Today, the Custard Factory may be Digbeth’s grown-up playground, full of everything from hip restaurants to activity bars, but it was once the home of the legendary egg-free custard, Bird’s. In a nod to its inventor, Alfred Bird, a new food hall, Alfred Works, is set to open in the hippest spot in Birmingham this spring.
From award-winning hospitality group, Blend Family (with food halls in Sheffield, Salford Quays and London), Alfred Works will span over 17,500 sq. ft of indoor space with 15 kitchens, a large outdoor courtyard, social gaming, family-friendly areas and a huge additional events space across the River Rea.
What will I find at Alfred Works?
The first wave sees three exciting food concepts, each making its Birmingham debut, announced. This includes Fuego 1987, home of the viral birria ramen and one of the UK street food scene’s biggest social media success stories. Enjoy a rich, slow-cooked beef broth fused with bold Mexican flavours, alongside stacked tacos and other comfort foods.
Elsewhere, Baity is known for championing authentic Palestinian flavours, where you can expect hand-rolled falafel, vibrant salads, fluffy flatbreads and slow-cooked meats, all inspired by family recipes passed down through generations; and House of Habesha offers a celebration of Eritrean and Ethiopian food, renowned for rich, aromatic stews, injera flatbread and communal-style eating.
Matt Bigland, Co-founder of Blend Family, said: “We want Alfred Works to introduce the Birmingham community to food they might not have had before, food partners with stories, heritage and serious flavour. This first wave is all about newness: new cuisines, new voices and food partners making their Birmingham debut in a space that’s built for the city and the community.”
Alongside food, Alfred Works will also be home to Blend Family’s second Blend Culinary Foundation Kitchen, continuing its mission to tackle food poverty and support access to food education. The site will also welcome the third location of The Cream Store, a leading independent retailer known for its community-led approach to fashion and lifestyle.
More food partners will be announced soon for Alfew Works, with the full line-up committed to independent operators and global flavours. Keep up to date here.