Quarter Life - Issue 10 - Spring 2017 by Quarter Life

JEWELLERY QUARTER www.jewelleryquarter.net LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT

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TO HAVE AND TO HOLD You’ve got the love, we’ve got everything else

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL YOUR JQ NEEDS YOU!

FANCY A BREW?

PUMP UP THE JQ

WE KNOW JUST THE PLACE.

MEET THE TEAM BEHIND THE SONGLAB.

QUARTER LIFE – THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE JEWELLERY QUARTER

FEEL HAPPY EVERY TIME YOU SMILE Get 10% off If you’re a local business or resident

For over 30 years we’ve been delivering the very best in cosmetic dentistry and dental implant surgery.

Based in the heart of Birmingham city centre on St. Paul’s Square, we are a beautiful private practice. Using only the latest equipment and technology for the best results; such as our inhouse top of the range CT scanner for ultimate precise implant placement.

Studio 1, 51 St Paul’s Square, Birmingham B3 1QS 0121 233 0867 info@dazzlingsmile.co.uk www.dazzlingsmile.co.uk

Hello Luke Crane, JQBID manager

SPRING HAS OFFICIALLY SPRUNG!

I ON THE COVER Carol Rich is our model for this issue and is pictured on Ludgate Hill. She is featured in this issue’s Wed in the JQ supplement with her reallife husband, Ian Bradbury. Hair by Harris Gibbs Hair Shop Make up by Alyn Waterman, assisted by Justine Burgess Jewellery is model’s own and from the Jewellery Quarter Dress from Romantic Dreams Flowers by Lily Jones Flowers

NEXT ISSUE If you’ve got an interesting story you’d like us to consider for the next issue of Quarter Life, please email suzie@barques.co.uk

t’s that time of year when everything comes alive. The Jewellery Quarter is particularly beautiful at this time of year – everybody walking through the area has a spring in their step, which can only mean one thing: it’s wedding season. The Jewellery Quarter is home to over 100 shops, manufacturers and workshops devoted to the all-important ring, but if you turn to the supplement, you’ll see that we offer everything you could possibly need to make your big day sparkle. Elsewhere in the JQ, the old historic Assay Office has been converted into beautifully executed office space, and we’ve got the pictures to prove it. Turn to page 10 to have a sneak peak inside. We also welcome Grosvenor House to the Quarter – a stunning Grade II Georgian building that is now home to some of the city’s top small businesses. It’s hard to believe it but the JQBID has entered its final four months of its five year term. In June this year, we will be asking our levy payers to vote in favour of a second term so that we may continue our work supporting businesses and making the Quarter the place to live, learn, work and visit. In the past few months, the JQBID has introduced a clean team to keep the Quarter attractive and tidy. We are also delighted to announce that our third annual JQ Festival will be back July 28-30, along with our floral displays, some live music events and three loveable bears! We have collated a timeline of what we have achieved since our inception in 2012 on pages 9-10 for your perusal. Remember, if you want more events and projects like this and more in the Quarter then we need you to say ‘YES’ in June. It’s your JQ – let’s continue to work together to make it shine. To find out more about your JQBID, visit jewelleryquarter.net/jqbid.

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NEWS Jewellery Quarter designers dazzle in John Lewis We’re going on a bear hunt... Join the pack JQ restaurant raises £2,000 for victims of Italian earthquake

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PLEASED TO MEET YOU Meet the JQ BID ambassadors, who are always happy to help! LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Editor:

Join us on a trip down Memory Lane as we revisit the last five years in the Quarter.

Suzie Matthews suzie@barques.co.uk 0121 233 2080

CHANGING SPACES This issue, Changing Spaces takes a look inside the eagerly awaited Assay Studios.

Free Radio’s very own Sparky reveals what he loves about living in the Quarter.

Advertising: Luke Crane luke.crane@jqdt.org 0121 233 2814 Design & Art Direction: Lee Haynes Photography:

The Jewellery Quarter is home to over 100 jewellery shops, workshops and designer makers dedicated to helping you find the perfect ring, but did you know you can plan your entire wedding right here in the JQ? We took married couple Carol Rich and Ian Bradbury and showed them everything the Quarter has to offer.

WED IN THE JQ You bought your rings in the Quarter, but did you know you can plan your whole wedding here?

Lee Allen Models: Ian Bradbury Carol Rich

Rings: model's own Shot in the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

13 14 16 18 20 22 23 4

HOT PROPERTY Co-working spaces are becoming increasingly popular for creatives, but where in the JQ can you go to meet other like-minded businesses? PUMP UP THE JQ We caught up with Jonny and Meldra, full-time musicians and co-owners of The SongLab.

For Jewellery Quarter BID enquiries: info@jqdt.org 0121 233 2814

Designed and produced by:

LIFE THROUGH A LENS Capturing the highlights of the Quarter. This issue, we were at the BID Levy Payers’ Dinner and JQ Fusions. www.barques.co.uk

FANCY A BREW? We don’t just do jewellery well. We’re actually pretty good at producing a pint, too. JQ IN THE FRAME: BIRMINGHAM EXPOSED Verity Milligan hosts her first ever exhibition at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.

A magazine by:

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: THE COFFIN WORKS Explore, if you dare, the Coffin Works after dark. WHAT’S ON Dates for your diary.

www.jewelleryquarter.net

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NEWS

Jewellery Quarter designers dazzle in John Lewis A

n ongoing community project between John Lewis and the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) has welcomed its next tranche of designers for the spring/summer season. Rita Patel and Katherine Campbell-Legge have both joined designer makers James Newman, Collette Waudby, Hazel Rose and Rachel Whitehead at John Lewis, where they are showcasing their latest collections. Rita brings with her the ‘Kiss’, ‘Lines’, ‘Organic Seed’ and ‘Ellipse’ collection, which has been inspired by the minimal elegance of modern architecture. Katherine has been a long standing resident of the Jewellery Quarter since 1995 and uses Keum Boo, an ancient Korean gilding technique, to create everyday jewellery and one-off pieces. The community initiative was organised by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) and John Lewis in 2013 to offer designer-makers the opportunity of a lifetime. The project has been funded by the Jewellery Quarter Association, JQBID and Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative, with support from the British Allied Trade Federation (BATF). Pieces can be found on the second floor of John Lewis, Grand Central Shopping Centre. If you’re a designer maker and would like to see your work in John Lewis, please email Jilly Cosgrove, jilly@jqdt.org.uk to be considered for the Autumn/Winter collection.

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WE’RE GOING ON A

BEAR HUNT

The organisers behind The Big Hoot are back, and we can ‘bearly’ contain ourselves... Following the flying success of The Big Hoot in 2015, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and Wild in Art have ‘cubbed’ together to create a new trail, which is already being affectionately named ‘Bear-mingham’. Over one hundred giant bear sculptures are set to take over the city this year, as part of The Big Sleuth campaign, and the Jewellery Quarter BID is getting three! JQ BID will be sponsoring Mummy Bear, who will be decorated to look like an ancient Egyptian Mummy, Gummy Bear, who will be covered in Gummy Bears and Peabody – a jewel-encrusted bear. The three bears will be located at the Jewellery Quarter Station, Golden Square and St. Paul’s Square. To find out more about The Big Sleuth, visit thebigsleuth.co.uk.

NEWS

WELCOME TO THE NEW JQ BUSINESSES

3 Three’s Coffee Lounge Great Hampton Street Ambassadors Resourcing The Mews Apex Ecommerce Ludgate Hill Bespoken Language Centres Regent Place Coach Tate’s Gym Vittoria Street

JOIN THE PACK

Devonhouse Hall Street

A brand new independent bar has opened on Constitution Hill, and you’re invited to join the pack.

Diamond Setting School Warstone Lane

The Wolf, run by brother and sister Joshua and Sallie McFadyen, sells handselected craft beers, meat and cheese platters, with bread supplied by much loved local bakery, Peel & Stone.

Existenzminima George Street

The family friendly bar has the capacity to hold up to 120 people and replaces a former solicitor’s at the bottom of the Bismillah Building. Steeped in history, the Bismillah Building used to house the electroplating works of the Barker Brothers. The Wolf is open from 12pm-11pm Monday-Thursday, 12pm-midnight on Friday, 12pm-midnight on Saturday and 12pm-10.30pm on Sunday.

Elevate Property Group St Paul’s Square Future Tek Hockley Hill Indian Brewery Livery Street Indigo Sky Solutions St Paul’s Square

JQ restaurant raises £2,000 for victims of Italian earthquake An award-winning Italian restaurant has raised £2,000 with the help of its customers for the Italian earthquake disaster that claimed the lives of nearly 300 people in Amatrice, Italy in 2016. A campaign to raise funds for the cause saw more than 600 restaurants in Italy donate two euros for every serving of the town’s world-renowned signature dish, Spaghetti all’ Amatriciana, prompting Pasta Di Piazza to come up with their own initiative. Pasta Di Piazza pledged to donate £1 for every dish served in the restaurant in the month following the earthquake in Amatrice. Last year marked Pasta Di Piazza’s 21st year in the Jewellery Quarter, and to celebrate, it invested £400,000 into doubling its capacity. To find out more about Pasta Di Piazza, visit www.pastadipiazza.com, or check out its sister restaurant at www.cucinarustica.co.uk.

Martin & Co. Carver Street Russell Printers Pemberton Street Suzanne Barnes Interior Design Ludgate Hill Tibbatts-Abel Warstone Lane The Little Audio Company Vyse Street The Wolf Constitution Hill Toffee and Coffee Cox Street Zolia Jewellery Spencer Street

To find out more about these businesses and the many more which call the Quarter home, visit www.jewelleryquarter.net/directory 6

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ambassadors MEET THE

The Jewellery Quarter has three dedicated ambassadors representing our busy and vibrant district.

They are our eyes and ears on the street - last year alone, the ambassadors resolved over 460 issues in the Quarter, including begging, graffiti and fly posting. They are heavily involved in the area and are often the first to know of any issues that businesses or visitors face, and an important part of their role is working alongside local authorities to report and resolve problems. They work hard on our streets six days a week, come rain or shine to maintain the safety and cleanliness of the JQ - and they do it with a smile, whatever the weather! If it wasn’t for our ambassadors, we wouldn’t be able to record visitor numbers. We’d also have no one to hand out this very magazine... The ambassadors are also here as JQBID champions. From welcoming visitors to building relationships with businesses, you’re bound to encounter one of their smiling faces on your travels across the Quarter. We caught up with them to find out what makes them smile.

Wendy Roach

Justin Ford

Lucy Riley

Team Leader

BID Ambassador

Wendy has been known in the JQ since 2013. One of her favourite places to go in her spare time is St. Paul’s Square, where you’ll find her chatting to locals or assisting tourists find their way around. Wendy says you can almost feel the love in the air in the Quarter, where thousands of happy couples flock every year to pick their wedding rings. Her favourite places to eat are 24 Carat Bistro, The Eight Foot Grocer and The Red Lion.

Justin was born in the USA, but fell in love with the JQ in 2011. He recommends the Actress and Bishop for a night out, or 1000 Trades if you’re in the mood for a pint or two. Whenever he gets some free time, he likes to sneak away to one of the Jewellery Quarter’s two historic cemeteries, where there’s always a sense of tranquillity. One of his favourite things about the Quarter is that he spends much of his week surrounded by history, and says that some of the buildings in the Quarter are older than his hometown of Sacramento, California!

Lucy has worked in the Jewellery Quarter since 2015, but says that seeing visitors light up as they take in their surroundings never gets old. Lucy loves it here so much that she’s moved to the JQ. She recommends the Newman Brothers Coffin Works as a must-see – a fascinating insight into the working lives of those who worked here in the 1900s.

Got a question for the ambassadors? Call 0121 233 2814 or email wendy.roach@jqdt.org.

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JQ IN BLOOM Each year, JQBID ensures that our streets are adorned with vibrant flower baskets and planters. The JQBID is also responsible for some of the more artistic floral displays, including the beloved Wicker Angel that sits in St. Paul’s Square in summer.

JQ HERITAGE TRAIL In 2013, JQBID sponsored the Heritage Trail map scheme, free for all visitors of the Quarter. The trail features iconic businesses, landmarks, and places of interest, including the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter; Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemetery; the Assay Office and the RBSA Gallery. You can pick up your own Heritage Trail map at various outlets across the Quarter.

In May 2012, the Jewellery Quarter’s business community voted YES to its very own Business Improvement District. Now in its fifth year, the JQBID needs BID levy payers to cast their votes in June to keep it going. Here’s a round up of some of the BID highlights over the past five years...

SUMMER ANNUALLY

HE T ET

OCTOBER 2013-2016

QUARTER LIFESTYLE

OCTOBER 2016

CAROLINE STREET TRANSFORMATION Caroline Street has been transformed into an attractive new boulevard. Together with Birmingham City Council, JQBID added new paviours to footpaths, driveways and junctions to improve the road infrastructure and make it safer for pedestrians and drivers alike. We’ve also added a pretty line of Prunus trees to create a greener, more attractive JQ.

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Quarter Lifestyle is an annual event organised by the JQBID to showcase local creative talent. Each year, around 25 designer makers get together to exhibit their wares to raise the profile of the Jewellery Quarter.

SPRING 2014 JULY – SEPTEMBER 2015

PROJECT RED BRIDGE

E GOO D

ES ROLL TIM

OTE

THE BIG HOOT

The JQBID teamed up with Birmingham City Council and Colmore BID to make vast improvements to the footbridge over Great Charles Street. The main focus was to improve lighting and improve the route, which links Ludgate Hill to Church Street, making it a safer, more enjoyable walk to the Jewellery Quarter.

The Big Hoot was an award-winning public art trail that saw 89 giant painted owls hit our streets, and the Quarter was lucky enough to house three of them. Keep an eye out for our three bears that will be taking over our streets this summer!

JULY 2015 – PRESENT

JQ FESTIVAL AND OPEN STUDIOS It’s the biggest event of the Jewellery Quarter calendar. The JQ Festival is held in July every year and celebrates the heritage of our community. Last year, the festival was visited over 18,000 times, while over 50 creatives open their doors each year to allow for a backstage glimpse into their working spaces.

2013 – PRESENT

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST... QUARTER LIFE MAGAZINE Quarter Life is five this year, and what a fantastic five years it’s been. We’ve been lucky enough to write about all of the exciting things happening in the Quarter for the past five years. Here’s to five more! JANUARY 2017

JQ CLEAN TEAM This year, JQBID welcomed the first member of its Clean Team, Allan Hunt. Allan is dedicated to litter picking and reports all fly tipping and environmental hazards to the JQBID. Allan is a familiar friendly face in the Quarter and has quickly become an integral member of the wider team.

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CHANGING

SPACES Birmingham’s Assay Office closed the doors of its landmark Grade II listed building on 23 July 2015, following its relocation to Moreton Street. It’s now home to the Jewellery Quarter’s only creative campus – Assay Studios.

ubbed, ‘a creative place for curious minds’, the building comprises of 33,000 sq ft of sheer character and is already home to an impressive list of occupiers, including Deliveroo and John Lewis. The space can cater for up to 22 businesses across four floors.

The theme of the Studios is centred around the Periodic Table. TCN, the developers behind the building, wanted a theme that symbolised the notion that we are all connected, whether that be in business, or in life. The Periodic Table represents the very foundations that the Assay Studios is built upon: working together. Every space within Assay Studios has a distinctly unique character with a contemporary twist, and some of the building’s most historic features have not only been respectfully preserved, but also put to good use. Occupiers can hold meetings in one of the building’s converted safes, or in the Wine Store, which features an antique wine rack and storage box from the original Assay Office. Every inch of the building pays homage to its industrial past in one way or another. From the moment you walk in, you are immersed into the Assay Studio’s history. Much of the building’s brickwork in its vast atrium has been left exposed, giving it a distinct old versus new feel. All of the features of the Old Quarter Staircase have been carefully retained, including the glass dome ceiling, which was added in 1990. The dome includes 13 panels of stained glass, inspired by celebrated makers’ marks, notable events and the world famous Birmingham anchor mark. Additional perks of being at the Assay Studios include bike storage, shower facilities, fully fitted kitchens, 24 hour access and a state of the art break out area. For more information visit assaystudios.co.uk.

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The Jewellery Quarter is a popular choice for young professionals, and has this year been identified as one of the trendiest areas to live in the UK by property website Zoopla. Free Radio’s Sparky tells us what brought him to the Jewellery Quarter, and what he loves the most about living here.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN THE JEWELLERY QUARTER? I moved to the Jewellery Quarter in November 2013. Me and a mate wanted a flat share in the centre of town. And the JQ offered everything. Great pubs, nice apartments, and what's not to love about St Paul's Square in the summer? Every time I'd been to the JQ before moving here, I liked it more. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THE JEWELLERY QUARTER? Apart from being massively convenient for getting into town (especially with the addition of the City Hopper Tram Pass) I’d have to say, I think it's really pretty. The clock outside Rose Villa Tavern, the mish-mash of old and new buildings – it just feels like a cool place to live. IF SOMEBODY WAS VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHERE WOULD YOU SUGGEST THEY VISIT? My first impression of the JQ was The Jam House – that's a must if you like live music – so that would be up there on the list. In summer, it's all about the garden at the Lord Clifden. There's always something going on there. WHERE ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO EAT/DRINK? I love a Sunday roast at the Lord Clifden. Their pork belly is a joy. Niche Cafe is perfect for a Sunday morning hangover cure – that's a proper fry up! And Ana Rocha bar may be the best new addition to the JQ. Always a good atmosphere on the weekends, and who doesn't want to have a drink surrounded by art? Friends from out of town are always impressed.

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Rings: model's own Shot in the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

ow you wear your hair is a very personal thing. If you really want your hair to be your crowning glory on your big day, look no further than Jewellery Quarter stylists, Harris Gibbs Hair Shop.

Leave it too late, though, and you could find that you don’t have enough time to grow out anything that hinders your desired look! Chris says that any time between two and six months before the big day is fine.

Chris and Alex Harris-Gibbs opened their first salon in 2009 on Warstone Lane and instantly fell in love with the Jewellery Quarter lifestyle. In 2015, they moved to Caroline Street, where they found not only a new workspace, but also a place they could call home. When they’re not in the salon, Chris, Alex and their team travel the country to style blushing brides on their big day.

Chris and Alex have both been hairdressing for over 15 years, and in their time have seen a number of wedding trends wash in and wash out. Tiaras are being traded in for a more contemporary look, and brides are now more than ever before getting more creative with their wedding themes.

Chris says that once he becomes involved in a wedding, he is completely at the bride’s disposal. He often immerses himself in the role of the extra bridesmaid – seeing a couple on the happiest day of their lives is a definite perk of the job for Chris. When helping brides decide how to wear their hair, the first thing Chris will want to see is the dress. Necklines, sleeves, jewellery and a veil will all play a vital role in the overall look, so what may work for the bride on a night out, may not work on her big day. One of Chris’s most important pieces of advice is to not book a hair trial too early, but don’t leave it too late! Have it too early, and you run the risk of changing your mind.

When he’s not being an additional bridesmaid, Chris is part of the TIGI European session team, and regularly styles at world-renowned fashion events, including London Fashion Week. Both Chris and Alex are educators for the TIGI Professional UK Collective team, and regularly deliver training on colouring, cutting and styling to other hairdressers across the UK. To book a no obligation bespoke bridal consultation, or to find out more about Harris Gibbs Hair Shop, visit them online or pop in to their salon on Caroline Street. harrisgibbs.com

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certain level of trust is required when allowing someone else to apply your make up – it’s perhaps, next to the dress, the most photographed part of any wedding, so the pressure to get it right is most definitely on. Enter Alyn Waterman. As a child, Alyn found himself applying make up to virtually anything he could put make up on, and spent much of his youth volunteering as a make up artist backstage at school plays. He went on to study at one of the only make up schools in the country in the eighties: the Dawn Cragg School of Film, Television and Special Effects Make Up. It was here that he perfected his brush-wielding skills that would eventually lead him to work with some of the most glamourous celebrities in the country. Alyn moved to the Jewellery Quarter three years ago while working on BBC TV show ‘Hustle’. It was a move that would shape his career and pave the way for designing his own studio, where he now holds hen parties, make up tutorials and bridal trials. The studio was transformed from a dental laboratory into every girl’s dream in 2014. The walls are adorned with signed pictures of celebrities that Alyn has worked with, from Dame Joan Collins, to the cast of Footballer’s Wives. The studio can be adjusted to fit any special requirements, and can hold groups of up to 10. Alyn understands that sometimes getting ready for your big day in a city centre studio isn’t always possible, so he often finds himself travelling the country to tend to bridal appointments. Alyn understands how important it is to look perfect in your photographs and, for a small fee, will stay after your ceremony to ensure you continue to look your best. If you’d rather learn to do it yourself, Alyn also teaches one-to-one make up lessons. When he’s not travelling the country, Alyn likes to lend a helping hand close to home. He often delivers career talks at University College Birmingham and was one of the make up artists working on Ready Player One – the Steven Spielberg movie that was filmed right here in the Quarter last summer. alynmakeuphair.co.uk

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edding flowers are a bride’s opportunity to let her personality truly shine through on her big day. Among the white lace and buttermilk table linen, flowers are the pop of colour and exuberance that can really bring a theme together. Sherrie Phelps and Joanne Yardley met 15 years ago when they were both working as florists for the NEC, Birmingham. It wasn’t until 2012 that the two friends embarked on what is now one of the top one per cent florists in the UK: Lily Jones. The name of the business is as personal as the flowers that they make for brides and is a combination of Sherrie and her partners’ mums’ names. Now a team of five, Lily Jones creates bespoke arrangements for weddings and makes everything from buttonholes to bouquets. Sherrie and Joanne are seasoned professionals, doing over 100 weddings a year, with holidays, corporate occasions, birthdays and anniversaries in between. They’ve seen it all, and are good at spotting wedding trends a mile off. Pastels, pinks and nudes are a noticeable trend, with greys and greens becoming a frequent request. Sherrie has noticed that brides are becoming more adventurous with their wedding styles, and as such, she’s seeing bold flower choices with a heavier focus on table decorations more than ever before. lilyjonesflowers.co.uk Other florists in the JQ include: In bloom | Red Rose Florist

Shot in Quarter Workshop

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tepping into Cake Quarter, it’s hard not to react like a kid in a candy shop. This is exactly the reaction that Ina Bansal wants you to have as you enter her world of baking.

The first thing that catches your eye as you walk into Cake Quarter is 2.5 metres (that’s 21 tiers) of wedding cake that took 12 people three and a half hours to construct on the day of Ina’s own wedding. Ina married her sweetheart in 2015 after they met at Kingston University. The couple studied landscape architecture, but Ina soon discovered that there were a lot of restrictions within the industry and decided to turn her hand to cake making. Having always been very creative, the shift in career was easy. Ina chose the Jewellery Quarter for its rich history and close proximity to the city centre. She also found that the Jewellery Quarter was the ideal place to start a wedding business as the market was already well and truly established, meaning more brides than average passing her huge, beautifully decorated window. Buying a wedding cake at Cake Quarter is a very personal process. Each cake is totally bespoke, and Ina will hand sketch multiple designs before settling on a final piece of artwork for your cake. Ina wants you to believe that anything is possible, and all cakes can be made in any flavour imaginable and gluten free, dairy free, vegan or eggless. She’ll also match your cake to any colour or pattern, ensuring that your carefully thought out theme is carried through right down to the very last detail. Ina does a lot of the work herself, but often has help from her family and completes all final touches to ensure that they are consistent with the initial design. To ensure her cakes cater for every bride, Cake Quarter has a basic range, with a three-tier cake starting at £250. cakequarter.co.uk Other bakers in the JQ include: Frosty Browns Bakery and Catering

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rooms could be forgiven for not ranking the importance of their wedding day attire quite up there with the allimportant dress. While it’s true that clothes may not make the man, Karlus G. Tailor most certainly makes the clothes, and they make them well. Karlus and his sister Hilary are cut from the same cloth. Their aunt was a seamstress, and taught the pair how to sew, before they went on to study the arts of bespoke tailoring and dressmaking at Handsworth Technical College. When Karlus and Hilary decided to embark on their own business journey, they wanted a location that was easily accessible from in and around the city with good transport links. They discovered that the Jewellery Quarter was the place to be for grooms-to-be, and with more than 40 years’ experience between them, they set up Karlus G. Tailor. When choosing a wedding suit, Karlus says it’s imperative that you have a good idea of what you want. While a good tailor can offer you sage advice, he cannot tell you what kind of clothes you like, so it’s important that you know what you’re most comfortable in. Karlus works predominantly in wool, and for good reason: wool is natural, breathable, hangs well, durable and is moisture repellent. Most importantly, if wool is looked after properly, it can last a lifetime. A bespoke, two-piece wedding suit starts at £500, and can take up to two months to make. The groom will also need to attend at least three consultations to get the perfect fit, so it’s important to start the process as early as possible. Karlus is currently working on his own casual clothing range, which will soon be available to buy online. karlusg-tailor.co.uk Other male formalwear shops in the JQ include: Ziggy Menswear

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hen most people think of weddings, their attention immediately turns to the dress. It’s the most important, not to mention the most expensive thing you’ll ever wear. No pressure, then.

Romantic Dreams is a bridal boutique on Caroline Street and is owned by dress enthusiast Sammy Dingley. Stepping into the boutique is like stepping into every girl’s dream. Downstairs, the entire right wall is adorned from floor to ceiling with bridesmaids’ dresses in every colour imaginable. Sammy takes an interest in every dress that she sells, and hand selects each individual style. When she’s not at the boutique, she’s jet setting across the world to visit designers and choose her collections by hand, taking into consideration the feel of the material, the level of detail in the beading and the stitching along every seam. With the average UK wedding dress costing just under £1,400, it is not a purchase to be made lightly. With this in mind, Sammy does everything she can to make the purchase as easy, and enjoyable, as possible. She firmly believes that a wedding dress should be an emotional purchase, not one that is dictated by price – it is for this reason alone that you’ll find no price tags on the dresses at Romantic Dreams. Romantic Dreams doesn’t stop when the door closes at 6pm. Sammy is on hand 24/7 to put any last minute nerves at ease, and brides are welcome to get in touch any time. All dresses are made to order and are exclusive to Romantic Dreams. Romantic Dreams stocks dresses by Demetrios; Madison James; the White One collection by Pronovias and the Romance collection by Allure Bridal. romanticdreams.co.uk Other wedding dress stores in the JQ include: Amar Kular | Wedding Dress Retail Outlet Wedding Quarter Bridal Outlet

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s you enter St. Paul’s Church, you are instantly met with over two hundred years of history and a very warm welcome.

The venue is heavily involved in the local community, and regularly hosts music concerts and plays.

Built in 1779, St. Paul’s was first erected in response to rapid growth in the area, and is situated on the only surviving Georgian square in Birmingham. The land on which it sits was donated by Charles Colmore, a French businessman who made his fortune in Birmingham, almost three centuries ago.

Getting married in church isn’t as complicated as some may think. In order to get married at St. Paul’s, you must live in or have a connection to the parish, or failing that, attend church twice a month for six months before your wedding day. And you needn’t tone down your imagination, either. Mary says that in all her time at St. Paul’s, she’s only ever had to reject one request – the more creative, she says, the better!

Reverend Mary Gilbert has been a vicar for 21 years and has officiated more weddings than she can remember. As a child, she always felt surrounded by a higher presence, but it wasn’t until 1996 that she was ordained by the Church of England.

To have your wedding at St. Paul’s Church, there is a fixed price of £716. This includes your own organist.

Reverend Mary brings a touch of the twenty-first century to the 238 year-old venue. A pro-arts feminist with a passion for steampunk, Mary is not your typical clergywoman, and St. Paul’s is not your typical church.

stpaulsjq.church

Other venues for religious ceremonies include: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of Theotokos and St. Andreas | Ramgarhia Sikh Temple

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QUARTER LIFE

hotproperty The Jewellery Quarter has always been attractive to Birmingham’s thriving creative scene, and as such, is fast becoming home to some of Birmingham’s top co-working spaces

Whether you’re a freelancer looking for the freedom of a flexible working space, or just starting out and in need of an affordable, serviced desk, Grosvenor House offers access to a professional working hub without the long term fees or commitment. With its flexible approach and cost effective benefits, co-working is becoming increasingly popular among creatives, freelancers and entrepreneurs. With overheads reduced, it enables them to put their money straight back into the business. Other benefits include shorter term and flexible leases, the ability to expand your professional network and the opportunity to work alongside likeminded individuals. Situated on St. Paul’s Square, Grosvenor House is an eighteenth century classic grade II listed Georgian building with a contemporary twist that is now home to around 100 local businesses, using Grosvenor House’s virtual, co-working and conferencing facilities on a monthly basis. With facilities to accommodate up to 60 workers in its custom-built shared loft space, Grosvenor House is the ideal space for small businesses and start-ups that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford the luxury of a Jewellery Quarter postcode. It even has its own bar! The business reopened its doors in July 2016 following a £500,000 renovation project. If you’d like a tour of the building, or have any questions regarding the space, please call Hannah on 0121 272 3643. grosvenorstpauls.com

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THE JEWELLERY QUARTER IS HOME TO SOME OF BIRMINGHAM’S MOST UNIQUE AND INSPIRING BUSINESSES, AND THE SONGLAB IS NO EXCEPTION. WE CAUGHT UP WITH JONNY AMOS AND MELDRA GUZA, WHO SET UP THE SONGLAB IN 2014 TO SUPPLY SONGS TO THE GLOBAL MUSIC INDUSTRY.

Jonny and Meldra are no strangers to the rock and roll lifestyle. At just 14 years of age, Meldra was a pop star in her own right in her home country, Latvia. She came to the UK to study in 2006, and went on to work with world-renowned artists such as Rod Stewart and Cee Lo Green. Jonny was part of an award winning rock band called Red Star Rebels, where he toured the world playing to sell-out crowds, before rounding off his career as a recording artist on a successful solo tour in 2008. He turned his attention to songwriting and production in 2008 and he now travels the world composing for recording artists whilst co-running The SongLab. The two met in LA in 2013 at a songwriting convention whilst Meldra was working in the US as a TV synch songwriter. They fell in love instantly, and went on to get married in Latvia before deciding to set up a new business venture together in Birmingham. Settling on the Jewellery Quarter was easy for the couple. Jonny had spent a lot of time in the area searching for the perfect ring to pop the question to Meldra, and the pair eventually stumbled upon their studio on their first anniversary. “We both love the Jewellery Quarter – it has such a unique charm and history to it. We love the fact that we can enjoy the walk to work, whatever the season, and it has such a calming aura about it. The new metro has been a real bonus for us, as we get a lot of young clients travelling to us from all over the UK, so it is so much easier for them to get here using the tram from New Street station. There’s just a real community here, and we’re a part of it.” One of The SongLab’s latest endeavours is a project with Mighty Atom Smasher (MAS) Records – a not-for-profit music development programme that boasts an impressive group of patrons that include Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) and Karl Hyde (Underworld). Together with MAS and Kidderminster College, Jonny and Meldra provide free artistic development and professional mentoring for young people that might otherwise struggle to find a way into the highly competitive music industry. When they’re not working with MAS, Jonny and Meldra produce music for a wide variety of management companies and labels alongside running their own publishing company. Where possible, The SongLab endeavours to utilise local talent as much as possible, and they are always on the look out for talented artists aged 16-19. If you’d like to know more, email meldra@thesonglab.co.uk.

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Love is in the Quarter JQBID teamed up with Wedding Quarter and Quarter Workshop for the first JQ Fusions event of 2017 on Wednesday, February 1. Brides-to-be were treated to a behind-the-scenes look inside The Quarter Workshop: a quirky jewellery studio where couples can make their own rings. One lucky guest was even able to make her own ring to take home and keep. Brides on a budget were introduced to wedding dress specialists from Wedding Quarter, an outlet that stocks discounted designer wedding dresses for under ÂŁ500.

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JQBID wines & dines Quarter businesses Jewellery Quarter BID levy payers were invited by JQBID to dine and network at University College Birmingham’s award winning College of Food’s Atrium restaurant. Guests were serenaded by a string quartet and treated to canapés and drinks on arrival. The delicious three-course dinner was cooked and served by the students of UCB under the guidance of senior chef lecturers and food service experts.

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Fancy A

BREW The Jewellery Quarter is well known for its

sophisticated independent bars, restaurants and

coffee shops, but did you know you can also enjoy a home brew at not one, but three of Birmingham’s independent breweries right here in the Quarter?

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Indian Brewery

Situated beneath the arches, The Indian Brewery on Livery Street pays homage to traditional North Indian cuisine with a street food twist. The owner of Indian Brewery, Jaspal Purewal, has long supplied the Jewellery Quarter with his own craft beers. Frequenters of The Lord Clifden may recognise Indian Summer and Birmingham Lager: both of which are brewed at Jaspal’s brewery in Great Barr. The Indian Brewery is the only Indian street food restaurant in the city centre, and serves everything from Indian fish and chips to Bombay Breakfast. It’s open Monday-Thursday 7am-10pm, 7am-11pm on Fridays, 8am-11pm on Saturday and 9am-9pm on Sundays.

BurninG Soul

Rock n’ Roll Brewhouse

Burning Soul on Mott Street was launched by Chris Small and Richard Murphy and gets its name from their burning passion to open a brewery that makes incredible beer. Not wanting to tie themselves down to just a few core beers, the pair are constantly refreshing their recipes. They opened a taproom in October 2016 to give the people of Birmingham a sneak peak of their latest concoctions. Ale fans may recognise a few of their latest brews, which include Mount Olympus, Coconut Porter and Kettle Sour: a distinctly tangy pale ale that is soured with lactobacillus to give it a unique flavour. Burning Soul’s taproom is open every Friday 4pm-8pm and Saturday 1pm-8pm.

Rock n’ Roll Brewhouse in Regent Place is a multi-award winning brewery with one simple ethos – to brew naturally pure, quality beer. The brewery has a no-additives policy, making it Birmingham’s original 100% vegan brewhouse. Owners Mark Shepherd and Lynn Crossland are constantly experimenting with new ideas, recipes and ingredients, resulting in an ever-changing selection of freshly brewed beers on tap within the Brewhouse’s very own bar. If you’d like to try one, the bar area is open every Friday between 5pm-9pm, and on the first Saturday of every month between 12pm-6pm.

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JQ IN THE FRAME

Birmingham

Exposed

A SIX-MONTH EXHIBITION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED AT THE MUSEUM OF THE JEWELLERY QUARTER DISPLAYING SOME OF BIRMINGHAM’S MOST WELL KNOWN LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE JEWELLERY QUARTER AND THE ICONIC BT TOWER, AS RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER VERITY MILLIGAN HOSTS HER FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION IN THE CITY.

Showcasing 15 of Verity’s most popular images, the exhibition will give visitors the chance to view the city through her lens, with the opportunity to purchase prints in the museum’s gift shop, allowing you to take home a little piece of Birmingham. The exhibition can be seen in the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter’s new commercial gallery space in the Smith & Pepper Tea Room, which has been launched to coincide with the museum’s 25th anniversary year. The museum is built around the Smith and Pepper jewellery factory, which ceased trading in 1981. The door was simply locked and left untended for nine years before being brought back to life by Birmingham Museums Trust. Verity Milligan’s exhibition can be seen for free at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter between 10.30am and 5pm until Saturday, July 29.

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THE COFFIN WORKS Join The Newman Brothers, if you dare, for an after hours experience that you’ll never forget...

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what’s on For all the details of what’s on locally visit jewelleryquarter.net/whatson JEWELLERY QUARTER COMEDY CLUB Tuesday 4th April 8pm Rose Villa Tavern

MUSIC IN THE SQUARE / BIG BIKE DAY Friday 28th April 12pm-2pm The Golden Square On every other Friday until 4th August

LEARNING CALLIGRAPHY Sunday 30th April 1pm The Pen Museum

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: VICTORIAN FUNERALS Thursday 18th May 6.30pm Newman Brothers at the Coffin Works

LEGENDS FESTIVAL The Newman Brothers at the Coffin Works invites you to explore the museum in a whole new light – candlelight, to be exact. On Thursday, May 18, the Coffin Works will be taking part in Museums at Night: a UK-wide festival giving you an after-hours insight into museums across the country.

Friday 19th – Saturday 21st May 2017 Red Lion and Saints Kitchen

THE MAN WITH THE VAN: AN EVENING WITH ROBERT PERRY RBSA

Every year, hundreds of museums, libraries, galleries and heritage sites take part. This year, visitors will be guided around the historic factory by candlelight. Afterwards, you will be given the opportunity to unearth the fascinating historic traditions of the Victorian funeral practice in an informative, illustrated talk led by the venue’s own Josie Wall.

Wednesday 24th May 7pm RBSA

THE WITCHES Saturday 27th May – Saturday 3rd June Blue Orange Theatre

The candlelit tour costs £6 and starts at 6.30pm. If you wish to stay for the talk, a joint ticket can be purchased at a discounted rate of £10.

To tell us about an event email mat.lovell@jqdt.org

For more information, visit coffinworks.org.

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