Birmingham Living April 2022 (issue 111)

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April 2022

FROCK & ROLL GIRLS BOTANICAL GARDENS SUE BEARDSMORE

PEDAL YOURSELF FIT PAUL STRINGER THE STORYTELLER SIMPSONS STAR LEO KATTOU

DAN LEE MASTERCHEF

MIXING IT WITH THE PROFESSIONALS CHAMPION

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EDITOR’S VIEW

T

wists and turns, ups and downs. Interviewing the new Masterchef: The Professionals champion Dan Lee for this month’s cover story reminded me again of how so much in life is about being in the right place at the right time and being lucky at those key moments which shape your future.

Talking with Dan it was obvious what an enthusiastic person he is, particularly when it comes to his love of creating wonderful food. But food was far from being a passion when he was growing up in Brum. At 16, he says, he had no idea what an avocado was!

After admitting that he went off the rails and messed around on the streets in his late teens, Dan was pointed in the direction of Birmingham College of Food, where at an open day he got to have a go at cooking three pasta dishes – plates of food that changed his life and led to him creating his unique mixed style of Cantonese and English inspired cuisine. “I knew from that moment, this was for me,” he told me.

Dan recently revisited the college where it all began for him and passed on some of his inspirational story to the latest crop of students who will hope to build further on Birmingham’s growing reputation for great food and fine chefs.

Currently, the food scene is still experiencing difficulties due to the pandemic with closures and reduced opening to keep costs down, so it’s really important that people like Dan and the next generation continue to come through and provide the talent and opportunities needed in the months and years ahead. We can do our bit too, by redoubling our commitment to supporting our valuable local businesses.

s n h o J d i Dav

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

Cover image:

Dan Lee by Becky Tranter, www.beckytranter.com and the Sauce and Supper Club

/bhamliving

FINALIST

EDITOR: David Johns david@brumliving.co.uk FEATURES EDITOR: Shelley Carter shelley@brumliving.co.uk DESIGNER: Tracy Duffy

CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Price, Sue Cooke, Lisa Melvin, Hywel Davies ACCOUNT MANAGER: Jane Morris jane@brumliving.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY: David Morphew, Andrew Llewellyn PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Jonathan Carter

Rock Hopper Media Limited Burleigh House, 23 Tagwell Road, Droitwich WR9 7BN tel 01905 771110 © Rock Hopper Media Ltd. Birmingham Living is published monthly by Rock Hopper Media Ltd and printed by Buxton Press. Views and opinions expressed by authors and services and products offered by advertisers are not specifically endorsed by Rock Hopper Media Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part of the contents of Birmingham Living without written permission is strictly prohibited.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: The subscription rate (post paid) is £24 for one year (12 issues). Subscriptions 01905 771110 ISSN 2051-8560

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INSIDE

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Highlights

Dan Lee

Avocados, adventures and aggro: The making of a Masterchef champ

The Storyteller’s Story Paul Stringer, the ultimate storyteller in words, pictures and film

Food & Drink Leo Kattou, head chef at Simpsons, plus news, recipes, reviews & wine

Health Spring has sprung – it’s time to spring into the saddle and pedal yourself fit!

Style Whatever your vibe, a frock rocks – so add some swagger with our spring edit

Homes It’s the time of year when the garden begins to come alive. Are you ready?

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CONTENTS

Best of the Rest

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Motoring

Sue Cooke samples Volvo’s unique ‘One Pedal’ all-electric premium crossover

Young, Gifted & Brummie England’s talented netballer Jess Monthe, plus junior news in our School Report pages Feature Budding interior designer Richard O’Gorman on BBC’s Interior Design Masters challenge

Business News News, views, comings and goings in the commercial community, plus Social Scene

What’s On News from the city’s top shows and gigs in our round-up of this month’s main events

Up Close Sue Beardsmore, former BBC presenter leading Birmingham Botanical Gardens

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NEWS

FUN AND GAMES

Birmingham 2022 Festival has revealed its six-month long cultural programme taking place across the city and West Midlands will be the biggest celebration of creativity ever seen in the region – and one of the largest ever to celebrate a Commonwealth Games. There will be

NEWS

more than 200 events including a spectacular open-air show, new Birmingham inspired album, immersive 3D experience on public transport, photography exhibitions across billboards, city centre forest of magical proportions, a mass tap-dancing extravaganza – and much more!

BRINGING YOU THE BRIGHTEST AND MOST COLOURFUL STORIES FROM ACROSS THE CITY EACH MONTH

BRUMMIES ON TRACK

Picture by Graeme Braidwood

NEW LOOK REP

Speedway is alive and well and kicking up dirt in Birmingham after the city’s local club lined up at the starting tape for a new season under new owners. Birmingham Brummies Speedway team began a fresh era at Perry Barr Stadium after being sold to a consortium by its previous owners, who announced they were quitting after four years. Leading the fight to keep the Brummies on track was team manager and copromoter Laurence Rogers who had vowed to save the club.

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Birmingham Rep unveiled its £2.87million new look, 50 years on from the theatre first opening its doors in Centenary Square. The tape cutting ceremony was performed by the Rep’s original architect Graham Winteringham. The ‘new Rep’ features a front entrance and terrace which connects directly to Centenary Square, new cafe, bar and restaurant spaces which complement the original RIBA award-winning 1971 building design and fresh signage. Artistic director Sean Foley said: “We are thrilled to re-new the Company by re-modelling this beautiful building.”

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NEWS

STAND BY FOR ACTION! Music from one of the most iconic back catalogues of all time, including Thunderbirds, Space: 1999, Captain Scarlet and UFO, will be celebrated in a special one-off concert at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Saturday 16 April. The soundtracks from the TV shows of legendary producer Gerry Anderson will be brought to life by a full symphony orchestra and guest singers in Stand By For Action! Gerry Anderson in Concert, hosted by impressionist and comedian Jon Culshaw.

CHORAL TRIBUTE

WANDERFUL BULLRING Wizards weaved their magic and left onlookers spellbound when they took over the Bullring. The stunning Wizarding World Wands featured 15 feet tall illuminated wands which performed a light show to music from the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter films. The wands were exact replicas as featured in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies and were installed to celebrate the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Birmingham Bach Choir will perform a special remembrance concert at St Philip’s Cathedral on 2 April. Entitled For Those We Loved, it features the premiere of a new choral piece, Sound the Invisible Trumps by composer and conductor Paul Spicer. The work is dedicated to the late Pauline Round, a former Birmingham Bach Choir president who died suddenly in 2017 and also Mike Lloyd, the husband of choir member Merryn Lloyd who passed away from Covid.

DOUBLE DECKER APPEAL An appeal has gone out to bring back to life one of the most common sights on our roads for nearly three decades – the Midland Red double decker. The Transport Museum Wythall is planning a full restoration to running condition of its D7 bus which has been on static display after a previous cosmetic facelift. The appeal aims to raise £75,000 to pay for remanufacturing the body structure and refinishing.

Donations can be made at www.wythall.org.uk/d7

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LIVING SCULPTURE FIRST Life-sized sculptures, soundscapes, photography and more than 7,000 unique pieces have been brought together for the UK premiere of a new free exhibition – Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken. Presented by Coventry City of Culture Trust and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, the exhibition, which runs until 26 June, marks Coventry-raised Daniel Lismore’s 20th year as a living sculpture. Visitors will see 50 3D sculptures modelled on the artist, each featuring a cast of his face, jewellery, vintage fabrics and found objects.

AIDS MEMORIAL APPEAL Businesses and individuals are being called on to help raise funds for the completion of Birmingham’s Aids and HIV Memorial. The six-metre-high sculpture featuring two heartshaped ribbons is due to be unveiled in Southside in December. An online memorial page has been created where donors can contribute to the appeal’s £218,000 target. Co-founder of the initiative, Phil Oldershaw, said: “We’re asking for people to dig deep to fund a landmark that will stand the test of time.” Go to www.bahm.co.uk

JAMBOREE OF JAZZ

BACKSTAGE PEEK AT THE RSC The Royal Shakespeare Company’s theatre tours are back! The tours begin from Saturday 30 April with a new one-hour format giving visitors the chance to explore the public and backstage areas and find out more about the history of the RSC and its buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon. When possible, the tours will include first-time public access to the newly developed costume workshop, the largest in-house costume-making department of any British theatre.

BRIDE AND JOY

Brummies are set for a feast of music after organisers announced more than 200 gigs – most of them free – when Birmingham's main jazz festival returns this summer. A five-minute preview has been released on YouTube to showcase the festival which runs between 15 and 24 July. Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “We are delighted to welcome the brilliant jazz festival back to Birmingham’s top entertainment area in and around the golden mile of Broad Street.”

Happy Nina Kaur Gill and her future husband Balraj Singh Dhaliwal celebrated a surprise £5,000 early wedding present when she was named Bride of the Year. Nina learned of the shock windfall at a special prize draw for couples getting married at Nailcote Hall this year. The key account manager for automotive customers first met Balraj in a local BMW showroom.

The couple will use the money towards their wedding at the Hall on 14 August.

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NEWS

BALLET MAKES THE LEAP Dancers from Birmingham Royal Ballet are set to take the stage at the Rep as part of a special partnership. The week-long residency from 8 to 14 May is part of the ongoing relationship created by BRB’s director Carlos Acosta and the Rep’s artistic director Sean Foley. Performances will include a showcase of new choreographic talent, pieces featuring BRB’s world-class dancers and a special offering for those new to ballet accompanied with live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

COINING IT

Special 50 pence coins are being minted to commemorate the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Designed by Natasha Preece of the Royal Mint, the coins feature the iconic design of the Library of Birmingham and the Queen’s head and come in a range of precious metals. Commemorative stamps from the Royal Mail will also go on sale before the Games open on 28 July.

GOLDEN WONDERS

Birmingham City University’s historic jewellery school has picked up the top accolade at the industry’s ‘Oscars’. The school landed the prestigious College Trophy at the Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council Awards, recognising the highest number of awards gained across the categories presented at the ceremony. The School of Jewellery, based in the city’s Jewellery Quarter since 1890, has now been awarded the trophy in five of the last six years.

TOFF’S LIFTS OFF

Michelin-star chef Rob Palmer has opened Toff’s, a new fine dining eatery at Solihull’s Mell Square. Featuring modern British cuisine with locally sourced seasonal produce at its core, the venue in Drury Lane will seat up to 26 guests. Rob who previously led Hampton Manor to its first Michelin star, said: “Solihull town centre has a good range of independent eating houses but lacks a tasting experience like the one we offer. My plan is to push the food scene here even further.”

STRICTLY STAR IN TOWN

GOT ANY NEWS? Email your news and pictures to editor@brumliving.co.uk

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Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe is bringing his first UK tour to Brum. Johannes Radebe: Freedom at the Alexandra theatre on 10 April is a celebration of music and dance, from African fusion to fiery Latin and classic dance arrangements and huge party anthems, complete with a company of exciting dancers. Johannes will take the audience on his journey from growing up in South Africa to travelling the world, winning titles and starring in Strictly.

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COVER STORY

HUNGRY FOR MORE

From not knowing what an avocado was at 16 and ‘having no interest in food whatsoever’, new Masterchef: The Professionals champion Dan Lee now has the culinary world at his feet. The Brummie labelled a star in the making, talks to David Johns about his hopes and dreams star in the making was how Michelin star celebrity chef Marcus Wareing described Dan Lee after tasting his food. Praise indeed from the notoriously hard-to-please judge of BBC’s Masterchef: The Professionals as the talented young Brummie cooked his way to winning the title.

Since lifting the coveted trophy, Dan admits that ‘the world’s gone kind of mad!’ He’s been inundated with all sorts of offers of work, which he says is really overwhelming. While he’d rather not go into specifics so he keeps all options open, he’s equally clear that he’s not rushing to dive in after his TV success. He’s going to take his time to make sure he makes the right choices moving forward.

“I’m a really enthusiastic person, so the danger is that I’d want to have a go at everything and I’d end up doing the wrong thing,” explains Dan. So, he’s taking a deep breath and enjoying his success before setting off on the next stage of his culinary journey. Mind you, he’s set himself clear goals that he is adamant he will achieve.

For starters, opening his own restaurant in Brum and having a truck serving proper, authentic high quality street food at affordable prices.

The first tentative moves towards his goals had just started when we spoke. “We need to find the right location for a restaurant,” said Dan, who has had conversations with the boys who run Digbeth Dining Club about his various ideas. “One thing’s for sure, the

A

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restaurant I open will be right here in Birmingham,” said Dan. “This city is my home, where my roots are and it’s where I want to be.”

Dan’s journey to Masterchef champion has had plenty of twists and turns and ups and downs. He grew up in Brum from a Chinese father and English mother and went to Hall Green Secondary School. His grandfather owned a Chinese takeaway, so he enjoyed Cantonese dishes, while his British grandparents were feeding him stews and bacon sandwiches. While food loomed large in the family background, Dan says he had “no interest in food whatsoever!”

OFF THE RAILS He’d set himself to find a career that would fulfil his passion to travel the world. “I decided I wanted to be either an archaeologist or an architect as I thought they’d give me the best options to travel,” he says. “But after about six months studying in sixth form in Solihull, I decided it wasn’t for me. I had a job at Next in Solihull and when I went for my next shift they said it had finished as I was only on a temporary contract.

So, suddenly I had nothing!”

After that, Dan says he “went off the rails and messed around on the streets a bit”. He signed on for benefits because he couldn’t get a job and part of the requirements for receiving help was to speak to careers advice. “They suggested I should go along to

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COVER STORY

“

”

Since lifting the famous

Masterchef trophy, the world has gone kind of mad

Photography by Becky Tranter; www.beckytranter.com and the Sauce and Supper Club

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COVER STORY

“

No one does food quite

like I do – I want to open my own

”

restaurant in Brum and have a truck serving authentic, quality street food at affordable prices

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COVER STORY

an open day at Birmingham College of Food where I cooked three pasta dishes – and that was it. I knew this was what I wanted to do. That moment changed my life.”

Dan decided to use food to travel the world. “My first job was in New Zealand and I booked a oneway flight. It was a bit of a gamble as all I had was a couple of hundred pounds. I worked for Millennium Hotels and Resorts who had other properties, and I worked my way around. I’d get to go to ski resorts in Europe and various other places. I wasn’t paid much and after some seasons abroad I came back and worked a bit in the UK.” One of the places Dan got a job was cheffing at Edgbaston Cricket Ground. “I worked all hours I could to pay off the debts which I had run up abroad,” he explained. “Then I decided I wanted to go to Thailand and worked in a Bangkok restaurant to learn about Thai food. Someone there knew someone in Singapore and I eventually went there and joined Michelin-star restaurant Table65.”

A return trip to Brum in 2019 lasted longer than Dan expected due to Covid travel restrictions and that’s when he decided to apply for Masterchef. Dan fought his way through the competition rounds, overcoming some heart-stopping moments along the way – such as serving judge Gregg Wallace with seriously undercooked chicken! But the final proved to be no contest as Dan wowed Gregg, Marcus and fellow judge Monica Galetti with his three-course menu.

WINNING MENU A starter of Singaporean chilli crab with deep fried bao bun, crab salad, nashi pear, salted egg yolk, squid ink tuille, soft shell crab tempura, and a crab and chilli oil was followed by a main featuring another Singapore streetfood classic – chicken and rice. Dan’s interpretation included a chicken breast stuffed with thigh meat flavoured with sesame and pan dan, choy sum in garlic and chilli, chicken infused rice with garlic and ginger, a chilli sambal and a chicken broth. Dessert was a smoked hay treacle tart with pickled ginger, shisho leaf and clotted cream ice cream.

Dan said: “As a kid growing up in Birmingham, I would never have dreamed that one day I’d be

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successful doing this. Being involved in food never crossed my mind – I didn’t even know what an avocado was when I was 16. What has happened now is all a bit of a whirlwind for me. I’m doing lots of full-on pop-ups all over, working in places as far flung as Verbier in Switzerland and I’m doing one next week in Cornwall.”

Dan is a huge supporter of the investment being made by the city council in developing Birmingham and a big fan of the burgeoning food scene. “It’s great to see different independents popping up,” he says. “I think that the pandemic has seen people prepared to try and taste new ideas, but I don’t see many people doing food the way I do it with my mixed background of Cantonese and English food.

FOOD FOR ALL “I love Michelin star meals, they are a treat, but that food is not accessible. I believe that really good food can be accessible to everyone, you don’t need to pay so much money for it. The street food culture has been growing here in the UK but it is getting a bit pricey. My goal is to provide the real quality street food that’s authentic and really affordable.”

Still only 29, Dan says winning Masterchef has brought more offers of help as he plans his new restaurant. “I’m going to take my time and make sure the place we end up with is the right place with the right vibe” The project will see Dan team up with a close friend who he worked with in France and who is currently a head chef in Wales.

He adds: “Masterchef proved to be an amazing opportunity. Marcus, Monica and Gregg are huge names in the industry, so there was huge pressure, but I loved every minute of it. Now I can’t wait to move forward with all the things I want to do and achieve.”

Inspirational is a word that comes to mind when talking with Dan. And he has found time to inspire students at the place where it all started for him. He recently returned to University College Birmingham to talk with the talented young chefs who will ensure Brum continues to produce world class cooks.

After the highs of holding aloft the Masterchef trophy, Dan was happy to share the experience of his own journey in what he admits was “an emotional” homecoming. I

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FEATURE

THE STORYTELLER’S STORY W PAUL STRINGER IS THE ULTIMATE STORYTELLER USING WORDS, PICTURES AND FILM. HIS NEW EXHIBITION, THE CITY THAT SPOKE TO ME, IS OPEN NOW AND COMBINES HIS LOVE FOR ALL THREE

e had such a long chat with awardwinning film maker and photographer Paul Stringer we could fill the entire magazine with Paul-related stuff but that would be a bit daft, so here’s three pages of Paul. His first exhibition is open now at the Hippodrome. Titled, The City That Spoke to Me it’s a celebration of poetry, poets and in particular the Birmingham scene. There are 13 portraits in total. Six are of poets that have inspired Paul and six more are of poets that inspired them. The thirteenth portrait of the late Leon Priestnall isn’t taken by Paul, but he felt he couldn’t run this sort of celebration of poetry without including the ‘heartbeat’ of Birmingham’s poetry scene.

NEW PERSPECTIVE To be clear, Paul isn’t a poet. He’s written one poem which he performed once and it was so terrifying he’s never done it again choosing instead to stay behind the lens. Is he affected by poetry though? Absolutely yes. Being exposed to new perspectives through poetry has been life changing.

He says: “It’s so impactful. Poetry nights are safe spaces – safe enough to share things. I’ve been to events where people have shared devastating trauma through poetry and it just takes one person in the room to say ‘oh yeah that happened to me too’ to have an enormous impact. It's unbelievable and an

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unquantifiable consequence. I just wanted to document and celebrate that scene.”

Paul studied film at university but when his father bought him a DSLR camera as a graduation present, he started taking photos. He began photographing dogs and children setting up a couple of hay bales at events armed with his trusty camera and a cheap printer. He has supportive parents who he lived with while he started out and who provided encouragement as well as a roof and a camera.

MIND BUZZING Paul has done a varied bunch of work. He answered a call out from Beatfreeks in the organisation’s early days for a videographer and photographer. Indeed, Paul’s first experience of poetry was at a Beatfreeks Poetry Jam in a coffee shop in Brum and it peaked his interest and got his ‘mind buzzing’. He’s also worked as a photojournalist and freelance film maker - he documented Jeremy Corbyn’s election campaign as well as numerous protests. He spent time in Calais documenting the plight of refugees but has since questioned how ethical that is. As much as he accepts those stories need to be told, Paul’s uncomfortable about photographing vulnerable people and using those images. He explained: “I just think although it’s well intentioned, would I want to be photographed in that moment? There are hundreds of journalists who

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FEATURE

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FEATURE IN THE FRAME: A selection of the influential Brummies that Paul has photographed

come down, stay for 1 or 2 days then go home and sell the images. It just doesn’t feel right.”

THRIVING SCENE Paul’s also working on a documentary film called Hidden Philosophers documenting the open mic poetry scene in the UK and its impact on society.

Paul says the Birmingham scene is particularly communal, rich and open. We’ve heard this before

OPEN YOUR MIND The City That Spoke to Me is free to view at Birmingham Hippodrome now From more information visit birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar

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from poets we’ve interviewed previously like Spoz, Casey Bailey and Benjamin Zephaniah. The Midlands and Birmingham in particular is inclusive and thriving.

Paul reckons the creative industries are probably Birmingham’s biggest export. He says: “We have such rich creative and cultural scenes that are also inclusive. For instance, the Hippodrome which is a globally recognised theatre yet through its Young Advocate Programme it opens its doors to inspire and give Brum’s young people opportunities. The Rep has the Foundry scheme which is similarly inclusive for young people whatever your background. It’s phenomenal.” I

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FOOD & DRINK

LEO KATTOU How the head chef of Michelin-starred Simpsons restaurant in Edgbaston went from working in the family fish and chip shop to being crowned British Culinary Federation Chef of the Year 2021

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CHEF’S CORNER Tell us about your cooking My approach is to keep things very simple. I like to use good quality ingredients and treat them with respect to produce the best flavours.

How did you become a chef?

Having a Greek heritage, I’ve always been around food. When I was young, we sat down as a family at mealtimes. Food was such a big part of family life but I didn’t want to work in our fish and chip shop forever. I told my dad that I wanted to be a chef but he played some reverse psychology by saying that I should stick to cooking fish and chips. Little did I know that he’d already spoken to his friend Andreas Antona about giving me an opportunity at Simpsons.

I joined Simpsons on work experience in 2009 and started working there weekends. I was also studying at catering college and working part-time during the week at both the fish and chip shop and Andreas’ restaurant in Kenilworth, Beef.

What do you eat at home?

I rarely eat at home as I tend to eat out a lot. When I do have the time what I cook depends on what mood I’m in. It will either be a Sunday roast on any day of the week, or a Greek barbecue – I love a BBQ. Who’s the best chef in the world and why? And who’s the best in Brum?

The best chef in the world is Daniel Humm from 11 Madison Park. I love his food philosophy and people should take note of his mantra ‘Make it Nice’ because it holds a lot of truth in its meaning. We’re lucky to have many brilliant chefs in Birmingham, but for me the best has to be Luke Tipping. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be where I am now. I also have a huge amount of respect for Matt Cheal, who taught me so much during his time at Simpsons.

Is the customer always right?

Yes, but there are occasions when we need to bite our tongue and agree to disagree!

Share a cooking tip When it comes to cooking meat or a roast bird, cook it low and slow to retain and increase flavour and make the meat more tender.

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What was your favourite food as a kid?

It’s as much for the experience as the food itself. I always remember eating octopus and grilled fish in a beach restaurant in Cyprus during a family holiday.

I’ve tried cooking octopus since and it tasted good but it just wasn’t the same as back in Cyprus.

Food heaven and food hell?

Heaven would have to be octopus and hell would be anything from the squash family (butternut squash, pumpkin and sweet potato) and oysters.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve eaten?

At a Greek wedding in Cyprus the family tradition was to serve sheep’s brain inside its head. I looked, tasted and said ‘no thanks’!

If you weren’t a chef, what would you be?

Easy, I’d be a golfer. I’ve played golf since I was four and if I could play every day I would. I still like to play two rounds on my days off when possible. I won several golf awards including a Young Masters when I was young. I Simpsons Restaurant, 20 Highfield Road, Birmingham, B15 3DU. simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

WATERMELON MARTINI Perfect for the warmer days ahead, this fresh recipe comes courtesy of the mixologists at award-winning Pushkar his gorgeous concoction from Pushkar Cocktail Bar & Dining features fresh watermelon and lime, mixed with vodka – try a vodka such as absolut from Sweden or Grey Goose made in France. As always, drink responsibly. I

T

INGREDIENTS: I 50ml vodka

I 12.5ml lemon juice

I 12.5ml sugar syrup

I 4 chunks of watermelon (roughly one-inch cubes)

I Watermelon slice for garnish

METHOD: Chill your glass in the freezer or fill it with ice. Take a Boston glass or small tin and add the watermelon chunks. Using a muddler, muddle the watermelon until it is mostly liquidised. Add the vodka, sugar syrup and lemon juice with lots of ice and shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds or until your tin is very cold. Double strain into your chilled Martini glass or coupette. Garnish with a thin wedge of watermelon, cut so it sits on the edge of the glass.

Pushkar Cocktail Bar & Dining, 245 Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2HQ. Tel: 0121 643 7978 pushkardining.com

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FOOD & DRINK

NIBBLES and SHORTS

BIRMINGHAM’S BARS, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS ARE LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK. HERE’S OUR INSIDER GUIDE TO THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CITY’S EATERIES AND DRINKING DENS coffee house Damascena has relocated its head offices to Birmingham at SevenCapital’s Lyndon House development in COFFEE Independent Edgbaston. The Middle Eastern coffee house, delicatessen and bakery has four existing venues across Birmingham. Lyndon House HOUSE houses the business’s HQ with plans to also include a barista school. Managing director Anas Zein Al-Abdeen said: “Lyndon House MOVE offers a fantastic location, not only for our latest Damascena Coffee House, but also for the operational side of our business.”

GOURMET BURGERS ANYONE? Restaurant and cocktail bar Hanbao is ready to serve its gourmet burgers to hungry Brummies.

The eatery is finally opening in Floodgate Street, Digbeth after plans were delayed in 2021 due to the pandemic. The move follows the success of its first eatery in Worcester. Creations include the intriguingly named Odd Future – a mighty beef burger with bacon and a glazed donut bun.

TASTE OF SRI LANKA

Award winning independent Sri Lankan street food restaurant, the Coconut Tree, has opened at Brindleyplace. The Coconut Tree is a familyand-friends owned business, originally founded by five Sri Lankan friends living in Cheltenham. The Birmingham eatery is the ninth restaurant in the portfolio, joining branches in Bath, Reading, Cardiff, Bristol, Oxford, Cheltenham and Bournemouth. The restaurant features an open-plan kitchen on the ground floor and an upstairs cocktail bar.

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GEMMA’S BROWNIE POINTS A family-owned bakery is opening its fifth store at Merry Hill. The Brownie Box serves a range of freshly baked and handcrafted brownies, blondies and cookies. The business was developed during lockdown after its founder Gemma Farquhar wanted to provide her local community with treats throughout the pandemic.

Two years on, the business has grown into a sweet success story.

ROUGE AWAKENING Café Rouge has reopened in the Bullring with a new name and menu after a £250,000 facelift. Now called simply Rouge, it’s the first site in the Midlands to serve up the refreshed concept. The restaurant will seat 143 people and there’s a new private dining room as well as outdoor terrace. Continuing to celebrate Parisian dining and the best of French cuisine, executive chef Bruno Bella has produced a menu featuring a variety of classic French dishes with a modern twist.

SLUG & LETTUCE REVAMP A £600,000 revamp was revealed when the new-look Slug & Lettuce threw open its doors in Harborne High Street. Features include a botanical decor with signature birdcage booths decorated with cherry blossom and a cocktail masterclass ‘station’. Neon lighting and a prosecco wall add more glitz, while outside the garden area has been redesigned to accommodate more than 80 people for drinks. The bar celebrated its new look with a grand reopening party.

THE PERFECT MATCH The Forest in Dorridge has signed up to support local football club Solihull Moors.

The hotel and eatery is sponsoring a stand and bar at the club’s Damson Park ground.

Founder of the Butchers Social – based at the Forest – chef Mike Bullard, is no stranger to the Moors having served top quality food to the club’s hospitality guests for the past two years. He also teamed up with Moors chairman Darryl Eales and Birmingham entrepreneur Russell Martin to buy the hotel in May 2021.

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

MANAHATTA

Temple Street, Birmingham, B2 5BN. Tel: 0121 387 8690 manahatta.co.uk anahatta arrived in Brum in a wild flurry of sequins, cocktail towers and eyebrow-singeing fireworks. We missed the spectacle of the launch party in the flesh and had terrible FOMO, so we thought we’d put it right.

Two-for-one cocktails and a plate of excellent nachos loaded with cheesy gooey loveliness, soured cream, avo and punchy pulled beef kicked off lunch in the best possible way. An Elderflower and Mint Cooler was packed with zingy grapefruit along with gin and prosecco adding a bit of mid-week warmth and fuzziness. It was delish and we happily slurped a couple.

The Rhubarb Fizz – vodka, prosecco, rhubarb, cocchi Americano topped with a hibiscus foam made in house – was also on the money. It’s quite sweet, so if that’s not your thing go for something else. There’s plenty of choice. It was our mate’s thing, so happy days. Drinks are a big deal here.

As well as cocktails, a procession of prosecco bottles flying out from the bar was non-stop. The cocktail trees look like a lot of fun if you’re a crowd – six cocktails for £55.

The food menu is New York-inspired. Brunch lasts all day until 4pm and is packed with things such as chicken and bacon stack or a sweet Reese’s stack with peanut butter and chocolatey goodness. There are burgers, hot dogs, a

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classic New York Reuben bagel, bao buns that feel a bit random, but sound excellent and lots of other treats.

I went for All American Hotdog – nine inches of dog in a brioche bun loaded with cheese, pickles, jalapeños, ketchup and mustard. It was a whopper and probably the first time I’ve eaten a hotdog with cutlery. I loved all the extras as I’m a sucker for pickles and a bit of heat. I switched the skin on fries for sweet potatoes which was a very good call. They’re sensational.

The mate went all in for something called an Empire Chicken Stack which consisted of crisp chicken, a waffle, pancetta, cheese, coleslaw, maple syrup, skin-on fries and sweet potato fries piled high. There was a lot to grapple with here. The sweet potato fries were top notch, coleslaw was delicious and the waffle maple syrup combo was a winner.

The pancetta wasn’t crisp and the chicken was a bit bland, however, and it’s a big however, it’s not fine dining and doesn’t bill itself as that. It’s reasonably priced, fun and a brilliant place to hang out or party with your pals.

The décor is fabulous creating a space you want to spend time in and service is super-friendly. A shout out to the lovely Dee who went above and beyond chasing me down Temple Street at full pelt with the phone I’d left behind. It saved me a lot of bother, so thank you Dee! I

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FOOD & DRINK

WINES FOR EASTER KATIE GARDNER OF BIRMINGHAM WINE SCHOOL LOOKS AT PERFECT FOOD AND DRINK PAIRINGS TO MAKE FOR AN EASTER TREAT

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pring is a busy time in the vineyard for winemakers. It’s the season that will shape the success of the vintage. Buds start to break and new shoots emerge, it’s a time of regeneration and growth. Winemakers are truly at the mercy of mother nature, so they will be watching the weather with trepidation, hoping to stave off heavy rain and frosts.

Spring also signals our first bank holidays of the year – hurrah! We have some perfect food and wine pairings for an Easter extravaganza.

What could be more of an Easter tradition than eating hot cross buns? They now come in a multitude of different flavours but personally I love the traditional version, toasted with butter. If the idea of wine with your breakfast sounds appealing, then you could try your buns with a demi-sec sparkling wine. The demi-sec style is made with just a touch of delicate sweetness to match up to the sticky glaze and currants.

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GREEN TEAM Fresh spring greens are finally in season, particularly asparagus. Asparagus is notoriously difficult to pair with wine as it contains a chemical that can make wines taste vegetal or even rotten with the wrong pairing. The key is the way you prepare it, ideally with lots of creamy or buttery sauce and serve slightly charred. You often find that a wine pairs well with food that originates from the same region. An ideal match would be a crisp and aromatic Riesling from Alsace, where asparagus has been grown for centuries.

If you are planning to serve lamb for your Easter family feast, then you need to consider the style of cooking and sauces when picking the best wine match.

If slow-cooked and roasted then you need a rich and full-bodied red. A classic claret from Bordeaux or a new-world alternative would be perfect. The blend of grapes is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cabernet provides the tannins, structure and backbone of the wine and Merlot brings a plummy softness.

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KATIE’S

FOOD & DRINK

TO TRY THIS EASTER

Nyetimber Cuvee Cherie Demi-Sec English Sparkling Wine, Sussex, England – £29.75 from the Champagne Company Only a few thousand bottles are made a year of this demi-sec from one of England’s top sparkling wine producers. This cuvee has the delicate sweetness of honey notes, balanced with pure citrus lemon and tangerine flavours and a refreshing minerality. Insider tip – it also goes great with sushi!

Cave de Beblenheim Kleinfels Riesling, Alsace, France – £10.99 from Waitrose Dry with plenty of citrus-fruit flavours and floral aromatics. A Riesling that shows all the hallmarks of the classic Alsace style, elegant with a certain weight and richness which is balanced by a briskness finish.

Journey’s End Kendal Lodge Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Stellenbosch, South Africa – £9 from Marks & Spencer Made from grapes grown in the premium region of Stellenbosch then aged in French oak barrels. It is full-bodied with flavours of blackberry fruits and roasted herbs, a perfect match with roast lamb.

Campbell’s Rutherglen Muscat Half Bottle, Australia – £12.49 mix six from Majestic The Campbell family began making wine in 1870. In the present day Julie Campbell, the fifth generation, creates this complex, elegant and deliciously rich Muscat. It has hedonistic flavours of raisin and oak. Pairs just as beautifully with strong cheeses if chocolate isn’t your thing!

CHOC CHOICE It would of course be remiss of me not to mention chocolate for Easter! Chocolate is a tricky one to pair with wine, particularly milk chocolate as it coats your mouth and can make wine taste bitter and astringent.

The best thing to do is level up the sweetness with the richest dessert wine of all. A Muscat from Rutherglen in Australia is lusciously sweet with rich fruit flavours and would be the perfect match for your Cadbury’s egg this year. If you prefer dark chocolate then opt for a ruby Port. White chocolate is surprisingly easy to pair as it doesn’t contain cacao.

Try a light and fruity red like a Pinot Noir or Beaujolais from France. I

Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine education company that offers fun informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses in Birmingham and Warwick, as well as online. For more information contact Katie Gardner on 0121 270 7359, or visit www.birminghamwineschool.com.

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HEALTH

SADDLE UP! GREAT FOR IMPROVING YOUR FITNESS AND LOSING WEIGHT, REGULAR CYCLING CAN ALSO HELP TO RELIEVE STRESS AND TONE THAT LOWER BODY

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HEALTH

he warmer spring weather is the perfect excuse to get out and soak up the sun, while also enjoying the great outdoors – and cycling is a fun way to get fit, fast!

It’s low impact exercise, meaning it’s easier on the bones and joints than running or any other high impact aerobic activities. You can burn up to 600 calories on an hour’s ride, ideally while also taking in some lovely countryside views.

It takes anything between two and four hours a week in the saddle to see an improvement to your health. Major muscle groups get a great workout, with less strain and injuries than most other forms of exercise. It’s also good for gaining extra strength and stamina and aerobic fitness.

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BEAUTIFUL BUM The main muscles used while pedalling are the gluteal muscles (your bum), hamstrings, quadriceps and calves. Hip flexors will also become tight if you begin cycling on a regular basis so it would be good practice to give these a good stretch before and after your ride.

Weight training can play a part to help you become bike-fit so focusing on your main muscles is a wise move. Exercises such as squats and lunges will target a big section of the lower body while also engaging the core muscles which are your main focus when working on your balance. With weights, try and stick with higher reps – this will boost your endurance allowing you to cycle for longer and further.

CASH & CARRY Alongside all of the health benefits, cycling is easy to fit into your daily routine because it is also a form of transport. It saves you money and is good for the environment – now who can argue with that? Cycling gives a great opportunity to exercise at the same time as a good natter when you ride along with friends.

If you were an avid cyclist and it’s been a while since you’ve ventured into the saddle don’t worry, the saying is true: “You never forget how to ride a bike.”

Your body has a fantastic memory and you will be able to adapt really quickly to getting your balance and picking up some speed. However, it is always good to prepare yourself by making sure you stretch your main muscles and get your fitness levels up to speed.

JUST SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF CYCLING: 1. Burn calories: cycling is long known to decrease fat and help people drop pounds.

2. Improves cardio for a healthy heart.

3. Strengthen body and mind: enhances both your core and your mental strength.

4. Breathe properly: as you become more experienced, you’ll learn to work on controlled breathing. This can also help with anxiety and help lower the heart rate.

5. It’s for everyone: regardless of age, gender or experience there’s a level and class to suit.

6. Weather non-dependent: who cares if it’s raining outside? Pop down the gym and use static bike and maybe even join a spin class. If you’re unaffected by the climate it’s easy to set a schedule and stick to it.

7. Make friends: regardless of your fitness level, you’re in it together. You become part of a team and it’s a great way to meet people.

8. Increase muscle strength and flexibility and improves joint mobility.

9. Improve posture, co-ordination and strengthen bones. I

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HEALTH

GUT REACTION IBS IS AN INCREASINGLY COMMON CONDITION. WHAT IS IT, WHAT

CAUSES IT – AND WHAT CAN YOU DO, IF ANYTHING, TO BEAT IT?

pril marks IBS Awareness Month which presents a good opportunity to initiate a proper conversation about the syndrome and to debunk some of the popular myths.

For starters, it’s estimated that one in five people in the UK suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome so it’s really pretty common. IBS often leaves you struggling with stomach cramps, bloating and a variety of digestive issues. An increasing common condition, it is still often misdiagnosed due to symptoms that are like several other health complaints, including more serious issues such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

There’s a real stigma around this condition, largely owing to the idea that problems of the gut are something to be ashamed of. This should not be the case, which is why we want to blast through the taboo and generate real understanding on what it’s like to deal with IBS daily.

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What is IBS and what are the symptoms?

IBS is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system and can affect some people more severely than others. Flare-ups can last a few days to months at a time and often occur during periods of stress or after eating certain foods. The main symptoms are alternating constipation and diarrhoea (although some individuals may have a predominance of either), abdominal pain or discomfort and bloating. IBS usually first develops when a person is in their twenties.

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Are there any foods I can eat to prevent IBS? Sticking to a healthy diet should help. Include fresh fruit and vegetables and cut down on processed food. Stopping smoking and reducing alcohol intake are two immediate steps which usually improves the situation.

Should I take medication?

First visit your GP who will document your symptoms and examine you to make sure you are suffering from IBS and not something more ‘sinister’. They can then decide on medication or a change of diet and lifestyle – or a combination of both.

Will exercise ease my IBS or make it worse?

Those with IBS are often less active than those without and increasing activity has been shown to help symptoms in some cases. Exercise also helps manage stress – a significant factor in worsening IBS symptoms – plus, it will also help keep your weight under control which, in turn, should ease symptoms.

Is it a curable?

IBS is a disturbance in the function of the bowel rather than a structural defect and symptoms often come and go over many years. Generally, symptoms improve as individuals get older, but there is no cure as such. The key to management is symptom control, using diet, exercise and health advice already covered. I

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ADVERTORIAL

COME RAIN OR SHINE Birmingham is a real summer hotspot according to the Met Office – but we also have our fair share of thundery downpours. Here’s their top tips to help you weather whatever Mother Nature brings ccording to Met Office statistics, the average summer maximum temperature in the West Midlands is 20.9C, which is 1C higher than the UK-wide figure. It’s a similar story with the West Midlands’ average number of sunshine hours through the summer, with an average of just over six hours of sunshine a day, compared to the UK figure of five-anda-half hours.

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However, the West Midlands gets its fair share of rain in the summer months, with an average of 195mm of rain falling in the region, often in the form of thundery downpours. With a typically British mix of weather for Birmingham, what can you do now to prepare for the summer weather?

Get ready to get active If you’re heading out and about to get active, make sure you have the equipment you need to stay safe in the weather. That could be a water bottle, sunscreen or even some wet weather gear.

Check your house and garden Summer doesn't mean your house is immune from stormy weather. Think about checking things like gutters and the roof, to prepare them for any potential severe weather and ensure there are no blockages. If strong winds are forecast, remember to secure movable garden items including trampolines and garden furniture.

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Be prepared for hot weather, pollen and UV The Met Office website or app can keep you up-todate with the latest pollen and UV forecasts before heading out. In hot weather, try to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day and make sure you have sunscreen, water and a hat.

Take the worry out of summer storms Put some basic supplies, including a torch and batterypowered charger, in a bag in case of severe weather. Make sure you keep key documents and essentials in an easy to access place in case there is a power cut.

Check your vehicle is ready for summer outings Vehicles are often prone to cooling-related faults in the summer months, so make sure to check your car is ready for the weather by checking the coolant and oil levels, as well as keeping an eye on your tyres and screen wash.

Look out for those around you Some people are more vulnerable in times of severe weather so take some time to look out for others in your community, especially older people, young children, babies and those with health risks. I

For more tips on getting weather ready, visit metoffice.gov.uk/WeatherReady

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SWISH SWISH

Dress from F&F

GET YOUR FROCK ON

THE SIMPLEST WAY TO FEEL PUT TOGETHER IS THE HUMBLE – AND NOT SO HUMBLE – DRESS. WHATEVER YOUR VIBE, A FROCK ROCKS… SO EMBRACE THE SWAGGER AND SMILE YOUR WAY THROUGH SPRING

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STYLE

CUTE COLLAR

Brown dress £20, TK Maxx

SIMPLE STYLE

Dresses from Hope Fashion

IN THE NAVY

Dress £57, Dancing Leopard

CHAMPAGNE TASTE

e love the elegance of a tea dress, the coolness of a swishy floor-skimming maxi and the playfulness of a cute skater dress.

This month we’ll be wearing them all on repeat for the ultimate in easy but impactful dressing.

I don’t know about you, but we’ve stopped saving clothes for best. What’s the point? If you love a piece of clothing and it makes you feel great, wear it.

Dresses make up the bulk of our wardrobe – some with distinctly summer vibes, some definitely wintry and loads that span the two seasons worn with tights and a cardi in a cold snap or wedges in the sun. It’s the most versatile piece and just so easy. Chuck it on, add accessories and go.

Free People, Rixo and Alice + Olivia have some incredible examples (some pictured here) while on the high street you can pick up a bargain from the likes of Oliver Bonas and V by Very. You can even grab a decent dress while doing your food shopping since F&F and TU are rocking the frock too.

The only style rule here is if it makes you smile, wear it. I

Glazed linen revere collar Champagne dress £135, Hope Fashion

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TRUE BLUE

Dress £80, River Island

MAXIMUM IMPACT

Lucile blue printed maxi dress £295, Rixo at Harvey Nichols

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Jess blue Zodiac print midi dress £295, Rixo at Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

WHO NEEDS SLEEVES?

BODY CON

Winnie maxi ribbed button dress, F&F

Balmain orange intarsia stretch knit £1,450, Harvey Nichols

BEST DRESSED

It Takes Two printed stretchjersey mini dress £140, Free People at Harvey Nichols

GLAMAZON

Pink ruffle neck pencil £79, Sonder Studio

PUFF PIECE

CRISS CROSS

Dress £27.99, New Look

Pink dress and shoes from TU Clothing

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STYLE

CHECK MATE

Gwyneth woodblock check dress £90, Monsoon

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STYLE FLOWER POWER

Shirred waist printed skater dress £22, V by Very

BE BOLD

Mia dress £59, White Stuff

IT’S A WRAP SUMMER LOVING

Dress from River Island

Radiant wrap jersey dress £40, Joe Browns

SPOTTED

Longline spot shirt dress £28, V by Very Curve

DAISY DAISY

Green daisy stripe midi dress £89.50, Oliver Bonas

GREAT FIT

BELT UP

Holly organic cotton dress £110, Aspiga

GO GREEN

Dress £29.99, New Look

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Floral dress £69, Sonder Studio

SPRING READY

Ditsy wrap dress £45, V by Very Curve

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STYLE

TOP PICK

Enny organic cotton dress £170, Aspiga

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BEAUTY

HAIR CARE FOCUS This month we’re targeting the barnet – from an excellent hairbrush to a beach wave classic – as we’ve got your haircare regime covered

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1. HAIR RITUEL BY SISLEY, THE BLOW DRY BRUSH NO. 2, £55, SISLEY-PARIS.CO.UK Don’t let the inclusion of wild boar hair bristles put you off. This is the mother of all hairbrushes. Ideal for medium to long hair, the supple bristles tame thick and curly hair giving a smooth at home blow dry that looks like a salon job. Highly recommend.

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2. AVEDA INVATI ADVANCED SYSTEM SET, £106, AVEDA.CO.UK If you’re worried about thinning hair, this is definitely worth a look. Give it eight weeks applying once daily and you should see a reduction in breakage and enjoy thicker looking hair. There’s a rich and light system depending on your issue.

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3.BUMBLE AND BUMBLE SURF SPRAY, £20, BUMBLEANDBUMBLE.CO.UK

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It might be 20 years old, but Bumble and Bumble’s classic Surf Spray is still the panacea for achieving beachy waves. Sea salt, minerals and marine extracts mimic that post beach sexy, sun dried natural looking wave that is a winner.

4. DERMATOLOGY M SOFTENING PSORIASIS SHAMPOO, £45 (200ML), DERMATOLOGY-M.COM If your scalp is problematic and irritable, this soothes, purifies and boosts scalp circulation resulting in flake free glossy hair. It’s fairly expensive, but the plant based ingredients rooted in ancient Chinese medicine are 100 per cent natural and work.

5. ARKIVE HEADCARE RANGE, FROM £10 TO £14, ARKIVEHEADCARE.COM

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From everyday cleansers to quenching conditioners, Adam Reed has created this high performing range based on his hefty experience. The packaging is super stylish and looks impressive in the bathroom, but more importantly it’ll make you feel a million dollars. Our favourite product is the Blow Dry Spray used with the Sisley hairbrush.

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ADVERTORIAL

DIVORCE: WHOSE BUSINESS IS IT ANYWAY? ow does the court deal with a business in a financial dispute between a divorcing couple? There is often a niggling concern for the business owner that the court may force the sale of the business, which could have far-reaching consequences for them and their employees. Whereas the non-business owning spouse may worry that the court won’t include the value of the business in the settlement, meaning they won’t receive their fair share of the matrimonial pot.

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SO, WHERE DOES THE COURT START? IF A BUSINESS IS INVOLVED, THE COURT HAS TWO MAIN AIMS:

1. To establish the value of the interests of the parties in the business.

2. Determine how that value ought to be considered in the overall financial settlement.

ESTABLISHING THE VALUE How or whether to obtain a valuation is not always straightforward. A valuation is unlikely to assist where, for example, the main value of the business is an income stream, where there is difference of opinion about the value, or if the value is theoretical. If there is any doubt about seeking a valuation, you should seek advice from an accountant, particularly if the nonbusiness owning spouse is concerned that the accounts are not a true reflection of the business value.

If the court deems a valuation is appropriate, divorcing spouses will be expected to jointly instruct an expert to provide a valuation report.

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CONSIDERING THE VALUE IN THE OVERALL FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT The court will use the valuation as a guide. The value is not the same as ‘cash in the bank’, so the court will try to distribute the risk of liquid and illiquid assets between the parties.

In a financial settlement the sharing principle applies to most cases. This means the court will share (more or less equally) all matrimonial assets accumulated during the marriage and will try not to dip into non-matrimonial assets (e.g. those built up before or after the marriage, or inherited). When a business forms part of the asset pot it is common for the court to hear arguments as to whether it is a matrimonial or non-matrimonial asset.

The court will acknowledge that divorcing spouses are unlikely to want to have ties in the same business, so while it has the power to transfer shares it is unlikely to leave such ties between the parties. It is also unlikely that a court will order the sale of a business if it is the source of the family’s wealth and income.

This is a complex subject, so it is vital that divorcing spouses with business interests obtain specialist legal advice. I

For a free, initial consultation and to find out more about dealing with businesses on divorce, please call Shoosmiths’ Family team on 03700 868686 or email yourfamilymatters@shoosmiths.co.uk

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STYLE FOR MEN

GET SHORTY

MATCHY MATCHY Clothing from River Island

WE ACCEPT WE MAY HAVE PEAKED TOO SOON, BUT WE’RE GETTING THE LEGS OUT IN BRUM IN SPRING

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STYLE FOR MEN

POCKETS PLEASE Chino short £28, M&Co

IN THE NAVY Blue shorts £7.99, TK Maxx

s April too early to get your pins out? Nah. It’s liberating and depending on how you wear your shorts, stylish. It’s a fine line though, isn’t it? So easy to slip from city short chic to naff in a moment of sartorial madness.

Avoid skin-tight unless you’re actually swimming would be our advice. Conversely, steer clear of billowy surf shorts around town.

It’s easy if you’re a bit self-conscious to go for maximum material to cover up, but you’re better off with a well-fitting, natural waisted short that has a bit of structure particularly while going about your day in the city. Check out some of the examples here for a bit of inspiration and if you’re feeling a bit pasty, we thorough recommend a quick slick of Isle of Paradise.I

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MAN ABOUT TOWN Clothing from Primark

NEUTRAL STANCE Cove flat front short £44, FatFace

PRINTS CHARMING Gucci relaxed linen shorts £520, Selfridges

NOT SO MELLOW YELLOW Shorts £31, TK Maxx COOL CUT Valentino green will shorts £625, Harvey Nichols

TURN UP Blue Chambray turn up shorts £9.99, TK Maxx

ANIMAL MAGIC Dickies leopard print cotton twill short £60, Selfridges

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HOMES

SUMMER OF LOVE

MONO WOW Furniture and accessories from B&M

IT’S THAT GLORIOUS TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE

GARDEN BEGINS TO COME ALIVE AND IT’S A THING OF MOOD BOOSTING BEAUTY. ARE YOU READY? wo years ago, in the thick of lockdown we cherished our outdoor space more than ever – aside from a daily trot around the park, it was really all the freedom we had.

We’re channelling the love we had for it then and giving it some renewed TLC to maximise the joy throughout the summer.

The main thing to do is treat your outside space like a room and decide what you want from it. You’ll be guided by the shape and size obviously, but put in zones for different activities, such

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CREAM DREAM Furniture from Next

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HOMES

MAX MINIMALIST Furniture from BoConcept

CIRCLE OF LIFE Furniture from Next

as entertaining, dining, relaxing, cooking, playing, etc. Put dining areas nearest the house for ease and if you’ve the space and inclination, think about an outdoor kitchen with sink, fridge and enough storage for your al fresco dining bits and pieces freeing up space indoors.

If you’ve room, also create an area for lounging in a sunny spot. Add squishy low furniture or loungers for maximum comfort with a parasol to cast some shade when the Brummie heat gets a bit much. Ahem. Don’t forget a table for your G&T either…

Garden furniture can be pricey but should last years if it’s good quality and if you go for a classic look won’t date either. Choose furniture that can live untarnished outside all year round unless you have significant storage inside. Given the availability and efficiency of firepits and chimineas, garden furniture is getting prolonged usage.

LIGHTS FANTASTIC Add a few cosy blankets and you can easily enjoy the garden well into the autumn. In 2020 we even had al fresco Christmas drinks and

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HOMES

COSY CORNER Verdi two seat wooden bench £199, Cuckooland

nibbles with woolly hats, blankets and chimineas blazing – not ideal, but it really worked.

Festoon lighting and hurricane lamps give a gorgeous glow after dark creating a magical ambience for long summer evenings. Solar powered festoon lights are best and so easy.

Whack them up and forget about them until they kick in once the sun has gone down day after day.

If you’ve a balcony with limited options, plant upwards not out to maximise space while still giving you some colour and invest in a comfortable chair or two that you want to sink into to catch some rays. Check the rules of your building as there can be restrictions on what’s possible even if you own your flat (i.e. hanging baskets are probably a complete no-no, but a trellis of climbers might be a goer.) Just do your homework, so you don’t feel the wrath of the residents committee.

In terms of planting, there are more qualified people than us to talk to about horticulture and plenty of inspiration to be had in Brum. Head to Birmingham Botanical Gardens or Westbourne House for some ideas for your own outdoor haven. I

april 2022

SPLASH OF COLOUR Furniture and accessories from Habitat

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HOMES

AL FRESCO Zuiver Vondel large table £879, Cuckooland

LAZY DAYS Furniture and accessories from John Lewis

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HOMES

AFTER DARK Lights from Lights4Fun

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HOMES

SOLAR POWER Maze rattan satellite solar garden light £129, Cuckooland CHIM CHIMINEA Premier tulip chiminea £499.95, Cuckooland

GROW YOUR OWN Smart timber grow zone £169.99, Dobbies

VINTAGE VIBE Distressed ceramic jar £12.99, TK Maxx

FINISHING TOUCHES ADD SOME GORGEOUS ACCESSORIES TO YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE TO MAKE IT SING

FEEDING TIME Vierno diner seed feeder £10, National Trust

STYLE ICON Armando woven lounge chair £119, Cult Furniture

LIGHT UP Set of four solar bulbs £14.99, Lights4Fun

SIT BACK Bench £69.99, HomeSense

HURRAH FOR RATTAN Faux rattan mirror £30, Habitat

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ON REFLECTION Large mirror £49, George at Asda SOFT TOUCH Gold soft leaf gloves £24.99, Dobbies

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MOTORING

RE-SET, RECHARGE, REJOICE!

SUE COOKE SAMPLES VOLVO’S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC PREMIUM CROSSOVER AND IT’S UNIQUELY SIMPLE ‘ONE PEDAL’ DRIVING EXPERIENCE have found that road testing all-electric cars is much the same as driving combustionpowered cars – until I drove the XC40 Recharge Twin Pro. Volvo’s first all-electric premium crossover is different. In a much better, simpler way. Let me explain…

Once accessing the car with keyless entry, slide behind the wheel, engage a small gear lever to Drive, press the accelerator and go. There are two drive modes – Normal and ‘One Pedal’. If you choose ‘One Pedal’ and ease off the accelerator the car slows down. Lift your foot completely off the accelerator the car comes to a full stop. This even works on a hill. So, the driver only ever needs to use one foot on one pedal. As the car slows down, the rear brake lights automatically come on.

If you prefer to ‘drive normally’ using the footbrake then the driver settings menu is changed on the centre infotainment screen. But why would you? To end the journey, take your foot from the accelerator, presses the P button and get out of the car. The radio stops playing a few seconds later. It is all so plain and simple! As this is an all-electric

I

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model, there is no engine to cool so there is no front grille. Under the bonnet is a shallow space which houses the charging leads.

QUALITY INTERIOR Inside, the quality interior features a large, nineinch touchscreen with clear headings and icons to access the radio, air-conditioning and miles left in the battery. Hand- free voice control keeps the driver in touch with friends or favourite entertainment.

There is a very long specification list of equipment, technology and safety features. The 360-degree, allround view gives great visibility which helps with safety. On a foggy 60-mile trip to a favourite farm shop, the journey was comfortable enough but on

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MOTORING

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Pro Automatic transmission Price: £53,050otr Powertrain: P8 electric 408hp. Lithium ion battery and electric front axle drive motor Performance: 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 112mph CO2 emissions: 0 g/km (WLTP) Range: 256 miles

motorways there is a lot of tyre noise.

Constant reminders of the speed of the road are displayed. A second number flashes if the driver inches over that speed. Steering is precise and acceleration is instant which helps to get quickly onto roundabouts and to overtake safely. The boot is extremely practical with a wide opening and completely flat floor. Rear seats easily fold down as they are so lightweight.

CHARGING POINTS I plugged the charger in overnight and reached 70 per cent of the full 256 miles. A percentage of the charge left in the battery is displayed on the screen.

The touchscreen display will show the mileage

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range and it is a reliable figure. This clever Volvo will even suggest how to drive to conserve the charge. My way of conserving the charge is not to have the climate control on. However, this did build up condensation on the inside of the windscreen, so I gave in and engaged a very low setting and no heating. I did have the radio on though. I also used the satellite navigation.

To sum up, this award-winning Volvo XC40 is one of the best all-electric cars I have driven in terms of range, comfort, practicality and good looks. I

SHOWROOM

Paul Rigby Birmingham, Chester Road, Erdington, B24 0QY. Tel: 0121 382 1222 www.paulrigbygroup.co.uk

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

JESS MONTHE

The netballer has her eye on an England Roses spot and no amount of juggling training, matches and GCSEs will deter the steely teen

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

t’s a bit of an understatement to say that Jess Monthe has a lot going on. England U17, Loughborough Lightning Academy, Stratford Thunderbirds, Bromsgrove School team as well as the usual Year 10 GCSE commitment all feature in Jess’s heady schedule.

Training is intense and matches frequent, but Jess is determined and supported by both school staff as well as her England, Loughborough and Thunderbirds coaches, so she’s able to thrive in the classroom as well as on the netball court.

Jess quotes Muhammed Ali, ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough’ and says that ‘failure is part of the path to success’ allowing a person to become ‘resilient and persevere when things get tough’. She lives by this. For instance, when Jess was unsuccessful in her first attempt to make the England squad she took it in her stride and carried on training hard. She was then invited back after being spotted in a School Games match with Loughborough and this time she was successful.

I

WORK ETHIC Selected initially in the goal-keeper spot, Jess has moved to goal defence which requires different skills such as increased speed, but she’s up for the challenge. Chatting to her, it’s hard to believe she’s still a schoolgirl as she’s so driven and yet mature enough to understand the need for balance too. Goals like making it to the England Roses squad sound completely realistic because she’s so measured. By all accounts, Jess’s work ethic is phenomenal believing ‘things are earned not given’ – she also just loves the game which helps. She says: “I love the bond between athletes and playing as a team.”

Remarkably, Jess thought she was awful at netball in primary school. It was only when she was scouted

by Stratford Thunderbirds head coach Kelly McCormack and attended a summer camp that she began to see she might have potential. Jess credits playing with older more experienced girls for her rapid improvement.

Jess has been on a high-level netball pathway since she was a 12-year-old when she was first selected for the U15 Loughborough Lightning Academy. She’s now with the U17 Academy and cites head coach,

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Molly Salmons along with Thunderbirds head performance coach as playing a huge part in developing her ability and nurturing her talent. Covid restrictions meant no face-to-face training or matches in favour of online sessions during lockdown.

Happily competing and training is back to normal and Jess has a packed regime again.

MAKING THE GRADES A combination of regular strength and conditioning taking advantage of the facilities at Bromsgrove as well as multiple club and school sessions and matches generally on a Saturday with Loughborough, mean the week is netball heavy with a rest day on a Monday. While Jess is focused on the sport, she says: “My education and getting good grades for university are also important. You cannot control the future, so it is essential to get a good education, alongside taking part in what you love.”

Jess’s advice to budding netballers is simple: “Love what you are doing. If you don’t enjoy the game, you cannot play your best, and if you cannot play your best, you can’t be there for your team. At the end of the day, netball is a team sport and everything combined is left on the court. You play your best not just for yourself but for the team because the team always comes first, on and off the court.” I

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GROWING PLACES

LIVE EVENTS CAREERS

MUSICAL TALENT Two talented musicians have been crowned winners in the final of the seventh annual Bromsgrove Young Musicians’ Platform (BYMP). Jaren Ziegler, 16, won the senior section and Junde Tom He, 11, the junior category hosted in Routh Concert Hall at Bromsgrove School. Jaren is a violist from University College School, Hampstead while Junde is from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Harborne. Both winners received financial bursaries of £1,000 for seniors and £500 for juniors to help them develop their musical talent.

The NEC group has relaunched its Events Week Live placement programme after a two-year break. The programme offered 12 degree level students the chance to work across its venues for a week. Students from Coventry University and Birmingham City University’s event management courses took part in events, expert talks and hands-on experience as well as a networking lunch with industry professionals.

NEC group senior event manager, Michelle Baldwin, said: “We are striving to attract, develop and retain the best talent in the NEC Group.”

SCHOOL REPORT

ARTS PLATFORM Midlands-based theatre and technology company C&T has launched a new version of its innovative digital arts learning platform – Prospero. The platform empowers artists and arts organisations to easily create digital learning resources and share them with, or sell them to, schools, colleges and other learning environments. The new version includes enhanced functionality including capabilities in virtual reality, augmented reality and linking multiple devices to create immersive group tasks and games.

WHEN I GROW UPÁ Birmingham-born Madeleine Levy – a former student at Ninestiles, An Academy and the founder of Alternative Voices Theatre Company – has had her book, When I Grow Up I Want To Be A Cat published by Cavalcade Books. Madeleine was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at the age of eight and the book charts her life growing up and the education system as she experienced it. It’s a frank memoir, but also a supportive guide for young people with autism and their parents or carers.

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GROWING PLACES

PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

ACTING UP Performance academy Face2Face is celebrating its fifth birthday in style. Past and present students gathered to share memories of productions, guest workshops and summer schools. Offering weekly classes in singing, dance and performance, the academy has a growing membership of more than 50 young students from across the region. The academy is driven by the specialist tuition of West End performer Michael Jenkins who said: “The academy provides an excellent training ground for aspiring performing artists.”

More information and to register for a taster session visit www.moretonhall.org/Face2Face

Students in the Midlands are being offered the chance to join HS2 on a paid work placement this summer. HS2’s construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI is launching an eight-week undergraduate programme to help students gain work experience. The programme starts on 4 July and will include opportunities in civil engineering, commercial, design, construction, project controls and planning teams. Julie VennMorton, HS2’s skills manager for the West Midlands said: “It’s imperative that we create career pathways for the region’s thriving local talent to access.”

DIVERSE DESIGNS Three art and design students from BMet’s Sutton Coldfield College have been rewarded for bringing creativity and culture to a prominent wall at Barclays city centre hub. Alisha Masani, Deepika Chumber and Lucie Rolph won a competition to showcase diversity and inclusion through art at the bank’s One Snowhill headquarters. The challenge was part of a fivemonth employer-led remote industry placement organised by the college and Barclays which 15 BMet students took part in to celebrate the diversity of employees at the bank.

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FEATURE

MR NICE GUY

Local mural artist, budding interior designer and Instagrammer Richard O’Gorman threw himself into BBC One’s Interior Design Masters. It wasn’t meant to be, but we love him anyway

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FEATURE

nterior Design Masters is back and if you haven’t watched, here’s what to expect – stress, emotion, lols, designer chat, but mainly emotion and stress. The premise of the show is that 10 budding interior designers compete in numerous design challenges judged by Michelle Ogundehin and a guest judge each week all hosted by Alan Carr.

Obviously, Carr brings joyous camp and all the welcome funnies. This series, there were two Brummies on the starting blocks. We picked one to interview, Richard O’Gorman aka @househomo and some might say we backed the wrong horse as unfortunately Richard left on the very first show. We would say Design Masters missed a trick.

We’ve interviewed a lot of people over the last nine years and Richard might just be the nicest. He bought a house in Birmingham just before lockdown and was furloughed from his job as a model booker soon after so took the opportunity to decorate his home. He says: “I was looking at three months off work and I thought I’ll never get this opportunity again.

No excuses.” Richard set up an Instagram account mainly to show friends what was happening with the house as due to restrictions no one could visit in person. He had never picked up a paintbrush before and an art teacher at school told him to give up art. Inspirational!

I

PLAYFUL SHAPES Richard’s idea of decorating his house might be wildly different to yours or ours – you won’t find a hint of magnolia or Farrow and Ball Railings here. His speciality has become mural art encompassing wonderfully playful shapes and colours creating an utterly joyful vibe. Instagram agrees and his following grew quickly. So much so, that when his furlough was up and he subsequently lost his job, he decided to focus on Instagram full time. It was his little sister who

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persuaded him to go for it. Richard says: “She’s my guiding light and she said, ‘look you’ve got something good going on here, just ride the wave’ and I’m glad I did.”

After the end of the first series of Design Masters, Richard’s friends and followers urged him to go for it. He actually didn’t have a TV and hadn’t seen the show but quickly caught up. Filmed in June 2021 in scorching temperatures, the process was actually much quicker than you might imagine with one week to source and two days for installation which was intense. Given it took Richard five weeks to do his dining room (pictured), it was a big ask!

Working in twos, Richard was paired with Molly who he describes as a ‘perfect fit’. He says: “She walked in in that blue dress and beret and I thought ‘this is my kind of girl’.”

Sadly, the judges didn’t think their rooms were as successful as some of the others and they found their places in jeopardy.

Ultimately it was Richard who left the show. The guest judge in week one was the lovely Matthew Williamson. He sought out Richard after the decision and sat him down for a chat and gave him some great advice.

Not originally from the city, when Richard moved here he knew no one other than friends of his ex, but we’re proud to say he was given a big Brummie welcome. He says: “I moved here with no friends and found a family in the Gay Villagesuch a supportive bunch of people.”

Fellow Brummie Abi is still in the running on Design Masters as we write, so we’re throwing our support behind her. Go Abi! I

FOLLOW UP Catch Interior Design Masters on BBC1 on Wednesdays at 9pm or on iPlayer and inject some joy into your feed with @househomo on Instagram

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BUSINESS

BEST BUILDING BID Seven projects have been shortlisted for the title of best building in the 2022 RIBA regional architecture awards. The line-up includes One Chamberlain Square, pictured, which sits on the site of the old Birmingham Library in the city’s Paradise Circus redevelopment. Other buildings shortlisted are Honey and Walnut House, Edgbaston; Mill Lodge, Warwickshire; School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Birmingham; Undercroft Learning Centre, Worcester Cathedral; University of Birmingham, Teaching and Learning Building and Winter House, Staffordshire.

BUSINESS

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

A team of seven walkers from Thursfields

Solicitors is taking on a 121-mile route march to raise more than £1,000 for Midlands Air Ambulance

NEWS

Charity. The activity has been planned as part of the charity’s Airbase Challenge 2022 where fund-raisers can walk, run, swim or cycle a variety of distances in the first five months of the year. The Thursfields’ team has decided to walk the longest route known as the Helicopter Challenger, which at 121 miles represents the distance between its three air bases.

TECH MOVE

QUIN’S QUEST

SuperTech – the UK’s only professional and business

The Belfry Hotel & Resort has

services technology partnership and the body

appointed Quin Holtzhuizen as general

responsible with the promotion and development of

manager. Quin has 22 years of

business-focused technology firms across the region

experience in hospitality, most recently

– has appointed Suzi Evans to support the region’s

as general manager of the Bodmin Jail

ProfTech and FinTech sector. Suzi, whose role will run

Hotel in Cornwall and prior to that held

alongside her existing position as a director in

the same role for Crowne Plaza

investment management at Deloitte, said: “I’m a

Felbridge, Gatwick. Quin, who will

born and bred Brummie and my aim through

report to resort director Chris Eigelaar,

SuperTech is to help ensure that my daughter grows

said: “I will be looking at innovative

up in a West Midlands that is a forward-thinking,

ways in which we can take forward

tech enabled region providing world-class services.”

the brand and remain market leaders.”

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BUSINESS

BREWERY RAISES THE BAR A microbrewery launched in March 2020 is opening the doors on its first bar. Gypsy Brew was co-founded

by Gary Meads and Al Smith, pictured, and their new bar, the Garrity, is located in the heart of Barnt Green village. After undergoing an extensive refurbishment, the bar features a curated range of stand-out beers and cider brewed by beer cicerone and head brewer Rob Walker. A food menu will have a variety of artisan snacks, light bites and small plates.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Award-winning integrated communications consultancy Liquid has opened a state-of-the-art kitchen studio in the centre of Birmingham as part of its new business offering, Kitchen by Liquid. Situated on the third floor of New Oxford House, Waterloo Street, the 760 sq ft kitchen provides a content creation space for food and drink photography, videography, recipe development, cookery classes, demonstrations and events. The launch of Kitchen by Liquid follows the appointment of full-time development chef, Olivier Briault.

POLESTAR LAUNCH Swedish electric performance car brand Polestar has opened its third ‘UK Space’ at Touchwood,

CREATIVE PROJECT

minimalist design, digital interactivity and allows

Birmingham creative agency Reeves has launched a two-year expansion

customers to go from initial enquiry to delivery of

Solihull. The ground floor showroom features

project. The agency will retain its core public and media relations expertise but

their chosen model in one journey if they wish.

will focus investment on growing content production and social media

Jonathan Goodman, head of Polestar UK, said:

management, as well as the development of its branding consultancy. Two of three new recruits are already in post in an expanded creative department, including videographer Jamie Hogan and graphic designer Oliver Tuzzio. Latest

“The space is located in a pivotal retail destination in the Midlands making it easier than ever for consumers to interact with the brand.”

CAPITAL APPOINTMENT

project wins include a social media campaign for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Birmingham-based real estate investment firm Colmore Capital has appointed Henry Blomfield as an investment analyst to its expanding team. In his role, Henry will be responsible for the management of existing assets in Colmore Capital’s funds and analysing the viability of new investment opportunities as the company looks to build on a string of successful acquisitions and disposals over the last 18 months.

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BUSINESS

STUDIO IN THE FRAME BUSINESS BITES Leading technical AV provider PSP has launched

B30 Studios, a state-of-the-art facility to meet demand for virtual and hybrid events, as well as the future needs of content creation. The 6,000 sq ft purpose-built studio provides every format of content creation under one roof and represents an investment of more than £1million. Founder and director Ian Willcox said: “This is a white label space aimed at the creative industry. The fact we are so well located means we had many enquiries, even before

ROSIE’S ON BOARD

we opened our doors.”

Colmore BID has appointed four new directors to its

board. The quartet is Kate Bailey, legal director at Squire Patton Boggs law firm; Rosie Ginday, pictured, CEO and founder of Miss Macaroon, one of Birmingham’s most well renowned social enterprise companies; Tim Hall director of Hays; and Victoria Osgood, business engagement officer of HS2 Ltd. Colmore BID’s board is responsible for setting the direction and strategy for the BID and district.

SALON’S PRICE PROMISE Blacc + Blond hair salon based in the Jewellery Quarter celebrated International Women’s Day by becoming a gender-neutral salon. It has introduced a new pricing model using the slogan ‘Length Doesn’t Matter, Time Does’ which is based on the fact that all of their haircuts are the same time (one hour), so why should women pay more? The salon, owned by Anil Salhan, pictured, is also hoping to be accredited as carbon neutral in the near future.

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GROWING PLACES

West Midlands Growth Company, the region’s economic development agency, has rebranded its commercial partner programme as Partners West Midlands to support more businesses who want to invest in its work promoting the region’s economy. More than 100 leading companies including HSBC, Gowling, Bruntwood and Park Regis Birmingham hotel are already partners.

NEC’S AI DEAL

The NEC has become the first venue in the UK to adopt WaitTime, an artificial intelligence solution that provides real-time measurement of venue capacity and crowd density. The £7million investment allows the venue, which attracts 2.3million visitors annually, to further enhance its data capabilities.

HOMELESS HELP

BWB Consulting, a multi-award winning Birmingham engineering and environmental design consultancy, is continuing its support of youth homeless charity St Basils in 2022.

BWB has backed St Basils since 2021, raising more than £1,500 so far.

GAMES FOREST TAKES ROOT The first trees have been planted in Solihull as part of Severn Trent’s initiative to create 2,022 acres of Commonwealth Forest across the Midlands. The 15 acres of new habitat at Hope Coppice will be open to the public to explore and will equate to around 9,400 trees. As Birmingham 2022’s official nature and carbon neutral supporter, Severn Trent is delivering a series of initiatives to leave a social and environmental legacy following this summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

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SOCIAL SCENE

2

COCKTAILS AND CHAT AT FIRST NETWORKER

1

3

Guests enjoy event hosted by Edge Creative at Saint Pauls House

4

dge Creative hosted its first networking event of the year at Saint Pauls House, St. Paul’s Square.

The event was sponsored by Boxxed Up and KLO Financial Services and guests were treated to a selection of cocktails, courtesy of Rugby Distillery.I

E

5

8 6

7

9

1 Uvarlyn Hayles, Mark O'Sullivan, Matt Booton, Mark Panayides, Dan Styles, Matt Pearson, Svenja Keller, David Jones, Richard Lent.

2 John Glavey, Alex Tross. 3 Louise Panayides, Mark Panayides. 4 Lorraine Evans, Andy Evans Brad Pattni, Alan Webb. 5 Richard Wilson, Emma Riddell, Kelly Kent. 6 Lee Elliot, Andrew Griffin. 7 Sheila Kelly-Trow, Leonie Martin, Mindo Sheamar. 8 Sheila Mistry, James Stanley, Clair Ashley, Emma Jones, Nav Naqvi, Mark O'Sullivan. 9 Colin White, Anna Hajilari, Liz Hobster, Terry Michael.

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SOCIAL SCENE

1

TOP BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS CROWNED 2

3

Touchwood leads way with Birmingham Chambers’ Business of the Year title etail and hospitality centre Touchwood Solihull was crowned Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Business of the Year at the Chambers’ annual dinner and awards attended by 1,300 guests at the ICC. The President’s Award went to Wendy Merricks, chief executive of Jumar Solutions, which provides technology and people services for clients such as the DWP, DVLA, Home Office and Cabinet Office. Other winners included Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, Flexeserve, RotaSpa and Millennium Point. I

R

6

7

4

5

8

1 Contribution to the Community winners, Edgbaston Park Hotel. 2 Manufacturing Award winners, Roto Spa. 3 Business of the Year winners, Touchwood Solihull. 4 Sustainability Award winners, Arup. 5 Excellence in Responsible Business winners, Unity Trust Bank.

6 Customer Service winners, Indigo. 7 President’s Award winner, Wendy Merricks. 8 Technology & Innovation Award winners, G&P Group Holdings.

april 2022

Photography by Marc Kirsten

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ing ON il vWHAT’S

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WHAT: The Divine Comedy WHEN: 25 April WHERE: Symphony Hall, bmusic.co.uk AKA Neil Hannon, the Divine Comedy has produced 12 magnificent albums and performed hundreds of spellbinding shows. This latest tour supports the new Best Of album that celebrates one of the finest singer songwriters of his generation.

WHAT: Hunter Chase evening with MAAC WHEN: 29 April WHERE: Cheltenham racecourse, midlandsairambulance.com/events/hunter-chase-race-night Join Midlands Air Ambulance Charity at Cheltenham’s onlyevening fixture with exclusive use of the National Hunt Room, one of the most desirable restaurants at the famous racecourse.

Includes access to post-race entertainment, including a headline set from national radio DJ, Greg James.

WHAT: Jeff Dunham: Seriously!?

WHEN: 13 May WHERE: Resorts World Arena, resortsworldarena.co.uk The record-breaking, global comedy superstar and America’s favourite ventriloquist is bringing his cast of characters to the UK for six dates only. Come and enjoy the talent that has generated more than two million YouTube subscribers and amassed well over a billion views.

WHAT: Ray Quinn WHEN: 14 May WHERE: Nailcote Hall, nailcotehall.co.uk The X Factor and Dancing On Ice star brings his stunning solo show to the Hall, showcasing his fantastic vocal ability which will see him perform everything from swing classics all the way through to todays’ chart hits!

WHAT: Just Gilbert WHEN: 12 April WHERE: Town Hall, bmusic.co.uk He was the superstar who topped the UK and US single charts in the 70s.

Today, Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan continues to be regarded with tremendous affection and his songs remain well-loved around the world.

*All information accurate at time of going to press, but please check in case of changes or cancellation

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WHAT’S ON WHAT: The Good, The Bad & The Rugby – LIVE WHEN: 23 May WHERE: The Alexandra, atgtickets.com Enjoy the banter and chat that their podcast is famous for as ‘The Rugby’

WHAT: RHS Malvern Spring Festival WHEN: 5 to 8 May WHERE: Three Counties Showground, rhsmalvern.co.uk

Mike Tindall is joined on stage joined by fellow England hero James Haskell (The Bad) and former Sky Sports rugby presenter Alex Payne (The Good).

The first RHS show of the season returns with its greenest show yet celebrating the wonderful worlds of gardens, plants, flowers and food.

Includes the new Nourish area, a dedicated zone that interprets and explores the role of horticulture and food in our health and wellbeing.

WHAT: Art & Antiques for Everyone – The Spring Fair WHEN: 7 to 10 April WHERE: NEC Birmingham, antiquesforeveryone.co.uk This fabulous spring event provides a special opportunity for connoisseurs and collectors to buy from leading specialist dealers from across the UK. With prices from less than £20 to more than £20,000, there is something for the most discerning buyer and first-time collector.

WHAT: Blondie WHEN: 7 May WHERE: Utilita Arena, utilitaarenabham.co.uk One of the most influential bands to emerge from New York’s punk scene is back on the road with iconic frontwoman/ songwriter Debbie Harry, guitarist/conceptual mastermind Chris Stein and powerhouse drummer Clem Burke all at the helm.

WHAT: Mini Madness WHAT: Shoot Festival WHEN: 23 April to 7 May WHERE: Various venues across Coventry, coventryshootfestival.com

WHEN: 9 to 24 April WHERE: British Motor Museum, britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/easter Cracking Easter fun with a host of exciting Mini

One of Coventry’s leading festivals for early career artists

themed family activities! Explore the museum on

and producers presents a range of performance, visual

a family trail, join the Mini mad characters on a

art and music, featuring vital stories of gambling

family tour or design and make a Mini in the air-drying clay workshops. There’s also

addiction, Nigerian feminism and isolation.

a traditional Easter Egg hunt with a bit of a Mini twist.

WHAT: Birmingham Wine Weekend WHEN: 4 to 10 April WHERE: Various, birminghamwineweekend.co.uk Back for the first time in two years, the festival returns with more venues, days and wines than ever before, and even features a new app to make this real-life event doubly immersive. Also includes a curated line-up of special events and dining options exclusively for festival-goers.

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PERSON TO PERSON

CLOSE WITHÁ SUE BEARDSMORE

The former Blue Peter producer and BBC presenter has an exciting new role, leading the restoration and development of Birmingham Botanical Gardens for future generations BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I came to Birmingham in 1977 to work for the BBC at Pebble Mill as a secretary. My first step into the studio was as a ‘floor assistant’ on programmes with stars from Basil Brush to Oliver Reed. I moved on to be an assistant producer on Blue Peter (sounds grander than it was) which involved writing and film making. I ended up in the Midlands Today newsroom and began presenting when Breakfast Television started in 1983. I worked as a presenter for the next 20 years before training young broadcast journalists and presenters around the world. For the past seven years I’ve been on the National Lottery Heritage Fund committee in the Midlands.

IT’S WHAT I DO I’m very excited to be taking over as chair of trustees at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. There are tremendous plans to build on the wonderful heritage of the gardens and restore and develop this gem for future generations.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE I’m not great at ambitions – I always do whatever comes along as well as I possibly can. I’m focused on the Botanical Gardens and want as many people as possible to know them, love them, learn from them and be inspired by the diverse botanical world they explore.

BIGGEST SUCCESS I remember the excitement of getting my first job after a string of rejections (I still have the letters). I’m delighted to

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have been married for coming up to 45 years. I loved almost every moment of my time at the BBC. I’d also rate making it to the US for the first time in two years to see my son and his family without getting Covid and with properly filled in paperwork as a major success.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED If I was to offer my younger self any advice it would be not to be quite so scared of getting things wrong as you really do learn a lot from mistakes; and never underestimate how much detail you need to plough through for something to work.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM I love its history, the fact that people from every corner of the globe have made their homes here, and its heritage as a manufacturing city. You can still get most things made here if you dig around, and along with plenty of new ventures, some of the older companies are still going strong, such as Hudson’s, the whistle makers in the Jewellery Quarter. I love walking the canals, poking around the host of great museums and archives. One place I make sure every visitor sees is the Shakespeare Memorial Room, now at the top of the library, and of course, the Botanical Gardens.

DOWNTIME If I’m not doing anything else, I usually have a book in my hand. It’s always exciting to find a new author you like. I’ve always been a swimmer, too: a lifeguard in my teens and a synchro swimmer well before it became an Olympic sport. I

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