Finance community helps support Birmingham Independent Food Fair 

THE Birmingham Independent Food Fair has attracted sponsorship from Birmingham’s financial services sector.

The fair, which takes place at Millennium Point on Saturday, will feature displays from more than 40 SMEs in the food and drink sector.

Giving its backing to the event is Harborne-based Coversure Insurance Services, which specialises in commercial and trader insurance, with particular focus on the food and drink sector.

Paul Woodford, business development manager at Coversure, said: “Food and drink is a big part of what we do, so we understand the unique needs of businesses in this sector. We do everything we can to support local independent enterprise, as I passionately believe it’s what makes this city great.”

The fair’s headline partner is regional craft beer producer Purity Brewing Company. Other supporting organisations include social media and PR agency Clarity Comms, consumer feedback start-up VoteHere, and city tourism body Visit Birmingham.

Leamington food fair pulls in record crowds

ORGANISERS have hailed the Royal Leamington Spa Food and Drink Festival as the tastiest ever with a record crowd of more than 25,000 foodies savouring the delights.

They believe it has cemented the two-day event as one of the best autumn food festivals in the UK with visitors from near and far attracted to the diverse range of local food and drink being showcased.

More than 150 exhibitors filled the Pump Room Gardens for the weekend festival, which is now in its seventh year.

New for this year was Aubrey Allen’s ‘Home Cook of the Year’ competition with finalists judged in a live cook-off by celebrity chef Brian Turner, Michelin star chef and local food hero Andreas Antona, from Simpsons, and Warwick and Leamington Spa MP Chris White.

Turner said he was impressed with the festival.

He said: “It’s my first time here and it’s been a great day out. There’s a huge amount going on with all the stallholders and live music, and so many people here. It’s a great atmosphere.”

Other highlights included the Taste Trail which was a sell-out with festival-goers keen to sample the menus of participating restaurants around the town.

Stephanie Kerr, from BID Leamington, which organises the festival with the support of local businesses, said: “It has been the best-ever Leamington Food and Drink Festival because of the sheer number of people that turned out which is down to the reputation of the event.”

Asha’s makes the winning difference for Indian cricketers

STAFF at Asha’s Restaurant in Newhall Street, Birmingham, would have you believe that India’s comprehensive win over England at Edgbaston in the one day international was down to their dining choice the night before the match.

Several members of the side dined at Asha’s on two consecutive evenings before the game.

Restaurant general manager Domnic Norunha said: “It was a real privilege and pleasure to have members of the Indian team dining with on the two evenings before their match against England.

“They were looking for the very best in ‘home cooking’ and that is why they chose to eat here.”

The restaurant is a favourite destination for celebrities and sports people when visiting Birmingham – the list includes such luminaries as Heston Blumenthal, Amir Khan and Chris de Burgh.

Lasan linked with Colmore Row move

AWARD-winning Birmingham restaurant group Lasan has been strongly linked with a  move to a site on Colmore Row in the heart of the city’s business district.

The group’s flagship Indian restaurant is in James Street, near St Paul’s Square in the city’s Jewellery Quarter. This was named Asian Business Restaurant of the Year 2013 at the Asian Business Awards and best local restaurant on celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word TV programme in 2009.

The group, founded by Jabbar Khan and Aktar Islam, also runs Lasan Eatery in Hall Green and Argentinian steak restaurant Fiesta Del Asado in Edgbaston.

Now it been linked with a prominent site at 130 Colmore Row, which is situated at the Victoria Square end of the street next to Chung Ying Central restaurant.

The Grade II-listed building was bought by Chinese investors in February. It had been used for offices until now but a new planning application has been lodged with Birmingham City Council seeking permission to carry out internal renovations to create a building suitable for a bar or restaurant occupier.

It is understood that the Lasan group is keen to occupy the site as a second venue for its Lasan Eatery brand which specialises in Indian street food.