Kings Heath Dining Club is cancelled next month because of security problems and cost increases – and it might never come back.
Residents are bitterly disappointed that the popular street food fair is under threat.
The event on Sunday, August 13 has been scrapped. It was due to be the last such monthly event of the year, run by the Hare and Hounds and Digbeth Dining Club.
There were problems before the last event , which requires the closure of York Road where it meets Kings Heath High Street next to the pub.
Organisers said that because of local businesses and residents complaining about “the potential for antisocial behaviour”, the size of the closure would be reduced and would be fully fenced all the way round with stewards at each end.
These changes, combined with a recent increase in street closure costs by Birmingham City Council, meant the introduction of a small entry fee of £1.50 for adults for the first time.
But now organisers have pulled the plug on the August event and are deciding whether to return at all next year.
They posted this message to visitors: “The Hare & Hounds and Digbeth Dining Club have taken the difficult decision to cancel the next instalment of Kings Heath Dining Club.
“It was felt that the opposition to the event, cost increases and security measures put in place for July had made it unsustainable for it to continue in its current form.
“Over the past two years we have enjoyed putting on our summer community-focused events with thousands coming to enjoy themselves as well as seeing the majority of the businesses on the street benefit from the extra footfall on a Sunday.
“We would like to thank everyone for attending this year and we are looking at our options for 2018.”
Saddened residents have reacted on social media with comments like: “This is bad news. Hope you find a way to come back to Kings Heath” and “Gutted! That event belongs on York Road. What an absolute shame”.
Dan Howes said: “This is awful news, we recently relocated to Birmingham from Leeds and chose Kings Heath in part due to KHDC and the buzz it creates. The loss of this event is a real blow, shame on those that oppose it.”
Jonathan Arnold wrote: “Kings Heath has been ‘on the up’ in recent years and the Dining Club is part of this.
“The few objectors should look at how the High Street and its tributaries were a few years ago with empty premises, an overkill of charity shops and nothing like the footfall now.
“These negative and backward looking people need to be challenged and encouraged to see how events of this kind are part of the regeneration of Kings Heath and NOT a problem for them.”
The new security arrangements will also affect the larger Kings Heath Street Festival on September 10, which may be moved from York Road to the Parade car park.
