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Passing Fancies

Award-winning team to open bar in Digbeth

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Passing Fancies will bring ‘approachable luxury’ to The Custard Factory in September 2022

Tommy Matthews, former bar manager of Couch (Top 50 Cocktail bars 37th 2022) and The Edgbaston (Top 50 Cocktail Bars 24th and 25th 2018/2019) has joined forces with Matt Arnold and Eve Green of The Edgbaston and Grain & Glass, respectively. Passing Fancies will take up residence in Digbeth’s iconic Custard Factory with a venue large enough for 54 covers. With a layout akin to ‘the kitchen at a house party’, the bar will be the centre of atmosphere inside the venue.

The former home of Sir Alfred Bird’s namesake company, the Custard Factory is now a creative and cultural hub in the heart of Birmingham. Bird’s 19th-century invention of eggless custard was born out of love, as his wife, Elizabeth, suffered from an allergy to eggs. Elizabeth’s love of custard motivated Alfred, an established pharmacist, to create a formula for egg-free custard. He founded ‘Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd’, which would eventually become the famous Bird’s Custard company, the namesake of the Custard Factory.

Inspired by the idea of ‘creativity out of love’, Passing Fancies aims to brings a new kind of approachable luxury. The bar’s name nods to their vow to move with the times, regularly changing their menu and straying away from a set theme. Their combined passion for the hospitality industry has inspired them to strive to create something long-lasting out of love, just like the man their building is named after.

The trio have a varied background in hospitality and are committed to building a team of people who could one day become the ‘next big thing’ in bartending. Their passion for the industry has made them feel that they, like the man their building is named after, can create something long-lasting out of love.

“At our core is our passion for what we do, the stories we share and the people we share them with. Passing Fancies is an extension of us, a place where everyone can gather to experience the comforting excellence of high-end beverages and build fond memories. Think of it not as a bar but a vehicle for community, nestled within the creative heart of Birmingham with a menu as varied and fluid as the lives we lead. We want to ensure that our staff feel as valued as our customers. It’s important to us to give back to the industry that has given so much to us.”

Tommy Matthews

Passing Fancies

Passing Fancies is due to open in September 2022.

20 Stories

The Best Al Fresco Dining Spots in the UK

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Image: 20 Stories, Manchester
Image: 20 Stories, Manchester
Image: 20 Stories, Manchester
Image: 20 Stories, Manchester
When the sun makes an appearance in the UK, it’s only natural for the masses to flock to any restaurant with an outdoor space. After all, why shouldn’t we also have a little Mediterranean moment? Our sun-kissed continental neighbours can’t have all the fun. With a recent influx of modern, stylish eateries with their own terraces, our summers are no longer confined to the pub garden.


We’ve put together a selection of some of the finest establishments offering al fresco dining, in our opinion. With this list, you’ll be enjoying a delicious dinner in the sunshine quicker than you can say ‘parasol’.

20 Stories, Manchester

Situated on the 19th floor of No.1 Spinningfields in the bustling Spinningfields district of Manchester is 20 Stories, a glamorous restaurant with a sleek bar and a spacious rooftop terrace offering 360-degree panoramic views of Manchester’s skyline. The menu focuses on local ingredients sourced in the Northwest. Developed by D&D London, who have a collection of over 45 diverse restaurants worldwide, the restaurant’s rooftop garden terrace features an outdoor lounge which sits underneath a canopy of trees – some of which are two stories high – a barbeque and fireplaces perfect for al fresco dining.

No 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB

Visit 20 Stories
Image: Hockley Social Club, Birmingham
Image: Hockley Social Club, Birmingham

Hockley Social Club, Birmingham

Brought to you by the team behind Birmingham’s iconic Digbeth Dining Club, Hockley Social Club is a food hall, bar, events space and casual neighbourhood hangout. Housed within a 10,000 sq ft former printing factory, the venue offers a full calendar of events including live music every Friday, classical music with the CBSO, monthly comedy nights, and a lifestyle market every Sunday morning. Hockley Social Club has three permanent kitchens on-site plus a rotating monthly resident, two bars and its very own record store.


60 Hampton St, Birmingham B19 3LU

Visit Hockley Social club
Image: Issho, Leeds
Image: Issho, Leeds

Issho, Leeds

Issho – meaning ‘together’ in Japanese – is a contemporary rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace in Leeds. Found inside the beautiful Victoria Gate centre in the city’s Victoria shopping district, Issho is super modern, with wood-panelled walls and trailings of blossom flowers suspended from the ceiling. The menu was designed by Ben Orpwood of London’s Sexy Fish and draws inspiration from the Japanese word for sharing, as the dishes are designed to be eaten together. Their outside terrace is the ideal spot for summer dining, lined with trees and plush sofas and surrounded by long stretches of city views.

Victoria Gate 3rd Floor Leeds LS2 7AU

Visit Issho
Image: Dishoom, Birmingham
Image: Dishoom, Birmingham

Dishoom, Birmingham

The team behind Bombay café, Dishoom, opened their Birmingham site in 2021. Set within the city’s £700 million Paradise development, the restaurant holds 330 covers across its dining room, bar and outdoor terrace area, which overlooks the impressive Birmingham Town Hall. Dishoom’s menu pays homage to the traditional Irani cafés of Bombay, which were known for their warm welcome and ability to bring people together over food and drink. Their outdoor dining area features ‘summer houses’ alongside regular tables. Seating up to six people, the wooden houses are the ideal choice for year-round outdoor dining, and are kitted out with comfy pillows, greenery and a roof to keep the rain away.

One Chamberlain Sq, Birmingham B3 3AX

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Image: Petersham Nurseries, Richmond-upon-Thames
Image: Petersham Nurseries, Richmond-upon-Thames

Petersham Nurseries, Richmond-upon-Thames

Set within an elegant glasshouse a mere stone’s throw from Richmond Park sits Petersham Nurseries Café. With a menu focused on seasonal Italian food and a room filled with lush greenery, Indian blinds and antique furniture and paintings, it is the ideal spot for a refined al fresco lunch.

Church Lane, Petersham Rd, Church Lane TW10 7AB

Visit Petersham Nurseries
Image: Ruin Beach Café, Isles of Scilly
Image: Ruin Beach Café, Isles of Scilly

Ruin Beach Café, Isles of Scilly

Set overlooking Raven’s Porth Beach on the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, Ruin Beach Café brings Mediterranean beachfront dining to the UK’s shores with ease. Located less than 30 miles from the Cornish coast and inside a former smuggler’s cottage, the café uses local island produce and a wood-fired oven to create delicious pizzas, alongside roasting succulent meat, fish and vegetables, including top-quality Tresco beef and island-caught fish.

The café has so far been awarded two AA Rosettes, and Conde Nast Traveller magazine included it in their listing of favourite hotels, restaurants, bars and beach clubs from around the world.

Tresco, Isles of Scilly TR24 0PU

Visit Ruin Beach Café
Image: Chapter Birmingham
Image: Chapter Birmingham

Chapter, Birmingham

Located in the leafy Edgbaston Village suburb of Birmingham, Chapter is a neighbourhood restaurant fronted by Chef Director Ben Tennant. The menu is rooted in seasonality and focuses on using the very best British produce. Their front terrace overlooks the quaint Greenfield Crescent, lined with a newly-placed but thriving independent shopping scene. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, including 5-course tasting menus on a Saturday evening, a mid-morning Saturday brunch and a tasty Sunday roast.

5-6 Greenfield Crescent Edgbaston Birmingham B15 3BE

Visit Chapter
Image: Parrillan London
Image: Parrillan London

Parrillan, King’s Cross, London

Parrillan is a terrace restaurant, bar and table-top grill with a stunning view of the Regent’s Canal. Headed up by the team behind Barrafina, the restaurant takes its name from the Spanish ‘parrilla’, meaning grill. With a terrace shaded by olive trees and scattered with striped cushions and chairs, the concept takes DIY dining to a new level, relying on diners using mini tabletop parrilla to chargrill prawns, chicken wings and lamb pintxos. The menu also offers para picar, arroces, soups and stews, and a choice of meat, seafood and vegetables.

Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, London N1C 4AB

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Walk for Wellbeing

Walking the walk

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Walk for Wellbeing 2022 will officially launch on 29 June and sign-ups are open now

Walk for Wellbeing (previously known as Walk for Calm) is officially launching on 29th June and is inviting the people of the hospitality industry to join its campaign to promote better mental health and raise funds to support the work of the industry’s benevolent charity, Hospitality Action.

Walk for Wellbeing is powered by UK hospitality talent partner, mum, in partnership with Caterer.com, Davidson Asset Management (DAM) and The Caterer. The campaign is also supported by Sean Wheeler Consulting Limited, Lexington Catering, Tonic Talent, The Manchester Hoteliers Association and The Relationship.

Walk for Wellbeing is a fun, flexible event all about taking simple steps to promote wellbeing. Participants can treat each walk like a journey, as they spend time in the fresh air, moving and utilising their time to reflect and energise. 

Since the onset of the pandemic, Hospitality Action has taken strides to support as many hospitality people as possible. Since the start of 2020, Hospitality Action has spent £2.3m supporting over 7,000 hospitality households in crisis. Many of those face life-threatening illness, homelessness, domestic abuse or addiction, often accompanied by crippling mental health. 

The nation is invited to put on their walking shoes and join a ‘take part any time’ challenge between October 8–16, encompassing World Mental Health Day 2022 on October 10. 

Four hosted Walk for Wellbeing 20km events will take place in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, on Sunday 16 October.

London’s hosted walk will take place in the Royal Parks and include Hyde Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens. Beginning and ending at the Achilles Statue, sights will include the Serpentine Bridge, the Round Pond, Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill. The London walk will be hosted by UK hospitality talent partner, mum.

Walk for Wellbeing
Walk for Wellbeing

The Birmingham route begins and ends in Digbeth, the city’s creative quarter, and will take in street art and some of the city’s green spaces. Highlights of the route include Birmingham’s historic canals and Edgbaston Reservoir. The walk will be hosted by local hospitality recruitment agency, Tonic Talent.

Manchester’s route takes in the northern section of the Sandstone Trail, beginning in Frodsham and ending at Beeston Castle. Participants will pass through woodland trails such as Dunsdale Hollow, Ridgeway Wood and Delamere Forest Park. The route is hosted by the Manchester Hotelier’s Association.

The Glasgow route, which will be hosted by DAM, begins in Clydebank and ends at Moss O’Balloch Park. Sights on the route include Bowling Harbour, which has its own small beach and woodland area, as well as the River Leven, which is known for its Salmon & Trout fishing, and the River Clyde. Other sights will include the Meadow Leisure Centre and Millburn Park in Alexandria.

The event is accessible to all ages and abilities, regardless of fitness level. Walk For Wellbeing aims to raise funds and awareness for mental health. Participants are able to have fun whilst bringing awareness to an important issue.

Those looking to participate are able to do so in their own way, individually or as part of a group by signing up via the Walk for Wellbeing website

Hospitality Action offer vital assistance to all who work or have worked within the UK hospitality sector. As the charity reach their 185th year, the goal is to recruit 185 individuals or teams nationwide to take part in our event this October. 

Founder of hospitality talent partner, mum and Walk for Wellbeing, Craig Prentice, said: “This year’s event is the perfect opportunity for people to show up and walk the walk across the UK. Sign up as an individual, or walk with family, friends, or work colleagues. Let’s make a difference together.”

Mark Lewis, Chief Executive of Hospitality Action, said: “Walk for Wellbeing not only helps employers foster a positive culture around workplace mental health, it will also raise vital funds at a critical time for the hospitality industry. Demand for Hospitality Action’s support is at an all-time high and we estimate that a third of all the requests for financial assistance we currently receive are from people suffering from, or at risk of, poor mental health. We expect the situation to worsen as the cost-of-living crisis bites in the autumn and are grateful to all those taking part in Walk for Wellbeing.”

Sign up now
B:Eats

B:Eats is coming

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Set to serve daytime and evening menus alongside a programme of music events, B:Eats is the latest venture of music charity B:Music

B:Eats, a daytime cafe and evening eatery created by BMusic, the music charity responsible for Symphony Hall and Town Hall, is due to open in July.

Set to serve food and drink in the heart of Birmingham from inside the transformed spaces at Symphony Hall, B:Eats will be offering both a daytime and evening menu to run alongside music events.

The daytime food offering will feature breakfast items such as the Big Beats Brekkie, served with butcher’s choice sausage, maple-cured bacon, roasted heritage tomato, buttered mushroom, house-baked beans, cauli hash brown, poached egg and Brummie bacon cakes, and the Just As Big Vegan Brekkie with plant-based cured bacon, sweet potato cakes, roasted heritage tomato, roasted mushrooms, house-baked beans, cauli hash brown and toasted sourdough.

The Brunch menu includes Eggs Benedict – toasted English muffin, poached eggs, smoked paprika hollandaise – with diners’ choice of maple-cured bacon, wilted spinach or smoked salmon and Buttered Sourdough Toast with either salted, maple or vegan butter and a topping choice of either smashed avocado, poached egg or truffle mushrooms. Also on the Brunch menu are Southwest Chorizo Hash – dry-cured chorizo, charred sweetcorn, fried potatoes, roasted pepper, tomato sauce and a poached egg – and Brummie Bacon Cakes with either salted, maple or vegan butter.

The Brummie Bacon cake, also known as the Brummie ‘breakfast cake’, has been a fixture in the city as early as the late 19th century. These cheese and bacon scones feature two special ingredients of tomato ketchup and Worcestershire sauce to enhance their savoury flavour.

The Lunch menu includes items such as Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings with a serving of either sweet BBQ, maple bourbon, chipotle honey, lemon parmesan or garlic sriracha, Sticky Maple Fried Chicken – breaded buttermilk chicken tossed in maple syrup, Brummie bacon cakes and smoked honey – and Middle Eastern Lamb Tagine – marinated lamb shoulder in a smoky ragu with poached egg, yoghurt, sumac and sourdough.

The Sarnies menu offers a variety of sandwiches such as The Blackstone (named after the hotel where the famous Reuben sandwich originated), pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and picked on toasted rye bread, The Ensemble (a classic Club sandwich), roast chicken, maple-cured bacon, shredded iceberg lettuce, avocado, heritage tomato and bacon mayonnaise on toasted sourdough, The Vegan Gatsby (a vegan twist on a Philly cheesesteak), plant-based steak slices, house fries, vegan cheese, vegan mayo, shredded iceberg lettuce and sliced heritage tomato on a toasted sub roll and The Toastmaster, a grilled cheese sandwich on sourdough, all served alongside classic offerings of Just Cheese, Ham & Cheese and Cheese & Onion.

B:Eats is coming
B:Eats is coming

Sides on offer include poached egg, avocado, maple-cured bacon, butcher’s choice sausage, truffle mushrooms and sourdough toast.

B:Music is designed to be the perfect accompaniment to B:Music’s already popular programme of free music, which takes place within the venue showcasing local performers and artists. Beginning from 18th July, guests will be able to enjoy their meal against the backdrop of live music as the venue celebrates the launch of B:Eats with free performances every lunch time during the week in the new eatery, with performances from musicians such as pop acoustic artist Gaby K, acoustic artist Ben Drummond, Soul artist Liv Campbell and Soul & Jazz artist Isabel Abbott.

The programme has been curated by Alex Carr, B:Music’s Jazz & Emerging Talent Producer. Alex’s inspiration for launching the programme came from the café’s location, sat at the first entrance point of the iconic Symphony Hall. Alex wanted to utilise the opportunity to bring in new artists who had never played at Symphony Hall or worked with B:Music before, creating their first entrance point to a relationship of performing with B:Music.

All of the artists selected are local to Birmingham and Midlands. As an organisation, B:Music work to support local talent, giving them access to perform in the same spaces as artists further along in the careers. 

Alex said, “The main body of artists have been picked for the free music programme as they are each uniquely talented and cover all genres from folk through to funk with a little sprinkling of pop thrown in for good fun. We open in spectacular style with the with the king of funk Thomas Atlas & Band on the Saturday and then move through a week day programme of double bills. All artists are performing their own original material, which again is something that we encourage for artist development. For most of the artists including this will be there first time performing with B:Music at Symphony Hall, and I felt this was a great way to introduce new artists to our venue and likewise, the charity to a new set of artists. With all the buzz taking place surrounding the opening of B:Eats each artist will have a busy live audience to perform to. You can expect effortlessly cool pop from Gaby K, romantic story telling from Joe Dolman and heavenly vocals of Liv Campbell (all first timers), along with great food and hospitality from B:Eats. Our week of free music offers something delicious for everyone!”

B:Eats is coming
B:Eats is coming

B:Eats will open Monday to Saturday from 10am – 5pm (food service from 11am each day, coffees and pastries served from 10am – 11am).

 

More information can be found on the B:Eats website:

Visit B:Eats
Golf Fang, Leeds

Golf Fang is heading to Leeds

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Big Fang Collective set to open its latest multi branded venue in Leeds in late Autumn 2022.

The Liverpool-based entertainment venue operator, who own both the Ghetto Golf and Golf Fang brands, are planning to open the latest Golf Fang site in Redcote Lane, Burley. The company, founded by Kip Piper and Daniel Bolger, was founded in 2016 and opened their first Ghetto Golf in Liverpool inside of the 25,000 square-foot Cains Brewery.

The Golf Fang concept offers an 18-hole golf course in an environment surrounded by bespoke art, combining crazy golf with theatre, cocktails, DJs and street food in a ‘sprayground’, where the venue provide selected graffiti writers with golf courses built into unique designs such as buses, shop fronts, film studios and pubs.

The company now own and operate five sites across the UK, in Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield and Glasgow, with its Ghetto Golf, Golf Fang and Birdies Bar brands. Golf Fang Leeds will be their sixth location following a successful launch in Sheffield, which saw the opening of a 38,000 square-foot multi-concept project that will also involve the launch of a tropical Birdies Bar and the groups first food hall, due to open in Summer 2022. Big Fang Collective are now looking to expand further and acquire new venues across UK cities, with seven already planned to launch across the next two years.

Big Fang Collective’s focus on delivering next level entertainment spaces, coupled with the brands’ market-disrupting nature, attracted investment from Imbiba earlier this year. Renowned for investing in high growth, category leading leisure and entertainment brands, Imbiba invested £5m in Big Fang Collective to aid its growth in the UK and internationally. The investment will help the company as they look to expand across the UK.

Kip Piper, co-founder of Big Fang Collective, said, “We are really excited to introduce Golf Fang to the people of Leeds. Leeds is a great location for the newest Golf Fang, we love the atmosphere. This venue will feature some of our most popular experiential elements as well as a few new courses. We can’t wait to see how our guests will interact with the new space and we’re looking forward to celebrating with everybody.”

The venue will be open seven days per week from midday till late, with bookings and walk-ins both accepted.

Golf Fang, Leeds
Golf Fang, Leeds

The venue will be open seven days per week from midday till late, with bookings and walk-ins both accepted.

More information about Big Fang Collective can be found on their website. 

Visit Big Fang Collective
Tropea

Meet Tropea: Flavours of Italy on a plate

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Meet Tropea: Flavours of Italy on a plate
Meet Tropea: Flavours of Italy on a plate
How two chefs are bringing the magic of the Calabrian coast to Birmingham

Inspired by a picturesque town on the Calabrian coast, the relaxed and softly-lit Tropea (pronounced Tro-Pey-Ah) sits in the leafy Birmingham suburb of Harborne. Tropea is the creation of Ben Robinson-Young and Kasia Piatkowska, who met whilst studying Culinary Arts at the University College Birmingham in 2010.

Kasia’s childhood holidays were spent in Tropea and her love for Italy and its food was further enhanced by a stint working in a tiny Italian restaurant in Sydney in 2015. The restaurant served ‘simple, yet stunning’ Italian dishes and is sadly no longer there, but the six months Kasia spent there pushed both her and Ben further along with their dream of opening a restaurant. Kasia has wanted to open her own restaurant since she was a teenager, and Ben has also always loved the buzz of hospitality. “I started working as a food runner on weekends in a pub when I was thirteen, and then worked in pubs and restaurants until Kasia and I met at university.”

The pair travelled and worked in the UK, USA and Australia on a mission to learn all aspects of the trade as a precursor to opening their own restaurant. They were determined to be ready, and worked all roles from bartending and waitressing to being chefs and managers. Both are fully trained to sommelier level. They figured out their natural roles soon enough, “Kasia thrives in the kitchen and is a paragon of calm. I much prefer being front of house. It’s lucky things have settled that way.”

Ben and Kasia worked hard to sketch out what they would eventually want their restaurant to look and feel like. “We wanted to emulate the small, neighbourhood feeling we have experienced in Italian restaurants and open our own in Birmingham with a warm, buzzy vibe. Somewhere casual with great, unfussy food and easy-going personal service. Somewhere cool but also intimate.”

During the pandemic, Ben and Kasia were able to use the time to reflect and double down on planning their dream. Twelve months of not working was the boost they needed to take the plunge. They began with a small pop-up at Boo Boo Coffee in Harborne and luckily, three months later, the cafe’s owner offered them the premises. “It still surprises us every day, we are very grateful.”

Ben and Kasia knew that when they one day opened their own restaurant, it would serve Italian food. “Italian food is just so delicious and diverse. It’s also very regional-focused, and small areas have amazing specialisms that reflect the best ingredients that are grown there. It is endlessly exciting to research (and eat). Food is life in Italy, which is something we feel, too.” With the freedom and opportunity to finally create their own space, the pair got stuck in crafting their menu. Their main focus was to keep it simple and let the produce do the talking. “Italian food is about the quality of ingredients, so we make sure that we get the best produce we can and let it do the work.”

Tropea’s menu is heavily influenced by food sold on the streets of Italy. Made up of small plates, designed to share, it includes snacks, fresh pastas, seafood and regional specialities reflecting fresh produce, from day-boat fish to venison. By using the town of Tropea as an inspiration, they made it their mission to “bring the sunshine and flavours of the town onto our guests’ plates.”

“Italian food is about the quality of ingredients, so we make sure that we get the best produce we can and let it do the work.”

Kasia

Tropea’s menu is heavily influenced by food sold on the streets of Italy. Made up of small plates, designed to share, it includes snacks, fresh pastas, seafood and regional specialities reflecting fresh produce, from day-boat fish to venison. By using the town of Tropea as an inspiration, they made it their mission to “bring the sunshine and flavours of the town onto our guests’ plates.”

Certain dishes have become favourites with those who dine their regularly. The Fried Courgette Flowers, stuffed with Goat’s cheese, fresh mint and finished with honey, have been dubbed by locals as ‘the epitome of rustic Italian cooking’. The fresh, seasonal aspect of this dish seems to add to its appeal. Ben and Kasia love springtime ingredients and this dish certainly reflects that. “The freshness and lightness of spring ingredients is a welcome contrast to the slow, heavy winter, which in the UK feels quite long. Spring produce brings the promise of summer and revitalisation, which always makes us excited, especially because of the beautiful things our supplier sends us photos of from the markets of Milan and Paris.”

After their September 2021 opening, Tropea have gone from strength to strength, and now appear firmly rooted in the local neighbourhood dining scene in Birmingham. Unsurprisingly, the pair feel that Birmingham, which has blossomed as a foodie destination recently, gives a great amount of support to independent restaurants, “not only from customers (who have been wonderful) but also from our peers within the industry.”

While they have integrated in to the local food scene, the pair are also lovers of other eateries in the city. “We often go to a Persian restaurant called Colbeh for a Shah platter, rice and extra bread. We also love the oysters at The Oyster Club (obviously) and the Vietnamese salad at Eat Vietnam.”

Following a small refurbishment this spring, Tropea, and the team behind it, are looking forward to what comes next. “We just want to improve what we are already doing and carry on. Our menu will never become too fancy or overwrought. We want to ensure that we can keep changing it and keep things exciting.”

Tropea’s menu is heavily influenced by food sold on the streets of Italy. Made up of small plates, designed to share, it includes snacks, fresh pastas, seafood and regional specialities reflecting fresh produce, from day-boat fish to venison. By using the town of Tropea as an inspiration, they made it their mission to “bring the sunshine and flavours of the town onto our guests’ plates.”

Certain dishes have become favourites with those who dine their regularly. The Fried Courgette Flowers, stuffed with Goat’s cheese, fresh mint and finished with honey, have been dubbed by locals as ‘the epitome of rustic Italian cooking’. The fresh, seasonal aspect of this dish seems to add to its appeal. Ben and Kasia love springtime ingredients and this dish certainly reflects that. “The freshness and lightness of spring ingredients is a welcome contrast to the slow, heavy winter, which in the UK feels quite long. Spring produce brings the promise of summer and revitalisation, which always makes us excited, especially because of the beautiful things our supplier sends us photos of from the markets of Milan and Paris.”

After their September 2021 opening, Tropea have gone from strength to strength, and now appear firmly rooted in the local neighbourhood dining scene in Birmingham. Unsurprisingly, the pair feel that Birmingham, which has blossomed as a foodie destination recently, gives a great amount of support to independent restaurants, “not only from customers (who have been wonderful) but also from our peers within the industry.”

While they have integrated in to the local food scene, the pair are also lovers of other eateries in the city. “We often go to a Persian restaurant called Colbeh for a Shah platter, rice and extra bread. We also love the oysters at The Oyster Club (obviously) and the Vietnamese salad at Eat Vietnam.”

Following a small refurbishment this spring, Tropea, and the team behind it, are looking forward to what comes next. “We just want to improve what we are already doing and carry on. Our menu will never become too fancy or overwrought. We want to ensure that we can keep changing it and keep things exciting.”

Visit Tropea
Meet Tropea: Flavours of Italy on a plate
Meet Tropea: Flavours of Italy on a plate
Meet Tropea: Flavours of Italy on a plate
Meet Tropea: Flavours of Italy on a plate
Stuart Deeley, Smoke

From MasterChef to cooking over fire

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In the heart of England, a striking manor house sits atop 45 acres of green hinterland. Hampton Manor, a 19th century estate and once the home of prime minister Robert Peel, is now a family-run hotel aimed at ‘curious foodies’.

Hampton Manor was acquired by Jan and Derrick Hill just over a decade ago. Since then, their son James and his wife Fjona have worked to transform the estate and its culinary credentials. Named by Conde Nast Traveller as ‘one of the UK’s foodiest hotels’, it’s fair to say they’re achieving that goal

Three restaurants inhabit the estate: Peel’s, the Michelin eatery, is found in the Manor, and sustainability-focused ‘immersive dining experience’ Grace and Savour is located in the Victorian Walled Garden.

On the edge of the estate’s walled garden sits Smoke: a 32-seater eatery, previously the old furnace house. It is as honest and unpretentious as the chef behind it. The estate’s ‘Fire Master’ is Stuart Deeley, winner of Masterchef: The Professionals 2019. Birmingham born and bred Deeley is unassuming despite his growing success. Former head chef at The Wilderness, Deeley emerged into the public eye with his appearance on Masterchef, during which Marcus Wareing described his food as “daring”, and Monica Galetti called Deeley “the complete package”.

Following his win, Deeley made plans to open a restaurant in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Sadly, the pandemic halted progress and ultimately led to the cancellation of the project. It was announced soon after that Deeley had joined Hampton Manor as a development chef, and Smoke opened on the property’s grounds in September 2021.

“We’re focussing on British sourcing, looking local where the quality is right and challenging ourselves to use suppliers that are doing good things. The wood-fired menu focuses on getting the most out of great cuts of meat, whole fish and texture filled veggies like celeriac.”

Stuart Deeley

Deeley’s heart stays close to home with Smoke. His cooking celebrates seasonal produce and organic farming. The menu offers cured British meats, vegetables fresh from the estate’s garden and bread from the on-site bakery. Deeley’s cooking style has a refined simplicity; he has an ability to take familiar dishes and add an edge of creativity. 

As the restaurant’s name suggests, the dishes rely heavily on smoking: Oak-smoked trout is served with pickled tomatoes and Guinea hen is paired with charred lettuce and bacon jam. The menus have been described as ‘show stopping’, ‘hearty-meaty’ and ‘groan-inducing’. Deeley cooks over coals in the old furnace house that used to heat them.

“When the opportunity to take on Smoke came up, I was really excited. I absolutely love the concept we’ve come up with. When I worked in the city, I took inspiration from the streets that surrounded me. Here, with the history of Hampton Manor, we’ve drawn on comforting classics. It’s the simple things that push my creativity – the garden and the fire. The energy down here in the garden really suits me. Smoke is about an informal experience where we let the produce do the talking.

”We use a natural, charred wood rather than briquettes. We gradually top up our coals from the back, while we cook over the hot coals at the front. When cooking over fire, you get a lot of your flavour from the fat or elements of whatever you are cooking that drip down and hit your coals. The resulting smoke that rises then infuses whatever ingredients you’ve got on the grill, adding bags of flavour.” 

From MasterChef to cooking over fire

“Undoubtedly one of the best things you can cook over an open fire is beef; you can create a beautiful crust, delicious caramelisation and a deep, smoky flavour that you just don’t get from pan-frying.”

Stuart Deeley

From MasterChef to cooking over fire

Housed inside the estate’s old furnace house, Smoke evokes rustic romance with its laid-back interior and fire pits. Guests are seated in the greenhouse area during warmer months. The relaxed energy allows guests to roll up their sleeves and fully indulge in the hearty dishes.

The Hampton estate is something of a community for creativity; a buzzing hub for wine and food enthusiasts alike. They offer workshops in cider making, a natural wine fair, chef-partnered pop-ups and a monthly Wine School.

Inspired by the fact the estate once played host to an acclaimed flower show and that all produce was grown on site, the Hill family have embraced a new sustainable ethos, recovering the Manor’s ‘lost garden’ for future generations. Whilst their vegetables are now grown with organic methods, they are aware this alone will not be enough to secure the future of food. Regenerating their land’s soil is now a top priority, and through the ever evolving estate the team at Hampton Manor celebrate grass-fed stock, regenerative farming and natural wines. 

Guests can be seen meandering through the gardens of the estate, following the hotel’s ‘Field Guide’ Tours of the vegetable gardens are common, with guests becoming acquainted with the fresh produce they will later eat.

The restaurant’s on-tap wines are the result of a sustainable cutting-edge key keg system. They champion wines grown produced without chemicals and pesticides, which simply offer exceptional fruit quality and flavour through responsible farming.

Deeley’s Masterchef win has given him a platform that now allows him to give back to his local community. He recently launched Stu Deeley’s Professional Academy at Halesowen College, where he himself trained. The main idea behind the initiative is to bridge the gap between what chefs are taught from the cookery school curriculum and the actualities of the workplace. The Academy focuses on the fast-moving world of kitchens and adapts its lessons to what is going on in the industry right now, for example, how to cook over open fire. Deeley would, ideally, like to be able to offer students from the Academy work experience at Smoke. He feels that allowing them to cook in an environment like Hampton Manor could provide the inspiration to lead them into a career in the industry. “If I can inspire just a few future chefs every year, it will all be worth it.”

It is clear that, for Deeley, Smoke is a well-fitting new home, with a well-crafted team. “For me, it’s the greatest place I’ve ever worked. I’m cooking the tastiest dishes I have ever cooked and we play loud music and drink good booze. We have built such a caring and hard-working team and they all deserve the credit more than me.

This is said, of course, in Deeley’s typically humble style. With his Academy growing and his menus at Smoke being dubbed ‘Michelin star worthy’, it seems that Deeley will continue to give people something to talk about. After all, there’s no smoke without fire.

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From MasterChef to cooking over fire
From MasterChef to cooking over fire
From MasterChef to cooking over fire
From MasterChef to cooking over fire
Crazy Pedros

Crazy Pedro’s Digbeth announces opening date 

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The late-night pizza bar reveals interiors for its biggest site yet

Crazy Pedro’s of the Liars Group is set to open its doors in The Courtyard, at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham on Friday 17th June.

The 4-storey venue will be the Liars Group’s 4th Crazy Pedro’s venue. Boasting 5000sq ft, the site is the group’s biggest venue to date, with a floor dedicated to their bottomless brunch. The launch follows hugely successful launches in Manchester for the Crazy Pedro’s brand, where there are two sites, and Liverpool, where the brand also enjoys a cult following.

Crazy Pedro’s specialises in all things tequila and mezcal, showcasing one of the largest agave collections in the UK. The Digbeth venue will serve up frozen Margaritas on tap 7 days a week, alongside their 90-minute Bottomless Pizza Brunch, which includes unlimited slices, frozen margaritas, beer, Prosecco & Hooch.

Renowned for its headline-grabbing pizza creations, such as Crème Eggs and Steak on pizza and Chippy Tea with Curry Sauce, the late-night party bar will be serving up New York-style pizzas all day, with slices available until 3am. The venue will also be the exclusive home of their infamous 24” pizza’s. Alongside a delivery offering, via Deliveroo.

Crazy Pedros
Crazy Pedros

Jobe Ferguson, Liars Group owner, said, “Birmingham has welcomed us with open arms, and we are thoroughly excited to officially bring the Crazy Pedro’s concept to the city. We’re looking forward to serving up our frozen margaritas and trademark pizzas to the people of Digbeth, Birmingham and beyond!”

Book your table at www.crazypedros.co.uk/bookings

For larger group enquiries, please use bookings@crazypedrosbham.co.uk

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At The Chapel

Bruton, Somerset

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Images: At The Chapel
Images: At The Chapel
Image: The Old Pharmacy
Image: The Old Pharmacy
Images: The Old Pharmacy
Images: The Old Pharmacy
Tucked neatly between the rolling Somerset hills is Bruton, a medieval market town that is essentially made up of one long street. Packed in this pocket-sized holiday destination are some of the most talked-about culinary spots of the moment, design-led lifestyle stores and quirky boutique hotels.

A 16th-century dovecote sits overlooking the town from atop Lusty Hill, surrounded by grazing cows. Ranked amongst the ‘coolest places in the UK to live’ by the Sunday Times, Bruton stands out from neighbouring bohemian Frome and crystal-filled Glastonbury. The town has become popular with Londoners thanks to the four daily trains direct from Paddington. This influx of city dwellers has proven beneficial for Bruton as these new settlers seemed to pack up and bring Notting Hill with them: stylish hotels and B&Bs in converted chapels and cottages sit neatly alongside sustainable, farm-to-table eateries in perfect harmony.

Bruton’s main street may be compact, but it is filled to the brim with independent shops, restaurants and cafes. Shops such as Swan Vintage advocate sustainability, selling repurposed and one-off pieces. Floral design studio, Lunaria, create seasonal installations, bespoke projects and elegant boxed bouquets. Popular with residents and visitors is Caro, a lifestyle store filled with Scandi homeware and pieces created by international makers. Foodies can lose an hour in The Godminster Shop, which holds daily cheese tasting sessions and stocks an array of local cheeses, deli snacks and drinks.

A short walk from the main hub of Bruton sits Hauser & Wirth Somerset. This contemporary Swiss gallery is a destination for contemporary makers and is housed in a former 18th-century farmhouse with its very own restaurant and farm shop on-site. The gallery’s 2014 opening was a pioneering moment for Bruton, sparking interest from those outside of Somerset. From here, a wave of artists, hoteliers and restaurateurs arrived.

Stay

Perched perfectly in the centre of Bruton’s main street, At The Chapel is a mecca for those who enjoy the blending of food, drink and design. The eight-room hotel is housed inside a 17th-century, Grade II listed former church. Alongside the bedrooms, there is an in-house wine store, restaurant and bakery. Each room differs, some feature original stained-glass windows and a ground floor room has its own private outdoor space, but all have marble-wrapped bathrooms stocked with REN products and a host of mid-century furniture.

The hotel’s restaurant is a buzzing hub for locals, visitors and celebrities alike. The space is flooded with abundant natural light streaming from double height former stained-glass windows. The menus lean towards Mediterranean dishes, with special focus on seasonal, biodynamic and organic ingredients, but also offers sourdough pizzas freshly baked from the restaurant’s wood-fired oven, which sits in full view of diners. Daily specials include Cornish haddock, kebabs made with slow-cooked lamb shoulder and lamb falafel kebabs.

If all of that wasn’t enough, hotel staff hang a bag containing a warm, freshly baked croissant on guests’ doors each morning from the bakery downstairs.

Address: 28 High Street, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0AE
T: 01749 814 070

Visit At The Chapel

Eat

Originally opened as an emergency shop to support local producers and to supply provisions for the village community during the pandemic, The Old Pharmacy is now a bustling cafe and bistro in the heart of Bruton. Housed within a 500 year old building – and former pharmacy – the restaurant is the brainchild of Merlin Labron-Johnson, the youngest chef to ever win a Michelin star in the UK in 2015.

The Old Pharmacy is next door to Osip, Johnson’s first venture in the village, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2021. Its menu, which Johnson describes as ‘Grandma Cuisine’, changes daily and is displayed on a blackboard, offers a selection of dishes made using fresh produce sourced from Johnson’s own farm in Bruton.

The window seats are the perfect morning coffee spot and by night, the space is the town’s coolest wine and cider bar, with its green-panelled walls and reclaimed furniture. The restaurant has the feel of a farmhouse kitchen. The main space is a hive of activity; chefs leisurely prepare fresh pasta on a kitchen island, baked sweet treats such as cannoli and cinnamon buns are available to purchase on the counter and one corner acts a shop, stocking local cider, organic wines and grocery items.

Address: 3 High Street, Bruton, BA10 0AB
T: 01749 813 111

Visit The Old Pharmacy

Do

If there is only time to do one thing during a visit to Bruton, a visit to Hauser & Wirth is a must. This world-class gallery and multi-purpose arts centre showcases an array of contemporary artists inside the 18th-century Durslade Farmhouse.

The site is a love letter to architecture, art and the rolling hills of Somerset, all complemented by a landscaped garden designed by Piet Oudolf of New York’s High Line. The previously derelict buildings were lovingly renovated by French architecture studio Laplace, transforming the barns into white-walled gallery spaces which retain their rustic charm.

The garden is lush and abundant, the very vision of an English landscape, condensed into a curated space. The greenery is dotted with outdoor sculptures on an ever changing rotation. The space ship-like Pavilion, designed by Smiljan Radić, sits at the very back. A semi-translucent, cylindrical structure that resembles a shell, the Pavilion was designed to be used as a flexible social space. Visitors can climb inside via a ramp and take in the full view of the gardens and gallery from within the shell.

The site is also home to Roth Bar & Grill, a sustainable restaurant housed inside the old cowshed of Durslade Farm. Headed up by a husband and wife team, the restaurant prides itself on maintaining close relationships with local farmers, gamekeepers and gardeners, using local ingredients to cook in their open kitchen which has its own wood-fired grill and spit for their own-reared meat (which can be seen hanging in the visible salt room at the entrance).

Durslade Farm Shop sits at the gallery’s entrance. This community farm shop stocks high quality pantry items, mouthwatering fresh meats, fruits and vegetables, confectionary, homeware and tipples.

Address: Durslade Farm, Dropping Ln, Bruton, BA10 0NL
T: 01749 814 060

Visit Hauser & Wirth Somerset
Image: Hauser & Wirth Somerset
Image: Hauser & Wirth Somerset
Image: Hauser & Wirth Somerset
Image: Hauser & Wirth Somerset
Image: Hauser & Wirth Somerset
Image: Hauser & Wirth Somerset
Katie Fishlock x Wine Freedom

Katie Fishlock x Wine Freedom

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The natural wine bar will launch 100 limited edition Katie Fishlock bottles under their House Wine brand and is set to host a month-long exhibition.

Birmingham-based natural wine bar, Wine Freedom, will mark this year’s International Women’s Day by hosting a four-week art exhibition at their warehouse venue in Digbeth.

‘The Femme’, which launches on 4th March, is set to see the walls of Wine Freedom displaying pieces by Bristol-based artist Katie Fishlock, whose work focuses on themes such as gender, sexuality and identity.

Katie Fishlock x Wine Freedom

Falmouth School of Art Graduate Katie’s work is provocative and playful, and aims to challenge the boundaries of portraying sexuality. Katie has worked extensively as a make-up artist and stylist in the fashion industry, namely with Boy George and Alexander McQueen. She is currently working as an artist and has a private coaching practice. ‘The Femme’ was created both on the premise of self-exploration as well as interviews conducted to discuss the energy and essence of the feminine.

Featuring both large-scale paintings and works on canvas, she muses upon the feminine — delights and challenges alike. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase one of Katie’s colourful works at the exhibition. Also on sale will be 100 limited edition House wine bottles featuring a piece of Katie’s artwork.

Alongside Katie’s work, Wine Freedom will also be showcasing four female winemakers throughout the four-week exhibition. Hailing from the USA, Austria and the South of France, the venue will be putting a spotlight on one per week, with a dedicated wine tasting each weekend for visitors to sample.

Wine Freedom founder, Sam Olive, said, “As big fans of Katie’s work we are really excited to be collaborating with her to celebrate International Women’s Day. Wine Freedom is a creative space for people to not only enjoy, but also learn about wine. Our aim for this exhibition is to reach a new audience whilst serving some new and interesting wines from female winemakers.”

“As big fans of Katie’s work we are really excited to be collaborating with her to celebrate International Women’s Day. Wine Freedom is a creative space for people to not only enjoy, but also learn about wine. Our aim for this exhibition is to reach a new audience whilst serving some new and interesting wines from female winemakers.”

Wine Freedom founder, Sam Olive

Katie Fishlock, said “‘The Femme’ is inspired by a period where I felt really disconnected from my femininity, as such the works illustrate the delights – and challenges – femininity brings with it. I think it’s really important to start and keep these kind of conversations alive. To showcase my work on the walls of Wine Freedom will hopefully enable this to happen. I’m so looking forward to the showcase going live just ahead of International Women’s Day this year.”

Katie Fishlock x Wine Freedom

‘The Femme’ at Wine Freedom runs from 4–27 March 2022.

From 13 February Wine Freedom are open Wednesday & Thursday 12pm-6pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm-11pm, and Sunday 12pm-6pm.

Bookings can be made via the link below.

Book now

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