December 2015 (issue 39)

Birmingham g n i liv

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December 2015

MIDLANDS MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

PARTY STYLE

101

GREAT GIF T IDEAS

WHAM, BAM,

GLAM!

WILD BOYS

+

MET BAR

DURAN DURAN COMING HOME

ANDY WATERS HYATT REGENCY JOHN DUCKERS

FESTIVE FIZZ,

GLYN PITCHFORD

TIPPLES TREATS

&

A VERY

CLARY

CHRISTMAS

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EDITOR’S VIEW Happy, funny, warm, special. A nice bunch of adjectives to describe Birmingham at Christmas

s Birmingham the happiest city in the UK? Is it true that Brummies have a laugh and joke more than anyone else? Yes and yes are the answers from none other than Julian Clary. The camp comic will have audiences rocking in the aisles of the Hippodrome this festive season as part of the star-studded cast of Aladdin.

And he says he’s been looking forward for months to spending Christmas and the New Year here.

“I always enjoy being in Birmingham because people smile and laugh more than anywhere else – there’s no better place to be,” he told me during our cover interview. He also revealed that he’ll be sampling the delights of Grand Central and our other brilliant stores – so look out shoppers!

While Julian enjoys his visits to Brum, the boys from legendary pop band Duran Duran love their home city. Born and bred here (ok, so Simon Le Bon is actually an ‘honorary Brummie’) they’ve always been proud advocates for the city.

Because of their mega-star status they don’t get back as often as they’d like, but they are here this month as part of their UK tour. Bass player John Taylor is in no doubt how special ‘coming home’ is going to be. “The people of Birmingham are special, warm people,” he says. “We’re very proud to be Brummies too.”

Happy, funny, warm, special. A nice bunch of adjectives to describe Birmingham, especially at this time of year.

PS: While talking Christmas shopping… take a look at our special Gift Guide.

It’s packed with ideas from local retailers.

I

David Johns

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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, Rose Gallagher

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

Cover image: Julian Clary by Idil Sukan/Draw HQ

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

december 2015

/bhamliving

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

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INSIDE

Highlights

14 18 22 34 44 62

Julian Clary Why he’s camping it up in Birmingham over Christmas… and heading to the shops!

Duran Duran Superheroes of pop return to their home city with a secret wishlist Food and Drink Top chef Andy Waters talks cheese toasties, foams and swamp toads!

Style Our favourite finds will have you strutting confidently through Christmas Gift Guide Ideas galore as we go shopping in Brum’s pimped-up retail offering Hold tight please!

The Top 100 company that’s revolutionising the way we travel

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CONTENTS

34

Best of the Rest

24 42 54 58 65 70 78 december 2015

Restaurant Reviews Critics’ verdict on the Hyatt Birmingham and Met Bar, Solihull Health The best way too get yourself fit for Christmas?

Hit the squash court!

Motoring Sue Cooke has a Mercedes moment with the new AMG E-Class School Report Richard Hammond Jnr, a date with Jason Donovan and rocking at the Hippodrome Spotlight on Business The latest news and views from Birmingham’s business community Social Scene The pages that picture who’s been out and about networking in Birmingham this month Shows, Arts, Gigs and More What’s on, where and when – all you need to know about the festive entertainment scene

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NEWS

g n i v liTODAY

NO ORDINARY EVENT! It promises to be ‘unlike anything the city has ever seen before’ – so Welcome To A Winter Less Ordinary!

Inspired by the night markets of Goa and derelict arts and music spaces of Berlin, the event showcases a range of independent art, fashion, crafts and food in the newly-renovated warehouse space, 119, in Digbeth.

More details: https://www.facebook.com/119digbeth

Bringing you the brightest and most colourful stories from across the city each month

CLOTHES SHOW DRESSES TO THRILL If fashion’s your passion get set to be aroused by The Clothes Show. This year’s event from 4 to 8 December at the NEC features three catwalk stages with fashion experts giving inside trend reports and exclusive style advice. Plus, shop the latest brands from both on and off the high street.

LIGHT UP A LIFE A special festive event is being held for people and families who have lost a loved one. Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice will hold its Light Up A Life ceremony on 10 December. The free event which will feature carols and the lighting of the Christmas tree, also aims to raise funds for the hospice.

ACTOR CRAIG BACKS NEW STORE Comedian and actor Craig Charles has given his backing to a new notfor-profit boutique in Kings Heath selling recycled clothing by the kilo.

Off The Scale will not only help promote sustainable fashion but also aims to train and employ people who suffer with depression.

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NEWS

JESS HEADS

MUSIC AWARDS

SANTA JAWS!

A star-studded line-up will rock the BBC Music Awards at the Genting Arena on 10 December.

Hosted by Chris Evans and Fearne Cotton, performers include Jess Glynne, Ellie Goulding and One Direction. Marketing Birmingham, the city’s tourism organisation, says the event is worth £2.4 million to the local economy.

Just when you thought it was safe to go down the chimney… Santa Claus got himself into deep water at Birmingham’s National Sea Life Centre. A couple of decidedly un-festive residents turned out to greet old FC at the centre’s Merry Fishmas attraction which is open from 12 to 23 December.

TRUST LANDS OWL CASH

Local charity Edward’s Trust has landed a £15,000 windfall thanks to this owl sold in the Big Hoot auction.

Called G’owl’d, the Egypt-inspired owl – who spent the summer in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery – was one of two owls designed by local artist and Edward’s Trust supporter, Temper.

3

KING OF TREES

CHRISTMAS

One of the country’s oldest and largest wild pear trees has been named England’s Tree of the Year. The 250-year-old Cubbington Pear Tree, near Cubbington in Warwickshire, received thousands of votes in the Woodlands Trust competition. It sits on the proposed line of the new HS2 route and could be lost once construction gets underway.

BRUMMIE HITS SQUASH ACES ONTwoCOURT of Britain’s

SLADE: Merry Christmas Everybody belted out by lead singer Noddy Holder from Walsall was Christmas No.1 for five weeks in 1973.

WIZZARD: Yes, we thought it was a No.1 too… but Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day, written by local lad Roy Wood, reached No.4 in 1973.

OZZY & KELLY OSBOURNE: The father and daughter duet version of the original Seventies Black Sabbath hit was No.1 in the UK in 2003.

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finest squash players popped into Brum to play in an exhibition match at Edgbaston Priory Club. The event, sponsored by BMW Birmingham Sytner, featured Daryl Selby and Chris Thompson.

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NEWS

MAGICAL MARKET Christmas shopping? Don’t panic… there’s still plenty to try and buy at Birmingham’s biggestever German market. More than 180 stalls are packed with gifts, jewellery, decorations, handmade toys, delicious fare and the everpopular Glühwein! Don’t miss the Christmas Craft Fair at Chamberlain Square too. They’re open until 22 December.

JOHNNO TOUCHES DOWN England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson has opened the new stand at Moseley Rugby Club. The state-ofthe-art £3.6 millon stand recently scooped the prestigious National Rugby Award for Club Development of the Year.

DATE AT THE DINER The spirit of the American cityscape of the Eighties is coming to Birmingham as part of an exhibition at Reuben Colley Fine Art, Colmore Row. The gallery is hosting the first joint show of leading artists Horace Panter and Morgan Howell. Panter’s works include The Great White Hut diner while Howell creates 3D facsimiles of classic paper sleeve 45s.

HOARD AWARD The Staffordshire Hoard team from Birmingham Museums Trust has won the Pilgrim Trust Award for Conservation at the Icon Conservation Awards. Judges praised the team for bringing the ‘wow’ factor to conservation.

VISITS BOOM

WINTER WINNER Birmingham Cathedral has revealed the winning images from its Faith in Focus photography competition. The shots were taken by local people on the theme of faith in our city and were displayed in the Library of Birmingham. Blue Winter’s Soul

by Roz Guy, pictured, was selected for the front of the cathedral’s Christmas card.

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IN BRIEF

Birmingham attracted a record 37.2 million visitors last year, up 10 per cent and more than any other regional UK city. The visitor economy is now worth nearly £6 billion to the area.

TOP CARERS Foster carers Maxine Palmer-Hunter and Dan Gilbert Hunter from Quinton won an award for Outstanding Contribution to Fostering at the FosterTalk Foster Carer Awards in London.

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NEWS

TOP TWEETS FOR BRUM Our pick of what’s been said about Brum this month Simon Le Bon @SimonJCLeBON So what it really takes to survive a movie like Extinction Jurassic Predators, is a pair of very short cutoffs & a t-shirt that never dries.

Hammad Khan @HammadKhanFilm Very good to see @adilray guest presenting The One Show. Clean shave, no

GET YOUR SKATES ON Whether you’re a wobbler or a whizz, there’s a double helping of have-a-go fun this month for all you skaters out there. Solihull is staging its first-ever outdoor rink, Let’s Skate Solihull, complete with carols and DJs in the heart of Mell Square. Meanwhile, Ice Skate Birmingham returns to Centenary Square. Details at www.letsskatesolihull.co.uk and www.iceskatebirmingham.co.uk

glasses, a few strepsils & he comes out looking like nice boy on TV. Adam Stokes @AdamStokesChef @PaulFulford Love it, at 8.08am a pledge not to drink this week and at 7.53pm opening a bottle of red!!

Tom Carroll @TomEPCarroll Walked past the German Market earlier, who knew the Germans were so famous for glo sticks, dressing up as The Predator or busking?

Michael Loftus @newsfrom2 New London concert hall? No need says impresario Raymond Gubbay.

Birmingham Symphony Hall is “by far the best concert hall in the country”.

Picture: TH Photography

CHEFS FIGHT IT OUT IN BATTLE OF EDEN Eight of the country’s top chefs put their skills to the test in the annual Battle of Eden. The head chefs, each from a different hotel in the Eden Hotel Collection, descended on Mallory Court, Leamington Spa to fight for the title which was won by Mark Budd from Bovey Castle with his dish of layered duck.

DASH OF CHRISTMAS Hundreds of Santas will be running through Sandwell Valley Country Park as part of the first Sandwell Santa Dash. The event organised by Mytime Active and Sandwell Leisure Trust is on Saturday 5 December. Organisers are hoping for a large crowd to cheer on the speedy Santas from 10am.

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WANTED: A WARM WELCOME Home sweet home! We all take it for granted, especially at this time of year, but not everyone is lucky enough to have a roof over their heads. Brummies are being asked to volunteer to help the city’s homeless at the Crisis Skylight centre, which is opening on Christmas Day for the first time. Contact http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/crisis-at-christmas-birmingham.html

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NEWS

CHILD’S PLAY AT MINI MUSEUM A gallery has been transformed into an animal-themed toddler-friendly space with the opening of the new Mini Museum at BMAG. It’s designed to appeal to pre-school children with popular paintings and exhibits alongside comfortable soft seating areas and storytelling space. More details at www.birminghammuseums.org.uk

TWIGGY OPENS MEGA-MARKS The largest Marks and Spencer in the Midlands has opened at Longbridge on the site of the former MG Rover car plant. The store, which includes a prosecco bar and nails and brow beauty bar, was opened by Sixties’ supermodel Twiggy and a collection of vintage Minis.

GLENN CARTER

SUPERSTAR The image is one of the most powerful to be seen on a Birmingham stage, and the actor portraying Christ on the cross is the Midlands very own Glenn Carter.

Staffordshire-born Glenn stars in Jesus Christ Superstar which is touring the UK, including a visit to Birmingham Hippodrome. Glenn has played the role in the West End, on

Picture: Ian Yates

STICKY BUSINESS! One of Birmingham’s busiest streets was transformed into a collage of bright yellow circles to highlight the scourge of the city’s phantom gum-droppers.

Volunteers from Retail BID Birmingham and the Chewing Gum Action Group descended on New Street near Union Passage with spray paint cans in an attempt to reduce gum litter in the area.

Broadway and on film.

GOT ANY NEWS? Email your news and pictures to editor@brumliving.co.uk december 2015

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COVER STORY

A VERY

CLARY CHRISTMAS

Shoppers beware! Julian Clary is in town and when he’s not camping it up at the Hippodrome, he warns David Johns he’ll be diving in and sampling Brum’s new retail therapy experience ulian Clary had no hesitation in declaring where’s the place to be this December. “Birmingham! For lovers of panto like me, there’s nowhere else in the country that can touch it,” he said. “What’s more, I’m really looking forward to doing a touch of Christmas shopping at Grand Central – I hear it’s quite something!”

Mind you, Grand Central excepted, the camp comedian and national treasure is a bit of an old hand when it comes to knowing his way around the place.

When he opens in an all-new adaptation and production of Aladdin at the Hippodrome this month, it will be his third panto in Brum.

J

LITERARY STRUGGLE “I can’t quite put my finger on it,” he says, with the usual double entendre tone to his voice, “but Midlanders and panto just go together. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve always thought people from Birmingham are a really rather cheerful lot – they seem to just want to laugh as often as they can. It’s brilliant. And the Hippodrome is just such a big and wonderful place to be. It’s going to be great to be back there and back in Birmingham over Christmas and the New Year.”

When we spoke to Julian he was still a few weeks away from starting rehearsals for Aladdin. Instead something else more urgent was on his mind as he was struggling to

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get to grips with writing his third children’s book about The Bolds, a family of hyenas living disguised as people.

The first episode proved a huge hit with kids, and the second is due out in March.

“I’ve just received the draft of the third book back from my editor who’s telling me I must make some changes,” he sighed. “Apparently it reads too much like the previous stories… oh, well!”

THE JOY OF MINCING With one of the heaviest workloads of an entertainer/author on the planet, Julian finds it a challenge to fit it all in. “I love writing, especially for children,” he says.

“But I have to work on the book and then drop it and come back to it as and when I can. There’s such a lot going on.”

As well as revisiting the book and preparing to rehearse for panto, Julian was starting to work on writing material for his new stand-up tour, The Joy of Mincing, which celebrates 30 years as a stand-up comedian. The first shows are in Australia in February before he returns to tour the UK with a date pencilled in for Birmingham in April.

“It’s a lot,” he admits, “but I’m really looking forward to the panto. It’s a completely new show with new costumes and new set. It will be lovely, rather exciting actually. I’m comfortable with panto, I know how I’m going to play it and what to expect.”

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COVER STORY

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I’m looking forward to doing a touch of Christmas shopping at Grand Central – I hear it’s quite something

december 2015

”

Photography by Idil Sukan/Draw HQ @idilsukan on Twitter/Instagram and on Facebook

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COVER STORY

During his previous visits to Birmingham, Julian has spent the festive period staying over in both town and country. “This time I am really near the Hippodrome, within walking distance, and near the new station,” he says. “In the past, I’ve done the staying in the rolling countryside bit, which was lovely, but then it snowed which was scary trying to make it in to the theatre in time for the matinee performances.”

RETAIL THERAPY As well as dropping in to Grand Central and the city’s other ‘retail therapy’ offerings, Julian is looking forward to sampling one or two of the bars and restaurants around the theatre. With two full-on performances a day of Aladdin, Julian won’t exactly be ripping up the town, though. “There isn’t a lot of time,” he says. “Although… we do get Christmas Day off!” I Aladdin, 19 December to 31 January, Birmingham Hippodrome.

Tickets at www.birminghamhippodrome.com

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Midlanders and panto go together. You’re a really cheerful, happy lot… you just love to laugh

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INTERVIEW

HEROES RETURN

Duran Duran have been away from their home city for way too long – but now they’re back, and bass legend John Taylor tells David Johns of one or two old haunts he’d love to revisit

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INTERVIEW

J

ohn Taylor sounds nostalgic. “When we were shot out a cannon in the Eighties part of me was left in Birmingham and no morning since has passed without me thinking ‘I’ve got to get back there and have a really good look around some day’.”

Maybe this month will present the perfect opportunity for John and the rest of legendary rock band Duran Duran to drop in and revisit their roots as Birmingham’s superhero group comes home to perform for their adoring fans at the Genting Arena?

“It all depends on the day if we get the chance to go around Birmingham,” answers John. “It’s so difficult to make hard and fast plans, but it’s possible and we’d love it to happen. There are so many haunts to go back to. It’d be a bit like a treasure hunt looking for lost souls.”

The band is always short on time, it goes with the territory. They are in town for one night as part of a packed three-week UK tour promoting their 14th album Paper Gods. We caught up with John, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor as they grabbed a short break just after returning from playing a series of gigs in the US. “We’re into rehearsals for our UK tour in a week, so we’re in a kind of limbo right now.” explained John. “While it’s similar to the States, our UK performances will be slightly longer.

EMOTIONAL “When you’ve been doing what we do for a long time you tend to romanticise about the cities and places you go to. You can always come up with something special to add to your performance. If it’s Liverpool, you say ‘Hey, we’re playing in the city where the Beatles were born’. Coming home to Birmingham is extra special. It’s bound to be an emotional occasion.”

It’s difficult to imagine a more famous, more Brummie bunch.

John is from Hollywood in Solihull, Nick hails from Moseley and Roger has his roots in Necells. And while ‘odd man out’ Simon was born just outside London in Pinner, he considers himself an ‘honorary Brummie’ after the band was founded while the guys were studying together at Birmingham Polytechnic, now Birmingham City University.

Simon has no hesitation in describing playing Birmingham as the band coming home. “We’ve got a special thing with Birmingham and people are proud of Duran Duran for being a Brum band – that’s how it feels to us,” he said. “And we’re proud to be Brummies. I miss Broad Street and the old Rum Runner where the band first started and used to rehearse. It’s not just where we met but where we first worked.”

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INTERVIEW

Duran Duran hit superstar status in the early 1980s, subsequently selling more than 100 million records and racking up 14 UK Top 10 singles, including huge favourites such as Rio, Notorious, A View To A Kill, The Wild Boys, The Reflex and Union of the Snake.

Accolades include two Brit awards, two Grammys and in September this year they received the inaugural MTV Visionary Award. In the same month, the Paper Gods album reached the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 album chart, making the band one of the few artists ever to achieve the accolade in three different decades.

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Coming home is special, it’s bound to be an emotional occasion

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“In the Eighties we were barely hanging on, we were kids,” remembers John. “Duran Duran has settled down and these days we’re relatively stable, relaxed professionals who are still passionate about what we do and are eager to please. We’re pleased with the new album, we spent two years on it in our studio in Battersea. Touring is much more instant and happening now, whereas you build an album up over time, you need to think things through. Everyone wants to make a great album, but you can each have different ideas of what great means.”

We’re in no doubt what the verdict of the excited fans in Birmingham will be… I Duran Duran are at the Genting Arena on 4 December

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FOOD & DRINK

ANDY WATERS Bring on the cheese and bean toasties but hold the foams and jellies, says the Michelin star winner who has an exciting new restaurant at Resorts World Tell us about your cooking I’m not one that’s terribly excited by these foams and jellies. You have to do what you’re best at and I’m a classically trained chef and I would describe my style as modern British. I get really excited about using great produce to create outstanding flavours.

Ultimately you need to get to know what your customers want and reward them for their loyalty.

How did you become a chef?

I was always more practical than academic at school and it was a natural progression into cooking.

My mother was a real inspiration. As a confectioner, she was an artist and I remember she could create a bowl of flowers and you could lean down to sniff

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them before realising they were made of sugar! I used to cook for my aunt and my parents before they went out on a Saturday night but my first real cooking job was in Bournemouth where I guess my claim to fame is that Jean-Christophe Novelli was doing the pastry – we’re still good friends. I then went on to work at The Plough and Harrow in Edgbaston and Simpsons Restaurant under Andreas Antona. But I always knew I wanted my own business and after testing the water at The Bay Tree I opened my first restaurant, Edmunds in Henley-in-Arden.

What do you eat when at home?

As simple as possible. I love my junk food but fortunately my wife cooks a lot, so she makes sure

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CHEF’S CORNER

Is the customer always right?

At the time yes! We’re all individual and have our own set of beliefs.

Share a cooking tip If you have a sticky frying pan, fry on silicone What was your favourite food as a kid?

My mum’s warm sponge cake straight out of the oven. A smell to die for.

Food heaven and food hell?

Can’t beat that heavenly sponge cake but my absolute hell is shellfish – I’m allergic to it!

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

Swamp toad. It has a similar texture to chicken but it tastes more fishy and is rancid! there’s plenty of healthy fish and vegetables. We have two children so we also tend to eat more kiddyfriendly foods like cheese and bean toasties!

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

My twin brother is a boat builder and was at Sealine in Kidderminster for a year. We’re very similar Who’s the best chef in the world and why? And who’s so I suppose I would have gone into that industry. the best in Brum?

There’s no one best chef. It’s a tough industry What do you recommend from this evening’s menu? and we all have our own styles and talents. I’ve All of it, or it wouldn’t be on! I always been inspired by Paul Bocuse in Lyon and although it may be a cliché I think Gordon Ramsay For the recipe for Andy’s delicious and easy-to-make Thai-inspired has a workload and pedigree that’s second to none.

Turkey Laab go to www.brumliving.co.uk There’s a fantastic food scene in Birmingham and we should be so proud of the next generation of Andy Waters Restaurant at Resorts World, Pendigo Way, Birmingham, chefs coming out the College of Food (or UCB as B40 1PU. Tel 0121 273 1238 www.watersrestaurant.co.uk it’s now known).

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

HYATT REGENCY 2 Bridge St, Birmingham B1 2JZ. Tel: 0121 643 1234 http://birmingham.regency.hyatt.com hen it became apparent a bit of preChristmas R and R was required we hot-footed it to the tranquil surroundings of the Hyatt for 24 hours of child-free relaxation – that was the idea anyway. A day of deadlines meant we said hello to the weekend later than we’d planned. Better late than never couldn’t have been more apt. We were greeted warmly by David at concierge who was a joy and let us park our car right outside. (He also revealed himself to be a man of impeccable taste as a fan of this very magazine.)

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CONFIDENT MENU It goes without saying that we have a lot of love for Birmingham, but from our 19th floor suite the city looked more incredible than ever. The view inside wasn’t bad either. The suite was enormous with a large working area, decent dressing table and mirror, a hugely comfortable bed, fantastic bath and a nicely chilled bottle of champagne. A great start to the weekend, we relaxed immediately.

Access to the Regency Club lounge on the 22nd floor was a bonus with complimentary nibbles and drinks and even more awesome views. There was a

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real mix of people. Couples like us having a predinner natter and other guests having a chilled evening eating from the buffet-style table.

Downstairs in the Aria restaurant the vibe was more formal, but not stuffy. The atrium and the constant trickle of the water feature gave it a bit of a holiday atmosphere. We put it down to the fizz, but we felt a million miles from home!

The menu at Aria was to the point – in a good way - much more confident than a rambling, confused tome. I enjoyed a very pretty and refreshing starter of beetroot and horseradish cannelloni with pickled beetroot and dill puree. This proved a hit on social media – it really was gorgeous and tasted just as good as it looked. The Other Half (OH) ordered a chicken Caesar salad. It was less dainty than the beetroot dish, but tasted great with loads of garlic and punchy Parmesan.

It was a Friday evening so as you’d expect the restaurant was pretty busy and had a pleasing hum about it. There was a toddler running around which was mildly annoying at 9pm, but we were able to ignore it largely.

Norfolk chicken supreme a la bonne femme was seriously good with a big hit of garlic, caramelised

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

pearl onions, crisp roasted new potatoes and parsnips. I loved it. OH went for an onglet steak with parmentier potatoes, celeriac cream and rosemary jus. The accompaniments were delicious, but while the steak was flavoursome it was a bit tougher than he’d have liked. Accepting that it was the sort of cut that sacrificed a bit of tenderness for flavour, there was nothing to moan about.

The desserts all sounded scrumptious and once we’d found out what the heck it was we plumped for a Schwarzwaelder with chocolate mousse, cherry sorbet and cream (pictured). It was a delicate Black Forest gateaux-style pud packed with rich kirsch flavours that looked beautiful and tasted seriously good.

NIFTY NIGHTCAP Beyond dinner we got slightly carried away and thought we’d have a nightcap in the hotel bar, the Gentleman and Scholar. The atmosphere was infectious and it was a bit of a who’s who of Brum.

Media types, high-flying dentists, fashionistas, jewellers – a stylish and eclectic bunch that made for a fun hour or two. Hardly a swift nightcap, we headed up to our room after midnight feeling a bit squiffy, but very happy.

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We opted for a relaxed continental breakfast in the Regency Club lounge. The full English was available in the restaurant had we wanted it. The lounge was perfect – good coffee, a buffet-style help yourself arrangement, all the papers, lots of space between tables and comfy seats.

In summary, we didn’t feel super-rejuvenated after our visit, however we did leave the hotel relaxed and content. We’d had a cracking time, eaten some brilliant food, consumed some great wine and met some interesting people. What more could you want… I

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FOOD & DRINK

NIBBLES and

SHORTS

Birmingham has a lively and buzzing bar and restaurant scene. Here, we present our insider guide to what’s going on in your city’s eateries and drinking dens YOUNG CHEF LEO MAKES HIS MARK Remember the name! Sous chef Leo Kattou is the toast of Simpsons, Edgbaston after a superb performance in the British Culinary Federation Young National Chef of the Year final. Leo was named runner-up in the competition at a special awards dinner held at University College Birmingham’s Atrium restaurant.

FRESH FLAVOURS IN THE SQUARE A new restaurant has taken over from Waters at Chad Square in Edgbaston – and it’s promising tasty continental cuisine ‘elevated to modern tastes’. The Epicurean Birmingham is the brainchild of Alfonso Yufera-Ruiz, previously of the Manor Hotel, Simpsons and Opus before most recently heading up Don Diego and El Borracho de Oro. Can’t wait to give it a try!

WELL DONE AT THE STEAKHOUSE Congratulations to Birmingham steakhouse Anderson’s Bar & Grill in St Paul’s Square for winning the Restaurant of the Year title in the Food Awards England Midlands category. Delighted director Daniel Anderson told us: “It’s an honour to have won an award that celebrates British food and hospitality. I’d like to thank my amazing team.“

MPW OPENS FIRST CHOPHOUSE Marco Pierre White has launched a new brand with his first chophouse opening at Hotel La Tour. Mr White’s English Chophouse updates and modernises the traditions of the original establishments first created in London in the 1700s and which then became the fashionable places to be seen in the 1960s.

ASIAN ACCOLADE FOR BISHAL Bishal Rasaily, executive chef at both Pushkar and PRAZA, cooked up a storm during the final of the UK South Asian Chef Competition and was crowned one of the three prestigious winners. Bishal was one of eight UK finalists to take part in the live cooking competition where he was hailed as ‘outstanding’ by the judges.

ALL CHANGE AT METRO GRILL The popular Metro Bar & Grill has been renamed Met Bar & Kitchen and relaunched with a fresher, more relaxed look.

Chris Kelly and Alastair Tyson brought the eatery to Solihull 11 years ago having owned and operated Metro Birmingham since 1997. They’ve made subtle changes to the interior design as well as behind the scenes work in the kitchen.

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M from Ch in im ju ristm Spe um st £ a cia s 8 23. se l pe 95 t m rs pe en on r u s i pe n rso a pa n rty

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HOW SPICEY ARE WE...

COME 'TIKKA' CHANCE ON US on Open and as Christm r ’s Day! ea New Y ings e book r im t y a d e Special le in Decemb b availa s and to term subject itions cond

2 FOR 1 COCKTAILS AND MOCKTAILS BETWEEN 5PM-7PM DAILY With 250 covers we also cater for private parties and corporate functions Unit 10 Fiveways Leisure 197 Broad Street Birmingham B15 1AY (Near the Cinema)

Tel: 0121 643 4808 Email: info@eastzeast.com web: http://eastzeast.com/venues/birmingham-broad-street/

MANCHESTER

LIVERPOOL

PRESTON

BIRMINGHAM

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Revills Farm Shop

Christmas from the award winning farm shop

A modern twist on traditional Bengali cuisine…

Coming soon!

As an extension to our award winning restaurant we will be opening our stunning new cocktail lounge bar!

Locally reared turkey, goose & duck available

Enjoy delicious cocktails and fine Indian tapas food.

OPEN

Evenings Sun – Thurs: 5pm – 11pm

Delicious homemade cakes & pastries

Fri – Sat: 5pm – 11.30pm Sunday lunch buffet from 12.00pm Take away and delivery service available Fresh local vegetables and fruit

Final bookings being taken for

68/69 The Green Kings Norton Birmingham B38 8RU T: 0121 448 2680/448 5820 E: info.mahfil@mail.com

www.mahfil.co.uk

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Beautiful festive hampers available

Bourne Road, Defford, Worcestershire WR8 9BS Tel: 01386 750466 www.revillsfarmshop.co.uk

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LUNCH SPOT

THE MET BAR 680-684 Warwick Road, Solihull B91 3DX. Tel: 0121 705 9495 www.themetbar.com fter a morning of intense Christmas shopping and a spot of ice skating, we were in need of a pit stop to regroup and dry off. The Met Bar had just been revamped, so we thought why the hell not?

The prosecco at £14.95 a bottle was tempting, but we feared bagging some inappropriate presents post lunch, so we enjoyed a glass of pinot grigio instead which hit the spot. The place was pretty busy with a nice buzz about it. Thankfully the cosy blue velour seating survived the revamp, so we nestled in.

The menu was a comforting affair with lots of choice along with some interesting specials like pan fried hake with poached egg and parmesan mash. I tucked into grilled halloumi and shaved root vegetables with a chilli, mint and lime dressing to start. It looked gorgeous and tasted zingy, and while the portion seemed large I polished off the whole lively lot. Partner in crime (not literally) opted for aromatic duck with oriental vegetables, honey, ginger and soy. There was so much of the sauce that it was more of a soup, but tasted fantastic, so who cared?

Tasty thyme roasted chicken was served on top of a bubble and squeak that boasted satisfyingly crunchy edges – a great way to pack in a few of your five a day in our book. A delicious morel and white wine sauce topped off what was a really good dish.

Slow roast belly pork with lemon, garlic and sage was moist and delicious although not so much of your five a day going on here, so we’d recommend ordering the buttered greens. It was

A

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served with a savoury bread pudding that we didn’t really understand. It sort of did the job of a Yorkshire pudding, but not as well.

What was supposed to be a pit stop turned into a three-course lunch as the desserts winked in our direction. Chocolate mousse did what it said on the tin.

Sweet and moreish served with a white chocolate gel and fresh raspberries. The star though was the steamed orange and poppy seed sponge with clementine syrup and mascarpone ice cream. The sponge was light and fluffy and really lovely next to the sharp fruit and sweet syrup. Clean plates all round.

After our unexpected feast, we continued the shopping trip with renewed vigour and perhaps just one more whirl on the ice. I

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FOOD & DRINK

THE

9

WINES OF CHRISTMAS

Rob Price names his perfect choices for every festive occasion

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FOOD & DRINK

t’s my favourite time of year… the chance to indulge a little – not too much of course! But with all that gorgeous food around it would be a shame not to enhance the experience with a cracking drop of wine. I’ve selected nine great wines, split into three categories – three for an informal get-together with friends, three more to go with the traditional Christmas lunch, and finally a trio for a sophisticated New Year’s Eve party. I

I

3

T O SHARE WITH FRIENDS An informal pre-Christmas celebration needs some easydrinking but interesting wines that won’t break the bank.

Here’s my top trio…

Fillipo Sansovino Prosecco – The fizz of the moment and this is a fantastic example.

Crisp and balanced, light, but with enough flavour to be interesting. Asda has the best price at just £8.98 a bottle.

Mud House New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc – This is a superb inexpensive NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Lovely and flesh with vibrant nose of grapefruit, hay and peach. A fantastic mouthwatering wine, with citrus and tropical fruit on the palate. Around £7 a bottle from Waitrose.

Piccini Memoro – An unusual blend of Italian grapes, where some have been allowed to dry in the sun after picking, giving more concentration of flavour. The result is rich and warm with dark cherry and fig flavours. This International Wine Challenge Silver medal winner is available from Morrisons and Tesco at around £6 bottle.

3

FOR CHRISTMAS LUNCH Choose the right wines and you’ll make what is the most important meal of the year even more special. I’ve selected my pick for each course – a great aperitif, followed by the main course and dessert wines.

Solear Manzanilla sherry – This is a fortified Spanish wine from Sanlucar de Barrameda in Southern Spain. Bright, fresh, delicate and extraordinarily dry with a long, nutty, tangy finish. Try as an aperitif with olives and salty nuts. It is a perfect combination. Around £5 for half a bottle from Tesco.

Chateau Haut Batailley 2010 – Bordeaux is my favourite wine. Go for a red from the left bank, including the four famous communes, Saint Estèphe, Margaux, Pauillac, and Saint Julien. They all produce wines of great depth, flavour and incredible complexity. The years 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 are worth seeking out.

My choice, Chateau Haut Batailley 2010, is an elegant claret, with all the traditional aromas and flavours, spice, cigar box, and earthy notes. Decant for three or four hours before drinking. £60 from Frazier’s Wine Merchants.

Peller Estates Riesling Icewine 2011 – Made from grapes picked when they are frozen, the ice then skimmed off, leaving pure concentrated juice, that offers an intensity seldom found in other wines. Majestic have Peller Estates Riesling Icewine 2011 at £35 for half bottle – and it is worth every precious little drop.

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3

FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE Lastly my three wines for that sophisticated New Year’s Eve party.

All you need is Champagne, only Champagne and nothing but Champagne.

Pol Aimé – Let’s start with an inexpensive, but no less wonderful Champagne. Pol Aimé is a blend of the three main grapes, Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay. An easy-drinking fizz, that’s crisp, with good depth for an amazing price of only £13 from Tesco.

Oudinot Rose – I do like Champagne with colour and one of my favourite pink Champagnes is this one from Marks and Spencer. Ripe red fruits, creamy but dry and refreshing. A silver medal winner from the International Wine and Spirit competition.

Expect to pay around £20 a bottle.

Pol Roger Winston Churchill 2002 – If you want to know what the finest champagne tastes like, this is it! Vintage Champagne has to be aged for a minimum of three years and has much greater depth and complexity. Remember to drink it slightly warmer at about 10˚C so you appreciate all the extra flavour this maturity (and cost) brings. Available from the Drinks Emporium, Birmingham at £250 bottle.

Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine and beer education company that offers fun informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses in Birmingham and Milton Keynes city centres and expanding in Sutton Coldfield. For more information please contact Rob Price on 0121 270 7359, or visit www.birminghamwineschool.com

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

THE TINKERTINI Introducing a merry mix that’s magic for all the family irates, fairies and a boy who can fly – all packed into a glass! This magical mix is just what the festive period ordered because it’s perfect for kids (and adults too!)

Named the Tinkertini, the mocktail is one of a brand new non-alcoholic range concocted by the mixologists at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Stratford restaurant to coincide with the company’s family show, Wendy & Peter Pan. The Tinkertini, based on Peter Pan’s mischievous fairy sidekick Tink, is a mix of raspberry sherbet and apple juice complete with edible glitter stars to give an exciting flavour of Neverland. I

P

Ingredients:

I 100ml raspberry sherbet syrup I 25ml lime juice I 50ml apple juice

To decorate the glass:

I Lime I Raspberry sherbet I Edible gold and pink stars

Method: Dip a high ball glass in lime juice then roll the rim of the glass in edible gold and pink stars and raspberry sherbet. Shake all the remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker and strain over ice cubes into the glass.

RSC Rooftop Restaurant Bar, tel 01789 403449 www.rsc-rooftop-restaurant.co.uk

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ing livSTYLE

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PARTY GIRL Fleur East by Lipsy

DRESS CODE

It’s party season. The diary’s full, but oh what to wear? With a gaggle of demands to negotiate we need a style plan to see us through

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STYLE SSSHH! Whispering ring

by Fei Liu www.feiliu.co.uk

IT'S IN THE DETAIL

MAGIC MAXI

Noir Sachin & Babi embroidered dress £895, Harvey Nichols

Faux fur coat £69, metallic detailed maxi dress £65, and mini glitter shoulder bag £18, Very

DEEP V Adrianna Papell beaded taffeta gown £290, House of Fraser

WHAT A MESH BAG A STAR Exclusive Moschino star bag, Selfridges

lack tie, white tie, smart casual, Bondthemed, glamazon and gold… just some of the dress codes giving us a headache this festive season. And to quote etiquette bible Debretts: “Failure to comply would be considered rude, or at worse you would be refused entry to the event.” We don’t strictly agree – it seems a bit out-dated – but do believe it’s better to over dress than under as effort is always appreciated.

We reckon a couple of pieces can see you through a host of events without being ejected from any! So we’ve put together our favourite finds that’ll have you strutting confidently through Christmas whatever the environment.

A generation ago black tie meant ball gown.

While we would always suggest a dress or a super sharp tuxedo, a midi-dress like the lace Monsoon Audrey or the skater style of the Noir

B OFF THE SHOULDER Blue debut dress £60, Debenhams

december 2015

Mesh back lace detail maxi dress £75, Lipsy, The Fort Shopping Park

TWINKLE TOES Azara £69, Dune

Sachin & Babi embroidered dress do the trick beautifully and provide much more versatility than a gown.

If floor length is what you’re after there are some stunning evening dresses around this season. House of Fraser has a handful of crackers such as the Biba deco column maxi which ticks every one of our dress code boxes. Teamed with a leather biker jacket and pared down accessories you could even rock a smart casual soiree in this – our least favourite dress code.

For anything from a cocktail party to a girlie night on the town, top of our party tree is the French Connection navy embellished dress from Selfridges. Nothing screams party like feathers and sequins and this cute little number has got the lot. Add killer heels and a clutch and you can’t fail to have a great time. Happy Christmas! I

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STYLE DREAM PARTY FROCK SHARP SUIT Jacket £20, blouse £10, trousers £12 and shoes £12, Primark

Audrey lace dress £119, Monsoon

FIFTIES VIBE Eana dress £299, Ted Baker

GREAT CUT Debut dress £160, Debenhams, The Fort Shopping Park

PLATFORM FINE Madison shoe £89, Dune

COLUMN INCHES Biba Deco column maxi dress £149, House of Fraser

LOGO NECKLACE Gucci Britt necklace £150, TH Baker

HI HO SILVER Wolsey bag £149, Hobbs

CLASSIC COURT Skye court £139, Hobbs

GREAT CAPE Per Una Speziale feather cape £99 M&S, Pavilions Birmingham

FUN TIMES Exclusive French Connection navy embellished dress £275, Selfridges

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STYLE

IN THE STARS Exclusive Karen Millen Constellation dress £299, Selfridges

PLEATS PLEASE Biba pleated embellished maxi dress £169, House of Fraser

GREY DRAPE Jenny Packham dress £130, Debenhams

GOLD RUSH Biba gold, House of Fraser

NO PLACE LIKE HOME SWEEPING STATEMENT Velvet embellished maxi dress £189, House of Fraser

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Betty court £129, Hobbs

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STYLE

HEAVY METAL Charlotte Olympia geometric sandals £575, Harvey Nichols

RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS Balmain ruffled velvet mini dress £1,280, Harvey Nichols

FLOWER POWER Dora maxi dress £169, Monsoon

EFFORTLESS STYLE Maxi dress £48, velvet waistcoat £30 and lace-up flats £40, Next

PURPLE REIGN Lawra dress £499, Ted Baker

COOL TULLE Alice + Olivia embroidered tulle gown £385, Harvey Nichols

ROUND TOWN

KHAKI LACE UPS

Vivienne Westwood cross body bag £260, House of Fraser

Open toe strappy sandal £35, Dorothy Perkins

SHOULDER CANDY Exclusive French Connection navy embellished cape £180, Selfridges

OPEN BACK Alice + Olivia open back lamé dress £285, Harvey Nichols

COOL CUFFS Limited edition cuff earrings £15, M&S, Pavilions Birmingham

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STYLE

PARTY TIME Jacket, shirt, trousers and bow tie available from Next

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

If you’re investing in a decent jacket this party season make it one that works hard all year round robably the most adaptable piece in your wardrobe, a blazer is not just for Christmas. As stylish with jeans and a crisp white tee as with a tailored shirt and bow tie, embrace a two-button version in a versatile colour which will see you through a plethora of events.

We’ve pulled together a handful of our favourites with accessories that raise their game for the party season such as McQueen skull cufflinks, Jimmy Choo loafers and a Clements and Church tie.

P

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STYLE SKULL'S OUT Alexander McQueen skull cufflinks £95, Harvey Nichols

EVERYTHING’S ROSY Plum wool jacket, Steel & Jelly

JOLLY FOX New & Lingwood Jolly Fox jacquard silk bow tie £40, House of Fraser

IN THE NAVY Velvet blazer £250 Howick at House of Fraser

WORK OF ART Longleat photographic jacquard silk tie £40, House of Fraser

CHECK MATE RJR.John Rocha jacket £125, Debenhams STAND OUT Handmade silk tie made in England £149.95, Clements and Church

SHARP SHIRT Moss Bros Covent Garden Victorian collar dress shirt £55, Moss Bros

HIGH STYLE Dolce & Gabbana moire velvet tuxedo jacket £1,850, Harvey Nichols

LOAFING AROUND Jimmy Choo tasselled loafers £450, Harvey Nichols

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BOW DOWN Alexander McQueen polka dot silk bowtie £100, Harvey Nichols

TRUE BLUE New & Lingwood navy velvet blazer £250, House of Fraser

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HEALTH

SQUASH IT! Fast, fun and one of the best workouts you can have quash is great sport to play and one of the best ways to improve your fitness – which makes a recent decision to ditch it from the Olympic Games in favour of surfing all the more bizarre!

According to national governing body, England Squash and Racketball, more than 500,000 people play the sport on a regular basis. It’s certainly flourishing at centres such as Edgbaston Priory Club, one of the most successful squash and racketball clubs in the country, where head coach Mike Edwards reports continuing interest, especially in beginners’ courses like Give It A Go. The secret to the popularity of squash is simple – it’s fast-moving, easy to learn, can be played by all ages and delivers an excellent cardiovascular workout. It frequently tops surveys to find the best sport for fitness and good health, and here’s why:

S

Work Every Muscle Group Squash can help to build strong, shapely leg and bum muscles – the sports require lots of dynamic lunging which will give you that toned look. Moving to and hitting a ball that is also moving helps strengthen the back and shape the abdominals.

Burn Calories Going to the gym is all well and good but it’s, well, a bit boring! Squash is a great alternative to running on a treadmill or pushing it on an exercise bike. You can burn around 650 calories per hour on court and not even realise you are doing so!

Have Fun As well as developing your fitness levels, squash will help you develop your social network. You’ll get as much enjoyment out of the drink in the bar afterwards as you do from the competition on the court.

It’s Quick You only need a 30 minutes to get a great all-round workout. So even the busiest people can fit it in around work, university, family and other commitments. You can even squeeze a game in on your lunch break!

For All Ages And Abilities Juniors, adults and seniors can all enjoy a session on the court. And you don’t need to be super-star status.

Squash delivers for everyone from knock-about amateurs to serious professionals. I

More information at www.edgbastonpriory.com or call 0121 440 2492

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Gift GUIDE

GIFT GUIDE

Set of 36 mini macaroons £24.95, Paul, Grand Central

Bang & Olufsen Play special edition headphones £329, Harvey Nichols, Mailbox

Blue gilet £24.99, H&M, Pavilions Birmingham

THE BIG

Knitted sheepskin £395, The White Company, Grand Central

Our festive hotlist of amazing present ideas takes advantage of Brum’s newly pimped-up retail offering. We now boast the best shopping scene bar none with lavish stores and truly great independents. Why look anywhere else? Christmas shopping done! Mulled wine anyone?

Crème de la Mer Concentrate Collection £400, Harvey Nichols, Mailbox

Set of four espresso cups £45, Blue Sun Tree www.bluesuntree.co.uk

Simply Nigella, £26.99, Waterstones, Pavilions Birmingham

Briston chronograph watch £235, Harvey Nichols, Mailbox

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GIFT GUIDE

Camel floral printed shirt £35, Steel & Jelly, Grand Central

Serenity necklace, Fei Liu, JQ www.feiliu.co.uk

Penguin baboushka doll £33, Blue Sun Tree www.bluesuntree.co.uk

Tipplesworths mini martini kit £19.99, Selfridges, Bullring English pear and freesia bath salts £30, Jo Malone, Grand Central

Black lace panel body, £25, River Island at The Fort Shopping Park Evie antique olive £149, Agnes & Norman, Kings Norton Business Centre

Murad Beautiful Bright Skin Environmental Shield Christmas kit £141, Debenhams, Bullring

Engelsrufer Angel of Purity locket from £98, Fabulous, Solihull

Yearly membership of Birmingham Botanical Gardens from £27.50, www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

Michael Kors Rose Gold Stud Earrings £59, Beaverbrooks, The Fort Shopping Park GibsonGraphic #1 Northampton Street £95, Gibson Kochanek, Jewellery Quarter

Men’s grooming kit £30 Neal’s Yard Remedies, Grand Central

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GIFT GUIDE Anya Hindmarch star sign sticker £45, Selfridges, Bullring

Acanthus pewter voltive candle £29, Sara Preisler Gallery, Gibb St, Custard Factory

Indigo fedora hat £25, M&S, Pavilions Birmingham Panier de Noel hamper £35, Paul, Grand Central

9ct gold diamond blossom ring £330, Alice Stewart Jewellery, JQ http://alicestewartjewellery.co.uk

Bollinger Spectre 2009 bottle & gift box £125, Drinks Emporium, Aston Road

Min New York Moon Dust fragrance £200, Selfridges, Bullring

Fur keychain £6.99, H&M, Pavilions Birmingham

Tunnel Collection cufflinks £130, James Newman, JQ www.jamesnewman.co.uk

Brightening Body gift set £22.50, PHB Ethical Beauty, Pavilions Birmingham How to Make Tea: The Science Behind Tea £12.99, IKON Gallery, Brindleyplace

Apres pouch £35, Jones, Grand Central

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GIFT GUIDE

Buscemi white trainers £960, Selfridges, Bullring

Run Faster kit £18.50, Mio

Parbrook coat £245, Pretty Green, Pavilions Birmingham

Retro mini popcorn maker £34.99, Leekes, Coventry

Giuseppe Zanotti grained leather backpack £1,250, Harvey Nichols, Mailbox

Tidal necklace and earrings, Becca Williams, JQ http://beccawilliams.co.uk

Gucci G-Timeless men’s watch £670, TH Baker, Grand Central

Yswara gift box £39.99, Selfridges, Bullring

Alnwick umbrella £299.95, Clements & Church, Church St, Birmingham

Gold vermeil double teardrop ring, Rhiannon Lewis Jewellery, JQ www.rhiannonlewisjewellery.com Gossard Desire longline bra £42 and high waisted pants £32, Sipsey, Drury Lane, Solihull

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GIFT GUIDE

Lego Mini Cooper £74.99, John Lewis, Grand Central

DeLonghi Dedica coffee machine £199, Leekes, Coventry

Spectrum DABFM portable shower radio £49.95, John Lewis, Grand Central Icons of style book £20, Topman, The Fort Shopping Park

Parkes leather holdall £799.95, Clements & Church, Church St, Birmingham

Cantucci e Vin Santo set £25, Carluccios, Grand Central

Gucci engraved heart earrings £105, TH Baker, Grand Central Exclusive Alexander McQueen star skull chiffon scarf £180, Selfridges, Bullring Name a seat at Symphony Hall from £500, THSH, call Sally on 0121 644 5072

Dylan stone boot £129, Agnes & Norman, Kings Norton Business Centre

Hazel Atkinson hand printed cuffs £52, Sara Preisler Gallery, Gibb St, Custard Factory

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Diamond Duo set £349, Natura Bisse, Harvey Nichols, Mailbox

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GIFT GUIDE Christmas elf jumper adult £30, junior £25, Aston Villa Football Club http://shop.avfc.co.uk

Printed photobooks from £5.99, CEWE Photobooks http://cewe-photobook.co.uk

Crosley Cruiser turntable £79.95, John Lewis, Grand Central

Euston sock £19.95, Clements & Church, Church St, Birmingham

Victoria Beckham emerald Liberty tote £1,100, Harvey Nichols, Mailbox

Fiori collection cluster ring £1,200, James Newman, JQ www.jamesnewman.co.uk

When You Dead by Guy Martin £20, Waterstones, Pavilions Birmingham

Vivienne Westwood Scarf £110, Peter Forson, Great Western Arcade Beauty Sleep Christmas kit £40, Neal’s Yard, Grand Central

Traditional yellow kettle £39.99, IKON Gallery, Brindleyplace

Personalised Nutella £4.99, Selfridges, Bullring Whispering Pearl earrings, Fei Liu, JQ www.feiliu.co.uk

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HOMES

Hot Properties Clever working homes and George Cadbury’s lovely lodge feature in this month’s top picks

GEORGIAN GRANDEUR Wheeleys Road, Birmingham Guide price: £750k Agent: Fine and Country, tel: 0121 746 6400

The handsome façade of this Georgian beauty has great kerb appeal. The in/out driveway with lots of parking space is a plus as is the pretty rear garden. The space inside is well laid out and plentiful with an attractive open plan kitchen/dining/living room.

Three big bedrooms plus an obvious master with ensuite and a large family bathroom do the job upstairs.

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HOMES

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HOMES

BRICKS&BITS

JAM HOUSE GOES ON THE MARKET The building that houses one of Birmingham’s most iconic music venues has been put up for sale for £3.26 million. The Jam House, St Paul’s Square is being sold by Birmingham Properties Group. John Bunce, manager of the Jam House, said the sale would not affect the running of the venue. “It will be business as usual during and after the sale of the building.”

CHART-TOPPING BRUM LEADS WAY

RAMBLING FAMILY HAVEN Concorde House, Birmingham Guide price: £725k Agent: Maguire Jackson tel: 0121 634 1520 Sir Harry’s Road is one of the city’s most desirable addresses with a plethora of quality bars, restaurants and clubs on the doorstep. The house offers the space and flexibility that suits family life with eight bedrooms and three reception rooms and has been finished beautifully. There’s also a handy separate coach house with kitchen, lounge, bedroom and bathroom.

Birmingham is leading the way in approving applications to convert offices to apartments with a 98 per cent approval rate. Research by property consultants Daniel Watney found 42 of 43 office-toresidential applications were approved in Birmingham between April 2014 and June 2015. The rate across the rest of England was only one in five.

SOLIHULL? WE’RE JUST LOVIN’ IT! Solihull has taken second place in a survey to find the best places to live in the UK. The uSwitch Best Places to Live Index ranked 130 towns and cities. Factors included working hours, life expectancy, hours of sunshine and disposable income. Edinburgh topped this year’s chart.

From the industry’s movers and shakers to the latest groundbreaking developments… email your property news and pictures to shelley@brumliving.co.uk

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LUXURY DEVELOPMENT The Franklin, Bournville Guide price: from £122k Agent: Knight Frank, tel: 0121 222 2220 A development of 79 boutique apartments in leafy Bournville, The Franklin is a project with high ambition. Bespoke designed landscaping and the architect’s scrupulous attention to detail have resulted in a scheme that looks contemporary, comfortable and luxurious. A fully equipped gym and stylish lounge are open to residents too.

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HOMES

WORK FROM HOME 12-14 Regents Place, Jewellery Quarter Guide price: £325k Agent: Maguire Jackson, tel: 0121 634 1520 A development of four live/work townhouses in the Jewellery Quarter, Regents Place provides an innovative take on working from home. The ground floor of each house is a designated work space with a cool, industrial vibe and a separate kitchenette and loo. The second floor has two large bedrooms and a family bathroom while the master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite is nestled on the third.

HILL TOP HOUSE Beaconwood Lodge, Lickey Hills Guide price: £775k Agent: Knight Frank, tel: 01905 723438 Two miles from Barnt Green, Beaconwood Lodge is in a glorious spot with rolling countryside views. Built in 1904 as the lodge to George Cadbury’s summer house it has never been on the open market before.

The land and gardens include a meadow which leads

to an orchard, a coppice of mature trees, a more formal area and patio along with numerous outbuildings. Inside, the house is spacious, light and charming with five bedrooms and masses of entertaining room.

Don’t miss Property of the Week on our Facebook page every Thursday www.facebook.com/bhamliving

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MOTORING

TOUCH OF CLASS How a ‘Mercedes moment’ made festive Sue Cooke feel even more special few days ago I drove 60 miles to meet a friend for our annual Christmas lunch.

While the weather was chilly, bright sunshine streamed through the windscreen. I relaxed in deep comfortable seats, engaged automatic gear and drank in the heady aroma of new leather. As I was avoiding the rush-hour, traffic congestion was minimal and I set the satellite navigation system to ‘No Motorway’ to ensure a more pleasant drive.

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EXTRAVAGANT We had chosen a pub restaurant in a quiet country lane with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. We spent three hours immersed in conversation and good food and as I pulled off the car park I reflected that I had just experienced a true ‘Mercedes moment’ of opulent indulgence.

Enhanced of course by the luxurious Mercedes E-Class I was road-testing.

The AMG Night Edition model is equipped with extravagant styling and sporty performance

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features which add bi-coloured five-twin-spoke design 18-inch AMG alloy wheels, front and rear apron and side skirts and twin-pipe exhaust system with unusual squared, integrated tailpipes in stainless steel. This will set you back an extra £2,695 including VAT from the SE model. But it’s a head turner.

When driving Mercedes cars, I used to enjoy looking out at the three-pointed star perched on the wide bonnet, but unfortunately this traditional characteristic has disappeared and the emblem now appears as an integrated part of the high gloss black louvre grille.

The AMG styling continues in the interior with leather sports seats and dark aluminium trim, a three-spoke multi-function AMG sports steering wheel in nappa leather with race car design flattened bottom section and brushed stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs. Slide into the very comfortable seats, click the seat belt into position and, rather disconcertingly, the belt automatically tightens across your chest.

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MOTORING

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Model: Mercedes E-Class Saloon Night Edition Price: £46,150 on the road with options Engine: E350 BlueTEC AMG Performance: 0-62 in 6.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph CO2 emissions: 136g/km Combined fuel consumption: 54.3mpg

There is a large glovebox which can be refrigerated to keep drinks cool and which contains useful slots for coins and bank cards. The central storage box is great for holding larger items. Everything about this saloon is big and spacious with lots of head and leg room and a huge boot too.

Every time I test a Mercedes I always think all cars should be made to drive like this. The gearchange is operated via a lever behind the steering wheel. Press down for Drive, up for Reverse and a button at the end of the indicator like stalk to park. It is so simple and you keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times.

IMPRESSIVE Safety and security features are equally impressive.

As standard, both Saloon and Estate models are fitted with the Collision Prevention Assist system. Active Park Assist with Parktronic also comes as standard, measuring potential spaces to the left and right of the direction of travel from 0-20 mph. If a suitable space is detected and reverse gear is engaged, the vehicle

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will be automatically steered into the parking space, with the automatic braking function active throughout. There are six engine options, two petrol and three diesel, and a diesel/electric hybrid, priced from £32,750 on the road for the E 220 CDI SE manual. I drove the E350 BlueTEC (auto) generating 252hp.

In 2013, this mid-sized saloon celebrated its 60th year dating back to the W120 ‘Ponton’ of 1953, making the E-Class the most comprehensively revised model range in the company’s history. With the typical E-Class spacious comfort and class-leading levels of safety, adding the stylish AMG design and fantastic performance, the ‘Mercedes moment’ is definitely one to aspire to this Christmas. I You can follow Sue Cooke on Twitter @cookecars

SHOWROOM: Mercedes-Benz Birmingham Central, Lawley Middleway, Birmingham, B4 7XH. Tel: 0800 077 4297 www.mercedes-benzbirminghamcentral2-px.rtrk.co.uk

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GROWING PLACES

NEW THEATRE COMPANY INSPIRES Students from Grace Academy, Solihull celebrated the launch of their new theatre company, Inspire, by showcasing their singing, dancing and acting talents in the first of a series of performances. More than 100 students auditioned to be part of the new theatre company designed to offer specialist production and performance skills training, using experts from stage and screen.

SCHOOL REPORT

Birmingham Living is co mmitted to highlighting the best of our schools and colleges. Here’s ou r round-up of the latest stand-out news and ev ents

GEORGE PLAYS HAMMOND JUNIOR A Solihull School pupil has been playing the part of TV star Richard Hammond in the current two-part Sky 1 documentary about the celebrity’s childhood ambition to be a wildlife photographer. George Brown, aged 10, from Dorridge plays Hammond as a boy at the school where, as an eight year-old he received his first children’s encyclopaedia of animals, sparking a passion for wildlife.

HOCKEY GIRLS JUST CHAMPION Moreton Hall hockey team was crowned champions at the County Hockey Tournament at Lilleshall and now progress to the Midlands Zone U16 finals.

Undefeated in the heats, they pipped Shrewsbury School in a tense final 1-0.

Head of sport, Kate Groves, said: “They showed real determination and are now looking forward to the Midlands finals.”

THEO’S STAR ON THE RISE A student who took up acting classes to help overcome his shyness is proving to be a young star. Theo Gilbert-Birch from Bromsgrove School is celebrating his 11th birthday this month with a performance in Carmen at Warwick Arts Centre. He has also appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hippodrome, worked alongside Jason Donovan and filmed an ad for Lexus.

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LORDSWOOD BOYS

CLEAN UP READY TO ROCK!

As part of Sandwell Council’s Safer 6 Week, Lordswood Boys School cleaned up Bearwood’s streets collecting 15 bags of rubbish in an hour.

Local residents and members of the public were delighted to see cleaner streets and such a positive image within the community.

Children from the Theatre Workshop, Edgbaston joined the cast of the classic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar on stage at Birmingham Hippodrome to perform two of the most iconic numbers from the show, Hosanna and Jesus Christ Superstar. The Workshop’s Suzy Bleasdale said: “The children were so excited to take part in the production”

SUFIYAN REALISES HIS DREAM Ark Kings Academy in Birmingham has been named as one of the most improved sponsored academies in the country. This success is reflected in students like Sufiyan Aziz, pictured with Ark principal Roger Punton, who got one step closer to realising his dream of studying medicine at university after gaining excellent GCSE results and becoming the first student at Ark Kings to get Further Maths GCSE.

SUTTON HOSTS JAMBOREE Nearly 50 years after Sutton Coldfield hosted the World Scout Jamboree, the event returned – but this time with the benefit of 21st century Internet linking up thousands of scouts from across the world to discuss the 2015 theme: Environmental Responsibility – The Earth is Yours. “It provided a unique opportunity for each individual scout to get the real feeling of belonging to a world-wide movement" said assistant district commissioner Adam Hodson.

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UNSUNG HEROES

UNSUNG HEROES

Villa supporter, motivational speaker and author John Flanner MBE tells us how he was thrust down a new career path he never dreamed even existed

JOHN FLANNER The course was a success and John was asked to s a teenager, football mad John Flanner felt produce a presentation on diversity – a ‘buzzword’ in ‘ugly as well as stupid’ and would shy away from girls. This lack of self-esteem scuppered the civil service at the time – as managers didn’t really know what to do or his dream of being a sports understand it much. John said: reporter too as he felt he “I ticked a lot of boxes! Blind, wasn’t bright enough to go to getting on a bit and a man of college. He promptly started faith.” work as an office junior at John presented to managers Fort Dunlop, but aged 19 was in his office who laughed and struck down with Leber Optic cried in equal measure and it Atrophy which left him blind. transformed the atmosphere at John recalled getting on work. He was then invited to with life after the devastating present to teams in other blow: “I learned to be an audio government offices across the typist which in my day was a UK and ultimately at the girl’s job, but I settled down Home Office. In 2006 John easily into a typing pool at was given a civil service HMRC surrounded by women outstanding achievement and stayed for 25 years!” award for his services to Ten years ago while at diversity and equality and HMRC, John was asked to accepted an MBE in 2014. write an article for the office “My wife thought it was a magazine about an aspect of I ticked a lot of boxes – joke when she read the letter!” disability. When a senior he remembered. director phoned John to say he blind, getting on a bit and As well as a thriving career thought it was an amazing a man of faith! in motivational speaking John article, his head was buzzing. A has written two inspirational few days later the same director books Fear, Fun and Faith and most recently Bitzaro to reiterated his feelings in an e-mail, offered to send John Buckingham with a possible third in the pipeline. The on a personal development course and told him that the retirement will have to wait. I organisation needed him. “At 57 years of age I thought it was wasted on me, but the director jumped down my throat and said age had nothing to with it. No one had Checkout John’s website at www.johnflanner.co.uk believed in me like that before and it gave me courage.”

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TRAVEL DE COURCEY How one of the UK’s brightest and fastest growing companies is revolutionising the bus and coach industry

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COMPANY TO WATCH

he bus business isn’t the first one that comes to mind when you think cutting edge technology, but one Midlands company is rapidly changing that. Travel de Courcey is one of the UK’s biggest independently owned bus and coach operators, having quadrupled in size in the past four years.

A family business originally set up in Coventry in 1972 by Mike de Courcey, the firm has been run by his son Adrian since 2010, and in that time has twice been placed in the London Stock Exchange’s Top 100 Revered Performance League – a growth survey of all five million businesses in the UK. Impressive stuff!

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TECHNOLOGY LED The secret according to CEO Adrian is an injection of new thinking and ways of working which he brought with him from his background in international corporate strategy management. “My parents illhealth and age meant they couldn’t really cope with running the business any longer.

After getting my Masters Degree and travelling and working in businesses around the world in America, India, China and so on, coming back and taking on the family business was something I really felt I wanted to do,” he said.

“The first thing I did was to make it a more technology-based business with the introduction and development of the likes of telemetry. It means that in an industry which is actually slow growing, we are very fast growing.”

The firm’s progress can be seen in the raw facts and figures. Travel de Courcey provides more than 10 million passenger journeys a year and rising, with its fleet of 150 buses and coaches travelling eight million miles a year. The business employs nearly 350 people across its bases in Coventry, Birmingham, Newtown and the

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NEC. Corporate customers include the NEC, Ricoh Arena, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, the BBC, KPMG and retail giants Sainsbury’s, Asda, Tesco and Boots.

Travel de Courcey has pioneered a number of industry and regional ‘firsts’.

These include being the first company in the country to operate fast-charging electric buses, a key to Adrian’s goal of making the business a leader in green technology. It’s something he speaks about passionately and is obviously very close to his heart as well as his business brain.

“We’ve embedded smart telematics throughout the company,” Adrian added.

“So for example, we pay our employees on the basis of low risk. Each vehicle has a black box monitoring all our drivers across various levels, so if a driver drives in a low risk way this helps us by reducing the number of likely accidents while also making the vehicle more economical by using less fuel and lowering wear and tear on items such as tyres and so on.

EXCITING TIMES “Our competitors generally don’t have this tech-savvy approach. This industry was nationalised previously and it still doesn’t necessarily recruit new ideas and ways of working. As I grew up with the Internet and have a different business background, I have a different mindset.”

Last year Travel de Courcey won a major seven-figure cash investment from Santander for further growth. The company is expanding in Birmingham and its HQ in Coventry is being demolished and rebuilt as a new state-of-the-art centre. “There are exciting times ahead,” said Adrian. “We have a 2020 plan in place which will make us the leader in green transport. Electric is the future and within 30 years all large vehicles and buses will be electric powered. And eventually buses will be completely driverless.” I

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BBC RECRUITS DIGITAL STARS The BBC Academy is recruiting a new digital team to be based in the Mailbox. It will develop products to help deliver fresh, professional training to BBC staff and the wider broadcast industry. Joe Godwin, director of BBC Birmingham and BBC Academy, said: “I am very excited to be expanding our role here in Birmingham.”

BUSINESS

NEWS

INDI CLAIMS WEBSITE TITLE

CAMPAIGN UNITES RIVALS It’s not often you’ll see Villa and Birmingham fans happy at the same time, but the scarves and smiles were out in force at The Trocadero in Temple Street. The pub is supporting a campaign to give away match kits to local Sunday league sports sides. It’s organised by the Green Card sports app. Download the free Green Card app via the iStore or Google Play.

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Birmingham entrepreneur Indi Deol is celebrating after his online lifestyle magazine DESIblitz.com won the award for best website for the second time in three years at the Asian Media Awards. Indi, who has appeared in our Company to Watch feature, has enjoyed a successful year with the magazine increasing brand recognition and content to both British Asian and global readers.

NEW BOSS AT BMI PRIORY Paula Naylor has been appointed executive director at Birmingham’s biggest private hospital, BMI Priory, Edgbaston.

Ms Naylor, who was previously in charge of the Spire Parkway Hospital, Solihull, said: “I plan to build on the Priory’s reputation for first class medical facilities and top consultants.”

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BUSINESS

IBAI BRINGS

FLAVOUR OF SPAIN Ibai Iatarola knows a thing or two about wine. Originally from Spain, he worked in his family vineyards from the age of 10 and has had more than 15 years experience around the world as a top sommelier. Now he has brought all that knowledge to Hotel du Vin by joining their team. He was former sommelier at Turners in Harborne.

GORDON ON THE RUN Hotel manager Gordon Tyler swapped his spot on reception for a place on the start line. The 40year-old, who is in charge of the Birmingham Marriott Hotel took part in the recent Great Birmingham Run with three colleagues – Dario Pulisciano, Amy Carruthers and Adam Campbell.

All completed the course in under two hours, raising money for local charities.

FAMILY TIES TO NEW FOOD CHAIN

CARRY ON NURSE! Deloitte Birmingham gave a huge boost to Blood Cancer Awareness Month with a donation of £25,000. The cheque took the total raised to more than £50,000, helping Birmingham-based Cure Leukaemia fund the lifesaving work of an extra specialist research nurse for a year.

A new naturally fast food chain which has opened in Grand Central holds a special place in the hearts of one family. LEON was named after the father of co-founder and CEO John Vincent.

John’s mum Marion graduated as a student at Birmingham University in 1958.

The new restaurant includes photos of Marion and her time at university on its walls.

IAN JUST CAN’T STOP WINNING Midlands solicitor Ian Henery has won another top legal award for his firm. Ian Henery Solicitors was named niche law firm of the year at Chesford Grange Warwickshire. Ian previously was named pro bono/corporate social responsibility lawyer of the year in March by Birmingham Law Society for his work with the local Chinese community, women seeking to exit the sex industry and survivors of domestic abuse.

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GREETINGS TO MEATING No wonder Lina Higuita, manager at The Arcadian, is looking happy – these are exciting times for the centre as it has welcomed a new restaurant, Meating, to its existing impressive line-up. Two of The Arcadian’s long-established tenants – Mi]ssoula and Las Iguanas – have committed to the long-term success of the venue by undertaking extensive refurbishment works.

BRIDGING LOAN? Anyone for bridge? The card game is one of the fastest growing in the UK and Edgbaston Priory Club has signed a three-year partnership with Gracewell of Edgbaston, a purpose-built, luxury, residential care home, to support the development of bridge at the club. The £3,000 support from Gracewell will help the club host tournaments and develop events.

BUSINESS’S BIG ART BOOST Two corporate events have given Birmingham Big Art Project a boost. Andy Street, managing director of the John Lewis Partnership and chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, attended a fund-raising lunch at Hotel du Vin. Attendees at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham meanwhile were treated to lunch and laughter by special guest Jasper Carrott . Both events raised £3,000 with John Lewis and Pertemps donating a further £5,000 each.

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VICTORIA’S TOLL-FREE YEAR Lucky roaduser Victoria Manwaring is one in 180 million. The driver from Bridgetown, Cannock won a year’s free travel on the M6 Toll as the motorway’s 180 millionth customer. She was presented with an M6toll tag at Midland Expressway’s head office in Lichfield – fortunately the actual tag to allow free travel which is fitted to Victoria’s car is somewhat smaller!

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WHAT BUSINESS NEEDS FROM BRUM

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A vibrant city open for business needs strong branding. Public art is an important ingredient delivering a ‘wow’ factor around the world

Please introduce yourself I am Glyn Pitchford, chairman of Birmingham Big Art Project. I have represented business on the Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region Board. I am former chairman of BRMB/Capital Gold Radio, Countrywide Homes and an environmental business, Envirotreat. I served on the Council of Aston University and was vice-chairman of Birmingham Civic Society until November 2013.

region’s centre, the engine room. The area would be far more recognisable abroad were we to push Greater Birmingham as the name of the region.

What does your company do?

I am a practising chartered surveyor arbitrator and run my own consultancy firm.

Does Birmingham offer any particular advantages as a destination for business?

Its improving connectivity, with HS2 on the way, will greatly enhance the potential for new business. The expanding metro rapid transit tram system will become a terrific asset, and our universities and colleges produce a major source of skilled labour.

Is Brum a good place to do business?

Yes. The local authority has been brave enough, through urban regeneration, to change the outsider’s perception of the city.

Improvements are apparent in all business and public sectors. We have three top-notch universities each having its own distinctive USPs. We are a green, environmentally friendly city with a strengthening creative sector which is transforming Birmingham into an exciting place to live and work.

How do you feel your clients see the city?

As a city which has reinvented itself, with modern buildings in traffic-free areas, improving connectivity, a strong retail sector and a growing professional/financial sector second to none outside of London.

What should our priorities be as a city?

To enhance our reputation as the most influential city in the UK after London. It is important to grow our airport so that it Glyn Pitchford chairman of the Big Art Project connects with all points of the international compass. A vibrant city open for business needs What are your biggest gripes with it? strong branding and public art is an important ingredient.

There is a long way to go in integrating all ethnic Birmingham Big Art Project aims to raise £2.5million to communities into the general community. It needs every commission a new contemporary, permanent work of public citizen to help achieve this. We have too many organisations art to do just that. The work will have a wow factor and portraying themselves as the leading authority in business, as become recognisable around the world, improving tourism, opposed to creating more effective liaison with competing attracting inward investment and creating more employment. organisations to strengthen the voice of business. We also have the region’s local authorities preferring to paddle their If you had £1bn to spend on improving Brum own canoe. I see some signs this is changing for the better, what would you do with it? but we are in danger of shooting ourselves in the foot by Integrate all ethnic communities into the general preferring to call ourselves the West Midlands Combined community, push urban regeneration into the inner suburbs Authority rather than recognising that Birmingham is at the and ensure every corner of the region is broadband connected.I

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LADLES AT DAWN AS CHEFS DUEL IT OUT Guests cheer on their champions at Mallory Court’s Battle of Eden ore than 110 guests attended the Battle of Eden at Mallory Court – the annual event which pits head chefs from the Eden Hotel Collection venues against each other. Winner was Mark Budd of Bovey Castle. MD Mark Chambers said: “It was an amazing event to mark the fifth anniversary of the Battle of Eden. Everyone got into the spirit, taking selfies and using the dressing up box of props. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event.” I

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1 Winners of the best 70s costumes. 2 Sir Peter Rigby, Marian Cartter. 3 Team Rybrook BMW. 4 Mark Budd. 5 Edd and Becky Sanchez. 6 Mark Chambers, Simon Haigh and guests. 7 Sarah Baker, Jo Haigh, Bryony Bateman. 8 Ben Williams, Mina Subhan, Craig Routledge.

Photography by TH Photography

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STORE CHIEF MAKES A FRIDAY CONNECTION Edgbaston Priory Club welcomes Lisa Williams of John Lewis Birmingham

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embers, guests and supporters of Edgbaston Priory Club’s Friday Connections Lunch were joined by Lisa Williams, manager of John Lewis Birmingham. Lisa, who has a long association with the club through her family, explained the importance of the new Birmingham store to John Lewis and whetted guests’ appetites with an insight into what’s on offer. Friday Connections is supported

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1 Robert Bray, Lisa Williams, Matthew Chapman, Julie O'Hare, David Tucker. 2 Danielle Saunders, Andy Peate, Pauline Collinson.

3 Mark Panayides, Charlotte Bell, Paul Jones. 4 Phil Base, Tony Collinson. 5 Justine Davy, Sue Behan. 6 Jane Jones, Lisa Williams, Sophie Drake. 7 Jonathan Carter, Jenny Bomber, Robert Bray. 8 Yiannis Klerides-Maos, Matthew Chapman, Lee Tapping.

Photography by Nicola Gotts Photography

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THAT’S THE SPIRIT AS LADIES GET TASTING Shaken and stirred, Leading Ladies mix it with the experts from Sipsmith irmingham Hippodrome Leading Ladies enjoyed a tasting event with Sipsmith independent spirits in the Marco Pierre White private bar on the 25th floor of The Cube. Forty network sponsors, members and guests were put through their tasting paces by Sipsmith’s Briony Dixon.

Historical anecdotes and mixing tips added to the flavour of the evening which raised £1,700 for Hippodrome Heritage, the year-long project in which the Hippodrome is preserving more than 100 years of rich theatre history for future generations. I

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1 Emma Price, Jane Jones, Asha Sharma. 2 Jessica Leo, Lina Solanki, Lisa O’Keeffe. 3 Natasha Walkden, Linda McBride, Briony Dixon, Jessica Leo. 4 Kate Courbet, Hannah Wolsey. 5 Hayley Basford, Emma Dunnill. 6 Amy Watson, Amy Maclean, Jessica Hurd, Allison Scott. 7 Jayne O’Malley, Emma Blackley, Jane Chandler, Lauren Hartigan-Pritchard. 8 Audrey Elliott, Louise Townsend, Victoria Emery.

Photography by Vivienne Bailey

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Launch event celebrates inspirational author John Flanner’s autobiography ocal business people and dignitaries, including Solihull mayor Cllr Glenis Slater, came together to celebrate the launch of a book by local blind speaker and author John Flanner MBE and the creation of a new National Civil Service Award. The autobiography Bitzaro to Buckingham reveals John’s focus on the encouragement and empowerment of others while overcoming significant obstacles in his own life – including a traumatic medical emergency when his wife was taken seriously ill at the Bitzaro Palace Hotel in Zante, Greece. I

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1 Lynn Orton, John Flanner, Joan Smith, Clare Bugg. 2 Tracey Finnegan, Nick John, Lynn Wood. 3 Muchada Bvunzawabaya, Kyle Cottington, Rumbi Bvunzawabaya. 4 Diana Pearce, Rosie Suter. 5 Brian Davis, Dr Gordon Coleman, Ally Flanner. 6 Maggie Tucker, Sylvia Flanner, Anne Barry, Charlotte Nall. 7 Rt Rev Dr David Carr, Carole and Paul Crabtree. 8 John Flanner, Cllr Glenis Slater, Graham Pearce. 9 Wendy and John Oldham, Ally Flanner, Mark Leonard.

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FUND-RAISER BOOSTS BOTANICAL GARDENS Trustees Ball held in Garden Suite in support of Glasshouse Appeal early 200 guests attended Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Trustees Ball to raise funds for the Glasshouse Appeal. The event was hosted in the Garden Suite which was decorated with beautiful floral displays designed

by Aaron, one of BBG’s talented gardeners.

Musicians from Birmingham Conservatoire serenaded guests in the glasshouses, while BBC gardening presenter Steve Brookes had the audience in hysterics when he shared a host of highly unusual green-fingered tips. Dance music came from the Bev Bevan band. A raffle and auction raised £5,000. I

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1 David Cosgrove, Vicki and Andy Mudie, Jilly Cosgrove. 2 Fraser Godfrey, Greer Williams, Alessandro Columbano, Sophie Hamer, Gurjit and Dav Bansal, Lucy and Simon Swift, Alan and Becky McCartney. 3 Phil and Vanessa Powell, Jonathan and Diptyka Hart, Steve Wallace, Germaine Maynard, Duncan Smith, Karen Lloyd, Anders Jones, Mark Bradbury. 4 Danny and Pravina Parmer, Lee Jones, Philippa Pickavance. 5 Victoria and Matt Burgin, David Williams, Jamie and Amy Sutton, Claire and Tim Abbotts, Jo Kirk, Ali Lee, Chris Adams. 6 Stephen Brookes, James Wheeler.

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FASHIONISTAS TUCK IN A TREAT AT TEA-TIME 4

Catwalk and cake as the Hyatt hosts tasty festive show in aid of LoveBrum

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ashion from casual to chic hit the catwalk at the Hyatt Festive Fashion High Tea. The latest trends were modelled by ‘real women’ and featured clothes from Coast and Maison Grace from Captain Tortue. Harvey Nichols supplied accessories. Hair and make-up was styled by Puro Hair and Make Up Central while Sharper Millinery supplied hats and headdresses.

Libby Walton, owner of Styling You, was master of ceremonies. Apollo Soul provided live entertainment and Gastro Card was the partner promoting the event, which raised more than £600 for LoveBrum. I

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1 The models. 2 Samantha Murray, Veronika Kumeta, Rebecca Hyslop, Claire Taylor. 3 Helen Hesk, Jackie Cummins, Xenia Kara, Sarah Arnold. 4 Julie Ward, Michele Wilby. 5 Shirley Webb, Jo Till, Jayne Spittle. 6 Sally Bowen, Jo Brain, Libby Walton, Leti Paco.

7 Lynn Mansell, Lesley Wilde, Sue Bernard-Land, Daniella Gause. 8 Annette Revell, Veronica Davies, Gillian D'amAmore, Sandra Murray, Sally Bowen, Jane Bagley.

Photography by Andrew Llewellyn

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SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR MAILBOX CENTREPIECE Launch of sky-lit Urban Room brings boost to luxury retail in Birmingham he launch was held of the new sky-lit Urban Room at the Mailbox. The unveiling celebrated a major milestone in the two-year redevelopment of the Mailbox.

Designed by Stirling Prize-winning architects Stanton Williams, the Urban Room features luxurious seating and finishes, creating a beautiful space for shoppers to enjoy during the day and an impressive destination for events, exhibitions and social activities after retail hours. It is home to luxury retailers including BOSS, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Gieves & Hawkes, LK Bennett and Daniel Footwear. I

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1 John Milligan, Barry Tallintire, Derek Milligan. 2 Ashlee Edge-Lilley, Stella Higgs, Claire O'Connor. 3 Jo Brain, Sophie Webber, Laura Davies, Vicky Coliandris. 4 Lucy Yarwood, Mel Taylor, Nick Hollinshead. 5 Nigel Hiorns, Sarah Smith. 6 Rachel Perry, Claire Chillingworth, Richard Beverley, Sophie Philippon-Thomas. 7 Hannah Brooks, Beth Owens, Rebecca Simkiss. 8 Mike Sutton, Mike Powers, Duncan Berry. 9 Stuart Eustace, Sara Horton, Will Jordan.

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BEAK ATTRACTION AS OWLS GET HAMMERED Lots of excitement sees money rolling in at Big Hoot auction

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n excited audience of serious bidders and interested onlooks made the Big Hoot auction, in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s £3.65million Star Appeal, an occasion to remember.

The sale of the giant decorated owls which spent the summer in various locations throughout Birmingham raised more than £530,000, with £15,000 for G’owl’d by Temper going to Edward’s Trust and £7,800 for Fleet and Free going to Birchfield Harriers. Auctioneers Fieldings of Stourbridge took charge of the sale which was supported by Vodafone. I

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1 Dan Attwal, Suchita Bakshi, Russ Parker. 2 Kerry and Arron Bird, Steve Hewlett. 3 Sally-Ann and Chris Wilkinson. 4 Kirsty Siviter, Hollie Orgee. 5 Scarlett Byfield, who designed the Sutton Coldfield Owl. 6 Emily Bate, Claire Latham. 7 Susan McNally, Jane Anderson.

8 Andy Price, Richard Mitchell. 9 Taryn Jordan, Stuart Furguson.

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NEW LOUNGE OPENS AT GENTING ARENA Amplify’s revamped restaurant adds dash of glamour to pre-show menu remium hospitality brand Amplify launched the newly refurbished Lakeside Lounge at the Genting Arena. The restaurant is a pre-show dining area reserved exclusively for the use of Amplify Club members and offers a sense of modern glamour, boasting contemporary furnishings alongside its waterside views. The transformation cost £500,000 and the restaurant now includes two bar areas, a dance floor, additional dining space and a private dining area for VIPs. I

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1 Hannah Bharier, Tasha Hartley. 2 Tony Billingham and Carole Jenkins. 3 Guy Dunstan, Sally Walder, Andrew Criddle, Paul Thandi.

4 Jonathan and Sandra Hovers. 5 Trish and Mike Mellor. 6 Simon Rhodes, Ian Congdon, Alex Ginever, Ben Sharman, Katy Barton.

7 Pindi Bath, Paul Thandi, Annie Hill. 8 Diane and Nigel Blount, Solomon Smith. 9 Al Davis.

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WHAT: André Rieu WHEN: 16 December WHERE: Genting Arena, tel 0844 338 8000 www.ticketfactory.com What’s Christmas without a bit of guilty pleasure? The world’s most successful violinist is in town for one night only with a fantastic new show.

WHAT: Santa’s Christmas Cracker WHEN: 13 and 14 December WHERE: Palace Theatre Redditch, tel 01527 65203

WHAT: Christmas with Aled Jones

www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk

WHEN: 19 December

Join the adventures of Dotty the Elf and Pompom the Penguin in a festive, interactive, song-filled visit to Santa that helps them discover the meaning of Christmas…

WHERE: Symphony Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk Aled Jones joins a packed stage of superb artists for a wonderful concert of music and carols.

WHAT: Strictly Come Dancing Live

WHAT: The Wonder Stuff Acoustic

WHEN: 22 to 24 January

WHEN: 17 December

WHERE: Barclaycard Arena, tel 0844 338 8000

WHERE: O2 Academy Birmingham, tel 0121 622 8250

www.theticketfactory.com

www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk

Judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli will be back together again as they are reunited for the 2016 dates! Experience everything that you love about the TV show live on stage!

Following last year’s sell-out gig Miles Hunt is back for Christmas with an acoustic show packed with all those seriously good tracks from a whopping back catalogue.

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WHAT: Gangsta Granny WHEN: 7 to 12 December WHERE: New Alexander Theatre, tel 0844 871 3011 www.atgtickets.com It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny. It’s going to be sooooooooo boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret! This cracking show is based on the book by David Walliams.

WHAT: Wendy and Peter Pan WHEN: Now until 31 January 2016

WHAT: Cinderella: A Fairytale

WHERE: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, tel 01789 403493

WHEN: 3 December to 9 January

www.rsc.org.uk

WHERE: Mac Birmingham, tel 0121 446 3232

This magical adaptation of JM Barrie’s classic novel by Ella Hickson returns to the RSC with Charlotte Mills as Tink and Darrell D’Silva as Captain Hook.

www.macarts.co.uk Dazzlingly original take on one of the oldest and best-loved fairy tales of all times. This funny and heart-warming award-winning show is simply fantastic.

WHAT: A Christmas Wassail WHEN: 20 to 22 December WHERE: Crescent Theatre, tel 0121 643 5858 www.crescent-theatre.co.uk Mulled wine, mince pies and a festive feast of music, comedy and spoken word.

This ever-popular wassail is a magical way to indulge the Christmas spirit.

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WHAT: We’re Going On A Bear Hunt WHEN: 22 December to 13 January WHERE: Town Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk Direct from a smash-hit West End and international tour, join the intrepid adventurers on their quest to find a bear – as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud.

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WHAT: Completely Brahms: The Complete Chamber Works with Piano of Johannes Brahms WHEN: 11 December WHERE: Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire Working with students and colleagues across the keyboard, string, wind and brass departments, this presents a diverse and ravishing body of chamber music. Directed by John Thwaites and Daniel Tong.

WHAT: Aladdin WHEN: 19 December to 31 January WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome,

WHAT: The Jersey 4 Tribute

tel 0844 338 5000

WHEN: 23 December

www.birminghamhippodrome.com

WHERE: Lake at Barston, tel 01675 444890

A magic carpet ride you won’t want to miss! Marti Pellow, Julian Clary, Lea Mead… this year’s spectacular extravaganza is surely everything you could wish for from pantomime!

www.thelakeatbarston.co.uk They look the part and they sound amazing. This remarkable show includes all the fabulous Frankie Valli hits that everyone loves. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Grease, Oh What A Night… see you there!

WHAT: Treasure Island WHEN: Now until 3 January 2016 WHERE: The Old Rep, tel 0121 359 9444

WHAT: Frankfurt Christmas Market and Craft Market

www.oldreptheatre.org.uk

WHEN: Until 22 December

A magical, swashbuckling adventure that the whole family can enjoy. An original adaptation inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale.

WHERE: Victoria Square, Centenary Square and

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Chamberlain Square Gluwein, stollen and giggles all round please. Stop being so miserable and embrace the joy that is the largest outdoor Christmas market in Britain!

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WHAT’S ON WHAT: The Snowman WHEN: 20 to 24 January 2016 WHERE: Birmingham Rep, tel 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Based on Raymond Briggs’s muchloved book and featuring Howard Blake’s classic song Walking In The Air, this enchanting live stage show has thrilled audiences for more than 20 years. Come and be a part of the magic.

WHAT: Something Magical with The People’s Orchestra WHEN: 13 December WHERE: West Bromwich Town Hall, tel 0121 569 2614 www.thepeoplesorchestra.com Join in and sing along as the fabulous TPO performs pieces from Frozen, Happy Feet and The Incredibles. There’s even a chance for kids to conduct the orchestra onstage.

WHAT: UK Drone Show

WHAT: New Year’s Eve ‘Motown’

WHEN: 5 and 6 December

Party with The Brothers Of Soul &

WHERE: NEC,

Suzi Woods

tel 0844 338 8000

WHEN: 31 December

www.thenec.co.uk

WHERE: Nailcote Hall,

Featuring all the very latest aerial and terrestrial drone technology available.

Attractions include flying demonstration areas, 3D (Drone) printing, FPV racing and a special focus on the safe use of drones.

tel 02476 466174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk Festive tribute to the greatest hits, the moves and the smooth vocals of the Temptations and other Motown legends.

A fine way to usher in 2016…

WHAT: Gospel Central WHEN: 21 December WHERE: The Jam House, tel 0121 200 3030 www.thejamhouse.com The Gospel scene in Birmingham goes from strength to strength and this event is the climax of a series of evenings celebrating the talent to be found in local Gospel music.

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IN THE CITY

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I march round Swanshurst Park most early mornings. I dub myself a

volunteer litter warden, picking up rubbish with a special litter picker the council gave me. It is very peaceful!

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I am John Duckers of John Duckers Media, and as a sole practitioner I tend to make up any job title I feel like – managing director, chief executive, chief operating officer… all me. Since stepping down from the business editorship of the Birmingham Post six years ago I have been about 75 per cent PR, 15 per cent journalist and latterly 10 per cent children’s writer – publishing The Amazing Adventures of the Silly Six and now a sequel, The Crazy Adventures of the Silly Six, available for purchase from Symphony Hall Gift Shop.

again seek to be a city of a thousand trades, be that manufacturing, professional services, media or online.

COFFEE BREAK Don’t do coffee breaks and rarely do meetings. All too often meetings get in the way of work.

LUNCHTIME I make my own sandwiches – doorstep style.

POWERWALKING? I march round Swanshurst Park in Moseley most days, usually early HOW DO YOU GET INTO mornings. I dub myself a volunteer litter TOWN? warden, picking up discarded rubbish Monday to Wednesday I am with a special litter picker the council working near Stratford-upon-Avon gave me. It is very peaceful. Or it would and the rest of the time I am in my be if the Canada geese had not reached study in Moseley. But on Friday vermin proportions. They need to be afternoons, which are reserved for a either culled or herded into a lorry and Media expert and writer, John Duckers few noggins with the troops, I travel emptied out in deepest Wales. Although by bus, having now reached the age when I no longer have to that might be a bit unfair on the Welsh! pay! You see all kinds of fascinating life on a bus but I could do without idiots on the top deck blasting out rap music.

AFTERWORK PINT? The Old Joint Stock off Colmore Row is my favourite HOW'S THE COMMUTE? watering hole. Expensive but the ambience is magnificent.

Heading out of Birmingham I am largely going against the My poison is cider, the sparkly stuff not the rot gut. Later traffic but the roads are still very busy. More and more I hate you might find me in the best curry house in the city, the the commute. Driving standards are appalling. Smashed the Kababish in Woodbridge Road, Moseley. car up the other day – unhurt but well hacked off.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER? IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN? We desperately need leadership, we need a council that can Yes it is because it remains more like a village and you can command respect and our vulnerable economic base needs to easily get about the city centre. I’ve always admired the escape its over-reliance on low paid retail and leisure jobs. I friendly and open nature of Brummies as well as their The Silly Six can be purchased from the Symphony Hall gift resilience in adversity. Finally, after sinking into public shop in the ICC on Broad Street or online at Amazon sector dependency, entrepreneurship is thriving as we once

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