Alfred Works, the new food hall from award-winning hospitality group Blend Family, has announced the first wave of food partners set to open at the redeveloped Custard Factory site. All three brands will open in Birmingham for the first time, introducing new cuisines and concepts to the city.
Scheduled to open in 2026 in Digbeth, Alfred Works marks a new phase for the historic site named after custard powder inventor Alfred Bird. The venue will cover more than 17,500 square feet of indoor space and feature 15 kitchens, an outdoor courtyard, social gaming areas, family-friendly spaces, and a large events area across the River Rea. The project aims to create a shared space built around food, culture, and community.
The first group of partners includes three established street food brands from outside Birmingham, each bringing a strong following and distinct food offering.
Fuego 1987, known for the viral Birria Ramen, will open its first Birmingham site at Alfred Works. The brand gained attention through social media for its slow-cooked beef broth paired with Mexican flavours. Its menu includes birria ramen, stacked tacos, and comfort-led street food.
Baity will also make its Birmingham debut. The brand focuses on Palestinian home-style cooking, serving falafel, salads, flatbreads, and slow-cooked meats based on family recipes. Its opening introduces Palestinian street food to a wider audience in the city.
House of Habesha will bring Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine to Alfred Works. The menu centres on aromatic stews, injera flatbread, and shared dining traditions rooted in East African culture. The opening introduces a cuisine that remains underrepresented in central Birmingham food venues.
Further food partners will be announced in the coming weeks. The full line-up will reflect Blend Family’s focus on independent operators and global food concepts with a strong sense of identity.
In addition to its food offering, Alfred Works will host Blend Family’s second Blend Culinary Foundation Kitchen. The space supports work on food access, education, and food poverty. The site will also include the third location of The Cream Store, an independent fashion and lifestyle retailer with a community-led approach.
Matt Bigland, Co-founder of Blend Family, said:
“We want Alfred Works to introduce the Birmingham community to food they might not have had before, food partners with stories, heritage and serious flavour. This first wave is all about newness: new cuisines, new voices and food partners making their Birmingham debut in a space that’s built for the city and the community.”
Blend Family has received multiple awards at the British Street Food Awards and has developed food halls in Sheffield, Salford Quays, and London, with a focus on combining food, culture, and local communities.