Colmore Life Summer 2023

In this issue:

Food, drink and festivals: Summer in the Business District

Welcome

to the Summer 2023 edition of Colmore Life.

Great food and drink is now firmly at the heart of life in Colmore Business District.

It’s wonderful to have so many award-winning chefs and brilliant baristas testing their culinary creativity right on our office doorsteps.

And there’s one event in particular that showcases all the fine flavours of the District –Colmore Food Festival.

The Food Festival returns this year in a new home in the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral and with new food & drink arrivals to our District for you to sample.

This edition of Colmore Life will whet your appetite as we feature the menus the venues are offering at this year’s Festival – see Page 5 for the full run-down.

We also look at District newcomer Bundobust (Pages 20 & 21), a bright new interior for Church Street favourite The Royal (Pages 18 & 19), while the BID’s intrepid explorer Jonathan reports back from Lyon (Pages 22 & 23) where he’s picked up a few tips about how continental cities host food and drink events.

It’s also an important time for Colmore BID as we count down to our ballot of members in the autumn for BID4, our term representing the District between 2024-2029.

Find out more about the projects you’ve asked us to prioritise during BID4 on Page 8 and, as always, if you have any feedback, it would be great to hear from you.

Have a lovely summer and I hope to see you around and about the District.

MICHELE WILBY, CEO, COLMORE BID

THE BID TEAM

Michele Wilby Chief Executive Officer

Jonathan Bryce Operations Manager

Katy Paddock Special Projects Executive

Kelsey Dwyer Events Executive

Paul Street

Strategic Projects Officer

Mike Mounfield Projects Manager

Lee Stirrup Database Officer

Ruth Thompson Finance Director

Ali Abbas Rangwala Bookkeeper

John-Jo Von Johnson Street Operations Manager

Ryan Boothe Project Support

James Crooks Security Officer

Zack Palmer Security Officer

Dimitri Mitropoulos Security Officer

Nicole Panayiotou Business Liaison Executive

Peter Charalambous District Cleaner CONTACT

Colmore BID, 37a Waterloo St, Birmingham B2 5TJ info@colmorebid.co.uk colmorebusinessdistrict.com

We’re also on:

FOR COLMORE LIFE MAGAZINE

Stacey Barnfield Editor

Designed and produced for Colmore BID by: Edwin Ellis Creative Media edwinelliscreativemedia.com

INVITATION TO JOIN WORKING GROUPS

Following on from the success of the Welcome to Birmingham events, Colmore BID is introducing a new working group

This working group will focus on supporting the District’s new professionals. Interested in joining?

Please email Kelsey.dwyer@ colmorebid.co.uk

CALL FOR DIVERSITY FEEDBACK

Equality, diversity and inclusion is extremely important to Colmore BID and the events team wants to learn more about different cultural celebrations in and around the Distric.

Colmore BID Events Executive, Kelsey Dwyer, said: “We would love to hear from you to understand what events are important to you and how they are celebrated.”

If you have any feedback, advice or want to highlight a special date please email Kelsey.dwyer @colmorebid.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW? Colmore BID will ballot its member businesses later this year to extend its term representing the District between 2024-2029. Find out more about the BID’s plans for the future and its new Business Plan on Page 8

A DAY IN THE DISTRICT

IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR A MEETING? WHY NOT MAKE A DAY OF IT?

1 BREAKFAST

4 ME TIME 2 TO THE SHOPS 3 SEE THE SIGHTS

COLLEY ISON ALBERT’S SCHLOSS

A breakfast like no other awaits at the Alpine-inspired ‘pleasure palace’.

The Kroissant Royale (slow cooked onions, gouda, egg, crispy shallots, with bacon or sausage) is an absolute must.

Treat yourself to a Bloody Mary Livener and it’s the perfect start to the day!

One Chamberlain Square

5 DINNER

PRIMITIVO

One of the longest running venues in Colmore Business District, Primitivo offers a wide range of drinks and a delicious selection of seasonal food. Barwick

BIRMINGHAM CATHEDRAL

Enjoy a rare opportunity to see the remarkable Edward BurneJones and William Morris stained glass up close and personal thanks to a series of ‘Scaffold Tours’ during renovation works. A memorable experience for arts and heritage lovers.

See Pages 26 & 27

PUREGYM

No matter what your fitness goal may be, PureGym Birmingham

Snow Hill Plaza gym – with over 200 pieces of kit and wi-fi – is equipped with the tools to fast track your route to success.

Memberships options start at £14.99 per month (plus £10.00 joining fee).

Snow Hill Plaza, St Chad’s Queensway

6 ONE FOR THE ROAD

THE QUEEN’S HEAD

Packed with character and style, this Davenports brewery pub is loaded with Brummie references and nods to the city’s past. Expect great craft beers, pub food and a warm welcome.

Steelhouse Lane

Lowdown

JEWELLERY QUARTER FEST CELEBRATES UNIQUE AREA

Taking place at the same time as Colmore Food Festival, The Jewellery Quarter Festival celebrates one of Birmingham’s most unique neighbourhoods with live music, food and drinks, makers, tours and plenty of events.

The JQ Festival is on Saturday 22nd July (10am until 7pm) and is packed with free entertainment all day long.

A variety of businesses are taking part with special offers and things to do, plus it’s a great opportunity to shop with local makers and craftspeople.

Main locations are the market at Golden Square and live music in St Paul’s Square. Lots of other events will take place across the Quarter including Warstone Lane Cemetery, The Jointworks, School of Jewellery, The Hive and more.

The JQ Festival is organised by the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District and funded by local businesses.

The drinks and dishes to try at Colmore Food Festival 2023

SUMMER EVENT RETURNS – WITH BRAND NEW LOCATION

The much-loved Colmore Food Festival is making a return to Birmingham for its 10th anniversary on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd July 2023.

The free and award-winning festival will be in a new location in the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral and will provide guests with a tasty and affordable spread of mouth-watering mini dishes from local traders’ latest menus.

Completely free to attend, price caps are set per item to ensure the selections on offer are both tasty and affordable for all.

Visitors will be spoilt for choice with the stalls made up of local restaurants, coffee shops, bars and hotels offering a selection of meat, vegetarian and vegan options.

Over the page you can whet the appetite and see the dishes and drinks you’ll be able to sample at this year’s Festival.

Vicky Osgood, Colmore BID Board Director, said: “The Colmore Food Festival is always a highlight of the food lovers calendar. It gives Brummies an opportunity to sample and enjoy delicious dishes and drinks from some of the areas most

exciting and loved venues for a bargain price.”

Colmore BID Deputy Chair, Alex Tross, added: “The Colmore Food Festival has always been a fantastic opportunity for people to get together and sample the amazing range of food and drink available from venues in the district.

“This year, the event will be better than ever as we celebrate our 10th anniversary. “Whether you work or live in the district or are just in town visiting, we guarantee that you’ll have a fantastic time so come and join us!”

Jon Stevens of law firm DWF, sponsors of Colmore Food Festival, said: “DWF is immensely proud to continue its sponsorship of the Colmore BID Food Festival as it marks its momentous 10th anniversary, showing our support not only to Colmore BID, but also to our fellow businesses in the area. Join us in celebrating Birmingham’s culinary excellence and vibrant community spirit as we foster connections, and nourish the heart of our city.”

LATEST NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT

COLMORE FOOD FESTIVAL 2023 MENUS

All

PURECRAFT

Purity Session IPA 4.5%

Purity Pure Helles lager 5%

Purity Pure cider 4.6%

Purity Point Five 0.5%

Purebooch Original Kombucha

Folkingtons apple juice

Folkingtons orange juice

LOKI WINES

Sparkling:

Prosecco

Kingscote English Sparkling Brut

Kingscote English Sparkling Rose

White:

New Hall Bacchus

Vidal Sauvignon Blanc

Quinta Do Ameal Vinho

Red:

Mougeottes Pinot Noir

Chapoutier Cotes Du Rhone

Los Olivos Malbec

Rose:

Aumerade Styles Provence rose

THE ALCHEMIST

Foam Alone

Tongue Tied Mai Tai

The Walking Red

MISS MACAROON

Selection of macaroon flavours

Gluten-free desserts

HOOKWAYS

Halloumi fries

Chicken & mozzarella loaded fries

Smoky beef brisket kebab slider

URBAN COFFEE CO

Food

Vegan cinnamon rolls

Salted caramel brownie

Cornflake brownie

Cherry and almond croissant

Cupcakes

Drinks

Latte

Flat white

Cappuccino

Espresso

Americano

Mocha

Hot chocolate

Chai

Breakfast tea

COFFEE #1

Selection of cakes

Fruit smoothies

Brewed and filter coffee

PRIMITIVO

Pomelo grapefruit gin with Fever Tree

tonic

Bramley apple and rhubarb gin with Fevertree tonic

Rose Prosecco

Lemonade

HOTEL DU VIN

Cuvee Hotel Du Vin, Lombard France

Champagne Created by Hotel Du Vin

Chateau Ste Michelle. Red Hills & Valleys, Pikes. White

GAUCHO

Empanada Steak & Chips

Gambas

NORTH TAP

Springwell Pilsner 4.5%

Atlantis 4.1%

Pear and white tea fizz

PURNELL’S

Pork collar barbecued, cabbage slaw, honey mustard

Mint choc chip ice cream

ZEN METRO

Spicy wok chicken

Jasmine rice

Beef red curry

Chicken noodles

Vegetables noodles

ORELLE

BBQ salmon

Chocolate mousse

JAVA

Hot and ice coffee

Traybakes

Dalgana

ALL BAR ONE

Crab taco

Argentinian prawns

Pad Thai

JAMAYA

Jerk Chicken rice box

Brown stew

Rasta power

WAYLAND’S YARD

The OG crumpet

Fried chicken crumpet

Bacon & halloumi crumpet

ROSA’S THAI

Veggie green curry

Chicken Rosa’s fried rice

Laab chicken salad

BUNDOBUST

Bundo chaat

Onion bhaji

Chole saag

THE FLORENCE

Lager – Beavertown neck oil

Cider – inches

Soft drinks – coke & lemonade

ASHA’S

Aloo tikki chaat

Chicken biryani with gravy

Lamb boti kebab

Masala chaai (Indian tea)

Please check allergens or intolerences with all venues at the Food Festival

What’s on when at Festival 23

COLMORE BID CHAMPIONS CELEBRATION OF 2022 GAMES

The spectacular Birmingham Festival 23 to mark the one-year anniversary of the Commonwealth Games will take place between 28th July – 6th August.

Commissioned by Birmingham City Council and supported by Colmore BID, the Festival will take place in Centenary Square with a 10 day programme of free events that showcase the city’s rich cultural offer. Birmingham Festival 23 will be delivered by the team behind the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Festival, including Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS) and JA Productions, led by Creative Director Raidene Carter and Executive Director Will Mauchline, and with programme partners including SAMPAD, Fabric, ACE Dance & Music, and United By 2022 Legacy Charity.

Through funding from Arts Council England, local artists Elizabeth ‘Zeddie’ Lawal and Mukhtar Dar have also joined the Festival team as Artistic Associates.

Proudly outdoors and free to access, the Festival will echo the city-centre experience of the Games, taking over Centenary Square with live music and performance, creative and participatory activities, and bigscreen content to conjure the shared experiences, magic and memories of the summer of ‘22.

The Festival also serves to celebrate the city’s rich cultural offer through programming committed to diversity,

and visitors. We’re going to show everyone, once again, how brilliant

Raidene Carter, who was Executive Producer for Birmingham 2022 Festival, said: “Last year we really showcased Birmingham’s creativity and it ran through everything from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies watched by millions, the Medal Design process with local students, to the more discrete handcrafted gifts and experiences created for Athletes – we no longer have to prove to the world that this place is full of talent.

“This year is about really celebrating how creative this city is, and the thousands of people who took part.”

HIGHLIGHTS OF FESTIVAL 23

FRIDAY 28 JULY

A Thousand Welcomes will kick off the free celebrations.

Soulful house DJ Echo Juliet and BBC Asian Network’s Bobby Friction will build excitement in Centenary Square with live VJs from 6pm ahead of the show which will start at 7pm. The event will be hosted by award-winning BBC presenter Ayo Akinwolere and DJ and Radio 1Xtra presenter Kaylee Golding.

The Festival site on Centenary Square will feature a big screen where audiences can expect to see newly-commissioned short films, B2022 highlights and messages from a few familiar faces which will be kept a surprise until the night.

The final part of the evening will take place around the fountain area of Centenary Square in front of the Festival’s stage which will light up Birmingham. Ayo and Kaylee will introduce speeches and interview guests before welcoming a live music finale courtesy of Birmingham Music Archive.

SATURDAY 29 JULY

Sampad will explore the theme of Home From Home. With a day-long programme featuring live music, dance and spoken word it will be a celebration of the lives and creativity of the city. Vibrant and colourful it will bring together a hugely diverse array of artists, performers and communities that represent generations of people who have made this city their home.

SUNDAY 30 JULY

Dance takes centre stage as FABRIC takes over Centenary Square with EveryBody Dancing, an exciting programme of amazing dance full of free opportunities to get involved. The highlight of the day will be a specially commissioned new work by ZoieLogic Dance Theatre co-created with Critical Mass Dance Collective (CMDC), the inclusive dance company featuring an integrated cast with people identifying as D/deaf, Disabled and non-disabled.

SATURDAY 5 AUGUST

ACE dance and music, the Birmingham-based, Black-led, contemporary dance company, presents Carnival is Colour. Witness a collage of carnival colour, dance, and the pulsating rhythms of Trinidad as vibrant costumes soar, amidst the backdrop of a Community Mass Choir led by Black Voices, and Dutch Marching Band Eternity Percussion, as they fill Centenary Square with magical energy.

‘Expect to see new short films, B2022 highlights and messages from a few familiar faces which will be kept a surprise until the night’

Colmore BID reveals plans for next term

Colmore BID has launched its BID4 Business Plan for 2024-2029.

Since starting the consultation period in January 2023, Colmore BID has engaged closely with local businesses, seeking feedback and suggestions through various interactive activities.

The consultation period played a vital role in shaping the future of the District and the surrounding areas.

Colmore BID delivers a wide range of projects to the District, from award-winning public realm schemes and the Colmore Food Festival to Welcome to Birmingham and a committed team of security officers to make the area a safe and secure place.

Through the launch of the Business Plan – unveiled at a special event at Hotel du Vin, Church Street – Colmore BID is committing to improving the District for organisations, residents and visitors through:

n Creating outstanding places

n Increasing accessibility and sustainability

n Delivering creative and cultural activities

n Increasing footfall to the District’s hospitality and leisure venues

n Delivering a safe and secure environment

n Building and growing the District’s business community

n Developing the District’s community of young professionals

n Collaborating, taking a lead and finding opportunities

Between Thursday 28 September

and Thursday 26 October 2023, Eligible Voters will be given the opportunity to vote on the proposal for Colmore BID 2024-2029. The results will be announced on Monday 30 October 2023.

If successful Colmore BID’s fourth term will commence on 1 April 2024 and will enable the BID to actualise its ambitious vision for the area, with local businesses investing over £7.5 million across five years.

Nicola Fleet-Milne, Chair of the Colmore BID Board, said: “It is our

vision as a BID to make the Colmore Business District a desirable place for everyone who works, visits or lives here.

“Following the launch of the Business Plan, we are now focused on the execution of our BID4 promises and the start of the postal ballot in September. The ballot will determine Colmore BID’s future and will hopefully lead to the continued success of the District and the broader city.”

Read the Business Plan at colmorebusinessdistrict.com

2024-2029 BUSINESS PLAN LAUNCHED AT SPECIAL EVENT

2024-2029

YOUR FUTURE BUSINESS DISTRICT

YOUR FUTURE BUSINESS DISTRICT

COLMORE BID APPOINTED TO SUPPORT LAWRENCE BARTON, NTE CHAMPION FOR BIRMINGHAM

Colmore BID has been appointed to support Lawrence Barton, the Night-Time Economy (NTE) Champion for Birmingham, who has been tasked with advocating on behalf of businesses operating late at night.

The role has been designed to create a coherent strategic approach to developing Birmingham’s busy and evolving NTE. This builds on earlier work Barton has already carried out, which includes chairing four local business events to gather key stakeholders’ concerns, ideas, and opinions on potential NTE approaches and innovations, and meeting with key local partners and national experts on the night time economy.

Colmore BID will work closely with Barton to develop an action plan to improve night-time safety in Birmingham, improve the perception of the NTE sector, and identify any challenges and potential solutions facing the city centre.

Colmore BID’s appointment to support the NTE Champion aligns closely with their Safe and Sound workstream, which aims to reduce antisocial behaviour and increase the safety of the surrounding area.

It also corresponds with the BID’s recent work with Licensing SAVI, which included helping five venues in the District to achieve a 5-star National Police Safety Award. Licensing SAVI strives to meet four key objectives which correspond with improving Birmingham’s night-time safety:

n Prevention of Public Nuisance

n Prevention of Crime and Disorder

n Protection of Children from Harm

n Public Safety

The BID will now work closely with Barton to ensure that the operators of Birmingham’s venues are wellequipped to provide a safe and

Working together for nights to remember

enjoyable environment for their visitors.

Barton said: “Hospitality businesses, especially those operating at night, are under considerable financial and regulatory pressure. There is a pressing need for us to reassess how the city responds to these challenges and for us to put in place a sustainable strategy to secure the industry’s success going forward.

“I am thrilled to be supported by Colmore BID to help deliver a plan to protect and augment

Birmingham’s flourishing nightlife.”

Nicola Fleet-Milne, Chair of Colmore BID added: “We are delighted to be appointed to support Lawrence with strategically developing an action plan for Birmingham’s NightTime Economy.

“At Colmore BID, we prioritise the safety and security of visitors to the District and its surrounding areas, ensuring that individuals enjoy a welcoming atmosphere. Therefore, through this partnership, we hope to contribute to implementing effective initiatives to enhance Birmingham’s thriving nightlife whilst guaranteeing a safe environment.”

Pictured: Chamberlain Square and Lawrence Barton

GAYLE DITCHBURN OF PINSENT MASONS TALKS SKILLS, INVESTMENT AND GROWTH

As a Partner and Head of the Birmingham Office at Pinsent Masons on Colmore Row, Gayle Ditchburn oversees internal and external relations for a team of more than 700. She talks to Colmore Life about what her role entails.

Interview: Lisa Piddington

Commercial lawyer Gayle Ditchburn has been a familiar face on Colmore Row for nearly two decades. Training and qualifying at what was then Shakespeares, she joined multinational law firm Pinsent Masons LLP 16 years ago.

Working her way up from associate to one of the firm’s key partners, she heads up the Universities and Higher Education Commercial, Governance and Regulatory Team. This sees her advising educational institutions on everything from commercial contracts and joint ventures to mergers and

disposals, shared services and outsourcing.

Now she has added another string to her bow, as Pinsent Mason’s new Head of its Birmingham Office. Taking over this latest position earlier this year means she oversees communications and decision-making on office-related matters, community investment, charity work and social events – including the legendary annual fancy dress Christmas party – as well as being an external ambassador for the firm.

“Pinsent Masons is very much a

‘It is vital that our junior lawyers network and socialise, this is how they develop their skills to become the partners of tomorrow’

Big Interview

global business with a network of 26 offices across four continents, but we still remain very committed to our Birmingham roots,” explains Gayle.

“The West Midlands has seen significant growth in recent years with businesses across our real estate, energy, infrastructure, technology, science and industry, and financial services sectors developing rapidly. As head of office, my role is about supporting a 700-strong team on the opportunities this presents.

“It’s a two-faceted position; as an internal pastoral figurehead and also externally networking and raising the firm’s profile. One of the things I really want to encourage post-Covid is for our lawyers to get out from behind their computers for more face-to-face networking. Before the pandemic, there were so many important events in the city and we are finally starting to see those happening again. It is vital that our junior lawyers network and socialise, this is how they develop their skills to become the partners of tomorrow.

“As well as my position as head of office, I still maintain my practice. My area of specialism is advising universities and higher education facilities on commercial projects, corporate governance, charity law and regulatory work.

“As a firm, we act for many of the region’s universities and higher education institutions on their complex and innovative projects, which not only raise Birmingham’s profile internationally but act as catalysts for economic growth and improvements in social mobility. Pinsent Masons is so historically embedded in Birmingham, we continue to strive to be at the forefront of supporting the region’s economic development.”

Gayle is surrounded by a 40-strong partner team which works closely with developments that shape the future of the region. Recent real estate projects included acting for Sandwell Council on the Sandwell Aquatics Centre to convert it to state-of-the-art leisure facilities for local residents; advising on Birmingham’s tallest building at One Eastside; and plans for the BBC

MasterChef studios opening on the site of a former banana warehouse in Digbeth.

So with an in-tray piled high, her numerous responsibilities at Pinsent Masons and a mum of two teenagers, does she find time to enjoy her surroundings on Colmore Row?

“When I go out The Ivy never disappoints. In fact I was there to celebrate the recent promotions of two new partners and a legal director. I’m also a fan of Gusto and San Carlo. Hotel Du Vin is a lovely place to visit with its newly refurbished Bistro, as is the new Grand Hotel.

“There’s a real sense of a strong

business community here. There’s a great coffee shop culture right on our doorstep and always so many options to meet up with clients and contacts.

“The public realm of the area has been hugely improved over recent years and the Colmore BID team has worked hard to achieve this. A lot of what they do goes on behind the scenes but as someone who has worked here for many years I can really see the benefits of their actions. It was great to hear Nicola Fleet-Milne talking recently about what the BID do and the improvements that are ongoing, and I’m excited to see these come to fruition.”

Pictured: Birmingham’s business community gathered for a special event at Hotel du Vin, Church Street, to recognise Greg Lowson’s retirement and Gayle Ditchburn’s appointment

‘The success of 2022 should give us cause for optimism. It provides a platform to showcase the region to a global audience’

NEIL RAMI OF WMGC ON POST-2022 BIRMINGHAM AND ITS POSITION IN THE WORLD

What’s at the top of your in-tray?

We’ve recently come to the end of our two-year Business and Tourism Programme, a global tourism, trade and investment strategy designed to leverage the opportunities brought by the Commonwealth Games.

It’s been so successful that we’ve been given the green light by government and the West Midlands Combined Authority to develop a new international strategy for the West Midlands. That’s high up on the agenda.

We’ve also got a culture transformation

Neil Rami is Chief Executive of the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC).

Supported by local authorities, universities and a wide range of regional businesses, the WMGC was established in 2017 to create new jobs, expand existing businesses and attract new inward investment and visitors to the region. Previously, Neil held similar economic development roles in Liverpool and Newcastle upon Tyne. He is a member of the British Tourism Industry Group and sits on the LandAid Midlands Board. He is also a non-executive director of Creative England.

WMGC is the region’s economic development agency whose primary purpose is to bring jobs, investment, visitors and businesses to the West Midlands.

programme taking place across our organisation. We’ve been going through a period of change over the past few years as our team and our remit have grown, so this seems the perfect point at which to take stock, talk to people and think about the kind of culture we want to continue to build.

Can you describe a typical day?

Our organisation exists to attract jobs, investment and tourism to the West Midlands, so my job usually involves meeting with potential investors or

partners, whether that be a trade delegation from North America or a tech start-up from India, to understand their needs and how we can help.

Of course, it’s vital that any investment meets the strategic requirements of the people we represent. Our unique selling point is the coordinating role we play between the public, private and academic sectors, so I also spend a lot of my time speaking with local authorities, higher education institutions and private sector partners to get to know their future plans and ensure what we do can

provide the most benefit for the people who live and work here.

Businesses are currently facing a raft of challenges. What more do you think needs to be done to support companies and ensure investment continues to flow into the region?

For a long time we’ve been calling for devolution to narrow the economic gap between London and other major cities. Thankfully, we took the first steps towards that in this year’s Spring budget, where the Chancellor announced new, wide-ranging regional powers along with a budget in excess of £1.5 billion.

This will bring a welcome shift in power from Whitehall to the West Midlands, giving the region’s leaders control over what they spend and how they spend it – essentially enabling us to implement local solutions to local problems.

The deal also formally recognises the West Midlands Growth Company as the region’s lead agency for trade and investment, and supports the developing of a bespoke international strategy to help us supercharge the legacy of the Games by opening up new overseas markets that will bring foreign investment into the region.

You’ll have seen the news about Vinoteca closing in Chamberlain Square. A thriving leisure and hospitality sector is the lifeblood of the visitor economy. How can we ensure our bars and restaurants thrive?

It’s never nice seeing any venue close its doors, and the Vinoteca site is key to the Paradise development. It’s a mark of just how difficult the economic conditions are for hospitality businesses.

The West Midlands Growth Company has reacted by helping to form a new West Midlands Tourism & Hospitality Advisory Board. The idea is that it allows the region to form a coordinated response to the challenges – and creates a figurehead to lobby government for the policies and funding it needs.

Speaking of figureheads, we’ve also now got in place a new Night-time Economy Advisor – The Wilderness’s Alex Claridge – who will speak up for that part of the sector and promote the important role the region’s nightlife plays in creating jobs and attracting new visitors.

Overall, the success of 2022 should give us cause for optimism. It provides a platform from which we can build, by showcasing the region to a global audience and attracting the kinds of high-profile events that will continue to bring visitors from around the world.

We’re looking forward to celebrating the first anniversary of the fantastic Commonwealth Games with the ten-day Birmingham Festival 23. You’ve described the Games as the “ultimate shop window for the West Midlands”. One year on, what impact do you think the event’s had and what’s being done to ensure its economic legacy continues?

The Commonwealth Games gave us the opportunity to tell the West Midlands’ story to more than five million people who packed into our squares and venues and to more than two billion people watching worldwide.

The impact of that is huge. We saw a record-breaking number of visitors come to the region last year and we followed that up with our highest-ever investment figures.

The most important aspect of that is how it has changed people’s perceptions of the region. That’s what has enabled us to build a pipeline of investment opportunities, which will ensure the Games has a legacy that lasts far beyond one – albeit very special –summer.

Birmingham City Council recently launched a masterplan outlining its vision of how the city can be transformed over the next 20 years. ‘Our Future City: Central Birmingham 2040’ aims to establish

Birmingham as a world leader in sustainable living and working. What opportunities do you think this will bring and how do you see the city two decades from now? It was extremely exciting to see Birmingham City Council lay out its vision for the kind of city it wants to build; one which is greener, easier to get around and with a strong sense of community.

From a growth perspective, those principles are really positive. By creating a liveable, connected and thriving city, we are able to attract the best talent to either stay or settle in the region – and that makes it an even more attractive place to visit and invest in. This is what gives investors confidence, and the figures quoted – 35,0000 new homes and 74,0000 new jobs – show the level of ambition behind the plan.

In short though, Birmingham is going to look very different in ten years, let alone 20. We know that connectivity is a hugely important factor in how well an economy performs, and with HS2 arriving at the end of the decade, we’re going to see that investment in the city start to ramp up even more.

Already this year, we’ve seen plans for a truly transformative innovation cluster in Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter, and investments in our growing creative industry through projects like The Bond, The BBC’s Tea Factory, Digbeth Loc Studios. It’s really exciting to think about what’s in store.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

People won’t always remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.

Do you have any favourite places to relax in the Business District?

We’re on the 11th floor of The Colmore Building and have a terrific view of the city, so it’s a great place to wow visitors. We’re spoilt for choice on places to eat, drink and relax in the Business District but depending on the occasion I do like Damascena, The Ivy, Dishoom and Purecraft Bar and Kitchen.

‘It’s vital that any investment meets the strategic requirements of the people we represent’

Movers&Shakers

A round-up of the latest Business District launches, relocations, appointments and promotions

Construction work on the latest commercial building at Paradise Birmingham, Three Chamberlain Square, has begun.

SHOOSMITHS

Law firm Shoosmiths has announced eight new partners in its May promotions round.

In the firm’s Birmingham office, Jill Briggs, pictured, has been appointed as partner. Briggs acts for housebuilders in acquisitions of development sites, strategic options, promotion agreements and regeneration schemes on a nationwide basis.

The other new Shoosmiths partners are: Kate Garcia, Holly Hirst, Liz McKillop Paley, Chris Moakes, Matthew Kemp, Lisa Sigalet and Brian West.

Shoosmiths has also promoted 12 to legal director and 24 to principal associate.

Shoosmiths chairperson, Peter Duff, said: “We would like to thank all this year’s promotees for their contribution to Shoosmiths. The dedication they have shown to clients and their commitment to Shoosmiths’ values has been exceptional.

“At Shoosmiths, we are committed to developing and nurturing our people to create the best lawyers of tomorrow – getting this right is integral to Shoosmiths’ strategic expansion across our chosen markets in the years to come.”

JLL

International property company JLL has agreed a deal to move 150 of its staff to One Centenary Way, which forms part of the £1.2 billion Paradise Birmingham development.

JLL will operate just over half a floor at One Centenary Way after signing a ten-year lease for 13,815 sq ft of space.

Stuart Smith, head of Midlands region at JLL, said: “The Midlands is a key part of our UK and international network, and so moving to Paradise is a milestone step in our broader commitment to sustainability, offering an energy efficient space that the team can be proud of, and will no doubt be a draw for new colleagues. Our aim is to create the best working environment in the city.”

This phase of the £1.2bn development will include new public realm, a hotel and a further commercial building, Three Chamberlain Square. JLL will join Arup and Goldman Sachs at the site.

DAVISONS LAW

Activity to prepare the site for work has already been taking place throughout 2023 and direct work will now be visible upon the site situated next to The Town Hall and fronting Paradise Street as the main construction period begins. Scheduled to open in 2025, Three Chamberlain Square was awarded planning permission by Birmingham City Council in June 2022, and forms an integral part of the overall Paradise masterplan.

Pictured: Ross Fittall, MEPC; Chris Hucknall, SRM; Alex Housden, MEPC and Stuart Bale, SRM

Davisons Law has announced that Scott Wilkinson has joined the Residential Conveyancing Department, based in the prestigious Colmore Row office.

With over 10 years’ experience in the property market, Wilkinson specialises in high-value property transactions, complex legal matters and attending to the needs of high net worth investors.

If you are a high net worth individual looking to sell your property or are an estate agent seeking a reliable legal partner for your clients’ complex transactions, contact Scott Wilkinson on 0121 824 9523.

Daniel Stones, Director – Head of Colmore Row (left) welcomes Scott Wilkinson

ROYTHORNES

Top 150 law firm Roythornes Solicitors has welcomed four new partners to its Newhall Street office, adding to its ambitious growth plans in the region.

Gavin Faber, Hayley McCormack and Joanna Grewer will together provide a leading private wealth offering to the Birmingham and wider market. The newly formed team will provide a full private client and family offering, alongside will, trust and estate disputes. In addition, Parmjit Gill, has joined to complement the commercial property and real estate teams.

All four appointments bring a wealth of experience to the Roythornes team, helping to raise the firm’s profile in Birmingham.

Vember Mortlock, managing partner at Roythornes, said: “We feel incredibly fortunate to have Gavin, Hayley, Joanna and Parmjit join us as partners, bringing their impressive

expertise to the firm. We have maintained ambitious growth plans for Birmingham since our latest move, and their appointment will only help us to reach these goals and strengthen our West Midlands office and team. Private wealth has always been a core strength of our business and it is exciting to now have such a strong offering in the Midlands.”

The firm has seen substantial growth since opening its new premises in 2022. Now with more than 30 staff in the city, the office is going from strength to strength.

Roythornes is a top 150 national law practice that adopts a one team ethos across its Birmingham, Alconbury, Nottingham, Peterborough, and Spalding offices. It prides itself on building longstanding relationships with clients, which include major bluechip companies, family businesses and private individuals, based nationally and internationally.

BDO

Satvir Bungar, Mergers & Acquisitions managing director at Two Snowhill-based accountancy and business advisory firm BDO, has been named as one of the top 100 leaders for his work in supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Bungar, who heads up BDO’s ethnic diversity network known as CEDAR, has been named in the Empower 100 Executives Role Model list, created by INvolve, for the third year running.

The Empower Role Model Lists supported by YouTube showcase leaders who are breaking down barriers at work for people of colour within global business.

Bungar, who has been with BDO for more than 15 years and acts as a longstanding mentor to junior colleagues, has been integral in supporting BDO’s graduate talent campaign to attract highperforming ethnically diverse graduates.

BEVAN BRITTAN

National law firm Bevan Brittan has moved to a new location in the Business District, after seeing significant growth in its team in the city.

The move from One Temple Row to 45 Church Street coincides with the appointment of Property Partner, Rebecca Pendlebury as the

new Head of Office for the firm in the Midlands, while its total number of colleagues in the region has passed the landmark figure of 100.

The firm will move to the new office in spring, marking the latest stage in its expansion in the Midlands and its growth nationally. Last year, the firm announced its ninth consecutive year of growth as revenues topped £60m for the first time.

His commitment to championing equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) and creating social mobility initiatives, alongside his collaboration with sector bodies in the facilities management industry and pro bono advice to various company boards, have contributed to his inclusion in the top 100.

He said: “At BDO we are committed to championing diversity and I am humbled to be included again this year. I will continue to use my expertise and experience to drive impactful initiatives and bang the drum for truly equitable workplaces.”

Left to right: Roythornes’ Parmjit Gill, Hayley McCormack, Vember Mortlock, Gavin Faber and Joanna Grewer

Satvir Bungar, a top 100 leader for his work in supporting diversity and inclusion

Movers&Shakers

HUB TRANSPORT PLANNING

Birmingham city centrebased Hub Transport Planning has appointed Tom Toeman as an associate to support business growth.

Toeman joins from Waterman where he was previously contracted as a consultant highways officer to Coventry City Council, and before that held transport planning posts at Kier, WSP as well as spending 10 years in Australia.

His new role at Hub is to provide highways advice for its growing number of developer and land promoter clients, to ensure their residential and commercial schemes secure planning permission.

CLARKE WILLMOTT LLP

Law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has announced a series of appointments and internal promotions at its Colmore Row office.

The firm’s commercial property team, which is one of the largest specialist commercial property teams in the UK, has been strengthened with the appointment of new partner Andrew Stokes and associate Amanda Whatmore.

Both specialise in the banking and finance sector and their appointments add to the depth and breadth of the firm’s offering in the Birmingham market.

In addition, the Birmingham corporate team has also been bolstered with the appointment of associate Aiden Clucas who joins under partner Kim Klahn and demonstrates the continued growth of that team since Kim’s arrival just over 12 months ago.

REEVES MEDIA

A decade after originally joining PR agency Reeves Media as an account executive, Matt Walker has returned as managing director, taking over from founder Clive Reeves who moves across into a CEO role.

Walker, 31, has spent five years since leaving the agency working in senior communications roles in the built environment, most recently heading up internal and external communications for national property and construction consultancy Ridge and Partners LLP. Prior to that, he led external communications for Midlandsbased property developer St. Modwen, working across its logistics, regeneration and residential portfolio.

Reeves Media provides a full service PR, content and video offering to clients across the UK from its central Birmingham and Newcastle upon Tyne offices.

Speaking of his appointment, Matt said: “I’m excited to be back with the Reeves Media team and shaping the next phase of the business’ growth. We have fantastic clients across the region and are underpinned by a talented and creative team. Now, we are ready to make a splash in growth sectors including property, manufacturing and automotive.”

Clive Reeves, 59, said: “This is the execution of succession planning with home grown talent, and I’m pleased that Matt recognises the potential our business has and the opportunities there are for the future.”

Keen to emphasise that this isn’t his retirement, Clive added: “I will continue to work with the clients that I already handle as well as strategic consulting with new ones.

“I see this very much as an opportunity to concentrate on the things that I enjoy at the same time as more frequent and longer lunches. It’s a PR tradition that deserves revival.”

FLEETMILNE

Residential sales and lettings agency FleetMilne has been appointed to advise Urban Vision on its 100 Broad Street residential development.

The former Uber HQ and 0.6-acre site was acquired by Urban Vision in Summer 2022.

Urban Vision plans to build a new scheme of 294 rental apartments designed by Glenn Howells Architects. The project is specifically designed around the latest principle of reducing the carbon footprint and offering low energy living using the latest smart building technology.

FleetMilne has been brought on board to provide consultancy advice on apartment living

design, tech facilities and achievable rents.

Nicola Fleet-Milne, chief executive of the Colmore Row-based business, said: “Build-torent is still a relatively new offer and it has been a huge learning curve for both scheme owners and operators.

“We have invaluable insight on what residents want and what works in a building, as well as local demand. Getting us involved at the planning stage means we can influence the content of an asset, helping Urban Vision achieve full occupancy, retain residents and maximise rents.”

100 Broad Street is Urban Vision’s first development in Birmingham. The Urban Vision team has acquired and managed more than £15 billion of property assets in the UK and Europe.

Clive Reeves and Matt Walker

MILLS & REEVE

Simon Garbett has joined Mills & Reeve’s Birmingham office at 78-84 Colmore Row.

He joins from Squire Patton Boggs and is a high-profile commercial disputes lawyer with an expertise in complex commercial litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution.

Garbett, pictured, will focus on commercial disputes in Birmingham following the retirement of Steve Allen, partner and a leader in dispute resolution in the region.

His key focus will be on crossborder disputes, manufacturing, supply chain and product liability issues, particularly in the aerospace, automotive and industrial products sectors. He has a wealth of experience in dispute resolution and has represented commercial and government clients in a significant number of successful mediations.

Garbett said: “I’m thrilled to lead the Mills & Reeve commercial disputes team in Birmingham. It’s a very exciting time to be joining with significant ongoing investment taking place in business and the opportunity to deliver on the firm’s 2025 strategy.”

Jayne Hussey, partner and head of the Birmingham office, said: “We’re so pleased to welcome Simon to Mills & Reeve. Simon’s breadth of experience will be vital in helping the businesses we advise navigate a range of challenges effectively.”

Movers&Shakers

103 Colmore Row scoops outstanding workplace award

The Midlands and Central England’s most outstanding workplaces have been announced with 103 Colmore Row the winner of the Commercial Workplace of the year.

Held at the ICC in Birmingham, the British Council for Offices’ annual Midlands and Central Awards Lunch recognised projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and sustainability, setting the standard for excellence across the sector.

The winners of this year’s competition in the Midlands and Central England stand out for their user-centred design credentials, as well as their creative implementation of wellbeing and sustainability measures.

This year has seen the addition of a new prize – the ESG Award – recognising a workplace that will have a game changing influence on the environment, social value, governance or sustainable outcomes in the commercial building sector.

103 Colmore Row in Birmingham was crowned Best Commercial Workplace after the judges were struck by the respectful way in which this ambitious 26-storey development has changed the city’s skyline without dominating the conservation area in which it lies.

The predominately glazed façade allows 103 Colmore Row to reflect the streetscape around it, while the muted palette of grey and black

finishes gives the building a classic, timeless feel. A dramatic entrance art gallery, roof terrace and restaurant provide amenities for tenants and visitors alike, with stunning views. The judging panel commended the project for its bravery and success, with more than 80% of the building let or under offer.

Lee Jones, Partner at Quantem and Chair of the BCO Midlands and Central Judging Panel, said: “The calibre of this year’s awards has pushed the boundaries of workplace design. The emphasis on carbon reduction, decrease of fossil fuel use and a true focus on the health and wellbeing of all who use workplaces has been outstanding.”

THE BCO REGIONAL AWARD WINNERS FOR THE MIDLANDS AND CENTRAL ENGLAND: TJX Watford Campus, 73 Clarendon Rd, Watford (Corporate Workplace)

103 Colmore Row, Birmingham (Commercial Workplace)

Roku HQ, 2 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge (Fit Out of Workplace)

Sycamore House, 2 Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage (Refurbished/Recycled Workplace)

Cadent Gas, Ansty Park, Pilot Way, Coventry (ESG)

Midlands and Central England winners will compete for the BCO National Awards on Tuesday 3 October 2023.

Food & Drink

Popular District pub gets a right Royal makeover

The Royal on Church Street has undergone an extensive refurbishment, giving the popular Business District pub an exciting new look.

A refreshed bar – with a striking bright blue marble bar – and an enhanced dining area featuring artworks of royalty throughout the years, has given the pub a new lease of life, providing guests with the perfect spot to get together with friends, families or colleagues to unwind over good food and a wide selection of drinks in a welcoming atmosphere.

Known as a hub for live sport, the newlook Royal offers a food menu for visitors to enjoy. Guests can tuck into all the pub favourites, from mix-and-match tapas to pizza, as well as an array of new craft beers to try.

A new-look function room – The prince Albert Dinning Room – can be hired for events and parties. Completely private, with its own private bar, the room is

perfect for networking events and meetings.

Commenting on the pub’s new look, general manager, Paul Randall, said: “As a key part of Birmingham’s community, we’re thrilled to have given our pub a new lease of life and we’re really excited to show guests our big changes.

“Whether you’re looking for a pint and something tasty with mates for lunch or a spot to dance the weekend away, our pub has it covered.”

The Royal shows the best of live sports with BT Sport and Sky Sports access, showing every kick from the Six Nations, UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Premier League.

For more information, or to make a booking at the new look The Royal, please visit their website theroyalbirmingham.co.uk

New terraces for summer hot-spots

Two of the Business District’s most popular venues have opened new outdoor spaces to enjoy this summer. The Grand Hotel has opened a Malfy Gin garden terrace with a bespoke gin & tonic menu.

Meanwhile, Orelle, at 103 Colmore Row, has opened a summer terrace in its downstairs cafe in collaboration with gin brand Tanqueray.

New look at Hotel du Vin

Hotel du Vin’s Bubble Lounge, a Business District staple, has been given a fresh look.

The Bubble Lounge is located in one of the District’s landmark buildings on Church Street –the former eye hospital, built back in 1884 and now Listed

The Lounge has all the hallmarks of a classic hotel bar with an elegant look, signature drinks and a warm welcome with attentive staff.

Bundobust brings Indian street food to Bennetts Hill

FIRST CITY VENUE FOR AWARD-WINNING BRAND

Indian street food and craft beer specialists Bundobust have expanded with the opening of Bundobust Birmingham.

The fifth restaurant from the awardwinning Northern brand, Bundobust Birmingham has opened on Bennetts Hill, serving contemporary Indian street food and craft beer.

Bundobust Birmingham is in a

beautiful Grade II listed building at 38 Bennetts Hill, designed in the 1860s by renowned local architect Yeoville Thomason.

Split across two floors, the Birmingham restaurant has a more intimate, pub-like feel than its Northern counterparts. The building’s Georgian architectural charm and original features are offset by

Bundobust’s vibrant colour palette. Guests can expect plenty of booths in the building’s snug spaces and cosy corners, as well as beer hall-style seating. Bundobust is both human and dog-friendly and warmly welcoming to all – bookings are being taken, but walk-ins are always welcome.

Bundobust’s Gujarati street food and craft beer, described by food critic Jay Rayner as “uncompromising and selfconfident and, above all else, clever”, offers modern takes on street food favourites. Guests can enjoy dishes including Okra Fries (dusted in black salt and mango powder), Gobi Manchurian (Indo-Chinese vegetable pakoras tossed in umami-hot sauce), as well as creative takes on classics including Vada Pav, Rajma, Tarka Dhal, Pav Bhaji, Chaat and more. Contemporary, playful, and affordable, all dishes are priced between £2.50 and £7.50, with chef’s choice combos starting from £33 for 2 people, as well as the Lunch Express menu (available Mon – Fri, 12pm – 4pm) offering two dishes for £9.

On the taps guests can find Bundobust’s own brews from their Manchester brewery, alongside the very best local craft beers and innovative styles from breweries around the world.

Bundobust Birmingham’s opening tap line-up features collaborative brews from Brummie breweries, including Attic. Beyond beer, Bundobust also offers creative cocktails with an Indian twist (think Banana & Cardamom Old Fashioned and Coconut & Mango Mojito), plus wines, chais and softs, including lassis, coolers and sodas.

Bundobust Co-Founder, Mayur Patel, said: “Bundobust was born out of a shared passion for Indian street food and boundary-pushing beer.

“A decade on, we’re excited to be building a new home in Birmingham, a city with a rich Indian heritage, as well as a world-class indie brewing scene – we couldn’t be in better company in our new neighbourhood.”

people.

The city is famous for many things including claiming to being the birthplace of cinema, with the Lumière Brothers pioneering this new art form back in 1895. However, the reason it is probably best known, and the reason I was drawn to visit is food! And if you’ve met me, you’ll know that food and drink occupy a lot of my thinking time! It is home to two of France’s key wine making regions – Beaujolais and Cote du Rhône and claims to be the world capital of food, boasting an array of three Michelinstar chefs (that’s three stars each!).

Lyonnaise cuisine has traditionally been the favoured food of the French elite, and its local style, Bouchon, is still renowned nationally Lyon was twinned with Birmingham, in one of the earliest city twinnings. Birmingham has five Michelin stars in our city; the most outside of London. Our mixologists and sommeliers are winning international acclaim. Our street food scene is incredible, we have distillers, brewers and suburban neighbourhoods bursting

From Lyon with Love

with independent talent. When Lyon reached out to Colmore BID to meet and talk about how we could improve our city’s ties, we couldn’t say no.

My first meeting was at the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie de Lyon (CIGL). This rabbit warren on the banks of the Rhône was Lyon’s oldest and longest serving hospital, ran by nuns for over 1000 years. After

a huge effort from the city, involving a multi-million Euro investment from the private and public sector, the building has been sensitively redeveloped.

The CIGL is a museum of Gastronomy based within the complex. It hosts a range of visiting exhibitions, as well as a series of permanent pieces that represent the food culture of Lyon. In the main

hall sits The Piano; the grill plate and workplace of Paul Bocuse, the culinary heavyweight of the city. He died in 2018 but his legacy, and the pride the city feels for this famous son is palpable.

After having a fruitful discussion about how our two cities could work together, I asked my hosts if there was anywhere in the city I had to go. “Are you interested in food?” they asked. I tried to play it cool, but I don’t think it worked. They pointed me in the direction of Les Halles de Paul Bocuse. A short walk later (I might have been walking at top speed!), I found myself outside. I was told that this is where top chefs go to source produce. So, presented with a building that looked a bit like an M&S food in a train station, my heart dropped a little. Did Lyon just have good food banter?

I’m pleased to report I was wrong. As I walked along the rows of stalls, I saw meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, all fresh and clearly high quality. The chocolate and patisserie looked stunning. Nestled between all of this was a network of small bars and restaurants.

The second key reason I found myself in Lyon was to meet with the organisers of their Street Food Festival. In advance of meeting the team the next day, I met up with Nicola FleetMilne. We went in, had a look around, grabbed bao for dinner and took a gentle walk back to the hotel. The festival seemed nice enough. Again, I think it’s fair to say we underestimated quite how seriously Lyon takes food.

Our signature event, Colmore Food Festival is all about food, but one of our other key work streams is about improving the public realm in the District. On day two, I went to review public realm in Lyon.

I started in the equivalent of the retail core and the tracked back towards Les Halles de Paul Bocuse, which is located in the city’s central business and administration district.

The city of Lyon and the Métropole de Lyon are both controlled by the Green Party. In terms of food, there is

now a real focus on health, nutrition, food stability and accessibility, and this is reflected in the work that CIGL does. However, it is also reflected in the infrastructure. The public transport is excellent. I was able to get a 48 hour pass for €12, and this worked on both busses and metro, making it easy to get around. There was also plenty of cycle lanes and loads of hire bikes.

The retail core is full of Europeanstyle public squares and main roads, connected by a network of smaller, exciting streets. One of the things that stood out to me was how many parklets there were. So many parking spaces had been given up to support hospitality. Together with Colmore BID’s parklet scheme during the pandemic, it served to highlight what can be done with public space that is well used.

The central business district is much more austere. I’d prefer Colmore Business District over Lyon’s equivalent! Both the business district and the suburbs had a good division of road space. There were lots of green corridors, helping to reduce the impact of vehicle pollution.

We returned to the Food Festival, which is run by Nomad Kitchen, a company founded by two chefs who, having lived abroad, were surprised to see that Street Food wasn’t part of Lyon’s dining experience.

Berenger met Nicola and I to give us a tour, which should have been pretty quick, given we’d done a self-guided tour the day before. Again, we were wrong. 120 chefs show off their skills every year from Thursday to Sunday. Each chef creates a unique dish. Like the Colmore Food Festival, the size of dishes is limited so that you can eat your way around the festival, and the cost is capped, with dishes costing between €4-6. Entrance costs €10, which also gets you access to over 40 free workshops.

There were two Michelin star chefs creating alongside chefs from Tucson Arizona and some of the best up and coming chefs from Lyon. Berenger gave us three recommendations. The first was a 2* chef creation – oyster on a bed of potato, leek, cabbage and a local sausage. Second was another 2* chef who fused flavours of Japan with the buchon style. We finished with my dish of the day: a peanut infused pastry, filled with chocolate cream and topped with a block of handmade chocolate.

As I walked back to my hotel, I reflected on everything I had learned. The opportunity to share knowledge and challenges with others had been invaluable. I’d been inspired by some of what I’d seen. Other things had acted as a comfort – we’re doing well. Most importantly, my mind was buzzing with ideas of how we, as a District and a city, could work with our twin to do some exciting stuff in the future.

Above: L’Officine cocktail bar, Lyon, and Jonathan’s favourite dish: a peanut infused pastry, filled with chocolate cream and topped with a block of handmade chocolate

‘Paul Bocuse died in 2018 but his legacy, and the pride the city feels for this famous son is palpable’

Art & Culture Supporting Brum’s next generation of creatives

Birmingham School of Art graduate Isabella York has been awarded the inaugural degree show prize from Colmore BID in recognition of her work with sustainability and SMEs. Here she tells us more about her studies and her roles in the fashion industry

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR DEGREE IN ART BUSINESS?

I originally studied Art & Design, but transferred to the Arts Business top-up course for my final year so my degree would be a BA in Art Business. During my time I have learnt about the creative industries and business combined, learning key terminology and the structure of the creative industries. Because it has a business spin, it helped me define what I wanted to do after university.

During our different modules we had the opportunity to work in different ways, too. I chose a work placement and had an amazing experience with design agency Grin, based in the Jewellery Quarter. Here I learnt about a role I had never heard of called an accounts handler, and gained really great experience that made me consider it as a job option for the future.

We also had a major project module where I produced a guide to Ethical & Sustainable Marketing For Small Businesses. This accessible handbook is designed for SMEs to equip them with the knowledge needed and

is more than just a logo and a design choice. Rather it’s a representation of what a business is and the morals and ethics it stands for. This project is the work I chose for the degree show.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING AWARDED THE COLMORE BID AWARD. HOW WILL IT HELP IN THE FUTURE?

I feel extremely grateful to have been awarded the Colmore BID award; it’s great to know other people see the importance of my project and understand its value. Speaking to Mike and Michele at the School of Art private view event was great too, as I had hoped to hear people’s take on my work and how they think it could be useful. I hadn’t had the chance to speak to anyone about my passion for the project and it seemed to really resonate with them. This has encouraged me to discuss my work with more people and share the importance of it.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR JOB, BOTH YOUR ROLE WITH LABCLO AND BY BELLA DESIGNS?

My role at LABCLO is marketing associate at the moment, but I’m being promoted to communications co-ordinator at the start of August once I return from travelling. My

content creation and social media management, and organising and directing photo shoots. From August, I will also look after marketing in-store events, uploading to the website and maintaining it, visual merchandising and mailing list management. The fashion environment is something I have always been interested in, and I can combine that with my interest and passion for marketing and advertising. I’m also extremely fortunate to have a boss who encourages me to learn and have creative freedom, which helps me to expand my skills and knowledge.

By Bella Designs is slightly different as that’s the small business I have been running for three years by myself, so my responsibilities are much wider as it’s just a one-person team. I design all my own stock, responsibly source and pack it, then sell it online and at art markets around the country. During the last year, it has had to take a back seat to really focus on my studies and starting at LABCLO. However, I hope to start working a lot more on it as I have the opportunity to work with some really amazing teams, such as Pinterest and TikTok, and will soon be stocked in a new store in the Bullring called Design 44 that opens in July. One thing both By Bella Designs and LABCLO have in common is that the knowledge I have learnt from Art Business, such as terminology and business-related knowledge, can be applied to both working environments.

Above: Birmingham School of Art

Supporting Birmingham’s Collections: The Friends of Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery and the work of Mary Jane Newill

BY MELISSA HUGHES, ARTEFACTS’ EDITOR AND FRIENDS’ ADMINISTRATOR

Since our formation in 1931, the Friends of Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery have enhanced Birmingham’s collections by supporting the purchase of over 2,700 acquisitions, funding conservation work and enabling the public to access and enjoy the collections.

In 2006, to celebrate the Friends’ 75th Anniversary, a team of Friends volunteers began working alongside Birmingham Museums staff to produce a comprehensive database cataloguing all the items which the Friends had helped to purchase over the years. The process of collating accurate information about these acquisitions has taken over 20 years, but the database is now complete. A simple version is available in the ‘Publications’ section of our website: https://fbmt.org.uk/publications/ friends-acquisitions-history/

It is still a work in progress as we will be adding more images using Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT)’s Digital Asset Resource and, of course, the database will be updated as we continue to

support and enhance Birmingham’s collections.

This article will focus on Mary Jane Newill, known as Mary J. Newill, who was born in 1860. She studied at the Birmingham School of Art where she subsequently taught needlework and embroidery from 1892 until 1919.

Newill was a landscape painter, an embroiderer, a stained glass artist, a textile worker and an illustrator

associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement. In 1893 her ‘Babes in the Woods’, a stained glass panel cartoon, was displayed at the annual Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in London. This was only the second stained glass design by a female artist to be exhibited, and the first by a woman who later became a successful commercial artist. The drawing was used as an illustration in Christopher Whall’s influential manual ‘Stained Glass Work’, published in 1905. By 1906 Newill had her own studio in Great Western Buildings on Livery Street in Birmingham. She was a member of the Birmingham Group, sometimes called the Birmingham School, which was an informal collective of painters and craftsmen associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement working in Birmingham in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was also a designer for the Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts and an elected professional Associate Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists between 1909 and 1923, although she was never

elected to full membership of the Society.

In 1982, the Friends purchased a bed cover which had been embroidered by Newill in 1908. This work highlights the crucial role which women played in the development of textiles. During the earlier Victorian period sewing and embroidery were largely a private, homemade artform. The Arts and Crafts movement increased the possibilities for, and the public visibility of, these crafts. Under the direction of enlightened educators at art school, women were given the chance to study to become professional designers and makers, and Birmingham was one of the British art schools to lead the way in this.

Newill picked flowers from local hedgerows and imitated them meticulously in the intricate embroidery on this linen bed cover, using coloured wools. The quote around the edge is from the second verse of ‘Ode – Intimations of Immortality’ from ‘Recollections of Early Childhood’ by William Wordsworth and reads: ‘The Rainbow comes & goes & lovely is the Rose, The Moon doth with delight look round her when the heavens are bare, Waters on a starry night are beautiful and fair, The sunshine is a glorious birth...’. In the centre, a circle is divided into 8 sections with motifs loosely illustrating the text: an owl, a sparrow, a chaffinch, a tit, butterflies, bees, moths, a moon and stars – and with a sun in the centre and a trailing design of dog roses in the alternate panels. In the four corners of the bed cover there are dog roses and a rainbow.

This unique, hand-crafted textile was

shown as part of Birmingham Museums Trust’s ‘Victorian Radicals’ exhibition which toured America from 2018-2021. The bedcover can be seen as an artistic response to industrialisation, prizing craftsmanship over mass production. Tim Barringer, the Paul Mellon Professor of the History of Art at Yale University and a curator of the exhibition, talks about the bed cover in an article on the Yale MacMillan Center’s website: ‘“When we came to display it, we found that it is not quite square. Of course, it isn’t – it’s made lovingly inch-by-inch by hand and is a unique, hand-crafted textile.”’ Barringer suggested Newill’s bedcover essentially critiques the factory-produced machinemade goods of the early 20th century: ‘“What is of value in our lives? What kind of labor do we value? What kind of life do we value?” Barringer asks. “Is it the life of high-pressure, mechanized, capitalist moneymaking success embodied in that carpet? Or is it the art of thoughtful artistic creation reflected in this bedcover?”’*

This bed cover is not the only work by Newill in Birmingham’s collections. In 2001 the Friends supported the purchase of two stained glass panels by Newill which form a single image of two medieval ships before a city’s wall. The quote on the panels is from the poem ‘Sleep after Toile’ by 16th century poet Edmund Spenser: ‘Sleepe after toile, port after stormie seas, ease after warre, death after life does greatly please’. At the turn of the 20th Century, appliqué embroidery was likened to stained glass with its outlines compared to lead lines. This comparison was reinforced by Newill, who designed both domestic leaded windows and linen wall hangings.

There is also a painting by Mary J. Newill in Birmingham’s collection entitled ‘Coastal Landscape’, which she painted in 1911. It was purchased from the collection of Remo and Mary Granelli as part of a group of works by Birmingham School artists, and presented by the Public Picture Gallery Fund in 2018 (2019.18.4). Most of Newill’s work was commissioned by and purchased for domestic homes and as a result little is held in public collections. If you would like to view more of her work then one of her stained glass windows is in the lady chapel of St. Mary and St. Ambrose Church in Edgbaston, and one is in the north side of the nave of Wrockwardine Church in Shropshire.

Artefacts is the Friends of Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery’s quarterly magazine and is an essential communication tool for the arts world in the West Midlands.

The magazine reflects Birmingham’s Museums collections, exhibitions, expertise and diversity.

Published on a quarterly basis, Artefacts is available by subscription, and is mailed out to members of the Friends. It is also free to pick up for visitors to Birmingham Museums Trust’s historic properties and from libraries, galleries and museums across the Midlands.

The Autumn 2023 edition will be available in August 2023.

Pictured:

‘Sleepe after Toile’ by Mary J. Newill, before 1905; Purchased with assistance from the National Art Collections Fund, the Resource/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and the Friends of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, 2001; Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0

‘Embroidered bed cover’ by Mary Newill, c.1908; Presented by the Friends of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, 1982; Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0

References:

*‘In ‘Victorian Radicals’, art reflects, and reacts to, industrialization’, The MacMillan Center (yale.edu): https://macmillan.yale.edu/news/ victorian-radicals-art-reflects-and-reacts-industrialization

Bibliography:

• ‘Mary J. Newill’, Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011; http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person. php?id=msib4_1206028809

• ‘Women and the Fabric Arts’, 5 May 2020, Dr. Elizabeth Cumming; https://artsandcraftstours.com/women-and-the-fabric-arts/

• ‘In ‘Victorian Radicals’, art reflects, and reacts to, industrialization’, The MacMillan Center (yale.edu); https://macmillan.yale.edu/news/ victorian-radicals-art-reflects-and-reacts-industrialization

• ‘Mary J Newill (1860-1947), Bromsgrove Guild Designer’, Research Worcestershire; https://researchworcestershire.wordpress. com/2015/07/24/mary-j-newill-1860-1947-bromsgrove-guild-designer/

Get up close and personal with Cathedral’s Burne-Jones glass

RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE CELEBRATED STAINED GLASS DURING RENOVATION

Visitors are being invited to see the conservation of Birmingham Cathedral’s four remarkable stainedglass windows up close, on special Divine Beauty Scaffolding Tours. The four Burne-Jones windows at the Cathedral are currently undergoing historic conservation work to clean and repair them – ensuring they are preserved for future generations to enjoy. Work to put up scaffolding around the building has been ongoing since early April and a special viewing area inside the east end of the cathedral has been built for the public to access on free Divine Beauty Scaffolding Tours. Expert conservators from Holy Well Glass will be completing as much of the work as possible on-site at the Cathedral,

and visitors can see what their work involves.

So far, the old protective grilles have been removed from the outside of the building and some of the weakest panels of glazing have been removed and transported to the Holy Well Glass workshop in Wells.

The Divine Beauty Project is supported by National Lottery Players, via a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This support has enabled Birmingham Cathedral to run the tours free of charge.

This support has also enabled the cathedral to put together a programme of events throughout the summer, to enable visitors to learn about the windows, their significance, and their heritage.

In addition to the Scaffolding Tours, there are also ‘meet the conservator’ workshops and the culmination of the Divine Beauty Children’s Poetry Festival later this summer.

Anna Pitt, CEO at Birmingham Cathedral, said: “Being able to witness a project like this first-hand is a unique experience that we hope will provide a fascinating insight for visitors of all ages, so we are encouraging anyone, especially those who haven’t visited us before, to come and find out about this project over the summer.”

Jack Clare, Director at Holy Well Glass, said: “The viewing platform will give visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get this close to these stunning works of art.”

HOW TO BOOK:

Tours run until the end of September. Conservators will be available to meet during the weekday tours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Saturdays, tours are being led by a member of the Birmingham Cathedral team. Guides are available to show participants the progress up close and talk about the project.

Tours will last a maximum of half an hour and will include a safety briefing. Anyone interested in booking should do so online and ensure that they read the important information on the event booking page beforehand.

Some of the tours are being streamed and shown in the Cathedral so that those who cannot access the scaffolding can learn more about the work. Visit birminghamcathedral.com/ divine-beauty-scaffolding-tours

Why art matters in Britain’s Second City (and not just its first)

The face of Britain today is changing rapidly – and art plays a vital role in chronicling our evolution. This may be one of the reasons why Tate Britain has just rehung its vast collection, writes Alec Lom. Imagine 800 works by 350 artists spanning 6 centuries, now all reordered to clarify and put into fresh perspective the story of British life and its history through the ages. The Tate has linked works to key moments in history, milestones in our politics, society and architecture. All these now hang on the gallery’s London walls in chronological order.

But roughly 100 miles north, another artist has been busy – and is flourishing – having been devoted for the past quarter of a century to his task of capturing on historic canvases his evolving local cityscape.

No, not in the capital, but in Britain’s ‘Second City’. For Reuben Colley is Birmingham’s most famous painter. He’s been dubbed ‘The Artist Laureate of Birmingham’. Colley’s canvases don’t portray royalty or prime ministers. Instead, they chronicle graffiti-covered, urban concrete, overgrown pathways, tower blocks and car parks. These are forgotten and unloved corners so many of us overlook.

Media have drawn comparisons between Colley’s dedication to depicting the city of Birmingham and its environs and L.S. Lowry’s drawings and paintings of Greater Manchester. Today, Colley’s original works are held in public collections across the UK and by private collectors in countries around the world, including America, France, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Monaco and Dubai. His new work, now on display at the Colley Ison Gallery, Birmingham’s most prestigious art gallery, is attracting widespread UK and international interest, especially among Colley’s collectors in America who have followed his career closely since his first exhibition in 2001, ‘Impressions of Birmingham’.

So I ask, isn’t Reuben Colley’s work, along with other artists’ work in the regions, integral to our national heritage? Are we all far too Londoncentric in our outlooks and tastes?

Maybe Tate Britain exhibitions of the future will reveal the answer.

Alec Lom, who is head of media at The Colley Ison Gallery, is a former Fleet Street journalist and Arts Editor of the British national news agency, The Press Association.

GUEST BLOG FROM THE COLLEY ISON GALLERY, COLMORE ROW

Pictured above: Victoria Square and Across Digbeth, by Reuben Colley

Charity & Giving

BEFORE AFTER

Gensler brings time (and colour) to Ladywood

ARCHITECTURE FIRM COLLABORATES WITH LADYWOOD COMMUNITY PROJECT

Gensler Birmingham has announced a collaboration with the Ladywood Community Project, a local organisation dedicated to supporting families and individuals in need in the Ladywood area of Birmingham.

As part of Gensler’s commitment to giving back to the community, the architecture practice – with a new office at St Philip’s Place – took part in painting and installing a mural designed specifically for the Ladywood Community Project.

The Ladywood Community Project as a Charitable Organisation is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, having provided invaluable assistance to the community during one of the most challenging periods in recent memory.

With the current economic climate causing hardships for many families, their services have been crucial in helping alleviate poverty and fostering a sense of belonging and support.

“We are still in awe of your beautiful gift. I wish we could bottle the delighted expressions on people’s faces when

they come into the project,” said Gerardine Giblin, Ladywood Project Co-ordinator (Volunteer).

Thanks to the generosity of John Atkinson, who donated and installed a pinboard made from recycled carpet, the Ladywood Community Project now has a dedicated space to share important information, resources, and announcements.

This pinboard will serve as a central hub for the community, promoting connectivity and providing vital updates on services and support available to those in need.

For the past 33 years, the Ladywood Community Project has been a pillar of support, offering assistance to families on low incomes or experiencing financial hardship. Their mission extends beyond meeting immediate needs; they strive to make individuals and families feel valued, included, and empowered within their community.

Actively listening to the concerns and challenges faced by families, the Ladywood Community Project tailors its services to address specific needs. From emergency assistance with gas and electricity bills to providing school uniforms, bus fares, nappies, children’s clothes, and toys, they ensure that families have access to the essentials they require. Additionally, they offer support with accessing

fresh food, referring individuals to food banks, providing benefits advice, and promoting the benefits of Credit Union membership.

A Gensler spokesperson said:

“At Gensler Birmingham, we are honoured to have been part of this meaningful project. Our involvement in the creation and installation of the mural symbolises our commitment to supporting the Ladywood Community Project’s noble mission.

“We believe that collaboration between local businesses, charities, and the community is vital in creating a more inclusive and supportive society.

“We hope that by sharing the story of the Ladywood Community Project, we can raise awareness about their outstanding work and encourage greater support and funding for their initiatives. By coming together as a community, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and families facing adversity.

“Together, let’s continue to make Birmingham a place where everyone has access to the support and resources they need to thrive.”

If you would like to learn more about the Ladywood Community Project and how you can contribute to their efforts, please visit ladywoodcommunityproject.org.uk

Amplify the impact being made by your business

Everyone knows that you can give money to charities, but did you know that seven out of ten charities are looking for a gift of another kind? They are looking for support in terms of professional skills. Only four in ten find it. Ed Mayo of Pilotlight explains more.

Pilotlight is a charity that makes it easy for you to give your skills.

As we see it, we amplify the impact charities, business and individuals can bring to make a better world.

Our programmes see business experts share their expertise with charities, bringing new perspectives and learning for both sides, to help charities thrive. As well as working with over 1,000 business experts last year to ignite change for charities, many of the top businesses in the UK such as Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Sodexo and Lendlease find our programmes to be great learning opportunities not only for employee development but for CSR initiatives as well.

As Peter Westall, Chief Values Officer at Midcounties Co-operative explains: “The pandemic underlined what a vital role local charities, cooperatives and social enterprises play in their communities.

“Working with Pilotlight has also given further opportunities for our colleagues to use their existing skills and develop new ones by partnering with local good causes to support what they do. It’s a win-win – and any business that has values will find good value in doing the same.”

Giving back and community action is in the cultural DNA of Birmingham right from the digging of the first canal. The world’s first building

society for example started in the city, as legend has it by putting money aside in a glass in the pub that was to go for drawing lots to buy materials and not for beer. The philanthropic tradition is etched in so many neighbourhoods of the city itself.

In 2019 we successfully began expanding our work with the support of the National Lottery Community Fund by bringing our model to Birmingham and the Midlands and embedding our support for local charities and social enterprises in the area. Barclays’ Birmingham and Coventry offices, Birminghamheadquartered insurance and financial services firm Wesleyan, Midcounties Co-operative, Lendlease, EY and Virgin Media 02 have already partnered with us to deliver our much needed support.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Pilotlight has a suite of programmes to help maximise the support business can give charities, but they all revolve around this simple formula: we bring together teams of professionals to solve real-world strategic or operational challenges charities face. This support could be around developing a business strategy, diversifying income, expanding services to new areas or growing supporters.

This isn’t about business telling a

charity what to do, it’s an experiential learning environment where the exchange of ideas and understanding goes both ways, helping participants develop their professional skills in the process.

These teams work closely with the leadership of the charity, providing tailored coaching and mentoring to help them achieve their goals and overcome any challenges they may be facing.

Sharon Bell, CEO of Birmingham based charity Services for Education, and recipient of Pilotlight’s support says: “Although a lot of our staff have business backgrounds, as an organisation we have to embrace more commercial ways of thinking –working with Pilotlight gave us the confidence that we’re doing the right thing. I was really impressed with the whole process - a lot was achieved in a relatively short space of time.”

Business participants report better understanding of other perspectives, greater awareness of different leadership styles, and improvements in coaching skills, professional networks and personal wellbeing.

Charity participants report increase in confidence of charity CEO, increased in effectiveness of senior management team and two years after completing our Pilotlight 360 programme, on average charities had increased their reach by 22% and their income by 43%.

If you’d like to get involved with our work please contact our Regional Partnerships Manager Eve Edwards: eedwards@pilotlight. org.uk