Birmingham's Big Fat Pizza Festival attracts crowds in Digbeth - with pictures

Out in the heart of Digbeth, Taste & Liquor brought back the popular street food festival on April 29.

As you can expect, the event's organisers brought some of the best street food pizzas around and there was something for everyone. From your everyday pepperoni to dessert pizzas. (Yes, they're a thing.) Among the big names, there's Pizza Di Bruni and Soleluna Pizza with a number of up and coming traders.

For those who don't like pizza, if such people exist, there were plenty of alternatives. From meatballs and calzones to loaded chips and jerked chicken, there is something for you not-pizza loving people, if you exist. I'm not certain.

Being a punctual Pete, I arrived on 12.00pm on the dot when the doors first opened and when things were still quiet. Though that wasn't the case for long as within half an hour, the place was packed. Word has gotten around since last year and tickets sold like thin crust pizza.

There was music blasting, drinks mixing and dough baking. The event took the feel of a good house party atmosphere and it was like that throughout the day and into the evening.

Unlike a house party, it was very family friendly. Taste and Liquor put a small area with children's movies playing, board games and a face painter, they'd provided a safe place where parents can relax and have a drink.

The returning festival brought back a number of returning vendors who've come back with happy memories of last year's event and high expectations for this one.

"It's been brilliant. Last year was great, people loved the pizza and really enjoyed the atmosphere." Daniel Popa, Soleluna Pizza. "We're expecting this year to be even better."

"Excited to be back. Last year was brilliant and this year should be bigger." Natalya Vavan said, Shake That Ting! Though not a pizza street food vendor, she is not afraid of the competition as her shakes and ice cream did well last year and again today.

"It's going well, we're happy that people are enjoying the pizza." Patrick Roelake, Pizza Bella Pizza. Patrick and Giovanni came to the festival last year and, within a few months, brought their own street food van. "Last year we were in the crowd and this year, we're participating."

Giovanni Salomone, a pizza chef with over 20 years of experience under his belt, invites me to have a better look at their stone oven and provides me with a short education to what makes a good pizza. Look, aroma, crust and taste. He talks about mastering the perfect crust, baking it to a crisp perfection. All the while, gently nursing my pizza in a stone oven with one hand.

"I wouldn't see a pizza I wouldn't eat myself. If I don't like it, I throw it away and start again." Giovanni says sternly. Patrick just grins and nods.

Once they pull my pizza out, the duo descends on it. Patrick sliced whilst Giovanni seasoned it with some fresh basil, showing utter delight to the brittle crust crack under the pizza cutter.

How was it? My goodness, it was a heartbreaker.

Following from last year, Brum's Big Fat Pizza Festival has grown since last year and has attracted a crowd of pizza lovers from far and wide.

"I didn't come last year and I didn't expect it to be this big." Hannah from Kings Norton. "It's a bit unorganised but I like it like that."

I briefly met a man who might have travelled the furthest for a good slice. Aled from West Wales travelled over 5 hours to attend Brum's Big Fat Pizza Festival with friends. They were able to get the last hoisin duck pizza.

"It's fab, it's great." He said with saucy duck slipping between his fingers, calling the hoisin duck pizza "the best of the day!"

Needless to say, I picked a very bad time to speak to him.

This year's festival was great, utterly fantastic. The pizza was amazing as you'd expect it would be and the whole event had such a good relaxed vibe. I'm looking forward to how Taste & Liquor are going to top this next year.

Advice: Bring wet wipes. I got flour all over my hands and jeans. That and bbq sauce. I was a bit jealous of the children whose parents came prepared with wipes. Wished my mum came with me today.

By Matthew Kong