Back Into Foodie Festivities! Birmingham Independent Food Fair 2015 – Day 2

After a night’s rest, it was time to return to foodie heaven (see part one here).

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Brum Bites – Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

You may not believe it but I occasionally do non foodie things around Birmingham, as well as stuffing my face.

On the same day as Day 1 of  Birmingham Independent Food Fair 2015 as part of Birmingham Heritage Week, Hidden Spaces opened up Curzon Street railway station to the public. Wifey, I, and a few friends went for a poke around.

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

The building, though vacant, hasn’t lost its imposing stature

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

An astounding triple height ceiling with a recently refurbished octagonal skylight

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

The mummified cat was absent, perhaps it had found another life.

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Backstory on the station.

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Down into the basement

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Looks like the party finished a long time ago.

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Hidden spaces signage in the old phone exchange room.

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Looks like the keys to half of Birmingham!

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Breakfast menu for the long gone Rosa’s cafe; if it was open now, a bacon and sausage sandwich for 60p would put Mr Egg to shame.

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

The old phone exchange box featuring logo from the 80’s!

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Other parts of the basement.

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Old yellow bin! Remember them?

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

View over Eastside

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Conservation award from 1984, shame the conservation did not carry on.

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Better view of the octagonal skylight

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Boarded (and broken) windows

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Better view of Eastside with Bullring and Beetham Tower in the distance

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Rotunda

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

First floor balcony

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

View up to the second floor, with some 60’s spot lights

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Back outside

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

View from across the road

Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station
Hidden Spaces at Curzon Street Station

Hopefully, HS2 will help to restore this architectural gem back to its former glory. Our tour was done, now back to the Birmingham Independent Food Fair.

When: 12/09/2015

Where: Curzon Street Station, Birmingham

Who: Hidden SpacesBirmingham Heritage Week

Because I Feel Foodie! Birmingham Independent Food Fair 2015 – Day 1

Birmingham Independent Food Fair is now in its second year, following on from #futurefoodies @ Hotel LaTour in 2013 (#futurefoodies was Wifey and I’s first foodie event in Birmingham and we were the first visitors to arrive!).

Created by the minds behind Dine Birmingham, Birmingham Independent Food Fair is a flagship event in Birmingham’s foodie scene, bringing together streetfood vendors, suppliers, independent stores and some of Birmingham’s best bars and restaurants.

This year, as per the previous year, the event was held at Millennium Point, it’s also two days long which means double the time for food!

 Wifey and I popped along to see what was happening (settle in, this will be a long one!).

The sun was shining as we strolled along through Eastside Park to the food fair and got to see a glimpse of the goodies, with the outside stalls, before picking up our wristbands.

Streetfood stalls outside Millennium Point
Streetfood stalls outside Millennium Point

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Magnum Meat – Andy Low & Slow takeover at Bar Opus

After a hard week at work, my craving for sustenance meant a Friday afternoon trip out. The Opus Group (previously reviewed, as part of my CBD article), have let a local food favourite, Andy Low ‘n’ Slow take over the kitchen at Bar Opus at One Snowhill (tucked behind Doddle) on Fridays.

Great food in a nice bar, less than 5 mins from the office? Sounds good to me!

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Winding Down at The Winding House Team Rooms

It was a Saturday and (mostly) sunny so Wifey and I  decided to have a day trip out of the city. We pootled along to Bridgnorth to soak up the sunshine in the Severn Valley.

Whilst exploring the town, we went to the Funicular (Cliff) Railway, England’s oldest and steepest. We were happy to discover a team room, aptly named Winding House Tea Rooms,  had been added since our last visit.

Our thirst needed quenching so a visit was called for. Those disliking steep staircases should look away now…

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