大象传媒

Birmingham has been named the UK鈥檚 foodiest town, according to contemporary food magazine olive, with London coming fifth. The food lover鈥檚 title scored UK towns on their culinary credentials and Britain鈥檚 second largest city pipped Ludlow, Melton Mowbray, Edinburgh and the nation鈥檚 capital to the top spot.

Alongside the invention of the balti, olive cites the trio of Michelin-starred restaurants, a food heritage including Typhoo, Bird鈥檚 Custard and HP Sauce, social foodie enterprises and food events including the Good Food Show, Europe鈥檚 largest food festival, in terms of visitor numbers. According to the judges: 鈥淥utsiders may persist in refusing to spend leisurely weekends there, but Britain鈥檚 second city is underestimated.鈥�

In second place came Ludlow with the judges commending its September food festivals, real ales, slow food movement and independent food shops. The judges said: 鈥淕astronomy has become the most distinguishing feature of this Shropshire town. The last food festival saw the town鈥檚 population triple.鈥澨�

In third place came Melton Mowbray, the home of the pork pie and stilton cheese, tying with 鈥渃osmopolitan鈥� Edinburgh; London surprisingly came in fifth. Despite being praised for its 鈥渨orld-beating restaurants and scene-changing trends鈥� London lost marks for 鈥渕aking tourists think Angus Steakhouse and Garfunkels represent the pinnacle of UK culinary achievement鈥�.

Abergavenny came sixth, punching above its weight for its 鈥渇riendly welcome鈥� and 鈥渆xcellent food鈥�. with Ramsbottom seventh. An expert panel of food writers from the award-winning title judged each town on the criteria laid out below.听听

olive also invited reader views on 鈥渇oodie hellholes鈥� with Middlesbrough receiving a special mention for its 鈥渘otorious parmo, a chicken escalope in breadcrumbs, deep-fried, covered in b茅chamel and cheap grated cheese, run through a pizza oven and served with chips鈥�. Glasgow for 鈥渄eep-frying pizzas and pies鈥� and Blackpool with one reader commenting 鈥淣othing is allowed in unless it鈥檚 stuffed full of additives鈥�.听听听

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Town	Restaurant heroes	Claims to food fame	The festival factor	Local food for local people	Retail rating	Penalty points	TOTAL
Birmingham	8	8	7	8	7	-2	36/50
Ludlow	8	5	7	8	8	-1	35/50
Melton Mowbray	5	9	8	6	8	-3	33/50
Edinburgh	8	5	6	9	8	-3	33/50
London	9	5	7	8	8	-5	32/50
Abergavenny	8	6	7	7	5	-4	29/50
Ramsbottom	6	8	5	5	6	-1	29/50

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Toby Hicks