Tag Archives: Custard Factory

#Digmas: Christmas Fair with Vegan stores and Veggie/Vegan food. Saturday 26th November.

Posted in Christmas, City Centre, Custard Factory, Digbeth, Events, Food Festivals, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Street Food, Veggie by

Merry #Digmas:

Brum’s favourite independent Christmas fair and family day out returns to the Custard Factory!

Kick off the festive season in style at #Digmas, Birmingham’s favourite independent Christmas fair and family day out. The fun-filled event will return to the Custard Factory at the heart of Birmingham’s Creative Quarter on Saturday 26 November from 11am to 6pm. 

Entry is free. There’ll be something for everyone in the family; from street food, gin, craft beer and market stalls for the adults to Santa’s grotto, face painting and craft activities for the kids.

Tara Newman, Head of Events at the Custard Factory, said “#Digmas is a Digbeth tradition for foodies, friends and families looking for an alternative to the usual pre-Christmas crush on the high street. It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up some unique stocking fillers, enjoy a day out and get into the festive spirit”.

At the heart of the Custard Factory there’ll be a lively indoor market with high quality art and crafts from the Paperdolls Handmade Markets plus locally-made cakes, chocolates and other goodies. 

There’ll be Vegan stalls filled with gifts, and fashionistas can peruse the rails of clothing from a selection of leading brands.

Shoppers will enjoy browsing the Custard Factory’s resident shops who will all be open during the day’s festivities. They can enjoy a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate whilst revelling in live music by the lakeside from Bostin Brass, The Glamophones and a cheerful carol singing quartet.

Foodies will tantalise their taste buds with some of the best street food in the city and dishes include macaroni cheese,  warming soups, spicy curries and irresistible churros and chocolate. Plus cakes by Mrs Mills. The covered food court will have a great atmosphere with a DJ playing festive favourites, perfect for meeting up with friends to enjoy a glass of gin or craft beer from the pop-up bars.

The kids will have a great time too with a visit to Santa’s grotto and a packed programme of festive storytelling performances, craft activities, cupcake decorating and face painting.

 #Digmas is free to enter and all ages are welcome to enjoy the fun, food and festivities. Advanced booking for some activities is recommended. 

http://www.custardfactory.co.uk/digmas2016 for more information.

Alongside all of the fantastic entertainment, food and activities already revealed, they have been working with local organic and Vegan friendly drinks company U-Juice to curate a friendly selection of vegan stalls at #DIGMAS! Food & drink, clothing, jewellery, beauty products and lots, lots more – all produced ethically and organically.


Other Vegan and Veggie friendly traders also thete will be Aah Lovely, (handmade gifts including ceramics, bags and cards), Dr Ice ( Men’s grooming products), Viva la Vegan (organically made clothing and best fashion brand award winners), Hugletts Wood Farm Animal Sanctuary, (handmade gifts) Badger’s Dairy Free, (side dishes), Purely Vegan (Vegan Grocers) The May Bakery (Vegan cakes, cupcakes and cookies) Honest Skincare, and Custard Factory resident Clink craft beer have a Vegan range too. 

The May Bakery.

Street Food from Littlesixtythree ( soups and stews) locally produced served with fresh crusty bread and Quarter Horse Coffee and Hot chocolate. 


Yumlaut: traditional German Sausage with Vegan-friendly and deliciously named ‘Veggie Brat’.

Churros Susanna: Churros and chocolate. Plus dairy free. Sugary happiness. 


Veggie Foodie favourites The Indian Rasoi: Indian Street Food and curry to warm you up. 


Holy Moly Macaroni: Macaroni cheese who are launching on The Birmingham  street food scene at #Digmas, plus offering a Vegan option that replaces cheese with butternut squash. Comfort food with a difference. 


Holy Moli Macaroni.

Plus drinks from Gin Box and Clink Craft Beer who will have vegan/veggie choices. 

Read more about the Vegan stalls on offer on Sat 26th here: 

#DIGMAS 2016 – First Vegan & Ethical Market at the Custard Factory

Looks a lovely way to kick off the Christmas period, and celebrate Birmingham’s independent and creative scene. 

The Custard Factory and sister venue Fazeley Studios are based in Digbeth a short walk from Birmingham New Street and The Bullring shopping centre in the heart of Birmingham. The area has long been established as one of the countries leading creative and digital business destinations, with a thriving business community residing alongside Birmingham’s independent retailers. 

Home

http://www.fazeleystudios.com/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

The Glamophones who will be singing at #Digmas.

All images and photos courtesy of The Custard Factory. 

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Meat Free Monday’s: The Vegan Grindhouse at The Mockingbird in Digbeth Birmingham. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Craft beer, Digbeth, Events, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers, Veggie foodie, Veggie foodie brunch breakfasts by

       
 

Monday’s will never be the same if you are a Vegan or Veggie in Birmingham. 

The news is that esteemed and popular Vegan Street food traders The Vegan Grindhouse are taking over The Mockingbird at The Custard Factories kitchen all day on a Monday from August 10th for the rest of this year for a Meat-Free Monday’s special.

  

BIRMINGHAM INDEPENDENT VENUE AND POPULAR VEGAN STREET FOOD COMPANY TEAM UP FOR MEAT FREE MONDAYS STARTING MONDAY 10TH AUGUST.

The teams behind the successful Mockingbird Theatre, Bistro & Bar and Midlands based vegan street-food company The Vegan Grindhouse have collaborated to host a new destination event every Monday in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The event, The Vegan Grindhouse presents Meat Free Monday’s at The Mockingbird which is taking place every Monday from 10th August at Mockinbird Theatre Bistro and Bar, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, B9 4AA. 

The Vegan Grindhouse chefs will be serving up an all-vegan Americana style brunch menu from 11am-2pm, featuring waffles, scrambled tofu, granola, BLT and bagels. 

Then every Monday evening from 5-9pm there will be a new menu featuring food from different regions of the USA, such as burritos, Philly cheesesteaks, meatball marinara subs, mac’n’cheese and all American sides and desserts. There will be gluten free options available on each menu also. 

In addition to the food, Meat Free Mondays will also feature free film screenings in the theatre, music and a range of vegan beers, soft drinks and plant-based milks for coffees and teas.

Lisa Burbidge-Brown, Co-owner of The Vegan Grindhouse said “We are so excited to take on this weekly residency at The Mockingbird. To give people a fully vegan restaurant menu every Monday is a great way to promote the Meat Free Monday message of reducing or eliminating their meat and dairy intake due to health, environmental or ethical reasons and this is a great opportunity for people to try exciting new vegan food and see why going meat free is a viable alternative diet and lifestyle.”

The Vegan Grindhouse by Vegan Vox travels around the wider Midlands area to markets, festivals and street-food events to bring their high-end Americana handmade organic vegan food to a wide range of customers. 

They have traded across the UK including Birmingham, Warwickshire, Blackpool, Manchester, Wales and London since starting the business in April 2014 and have many more events booked throughout this year working with some of the big names in Street Food events.

The Vegan Grindhouse is a small independent all-vegan mobile catering company from the West Midlands, who produce organic, fair trade, cruelty-free tasty vegan Americana street-food and treats.

The Dinner menu will change each week and will be announced prior to the Monday. 

Contact the venue for reservations or just turn up on the day/night. 
So introduce non vegans and veggies to a meat free meal with new dishes not served up by The Vegan Grindhouse on their truck. 

http://www.thevegangrindhouse.co.uk/2015/08/exciting-announcement-meat-free-mondays.html?m=1

The Mockingbird, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, B9 YAA. 

   
 

  
Dinner menu for The Vegan Grindhouse Meat Free Mondays. 

#TastyMorsels: Cruelty Free Christmas Fair and Digmas @ the Custard factory Saturday 20/12

Posted in Bars, beer, Catering, Cocktails, Digbeth, Events, Festivals, Food, Food Festivals, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Kings Heath, shops, Tasty Morsels, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

This Saturday the 20th seems to be the climax of Birmingham’s December Festive seasonal foodie calender.

It’s a bit like buses, you wait around for ages and then three turn up at once.

I’ve mentioned Brum Yum Yum KingshEATh already, but two more events also going on in or near the City Centre.

First off is, The Birmingham Cruelty Free Christmas Fair at Carrs Lane Church Centre B4 7SX in the City Centre.

From 10.30-4pm 30 stalls will be offering a wide variety of animal free products, chocolate, cosmetics, cakes, recipe books, soaps, sweets, and gifts and much more with delicious vegan catering from ChangeKitchen whom I’m big fans of and much more fresh food stalls and nibbles to tempt you.

http://www.changeKitchen.co.uk

@changeKitchen

Also, stbestcaterers, will be bringing top quality food, the best in Caribbean cuisine will be showcasing too.

http://www.stbestcaterers.co.uk
@stbestcaterers

Run by West Midlands Vegan Fest, promoting veganism in the West Midlands including free food fairs and events.

http://www.midlandsveganfestival.org.uk

Supporting local Animal Sanctuaries, campaigning groups and small ethical traders. The fair will be free entry and run from 10.30am-4pm.

The second event is Digmas 12pm-6pm at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The Christmas Fair will be an alternative day out and be the best of local traders, Street food, a pop up bar and entertainment.

Digbeth Dining Club will be doing the food and for veggies and vegans the esteeemed Vegan Grindhouse will be there along with The
Bournville Waffle Company.

Alfie Birds another Veggie Foodie Favourite will be provideing the drinks with a pop up bar- including craft beer, Bailey’s Hot Choc, and Christmas Cocktails.

Street food and bar running until 8pm.

Plus, there will be live music, an Urban Village Vintage fair, and a Mockingbird Theatre treats (see website) plus other independent luminaries from The Custard Factory to tempt and loosen your purse strings.

So catch them both if you can, 🙂

Digmas @ the Custard Factory 20th December 12pm-6pm.

http://www.thecustardfactory.co.uk/digmas for full programme.

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Thanks for reading 🙂

@andydhare

#TASTYMORSELS: RICO LIBRE @BARN STREET DIGBETH BREAKFAST AND TAPAS

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Independent, Lunch deals, Tapas, Tasty Morsels, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Another new addition to Birmingham’s Dining scene is Rico Libre @Barn Street Breakfast and Tapas. Stationed in the Digbeth part of the city 5 minutes from the Custard Factory and 4 minutes from Digbeth Coach station on Digbeth High street they sit in what was a diner, but is now a hot new tapas bar that masquerades as a cafe in the early daytime.

Rico Libre serve Breakfast Monday-Friday 8am-2pm which includes a delicious vegetarian Breakfast comprising of veggie sausage, Herby Mushrooms, grilled Tomato, Sauteed Potatoes and toast with tea or coffee for a bargain £4.20.

They also serve the enticing Huevos Rancheros a Mexican Breakfast of Tortillas x2 Fried eggs x2, tomato salsa, cheese, refried beans, and sour cream for a bargain £5.00.

They also serve sandwiches and salad boxes at lunch time and are popular with businesses in the local area.

Also, at lunchtime they serve Tapas-Monday-friday from 12-2.30pm but not evenings in the week as yet.

This has been rolled out to now include Friday and Saturday evenings 5pm-10pm.

The cost is 3 dishes for £10.00 with bring your own alcohol.

On the menu for vegetarians are a number of options:

-Champinones Al Ajillo-Mushrooms sauteed in garlic and parsley
-Grilled Haloumi with Rustic Tomatoes, and Basil.
-Patatas Bravas-Fried Potatoes, with rustic tomato.
-Patatas Alioli-Fried Potatoes with garlic Mayo.
-Grilled aubergine, with red mojo sauce and salsa.

They also serve bread, toasted garlic bread and olives.

Also, desert Creme Catalan is veggie.

Rico Libre has had some good reviews so far on Tripadvisor. Search Rico Libre @Barn street.

Seems a real independent find especially for a good value tapas lunch whilst in the Custard factory or a breakfast before a visit. Looking forward to visiting soon.

Their are some terrific Vegetarian options on the menu.

The Custard Factory and Digbeth has so much to offer and is a thriving community of exciting foodie and vintage shopping places. 🙂

The area maybe unfamiliar and tucked away. They have painted their building bright green so that it can be noticed 🙂 It is on the Corner of Milk Street and Barn Street in Digbeth.

Directions are on their website.

Their is parking near by on the road and around the area.

http://www.rico-libre.co.uk

@rico-libre Twitter

0121 687 8730

Rico Libre @Barn Street
1 Barn Street
Digbeth
Birmingham
B5 5QD

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Digbeth Dining Club at Spotlight July 2014.

Posted in Coffee, Independent, Street Food by

As the Summer evenings stretch on and on and July is surely going to bring fab weather, then if you are at a loose end on a Friday evening from 5.30pm then consider a visit to the Digbeth Dining Club in Digbeth near Birmingham City Centre. For the best in the regions Street Food look no further.

Winner of the Best Street Food event in the UK in 2013 at the British Street Food awards and The Design My Night award for the Best Experience in 2014.

July brings with it a brand new menu. The dates are 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th.

Digbeth Dining Club started in 2012, providing food and entertainment where creativity and food meet. With the aim to strip back the frills and expense of restaurant eating by providing a platform for ‘Street food’ artisans to concentrate on the quality and flavour of the dishes, prefering to let the food do the talking.

With the introduction of locally sourced ‘Street Food’ and a trendy artistic hub Digbeth Dining club provided a place for for the finest artisans to produce incredible food in front of customers at affordable prices. Food is cooked fresh in front of customers as theatre using innovative techniques.

The food and vendors on offer varies from week to week, that’s the joy of The Digbeth Dining Club.

For veggies and vegans there are many options:

To name a few.

The Vegan Grindhouse-gourmet street food, vegan burgers & hot dogs.
Buddha Belly- Thai Street food
Jabberwocky Foods- Gourmet toasties
The Mexican Bean- Mexican street food, burritios, nachos, Guacamole.
Canoodle- Pan Asian Street Food.
Habanero cafe- Mexican street food
Bournville Waffle club- Traditional Belgian waffles

All have twitter accounts and some websites.

For meat eating friends the choice is superb too.

Check out the website and facebook and twitter for details of who will be ‘performing’ on each friday.

It is a well held belief that some of the best food cooked in Birmingham is available on the streets. The succes of Brum Yum Yum in Kings Heath and now the City Centre (see previous blog entries) demonstrates this.

The dishes on offer will range from £5 upwards.

The aim of The Digbeth Dining Club is to bridge a gap between post work drinking and night time revelry in a unique atmosphere.

As well as a feast of food delights, there will be beer, cocktails and the like on offer. Also The Bean Stall will be on hand for roasted coffee.

The Digbeth Dining Club, for the food and the atmosphere and if we are lucky that lovely Summer evening sunshine.

Whatever the weather it is well worth the walk or ride to Digbeth.

Digbeth Dining Club

Unit 2

Lower Trinity Street

Digbeth

B9 4AG

@digbethdiner

http://www.digbethdiningclub.co.uk

National Vegetarian Week 19-25th May 2014 and Meat Free Monday’s Birmingham.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants by

A bumper week of veggie delights is on offer this week.

In case you don’t know this week 19th-25th May is National Vegetarian week. Veggie week is in its 22nd Year and was designed to promote inspirational food and the benefits of a meat free life style. http://www.nationalvegetarianweek.org

In Birmingham we have three vegetarian restaurants that serve a complete meat free menu.

Bistro 1847 is in Birmingham city centre near Snow Hill Station and serves modern, British dishes alongside cocktails, wines, spirits and beers. All menus are vegetarian. They have special set menus and a supper club that runs from time to time. See website for details.

Veg out Cafe in Kings Heath in South Birmingham serves organic vegetarian food all day, and does a super menu on Friday and Saturday evening. See previous review.

The Warehouse cafe is located in Birmingham City Centre in the Digbeth area near the Custard Factory. It is located in the Friends of the Earth building and serves fresh, organic, vegetarian and vegan dishes at affordable prices.

Also,

Moor Hall Hotel and Spa in Sutton Coldfield is doing a special 20% off all vegetarian main courses from the Oak Room and Bar menus all this week.

Meat Free Monday’s is an initiative to not eat meat for one day a week in order to make a world of difference.

The plan is to:

-Help our beautiful planet

-Be healthy and happy

-Save the pennies

-Think of the animals

Their webiste http://www.meatfreemonday’s.com have numerous recipes as well as the full ethos and is endorsed by Sir Paul McCartney amongst others.

Cafe Opus at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham City Centre serve a meat free Monday menu only every Monday and have been doing so for numerous weeks now. It is well worth dropping by. The menu changes every week. Keep an eye on twitter and their website for details. This is a great day/night out for all vegetarians and meat eaters alike.

See my review of meat free Monday’s at Cafe Ikon coming soon.

Also Pop up Dosa will be having a special dosa fest at Ort Cafe in Balsall Heath/Moseley area on Saturday 24th May between 12-3pm. Go aloon for a good selection of veggie dosas.

Update: I have received an email from Bistro 1847 advising that there will be 50% off their a la carte menu from today, the 21st May until Saturday 24th May. You must book directly on their website http://www.bistro1847.com and show the email ‘Enjoy National vegetarian week with 50% off’ to your server.

You can subscribe for emails on their website. Hopefully you will receive this email, with the details.

If anyone knows of other special events, menus or foodie initiatives that are linked to National Vegetarian Week in Birmingham or Meat Free Monday’s please let me know or leave a comment at the bottom of the post.

Whatever, you do though have a good veggie week.

 

Bistro 1847

http://www.Bistro1847.co.uk

0121 236 2313

@Bistro1847

26 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham City Centre (opposite Snow Hill Station)

 

Veg Out Cafe

46 Poplar Road, Kings Heath Birmingham

0121 441 3802

@cafevegout

The Warehouse Cafe

@warehouse_cafe

54-57 Allison Street Birmingham B5 5TH

0121 633 0261

 

Moor Hall hotel and spa, Sutton Coldfield

0121 308 3571

http://www.moorhallhotel.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Alfie Bird’s gourmet eats and beats opening soon

Posted in Bars and Pubs by

Alfie Birds is a brand new bar and gourmet destination opening in Birmingham’s Custard Factory, Digbeth area near Birmingham City Centre.

It will open its doors on the 23rd, 24th and 25th May with a special launch Bank Holiday weekend of music, and food.

Over three floors Alfie Birds will seduce us with stone baked pizzas, craft beer, cocktails and live music.

Alfie Birds is on the site of the old Medicine Bar which I remember well in the Custard Factory, and has been set up by Damien Fell and Andrew Purvis to offer gourmet eats and beats to the Digbeth area of the city.

There will be live performances and DJ’s on offer most weekends and the food will be affordable and will have good vegetarian options.

Details of their opening nights can be found on their website http://www.alfiebirds.co.uk or via Facebook or twitter.

Tickets can be purchased from http://www.seetickets.com

Alfie Birds is sure to be a fun and funky venue.

It should be quite an independent venue for Birmingham to savour.

Update on the 16th May 2014 via twitter.

@Alfiebirds: @andydhare At the moment we’ve got 1 vegan, 2 veggie, 3 fish/sea food & the rest meat options however we make them fresh so can do more 🙂

http://www.alfiebirds.co.uk
@alfiebirds
@independentB’ham
@custardfactory