492. Events, Dear Boy, Events. 2025. Part 2. July To December.

 

See also Blogs 400, 416 and 452..

2 July - Hogarth’s Hotel in Dorridge where previously Rob Palmer had been planning to reopen his Toff’s restaurant from May 2024 to 26 March 2025,appoints Tom Wells who had previously worked at Harborne Kitchen for six years as Executive Chef from November 2019 having also worked as Head Chef at Turner’s in Harborne from February 2007 to May 2009.

Tom Wells

Rob Palmer

4 - 5 July - The annual Colmore Food Festival is held in Victoria Square under hot sunshine on the opening day. A large number of Colmore District hospitality businesses participate including Adam’s/The Oyster Club, Purnell’s Plates, Asha’s, Tiger Bites Pig, Dishoom, Mayan, Isaac’s and Orielle. The Oyster club serves up an excellent dish called ‘Tempura Fish and Chips’ which is a perfectly cooked deep fried kebab of five large prawns, minty pea purée and string chips. Visitors to the Festival are given a free ‘Colmore Cook Book’.

Oyster Club’s Tempura ‘Fish and chips’.

11 July - Alex Claridge reveals some of his new dishes for The Wilderness in an event called Bâtard where former Masterchef The Professionals competitors, Evan Holliday and Jordan Johnson, who had previously worked at Simpsons make their first appearance in The Wilderness’ kitchen, thus joining Simpsons’ former pastry chef, Lewis Perks at The Wilderness. It is also revealed that Marius Gedminas has left his role as Head Chef at The Wilderness and is presently doing some travelling.

Evan Holliday at The Wilderness.

Evan Holliday, Jordan Johnson and Sonal Clare.

Jordan Johnson

14 July - Alex Claridge showcases the premiere of a 4 minute-long film about him and his passions at the Mockingbird Cinema in the Custard Factory in Digbeth. In a discussion afterwards he reveals that he intends to stand as a candidate in the next West Midlands Mayoral election.

15 July - Tony Parkin leaves his role as Head Chef at Opheem after less than three months in the post. He :is appointed as development chef with the Open Group (Andrew Sheridan, Sam and Emma Morgan). 

27 July - The Good Food adds the Madresfield Butchers and Grill in Great Malvern to its list of recommended restaurants rating it as ‘Good’.