Midlands' original barbecue culture festival to make fiery return in 2027
Award-winning street food brand Digbeth Dining Club has announced the UK Midlands will host the return of ‘Sear & Smoke’, a celebration of the world's best BBQ and open-fire cooking culture, in 2027.
The two-day event will take place at Tudor Grange Park in Solihull on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 May next year, featuring 15 specialist food traders, live cooking demonstrations, music, DJs, independent businesses and local breweries. First held in Birmingham in November 2017, ‘Sear & Smoke’ will return with an expanded programme celebrating barbecue traditions from around the world, including Argentinian asado, Mexican barbacoa, Caribbean jerk, American BBQ, Indian tandoor, Greek souvlaki, German grillen, and gridiron cooking. Visitors will be able to choose from £5 tasting dishes at each of the 15 traders, alongside full-sized portions, making it possible to sample several different cooking styles over the course of a visit.
Demonstration stages will host chefs and barbecue specialists sharing their knowledge of cooking over fire, from traditional grilling techniques to smoking and slow cooking. Jack Brabant, co-founder and director of Digbeth Dining Club, said: "It's been nearly ten years since we first brought Sear & Smoke to Birmingham.
“Back in November 2017, we took over a major venue in Digbeth with twelve of the UK's best BBQ and meat traders, alongside some brilliant local and national chefs. A lot has changed since then, both in the food scene and in what people want from festivals. We've been looking at how we can bring something different to our events, and Sear & Smoke felt like a great one to bring back. This time we're making it a bigger day out.
“The food is obviously the main attraction, but we also want people to enjoy the music, meet the traders, watch the chefs at work and spend time with friends and family." Live bands and DJs will perform throughout the weekend, with an independent traders' market and bars featuring local breweries also planned. ‘Sear & Smoke’ will take place in Tudor Grange Park, one of Solihull's best-known public green spaces, which holds Green Flag accreditation.
The central location, with public transport links and parking nearby, is set to attract visitors from across the Midlands. Mr Brabant added: "We've also made affordability a big part of the event, with dishes starting from just £5, giving visitors the chance to sample different traders and try a bit of everything.
"Ultimately, it's about celebrating the incredible food, drink and creative talent across the West Midlands, while giving people a fantastic experience and real value for money. Whether you came along in 2017 or you're discovering Sear & Smoke for the first time, we want you to make a day of it and leave having found something new." The return of ‘Sear & Smoke’ follows a decade of growth for Digbeth Dining Club, which has established a programme of street food events, venues, and festivals across the Midlands, working with independent traders, venues and local partners.
The full Friday 14 and Saturday 15 May 2027 ‘Sear & Smoke’ line-up of food traders, guest chefs, performers and independent businesses will be announced in the coming months.
