Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight gives his verdict on Birmingham Airport's new restaurant themed on hit show

He had been in conversation with Birmingham Airport's CEO Nick Barton, and Kari Daniels, the CEO of SSP UK and Ireland, who have been working over the last two years to bring the boozer to life.

The new eatery, which seats 290 people, is located near to Wetherspoons and opposite Starbucks in the airport's main departure lounge.

It is entirely Peaky Blinders-themed - from the 1920s inspired décor right down to the menu. 

Television screens playing clips from the programme can be spotted around the restaurant, while behind-the-scenes shots of Cillian Murphy, who plays Tommy Shelby on the drama, adorn the walls. 

Steven Knight said: "It's brilliant, the fact is you can go to lots of places around the world and see Peaky Blinders bars which is great, but I'm so glad that back in Birmingham we have the officially sanctioned one and it's better than the others.

"I'm hoping people will buy tickets to go abroad just to be able to come here on the way!

"I really like that It's not a theme park here, it looks great. I was consulted along the way and it looks so real. We all know that airport bars are not usually the best places to be but people can come here and have a lot of fun.

"I gave a few thoughts on the look of it but luckily we had really good people making it happen so there were no conflicts. We were all on the same page.

"It's a real moment to see this place, and it's happening more and more around the world. We have just shot the movie and people everywhere are still discovering the show. It's getting bigger and bigger.

"Since I have been here I've been talking to the people about doing it all over the world and I would love to see that - especially if it's done well. I'm a big fan of pubs.

"It hits the right notes, it's a functioning bar which looks like the old days, when things were simple and analogue. I love it!"

Peaky Blinders has become an impressively popular - and now core - part of what the West Midlands can bring to the table when it comes to the arts, and one of the most important parts of the restaurant's creation was to make sure it was done right. 

The team behind it at SSP wanted to focus on authenticity. 

Kari Daniels said: "A lot of thought went into the authenticity of it, we wanted to make sure it wasn't a Hollywood Peaky Blinders, or a more plastic version of the show.

"We were lucky that we had access to authenticity in that we had access to the show and have photos here you would not see anywhere else. We also have outtakes of the film which you can see here.

"At the end of the day the food is great, it's a contemporary offer and you're not overwhelmed by the show. 

"The feedback we have had from the customers, and from Birmingham - which is important - has been really really positive. 

Birmingham Airport's CEO Nick Barton said it was around two years ago when he got a call from Steven Knight's office and got into a conversation about how passionate they were about Birmingham and the West Midlands - which is when sparks flew about the idea of a restaurant. 

Nick said: "Two years later and here we are with Shelby & Co in Birmingham Airport, with Steven's generosity to support the development of the product. His brand is really valuable and significant.

"It's been a delight, and he has been a delight.

"Every airport will play to its local strengths, but the amazing thing here is it's a local story of global scale and, here it is, the first one in the world opening in Birmingham Airport - and us being graced with the presence of its creator and owner, Steven Knight. 

"It doesn't get much better than that."

The Express & Star did ask Steven if he could spill all on what happens in the movie, but he remained tight-lipped - so you'll have to grab tickets to see the spectacle when it's released. 

Steven, said: "All I can tell you is that it happens in the Second World War."