Fogo de Chão named Birmingham's Restaurant of the Year as Tyseley's Solus Ceramics wins top retail award

Two Birmingham businesses have been picking up awards this autumn. Fogo de Chão Birmingham, the restaurant formerly known as Fazenda, has been named Restaurant of the Year 2026 at the City of Birmingham Business Awards, while Tyseley-based Solus Ceramics has been crowned Best Independent Retailer of the Year 2026 at the Tiler's Community Awards, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce reports.

Restaurant of the Year, voted by the public

The City of Birmingham Business Awards, organised by Downtown in Business, let the public and the local business community vote for the businesses they feel deserve recognition, which the restaurant says made the win "even more special".

Patrycja Taylor, relationships and events manager at Fogo de Chão, said: "Winning this award is a really proud moment for all of us. The transition from Fazenda to Fogo de Chão was an important chapter for the restaurant, and the way the people of Birmingham have welcomed the change and continued to support us has meant a great deal."

"It's a lovely reminder of the relationships we've built over the years and the place we hold within the local community. Above all, this award belongs to our team, whose hard work and dedication make the experience what it is for our guests every day."

Fogo de Chão is known for its Brazilian churrasco style of dining, in which cuts of meat are roasted over fire and carved at the table. The restaurant is also a member of Future Faces, the young professionals' network of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

Best independent retailer, chosen by the trade

Solus Ceramics won the category for independent retailers with fewer than five stores. The Tiler's Community Awards celebrate independent retailers that are doing particularly well, and recognise both their achievements as businesses and their standing within the tiling trade.

Based in Tyseley, Solus employs more than 100 people across logistics, technical services, sustainability, design support and customer service, making it a well-established employer in the construction supply chain.

Nick Withers, assistant showroom manager, said: "This recognition comes from a community made up of independent tilers and trade professionals from across the industry. This is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and commitment to service shown by everyone across the business."

"It's especially rewarding to see Solus recognised by the trade community we work so closely with, and a great achievement for the whole team to be proud of."

Awards season in the city

November is a busy month for awards in Birmingham, with the Birmingham Awards also held on Saturday night at the Eastside Rooms to celebrate the city's people, businesses and community groups. Its winners had not been published at the time of writing.

Awards like these matter for businesses of every size. They give staff recognition for their work, help firms stand out to customers and recruits, and, when the votes come from the public or from fellow professionals, show that a business has earned the respect of the people it serves.