Tommy Matthews is to open Passing Fancies in the Custard Factory, Birmingham’s creative and cultural hub.


The former bar manager of Couch is joined forces by Matt Arnold and Eve Green of The Edgbaston and Grain & Glass respectively.

Launching in September, the bar will be styled to look like “the kitchen at a house party”, while the 54-cover Digbeth venue’s menu won't follow any set parameters, instead "moving with the times".

While the bar doesn’t have a discernible theme, the team have been inspired by the history of the Custard Factory, which was formerly home to Bird’s Custard.

Sir Alfred Bird’s 19th-century invention of eggless custard is said to have been born out of love, as his wife Elizabeth, suffered from an allergy to eggs. 

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Inspired by the idea of “creativity out of love”, Passing Fancies aims to brings “a new kind of approachable luxury” with the team aiming to create something “long-lasting” and “out of love”, nurturing the next generation of Birmingham bartenders.

Matthews (centre of photo) said: “At our core is our passion for what we do, the stories we share and the people we share them with. Passing Fancies is an extension of us, a place where everyone can gather to experience the comforting excellence of high-end beverages and build fond memories.

“Think of it not as a bar but a vehicle for community, nestled within the creative heart of Birmingham with a menu as varied and fluid as the lives we lead. We want to ensure that our staff feel as valued as our customers. It’s important to us to give back to the industry that has given so much to us.”