal orders
Lock In Liquor Co. are delivering small batch premium cocktails to your door! From Barrel Aged Negroni to the sassy Porn star Martini! These guys have you covered Babs! Located in Lichfield and can hand deliver to Lichfield,Burntwood,Cannock and surrounding areas however they also do postal orders to anywhere in the UK! Please head to their social media pages (order via Instagram)
Boldmere-delivering food essential’s-home delivery within 3-mile radius
The Deli are delivering are every day essentials from Bread, butter, meats to a cheeky bottle of wine within a 3-mile radius. They have the essential stock list on their Facebook page, best way to contact is via Facebook.
Harvest fruiterers are open to the public offering fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs to the public. They are following all government protocol’s regarding COVID-19 to protect staff and customers and asking for one person per family or group to come into the shop at any one time. Please head to their Facebook page for more information in what they are have on offer in store.
PETS & GARDENS
Wylde Green-Delivering food essential’s and plants- Open to the public and offer home delivery within 3-mile radius
Pets & Gardens in Wylde Green are stocking up on fresh fruit, veg and daily essentials including toilet rolls. They also offer selection of plants, pots and compost to keep you busy and your gardens looking beautiful!
Chase farm shop is open to the public offering local and seasonal produce, pantry store essentials and your weekly treats of course! They have added arrows on the shop floor to encourage single flow of traffic, 2-metre distance rule and staff are working behind screens. Open Mon-Sunday from 10am until 12 midday & 1pm until 5pm (closing at 4pm on Sunday)
Forage at Coppice-Middleton-Farm shop-Open to the public and offer home delivery
Forage is still open for all your local and good produce essentials also offering a home delivery service as well as a collection service. They are following all government protocol’s regarding COVID-19 to protect staff and customers. Please visit their Instagram page to fill in a delivery form if you are interested in the home delivery service- minimum order of £40.00 and a delivery charge of £4.50 within an 8-mile radius.
Open to the public Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm and Sun 10 am-4.30 PM.
Lichfield-Farm shop & Takeaway– Open to public and operating collection services
The Owl restaurant and bar have opened a farm shop offering fresh fruit & vegetables and selection of meats. They also have a takeaway menu where you can opt for a pulled pork bap or a 9” pizza. Please head to their Facebook page to check out the take out menu and information on how you can order.
The Plant Pott garden centre-Lichfield-Farm shop– Home delivery and collection services
The Lichfield Pantry is a zero-waste shop that has evolved into a lovely farm shop full of eco-friendly foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. They will be taking orders for collection and delivery only and you can check out the list of products they have on offer via the website. They also have plastic-free items such as soap, bars, reusable wipes available for delivery too. They can only deliver to the Lichfield area (including Streethay and Fradley)
Studley-Butchery-offering fresh top-quality meats-Open to public and delivering up to a 15-mile radius
The Meating joint is a small store in Studley operating primarily as butchers but also sell fresh fruit, veg and essentials like bread and milk. As well as this, they sell high quality meats at competitive pricing. I spoke to Laura Thomas whose Mom is the owner of The Meating Joint and has expressed the effects of COVID-19 on her Mothers business
“Small businesses have been thrust into the world of supermarket demand. My Mother had 4 staff members before and now, she has 11 staff members, In the space of two weeks! Their stock has been limited and the prices have shot up but she’s trying not to pass that on to her customers. She’s up at 2 am trying to get hold of her suppliers and paying the invoices, in work at 5 am to get the orders ready and going home at 8 pm. She’s done that now for two weeks. She’s exhausted. She could have taken the grant offer and shut but she hasn’t. I’m incredibly proud of her”
Laura’s Mother must be Wonder woman right? The Meating Joint are open to the public and now offer a home delivery service where they will be delivering to the Sutton Coldfield area on Fridays
For home delivery please check out their Facebook page
SAUCE SUPPER CLUB
Lichfield-Sutton Coldfield-Fine dining pre-prepared meals and essentials delivered to your door!-Home delivery service
Sauce Supper Club is delivering essentials such as milk, hot cross buns (yes, definitely essentials) fruit/salad/veg boxes and freshly baked bread. They have also teamed up with Laurence Henry 2018 MasterChef winner to deliver pre-prepared meals for folks that miss dining out or fancy a little lockdown luxury! They are delivering to Sutton Coldfield and beyond with a £5 delivery charge. You can check out what’s on offer here and please also check out their social media to keep up to date with the latest!
Birmingham-Sutton Coldfield – Offering unique home dining experiences-Home delivery
Birds and the Beers are catering to your homes delivering unique home dining experiences such as afternoon tea, bottomless brunch, buffets and BBQs! All of their events are tailored to suit the customer’s needs so Birds and the Bees would be a perfect choice to celebrate a special occasion! To enquire please contact via Facebook.
Sutton Coldfield-Zero waste shop-Selling liquid refills and dried foods to Sutton Coldfield area.
The Weigh Forward is an unpaid voluntary Non-Profit zero waste shop based in Sutton Coldfield. The shop is physically not open however they are selling liquid refills and dried foods to the people of Sutton Coldfield. Wonderful value and fantastic quality, Please check out The Weigh Forwards Facebook where you can put in your order, Please support our small local independents.
Sutton Coldfield-Fresh fruit & veg boxes delivered to your door
The better Weigh are a non-profit plastic-free fruit and vegetable delivery service. The profit they make will go towards helping to support other small business start-ups in Sutton Coldfield which is absolutely fabulous! Be quick, they sell out quite quickly!
Sutton Coldfield- Freshly baked goods and hampers delivered to your door
Silver Tree Catering is offering fresh bread’s and hamper boxes, cooked by their talented chefs to help people through these hard times! They are delivering across Birmingham, Solihull, Lichfield and Tamworth. They have had an overwhelming response to this so far…
“We have been doing private catering, dinner parties, weddings for over 10 years now and within 7 days of going into lockdown practically losing all of our bookings up till August now. I am a pastry chef by trade and we’ve started selling and delivering bread’s, cakes and hampers in the area andit’s really helping us keep going through this tough time. The response from customers to support local businesses has been amazing, we had 150 followers on Instagram three weeks ago and now have over 1000 followers! To say thank you we are donating 100 loaves of bread to the staff at Good hope hospital on Monday and 100 to the staff at Birmingham Children’s hospital”
Birmingham-Delivering fresh produce hamper boxesthroughout Birmingham and the North of Brum
Based in Birmingham, Electric Café & catering are a small family run business who specialise in catering and buffets. They are delivering fresh fruit and veg boxes that they source every morning and other fresh items such as milk, bacon/sausage and bread from their loyal local suppliers to the North of Birmingham. You can contact Electric via emailelectriccafeb6@hotmail.com
To place orders or request product lists. You can also check their Facebook page for more information.
CRANBERRY & THYME
Birmingham/nationwide-Food platters-Home delivery
Cranberry & Thyme are offering these “Do it yourself” quarantine platters which look absolutely delicious and perfect for a special occasion. As well as offering platters, they have amazing hampers for anyone who is interested in something a bit fancy!
A weekly selection of home cooked traditional Indian curries and Sunday roast kits from Michelin Chef Aktar Islam! Order by the end of Wednesday and pick up from Opheem in Birmingham on Thursday between 2pm-5.30pm, also offering nationwide delivery for £15. Please order via website here
Opus are delivering three course meals, delicious british cheese and cases of specially selected wines for you all to enjoy at home, the ultimate luxury LOCK IN experience! Make your selection from their website herebefore Wednesday at 10pm for delivery/collection on Saturday!
Bringing you the Andreas Antona’s Michelin dining experience from the restaurant into your home with these amazing three course meals! They offer nationwide delivery, order before Tuesday for delivery or collection (Simpsons Restaurant) on Friday/Saturday, Please visit their website here to check out the menu’s and head to their social media pages to keep up to date with the latest foodie updates!
Sutton Coldfield-Birmingham-Indian Afternoon Tea Home Dining-Home Delivery
Spoil yourself with a traditional Indian Afternoon Tea experience in the comfort of your own homes, Choose from meaty to vegan afternoon teas and order via their website here
NATIONWIDE DELIVERIES STARTING SOON- DIY BURGER KITS- HOME DELIVERY
Libertine is bringing us all their legendary burgers to make at home with their DIY Burger kits. National Deliveries start soon so please, keep up to date with them on their social media as you don’t want to miss these glorious buns delivered to your doors! You can order them via their website here
Birmingham & surrounding areas-Fine Dining At Home-Home Delivery
The Cornerstone Kitchens gourmet food delivery service is available throughout Birmingham, Solihull and surrounding areas to bring the fine dining experience with gourmet food delivered to your home. Fine dining for any occasion! Whether it’s a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary or just a date night (without leaving the house), you can sit back and relax with our fine dining take out service. They also do luxury gourmet Hampers, please head to their website to check out what’s on offer here
Birmingham & surrounding areas-2/3 course cook at home meals-Home delivery
Laghi’s are delivering two/three-course meals to your door, offering dishes such as Brasto di Cervo and they have vegetarian options too! Delivery is Friday and Saturday and if you wish to book this then please email laghisdeli@gmail.com (You will find the menu on their Instagram page) They also have a takeaway menu for pizzas and pasta for you to collect!
Sutton Goldfield-Collection only-Afternoon teas/Three course Sunday roast/Oven-ready Chateaubriand for two
New Hall Hotel is offering a great variety of takeaway meal options from afternoon tea to three courses Sunday roast meal! All orders need to be received 24 hours before collection and collection is between 10am to 6pm-Please email newhall@handpicked.co.uk to make your orders
Head on to their website hereto check out their takeaway menu
NATIONWIDE delivery-Burger/Chicken/Tots/basically a load of sexy grub kits
Yes! The Big Boy Burger & Beyond are delivering their “Make it at home” burger, sides, and desserts kits NATIONWIDE. I have had one of the burger kits and I can confirm that they taste INSANE, and the first thing I’m going to do when I finish this stupid diet is to order one! It’s a real treat and very easy to order, just head on over to their website here and drop a kit in your basket Bab!
Birmingham-UK Delivery-Pork Belly BAO Kit-Free delivery to B Postcodes
Tiger Bites Pig has answered our prayers and are delivering their Pork Belly BAO kit offering to the UK however at the moment UK delivery is sold out but if you’re from a B Postcode then you’re in luck as they are still available and can be ordered here
Harborne-Doorstep drops within ten miles radius-Home cooked meals/Three or Five course meals
Artisan Epicurean based in Harborne created by Chef suzie is delivering sensational meals to your doors from five course meals to essentials such as fresh breads and infused butters, lets not forget the “Oh What the heck it’s lockdown” essentials to like canapés! Suzie can also pair your meals with wines too (available on request) If you want to find out more or like to order please head to Suzie’s website here
Get fit from not even leaving the house with Pilates Lounge online classes! All you need is a PC, tablet, or phone to take part, follow the website to simply book your class. Pilates Lounge offers weekly passes for £10 and unlimited monthly passes for £30. Let’s get physical!
Since Sandstone has closed due to COVID-19 they have taken their classes online, with around 20 highly trained and experienced teachers they are offering a full schedule of approx. 30 yoga, Pilates and meditation classes a week via zoom. They are live-streamed classes, allowing participants to interact with the teacher and other participants via a chat function.
Classes are £3 each and you can try your first class for free.
Please check out their website here to check their schedules and book
EAT SLEEP YOGA
Walmley-Online classes
Offering online yoga classes for all levels you can book these via the website. It’s £4 per class or £20 for a month pass to unlimited classes. You can also find the timetable on their Facebook page,
Burton-Upon-Trent- Online Zumba, fitness and dance classes
Valery Dance Studio have created Zumba, fitness and dance videos to keep you active at home and you can get the family involved as well! Head to their Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest work out videos and you can watch the videos on their YouTube channel.
Yoly is a personal trainer, reiki practitioner and all mindful enthusiast offering online sessions for those who are trying to keep fit and cope with the uncertainty that surrounds us at the moment, also focusing on online meditation. £15 for an hour of PT or healing meditation and £35 for distant reiki sessions. Please contact via Facebook or Instagram.
Sutton Coldfield-Adult online ballet and pilates sessions
The dance collective is now taking classes online! They are hosting live online adult ballet sessions weekly via zoom including classes for their silver swans (over 55’s) ballet. They also run weekly Pilates classes; first class is free. They will also be hosting free taster children ballet classes on their Facebook page so keep an eye out!
Bringing yoga to your living rooms or where ever you like to work out! Yoga Oasis is offering morning/afternoon online yoga and pilates classes via Zoom. You can even catch a free class at 11 am on Thursdays! All you need to do is create an account online, choose a time and book, it’s that easy! Book here
Get a great work out from the comfort of your own home! Josie usually teaches at Yoga Oasis but is now offering online classes helping people to learn awareness and control of their bodies while strengthing their cores and lengthening their spines. You can book an online pilates class with Jodie via the website including private tuition classes.
Online classes First Aid classes for children, parents and anyone that looks after children.I spoke to Lorraine who is the owner of Mini First Aid:
“Our relaxed and informal paediatric first aid classes for parents and grandparents are normally face to face sessions in venues or in the comfort of people’s homes. Whilst we cannot run classes out and about because of COVID19 pandemic, it is still important for everyone to feel confident they would know what to do in the event of an accident or medical emergency involving little ones, so we are running 2-hour sessions ONLINE. The online and the practical public/private classes all cover first aid techniques suitable for newborn babies through to primary school aged children. Our classes for children to learn first aid are normally run in schools, scouting groups and other education settings and whilst again we cannot run face to face at the moment, we are about to launch some online videos for children to access“
Please check out the following links for these videos and more information.
Anna is based in Boldmere and is a teacher that runs Mini Writers Club offering tips, advice and activities to support your child with phonics, reading and writing during primary school.
Sutton Coldfield- Offering free Mortgage and insurance advice
Business as usual for Becki, offering mortgage and insurance advice by conducting video and phone call appointments. Check out XL Finance Facebook page offering information and guidance in what is going on and what lenders/providers the government are doing during this crisis. If anyone is worried about their mortgage/insurances can speak to Becki free of charge and who can offer professional advice.
Four Oaks- Offering small business advice and mentoring/mini courses for business owners online
Melissa Davin-Smith, owner of Connect and Convert Club is offering small business advice and mini courses/mentoring for business owners looking to connect with their target market, find new ways of marketing their business and grow their sales. You can contact Melissa via Facebook or you can head to the website for more information. For anyone local Melissa can conduct fact to face meetings but is happy to offer her advice online via Facebook, email, and calls.
Nothing but the Tooth is offering free dental advice on their Facebook page. They, unfortunately, can’t help with emergencies as the practice is closed but can still advise on all non-urgent queries. Please check out their Facebook page
THE SUTTON CANCER SUPPORT
Sutton Coldfield-Helping those who are affected by cancer to regain their wellbeing and able them to cope with their diagnosis
Offering clients therapy and counselling via phone, meditation by zoom on Fridays and hosting virtual coffee sessions on Tuesdays to talk and connect.The Sutton Cancer Support is a small charity with no government funding due to the pandemic they have had to cancel all their face to face events but desperately need funds to keep going to continue to support those whose lives are or have been affected by cancer.
Please head to their website and support this amazing cause.
J21 BUSINESS AND CAREER COACHING SERVICES
Midlands based-Business Coaching services
Jackie Cummins (Birmingham Business Woman of the Year 2016) business partner of J21 Business and Career Coaching Services is offering professional face to face coaching across the Midlands as well as telephone and Skype-based coaching services. Jackie is also doing her bit for the community and is promoting local businesess online via social media. You can contact Jackie via J21 website or by Facebook
Lichfield-Local Home delivery services and National postal brownie service
The Koalaty Bakery is a relatively new business intending to sell vegan treats and cakes at markets and food events. to try and adapt to the challenging times, they are offering personalised cakes to the local community around the Lichfield area, and have set up a national postal brownie service. They want to be able to life customer spirits with a selection of gourmet brownies that can be sent as a gift with a personalised message in the box. A way in which people can share some love without having to leave the house. Please check these guys out on Instagram and Facebook.
Sutton Coldfield- Personalised cards delivered to your loved ones door
Ellie is a freelance watercolour Illustrator selling her beautiful bespoke cards to your loved one’s doors. You can head to Ellie’s Instagram page to choose a card design you like, write a message for the inside of the card and let Ellie do the rest!
Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield-Craft beers, glassware, t-shirts, gift cards and tote bags- delivering in and around Birmingham
The Indian Streatery in Birmingham is temporarily closed BUT they have opened an online shop where you can buy craft beers (Mango pale ale is so lovely!) and merchandise. Well known for their fantastic Indian street food, you can purchase a gift card for when they are back open and get your hands on those famous meaty masala fries…Truly sensational! You can check out their website here and 10% of each order will be donated to NHS charities!
Got to fix that sweet tooth out? Then these guys are sure to fix that with their naked but oh so satisfying cookie dough that comes in a variety of sexy ( Yes I said it alright) flavours from Butter Baby to Peanut Butter Crunch, simply Doughlicious! You can order your cookie dough pouches online here and you can also keep up to date with Yo Dough Brum on their social media pages.
Birmingham/Nationwide-Homeware and lifestyle items-Home delivery
Kin is an independent design-led homeware, lifestyle and furniture store in Birmingham. From unique gifts for your loved ones to furniture for your new home, Kin has it all covered for you including free delivering with orders over £25. You can check out their website here
You might be familiar with these guys as there “Yes Bab” tees are bloody everywhere in Brum (including on my chest!) but that’s not all they offer, They sell a range of clothing and accessories with fantastic “Brummie” tag lines sure to bring out a smile from a stranger when your out and about. They are currently selling their Solidarity Bab postcards which is a lovely and “old school” way of checking in with our loved ones and £1 from every pack sold goes to Birmingham NHS Superheroes to help support NHS staff also The A4 SOLIDARITY BAB window posters are free to NHS! You can have a snoophere on their website.
Changing the world one macaron at a time, Miss Macaroon is delivering their premium gluten-free handmade french macaroons to your doors. They make a lovely gift for your loved ones and are simply delicious! You can send a gift box of 12 (choose your flavours if you wish, I would recommend the salted caramel macaroons…WOW!) for £25.00. You can shop online via their websitehere.
Birmingham/UK delivery-Homeware and lifestyle items-Home delivery
A favourite of mine, Hedge is a Birmingham concept home and lifestyle store filled with lots of lovely stuff from giftware to interior decor! They have an online store and are offering free UK shipping. They also sell lovely blooms to light up your day and are delivering these once a week locally (They can deliver to Sutton Coldfield) Uk free shipping does not apply with flower deliveries. Make sure you check out their online shop here and keep up to date with them on their social media pages.
Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield-Fresh Cannoli & make your own kits-Home delivery
Come and get your fresh cannoli! An amazing gift idea for that special someone, Cafe Cannoli are delivering their fresh cannoli boxes and make your own kits to your doors! Offering a variety of flavours from Chocolate, to pistachio. They deliver to the Sutton Coldfield/Lichfield area every Saturday so make sure you get your order in here!
Sutton Coldfield- Gin boxes and Gift vouchers-UK HOME DELIVERY
Have a night in with Gin? HELL YES! Simpsons Gin bar in Sutton Coldfield are delivering these bad boy gin boxes and yes, they are AMAZING. You will receive 4 x gins, 4 x tonics or soft drinks, napkins, straws, garnish, 2 x snacks, surprise item, £5 voucher off, and a secret code for an online gin tasting for the gins in the box….absolutely AWESOME! Simpsons Bar is also selling gift vouchers and you can shop online here
Located in Sutton Coldfield, Audrey May Flowers are beautiful, luxuriously wrapped and arranged with care. Offering letter box flowers which make a lovely gift to that special some one in Lockdown! Audrey May Flowers are offering free delivery within Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas within a 5 mile radius from B76 post code. Please head to the website hereto order
Stirchely/Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield- Giftware/Letterbox Gifts– Home Delivery
You got this club is a happy gift shop stocking the most awesome gifts made by amazing independents! Build your very own gift box for that special someone and help spread the small business love in lockdown! Head to their website here
Sutton Goldfield-Birmingham-Flowers for all occasions-Home delivery (Free delivery to Sutton-Small delivery charge to Birmingham)
Next flower drop from Blossom by Kayleigh is for Valentines, orders will be delivered either on Saturday 13th Feb or Sunday 14th Feb. From £20 small bouquets to large bouquets £40, all come with a handwritten label from The Letter Life in Lichfield with a personal message. You can check out their website here
For a while now I have wanted to visit Hotel du Vin & Bistro in Birmingham and see what all the fuss was about as it’s a hotel and bistro that is often praised by many in and out of Birmingham. As a lover of food and of course, afternoon tea, I thought now was the time to book myself in to experience and trial Hotel du Vin’s exceptional reputation in Birmingham.
The Hotel & Bistro is located on Church Street, a great location for travellers who are staying over at the hotel as you have Grand Central station that is just under a 10-minute walk away, you are surrounded by restaurants and bars, and if you had forgottten any essentials ( I always forget pants which is ridiculous but my brain chooses 2 x biscuits in case I feel sick in the night instead of pants, absolute LOLS) you are also surrounded by retail shops, so the location is perfect. Upon entering the Hotel, it does have a fabulous entry that leads to the courtyard where you can dine in, but our afternoon tea took place in the Bistro restaurant which is just darling! It’s elegant and it just oozes Le Paris!
We were shown to our table and then handed menus to choose which tea we would like to have, I opted for the English breakfast and my friend opted for Earl Grey. They had a pretty impressive variety of drinks on offer that you can have with your afternoon tea, from hot drinks to fancy champagne and Hendricks cocktails. I did nearly choose the “Dozy Girl” tea with lavender and rose petals but we were on a tight schedule as we chose to go in our lunch hour, so we wanted to avoid falling asleep on the keyboard and getting the sack! The tea was served first and it came within 5 minutes, sharp service, I like it!
One of the staff members asked us if we had any allergies and then confirmed we was having vegan (for my friend) and non vegan (for me) afternoon tea. Shortly after, the afternoon tea followed glistering with a range of savouries and sweets and wait, do I spy POPCORN? (I shall not quote Stephen Kings IT…POP POP POP…damn it) Vegan afternoon tea on the top and the non-vegan on the bottom. My eyes lit up and I couldn’t help but sigh with relief when I spotted the sweets because bread is Jesus and the number of afternoon teas I have had and they just plonk a load of cakes on it and have 3 tiny sandwiches?! This certainly wasn’t the case with Hotel du Vin, let’s start with mine first.
With the non-vegan afternoon tea you get a pretty good selection of finger sandwiches with a variety of fillings.
Cheese and pickle
Coronation chicken
Cucumber and mint
Smoked salmon and cream cheese
Egg and cress
A selection that I was pretty satisfied with. The bread was fresh, the fillings were full of flavour and I enjoyed the variety. Next up was the deserts which to me, are perfectly sized and again, great variety.
Carrot Cake
Paris-Brest
Tutti Frutti macaroon
Black Forest gateau
Rum Baba
Now, the rum baba I never tried because my mother is the Queen of rum baba’s. She is completely obsessed with them, so obsessed that she would try and blackmail my dad in going down to Waitrose and buying her 10 packets of the stuff, “well, I am not making you dinner” whipped by a rum baba, the shame. She did comment on it saying it was delicious but of course, she would have liked a larger portion. Now, the other desserts were absolutely delicious, the Paris-Brest was my favourite and it just complimented my cup of tea so nicely. The black forest was just pleasurable that’s all I am going to say, and the carrot cake took me by surprise but they all did, because there not the sort of desserts I would go for but it sure did tickle my sweet tooth and left me pretty satisfied.
Vegan afternoon tea was quite impressive, again, a very generous and good variety of vegan treats for my friend to tuck into…
Cheese & onion tart
Tempura cauliflower
Vegan scone with peppers
Salted popcorn
and more vegan savoury tarts
The deserts
Pistachio cake
Chocolate truffle cake
Victoria sponge
Danish pastry
As a vegan, my friend noted that it is often quite difficult to find a vegan afternoon tea and she was pretty impressed with the selection and variety on offer at Hotel du Vin. Thumb ups on the vegan front. I am a non-vegan and I have to say it did look very appetising and I liked the quirky touch of popcorn…Nope, I am not quoting “IT” again. We also received scones which had me pondering for 5 minutes if they even were scones, they had a glaze on top almost like a donut would have and the texture was also different to a regular scone “I’m not like a regular scone, I am a cool scone” Yes I just quoted Meal Girls but anyway, I’m a fan of the scones! Different but delicious.
The Bistro is absolutely stunning, decorated with wall art and empty wine bottles empowering that rustic feel with a touch of quirk. I would like to mention that the staff at Hotel du Vin are professional and very informative, they check in with you now and again to make sure you are enjoying your experience to the fullest.
When it comes to Afternoon Tea, Hotel du Vin have got it spot on. The décor, the ambience and the food is stunning here and its priced at £22.50?! in which, I believe is an absolute steal for sensational service and food. In a way, it doesn’t feel like you are dining out in Birmingham more like a French Bistro in an upper-class town in France back in the 1940s. The Afternoon Tea has fought its way into my top 5 Afternoon Teas in Birmingham, for sure! Hotel du Vin is a delightful treat for anyone, If you are a lover of Afternoon Tea then you must, I repeat MUST take a trip to Hotel du Vin & Bistro in Birmingham where you will receive luscious food served to the highest standard surrounded by French charm, it’s a stunning experience for all to enjoy.
