For many its the undisputed foodie capital of Britain – but Ludlow has been usurped as top dog by unlikely contender Birmingham, according to experts at a food magazine.

The Second City pipped Ludlow to top spot by one point in Olive Magazine’s competition to find the foodiest place of them all. Birmingham’s three Michelin-starred restaurants, balti heritage and Cadbury’s history helped it triumph.

Birmingham’s foodie attractions beat Ludlow’s food and drink festival, slow food movement and independent traders.

It is the first time in a number of years that Ludlow has not come top in the survey by the magazine, which is one of the main sponsors of Ludlow Food and Drink Festival.

But Ludlow foodies have refused to take the verdict lying down, insisting in the eyes of gourmet foodies Ludlow remains the place to be.

Despite missing out on the top prize to Birmingham, which scored 36 out of a possible 50, Ludlow’s score of 35 was enough to beat the likes of Melton Mowbray and Edinburgh,which both scored 33, and London, which only managed 32.

At the end of the scale Blackpool was named as Britain’s foodie ‘hellhole’, with the likes of Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Cardiff and Coventry also faring badly.

The news comes just days after Ludlow restaurant La Becasse was stripped of its Michelin star and left out of next year’s Michelin Food Guide. Mr Underhill’s is now Ludlow’s sole eaterie with Michelin star status.

Beth Heath, organiser of Ludlow Food and Drink Festival, said: “We had been first for a number of years.

“It is nice someone else manages to get a chance, but I definitely think Ludlow is a more foodie place then Birmingham and I don’t think what they produce compares to what we do in Ludlow.

“Foodies across the UK think Ludlow is the best place in the country, and while national events like the Good Food Show may attract lots of big name producers we are handing out bursaries to people who want to enter the industry but currently can’t afford to.”

By Peter Kitchen