Thanksgiving Do’s and Don’t’s for the Everyday Briton:
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you’re reading this that means you’re most likely one of the lovely people who registered to receive the latest updates on Birmingham’s First Supper Club!
After some research I did find out newsletters cost money to send (or least a company email) so here is my free delivery system of tickets for you (if you unsubscribe after this don’t worry I won’t hate you, but stay a while, take a look around👀)
In this article I will be dropping some nostalgia, FAQs about the Event and Thanksgiving in general.
But, without further ado, here is the link to the exclusive Thanksgiving Supper Club. Tickets are priced at £70, if your purchase your tickets before Oct 3rd you get an automatic fiver off.
The event will take place on the same day as American Thanksgiving, Thursday November 27th, 2025 from 7pm-12am. Ticket prices include entry, a welcome drink and a traditional American Thanksgiving feast served family style. There is a full bar available on site. Dietary options for Halal, Gluten-Free and Vegan diners as well as wheelchair accessible entrance.
Two Years Ago I Moved to Birmingham
Not for a job, not for Uni & not for a boy. For me. I even convinced my boyfriend (now husband) at the time that we should. We had no ties here. No friends. No family. No reason.
It’s probably the most frequent question I get asked on almost a daily basis (on those days I decide to leave the house and simultaneously opening my mouth revealing my American accent).
‘Why did you move to Birmingham?’
While this is a fully loaded question which deserved a full baked answer, I’ll actually explain what made me stay: the city of the people. For the people.
Now every city fosters their own community, sometimes there is support for these communities to grow from either government incentive or maybe its a financial support, or maybe its living for the sake of the city, living out the dreams you witnessed others do on some fictional screen, drinking at a some fictional bar with fictional friends.
Birmingham community’s didn’t really have any that. Definitely no one is watching Peaky Blinders and thinking ‘hey I should move here, the canals look like a lovely place for a whacking!’ (or maybe you are).
We’re definitely fighting uphill battles on what the rest of the entire country thinks of us (at least we’re not Milton Keyes) and our council is literally bankrupt and our streets are lined with 10 months of backed up rubbish (it’s looking like a Bin Strike Christmas).
The thing about the Birmingham community is it has no ego. It has nothing to prove, and in spite of what people think of us, we exist proudly. Loudly. And in support of each other.
Thanksgiving Do’s and Don’t’s for the Everyday Briton:
On that first year of moving to Brum I did look for a Thanksgiving Event. I saw a couple places even acknowledging it, and if that offered a very half arsed menu.
Hosting if you're an American abroad is a whole deal. Without the time off work, cooking essentially a double Sunday Roast on a weekday without the day off after to digest is a hard sell.
If you’re looking for that feel good Thanksgiving big meal vibes out, I have had a pretty great Toby Carvery Thanksgiving at Uni. It gets a massive pro for not having to cook, but it’s missing that Americana in the details.
While its basically our version of a Sunday Roast, you guys just make up an excuse to have a mini Thanksgiving every week (genius) it differs in several ways.
Do Eat the Turkey
I know Turkey is something reserved here exclusively for Christmas, but honestly us Americans can also admit a dry Turkey is the last thing anyone wants but usually happens. That’s why we have the gravy.
There was also a pop science fact I heard over and over that eating Turkey makes you feel sleepy, which is proven false (but try telling that to my food coma body after).
Do Bring Something (For the Canned Food Drive)
Now you may not need to bring something for the table but we are hosting a Canned Food Drive and collecting canned donations for a local food bank, so make sure you bring some cans with you to the Event! For every can you donate you’ll be entered in a raffle to win a bottle of Cotswolds Distillery whisky, because no good deed goes unnoticed.
Don’t Stick to One Side
Thanksgiving is always about the sides: stuffing, mac & cheese and mash potatoes are usually staple sides (all of which we will be having on our Menu. So definitely make sure you save room on your plate to try a bit of everything.
Don’t Worry About Inviting Random People
That in itself is kind of a Thanksgiving cannon event. So defintely throw out the invite to your neighbour, or your grandparents. The more the merrier (plus unlike your family house, you don’t have to cook and clean so you’re free to mingle).
This event is also all about chatting and getting to know your community so don’t worry if you come alone either!
Do Let Yourself Feel the Spirit of the Holiday
While Brits usually indulge more in holiday spirit served in a glass on the rocks, I do think the spirit of holiday aka feeling thankful, being reflective of the year, and preparing to enter the Winter season as harvest ends is all what Thanksgiving is about.
Drop a ‘what you’re thankful for’ note on our Thankful Wall, but please guys, let’s keep the notes PG-13.
Do Plan on Having a Few
Thanksgiving is one of those classic booze heavy holidays, so definitely plan accordingly. We’ll have exclusive access to the entirety of The Rolling Mill until 12am and private security, so relax!
Do Acknowledge the History
Growing up as a 90s kid Thanksgiving only meant a big meal, saying a speech about what you’re thankful for and eating a ton of food. We told a lovely story of the Native Americans helping feed European Pilgrims who were starving and then coming together after a big harvest.
Nowadays we are taught better and acknowledge the dark history with European colonisation and its affect on the Native American tribes spreading diseases that wiped out many tribes who have not developed immunity and displacing them from their native lands.
The history between the Colonists and Native American Tribes is filled will violence, death and imperialism. The day after Thanksgiving is now officially known as Indigenous People’s Day acknowledging the deaths of millions of Native Americans.
Modern day Thanksgiving isn’t really a celebration of America nor this pilgrim tall tale, and its not a celebration of a harvest-but mainly a celebration of family, friends and community and carving a specific day out of the year to let us feel thankful for things in our life.
Read about the real history of Thanksgiving here
Other Ways to Support the Event
Remember to spread the word (and share that link) to any in the Birmingham and West Midlands area you think would love this event.
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Rebecca Rampersaud is an American writer, University guest Lecturer, Entrepreneur and Content Creator based in Birmingham, UK. She has her Masters in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from the University of Leeds and a BA Honors in Fashion Design from Middlesex University. She enjoys craft beer (with the rogue vogue), writing thought pieces and keeping her taste palette guessing.
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