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The region’s biggest and best celebration of food returns this September as the Solihull Food Festival takes over the town centre!
Taking place between September 29th – October 1st, the free family festival will feature over 80 food and drink traders in Mell Square, Mill Lane and Solihull High Street.
Organised by Solihull BID and supported by RR Events, this year’s event will also feature the popular live music Rum & Reggae zone.
Plus, there’s the much-loved demo kitchen, taster tent and roaming entertainment across the town centre.
A full line-up of music and celebrity chefs is below – we’re delighted to confirm AINSLEY HARRIOTT will be returning to Solihull as our headline chef!
Saturday 30th September
12:00 - 12:45
Glynn Purnell
Saturday 30th September
13:00 - 13:45
Ainsley Harriott
Saturday 30th September
14:00 - 14:45
Glynn Purnell
Saturday 30th September
15:00 - 15:45
Ainsley Harriott
Sunday 1st October
11:00 - 11:45
Pookie Tredell
Sunday 1st October
12:30 - 13:15
Aldo Zilli
Sunday 1st October
13:45 - 14:30
Rob Palmer (Toffs)
After almost three decades as one of the country’s favourite TV chefs, Ainsley Harriott has become something of a national institution. In 2020 he was delighted to be awarded an MBE for his services to broadcasting and the culinary arts. Best known for his twenty-one series’ of Ready, Steady, Cook, and with many solo primetime cooking series under his belt, he has become the master of fresh, fun, accessible cuisine.
Aldo Zilli is an award-winning chef and restaurateur who specialises in Italian, vegetarian and seafood cuisine. One of nine children, he was born in the small seaside town of Alba Adriatica in the central Italian region of Abruzzo and first learnt Italian home cooking from his mother in Italy followed by catering college. He is delighted to be the Brand Ambassador for Lucarelli and is excited to be showing you what’s on offer at Emporio Artari Touchwood as well as the Lucarelli Restaurants.
Often called the ‘Yummy Brummie’, Glynn Purnell started cooking professionally at the age of 14. After securing a work experience placement in a hotel kitchen, he spent the next two years catching the No 966 bus to the Metropole Hotel at the NEC where he was quickly promoted to making salads and flipping burgers. Glynn is now the proud owner of two establishments in Birmingham and has become a household name after taking part in the Great British Menu, winning twice and then later appearing as a mentor. He has previously featured on The Great British Food Revival and The Secret Chef, among other television programmes.
Rob grew up in Castle Bromwich, Solihull. After leaving Park Hall school at 16, Rob wanted to go straight into work as a chef and gained an apprenticeship at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. After working at The Forest Hotel in Dorridge, Solihull, Rob left to go and work at Hampton Manor as Junior sous chef under former Michelin starred chef Martyn Pearn. After being given the Head Chef job in 2014, Rob and his team achieved the prestigious status of 1 Michelin star, the first ever for Solihull. In the same week they were also awarded 4 Rosettes from the AA guide. Rob and his ever-changing team continued to achieve the status of 1 Michelin star & 4 rosettes up until leaving in early 2021 to set up his first solo venture ‘Toffs by Rob Palmer’ on Drury Lane in Solihull town centre.
MasterChef 2022 runner-up, Pookie Tredell, grew up in Bangkok and came to study at university in the UK and set up her businesses for a career in beauty salons. It was only when Pookie and her husband started hosting parties for friends and family that she discovered her passion for food and creative cooking, honing her now famous, quirky ‘Pookie Style’. Pookie cooks with love and wants it to be delicious, fun and put a smile on people’s faces.
Friday 29th September
12:30 - 13:15
Got 2 Sing Choir
Friday 29th September
14:00 - 15:45
The Hoods
Friday 29th September
16:00 - 17:30
The Wedding Crashers
Friday 29th September
18:00 – 19:45
Skabucks
Saturday 30th September
10:00 – 11:30
Children’s Disco
Saturday 30th September
12:00 – 13:45
Zebby & Kamar Reggae Show
Saturday 30th September
14:00 – 15:45
Ultimate Madnezz
Saturday 30th September
16:00 – 17:45
Global Reggae Band
Saturday 30th September
18:00 – 19:45
Innerheart
Saturday 30th September
20:00 – 21:45
Reggae Matic
Sunday 1st October
12:00 – 13.45
The Hoods
Sunday 1st October
14:00 – 15:45
Rats in the Kitchen
The Rum and Reggae Stage in Mell Square was a roaring success this year, busier than ever and such a great vibe in Mell Square. Great music, a fun atmosphere and also great kids entertainment!
Again, another successful Food Festival with Solihull BID. It always leads to an increase in footfall and sales and has a positive impact on the town centre.
Solihull is connected to two mainline routes via Birmingham International and Solihull Station, connecting to Birmingham and London. Find out more information on train services and timetables by clicking here.
If you wish to travel by bus, Network West Midlands has all the online timetables and fare information you need with easy ticket buying and route planning. Click here for more information.
Solihull town centre also has a number of public car parks including Mell Square, Lode Lane, Monkspath Hall Road and others. You can view opening times and parking charges on the Solihull Council website by clicking here.
The Touchwood car park is also open. You can view more information on the Touchwood website by clicking here.
Competition time!
Win a five-course lunch for two at the beautiful Toffs by Rob Palmer. Toffs has become a firm favourite in Solihull since opening on Drury Lane and it’s not hard to see why.
Rob Palmer has lead teams in Michelin star and AA Rosette restaurants and his own fine-dining venture has been a big hit.
To enjoy their delicious five-course lunch, including one complimentary bottle of wine, answer the question correctly to be in with a chance to win.
QUESTION: ON WHICH SOLIHULL TOWN CENTRE ROAD IS TOFFS LOCATED ON?
Complete the competition entry form, including your answer, to be in with a chance of winning. Good luck!
Ts & Cs: Competition closes 11:59pm on Friday, October 6th. Winner will be contacted the week after. You must answer the question correctly to win. No cash alternative offered. You must book your lunch in advance with Toffs. Only one competition entry per person.
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