One thing that genuinely connects everyone at Trillium Restaurant is not just food. It’s Birmingham.
We care about the city just as much as what’s on the plate. And that’s what makes this part exciting. Not just opening a restaurant, but contributing to something bigger that’s already happening across the city.
Hospitality isn’t a typical industry.
There’s competition, of course. But there’s also a level of support you don’t see elsewhere. People share advice, help each other out, recommend places. It’s partly because it’s a tough environment to operate in. You don’t get very far trying to do it alone.
And partly because there’s room.
Birmingham is a big city. There isn’t just space for one good restaurant. The more interesting places open, the stronger the whole scene becomes.
New restaurants in Birmingham: a strong year
Over the last year, Birmingham has seen a wave of new openings.
A lot of them independent, which is always good to see. A few small groups too. Both matter.
Places like Society and St. Pauls Market have pushed the food hall concept forward. Multiple kitchens, different cuisines, all under one roof. Social, flexible, and built around variety, with everything from street food to proper sit-down dishes.
Vieni has brought a fresh take on Italian to the Jewellery Quarter. Sicilian-led, relaxed, and focused on flavour rather than formality, with dishes built around classic ingredients done properly. Led by Ange Adamo, who trained at Simpsons, it’s rooted in her heritage, with bold, flavour-led dishes. Their crispy lasagne has already become a bit of a standout.
Blacklock is stepping in with a strong focus on steak in a beautiful historical building in the city centre. A proper chophouse approach, built around big cuts and simple cooking done well.
Maneki Ramen is doing exactly what you want from a proper ramen spot in the Jewellery Quarter. Deep broths, well-built bowls, but also worth going for the small plates — their rice crackers are one of the best wine snacks around.
Cylla brings something more playful to the mix. Greek-owned, with a real olive tree brought over from the owner’s family land. It’s built around sharing, with a lively atmosphere and plate smashing nights.
Samo is a small European bistro tucked away in the Great Western Arcade. Run by chef-owner Elliot Brown, with a background that also includes Simpsons, it focuses on seasonal, ingredient-led cooking with a modern take on classical dishes.
And Isla is an eight-seater micro wine and snack bar in Stirchley. Small, slightly quirky, and exactly the kind of place that adds character to the city.
It’s a strong group to be part of. The more good places open, the more people talk about Birmingham as a destination. That benefits everyone. Restaurants, bars, hotels, the city as a whole. We’re proud to be part of that.
Glynn Purnell’s new restaurant: four months in
Birmingham’s restaurant scene moves quickly. New places open all the time.
Four months in, Trillium is starting to find its rhythm. What began as an idea between Glynn Purnell and Phil Innes is now something more defined. Still evolving, but heading in the right direction.
So far, we’ve welcomed over 6,000 guests across more than 2,000 bookings. That’s the headline number. But what matters more is everything behind it.
Menus have changed. A lot. Dishes have come and gone. Some stayed. Some didn’t make the cut.
The kitchen has reworked details most people never see. Our XL gougère alone went through around 25 iterations. Not because anything was wrong, but because “good” wasn’t quite enough. Texture, structure, how it holds – so you can cut through it without the filling spilling out across the plate. It all matters.
That same thinking runs through everything. The menu has been revised multiple times. New desserts have been introduced. We’ve started running daily specials alongside the core menu. The wine list has expanded and settled into its structure. None of it is change for the sake of it. It’s about tightening things until they feel right.
It’s still early days, but a few things are worth noting. We were reviewed by Grace Dent in The Guardian, which is never a quiet moment for any restaurant. We’ve also been included in the Coravin Wine Guide with a two-glass rating, reflecting the depth of our by the glass wine offering.
Next up is the terrace. Birmingham doesn’t have enough restaurants with terraces, so it’s something we’re particularly excited about.
We’re now working on a dedicated terrace menu. Lighter, more relaxed. Something that fits long afternoons that turn into evenings. It’s also the first time we’ll really see that space come into its own.
We’re now open all day on Fridays and Saturdays as well. Lunch into afternoon, into dinner. No break in between. A small change operationally, but a big shift in how people use the space.
And none of this works without people actually turning up.
So thank you.
For booking, for coming back, for telling people, for supporting something new in Birmingham while it’s still finding its feet.
Looking for new restaurants in Birmingham?
If you’re exploring what’s new in the city, Birmingham has a lot happening right now.
If you’ve already been to Trillium, you’ll know where we are. If not, this is a good time to come in and see where things have landed after the first few months.
