Watch out Birmingham, the Scousers are coming

Some of our beloved home-grown brands are staging a scouse invasion in the midlands.

Liverpool has long been known as a melting pot of creative entrepreneurs and not only has our city’s independent scene grown to epic proportions, it’s now taking over the UK, one major city at a time. Home-grown talent has risen to the top in almost every industry as those brave enough to ‘give it a go’ receive unfaltering support from the business community and the public alike.

The Scouse Invasion

Mowgli Birmingham - The Guide Liverpool

From crowd-funding restaurants to creative regeneration of large parts of the city, there’s no doubt that our people have played the majority share in making our city the best in the world. Some of our favourite names in the leisure and hospitality industries are flying so high, they’ve flown the nest. Having firmly made a name for themselves in Liverpool, Indian Street Food restaurant, Mowgli, BBQ specialists, Slims’ Pork Chop Express, and everyone’s favourite alternative night out venue, Ghetto Golf have recently opened branches in none other than Birmingham. Also lovers of all things ‘indie’ and Baltic Market pioneers, Independent Liverpool have recently launched their newest platform, and you guessed it…Independent Birmingham. Could we see a Brummy Baltic Market soon too?

Destination Burrrrmingham

Just over an hours drive away, in the heart of the midlands, lies the sprawling metropolis that is Birmingham. Home of the first ever spaghetti junction, the colossal NEC and one of the most recognisable accents in the country, next to scouse of course. Birmingham city centre is absolutely brilliant for shopping. Similar to Liverpool One, The Bullring shopping centre is huge and features all your usual high street brands, while the Mail Box complex offers more high end, luxury retailers and restaurants. With Birmingham New Street Station now housing the stunning ‘Grand Central’ retail and leisure development, you’re pretty much spoiled for choice when it comes to spending your hard-earned cash.

Tee off at The Custard Factory

The Custard Factory situated in Birmingham’s emerging ‘Creative Quarter’, is just a short walk from the centre of Birmingham and is now home to brand-spanking new crazy-ass 18 hole golf course, Ghetto Golf. Incorporating its unique blend of pitching fun, street food, cocktails, live DJ’s and wicked graffiti, the second branch of our Old Cain’s Brewery based brand has gone down a storm with the brummies, with more than 400 players booked in the opening weekend alone! Book your spot and get competitive here.

Big Trouble in Little Digbeth?

Can you smell what Birmingham is cooking? That’s right, its only slow-smoked meats and secret sauces courtesy of Slim’s BBQ Express, which is also opening a branch in the city’s creative quarter and joining Ghetto Golf at The Custard Factory. Taking inspiration from the 1986 cult classic film ‘Big Trouble in Little China’, Slim’s BBQ Express will soon be enchanting the people of Birmingham as the smell of succulent BBQ snacks, including brisket pots, chicken, burgers and waffles will be wafts over sky line, and we know you’ll love it as much as we do. Check it out here,

Co-Founder of Slim’s BBQ Express parent company, Graffiti Matt Farrell has this to say about the expansion to Birmingham: “We are really excited to expand the brand and team up with Ghetto Golf on this site. We are proud of our restaurants and this brand in particular and welcome the opportunity for the rest of the UK to start trying some of our dishes. The partnership offers us a great window to provide a quality addition to the Birmingham food scene and we hope to continue this collaboration towards more sites in the future.”

A New Street for Mowgli

That cheeky Mowgli monkey is on the move again and this time he’s setting up shop in the stunning new Grand Central retail and leisure development at Birmingham New Street Station. The restaurant itself is as stunning as Liverpool’s Water Street and Bold Street venues and offers the warm welcome we’ve come and stylish interior we know and love. Bringing a brand new Indian Street Food experience to Birmingham, Nisha and her team are serving up Mowgli Tiffin Boxes and mouth-watering street food to curry lovers, vegans and health fanatics alike. Mowgli menus and more info here.

We love nothing more than shouting loud and proud about our city and it’s people and like a proud scouse nan, we cant wait to see these three, and hopefully more Liverpool brands thrive in new locations.

Which of your favourite scouse brands would you love to see take over the UK? Tweet us @TheGuideLpool or drop us as message on Facebook here and we’ll share the best suggestions on our socials.