Digbeth Dining Club plans unmissable summer for foodies

Digbeth Dining Club is embarking on a summer tour across the West Midlands over the coming months, working with more than 150 food traders, bar companies, suppliers and businesses.

Tens of thousands of food and drinks fans are anticipated to attend the 15 events after 45,000 people attended locations across the Midlands throughout June and July.

Locations for August and September include Birmingham and the Black Country, Solihull, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.

The late summer tour, which takes place amidst a challenging backdrop for independent dining and hospitality businesses, will see the Birmingham-based events company work with hundreds of UK traders.

110 food traders and mobile bars as well as 40 suppliers and businesses will deliver dining experiences at iconic landmarks such as Compton Verney, Warwick Castle, and Worcester Cathedral Square.

John Mostyn, business development Manager for Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Trust, hosted a Digbeth Dining Club event in June featuring 12 traders, live music and entertainment.

Mostyn said: “Working on two events so far this year with Digbeth Dining Club has been a joy, their events team bring an object lesson in organisation and great delivery on the day with charm and great humour. Their chosen traders bring great food choices that ensure there is something to suit everyone.

“The events generated the largest number of visitors to the gardens of any event in the garden’s history, leaving many first time visitors now knowing where we are and what we offer, which I’m sure will have an ongoing impact on visitor numbers.”

Independent food traders including Beef on the Block, Fat Snags and Only Jerkin are long-term regulars at Digbeth Dining Club events, having grown with the events company since its inception in Birmingham in 2012.

Dani Page, founder-director of Midlands-based award-winning street food and catering service Beef on the Block working with Digbeth Dining Club since 2019, said: “Being a trader on the DDC roster really is our bread and butter and the backbone of our business. It gives us the security of not having to scramble around finding gigs at the last minute.

The business owner, who uses British produce including from renowned Coventry butchers Aubrey Allen as well as farmers and suppliers from across the region, explained: “Often events are booked in 4-6 months prior and the events are without fail always busy so it allows us to forecast ahead for the next few months and manage our cash flow – not something you can usually do in this industry.

“The volume of events DDC offer is helpful too – more often than not we are doing three to four days with them a week over the summer.”

Jack Brabant, director of Digbeth Dining Club, said, “With the rollout of an additional 15 dates for our events across the Midlands in August and September 2024, we hope to not just benefit the traders within our footprint, but increase footfall and spend more generally at each location.

“We know DDC patrons use public transport, visit nearby retail and other hospitality businesses, and generally engage with visitor economies more frequently around our events, even if they are local residents.

“Two key pillars of our business model are to work with independent companies to improve inward investment through partnership working, and improve community cohesion through affordable experiences – so we are delighted to see that our summer tour is having such a positive impact on our brilliant places and people in the Midlands.”