As Christmas Eve approaches, the festive menus for one of the UK's largest prisons have been made public. While families across Birmingham prepare for the big day, the focus at HMP Birmingham in Winson Green turns to feeding approximately 1,450 men in custody.
What's on the Christmas Eve Menu?
Details obtained by BirminghamLive through a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Justice show that December 24 will not feature a specially designed festive menu. Instead, the prison will serve its regular daily meal options, offering a range of choices to cater to different dietary requirements.
The lunch service on Christmas Eve will provide five main options. The menu includes:
- Vegetable sausages
- Halal sausages
- Corn bake crisps bake
- Bacon
- Spicy bean roll
Evening Meal and Sweet Treats
The dinner service later on December 24 offers another set of varied choices for the inmates. The evening meal options are:
- Pasta in a basil and tomato sauce
- Vegetable stuffed eggplant
- Non-halal meatballs in tomato sauce
- Breaded turkey burger
- Halal beef carbonara
Prisoners will also have the chance to finish their dinner with a sweet treat. They can choose between a portion of fruit or a chocolate muffin.
Christmas Day Brings a Festive Feast
While Christmas Eve follows the standard menu, Christmas Day itself will see a traditional festive spread. A special menu has been planned for December 25, expected to feature classic components like roast turkey with all the trimmings.
For those who might not fancy the traditional Christmas dinner, the prison will provide four alternative meal options to ensure everyone has a suitable choice on the big day. The specifics of these alternatives were not detailed in the released information.
The revelation of the menus provides a rare insight into life inside the Winson Green facility during the holiday period, highlighting the logistical challenge of catering for a large population with diverse needs.
