WE’RE HAVING A CURRY AND A BURGER.

The great advantage of a food hall is that nobody can tell you a cheeseburger and a side of Broccoli 65 is an unreasonable lunch. Original Patty Men and Indian Cafe Racer have both opened at Saint Paul’s Market in the Jewellery Quarter, so we intend to put that to the test.

OPM has spent more than a decade making a very good case for eating a burger with both hands. The Classic Cheeseburger and Louisiana Slammer are on the opening menu, alongside chilli cheese fries, friend chicken nuggets and specials exclusive to the market.

Indian Cafe Racer brings the aforementioned Broccoli 65, Chilli Chicken and slow-cooked Butter Chicken, but the dish we keep hearing about is the Mutton Kosha. Word on the street is that it’s worth ordering before you’ve even taken your coat off. We’ll be getting one for the table and sitting very close to it. Dishes cooked over fire on the robata grill are coming soon, too.

The market is taking large bookings for Christmas, with a choice of food and drinks packages. Handy if you’ve been put in charge of the office night out and the group chat has so far produced eleven opinions and no booking. There’ll be festive specials from every trader, Christmas cocktails and decorations, plus live music, artisan markets and live sport throughout the season.

You could just as happily turn up with a few mates for a beer, a glass of wine or a boozy slushie. A slushie in December? You’re indoors, there’s a curry coming and somebody else is doing the washing up. Get one. Follow