Spotlight: Passing Fancies

This Digbeth cocktail bar is the brainchild of an award-winning trio of bartenders — Passing Fancies is a true labour of love and strays away from any set theme, The bar’s name is a nod towards this constant evolution, a vow to move with the times. Head bartender Tommy Matthews tells us more.

Introduce yourself…name, job title, & the company you work for.

Tommy, Owner/Bartender, Passing Fancies. In a nutshell, what does the business do? In a nutshell, what does the business do?

In a nutshell, what does the business do?

Passing Fancies is a warm, inviting and friendly bar in the heart of The Custard Factory. We serve delicious seasonal cocktails, wine and beer alongside seasonally British-inspired plates.

What’s the ethos behind Passing Fancies?

Passing Fancies strays away from any set theme, however. There will be regular changes to the menu to keep attendees on their toes. The bar’s name is a nod towards this constant evolution, a vow by the owners to move with the times. With a design they only describe as “the kitchen at a house party”, the bar is at the centre of the venue and atmosphere – with room to accommodate 54 customers.

To begin with the bar will be serving a variety of drinks including Adonis (sherry, vermouth and aromatics), Champagne Crumble (lacto fig, rhubarb and champagne), Man Goes Next Door (mango, masala rum and greek yoghurt) and El Diablo (blackberry, tequila and ginger). A selection of wines will also be available, alongside beer options.

Why Digbeth?

We chose the Digbeth Estate as the home of Passing Fancies as we really wanted our brand to be part of the creative fabric of Birmingham. The vibrancy and scope of different businesses in the area is unmatched in the city.

“We chose the Digbeth Estate as the home of Passing Fancies as we really wanted our brand to be part of the creative fabric of Birmingham.”

The community in the area is so diverse, so the scope for fun and interesting collaboration with other businesses is super exciting. Our mission is to provide a quality experience for a broad demographic, and Digbeth provides that on a daily basis. It’s a buzzing hub of creativity, culture and diversity.

What do you like most about working in Digbeth?

We love the diversity of the area, and the creative lifeblood of the business and people.