We discovered one of the West Midlands’ best fine dining experiences - at a football stadium in Birmingham

Ask anyone from the West Midlands about the best things about their region and at some point they will mention the food.

Birmingham and its surrounding areas are home to some of the most iconic restaurants in the UK.

Just look at the wealth of Michelin stars that have been bestowed on the region in recent years - from two stars at Opheem in Birmingham city centre to long-standing food heroes Simpsons in Edgbaston which has held the one star coveted accolade since 1999.

Now our football teams are upping their food game with Aston Villa seemingly knocking it out of the park at its revamped Legends Lounge at Villa Park.

We were invited to try out the new fine dining experience at the historic stadium which has been home to the Premier League Club since 1897.

I was intrigued by the new offering which ‘is redefining matchday dining’ with an exclusive seven-course tasting menu showcasing the best of modern British cuisine.

We arrived at Villa Park three-and-a-half hours ahead of the early Saturday evening match against Newcastle - kick off was 5.30pm - and the Legend’s Lounge was open to guests from 2pm.

Claret and blue clad fans were gathering as we arrived - families and friends were strolling through the legendary stands, momentous statues and glorious slogans emblazoned on the walls of the terraces.

The atmosphere was electric amid the gleaming lions from the club badge standing tall atop the stadium gates. It was so impressive to see so many youngsters accompanying their parents, proudly passing on the joy of following their team.

With access to the Legends Lounge 3.5 hours ahead of kick off we had plenty of time to get started on those seven courses!

We gained entry through the MacGregors Suite at the Trinity Stand and were given a warm welcome from everyone we met.

More than 42,000 fans were attending the game and staff calm and friendly as they guided us to our luxury destination on the second floor.

The Legends Lounge is a beautiful restaurant offering panoramic views overlooking the pitch. Natural lighting from the football field and exterior woodland flooded through the stylish venue where sun rays bounced off golden decor and furnishings and gleaming glasses and silverware creating a stunning spectacle.

TV screens showing the latest football action around the stadium were tastefully located at various points through the restaurant where Villa heritage was seamlessly celebrated amid the luxury, including a quote from Dough Ellis saying: “Villa Park’s setting in the heart of Birmingham is a testament to the club’s roots and its bond with the local community. Surrounded by greenery and history, it stands as a beacon of pride for both the club and the city.” 

As soon as we were seated our table host introduced herself to us and offered us a drink while we settled into our comfy seats.

The tasting menu comes with wine pairing and Champagne. I don’t know if I’m the only one, but it’s just so hard to say no to a glass of Champagne, isn’t it?

Anyway, that was what I chose, while my fellow dining partner opted for a pint of Poretti lager.

It was a fabulous start. Fresh flowers adorned the table along with a Programme for the game - and a boxed gift from the newly revamped Villa Shop. It was a charming Villa pen set in a claret wallet with blue lining, in case you were wondering!

But we weren’t here for the presents - we were here for the food. And we were pretty confident that we weren’t going to be disappointed.

I’m not the biggest fan of football although I do follow the game and am proud of our region's iconic teams. But I am a fan of food and like nothing less than exploring new dining experiences far and wide. From The Wilderness in the Jewellery Quarter to Adams in Birmingham centre to Herbert’s Yard in Longbridge and ‘the Best Pub Pie Ever’ at the Inkwell in Lichfield - I’ve managed to scoff my way around a fair bit of the West Midlands in all sorts of venues.

We kicked off with canapés - a Black Olive muffin with natural yoghurst and Isle of Wight tomato with confit garlic bruschetta.

They were both amazing. The delicately light, crispiness of the bruschetta was an especially sensational joy to bite into which blended perfectly with the accompanying pairing of La Cuvee NV, Laurent Perrier, Champagne.

We were definitely onto a winner - and the match hadn’t even started. To be honest, I had to keep reminding myself that I was in a football stadium - this was luxury fine dining, far, far away from match day pies I had always associated with soccer.

Although we did get a gentle reminder as each plate of food was elegantly served in dishes emblazoned with a gold Aston Villa crest.

It wasn’t long before we were tucking into course number two - our pre-starter of White bean and spinach soup with basil. It was a hearty and nourishing dish, perfectly preparing us for our oncoming trip outdoors to our padded stadium seats to watch Villa take on Newcastle.

The kitchen just kept on scoring with the arrival of course number three - our actual starter - a Pork cheek croquet, pickled celery, celeriac remoulade. 

The crispy coating encapsulated the moistest morsels of meat with delicious mellow flavours enhanced by the sharpness of the pickle and delightfully contrasting with the smoothness of the remoulade. The Cuvee Rose NV, Laurent Perrier Champagne added another sweetly sparkling depth to the dish.  

And it didn’t end there. We were soon onto our fish course (this is number four, in case you’d lost count). Now this was actually my favourite dish of all. It was Poached lobster with Yellow pepper emulsion, Jersey Royals, sea vegetables and caviar.

It was as luxurious as it sounds and as pretty as a picture with a rainbow of colours filling the plate. The lobster was incredible. Perfectly prepared, an exquisite experience of meaty fish empowered with protein and nutrients. Fit for a king - or even Prince William, maybe!

It was paired with Pouilly Fuisse 2021, Ferret, Burgundy from France with its silky texture and fresh apple-y aromas enhancing the goodness.

Could our meal get any better?

Well I can assure you that course five was also a triumph - a fantastic seasonal dish of lamb. A two bone lamb rack to be precise, served with neck croquette, pea pureé, British asparagus, pine nut crumb and Pedro Ximenez sauce. 

Our pairing wine was a bold and beautiful Rioja Gran Reserva 2018, Sierra Cantabria from Spain with a hint of coffee amid the fruity, smoky flavours.

Now you may not be surprised to hear that at this point we did take a bit of a break from wining and dining before we continued our feast.

It was time to soak up more of the atmosphere in the restaurant as the stadium filled up with fans ready for their team's latest clash on the pitch.

Each guest in the Legend’s Lounge has a bespoke pin badge for the game, which was a lovely touch. We were also advised that we could take a blanket into the stadium to keep warm if we wanted. We had great seats - padded no less - overlooking the centre of the pitch. 

Ahead of the sporting action we tucked into two more courses.

Pre-dessert was a refreshing Rhubarb and custard ice cream. Our actual dessert was a magnificent Easter Chocolate mousse, Kataifi and raspberry gel.

I’ve never eaten Kataifi before - the shredded sweet pastry looked and tasted fabulous - I loved the texture and its strawlike features.

Our pairing wine was Tokaji Late Harvest 2022, Sauska from Hungary - richly sweet, served at room temperature.

But what about the football? You may well ask!

Well, the Villa did us proud.

Like I said, I’m not a regular at any football ground. But the pre-match live music and pyrotechnics were exhilarating. The energy from the fans was ecstatic. Everyone around us was so friendly. 

At half time it wasn’t looking too good. The score was 1-1. 

We retreated into the Legend’s Lounge for a bit more food - and drink.

This time we were served Mini ox cheek suet pudding, with a glass of Poretti (we could have chosen other drinks). It was the comfort food I needed as I discovered a new passion for my home city’s Premier League team.

It wasn’t long before we were back outside cheering - and the goals just kept coming. It was a brilliant match. 

The Villans beat The Toon Army 4-1. What a day!

Our celebrations didn’t stop in our stadium side seats. We returned to the Legends Lounge where we were invited to stay for another 1.5 hours after the match.

We ordered a post drink tipple and were served up our fine dining finale - a cheese board with Lancashire Black Bomber, Oxford Isis, Bath blue, spiced pear chutney and crackers.

It was an amazing day. Aston Villa certainly know how to entertain with quality food and service with an exceptional fine dining experience - one of the best in the West Midlands which boasts some of the best restaurants in the UK.

You can find out more information about the Legends Lounge at Villa Park here: Legends Lounge at Villa Park