I think I am getting the hang of this fine dining thing… I started with Adams moved on to 670 Grams and now for one of the most distinctive tasting menus in Brum (or so I thought) – The Wilderness. Located in the Jewellery Quarter, hidden away down a dark alley, you’ll wonder if you are in the right place. Entering the restaurant is like walking into Voldemort’s lair – if Voldemort liked AC/DC that is. Subtly lit, black on black and moody as fuck, I like it.
Staff are friendly enough and know what we want straight away – to be seated before time and handed the drinks menu. Good start. We didn’t go for the wine pairing, probably not the way to do it but as a 5 ft 1 lightweight who gets loud off a WKD, it’s certainly for the best. I went for the Venetian Kiss featuring salt baked peach, raspberry and elderflower. So good I ordered two more. I went for the £110 8-course dinner menu and within 10 minutes the first dishes arrived.
A plate appears with three ‘snacks’; Shrimp Doughnut, Celeriac tart – Hazelnut, and A5 Wagyu – Nori – Comte. They all hit the spot, especially the shrimp doughnut, I could order about 50 of those to go.
The fourth dish is served, and it was my favourite. The Mackerel is absolutely beautiful and was swimming in a delicious consommé that I ended up dribbling down my front. I was like a cat with a saucer of milk, I couldn’t stop lapping it up.
The fifth dish was the Cod and Iberico, it was just perfect, the way my knife sliced into the cod and it just fell apart, it still sends shivers down my spine!
Although a rather successful start, I was somewhat confused. I’ll be honest, The Wilderness is known for its “fuck it” reputation. I knew there was an edge, but I was struggling to find it in the food. But, it was early days…
The next dish was The Carrot 2022 which started to turn the night around for me. I know, how could a carrot do that?! Well my dears, this was so much more than your bog standard chantenay. Braised carrots with nitro frozen feta crumbs in fact. The frozen feta crumbs are a bit like marmite really, you love them or hate them. I really enjoyed the combination and thought it was a match made in heaven. Another dish where I couldn’t get enough of the sauce, I should of brought a bloody bib.
Next up was Barbaray Duck in Blood Orange. Now I am not a fan of duck so this dish didn’t do anything for me and I feel it would be unfair to review it. I’ll let you in on one thing, it’s cooked well. That’s all I can say. Alex informed me he could of changed the duck to something more to my liking, so my bad.
Many have seen or heard of this next dish – The Wilderness’ signature course Ch-Ch-Changes comes in the form of a Ba-Ba-BANANA. I’ve always been curious about this one and the man himself, Alex Claridge, came over to explain it. “Like banoffee pie but in a banana”. Right okay, the thing is…I hate banana. So I wasn’t looking forward to it to be honest but it was nice to finally speak to Alex, He seemed authentic and obviously passionate about what he does. When you are so passionate about something you do of course get defensive if someone says one bad word, I get it. “Eat it however you want” he says.
I decided to scoop it up in my hands but didn’t realise how much of a slippery fucker it was, My fellow diner was having a right laugh watching and I must have looked like I belonged in a zoo shrieking while the banana danced around my hands. When I finally caught the little bugger, it was surprisingly delicious. A super cool and imaginative dish and I wanted more of the same, but sadly didn’t get it.
The next plate wasn’t for me. Rhubarb with Mascarpone and Buckwheat was my least favourite dish. Firstly, it was freezing, I mean it numbed my teeth as soon as I bit into it, and it’s bloody tricky to eat as the mascarpone is proper hard, Something just wasn’t right. The dish didn’t do anything, and I just felt the flavours didn’t compliment each other.
The last course was Hot Lips. Perfectly plump, blood red and in good proportion. I was not expecting to yell “bloody hell, it’s like a Victoria Sponge!” I felt I needed a brew with it, so I ordered one. A sweet and refreshing end to a rather tasty but confusing meal.
Would I recommend The Wilderness? That is the million-dollar question. I feel like after a pretty mad year of trying out some of Birmingham’s best tasting menus, I’m gutted to say it but this was ever so slightly disappointing. I just wanted something different to the typical dishes you would find in modern, British fine-dining restaurants and I was looking for that edge that I originally thought the Wilderness would give me. Thats not to say I wouldn’t visit The Wilderness again, I will be visiting again but maybe when theres a new menu and hopefully next time it will be more to my liking. There were a few standout dishes but with the price you pay surely every dish should make you say ‘fuck that’s good!’ What I did like was the vibe in there, it’s laid back, so laid back I wore Adidas sweat pants and felt right at home. Service is on point and the rock and roll soundtrack is a nice accompaniment. However, it’s over-shadowed by other relaxed, fine-dining spots in the city that deliver that wow factor for the same price or cheaper. The quality of the ingredients is obvious, as is Alex’s talents as a chef, but I think a few will leave thinking they could of got more for their money elsewhere.
Step into an open-world, a virtual Island where you can interact with other players, choose a game and be transported to a zombie apocalypse, become a Painter in space and climb the ruins of a fallen world. The stuff you could never in your wildest imagination think would ever happen to you, Well now it can. The best VR experience in the UK “Otherworld” has finally arrived on Bennet’s Hill in Birmingham and it’s here to give you one of the coolest experiences of your life.
I wouldn’t say I am a massive gamer; I played Spyro and Crash growing up, have fond memories of playing “Abe” and making him fart all the time. Sims is a no-brainer, I feel like the whole world is addicted to The Sims, and I have spent many tireless but thrilling hours of my life, trying to turn my Sims into the next Hollyoaks soap opera. Love, Scandal, and Tragedy… boredom kicks in and you have to remove the ladder from the swimming pool enit?Now I seem to have developed a bit of a crush on Red Dead Redemption, but I wouldn’t say I am a full-time gamer, but I get why people love games. We get a massive thrill out of them and sometimes when life has been a little rough on us escaping reality for just an hour (or all day for many people) is just what we need. VR has become the next big thing in the gaming industry. I am seeing more and more of these experiences popping up and the latest VR experience to open in Birmingham is Otherworld. A futuristic VR experience, one that has a huge following and is greatly popular in London, so to choose Birmingham as their next location is a massive win for this City.
Upon arrival you will step into an episode of Black Mirror, a long room featuring spacious seating and table areas, projector walls, a departure board (very much like you see at the airport) and a self-service bar featuring beers and cocktails that you pour. We sat down and one of the staff members sat with us and explained the whole concept and how we play the games. “You won’t have ever experienced this” I was intrigued straight away; I am always looking for something new and exciting and five minutes in, I felt like Otherworld was going to give me that. We never booked online so we had to do it there and then, so it took around five minutes to do. We waited around ten minutes and then we saw our names flicker onto the departures board and were advised that it’s time to depart for Otherworld. I made a quick dash to the bathroom which was psychedelic; neon lights, robotic toilets that you can control with a remote to spray your bum and dry it, a robotic voice telling you to relax and unwind, and I couldn’t help myself, I just thought I got to have a poo in here…Most relaxing toilet experience ever.
You walk down a couple of stairs, with the flashing otherworld logo in front of you and an A.I tanoy telling you about your journey…Bloody hell, they put some effort into this I said to James. I had to admit I was a bit nervous; I didn’t know what to expect but staff are great here and reassured me that I was going to be in for a good time…
A room full of pods, no photos allowed as they want this to remain a secret, I walked to my pod (You have to be in separate pods) and staff helped me with my equipment. I was told that if we are ever in trouble (get stuck in the game) that we can press a back button and help will come, Also there are VR helpers from London who listen in and are there to help you if you get stuck.
“Enjoy Otherworld” The pod doors shut and the floor started to vibrate and the screen went black, suddenly a palette of multi-colours opened up in front of me, I opened my eyes and indeed I was transported to Otherworld on top of a hill looking down at an Island. I looked to the right and could see James as (I think he was some kind of ninja) but what made me laugh is that he’s 6 ft 6 and it captured his height perfectly as I started to get a bad neck looking up at him all the time due to me being a 5 ft 1 shortarse. Moving the controllers up and down to run, we sprinted down to the Island…Its incredible. I could feel the heat of the sun on my face, bloody hell, don’t tell me you can catch a tan as well in this experience? Then in the winter section of the Island I almost nearly lost my bloody wig didn’t I!? as the winter winds blow through you so I legged it! Can you imagine them opening the pod to that image…
The games and adventures are spread out across the Islands (in four corners) organised by difficulty, Spring being the easiest and Winter being the most difficult. We could see other players with name tags floating around, one player floated up to James raising his fists and it was an intense stand-off between each other, I couldn’t help by shouting “Fight, IT’S A REAL FIGHT!”
People were throwing bunnies off each other and there is also a giant Ferris wheel you can ride. With an hour of gaming time it was straight to the games, Arizona Sunshine (Autumn) I was advised “It’s a bit like Call of Duty Zombies” well that’s me sold so we headed there together to play.
So in this game you have to team up with your friends and survive the Zombie Apocalypse, If you like scary VR games this one is for you and I think one of the chaps from London was very amused with my Brummie screams of “OH ITS CRAWLY FUCKER AND THIS ONE IS LIKE A BLOODY CREEPING JESUS” London interrupted a few times laughing and told me I had limited bullets so there was no need to be scared. Your based in the American South-West during a Zombie Apocalypse with nothing but guns in your hands, as the time went on it got harder and harder.
The next game was Half-life: Alyx this game took 15 YEARS to be made, and when you play it, you will see why. I don’t think I will ever experience anything like this in my life, so if you’re a gamer and want to be blown away, this is the game. You are humanity’s only chance for survival, Earth has been captured by an evil alien empire known as the combine. You are Alyx Vance, member of the anti-Combine resistance, on a mission to rescue your father. When you first enter the game, you are on top of a building looking out at a futuristic skyline with what only I can describe as a War of the worlds alien shooting down buildings. Straight away I feel myself falling into the realness of the game and I am looking around for clues. Words cannot describe how amazing this game is, every detail is just incredible for example tuning a radio and turning the wheel from one station to another and picking up items and standing on a ruined building hiding from aliens – This surpassed all my expectations of VR, I honestly don’t have the words and I know you want words from me but all I can say is, You need to try this immediantly.
Within 1 hour we played two games, we got lost in Half-life, but it was worth it. Throughout the games you pick up points which are exchanged for discounts on drinks or game time, this was proper cool, and I noticed as I was just walking round the Island or throwing bunny’s I would just pick up points. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and yes, the hour went pretty fast as we were enjoying ourselves so much. Stepping out the pods we were greeted by the staff who asked how was it? James was beaming “I need this in the flat, Like I NEED IT, I can’t describe how that felt” and me, I was speechless. I just couldn’t put in to words what I just experienced but I happily told the staff “I’m coming back next week”
The Departure lounge bar is made up of 16 tap self-serve drinks featuring Peroni, Asahi, Lucky Saint and Elephant riders and cocktails from Black Lines. We cashed in our dream coins from the games for discounts for the drinks and I got a very generous £4.50 discount off my cocktail so happy days! I love the concept of self-service, it did raise a few eyebrows at first when I saw the cocktails, I decided to go for the Spicy Margarita (£7.00) which I have to admit didn’t look much but damn, it had a satisfying kick to it.
Price wise – Prices start at £13 on weekdays obviously on weekends they are more expensive, but we paid around £27 for the two of us for one hour plus had one drink so just about £20 in which I think it’s an absolute bargain. You have to download the app to go here so I would recommend downloading before as you have to scan the codes on the bar and show the staff your code to get into the pods. I have to admit; this is one of my top experiences in Birmingham and I think Otherworld are onto something showing us a little glimpse of the future. Me and James came out thinking maybe one day the internet will be like that? I don’t know. Or maybe it’s gone to our heads, but we feel like anything is possible after that and what we do know that VR in the future will become a big part in everyone’s life.
An immersive and mind-bending VR experience, that will leave you speechless but craving for more. You don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy this, Otherworld is for everyone. Transport to Otherworld for an unforgettable experience as the minutes go on you begin to forget about your everyday life and be blown away by an captivating VR experience that would only exist in your dreams but is now reality. A huge win for Birmingham.
The three words that I said out loud soon as I left 670 Grams. Firstly, because it was so bloody cold out and secondly because I was experiencing a mixture of emotions. Stunned, content, extremely satisfied and angry, anger connects with the Pinch my nips because I was so pissed at myself for trying 670 Grams so late in the game. Everyone was right, soon as I mentioned I was going to 670 Grams I had people all over Instagram and Twitter messaging me, really punching in that excitement of going and high praise all round for 670 Grams. I went with an open mind and left mind-fucked…in a good way.
Booked in for 7.15, 670 Grams is located in Digbeth (Gibb Street) in The Custard Factory. It’s small but surprisingly comfortable – Graffiti plastered on the wall with grunge interior, Tim Burton meets Brum. The first words that come to mind would be “What the fuck is this” especially if you’re brought here for a special occasion by your partner for a “luxury evening of 15 courses” it doesn’t look luxurious but that’s what I love. FUCK the luxury fine-dining lets blind-side you and WOW the shit out of you…I will warn you there is going to be a shit-load of swearing in this but it’s okay, I am no pro and I like food writing enit?
Service is sharp and friendly straight away, we were introduced to Zac who I have to say was perfect from start to finish, none of this false customer business, Zac is authentic and really sold the evening for us both. He was impressive throughout. We started our evening with cocktails priced at £12 – James went for the Pineapple Express and I went for the Eye Candy. Pineapple Express was presented in a Pineapple glass – tangy, sweet, and satisfactory. The Eye Candy was my kind of cocktail that included my three favourite ingredients – strawberry, tequila and Champagne. It took us 10 minutes to settle in with our drinks and soon after the tasting menu began.
HOT & SOUR AND PINEAPPLE
A course made from all the leftovers they have in the kitchen from herb spices added to chicken stock served alongside the pineapple that is marinated in soy sauce and ketchup Manis. Both make a punchy introduction to 670 Grams, I could of had about 10 shots of that soup – We are off to a good start.
SCALLOP & LANGOUSTINE
Served with raw seasoning with aloe Vera and chilli with a dressing made 38-year-old soy sauce! Topped with a raw scallop that’s lightly torched over fire and caviar – A truly fantastic dish that is beautifully presented and the sauce was just incredible, we couldn’t help but use our fingers to wipe up all the access sauce.
MACKEREL
This course was the only course I wasn’t crazy about like the others but that’s maybe because I am not a big fan of mackerel so this may be a bit unfair to review. The mackerel is served with fresh Japanese Wasabi and frozen apple.
BHAJI
Rice Bhaji served with coriander mayonnaise and mango jelly, one delightful bite and it was all gone. Love the little tangy kick from the mango jelly.
TURBOT
Another beautifully presented dish, the pan-fried turbot with a sauce made from all the shells and heads of the fish finished with white wine and burnet lemon then topped with caviar. What a sensational dish and I remember this was the dish where a lightbulb suddenly went off in my head…MICHELIN ALERT. The excitement flowed through out and we decided to order two glasses of the Domaine Drouhin morgan red wine blend that complimented our next dishes perfectly especially with the lamb!
LOBSTER
The next dish (in which many people messaged me about to look forward to) was delicious but I wouldn’t say it was the stand out dish of the night that many praised it to be. Not your typical loaf of bread, it’s a Langoustines bread that is cooked directly on the barbecue with a home-made cheese spread and spring onion oil. The cheese spread reminded me of Dairylea but of course, at a totally different and much higher standard. The bread was baked perfectly – again, another great dish.
SWEETHEART CABBAGE
This dish was a total surprise, a dark horse that completely opened my eyes to be more open with cabbage as well, come on…it’s pretty bland as fuck, but no, 670 Grams whipped up something incredible yet again and made cabbage…SEXY. Cooked in burnt butter with a mussel sauce with wild garlic oil and crispy seaweed – OOF! Gorgeous.
CELERIAC
The perfect consistency – confit celeriac roasted on a barbecue in beef fat with black truffle puree pickled red cabbage and fresh English truffle – I bloody love truffle and I bloody loved this dish. We let Zac decide our next drink in which he said he was going to give us a glass of his favourite drink which was the Mullineux old vines white blend 2020 – An unusual dessert wine that I really enjoyed, it was like liquid gold!
NEW YORK DELI
I don’t think I have ever called a dish “A Sneaky little fucker” but hey, there is a first time for everything and this dish is exactly that. This dish doesn’t look much, it looks like a burnt truffle to be honest so when I threw it down my gob, I was incredibly surprised to all of a sudden I could taste a Big Mac in my mouth. Zac said it’s a New York Deli sarnie or a Big Mac, you choose. How? What? Why? Oh bugger it, I had too many questions to ask but I knew Kray is on some next level culinary-wizardry shit after that dish. Those are the kind of surprises I want to encounter and 670 is plenty of them.
LAMB
Now, this was just sensational – Neck of lamb braised in curry powder with a jerk chicken gravy, it was astounding, taste buds going into overload with incredible bangs of flavour and that lamb just crumbling away in my mouth was just sublime, stuff you could only imagine/feel in your dreams.
FOIE GRAS
This was one of James’s favourite courses – a dish dedicated to a great independent in Kings Heath: The Early Bird Bakery that made the perfect introduction to the desserts of the evening. White chocolate pepper ganache with blackberry and soy compote with grated foie gras.I am more of a savoury dessert kind of girl, I don’t like overly sweet puds or a pool of ice-cream on my plate, so this simple dish was just quintessential and exciting to eat especially for James, I have never seen a grown man get so excited over a little pastry…
POPPADOM
A bloody poppadum for pudding EH?! How’s that supposed to work I whinged but my god, it worked. Tomato masala chutney masala mango yoghurt ice cream cucumber and lime Espuma cucumber rice cracker. Reading this, I would just simply skim past soon as I got to the yoghurt part as I’m not a fan but to my surprise, this is one of my favourite dishes along with the lamb and New York deli. Like fireworks of Punchy and zesty flavours in your mouth, clever throughout and a real treat!
IT’S NOT TERRYS, IT’S OURS
It’s not Terry’s it’s ours, Terry fucking who? This dessert was just beautiful. Sweet, seductive and love the combination of sweet flavours and the crunchy texture from the pork scratchings…Pork scratchings and chocolate? Bloody genius trust me babs.
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
Unfortunately, I am one of those basic bitches that loves a pumpkin spice latte from Autumn to Winter, it’s basic but I don’t care. So, when I heard this was on the menu I was very intrigued. It had quite a thick texture, it does stay on the back of your throat for a bit. Silky, salty, and sweet – Yet another winning dish.
To finish we ended on sweets and chatted to a lovely couple who sat next to us exchanging restaurant recommendations. After a two-hour tasting menu with fantastic beverages, I sat back in my chair and reflected. The experience was just impressive and imaginative throughout. 670 Grams felt like no other fine-dining experience I had encountered before, it was chilled throughout, none of this poshy-noshy bullshit or pretentious aesthetic, I could chill in there with my Nike trainers listen to a bit of Snoop Dog eat great food and not feel judged. That’s my vibe, I don’t want to go to these fine-dining restaurants and feel like I’m judged by the whole room. Kray and the staff were great, Kray introduced some of the meals and was up for a chat afterwards, nothing pretentious at all, he is very likeable.
670 Grams provide the best-valued tasting menu in Birmingham, it’s a fact – 15 courses, 15 incredible courses for £70 like wherein the actual fuck do you find a bargain like that?! it’s also a fact that it’s a complete steal and that Kray was robbed of a Michelin star which is mind-boggling to me as mostly every dish was of a Michelin star level. After the news of Tom Shepard’s restaurant receiving a Michelin star and booked up until June, I could consider it a godsend for 670 Grams, as I don’t want it to get too popular that I can’t book in every month as I believe this is just the start of beautiful dining friendship between us. I think where it’s a bit pricey is the drinks as they do bump up the price, I think we spent around £130 on cocktails and wine.
Look, its bold, daring, unique and unpretentious, and I am a complete tit for just finding that out. I’m fairly confident that it is one of the top dining experiences in Birmingham and 670 grams is definitely not one to ignore. Don’t a be a tit, book it.
Introducing the latest addition to the home of foodie delights such as Laghi’s Deli and The Highfield, Chapter is an independent kitchen and bar brought to you by local restaurateurs Ann Tonks, Irene Allan and Ben Ternent (the team behind the brilliant OPUS which sadly closed during the pandemic). Their new venture prides itself on its seasonality and fresh, homegrown ingredients. Chapter serve breakfast and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, as well as Sunday lunch.
Upon arriving we received a warm welcome from staff – so far so good. What surprised me was how big the venue is, plenty of seating on offer with a nice spacious bar area for drinks or a morning coffee. We arrived around 5pm on a Friday and it wasn’t busy, however, towards the end of our visit it started to fill up.
The drinks menu is impressive with two pages of cocktails from the classic to the quirky. I fancied a gin cocktail but a fruity gin cocktail (I was mad on strawberries that day), so the waitress suggested an adapted Tom Collins. It was refreshing and perfect – just what I needed. James had the Old Fashioned and said it was stunning. Staff are attentive throughout, they are happy to explain dishes and always make sure your drink is topped up.
I started with scallops – I was flapping around for a while about the price (£15) and whether it would be worth it. I’m used to paying around £10-£15 for scallops but am always miffed when two farty-sized morsels arrive in a bland sauce. However, Chapters scallops are worth every penny. Chunky and seasoned perfectly with apple, hazelnut and herbs, biting into one of these the flavour just oozes out.
For my main I ordered the lamb and wow, the showstopper of the evening and by far one of the best lamb dishes I have had in a long time. Herb crusted and seasoned with spicy squash, quinoa, cranberry and pecans – no one should leave Chapter without ordering this dish, it truly is exquisite. I nearly clawed James to death because he wouldn’t stop picking at it. The lamb was so tender, if sliced beautifully and I would really recommend pairing it with the honey roast carrots and beetroot. I feel the lamb was a pretty sizeable portion for £25. James had the fillet steak (rare) and again, cooked beautifully and so succulent. Two winning courses each but unfortunately we couldn’t make it three as we were stuffed.
We ended on coffees and Jesus, even the coffee is perfect here. Overall, it was a beautiful evening filled with beautiful food. Chapter is certainly creating a buzz in Edgbaston and I can see why. A flawless dining experience throughout and a prime example of why supporting Birmingham’s independents is so important. Tonks & Co’s last Chapter sadly ended but we should all be thankful this one has started.
I don’t venture out to Harborne that often, probably because I was living in Sutton Coldfield until a few months ago and one disastrous bus ride into Birmingham was enough to put me off. Since I moved to the city centre I promised myself I would make the effort with Birmingham’s trendy neighbourhoods and so, here we are.
Hengata opened in December with high hopes of a COVID free Christmas but was sadly met with the recent uplift in cases. I came across this Harborne newcomer in January but there hadn’t been much noise about its arrival at all. I managed to book in for breakfast to try this mystic venue out. You will find Hengata on Harborne high street, sandwiched between Holy Moly and Boston Tea Party. The venue is beautifully decorated, simplicity at its finest. There are plenty of tables on offer that are accessorised with candles, classic cutlery and cushy cushions. The open kitchen is a nice touch, watching the chefs cook food whilst you sip on a glass of red is quite pleasing, you can see the effort and the attentiveness of putting a dish together.
I was greeted by Liv who I believe is the Manager, very easygoing and was full of knowledge and suggestions. I was doing Veganuary and Liv informed me that many of the brunch dishes can be made vegan. I decided to go for The Millennial (£8.75) – avocado, served with tomato and onion relish, poached eggs (removed), house lime pickle and hot buttered sourdough.Service was sharp, I waited around 10 minutes for my food. I arrived at 10.30am and it started to fill up quite quickly by 11. When my food arrived, I noticed instantly that the food was beautifully presented, so much colour and it looked incredibly fresh. The sourdough was perfect, I feel that many places make sourdough incredibly hard, like biting into a brick! On this occasion, I didn’t have to worry. The sourdough was soft with a tiny bit of crunch that blended wonderfully with the avocado, relish and pickle. At first, I thought it wouldn’t fill me up but by the last mouthful, I was satisfied. I paired my brunch with a non-alcoholic beverage – Hengata’s Garden which was so refreshing and the ideal brunch beverage choice!
Overall, I was impressed. The price seemed very reasonable for the quality of food you are receiving. I found the menu so intriguing and I wanted to explore more options to give an overall review and so, I vowed to return to try out dinner. A week later and I found myself returning on a Saturday evening at 8.30pm with James, hoping to top the first experience.
DINNER AT HENGATA Same as the first visit, we received a friendly welcome. A warm atmosphere flowed throughout with mood lighting from the lit candles on every table, it was extremely cosy and was quite an intimate setting. We both decided to have a night off vegan. I know! We are naughty BUT we have both been doing so well and we just wanted a little break from it for just a couple of hours.
To start, I ordered A Winter Spritiz – Sauvignon Blanc, Elderflower, Cucumber and soda. Rejuvenating yet risky – as it tastes like good pop that you could have about 10 glasses of! When flicking through the menu, it was so lovely to see Hengata support other Independent breweries and wineries within The Midlands such as Attic Brew Co and Wine Freedom, Birmingham does this best!
For starters, I ordered the bone marrow and James ordered the home-smoked mackerel pate. I have never tried bone marrow so it took me a bit of time to work out how to get the filling out of the bone, but with one crack on the plate, I was able to get to the good stuff. It was quite rich, and I found it quite buttery which I enjoyed. Spooned together with a compote of red onion and cranberries, it was very appetizing. The cranberries gave the dish a hint of sweetness which was much needed. The mackerel pate was refreshing and light, James found the portion a bit small BUT when the next course arrived, he was glad it was.
For mains, I ordered megrim sole with deep-fried sage, and caper butter. James ordered the black bream fillet with 2 x side of fries and side of leeks, peas and pancetta. The sole was stunning. Fried beautifully and married perfectly with the leeks, peas and pancetta. The caper butter melts perfectly and creates a delightful combination of flavours. The chips were crisp and fluffy inside, as proper chips should be. James was impressed with his black bream and I managed to sneak a bite and understood his unwillingness to share. Yes, portions are not incredibly big but I felt they were just right.
We ordered a couple of cocktails in between courses, the Harborne Sling – Burning Barn rum, cherry, lime, cranberry and strawberry – Liv’s very own creation and a worthy choice for anyone with a sweet tooth! We decided not to finish on desserts as we were both stuffed, but we were persuaded by Liv to order two Espresso Martinis and thank god she did because they were possibly the best Espresso Martinis we have ever had.With two staff members off, I believe that Hengata did well to accommodate us and the other tables of couples and groups in there. I believe one table complained to the manager about the wait however we also overheard them talking about trying to get a discount…Yes, people will try anything these days to get a discount even for a fifteen-minute wait for mains… James and I did not experience this. The staff were very attentive, and we never found ourselves questioning where our food was. Service was sharp as the first time.
All in all, Hengata is a lovely addition to Harborne, one that I am sure will become a much-loved brunch/dinner spot for locals. I would also like to point out that their coffee is fantastic, really good coffee so Hengata would make a great spot in the mornings if you are on your way to work to pick up coffee. Hengata has created a chilled space with Scandinavian-Chic vibes where people can relax with a glass of wine, meet up with friends or take a working lunch. It’s already become one of my favourite brunch spots and has proven to be also a great place in the afternoon with its charismatic interior, seasonal menus, and charming customer service. Definitely, one to keep an eye on in 2022 and as good an excuse to visit Harborne as any.
And here we go again…It’s that time of year that your bab has to remind you to spend a few bob to quiet down your partner’s gob! Its Valentines! Love is in the air, hearts are bloody everywhere (even on the Tampax tampons this year) and we are all looking to get out of the house and avoid the couch whether it’s a romantic candle-lit intimate dinner with that special someone or attending a bingo rave with your friends! Valentines should be for everyone and here is how you can spend it in Birmingham.
INDULGE IN A10-12 LUXURIOUS COURSE MENU FROM 670 GRAMS
Enjoy a 10-12 luxurious Course menu from 670 Grams in Digbeth. £120 (PP) you will enjoy 10-12 unforgettable courses by top Chef Kray Treadwell in the heart of The Custard Factory. This is a little bit different from your usual steak and blowjob V day – Expect the unexpected, Expect the unusual and expect…Well, expect a good bloody time and a full belly! This event is not to be missed!
If you and your partner like a bit of comedy then The Glee Club is certainly a great choice this Valentine’s. We have the famous LADY BUNNY (One for Ru Paul Drag Race fans out there) unmasked and unfiltered from £17.50 (PP) OR Thursday night Comedy which I voted the best Comedy Night in the Midlands! A fast-paced & spontaneous show, featuring top stand-up comedians and a big screen to bring you the best bits from the weird world of the web!
Book an unforgettable foodie experience at Hampton Manor (From £450 PP) – These are very popular so of course, Valentine’s day is booked up BUT dates are available before and after Valentine’s day for two-day stays. Indulge in a Michelin star dinner, enjoy a wood-fired feast in the Walled Garden and cosy up together and learn some inside secrets by taking part in a wine-tasting workshop. This is one to truly impress your significant other…James, I hope you are reading this.
Valentine’s day at home with Tutto Apposto – If you don’t fancy the overpriced steaks and the smoochy couples then what about a romantic meal at home? Step away from the Marks and Sparks meal deal, you deserve better and the Tutto Apposto dine at home Valentines meal is just what you deserve! The menu is quite delightful from Chocolate dipped strawberries that you can feed your partner or yourself to a Chateaubriand for two that can be shared by you and YOU! Price at £85 for 2, Its a steal!
ENQUIRE HERE
VALENTINES DAY AT THE MOVIES WITH LEO
How about a movie? Everyone love’s movies on Valentine’s day right? especially a Leonardo DiCaprio movie! So how about a Valentine’s Screening of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet at Millennium Point on 12th February? Tickets for Leonardo DiCaprio are £20 and that includes a comfy seat, a big screen with Leonardo DiCaprio’s face on and a complimentary bottle of chilled prosecco! Did I mention that Leonardo DiCaprio is in this?
You know Valentine’s isn’t just about celebrating it with your partners, it’s about celebrating it with friends too! So why don’t you get the babs out and attend Luna Springs GALENTINES BRUNCH?! Down some bottomless spritz and prepared to be lubed up, I beg your pardon?! I BEG NOT YOUR PARDON! We got some hunky shiny strippers in the house and a filthy drag queen host! Yes, there are zero tucks when it comes to this brunch. Tickets are available now priced from £29.00.
DINNER AND DRINKS AT THE SASSIEST CLUB IN BIRMINGHAM
The Pineapple Club have a new menu to celebrate this V day, you’ll be surrounded by botanical vibes and EXTRA cocktails plus indulging in some pretty delicious food. You can choose 2 small plates and 1 side OR 1 small plate and 2 sides. You will also get to choose 1 signature cocktail, house wine or draught beer, all for £25 pp! Come to the club babs, bring your partner, friends and the what the hell, bring the whole FAM!
Celebrate Valentine’s day with the whole gang by participating in a bingo rave! It’s bingo like you’ve never experienced before, it’s fast-paced with a lot of weirdness and shit prizes but you won’t care because you’ll be too busy laughing your head off at all the dodgy dance-offers, terrible twerking, and seriously painful jokes. Taking place at The Mill and tickets are priced at £11.25.
Attend Valentine’s day ball! Relive your inner Cinderella fantasy babs as The Nightingale are putting on a ball for singles to mingle! There are DJ’s, Drag and a massive dance floor for you to meet someone new or bring your loved ones and dance the night away! Tickets are priced at £8.17.
1920’S AFTERNOON TEA OR ROMANTIC BOUTIQUE STAY AT THE EDGBASTON BOUTIQUE
Afternoon tea and romantic stay packages will be available at The Edgbaston Hotel this Valentine, You will have the option to treat your loved ones to some chocolates, macaroons or Valentines celebration plates. All £10 to add to the booking. Within the hotel rooms, You will have the option to add on a Romance package this will be fizz, rose petals and chocolates or macaroons. £75 for champagne or £49 for prosecco. Afternoon tea is also available for couples, friends and families to get together to celebrate.
THE ULTIMATE LOVERS EXPERIENCE STAYING COOL AT THE ROTUNDA
The Ultimate lovers experience at Staying cool at The Rotunda in Birmingham. A room with a view (some incredible views let me add of Brum) this package offers you stylish accommodation where you can watch the twinkling lights of Brum at night from your rose-petaled bed with a chilled bottle of Lauren-Perrier Rose and a box of Charbonnel et Walker sea salt caramel truffles, Sounds romantic right? But wait, there’s more! You will wake up to fresh bagels and have a lovely bunch of seasonal flowers to give your loved one. This is an add on package when you book a room with The Rotunda priced at £95.
Matthew Bournes Nutcracker will be showing over the Valentines weekend at The Hippodrome, tickets are priced from £22.50. I know what you are thinking, The Nutcracker? In January? EH? But this one is a lot of fun and it’s for all seasons bab! Indulge in The sweetest of all treats this Valentine with your loved ones.
WINE TASTING, DELICIOUS SMALL PLATES AND LIVE MUSIC IN A TROPICAL GLASS HOUSE AT BOTANICAL GARDENS
Fancy an Intimate wine tasting in Botanical Gardens Tropical glass house? Botanical Gardens is collaborating with Wine Freedom and Ox & Origin to bring you a premium wine tasting evening where you will sample a few of Wine Freedoms specialist wines, indulge in premium small plates created by Top Chefs from Ox & Origin and enjoy an evening of live acoustic music. Taking place on 14th February at 6.30 pm – Tickets are £59 and will be released on Monday 24th January 2022
Encounter a unique tasting experience – Dining in the dark. You will be blindfolded and will be tasting a secret menu in pitch-black darkness. There are two dates – 31st January at The Botanist Birmingham and 1st February at The Canal House. Surprise your senses and test out your taste buds, try something completely different this Valentine’s!
Celebrate Valentine’s or maybe you just don’t care and want to enjoy a night out single or taken with your friends! Bierkeller is putting on the ultimate ANTI-VALENTINES party this year that involves a free cocktail and a free bench to stand up and twerk on plus the best free house, garage and Rnb sound from Joshy Rays. Tickets are £5.
The Ivy Temple Row has joined forces with Letters of Note to give diners a gift to treasure forever this Valentine’s Day. Love is an exclusive book compiled by Shaun Usher, featuring a collection of the most passionate love letters written in history, reimagined by The Ivy Collection with a bespoke cover and foreword. The book will be offered to all guests who book a table in the restaurant on Monday, 14 February.Inspired by love, a limited-edition cocktail menu designed to make even the cold-hearted blush will also be available for guests from Friday, 11 to Monday, 14 February, alongside Pillow Talk (£17.95), an indulgent sharing dessert featuring peach and raspberry parfait, white chocolate mousse, popping candy and a raspberry sauce.
Many people (outside of Sutton) would scoff at this guide as many are under the influence that Sutton Coldfield has nothing to offer. I would agree there does seem to be more boarded-up businesses than open businesses in the Centre. We can all agree that the City centre is in desperate need to be restored, However, with revamp plans floating around, we may just be getting that. The foodie scene in Sutton Coldfield is a bit of a scavengers hunt, believe it or not, there are fantastic foodie gems scattered in and all-around Sutton Coldfield. For the past two years, we have seen some new and exciting businesses popping up and bringing a bit of excitement to Sutton Coldfield. So, I have put this foodie guide together to show off some of the great Independents we have in the North and trust me, over the next couple of months this guide will get even bigger! Watch this space.
BRUNCH, BAKERIES AND COFFEE SPOTS
Windowbox Cafe:Located on Birmingham road in Wylde Green, Windowbox is one of my favourite brunch spots in the North of Birmingham. Offering a variety of brunch options from American pancakes to breakfast flatbreads, this is one brunch hotspot that you must visit when you come to Sutton Coldfield.
Silver Tree Bakery: A little bit of Lapland in Sutton Coldfield because, why the hell not? Its a lovely little bakery in Water Orton that offers fantastic cakes and hot food such as toasties. The staff are fantastic and it’s a lovely little gem over in Sutton Coldfield.
Jubilee Garden: Located on Birmingham rd just before Sutton Town Centre you will find new Cafe/wine bar Jubilee Gardens that serves up a lovely brunch with a Hong Kong twist! They serve speciality coffee with a great offering of cakes and savoury delights! Did I also mention they do orange wine? Oh yes! They have a fab variety of wine that is specially picked for the cafe! Its a must-visit whenever you come to Sutton so make sure its on your list!
Bakehouse by Baked in Brick: A friendly neighbourhood Café serving up freshly baked bread, patisserie and Brunch daily on Holland rd. In the evenings (Thurs to Sat) they serve up some gorgeous street food plus they do a fabulous Espresso martini!
Deli Social: Located on Boldmere high street, The Deli Social offer a great selection of brunch dishes and hot drinks. The full english breakfast is a cracker and they also do street food Fridays and is open till 11pm on the weekend.
90 Boldmere: A new brunch/bar on Boldmere High Street serving up great brunch dishes such as french toast and American pancakes plus offer a great bar menu.
Blackroot Bistro: Set within the stunning Sutton Park, spanning 2,400 acresand attracting two million visitors a year, the family owned Blackroot Bistro is perched above Blackroot Pool on the edge of a natural meadow. They seek to provide an informal, relaxed and welcoming vibe, offering food and drink from local suppliers wherever possible.
Bean Green Kitchen: Boasting one of the best brunch menu in the north of Birmingham for a champion breakfast its got to be Bean Green Kitchen in Mere Green. They serve classic cafe faves with healthy twists and tasty alternatives.
Caffe Botanico: A lovely coffee shop inside House of Fraser in Sutton Coldfields Gracechurch Centre, its a popular lunchtime spot for many. I love the coffee here and they also do some fantastic salad dishes aswell as brunch options. The cakes are great too so make sure you dont miss out on them!
Onthebreadline: One of the most popular bakeries in Sutton Coldfield and one where you got to be quick as they sell out fast! The cakes are seriously delicious, people que for them from the morning till closing so you best be quick!
Under Pressure Espresso: Fantastic coffee shop in which you could say its the best coffee shop in Sutton Coldfield. Offer bench seating, cakes and coffee beans to buy
The Pear Tree Creperie: The Creperie, located just outside of Lichfield, has been the flagship restaurant of the Heart of the Country Village for over 30 years. They offer a wonderful brunch and specialise in savoury galettes, sweet crepes and delicious authentic French dishes.
Strawberry Fields Farm and Coffee: Families will adore this place, a Woodland paradise where you can enjoy delicious brunch and coffee.
AFTERNOON TEA
New Hall Hotel: New Hall Hotel is the perfect backdrop to experience a tradition made famous by the royal household at New Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield. Classic afternoon tea starts at £22.50 and includes a selection of finger sandwiches, chef’s daily selection of cakes and mixed scones served with jam and clotted cream. They also offer a savoury afternoon tea and cater for children too.
The Belfry: Enjoy a British Afternoon Tea with a range of finger sandwiches and home-made scones accompanied by tea breads, delicate pastries and a selection of herbal teas or coffee, all served in the finest Bone China. Available daily from 12pm-4pm.
The Fig & Olive: Served Monday – Saturday between 2pm and 4pm, their signature afternoon teas are baked fresh by our talented in house bakers and are simply perfect for any occasion. They also offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free afternoon tea. The Fig & Olive is a great spot for all day dining serving up a delicious lunch and dinner menu – its a must when you come to Sutton Coldfield.
PESTO: Enjoy an assortment of sandwiches, Italian desserts and fruit scones with jam & clotted cream for only £14.95 per person. Served daily from 2pm to 5pm. Great afternoon if you love a bit of Italian!
Strawberry Fields Farm and Coffee: Families will adore this place, a Woodland paradise where you can enjoy brunch and AFTERNOON TEA. They offer three afternoon teas (Standard, luxury and childrens) and they also offer GF afternoon tea. Prices are from £16.95. Strawberry Fields is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, please contact regarding afternoon teas via website
DINNER/PUBS/ROASTS
Pizza by Goli: My favourite restaurant in Sutton Coldfield serving up fantastic Italian cuisine and exceptional service HOWEVER be warned, this restaurant can get extremely busy so please book beforehand. Fantastic restaurant for date nights and group bookings, I have been going here for years and always have a great meal without fail. The Lamb cutlets in red wine sauce is one of my favourites and the garlic bread is always a winner.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Eleon: A great Greek restaurant and meze bar that is very popular in Sutton Coldfield and I can see why because the food is beautiful and service is exceptional. You are always guaranteed an exceptional dining experience here in Eleon. The Meze feast is must, experience the greek way of social dining by tucking into 21 dishes from Pork Souvlaki to Baklava all for just £27.50 pp.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
SUSHIDO: A true gem in Sutton Coldfield offering excellent Japanese food that is available for you to dine in or take out. Sushi lovers will adore it here offering a great variety of sushi dishes that caters for vegetarians and vegans, they also offer hot mains such a as red thai curry and bao buns.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
The Bracebridge: A charming restaurant that can be found within Sutton Park that offers a fantastic dining experience with a pretty impressive view of the lakes in Sutton Park. This is a great option for that special occassion, a little bit on the pricey side however they do offer a fixed menu of two courses for £19.95 or three courses for £25.95 on Wednesday and Thursdays.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Giggling Squid: Giggling Squid is one of the latest additions to the area, a restaurant that specialises in Thai Cuisine with restaurants in Harborne, Leamington Spa and so on. This restaurant has quickly become one of my favourites in the North of Birmingham. The lamb shank dish is a must, and the cocktails are pretty fab here too! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Veerus: Veerus serve up delicious authenthic Indian Cuisine with a great atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable here for the quality of food you get, and its a great place to chill out with a beer and tuck into some quality food. If you go to Veerus you must order the large mix grill, its pretty incredible! Vegetarian, options available
Cock N Bull: Juicy monster Buns and Camden Hells on draught, thats what I am talking about! Really chilled out place and is perfect for catching up with friends, pre drinks or date night. If you love filthy burgers and kick ass fried chicke, you’ll like this place. Vegetarian and vegan options available
Romantica: A great Italian restaurant located in Mere Green, The food is pure quality using the freshiest ingredients and the service is second to none. A great choice for date night or to celebrate a special occasion. The Antipasto sharing board is a must and pair that up with Romanticas Carre di Agnello (rack of lamb) you got yourself a pretty fine meal. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Panache: One of my favourite Indian restaurants in Sutton Coldfied, Panache is top quality serving up amazing authentic indian cuisine that is full of flavour and will leave you wanting more! I always have a great experience here and thats why its one of my favourites, the staff are professional, the food is fantastic and overall its a great dining experience. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Chelo Persian Kitchen and bar: Persian food at its best, I had a few takeaways from here in lockdown and was pleased with everyone of them, next up I wil be dining in the restaurant very soon! The food is gorgeous, full of flavour and cooked to perfection. Vegetarian options available
The Butlers Arms: Lovely pub in Mere Green that provides a great atmosphere, from lunchtime to Dinnertime they have you covered with some great dishes on offer from the Indian Spiced Chicken to Belly Pork that will surely satisfy those pesky taste buds. They have some cracking ales on offer here and its a nice place to sit outside with friends with a pint and enjoy the weather. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
The Four Oaks: Recently refubished The Four Oaks is a beautiful pub just on Belwell Lane where they offer brunch, dinner, small plates, Sunday roasts and a beer garden that is perfect for the Summer!. Beautifully decorated without with plenty of seating, many will enjoy it here and I especially love going here for wine with friends!
Your Flamingo: New Pizzeria on the Boldmere Rd serve up traditional stone baked Neapolitan pizzas that are delcious! Plus they offer a great cocktail menu where you can grab 2 cocktails for £14. Open Tuesday – Friday 3pm-10pm and Saturday 11.30am-10pm (kitchen closes at 9pm)
Tikka Nation: On the Birmingham rd going into Sutton Coldfield you will find Tikka Nation, specialising in Indian “Street food” serving up gorgeous curries, wraps and tasty sides.
The Farmhouse Bistro: A lovely Bistro just on Weeford Road serves up a fantastic all-day menu full of traditional favourites to contemporary classics. The Roast dinner is a must here and they also serve afternoon tea.
Narmaste : Serving up traditional Indian and Ghurka cuisine in Wylde Green. Located just above The Lane’s shopping centre, Namaste offers the very best in Indian cuisine with high reviews, its one to book
BARS/BREWERIES AND STREET FOOD
XO LOUNGE: XO Lounge is the place to be where you can sample a variety of fine wines by the glass any time of day (18 to be exact), a unique location with a high quality and extensive spirit and cocktail selection. XO also offers high quality independent coffee, good quality beer with some food and nibbles to match. They also host monthly street food pop ups.
Simpsons gin bar: Located in the heart of The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, Simpsons Bar looks to provide you with an extensive menu of high quality spirits, beers and cocktails. Big fan of the gin here and they also serve hot drinks, you can have your drinks outside on the new lovely outdoor terrace area.
Quinto Lounge: I do like the food from Quinto (especially the brunch) but I feel that the cocktails are on another level. Quinto provide variety, and a great spot for pre-drinks or a night out with your mates. Prices are very reasonable and if you get peckish you can always order a couple of tapas dishes with your cocktails! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available
BAR 28: On the Birmingham rd as you come into Sutton, you will find new bar “Bar 27” taking over the old Mutiny Loft venue. Here you can enjoy a great range of cocktails, food, live sports and a game of darts.
The Townhouse: Sleek and stylish through out, The Townhouse is a lovely boutique bar/hotel serving up good homemade food, fabulous cocktails, live music and more. A Hotspot in Sutton, weekends at The Townhouse are pretty lit!
The Station pub: Iconic pub in Sutton Coldfield, I have been going here for years! It seems to be everyones favourite pub in Sutton Coldfield with a great variety of booze on offer, live music and DJ Sets. Its one to visit!
Leviathan Brewing: A hidden gem in Sutton Coldfield located on Reddicap Trading Estate offering a great variety of beer (and plenty of alcoholic options) and host monthly foodie pop ups which have seen What the Cluck, Patty Dabblers and more popping up at the brewery. A fantastic taproom offering a great atmosphere here, it’s absolutely worth the visit.
Cask and Craft: An Independent craft beer bar & bottleshop. Focusing on small independent brewers, small batch Gins/Rums and Ciders and hosting street food pop ups every month. A great place to chill with friends with a pint and tuck into some fantastic street food such as Cleopatra Kitchen, Sticky Beaks and more.
Pitalicious: Mid East Lebanese street food here in Sutton Coldfield, Pitalicious is definetly worth checking out. The lamb shawarma pitta is incredible and I am pretty sure the chips from Pitalicious are the best chips I have ever tasted. Great for quick bite or you can dine within the restaurant. Vegetarian and vegan options available.
The Ale Hub: Located in Mere Green, this is a great micro pub that specialises in cask ales, craft beers and a variety of gins. Lovely little spot, they usually put on themed nights and host quiz/bino events.
Burger Boi: Located in Wylde Green on the Birmingham rd, You will find Burger Boi who serve up smashed patties and tasty buttermilk fried chicken.
Quite frankly organising Christmas parties can be a merry little pain in the ass from finding numbers to losing the numbers last minute as there is always a last-minute scrooge that dips out of the Christmas party. From having 50 bloody tabs open to searching deep into the Google lagoon of “Christmas parties in Birmingham” ending up on page 25 with Weatherspoons being a possible contender – Don’t let it be a contender. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have what’s going on in Birmingham at Christmas all in one place? Well, just call me Bab Claus because I have created a little guide for you to book your Christmas shenanigans from pulling crackers over a three-course meal to wearing your best frock and hanging out of a dodgem with a bottle of Moet. This is your guide to getting festive AF bab.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL PHOTOS ARE NOT MINE – Photos have been credited to whom they belong to.
CHRISTMAS PARTIES
Rio Carnival 2021 THE NECThe Edgbaston Stadium
THE NEC – ASPEN ROCKS 2022 – Entertainment, Four course meal, DJ and dancefloor- Minimum booking requirement of 8 guests- Tickets available now purchase here
EDGBASTON STADIUM – Hollywood Glitz & Glamour – Live entertainment, three course meal, late bar until 1am – Group bookings are welcome – Tickets available now purchasehere
LIBRARY OF BIRMINGHAM – Peaky vs Gatsby -DJ & Disco, Three course meal – Group bookings are welcome – Tickets available now purchase here
ASTON VILLA PARK – Variety of themed Christmas party nights – three course meal – After dinner DJ & Disco – Tickets available now purchase here
ALOFT HOTEL/EASTSIDE ROOMS – The Greatest Christmas – Three course meal – Greatest show performance throughout dinner – Live band – Disco and DJ – Enquire now
THE GRAND HOTEL – Three course luxury lunch or Dinner – £45 or £65 depends on what menu you choose -Private dining for groups of six – Includes Christmas crackers and a glass of champagne – Book now
HOTEL DU VIN – Add a special touch to your event and dine in one of Hotel Du Vins unique private dining rooms and enjoy a delicious three course meal from £34.95 – Book now
LOVE LIFE – DIGBETH -Available from 28th November to Christmas Eve, Indulge in their authentic Mediterranean-inspired festive menu with seasonal cocktails. Lovelife invite guests to enjoy & explore their Festive Menu with 2-courses for £30 or 3-courses for £35 per person. Book your Christmas meal at Lovelife here
HAMPTON MANOR – Offering five different dining experiences this christmas -From festive lunches to private dining experiences for 10-16 guests with your very own chef and Host – Enquire about your experience now at Hampton Manor
SMOKE – Christmas Eve lunch at Smoke – Join Stu Deeley and the team at Smoke for lunch on Christmas Eve. Enjoy four-courses, including a la carte options like a proper beef wellington served up with madeira jus, and plenty of Stus legendary boulangère potatoes from £180.00 – Book your Christmas Eve lunch here
CHAKANA – Embark on a culinary journey with a set menu at Chakana in Moseley! Discover the exquisite SEA BREAM CEVICHE, a burst of fresh flavors that will awaken your palate, followed by a mouthwatering roast turkey adorned with all the festive trimmings. Chakana’s carefully curated set menu ensures a delightful dining experience that captures the essence of Peruvian cuisine at Christmas. Book your Christmas meal at Chakana.
KOI KI HARBORNE – A range of “Wave” menus available staring from £34.95 for set menus and can range up to £64.95 – perfect for large groups – Book your Christmas meal at Koi Ki
NOELS – Festive 3 course dinner for £34.95 and Festive lunch is also available – Private dining options are available – Book your Christmas meal at Noels
REVOLUCION DE CUBA – Festive Brunch from £30 pp or 2/3 course Christmas meal from £24.95 – Suitable for groups – book your christmas meal now
DIRTY MARTINI – Serving up a variety of Christmas festivities from Christmas brunches from £35 to Christmas platters priced at £25 pp for your party – Book your festive package with Dirty Martini
LASAN – Festive three Course £45.95 per person or Four Course £49.95 per person -Glass of bubbly on arrival for extra £5.50 – Book your Christmas meal at Lasan
THE ROLLING MILL – 2 courses for £26.96 and 3 courses £35.00 – To book email Info@therollingmill.co.uk andvisit their website here
THE CANAL HOUSE – Christmas party dining – 2 courses for £27.95 or 3 courses for £34.95 – menu available from 21st November to 24th December for groups of 6 or more – Private dining space is available – Book your Christmas meal now with The Canal House
BROWNS – 3 course festive menu from £29 for your whole party to enjoy – Available from 17th November – 31st December 2021- Book your Christmas meal at Browns
BODEGA – Seat and feed up to 60 people in their private bar, ‘The Sugarloaf’ offering all guests a tasty three-course meal full of the delights of south American cuisine – Can provide a Cocktail Masterclass offering guests the chance to learn, sample, and enjoy the art of cocktail making with some of the best bartenders in Birmingham – Christmas buffet is also available – Enquire about your Christmas party with Bodega
MEAL & REEL AT THE MAC BIRMINGHAM: ELF. -More family friendly Reel & Meal delights, but this time with a festive twist, courtesy of Christmas classic Elf. Ticket start from £16.00 and event is on Saturday 23rd December. Book your tickets here
ROXY BALLROOM – Festive feast plus two free drinks for £28 pp – £5 extra for a bellini reception – Great for groups – add on bowling or beer pong – Book your festive package with Roxy Ballroom
THE BOX – BRINDLEYPLACE – There’s no better place to spend the holiday season in Birmingham than at BOX, your favourite place to WATCH, PLAY and PARTY. They are the ultimate festive destination whether getting together with your mates over a game of shuffleboard or for a big Christmas night out in Birmingham.Festive Bottomless brunch is available priced at £37.95. – Book your experience with BOX now
THE GLEE CLUB – Birmingham Christmas Comedy Specials at The Glee Club offer you a superbatmosphere with four top stand-up comedians and an after party to keep celebrations going into the night – You can book tickets now
FIGHT CLUB – Darts and cocktails – Add some joy to your festive celebrations with a cocktail or two (or three) and a bit of friendly competition – Book your experience with Fight Club
There are some dining experiences that will stick with you for a long time and then there are those that you’d rather sleep off and forget. My first meal at Pulperia has been on my mind constantly since I dined there last month.
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
Located in the heart of Brindley Place, Pulperia is an Argentinian restaurant owned by Michelin starred chef Aktar Islam. Walking through the doors of Pulperia is almost like walking into another dimension – one where it is always Autumn. I was welcomed by warm interiors and beautiful botanical decor. Right away I knew I would have a great dining experience. We sat down at our table in one of the dining rooms at the back surrounded by wine bottles and rustic sculptures, which we couldn’t stop admiring.
Steak is a no brainer here, and I haven’t had a good steak in a long time so I had my fingers and toes crossed that Pulperia would deliver the steak of dreams. Jumping straight into the food menu it all sounded so appealing that I completely forget to order a drink. I flipped back to the cocktail menu to order a negroni and my chap James ordered a beer. I forgot how strong negroni was, and how I am not very good with most spirits! I am one of those terrible drunks that feels fuzzy-headed after one alcho pop. The negroni was not for me but it was my fault for picking something I knew I couldn’t handle. So then I opted for a Tomero, Carbernet Franc red wine which was just the ticket.
For starter, I ordered the gambas – wild argentine prawns stuffed with tomato confit and aji Molleda. It was perfect. Usually ripping prawns apart makes me squirm and I get a bit frustrated but there was plenty of prawns to eat so I was pretty satisfied. James ordered ceviche with bass, citrus, shallots avocado and radish. A refreshing dish, not exactly a go-to starter for me but definitely one that impressed.
For our mains, our eyes lit up at the 400g Herefordshire Chateaubriand steak. I ordered it rare and it was quite possibly the best steak I have ever tasted. The conversation between me and James suddenly went silent. The only sounds escaping our mouths were “Mmm” and “Oh my god”. James suddenly started bopping his head and rolling his eyes back. I should have felt uncomfortable, especially in a packed restaurant, but I understood. That was the best steak orgasm ever. Costing £45 and coming with a very generous portion of chips, when you see the size and taste the steak it’s worth the price and more. Juicy, bursting with flavour and partnered perfectly with chimichurri – could this be the best steak in Birmingham?
For dessert we were torn between the cheese board and the panqueues (pancakes) so we decided to get both. Not the biggest cheese board I have had, however, don’t let the size fool you. The selection of flavours was a first for me and we were both all for it. The panqueues were gorgeous, orange and hesperidina caramel with dulce ice cream, it was to die for.
The service was flawless, our waitress was fantastic and she went that extra mile to help us by explaining each of the dishes. Everyone was friendly and the staff really made our experience at Pulperia memorable. We finished with tea and coffee and leaned back in our seats sulking, we did not want to leave.
From experiencing some of the best customer service ever to tasting the best steak in Birmingham, Pulperia was a dream. The steak was just unbelievable and I waved goodbye to my dreadful dates with steaks over the past few months – I have finally found the one. From start to finish, it was perfection, a dining experience that must be experienced. Whatever you do this coming September, make sure you book Pulperia.
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.
A new vibrant boutique hotel has opened up in Birmingham and it’s rather fabulous babs. Introducing Aloft Birmingham Eastside hotel brought to by the Marriott brand, located on the Eastside just by Millennium Point in the business district of Birmingham and offering the best of what Birmingham has to offer from just a short walk away. A modern and urban-inspired hotel where music is key and technology is seamless, keeping you connected and inspired throughout your stay. Aloft moves to its own beat and creates bold, open and vibrant spaces for guests to come together and relax. My partner and I was invited down to review my experience with Aloft and to say I was pleasantly surprised is rather an understatement on what’s to come in this review…
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
Located on Woodcock Street just next to Millennium Point, the hotel is not exactly City Central however soon as we arrived we realised how quiet and peaceful the area is, it was nice to be away from car horns, mouthy party-goers and Sweet Caroline that’s been on constant repeat throughout the City for the last two months. The hotel is only a short walk away from the iconic Bullring, the vibrant underground world we like to call Digbeth and let’s not forget the world’s largest Primark! Unfortunately, the hotel does not have a car park, however we were told to park in the Millennium Point car park (just over the road) it costs us £9.95 for 24 hours which was rather cheap as other times we have stayed over in Birmingham we have had to park at The Mailbox and that costs us over £20.
Walking through the front entrance of Aloft you are hit with an almost futuristic design throughout with loud colours, sleek designed furniture and mouth-watering textures, many Instagram addicts will be lunging into their pockets for their phones, I was one of them. Your eyes are constantly diverted from one area to another, The hotel is visually yummy and by the look at how many guests were there, very popular. One section that will stand out to you is the 24/7 Re-Fuel Snack bar which is great after a night out in Birmingham and you are feeling a bit peckish! The reception is open-planned and very spacious, plenty of seating if you just want to get out your room and relax. Upon checking in at reception we were greeted with smiles instantly, staff are lovely here and very down to earth. Once we checked in, we was then greeted by Catherine who agreed to take us on a tour of the hotel and the Eastside room’s.
The Eastside Rooms is located just next door to Aloft, its Birmingham’s newest conference venue that brings you amazing substantial blank canvases that are perfect for any kind of event. Eastside Rooms caters to big events such as weddings and award ceremonies to small events such as Business meetings or offer rooms that offer a quiet space for you to work, Eastside has you covered with a room fit for all kinds of occasions. There is also a light, airy gym which can be used by guests with great views of Birmingham. After our tour we finished in The WXYZ bar with a bespoke Bab about town cocktail made just for me! What do you like? Strawberries! POOF! It was done just like that…These guys are good. WXYZ offers a chilled space for you to relax in with a cocktail and you can also dine in the bar and play pool.
When we first entered the room, we only admired it for about a minute as we decided to do the tour first and didn’t want to keep Catherine waiting. Upon our second visit to the room we realised how lovely it really was and it deserved our immediate attention. Clean, spacious and cosy, a decent sized bathroom with a more then decent walk in shower that could fit the Kardashians family in there and a huge tv that kind of transported our room at night to our very own home cinema. We were booked into The Urban king Room, it has everything you need from ironing boards to hairdryers to your very own coffee machine plus a great view of Birmingham, we weren’t short of anything. What I really loved about the room is that it featured local artists art work in there which was a lovely touch to the City and something I would like to see more hospitality businesses doing. What really lit our eyes up was the gorgeous “Naughty and Nice” platter made just for me and my partner by the Chefs at Aloft. A stand full of luxurious sweets and desserts from cupcakes to trifles, it was very impressive and a lovely touch to our room, we instantly felt very special. Aloft’s tech-forward approach to hospitality comes to life at the bedroom door as you can’t enter your room via your smartphone! – there’s no key card. There’s also fast, free WiFi throughout the hotel.
In the evening we were booked into Alofts restaurant Tempo! for a three-course meal. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, music-related art work hanging on the walls and a few splashes of neon that was very Bab about town! Looking at the menu, they have a great selection of burgers, pizzas and more, the only thing lacking is the vegan options however. Luckily my partner and I are meat-eaters and we really enjoyed our three-course meal. Ham hock and pea timbale to start followed by pan fried rump steak and classic lemon tart to finish, it was very tasty, and we left feeling very impressed with our Teletubbie bellies.
After our meal we decided to go up to our room and watch a couple of films in our very own movie theatre which features cable tv, three movies later and we were fast asleep with popcorn crawling out of our mouths. We both slept through the night, I woke up with no back pain and feeling very refreshed. The bed was very comfy, I didn’t wake up ONCE which was something, I thought I might struggle with as the hotel seemed to have guests more from the 20-30 age group, so I was quite surprised that we heard no party goers shenanigans throughout the night.
Aloft serve breakfast in the Tempo! Restaurant from 6am to 10am, They usually offer a buffet breakfast however due to CO-VID they put on a set menu for guests to choose from. They offered a variety from meat/vegan fry ups to lighter options such as cereal and yogurt. I went for the English breakfast tea then the vegan fry up which I was very impressed with. I have to say it’s not the most appealing breakfast (I have a thing with skin on sausages pealing) but I was pleasantly pleased with the taste and proves the point of don’t judge a book by its cover, it was delicious. My partner went for the buttermilk pancakes and said they were the tastiest pancakes he has ever had, another successful meal at Aloft and a great finish to our stay.
Aloft Eastside is a fantastic contender to Birmingham’s booming hospitality sector, a great night’s sleep that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket and a more than satisfactory service is something that really stands out here, the room was priced at £85 for the Urban King Room and breakfast which I feel is fantastic value for money as I have paid £100 for other Birmingham hotels for just the room. Let’s not forget about the quirky perks now when you stay at this hotel such as having the luxury of renting polaroid cameras and making your stay as fun as possible especially with your furry friends as the hotel is proud of its pet friendly policy. Aloft Eastside has quickly become one of my top 5 hotels to stay in Birmingham, the staff here are fantastic and really went to great lengths to make sure our stay was positive and memorable. Aloft is bold, eccentric and dares to be different. We need more hotels like that in Birmingham.
To book your stay please click hereand to see more of the hotel please check out my reel of the Hotel here
Green’s is a chic cocktail bar based in Mell Square Centre in Solihull. They have just launched their new ‘Bottomless’ experience and I was kindly invited to be one of the first to try it out. Now I am partial to a boozy brunch but there is so much more to this experience then just getting punters trolleyed. The details, the effort and the thought that is behind this experience puts it right at the top of the best bottomless experiences I have ever had…Intrigued? Let’s do this…
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
Green’s latest boozy experience Bottomless gives you 90 minutes of unlimited drinks alongside a choice of grazing board and daiquiri soaked strawberries and cream for just £36. First impressions upon entering the cocktail bar is that it’s gorgeous. Insta-addicts will be scrambling for their phones as soon as they step in due to the eye-catching Blossom tree centrepiece. Suede seating, marble tables, an art-deco inspired bar and lots of botanical vibes; oh yes Green’s likes to make a dazzling first impression.
Your 90 minutes start soon as your order is processed. My cousin and I sat down and a waiter was over in seconds to take our order. We decided to go for cocktails. The menu is very impressive, possibly the best bottomless options I have ever come across. Usually with these sort of affairs you’re either limited to Prosecco or overly sweet porn star martinis. So it was a nice surprise to see options such as gin, vodka, rum and mixers, wine, Corona on draught as well as the standard ‘bottomless’ faves.
The first cocktail I ordered was a “Whoopsy Daisy” – a rhubarb and raspberry gin number. Vibrant, fruity and a winning first cocktail, no complaints here. Soon after our cocktails were served, we were asked what grazing board we wanted, we both leapt at the same time for the meat and cheese board. The board is for two people to share however I can see a group of four easily sharing it. The cheeses and meats are locally sourced and the portions are perfect, maybe even a bit generous or perhaps it’s just that a couple of places I have visited recently have been stingy on the food offering for bottomless brunches.
What’s included in the grazing board:
Cheeses: Black bomber cheddar, Sparkenhoe red leicester, Oxford blue, Godminster black truffle, Waterloo, Baron bigod, and Nettle Yarg.
Meats: Venison salami, Smoked venison salami, Wagyu beef salami, Salt and pepper salami, and Rosemary salami.
Halkidiki and kalamata olives in rose harissa
Debs of Harborne chilli jam
This is possibly the best meat and cheese board I have ever had. The variety was incredible and it was great to see a local independent such as Debs of Harborne making an appearance, especially as I have been wanting to get my hands on Deb’s jam for ages. Independents supporting independents, I’m all for it. The board really complimented the cocktail and as it was plentiful we enjoyed having something to pick at while drinking our cocktails.
The Daiquiri soaked strawberries and cream followed after (not straight away but perfectly timed to give us a breather). Sweet and satisfying. We were both full and very satisfied, but the cocktail show must go on…
We experimented and tried cocktails we wouldn’t usually go for and we asked the manager for suggestions who was very happy to help out. Every single cocktail I had, I liked. Attention! Clean up on aisle eight. We have a drunken Bab. Terry’s Dark Horse was one of my favourites, an orange twist on an Espresso Martini. Velvet Society was another favourite – cocktail meets pudding I would say. Passionfruit, champagne and vanilla ice cream – delish!
As I said before the variety of cocktails that are on offer is remarkable, is this really all for £36?! Each cocktail costs between £8-10 – we managed five each and I woke up the next morning with no regrets and no hangover. What Green’s has done is completely changed bottomless brunch in my eyes. I know it’s not a ‘brunch’ per se but I’ll take pudding cocktails and a black bomber any day over shrivelled eggs with no yolk pop and an insane amount of avocado. I like to pick, I like to graze, and I like to take my time. I know we were on a time limit, but we didn’t feel rushed at all. After our bottomless experience we enjoyed live music from Esther Turner, it was the perfect ending to a perfect night. Do me a favour? Don’t go here. Just let me have Green’s all to myself, please?
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
Located in the heart of Birmingham in The Mailbox where you have restaurants, bars, shops and the picturesque canals of Birmingham on your doorstep, you will find The AC Hotel which is part of the Marriott hotel group. Well designed throughout, with plenty to offer and drawing in guests that are looking for something a bit more than just staying in a “chained hotel”
I have stayed in many Marriott hotels, all have been very disappointing except for AC Hotel which doesn’t strike me as a typical “chained” old-fashioned Marriott hotel, it’s quite literally the opposite. As I step through the doors of the hotel I am greeted with Modernisation, sleek design throughout and CLASS. No victorian patterned chairs, no worn-out carpets and certainly no mahogany, It was almost like stepping into an upmarket business class lounge at the airport which, I really liked!
Checking into the hotel is very quick and easy, I found the staff very pleasant, informative and welcoming, I spoke to a young girl at the reception who was ever so lovely and accommodating. I was checking in for two nights (Thursday to Saturday) in a Canal view superior guest room with a queen bed for £126.48.
The hotel oozed sleek modern decor throughout the hotel and it didn’t stop when I got to the room. I noticed straight away that the room was big and had plenty of space, you could fit a party of twenty in there easily. Simple, modern and classy, straight away I felt relaxed and comfortable. The room as well as the hotel was completely spotless, it was so clean I could see my reflection in the sink and there was not a coffee smear in sight!
The queen bed was huge and was big enough to fit my 6 ft 6 partner which was a huge success as sometimes he does struggle to fit in beds [Insert troll face] The room provided all the useful facilities that you would expect and more including a very fancy Nespresso machine, Sky TV, bathrobes and slippers. The room also provided a lovely view of the Canal that was stunning to see at night, lovely to watch Birmingham glistering at night. The room was right on the front just above the restaurants and bars in which I did wonder, would I be able to sleep at all as Birmingham nightlife is quite animated…however I didn’t hear one single Birmingham accent nor clinking of glasses/bottles BUT it might be a different story on a Saturday night…
The only thing that was missing from the room was wine glasses and of course, this is not essential but after a busy day at work It was time for wine so I contacted reception and within five minutes two wine glasses were delivered to the door.
In regard’s to CO-VID restriction’s, there is a list of rule’s and information guides from the hotel which inform’s guest’s of all the health and safety procedure’s the hotel has taken to provide a safe stay to all guest’s. There are sign’s to tell guest’s to wear mask’s, hand sanitiser station’s and social distancing rule’s carried out throughout the hotel. There was not one time I felt uncomfortable or unsafe in this hotel.
At the Hotel, they have a hotel bar and the AC lounge area where they serve breakfast, an array of tapas, afternoon teas and signature cocktail’s. I didn’t get to explore the lounge due to CO-VID restriction’s however I have tried out the tapas and cocktail’s in the lounge on a previous Blogger’s event which was superb! If you like to read my review please check it out here. They do have an on-site Starbucks if you’re a busy bee in the morning’s and need a caffeine pick me up, however, if you’re not a fan of Starbucks there is plenty of Independent coffees shops within a five-minute walking distance from the AC Hotel such as Medicine Bakery and Cocoa by Ali. In regards to travelling to the Hotel, They do not have a hotel car park however The Mailbox doe’s have one and AC Hotel guests receive a 15% discount. Grand Central Station is about a 5-10 minute walk and there are also bus stops nearby.
View from our room
Overall I had a really lovely stay at The AC Hotel, I couldn’t fault it and although certain service’s were not available due to CO-VID I still managed to have an enjoyable stay as well as importantly, a safe stay. The staff are hard-working and strive to take care of their guest’s, I have to say this is some of the best customer service I have ever experienced at a hotel. A two-night stay for £126.48 in the heart of Birmingham surrounded by great hospitality and shopping facilities with excellent customer service and a spacious and functional room is certainly nothing to frown about, I was more than satisfied. I left feeling refreshed, full of energy and pretty darn happy with my stay with AC and I continue to look forward to my next visit with AC.
The 12th of April is coming, and The UK will slowly start to emerge from Lockdown following the UK governments Roadmap to recovery. Restaurant’s and other hospitality venue’s will open however only providing Al fresco dining but many will be cheering about the news of the curfew and the substantial meal rule being scrapped. I have put together a list of restaurants that are now taking bookings and planning to open from the 12th of April 2021 in the North of Birmingham. Many are booked up already so be quick if you want to get out of the house and dine outside huddling together under a heated outdoor lamp.
I will be updating this list every week, so please check back!
