Where to eat in Birmingham and the West Midlands: Best spots for foodies

21.07.2023 - 07:43 / roughguides.com

There’s always a fantastic reason to head to Birmingham and the West Midlands, including any one of 50 annual festivals held in the city and on its outskirts. The highlight for this year will be the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which kicks off on 28 July. It’s the first time the city has hosted the Games, which will be at the heart of the six-month-long Birmingham 2022 Festival, created to celebrate the region’s creativity, diversity and innovation.

The best bit? In recent years, Birmingham and the West Midlands has emerged as a foodie hotspot, which is why we’ve come to the rescue of rumbling stomachs everywhere with the ultimate guide to where to eat in Birmingham and the West Midlands for foodies heading to the region.

Cuisine from every corner of the globe – and closer to home – in Birmingham and the West Midlands © West Midlands Growth Company

Birmingham and the West Midlands are home to some of the world’s biggest food names, and Bird's Custard, Bournville Chocolate and Typhoo Tea are just a few of the brands founded here.

For the ultimate sugar fix, head to Cadbury World, which you’ll find in Birmingham’s Bournville village. Founded by George Cadbury, Bournville village had houses for employees of Cadbury’s chocolate factory, as well as for those on low incomes, and the village is still managed by the Bournville Village Trust, which was founded in 1900.

At Cadbury World, there are several fantastic zones to explore. Our favourites include the manufacturing area, where interactive exhibits provide an insight into the world of chocolate production, and Bull Street, a replica of the Victorian-era street on which John Cadbury founded his business.

Discover the art of chocolate at Cadbury World, Birmingham © West Midlands Growth Company

You’ll never get bored in West Midlands, home to over 50 festivals and food-related events every year. Many of these are dedicated to celebrating the diversity of the region's culinary offerings.

Great examples include July’s Birmingham Cocktail Weekend, when bars roll out special cocktail menus which showcase the mixology skills of the West Midlands’ best bartenders, or June’s Vegan Market at the beautiful Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. Head there to sample local food and drink from a wide range of vendors, including craft brewers, butchers and bakers.

We’re also huge fans of the BBC Good Food Show. In 2022 the summer event kicks off at the NEC on 16 June.

Solihull Food and Drink Festival makes a triumphant return in 2022 (23-25 September). The free family festival will feature over 80 food and drink traders in Mell Square, Mill Lane and Solihull High Street.

Such is the West Midlands vibrant foodie landscape that new restaurants are always springing up. Kibou in