A flavour of the region

From Cadbury and custard to Digbeth Dining Club. The West Midlands continues to make its mark on the culinary scene.

Chocoholics

In 1824, John Cadbury began selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate in Bull Street, Birmingham. Cadbury's innovative production of cocoa essence in the 1860s helped transform the small business into one of the world’s largest confectionary companies.

Today, Cadbury is one of the world's best-selling brands, found in more than 40 countries and manufactured in more than 15 countries around the world. It employs around 70,000 people.

Custard start

Bird’s Custard was first formulated and cooked in 1837 at a chemist shop in Birmingham. Alfred Bird’s unique powdered custard recipe was so well received by dinner guests, he would form Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd to increase wider production.

He went on to invent a baking powder, which is the same used in kitchens across the world today. Bird was also an MP for Wolverhampton West. Other kitchen staples invented in Birmingham include Typhoo Tea, HP Sauce and Bournville drinking chocolate, while Coventry is known for its baked puff pastries called Godcakes. The Black Country is famous for its traditional pubs and breweries.

Today, the Custard Factory is at the heart of Birmingham's buzzing creative and digital district - set in 15 acres of beautifully restored Victorian factories.

Home comforts

West Midlands innovations can be found in every home. Birmingham's John Heard invented the stove, while Birmingham firm Arthur Price was the first to make spoons and forks from chromium plate. Birmingham's Arthur Leslie Large, George Andrew Darby and Walter Griffiths invented the electric kettle, smoke alarm and portable vacuum cleaner respectively. 

The University of Birmingham's John Randall and Harry Boot invented a high-powered microwave generator, a vital component in the commercial microwave oven.

West Bromwich firm Salters Houseware Ltd created the UK's first bathroom scales. Today, Walsall-based Homeserve launched the Leakbot to detect household leaks and Midlands entrepreneur Nick Holzherr founded digital food application Whisk.

Top of the food chain

The West Midlands is at the epicentre of the nation's culinary map – led by Solihull-born chef and television personality Glynn Purnell. The region is home to six Michelin-starred restaurants, alongside an award-winning street food scene including Digbeth Dining Club and the Balti Triangle.

The five second rule – the ‘unofficial law’ that you can still eat food when it's been dropped on the floor – has been proven correct by Aston University micro biologists.

Discover great places to visit, our leading business sectors, and all the information you need about holding your next conference or event in the region. Find out more about our successful Universities of the West Midlands and how to travel comfortably and easily around the region by West Midlands Railway.