Ever heard of a Birmingham Balti?

When you think of England, you probably picture the rolling countryside and perfectly polite people discussing politics over a pot of tea. Now, I’m not saying that doesn’t happen. In some parts of the country (and classes!) it certainly does. But one of the things that’s so special about England is our little subcultures. 

Yes, we’re a tiny country. Yes, you can drive from one end of England to the other in less than a day. Yes, there are parts of our culture that spread country-wide. (We all love complaining about the weather and eating a crumpet or two for breakfast.) But there’s also a whole load of cultural quirks that vary by area, even just travelling a few miles down the road. 

Take the accents as an example. England itself has over 40 regional accents and dialects. And they’re so varied that a true Brit can tell what city you’re from, just by saying a few words. Take me as an example, as you probably know, I’m a proud Brummie. I’ve got a Brummie accent, and anyone who meets me knows it.  But it’s not just our accents that differ from area to area here. Every region has its own little cultural specialities. 

Take my home town of Birmingham as an example. We’re not just famous for our accent, but for our love of football, meat pies and music (thanks to Ozzy Osborne and Black Sabbath!)  And of course, the famous Birmingham Balti! If you’ve never heard of a Balti, it’s a curry invented in Birmingham in the 1970s, and it’s grown in popularity all over the UK ever since. 

As a freight forwarder, I get to travel all over the world. I love learning about other countries and cultures, but of course, I never get to see the whole country or experience every town, city, or region. But I’d love to learn about yours! Please share with me, what’s your town, city or region famous for? What do you do or have that nowhere else does?