Birmingham Update: Bubble Tea Heartbreak & The Meaty Return of Blacklock

Birmingham

food scene is moving faster than a chef on a Saturday night! While we’ve got some exciting "new kids" arriving in the city centre, we’ve also had to say a tearful goodbye to a couple of boba legends. Here is the lowdown on what’s opening, what’s closing, and what you should be eating right now.

The Great Boba Exodus: T4 & Gong Cha

Ice-cream season is coming

It’s a sad day for the straw-and-pearl crowd. T4, a long-standing veteran on New Street, has officially bolted its doors for good. After a brief "Will they? Won't they?" reopening stunt in late 2025, they’ve permanently shuttered. While their tea was—let’s be honest—pretty average compared to the new wave of boba spots, their crispy salt and pepper chicken was the ultimate "guilty pleasure" snack. It will be missed.

Joining them in the afterlife is Gong Cha. But as they say, when one door closes, a gelato freezer opens! The space has been taken over by the famous Amorino Gelato. Known for their Instagrammable "flower-shaped" cones, they just opened in March 2026. I haven't stepped inside yet, but that pistachio gelato is calling my name.

Sad to see T4 going

The Carnivore’s Countdown: Blacklock is Coming!

The wait is finally over—almost. After what feels like an eternity of delays (it was supposed to be an Autumn 2025 launch), Blacklock has officially confirmed they are opening their doors on Monday, 20th April 2026.

Located in the stunning Victorian St Philip’s House (overlooking Pigeon Park), this London transplant is famous for its "All-In" chops served on flatbread and that legendary "say when" white chocolate cheesecake. If it’s anything like the Soho original, it’s going to be the best value-for-money meat feast in Birmingham.

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