Popular street food festival prepares to celebrate birthday with weekend-long party

Digbeth Dining Club will be celebrating its 12th birthday with a special two-day event at its home base, Hockley Social Club, Birmingham on Saturday 21st September and Sunday 22nd September.

Returning to the format that has attracted hundreds of thousands of food and culture fans since the event began in 2012, St George’s Street, outside the Jewellery Quarter, will be transformed into a food festival with 10 vendors bringing together the festival across the weekend.

The Digbeth Dining Club’s street closure played a significant role in the initial growth of the business in its formative years, with as many as four thousand people a month flocking to Lower Trinity Street in Digbeth.

Traders such as Original Patty Men, Baked in Brick, Indian Streatery, Buddha Belly and Meat Shack all started their street food careers at Digbeth Dining Club before opening their own restaurants in Birmingham.

Digbeth Dining Club’s 12th birthday celebrations will be its first closure since January 2020, pre-COVID-19.

Food vendors confirmed to be at the event include Baked in Brick, Beef on the Block, Death Row Sandwiches, Feed, Hawker Dan, Leave it to Esmie, Shrimp Shack, Street Chef, Street Souvlaki and Urban Cheesecake.

The weekend event will also feature live music from Young Culture and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire jazz graduates The Equinox Trio, as well as DJ sets from DJ Psychomantus and funk and soul music selector Marcus B.

Jack Brabant, co-founder and director of Digbeth Dining Club and Hockley Social Club, said: “Our journey from a handful of dining venues in a space under the arcades in the back streets of Digbeth to touring the country and opening a new, expanded venue that attracts world-famous orchestras, DJs, comedians and bands has been extraordinary.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to our growth to date, especially our dedicated supporters and traders and the staff members who have worked beyond their limits to ensure we continue to offer the very best culinary and cultural experiences, week in, week out.

“Over the last decade we have also worked with venues and brands including Cheltenham Festivals, Aston Villa Football Club, DJ Mag, MADE Festival, Gymshark, Warwick Castle, Soho House, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Red Bull and Jack Daniels, as well as hosting the British Street Food Awards.

“Given how important the street closures were to us in our early years, allowing us to grow and learn, as well as build a loyal fan base, it was a no-brainer that we would replicate this model and return to our roots. We can’t wait to celebrate our anniversary with many of the people who helped us along the way.”

To find out more about the event and book tickets, visit hockleysocialclub.com or pay at the door.