Quarter Life - Issue 4 by Quarter Life

issue four

I DO! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAN A JQ WEDDING WORK IN PROGRESS JQ WELCOMES PLANS FOR A NEW COLLEGE

GO EXPLORE

Discover the many visitor attractions the Jewellery Quarter has to offer LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT

JEWELLERY QUARTER www.jewelleryquarter.net

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE JEWELLERY QUARTER

Selling, Letting & Managing Property in Birmingham

Call us for a same day valuation 0121 285 7575

WELCOME TO THE FOURTH ISSUE OF QUARTERlife THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE JEWELLERY QUARTER.

on the cover Finley Haynes visits the Jewellery Quarter’s newest attraction – Wonderful World of Trains & Planes. Read our eight-page pull-out guide to find out more about things to see and do in the area.

he Jewellery Quarter is renowned for a number of achievements, in particular its contribution to the global manufacturing of jewellery, the advancements of pen nibs that revolutionised the written word and its quirky hive of business development. Yet, as the manager of the BID, what Luke Crane, strikes me most when I am out and JQ BID manager about on my day to day business is the sublime scenery surrounding our rich architectural heritage. The Quarter has so many sights to see and so many exciting events and exhibits, that I find every day I am learning and experiencing new delights. In this issue of QUARTERlife we bring you the essential handbook to your visits to the Jewellery Quarter with an eight-page pull-out guide of visitor attractions for all ages. If you want to have the full experience of the Quarter then I also recommend grabbing a copy of our eight-page guide on where to eat, drink and sleep from our first issue of the magazine. With both guides at hand you will never worry about missing out. The JQ BID has also invested in the installation of Interconnect wayfinding totems around the Quarter (pg 5) making it easy to navigate to and from the many shops and attractions on offer. Love is all around. Our guide to planning your perfect Jewellery Quarter wedding (pg 14) gives you a taste of the range of products on offer in the JQ from engagement rings, flowers, dresses and more; leading right up to the big day.

next issue If you’ve got an interesting business story you’d like us to consider for the next issue of QUARTERlife, please email laura@barquespr.co.uk.

During July, JQ BID worked hard to animate the Quarter. A bandstand was erected in St Paul’s Square for Birmingham’s International Jazz & Blues Festival. Live music was hosted every day for the working week, seeing large crowds basking in the sunshine. Similarly, the BID has invested in an array of colourful floral creations as well as taking part in this year’s Birmingham City Floral Trail. This movement of music and colour really brings both business and residential communities together across the city, and none more so than here in the Quarter.

enjoy!

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NEWS Interconnect installation, Project Red Bridge and Jazz in the Jewellery Quarter. JQDT Neighbourhood Planning Form and Assay Office sale. Golden Square update, Gardeners’ World winner and School of Jewellery prepares for 125th year celebrations.

8 9 10 12

BUSINESS PROFILE The ladies behind LIVTO jewellery reflect on their first year of business. THE DEAL MAKER Commercial agent Edward Siddall Jones wins property award. SETTING THE STANDARD Plans for the Standard Works building are revealed.

Editor: Laura Butler laura@barquespr.co.uk 0121 233 2080 Advertising: Jilly Cosgrove jilly@barques.co.uk 0121 233 2080 Design & Art Direction: Lee Haynes

INNOVATION Graham Short’s micro-engravings.

Photography: Lee Haynes

AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN THE JEWELLERY QUARTER

13 14 17 18 19 20 22 23

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Contributors: Edward Siddall Jones Siddall Jones Limited James McLaughlin Cure Leukaemia Karl Kinsella Hatters Hostel Tom Wildish JQNF

CONTACT US HOUSE OF FUN John Bunce celebrates 10 years as manager of The Jam House. THE WEDDING PLANNER The Jewellery Quarter has everything you need to plan your big day.

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

Designed and produced by:

A COMMUNITY THAT CARES Residents are invited to join the JQNF. LIFE THROUGH A LENS Beer tasting event at The Rose Villa Tavern and the time capsule goes into the Golden Square. SLEEP SOCIAL Hatters Hostel offers a refreshing alternative to a hotel experience. GIVE A LITTLE BIT Explore some of the charities based in the Jewellery Quarter.

www.barques.co.uk

A magazine by:

BIRTHING PARTNERS The Old Fire Station Children’s Nursery teams up with the NCT. WHAT’S ON Dates for your diary from September to November.

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www.jewelleryquarter.net

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NEWS

WALK THIS WAY Finding your way around the Jewellery Quarter is now much easier with the help of Interconnect Birmingham and a £30,000 investment from the JQ BID. Twenty wayfinding totems have now been installed at key junctions on: Vyse Street, Great Hampton Street, Warstone Lane, Frederick Street, Sand Pits, Newhall Street, St Paul’s Square, Ludgate Hill, Livery Street and Constitution Hill. The totems combine public transport information, signage posts and a new royalty-free mapping base to help visitors make the most of their time in the Quarter.

JQ BID FUNDS BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS Improvements to the footbridge over Great Charles Street are being made this summer, thanks to a £20,000 investment from the JQ BID, Birmingham City Council and Colmore BID. Lighting will be installed on the red bridge, which is one of the main routes into the Jewellery Quarter from the city centre, and the area inside Embassy House will be improved. The investment will help to create a better first impression of the Quarter for visitors using the bridge.

JAZZ FESTIVAL DRAWS CROWDS TO THE JQ Blazing sunshine and honky-tonk tunes brought large crowds to St Paul’s Square this July as jazz musicians performed in a bandstand funded by the JQ BID.

Performances in the churchyard on St Paul’s Square, which took place at lunchtime during the working week, attracted audiences of more than 600 people per day. The footfall count reached over 1,000 on the Thursday, with more than 500 people turning out to enjoy the additional final performance on the Friday evening. Bars around the Jewellery Quarter, including The Drop Forge, The Red Lion, The Lord Clifden and The Jam House, and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter also hosted events during the music festival.

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The artists formed part of the Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival – now in its 30th year – which sees renowned jazz stars and newcomers take over venues across the city for 10 days each summer.

NEWS

ASSAY OFFICE BIRMINGHAM SELLS LANDMARK BUILDING The sold sign has gone up at Assay Office Birmingham in Newhall Street after just a short time on the market. TCN UK – a mixed-use developer that specialises in delivering creative, unique and innovative workspaces ideally geared towards smaller occupiers – has purchased the Grade II listed Victorian building. The plan for the site and adjoining car park are still in the initial stages, but TCN UK proposes a mixed-use development that will seek to retain, where possible, the character of the original building. Established in 1773 by an Act of Parliament, Assay Office is responsible for the testing, verifying and hallmarking of several million articles of precious metal each year.

The sale of the Newhall Street building clears the way for the Assay Office to relocate to a purpose-built headquarters on Icknield Street, which will be completed and ready for occupancy in 2015. Stella Layton, chief executive and Assay Master at Assay Office, said: “The building in Newhall Street holds significant historical interest, however, it no longer provides the flexibility required to meet our plans for diversification and the growth in our business that we have driven in the last few years. “The new building will host our heritage silver collection and library, making this valuable resource more readily accessible to the trade, the public and those who wish to use it for educational and research purposes.”

PLANNING AHEAD The Jewellery Quarter community has started planning its own future following formal designation of a Neighbourhood Planning Area by Birmingham City Council (BCC).

Under the Localism Act, the Jewellery Quarter’s business community and residents have more powers to set rules for planning and development in their area. The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) Neighbourhood Planning Forum, made up of volunteers from across the area, will produce a Neighbourhood Plan for the area set by BCC. The new plan, which will take 18 months to establish, will seek to benefit all businesses in the Quarter; helping to tackle dereliction by filling empty units, attract more people to the area and provide the right facilities for all to use. See www.jewelleryquarter.net/jq-neighbourhood-plan for more information.

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NEWS

JQ-INSPIRED GARDEN SCOOPS SILVER MEDAL The Jewellery Quarter made a lasting impression at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live as two gardens inspired by the area were exhibited. The gardens – The Jewel of Birmingham by Carla Tewley and Stamp of Approval by RHS students at Kings Heath Park – were shown in the Beautiful Borders category. The Level 2 horticultural RHS students scooped a silver-gilt medal for their colourful carpet bedding that features the JQ BID logo, the Assay Office anchor and a traditional hallmarking stamp, the Chamberlain Clock, and precious gems, all created with vibrant plants. Shortly after the show ended, the garden was relocated to the plot of grass opposite The Drop Forge in Hockley Street. It took eleven people an entire day to replant the work of art, which contains 4,600 plants. Go and have a look.

GOLDEN SQUARE TAKES SHAPE Construction is well underway on the Jewellery Quarter’s newest landmark, Golden Square, with the site now starting to take shape. The public realm project will see the former car park outside the Big Peg on Warstone Lane transformed into a new central meeting point and an ideal space for outdoor events in the Quarter. Since the scheme began in March 2014, contractors Balfour Beatty have been busy laying the foundations for the new scheme, with drainage pipework, paving, and step units all successfully installed. Construction of the Golden Square is due to be completed, fingers crossed, in November. For regular updates, visit www.jewelleryquarter.net or follow @JQDTBirmingham and @JQBID on Twitter.

SCHOOL OF JEWELLERY SEEKS ALUMNI STORIES

Staff at The School of Jewellery on Vittoria Street are currently planning a series of events to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2015. The events will span the full calendar year and celebrate the past, present and future of the School. One of the activities focuses on its alumni. If you studied as an apprentice, a part-time or full-time student, they would like to hear from you!

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All you have to do is email info@schoolofjewellery.co.uk, using the subject "125th Anniversary", with your name and contact details. A questionnaire for alumni to complete about their time at the School will be circulated shortly. Further school news for 2015 will be featured in future issues of QUARTERlife.

LIVTO’s best selling product is the Ecosilver bangle as customers have the freedom to have anything they want hand stamped onto it. The silver, which is 100% recycled, is supplied by Cooksongold based on Vittoria Street. When deciding where to base their business, Gemma knew it had to be the Jewellery Quarter. She said: “My grandfather was a jeweller and my father still owns a shop in the Quarter, so I’ve always had a connection with the area. Despite there being lots of jewellery shops along Warstone Lane, we felt there was a gap in the market for fashion jewellery at an affordable price.

QUARTERlife MEETS THE LADIES BEHIND INSPIRATIONAL FASHION JEWELLERY BRAND LIVTO AS THEY REFLECT ON A SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR OF BUSINESS.

When best friends Gemma Perry and Kate Lewis launched their online shop livto.co.uk in spring 2013, they never imagined the next 12 months would be so busy. They’ve since opened a shop on Warstone Lane, secured their first stockist and even acquired some celebrity customers.

The LIVTO brand aims to appeal to dreamers and believers who can relate to the motivational quotes inscribed on the silver coin that features in every bracelet. Customers can select a phrase from the product range or suggest their own to make it truly personal. The shop is currently open on Saturdays, when customers can see their items being made.

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“Just six weeks after opening the store we recorded a profit, which was fantastic considering we bought and renovated the space ourselves,” said Kate. “Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to attend Birmingham Fashion Week and promote our brand on a national level and, in May 2014, we saw takings triple compared to Christmas 2013. We were also approached by a retailer in Surrey who wanted to stock our range. “GB gold medalists have purchased our bracelets. I think the inspirational messages resonate with them as they need a strong ‘can-do’ attitude to compete in competitions such as the Olympics. This Morning presenter Alison Hammond is also a customer.” Gemma concluded: “We’ve had such a great first year, we just want to continue to grow the sales, develop new product ranges, and we hope to stock in high street retailers.”

THE DEAL MAKER Edward Siddall Jones, director of commercial property consultancy Siddall Jones Limited, earns industry recognition after completing over 70 deals across the West Midlands in the past 12 months. YOU WERE NAMED MOST ACTIVE DEAL MAKER IN THE WEST MIDLANDS 2014 BY PROPERTY MAGAZINE ESTATES GAZETTE. HOW DID IT FEEL TO WIN? This is a very prestigious property award and something that I am very proud of, especially as the company is just two years old. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT DEALS? We have a particular stronghold in the Jewellery Quarter and city fringe. The majority of our deals have been within the area, such as the 6,000 sq ft pre let to a telecom provider at the Mint, Icknield Street. We have also been responsible for the disposal of many Grade II Listed buildings fronting Frederick Street, all of

which have been sold to occupiers who are sympathetic to the need to preserve these fantastic looking buildings. WHY IS THE JEWELLERY QUARTER SO POPULAR? It has excellent connectivity in terms of communications and its proximity to the city centre. The area has a village feel and a wealth of amenities. People want to work but also socialise afterwards in the bars and restaurants. WHICH TYPES OF BUSINESSES ARE BEING ATTRACTED TO THE AREA? More and more companies from the digital and creative sector are choosing the Jewellery Quarter over other areas of the city because they want to be based somewhere with character, which suits the nature of their business.

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WHAT SPACE IS AVAILABLE? There are many start-up spaces in office developments such as The Big Peg, where our office is located. We have found that, as businesses grow, they often move to a larger floor plate within the same building because they don’t want to leave the Quarter. HOW DOES BIRMINGHAM COMPARE WITH OTHER MAJOR UK CITIES? London is still going through a boom at the moment but some large corporates are starting to look for the next ‘big thing’ and choosing to relocate their headquarters to the second city because they can get a lot more office space for their money. www.siddalljones.com

SETTING THE

STANDA QUARTERlife reveals

whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in store for the old Standard Works building.

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he Standard Works on Vittoria Street – a former Victorian factory that has lain empty for almost two decades – is to be brought back to life as a college for young people with special needs. Birmingham City Council has given the green light for Stourbridge-based Glasshouse College to convert the derelict building into a specialist further education college for 16 to 25 year olds with a range of emotional and learning difficulties. The college, owned by the Ruskin Mill Trust in Gloucestershire, has been working with Birmingham

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Conservation Trust on community engagement and consultation to convert the 135-year-old Grade II listed building. The trust specialises in developing educational and cultural centres out of heritage buildings for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities, including Autistic Spectrum Disorders. The new development will have capacity for up to 90 students and will contain a café with its own bakery, a rooftop garden, traditional arts & crafts workshops, business start-up spaces for jewellers, a basement auditorium for lectures, events and theatre, and a heritage exhibition detailing the history of the Jewellery Quarter. Andrew Burford, development co-ordinator at Glasshouse College, said: “We look forward to becoming part of the vibrant Jewellery Quarter community and have been delighted by the warm welcome and enthusiastic support we have received for the project. “After consulting with the local community and incorporating their ideas into our original plans, we are confident that the refurbished Standard Works will provide the perfect space to deliver our innovative educational programme to young people from the city and allow us to become a valuable addition to the thriving social and creative scene in the area.” Renovation is due to start in September 2014 and the college will be open to students in September 2015.

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INNOVATION

MINIATURE MARVELS Birmingham-born engraver Graham Short has spent more than 50 years going to physical and mental extremes to create the micro masterpieces that have earned him international fame.

Graham’s skills were given the royal seal of approval in the 70s as he supplied engraved stationery to highclass establishments such as Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Sandringham, and Windsor Castle from his business in the Jewellery Quarter.

But it was the media attention he received for his nine-month project, ‘Cutting Edge’ – which shows the words “Nothing is Impossible” engraved along the sharp edge of a razor blade – that took his career to new heights. Known as ‘the Hands of Genius’, Graham’s exhibitions often sell out within minutes as art collectors snap up his pieces for anything between £20,000 and £1 million. To create such intricate pieces, Graham has to keep a very steady hand. He said: “I work at midnight to avoid vibration from passing traffic. My right arm is strapped to the bench, allowing only my fingertips to move. I take potassium, magnesium

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and betablockers throughout the night to lower my heart rate to 30 beats per minute – then, using a stethoscope, I monitor my heart and begin to engrave with very fine needles between heartbeats.

“Also, every few months I have a course of botox injections around my eyes to keep the muscles and nerves rigid. People are always amazed by the lengths I go to for my art.” Graham’s other pieces include The Lord’s Prayer and a portrait of The Queen engraved on the heads of gold pins and, for the World Cup, he catalogued the England goal scorers from Wilf Mannion in 1950 to Steven Gerrard on a single football stud. The stud was bought by premiership footballer David Dunn for £30,000, which he then donated to the National Football Museum in Manchester. Graham’s work can be seen at www.thehandsofgenius.com

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E R O L P X E QUARTERlifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

essential guide to things to see and do in the Jewellery Quarter. QUARTERlife

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Did you think the Jewellery Quarter was just full of jewellery shops? Think again. We’ve also got museums, art galleries, a theatre and heritage attractions, plus a thriving retail area and buzzing bars and restaurants. Come and explore what the Jewellery Quarter has to offer for yourself or book a guided tour through our website to learn more about the history of Birmingham and its successful trades. The Jewellery Quarter is accessible by car, train, tram and on foot from the city centre. It’s even on the canal route! There’s so much to do here, you’ll need more than one visit to fit it all in. Don’t worry, we’ve got great hotels too, so you’re welcome to stay until you’ve seen everything!

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter 1

75-80 Vyse Street, B18 6HA

0121 348 8140

www.bmag.org.uk/museum-of-the-jewellery-quarter MuseumOfTheJewelleryQuarter

@MJQBirmingham

Tuesday - Saturday: 10.30am - 5pm

Exhibition spaces: Free.

Smith and Pepper factory and the gallery Adults: £5, Concessions: £4, under 16: free

The Chamberlain Clock The Chamberlain Clock was erected on Warstone Lane in 1903, as a mark of gratitude to Joseph Chamberlain’s work as Secretary of State to the Colonies, most notably in South Africa during the Second Boer War and its immediate aftermath. Chamberlain went on to become MP for the Jewellery Quarter and championed the cause of jewellers by campaigning for the abolition of Plate Duties – a tax that affected jewellery traders of the period.

Annual multi-site pass: £20 individual, £30 joint Wheelchair accessible Baby changing facilities School parties and pre-booked groups are welcome. Tours last approximately one hour.

hen the proprietors of the Smith & Pepper jewellery manufacturing firm decided to retire in 1981 they ceased trading and locked the doors, unaware they would be leaving a time capsule for future generations. Tools were left strewn on benches; grubby overalls were hung on the coat hooks; and dirty teacups were abandoned alongside jars of marmite and jam on the shelf. Today the factory is a remarkable museum that tells the story of the Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham’s renowned jewellery and metalworking heritage. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the factory, where they will see a vast array of original tools, stamps and machinery and watch live demonstrations at the jeweller’s bench to see how a signature Smith & Pepper bangle was made. The museum shop sells a range of locally made designer-maker jewellery, as well as giftware, museum souvenirs, beads and local interest books. There is also The Tearoom, which offers delicious sandwiches, traditional fresh cakes and a selection of hot and cold drinks.

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Need some guidance and advice while you’re in the Quarter? The JQ BID ambassadors – Phil and Wendy – are always happy to help. They are often found walking around the Quarter. Look out for the JQ logo on their clothes and say hello!

The Pen Museum 2

Unit 3 The Argent Centre, 60 Frederick Street, B1 3HS

0121 236 9834

www.penroom.co.uk Pen.Museum

@thepenmuseum

Monday - Saturday: 11am - 4pm Sunday: 1pm - 4pm

Suggested donation of £2. Gift Aid donation available.

Wheelchair accessible Baby changing facilities

Fellows & Sons Auctioneers 3

earn all about Birmingham’s part in the information revolution at The Pen Museum. Set in the Victorian pen factory of W. E. Wiley, the museum contains an amazing collection of more than 5,000 objects relating to the city’s steel pen trade and the history of writing. There are plenty of activities for families including a Victorian school room, special museum trails and interactive machines. In the ‘Pen Room’ area, you can discover how steel pens are made and even make your own nib! The Philip Poole Room – named after one of the founders of the Writing Equipment Society – features a gift shop area and displays containing fascinating .. . t objects such as William Mitchell’s nib pyramid c a f n u f s a w and Hinks Wells’ star, all made from steel nibs. m u Muse The Pen te Guided tours of the museum, which is a c fi a certi awarded run entirely by volunteers, are available (allow m o nce fr approx. 1 hour) or visitors are welcome to of excelle or in browse at their leisure. TripAdvis 4 Every Saturday, visitors are welcome to attend 201 . the museum’s calligraphy classes. The drop-in sessions are £3 per person, per week, and take place from 9.45am to 11.15pm and 11.30am to 1pm. Throughout the year, the museum also hosts talks and temporary exhibitions on specific people or topics which are listed on the website.

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19 Augusta Street, B18 6JA

0121 212 2131

www.fellows.co.uk fellowsauctions

@fellowsauctions

Monday - Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 4pm, Saturday 11am - 4pm

ounded in 1876, Fellows is one of the UK’s oldest and most respected firms of auctioneers and valuers. The company, which holds over 130 auctions per year, specialises in antiques, fine art, coins, medals, jewellery, silver and watches. Visit the website fun fact... for upcoming Fe llo ws was the first auction dates, to auction house in bid online and the UK to develop a mob to find out how ile website you can sell at and an app so th at you auction. don’

t have to worry about missing an auctio n!

The Blue Orange Theatre

The Jewellery Quarter Heritage Trail This self-guided walking tour around the area includes all the venues in this supplement plus many more interesting streets and buildings. Search ‘heritage trail’ on www.jewelleryquarter.net to download the PDF.

118 Great Hampton Street, B18 6AD

0121 212 2643

www.blueorangetheatre.co.uk

blueorangetheatre

£3 - £10 depending on the production

Wheelchair accessible

f you’re a fan of the arts, The Blue Orange Theatre on Great Hampton Street is the perfect place to see new independent shows. Since opening in 2011, the theatre puts on 10 productions per year and runs regular classes and workshops to support budding actors and playwrights. These include an adult evening class, a ‘New writing’ group, and youth theatre classes. The venue also hosts regular comedy nights, including Open Mic Comedy every second Monday of the month (7.30pm start), and Toadally Free Comedy every third Monday of the month (7.30pm start).

Wonderful World of Trains & Planes 4

3 Mary Ann Street, B3 1BG

0121 227 4000

www.wonderfulworldtrainsplanes.co.uk wonderfulworldbirmingham

@WWorld_Bham

Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 4.30 pm (opening extended from 1st August to Tuesday - Sunday)

£5.95 adults, £3.95 children. Special price until end of September. Family and annual tickets available.

fun fact...

So far, six miles of model railway track an d four miles of wiring ha ve been used to crea te the railway layouts.

he Jewellery Quarter’s newest tourist attraction opened its doors in June 2014 to excited visitors from all over the country. Wonderful World of Trains & Planes on Mary Ann Street (just off St Paul’s Square) is a unique adventure where visitors can travel around the world to discover the history and culture of trains and planes from many different countries. People of all ages can have fun while learning about the Impressionists, why railways were invented and how a plane flies.

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The attraction is currently open on a studio visit basis to show how it is being built. With train layouts depicting the UK, Canada, USA, Germany, Switzerland and France all in various stages of completion, visitors have a unique opportunity to see how a major project is put together. It’s the behind-the-scenes visit that few people get to see. Railway tracks from more countries, such as Spain, Italy, China, Japan, and Norway will follow. You can also learn the story of the Orient Express. A team of modellers will be working on the layouts, which are all run by computer, during opening hours and are on hand to explain their techniques to visitors. Aside from trains, there are also flight simulators where visitors can control anything from a single-engined Cessna up to a 747 with systems used by professional pilots. If you prefer to keep your feet closer to the ground, test your driving skills on a four-lane professional car racing circuit. A cinema, coffee shop and one of Birmingham’s biggest model shops complete the offering. Several companies have already booked breakfast meetings, seminars or evening get-togethers in what is a unique venue.

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Newman Brothers Coffin Works

OPENS 28TH OCTOBER

Big Brum Open Top Buz

13-15 Fleet Street, B3 1JP

0121 233 4790

www.coffinworks.org/newmanbros

07805 115998

The Coffin Works

www.birmingham-tours.co.uk

@coffinworks

BigBrumBuz

Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm, closed Mondays expect bank holidays

@BigBrumBuz

Adult £5; concessions £4

Please book in advance for tours

10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm Every Saturday and Sunday from 26th April - 28th September (except for the first Sunday of each month)

Meeting point: corner of Colmore Row and Waterloo Street, Victoria Square, next to the Council House.

£15 to include a Big Brum Buz book, £12 adult, £10 concessions, £8 students, £5 children (ages 5 – 15), £20 family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children)

Volunteers lp run are needed to he ers. Newman Broth l al C ? Interested on d Marie Dufau . 07599 284384

ifteen years after it closed its doors, Newman Brothers on Fleet Street will reopen in October as the Jewellery Quarter’s newest heritage attraction. Visitors to Newman Brothers will have the opportunity to step back in time and experience the factory as it was in its heyday, with machinery working and its unusual products – coffin handles, coffin plates, coffin linings and shrouds – on display in the workshops and store rooms. There will be lots of ‘hands on’ activities for all ages, and a range of special exhibitions and events throughout the year. The Grade II* listed factory was built in 1894 when Queen Victoria was still on the throne and funerals were big business. Newman Brothers developed a reputation for making some of the finest coffin fittings in the world, and their products have adorned the coffins of Joseph Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, Diana Princess of Wales, the Queen Mother and other famous people. When the factory finally closed its doors in 1999, the staff left almost everything behind as if it were the end of an ordinary working day. Birmingham Conservation Trust bought the Coffin Works in 2010 and has been busy since August 2013 with the restoration work, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage amongst others. Half the factory will form the Newman Brothers heritage attraction, while the old workshops in the other half of the building have been converted into modern workshop/office units.

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This popular sightseeing tour fun fact... around Birmingham includes O n ev ery first Sunday the Jewellery Quarter! The big of the month, the Bi red bus stops in Warstone g Brum Buz Lane and passes by iconic becomes the Mus eum Heritage local landmarks such as Bus, where guests can explore St Paul’s Square, Museum of the city’s rich heri the Jewellery Quarter and the tage with a stop at The Pe Chamberlain Clock. n

Museum.

Two Towers Brewery tour Fans of real ale will enjoy a tour of Two Towers Brewery – the micro-brewery making the Jewellery Quarter’s very own beer – for just £10 per person. Booking is essential, so please email enquiries@twotowersbrewery.co.uk for tour dates and more details.

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Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries 7

Warstone Lane Cemetery: Start at 12pm from the cemetery near the Pitsford Street entrance. Key Hill Cemetery: Starts at 2pm from the island inside the cemetery near the Icknield Street entrance. www.fkwc.org Members: Free Per person per cemetery: £3 Per couple per cemetery: £5 Accompanied children under 16: free

fun fact...

The Birmingham Ghost Bus Tour stops off at Warstone Lane C emetery. Visit www.birm ho’d have thought inghamgraveyards could be so tours.co.uk for de tails. interesting? The Friends of Key

Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries – a group of volunteers working to preserve, research, inform and promote these important historic and interesting cemeteries – host guided tours of both sites on the second Sunday of every month from January to November. Unearth the history of the cemeteries and their notable residents such as Marie Bethell Beauclerc, the first female reporter in England, at Key Hill Cemetery and radical politician Joseph Allday at Warstone Lane Cemetery. The Birmingham General Cemetery at Key Hill was formed by a group of non-conformist businessmen concerned that free-church ministers were prevented from officiating at burial ceremonies in CofE churches. The cemetery opened in 1836 to meet the muchneeded requirement for burial space and notable residents include Joseph Chamberlain MP and Alfred Bird – inventor of eggless custard and baking powder. The first interment in the Church of England Cemetery in Warstone Lane took place in August 1848. The memorial chapel, dedicated to St. Michael, was used for divine worship from 1854 to 1878 before being demolished in 1953. The chapel stood above a semi-circular range of catacombs where notable people such as typographer John Baskerville and Major ‘Harry’ Gem – co-founder of lawn tennis – are buried.

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Assay Office Birmingham 8

2014 tour dates: 21st August, 23rd October and 4th December

Newhall Street, B3 1SB

0871 871 6020

gem@theassayoffice.co.uk

www.theassayoffice.co.uk baolaboratory

@TheAssayOffice

£15

ssay Office Birmingham, which hallmarks millions of pieces of jewellery and precious metals each year, offers visitors a unique opportunity to view its spectacular silver collection. Learn about the history of hallmarking and Assay Office Birmingham, which was established in 1773 by an act of parliament, and discover how it has adapted and diversified its techniques and services for the 21st century. Guests can also visit the library and gift shop, which stocks small silver items all made in the Jewellery Quarter and have the Assay Office’s seal of approval. The Assay Office Birmingham – the largest Assay Office in Europe – also offers a range of visits – including silver, gold and platinum – and organised groups can book visits on Thursdays throughout the year. Numbers for the tours are limited, so early booking is advised. It’s also your last few chances to see inside the stunning Grade II listed Victorian building before the Assay Office relocates to its new purposebuilt headquarters on Icknield Street in 2015.

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Consulate of Pakistan

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Hatters Hostel

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St Paul’s J A Gallery M ES RBSA ST R E Gallery ET

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Ibis

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University College Birmingham Campus

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Home to the country’sL A C E T P largest variety EofNspecialist REG jewellers as well as the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, the Pen Museum and BIAD School of Jewellery.

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City Centre

St Paul’s Gallery

RBSA Gallery

94-108 Northwood Street, B3 1TH

0121 236 5800 or 07711 141415

4 Brook Street, B3 1SA

www.stpaulsgallery.com

0121 236 4353

stpaulsgallery

www.rbsa.org.uk

@stpaulsgallery

search: RBSA Gallery

Wednesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 11am - 3pm

@rbsagallery

Free to visit exhibitions. Prints, photographs, fine art and LP covers are available to buy, ranging from £100 to £25,000+

Monday - Friday: 10.30am - 5.30pm Saturday: 10.30am - 5pm Sunday: 1pm - 5pm

Free admission for exhibitions. Pieces are available to buy from £100 - £2,000

f music is your passion, a visit to St Paul’s Gallery – the world’s leading retailer of signed, limited edition album covers – is not to be missed. Opened in 2002, the gallery has steadily grown to what is now the largest collection of licensed album cover art in the world. Album art from bands including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, David Bowie and The Beatles is displayed on the various white wall gallery spaces, each print signed by the original artist who created the work all those years ago. Also on show are exclusive collections of signed, limited edition musician portrait photographs and fine art prints. St Paul’s Gallery is the sole publisher for David Bowie and was recently asked to publish the musician’s fourth print, ‘The Archer’. Bowie’s signed prints were displayed last summer at the V&A Museum’s ‘David Bowie is’ exhibition and, although the show is now touring, the entire Bowie Collection can still be seen at St Paul’s Gallery.

QUARTERlife

Wheelchair accessible

fun fact...

The RBSA Galle ry is celebrating 20 0 years since its first exhibition this year!

rom paintings and ceramics to textiles and jewellery, the RBSA (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists) Gallery showcases the talents of local artists from a variety of genres. Situated over three floors, the exhibitions are ever-changing, so there is sure to be something new to admire each time you visit. Most of the pieces on display are available to buy, with price points to suit all budgets. The RBSA gallery, which is open seven days a week and is free to enter, also hosts a range of activities, workshops and demonstrations throughout the year. Once you’ve explored the interesting artwork or learned a new craft, you can relax in the gallery’s café and admire the items for sale in the foyer.

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catches up with John Bunce, general manager of The Jam House, as he celebrates 10 years at the helm of one of Birmingham’s hottest music venues. On 23rd April 1999, The Jools Holland band raised the roof at The Jam House as it played to a packed crowd on opening night. Fifteen years later, the live entertainment venue at St Paul’s Square is still as popular as ever. WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT FROM A NIGHT OUT AT THE JAM HOUSE? Live music, a friendly welcome and a great British menu. The weekends are the most energetic, with lots of guests celebrating birthdays and special occasions, but it’s a much more intimate atmosphere during the week.

WHAT IS THE KEY TO ITS SUCCESS IN THE JEWELLERY QUARTER? The Jewellery Quarter is the ideal part of town for our type of venue. It’s close enough to the city centre without being on the ‘circuit’, making it a destination people set out for. St Paul’s Square is an attractive area and a perfect location for a sophisticated party. TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER BACKGROUND. I’ve been in the licensed trade since my teens. I started at the Empire Ballroom in Leicester Square, London, and have worked at the Opera House in Blackpool. I came to Birmingham for work and my first job in the city was at The Night Out – a cabaret restaurant, which is now the O2 Academy. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? I like the music, the people and the variety of work. Entertainment value is

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so important and I love the audience’s reaction when an artist puts on a really good performance. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EVENINGS AT WORK? I’ve really enjoyed working with my childhood heroes such as Jools Holland, Roy Wood and Robert Plant. Also, people come to The Jam House to celebrate special occasions and it’s a real privilege to be part of those. WHAT ACTS CAN PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS? There is live music every night at The Jam House but we have some very special performances coming up from Toploader, Dr Feelgood, Martha Reeves, Alexander O’Neal and The Commitments, to name just a few. For a full list of events, visit www.thejamhouse.com.

Congrats!

So, you’re engaged? It’s now time to start planning the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. From the church and the dress to the reception and rings, you’ll find everything you need for your big day in the Jewellery Quarter.

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St Paul’s Church is popular for a traditional ceremony.

e Drop Forge – a converted industrial Th building – provides a unique reception venue.

Stirlings has a private room for 120 people.

There’s plenty of dresses to choose from at Wedding Quarter Bridal Outlet.

arlus G. Tailor can create bespoke suits K and dresses for the bridal party.

First, you’ll need a venue and, if you want a traditional church ceremony, St Paul’s Church in St Paul’s Square is very popular. Set in a picturesque Georgian square – the last of its kind in Birmingham – St Paul’s provides the ideal backdrop for photographs. You’ll need to meet certain criteria to get married there so it’s best to get in touch with the vicar – Reverend Mary Gilbert – to find out more (www.saintpaulbrum.org / 0121 440 2337). There are several bars and restaurants in the Quarter that can host a wedding breakfast and/or evening reception; The Rectory Bar & Restaurant (www.rectorybar.co.uk / 0121 605 1001) is located just a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Church, making it an easy transition from the ceremony to the reception for your guests. Wedding breakfast packages are available for parties of 45 to 70 people, while the evening reception buffet is suitable for up to 120 guests.

Scott and Lynsey Rutter got married on 24th May 2014 at St Paul’s Church.

Set in a converted Victorian industrial building, The Drop Forge on Hockley Street (party@thedropforge.com / 0121 458 4578) caters for all types of weddings. The first floor and sun terrace are great for a drinks reception, while the ground floor can be transformed to suit the style of dining and the number of guests. In the evening, the bar is cleared to make way for a large dance floor. The lounge room at Stirlings on Ludgate Hill (www.stirlingsbar.co.uk / 0121 439 2121) has the capacity for 120 guests and boasts its own private bar, dance floor and seating booths, while Vertu Bar on Frederick Street (www.vertubar.co.uk / 0121 236 4653) offers a recently refurbished function room for 150 people. The Rose Villa Tavern on Warstone Lane (www.therosevillatavern.co.uk / 0121 236 7910) and Cucina Rustica on Ludgate Hill (www.cucinarustica.co.uk / 0121 233 2277) are also popular reception venues. Once the venue has been booked, it’s time to get those invitations drawn up and sent out. There are lots of creative people in the Quarter that would welcome the task to design your wedding stationery and personalised website. We’ve even got businesses that can print the items too! The most important purchase for the bride has to be the dress. Wedding Dress Retail Outlet on Hockley Street (www.weddingdress-retailoutlet.com / 0121 523 7512) and Wedding Quarter Bridal Outlet on Spencer Street (www.weddingqtr.co.uk / 0845 519 6128) stock ‘off the peg’ ex-sample, ex-display and preloved wedding dresses at affordable prices. The Bridal Outlet also sells bridal accessories, such as shoes and tiaras, and can provide a chauffer-driven, BMW wedding car. Karlus G. Tailor on Spencer Street (www.karlusg-tailor.co.uk / 0121 603 6114) can design and create a bespoke suit to ensure the groom looks sharp, and make a set of stylish dresses to fit each of your bridesmaids perfectly. continued

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“As residents of the Jewellery Quarter we wanted to get married in our beautiful local church. We used businesses in the area to plan most of the wedding and chose Sherborne Wharf for a unique drinks reception on the canal. Our guests even sheltered from the rain in The Rectory! The Jewellery Quarter was a unique and wonderfully quirky location for our special day.”

With more than 100 jewellery shops in the Quarter, you’re bound to find wedding rings to suit your personality and budget. There’s too many to list here so we’d recommend spending an afternoon browsing the shops on Warstone Lane and Vyse Street to see what takes your eye. Or you could commission your own designs – just ask the jewellers as most of them will provide this service. Besides the rings, you’ll also find necklaces, bracelets and earrings to complete the bride’s outfit or as gifts for the mums and bridesmaids. Personalised cufflinks from Kraft Cufflinks on Carver Street (www.kraftcufflinks.co.uk / 0121 403 3344) make special keepsakes for the groom, best man and ushers. The Quarter is home to many hairdressers, barbers, make-up artists and beauty salons that offer wedding packages for the whole bridal party (see issue three of QUARTERlife or the online directory for a full list of businesses). Choosing a wedding photographer is a very important job – TipTop Photography on Warstone Lane (www.tiptop-photography.com / 0121 448 3732) can provide both photography and videography services to capture every minute of the day.

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raft Cufflinks K provide a unique keepsake for the groom, best man and ushers.

TipTop Photography offers photography and videography services.

A dd a personal touch with favours by Chouchoute Chocolaterie.

et In Bloom L create your floral centrepieces or bouquet.

ere’s plenty of Th room for guests to stay at Bloc Hotel.

It’s the finishing touches that make a wedding unique, so don’t forget the flowers by In Bloom (www.inbloomflowers.co.uk / 0121 554 4435), Lily Jones Flowers (lilyjonesflowers.co.uk / 0121 448 7830), or Red Rose Florist on Vyse Street (www.redroseflorist.co.uk / 0121 551 2002), who also offer wedding cakes, and favours and bridal party gifts by Chouchoute Chocolaterie on Legge Lane (www.chouchoute-corporate.co.uk / 0121 314 3472). Even if you’re determined to dance your way into the early hours, the day does have to end eventually (boo!). But there are lots of hotels near the reception venues for you to retreat to. Bloc Hotel on Caroline Street (www.blochotels.com / 0121 212 1223) provides efficient, sleek and beautifully designed rooms with free Wi-Fi at reasonable prices for guests. For a full list of businesses that can help you plan your Jewellery Quarter wedding, visit www.jewelleryquarter.net/directory/wedding.

Simone and Marcus Hawley also got married in May 2014. “The Jewellery Quarter is our home so we wanted to keep things local. We were lucky enough to get married at St Paul’s and, after spending many enjoyable nights out in The Drop Forge, we chose it for our reception venue. It was a perfect day!”

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LIVE

A THAT CARES Tom Wildish, chairman of the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum (JQNF), invites passionate residents to get involved in shaping the area they live in.

“The Jewellery Quarter is home to more than 6,000 residents who have a thriving support network in the JQNF. The Neighbourhood Forum is an integral part of the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT), with members on the board, and is an independent voice for the residents. The group represents everyone living in the Quarter and does all it can to make the area the best possible place to live. The Forum is made up of 15-16 core committee members, who meet six times a year to discuss community matters. There are also sub groups for marketing and events, safety and security, and the urban environment. The marketing and events committee organise coach trips, pub quizzes and the farmers’ market (@24_carrots), as well as managing our Twitter page – @JQNF – and website – www.jqnf.org.uk.

Members of the safety and security group attend monthly meetings with West Midlands Police to hear about new initiatives on tackling crime in the Ladywood area, which includes the Jewellery Quarter. The urban environment team looks at the planning applications and public realm issues that affect the Quarter. They work closely with the JQDT, which is consulted by Birmingham City Council before planning decisions are made. Becoming a member of the JQNF provides an opportunity for residents to meet their neighbours and can help you develop a community tie to the area that you live in. We welcome residents who would like to volunteer for the sub groups and help did you know.. organise social events to bring the Quarter’s . th ere is an active so residents together.” ci

If you’re interested in getting involved with the JQNF, please email info@jqnf.org.

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al media resident gr oup that regularly meets at The Drop Forge pub? Follo w @MyJQ on Twitter to fin d out more. 17

JEWELLERY QUARTER BEER TASTING EVENT More than 60 ale buffs attended a special tasting event at The Rose Villa Tavern to help create the Jewellery Quarter’s new beer. Guests enjoyed sipping seven different types of beers before voting on their favourite. They also had the opportunity to suggest a name for it.

Two Towers Brewery, which is based in the Quarter and will be brewing the beer, will make the final decision ready for unveiling at this year’s Birmingham Beer & Cider Festival in October. The Jewellery Quarter BID (JQ BID) is working in partnership with CAMRA to host the event at The New Bingley Hall.

From left, clockwise: Mark Arnott-Job from Two Towers Brewery with JQ BID manager Luke Crane; Phil Burlace and Wendy Roach, JQ BID, with Phil Barker, Birmingham CAMRA chair, and Andy Goundry; Georgette Roach and Daniel Gates voted on their favourite flavours.

GOLDEN SQUARE TIME CAPSULE BURIAL

A time capsule containing items that best represent the Jewellery Quarter has been buried at the site of the Golden Square. Among the items inside were a custom-made hallmarking punch from the Birmingham Assay Office, a poem written by Ian McMillan and a copy of QUARTERlife magazine. Sir Albert Bore and students from Perry Beeches II were asked to bury the time capsule, which will be dug up in 2039, at the Jewellery Quarter’s newest public realm site. Representatives of the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust and JQ BID also attended the ceremony.

Sir Albert Bore was joined by members of the Jewellery Quarter community to bury a time capsule at the site of the Golden Square.

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t... fun fac gham was irmin

B ghton Hatters the Vau r forme ly s, where the Work trophy Gothic A Cup F l a n i g mpic ori 908 Oly 1 e h t and ade. were m medals

SLEEP l a i c o s KARL KINSELLA, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF

HATTERS HOSTEL ON LIVERY STREET, EXPLAINS

HOW HE PROVIDES A REFRESHING ALTERNATIVE TO A HOTEL EXPERIENCE.

atters Hostel offers hotel standard accommodation within a fun social environment. All our private rooms and dormitories have an en-suite and a range of self-catering facilities are available. We also offer free breakfast and Wi-Fi – it’s all about adding value to the customer experience. We provide an environment for guests to engage with one another through daily in-house activities and a range of common areas in which to sit back and relax.

The hostel welcomes 25,000 travellers a year from the likes of Spain, Germany, Italy and South Korea, many who are visiting Birmingham – and the Jewellery Quarter – for the first time. We also have lots of business people stay with us if they are attending a meeting or conference in the city, or doing business locally, as well as school groups and people on a night out in the area. Guests can expect to pay £35 - £80 for a private, double room with an en-suite,

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depending on what day of the week they stay. Hatters Hostel Birmingham was voted number one in England by Hostelworld in 2012 and named best hostel by Enjoy England in 2011. The Jewellery Quarter is a unique area of the city and travellers like exploring its heritage. They enjoy the vibrancy of the area and often frequent the local bars and restaurants during their stay.” hattershostels.com

THE SUPPORT OF THE JEWELLERY QUARTER COMMUNITY IS VITAL THEY SAY CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME… James McLaughlin, CEO of Cure Leukaemia based on Vittoria Street, explains how you can help a local cause.

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What does Cure Leukaemia aim to do? The charity aims to bring pioneering drug and transplant treatments to blood cancer patients across the West Midlands. It helps finance the world-class Centre for Clinical Haematology at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, to fund life-saving clinical trials to treat terminally ill leukaemia patients. Without the expert research nurses, funded by Cure Leukaemia, to ensure patients are constantly monitored and cared for; these trials would not run. Only by funding more nurses in more hospitals, can more leukaemia patients benefit from access to potentially life-saving treatment.

The charity celebrated 10 years last year – what are its biggest achievements? In 2005 we helped to secure a grant of £2.2 million from regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands, to build the Centre for Clinical Haematology at the QE Hospital. The centre massively increased our capacity to treat patients from across the region and, as a result, it has helped more than 4,000 patients by leveraging over £23m worth of revolutionary drugs and funding crucial research nurses to administer these trials. More recently, we saw a record-breaking 42% in ‘potentially life-saving’ drugs increase in our annual fundraising for the year ended October 2013. We raised £863,474 last year, a figure that is worth over £8m in drugs.

Do you have a yearly fundraising target? We aim to raise £10m over the next 10 years and leverage more than £100m of free pioneering drugs. Over the past decade, Cure Leukaemia has funded a network of 15 specialist nurses who administer drug treatments to leukaemia patients across the West Midlands – it costs £40,000 per year to fund a specialist research nurse.

What can local businesses and residents do to help? Despite making an impact in the fight against blood cancers, patients are potentially missing out on lifesaving treatments as we simply don’t have enough specialist nurses to deliver enough clinical trials. The support of the Jewellery Quarter community is vital and you can get involved by becoming a charity partner, holding a community fundraising event or entering a team for the BUPA Great Birmingham Run in October. Your help and support would ultimately represent a leap towards our ultimate goal: finding a cure for leukaemia and all blood cancers. Studio 21b Victoria Works, Vittoria Street www.cureleukaemia.co.uk For a full list of charities in the Jewellery Quarter, visit www.jewelleryquarter.net/directory/charity

give

A LITTLE BIT

OSCAR BIRMINGHAM OSCAR Birmingham, the organisation for Sickle Cell relief and Thalassaemia support, aims to support individuals and their families affected by Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia disorders. how you can help: The charity has set itself a fundraising target of £100,000 for the year. It sounds a huge amount but this could be achieved by 10,000 people donating just £10 each. 22 Regent Place www.oscarbirmingham.org.uk

FREEDOM FROM TORTURE Freedom from Torture has been working for more than 25 years to provide direct clinical services to survivors of torture who arrive in the UK, as well as striving to protect and promote their rights. how you can help: Could you offer an individual or family a safe and happy home for a week? As a holiday host you can provide survivors of torture with an opportunity to talk to ordinary people and help combat isolation. Or, could you run the Great Birmingham Run for Freedom from Torture? Discounted entry fees are available for individual and team entrants from local businesses. 62 Caroline Street www.freedomfromtorture.org

ST JOHN AMBULANCE St John Ambulance teaches people first aid – about 800,000 last year alone – so that they can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved. how you can help: If you’ve used St John to train your staff on first aid and have seen what great work the charity’s volunteers do, why not become a corporate sponsor? 100 Lionel Street www.sja.org.uk

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THE OLD FIRE STATION CHILDREN’S NURSERY TEAMS UP WITH THE NCT TO SUPPORT LOCAL PARENTS-TO-BE.

he Old Fire Station Children’s Nursery on Albion Street is working with the UK’s largest parenting charity, NCT, to provide essential antenatal support to expectant parents in the Jewellery Quarter.

Established in 1992, the nursery provides day care for children aged two months to five years and is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm. It is set in a large Grade II listed building that once housed Birmingham’s busiest fire station, and most of its original charm has been preserved. From September 2014, the nursery will host three NCT courses, which will run until February 2015. Each course will comprise five weekly sessions that run for two hours. The classes will be led by a specially trained practitioner, who will offer both practical and emotional support in the weeks leading up to the baby’s arrival. Margaret Harley, business manager of The Old Fire Station Children’s Nursery, said: “We’re so excited to be collaborating with such a respected organisation like NCT. The classes aim to support new parents who are working or living in the Jewellery Quarter as they embark on the wonderful but sometimes daunting journey into parenthood.

The classes aim to support new parents who are working or living in the Jewellery Quarter as they embark on the wonderful but sometimes daunting journey into parenthood. “By hosting the sessions at the nursery, the parents will also have an opportunity to meet our team and see our fantastic facilities, which will hopefully put them more at ease if they choose to entrust their children within our care in the future.” For more information about the NCT courses, visit www.nct.org.uk. To book a place, call 0208 752 2489 or email bookings6d@nct.org.uk. The nursery is also planning to host its own classes in the future, including baby massage and children’s zumba. Call 0121 603 0003 or email tofsn@hotmail.co.uk for details.

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For all the details on what’s on locally visit www.jewelleryquarter.net/whatson

september

october

november

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING

QUARTER LIFESTYLE EVENT

26th, Various locations across the JQ

15th, UCB

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON AND GOLDEN SQUARE LAUNCH

JQA BREAKFAST

TBC, Golden Square

TBC, BLOC Hotel

reader offer

support

SHOW YOUR

Following the success of last year’s Macmillan Coffee Morning, where the Jewellery Quarter community raised more than £7,500 for the cancer support charity, the JQ BID is urging local businesses to get involved with fundraising efforts again this September. The 2013 event saw more than 30 businesses take part in the world’s biggest coffee morning. Cake sales, fancy dress days, raffles and paper aeroplane competitions took over the Jewellery Quarter, with all proceeds being donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

TIPTOP PHOTOGRAPHY IS OFFERING QUARTERlife READERS A

20% DISCOUNT

ON ITS PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS PACKAGE. The package, which comprises two outfits, two backgrounds and two images, normally costs £75. The photographs are suitable for use on social media sites, industry publications, websites, business cards, brochures and leaflets, and company literature. TipTop is offering this package for £60 – just call 0121 448 3732 or email steve@tiptop-photography.com and quote QRT456 when booking.

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Philip Jackson, event co-ordinator and managing director of Maguire Jackson, is hoping for the Jewellery Quarter’s involvement to be even bigger and better this year. If your business wants to take part and has a brilliant fundraising idea, please email philip@maguirejackson.com.

Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches

A mid 20th century diamond tiara converting to a necklace. Estimated total diamond weight 15 - 17cts. Estimate £6,000 - £8,000. Featuring in an auction of Antique & Modern Jewellery on Thursday 18th September.

www.fellows.co.uk Saleroom & Head Office, 19 Augusta Sreet, Birmingham, B18 6JA | 0121 212 2131 London Office, 2nd Floor, 3 Queen Sreet, London, W1J 5PA | 020 7127 4198