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Research by olive magazine has shown Britain to be the foodiest city in the country, with London coming fifth. The food lover’s title scored UK towns and cities on their culinary credentials and Britain’s second-largest city pipped Ludlow, Melton Mowbray, Edinburgh and the nation’s capital to the top spot.

Alongside the invention of the balti, olive cites the trio of Michelin-starred restaurants, a food heritage including Typhoo, Bird’s Custard and HP Sauce, social foodie enterprises and food events including the Good Food Show, Europe’s largest food festival, in terms of visitor numbers. According to the judges: “Outsiders may persist in refusing to spend leisurely weekends there, but Britain’s second city is underestimated.”

Ludlow came second and Melton Mowbray and Edinburgh tied for third place. London – often regarded as one of the world’s premier food destinations, managed only fifth place, losing marks for “making tourists think Angus Steakhouse and Garfunkels represent the pinnacle of UK culinary achievement”.

olive also invited reader views on “foodie hellholes” with Middlesbrough receiving a special mention for its “notorious parmo, a chicken escalope in breadcrumbs, deep-fried, covered in béchamel and cheap grated cheese, run through a pizza oven and served with chips”. Glasgow for “deep-frying pizzas and pies” and Blackpool with one reader commenting “Nothing is allowed in unless it’s stuffed full of additives”.

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