Stourbridge TikTok star honours hometown hero Jude Bellingham with his own burger
Jude Bellingham will be smiling again when he realises a steakhouse in his hometown Stourbridge has created a burger in his honour.
The 21-year-old from Stourbridge revealed last week he lost his love for the game after being "mistreated" by the media during the Euros this summer and blamed his bout of the blues on his grandparents being hounded by the press.
However, Lockside Steakhouse is still backing him as a hometime hero and its new menu features the Bellingham Burger, complete with his favourite number 10 and his name on the bun.
The burger is the brainchild of Lockside owner Matt Lemm, who has tens of thousands of followers on TikTok as The Steak Man Stourbridge, who thought it would be the perfect response to the Champions League winner's crisis of confidence.
He said: "We did think about creating a Bellingham burger in the summer during the Euros but we did not want to be seen jumping on the bandwagon but now is the perfect time because now he needs reminding he's Stourbridge's favourite son."
And 44-year-old Matt, whose tattoeed exterior and roguish charm has earnt him fans and haters in equal measure, understands why Jude hit back at his critics.
He said: "He has had a remarkable rise to fame and we love nothing more in this country than knocking people down. I see it in my comments when I post a video, people cannot understand how a fella from a council estate from Walsall with tattoos and a biker can run a successful business."
Matt has run the Lockside Steakhouse, Enville Street, for four years and recently opened a cafe of the same name in the Saddlers Centre, Walsall.
He said: "You just have to ignore these jealous people and hopefully Jude will realise the majority of people in the Black Country love him."
Bellingham is now more than just a footballer and is the face of several global brands including Louis Vitton, Adidas and has entered a partnership with Kim Kardashian's underwear company.
And the star is not too fancy for a burger either, he has been an ambassador for McDonalds Fun Football but despite searching online there is not a picture of him tucking into a Big Mac.
Matt said: "Hopefully we will not be getting a letter from his lawyers about copyright but if we do I am sure he will have no idea and be fine when he realises we are a Stourbridge business."
He added: "If he ever wants to pop in he can eat his burger, or any of his family. So if anyone can tag him or them then I'd be grateful."
The £16 Bellingham burger is an English style marinated chicken breast, with chilli mayo and paprika. lettuce and tomato. It is served with fries and home made slaw.
Matt said: "For a bit of fun we've got a bit of salad which includes a little football for fun.
"The chicken is grilled, but unlike so many other places it is not grilled for too long so instead of being dry it's succulent."
For more information about the Bellingham Burger and Lockside Steakhouse visit their Facebook page.
