All three food partners are making their Birmingham debut, including Fuego 1987, home of the viral Birria Ramen
Alfred Works, the new food hall from award winning hospitality group, Blend Family, has today revealed the first wave of food partners set to open at the reimagined Custard Factory site. All three food partners are making their Birmingham debut and bringing their dishes to the city for the very first time.
Opening in 2026, Alfred Works is the latest project from award-winning hospitality group Blend Family and marks a bold new chapter for the historic site named after custard powder inventor Alfred Bird. Spanning more than 17,500 sq. ft, the food hall will feature 15 kitchens, a large outdoor courtyard, social gaming and family-friendly areas, alongside a substantial event space across the River Rea. Designed as a place for the whole city to come together, Alfred works aims to blend food, culture and community under one roof.
Leading the first wave of announcements are three food concepts from outside Birmingham, each arriving in the city for the first time.
Among them is Fuego 1987, home of the viral Birria Ramen and one of the UK street food scene’s biggest social media success stories. Rising to prominence through its indulgent, slow-cooked beef broth infused with bold Mexican flavours, Fuego 1987 is also known for its stacked tacos and comfort-led dishes. Its opening at Alfred Works marks the brand’s first Birmingham location, bringing internet-famous plates straight from screen to table.
Also joining the line-up is Baity, a concept dedicated to celebrating authentic Palestinian cooking. Known for soulful, home-style dishes rooted in tradition and hospitality, Baity’s menu featured hand-rolled falafel, vibrant salads, fluffy flatbreads and slow-cooked meats inspired by family recipes passed down through generations. Alfred Works will host Baity’s first-ever Birmingham site, introducing the city to Palestine street food through a deeply personal lens.
Completing the first trio is House of Habesha, offering a celebration of Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine. Renowned for its rich, aromatic stews, injera flatbreads and communal style of eating, House of Habesha draws on East African heritage to create menus that are bold, warming and rooted in tradition. Its arrival at Alfred Works brings a cuisine rarely seen in Birmingham’s central food scene.
More food partners will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the full line-up reflecting Blend Family’s focus on independent operators, global flavours and concepts that feel genuinely new for the city.
Beyond food, Alfred will also house Blend Family’s second Blend Culinary Foundation Kitchen, continuing it missions to tackle food poverty and widen access to food education. The site will also welcome the third location of The Cream Store, an independent retailer known for its community-led approach to fashion and lifestyle.
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.”
With multiple wins at the British Street Food Awards, Blend Family has built a reputation for turning food halls into cultural destinations, with successful sites across Sheffield, Salford Quay and London.
For updates and announcements, follow @alfred_words and @blend.family
