Birmingham Living March 2022 (issue 110)

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March 2022

HASEEBAH ABDULLAH BOXING CLEVER MOLLY OLLYS TOP 10 YEARS SS22 STYLE EDIT

JACQUI OATLEY

ALBERT’S SCHLOSS JACK CINENSE

ESTADO INDIA

ON THE BALL WITH NEW TV ROLE, GIRL POWER AND BEATING ONLINE ABUSE

FOOD

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EVENTS

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HOMES

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BUSINESS

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STYLE

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NEWS

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EDITOR’S VIEW

W

e’ve got a spring in our step this month as we look forward to the lighter, brighter days ahead. Our SS22 Style section previews the tips and trends on the fashion front as the temperature rises (hopefully) in the months to come.

Our experts who have been trawling the latest designs in the shops and online, tell me that this season’s offerings are more varied than ever before. There really is something to suit everyone out there, from the down-to-business, working day types, to the chill-out leisure lovers and the night owls who love to party!

Our Homes section focuses on when our gardens and outside spaces will once more become an important part of making us feel good again. We’ve entitled the section Bring Me Sunshine, and that’s what the exciting and varied rooms with a view deliver. Bringing the outdoors, indoors as only Mother Nature knows how.

The ending of pandemic restrictions is bringing the first buds of normality and recovery to local businesses and organisations. Networking events are back, as we’re starting to see in our Social Scene pages. These events are particularly important for charities like Mollys Olly in making valuable contacts and ultimately raising money for their amazing causes.

This month, I had the pleasure of talking to Rachel Ollerenshaw, who founded Mollys Olly with her husband Tim after the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from cancer. The charity marks 10 years this month, and in that time it has helped more than 16,000 children with life-threatening illnesses, helping to make their months and years of pain more bearable. The charity’s motto is Making The Dark Days Brighter. A poignant message as we all look forward to the fresh hope that a new spring brings.

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visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

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FINALIST

Jacqui Oatley

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

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

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

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

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INSIDE

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Highlights

Jacqui Oatley

Sports presenter on new TV role, girl power and facing online abuse

Molly Ollys As charity reaches 10 years, we speak to inspiring founder Rachel Ollerenshaw

Food & Drink From the Philippines to Brum, head chef Jack Cinense, plus news, recipes and wine

Health Why running backwards is the new way forward, plus get set for the big Park Run

Style Back-to-business by day, colour-popping punch by night! Our SS22 edit reveals all

Homes Room with a view – how to maximise space and make the most of your garden

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CONTENTS

Best of the Rest

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Motoring

Sue Cooke test-drives a new plug-in hybrid SUV from Lexus – but it has to be in grey!

Young, Gifted & Brummie Haseebah Abdullah, the Hometown Hero changing the lives of female boxers Business News News, views, comings and goings as the commercial community bounces back

Social Scene Return of the networkers as the city’s movers and shakers spark in to life

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

Up Close Raising a glass to Katie Gardner of Birmingham Wine School

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NEWS

DIGITAL FIRST

The UK’s first permanent immersive digital art gallery is getting set to blow you away! The Reel Store will open in Coventry on 13 May, becoming a permanent new visitor attraction in the heart of the city. Following on from the popularity of immersive art spaces around the world, the new state-of-the-art space will feature innovative experiential commissions and will be a prominent feature of the City of Culture programme this spring. The first major exhibition will be Machine Memoirs: Space, by internationally-acclaimed artist Refik Anadol.

NEWS

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

LENNY’S LAUGH-IN

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 18 March – and Dudley’s own Sir Lenny Henry has a laugh or two up his sleeve to make it even more special. Sir Lenny stars in a new comedy sketch with Phil Wang, Dame Joanna Lumley, Harry Judd, Hugh Bonneville, Jamie Laing, Lee Ridley and Oti Mabuse to celebrate Red Nose fund-raisers. The exclusive online sketch is available on YouTube Find out more at comicrelief.com/rednoseday/

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MUSIC FOR LOUIS A concert in memory of Louis Watkiss, the 12year-old musician who died in an accident at Tamworth’s SnowDome, will be held on Saturday 5 March at Symphony Hall. Saxophonist Louis was a member of B:Music’s Jazzlines Summer School which he attended last August, just a month before his death. He was also a keen player in B:Music’s Jazzlines Ensemble and the Birmingham Schools’ Jazz Ensemble. Tickets for the free concert at B:Music’s website and box office https://bmusic.co.uk/events/louis-watkissmemorial-concert

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FAMILY FUN DEAL There’s even more fun for families after Drayton Manor Park announced a brand-new upgraded Stay & Play package. The package now includes an overnight stay at the on-site 4-star hotel, full breakfast and two days entry to the park. The park has an action-packed line-up of seasonal events from March to October, including a new nautical-themed area, Adventure Cove with boats, barrels, and steering wheels aplenty for brave young seafarers.

NIGHT AT THE OPERA BLOOMING MARVELLOUS! The big show is back! After a two-year break for Covid, the RHS Malvern Spring Festival returns to Three Counties Showground from 5 to 8 May, celebrating the world of gardens, plants, flowers and food. Show manager Jane Edwards said: “This is our greenest show ever. We have made a pledge to deliver an event that champions sustainable practices across all areas and inspires our show-goers with a host of planet-friendly gardening ideas to adopt at home.” More details: 0344 338 5400 or at www.rhsmalvern.co.uk

A special Operatic Gala hosted by the Black British Classical Foundation will be performed at St Phillips Birmingham Cathedral on 17 March. Four young emerging artists, Thando Mjandana and Chuma Sijeqa – both currently at the Royal Opera House – Natasha Agarwal of Opera North and Julia Daramy-Williams of English National Opera will perform operatic arias, duets, quartets and spirituals. The evening will be completed with African and South Asian songs. Beatrice Nicholas, pictured, is the gala’s pianist and musical director.

BENCH BROADCAST A series of short plays by Birmingham Rep, filmed on park benches in the city, had viewers on the edge of their seats when they were broadcast by Sky Arts TV. Brainchild of Rep artistic director Sean Foley, The Park Bench Plays were commissioned by the theatre during lockdown. Each of the five micro plays is set on the most common of lockdown meeting places, the park bench, and reflects in a different way on life during the pandemic.

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NEWS

Picture Simon Richardson

SONIA’S TOP 20

Award-winning Birmingham dance artist and choreographer Sonia Sabri is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her company as only she knows how – with an explosion of dance! The programme, which will be extended across the year, features the co-creation of a large-scale outdoor production which will receive its world premiere this month, marking the launch of Birmingham 2022 Festival.

Other firsts include a nationwide tour of the company’s inaugural dance production for children and an innovative new musical ensemble.

SPARKLING BUY A stunning pink diamond ring smashed its predicted sale price at a Birmingham auction. The ring featuring a gem from the Argyle Diamond Mine went under the hammer for £26,796 at Fellows Auctioneers – more than 10 times its pre-sale estimate. It was part of Fellows’ first flagship jewellery auction of the year which totalled sales of nearly £750,000. Ben Randall of Fellows said: “We kicked off the year in a brilliant manner.”

LION’S SHARE

BEARS BITE BACK It was one of the summer’s highlights… Warwickshire winning last year’s County Championship. The club will begin its title defence with a home clash against Surrey, starting at Edgbaston on Thursday 7 April. “We can’t wait for it to begin,” said men’s captain Will Rhodes. “It’s great to start at Edgbaston in front of our home supporters.” For T20 Vitality Blast fans, the Bears will get underway at home against Northants Steelbacks on Thursday 26 May. Full details at: edgbaston.com

DANCE PARTNERS

The critically-acclaimed production of C S Lewis’s classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe starring Samantha Womack as the evil White Witch makes its West Midlands premiere at the Alexandra Theatre from 8 to 12 March.

Sharing the stage with Samantha are two local actors – Tamworth’s Sam Buttery and Solihull’s Grace Wylde. Sam’s credits include Jesus Christ Superstar at London’s Barbican, while Grace appeared in The Boy in the Dress for the RSC.

Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Academy of Dance have launched a new partnership to create stronger links to the professional world of ballet for RAD teachers and their students through an exciting programme of events and exclusive experiences. The programme includes a series of pre-show talks as part of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Don Quixote UK tour throughout March, as well as practical workshops with dancers and staff, offering insights into various aspects of company life, both on and off-stage.

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JOINING FORCES: Caroline Miller, Birmingham Royal Ballet CEO, with RAD president Dame Darcey Bussell and artistic director Gerard Charles. Picture by Tricia Yourkevich

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NEWS

LEAFY BRUM RUN

Running tour company, Run of a Kind, has teamed up with West Midlands mental health charity Living Well UK for a new programme of wellness-themed tours this month. The Leafy Brum 10k runs will see groups of 10 led by a specialist running guide around Birmingham, with a wellbeing practitioner on-hand throughout. Each of the runs will begin at Cannon Hill Park with a yoga-inspired warm-up, and end with a wellbeing practitioner led-talk.

Go to www.runofakindbirmingham.com

SWITCH OFF AND PLAY LEGOLAND Discovery Birmingham has launched a new ‘switch off and play’ initiative with on-site lockers so visitors can put their phones away and have fun playing instead! General manager Amy Langham said: “We love seeing people interact with each other and our LEGO at the Discovery Centre. However, every now and again we notice electronic devices getting in the way of playtime. This new initiative encourages visitors to switch off from technology and be present in the moment.”

MASTERCHEF’S RETURN

MasterChef: The Professionals champion Dan Lee made an “emotional” return to University College Birmingham where he trained 12 years ago. Dan met Professional Cookery Level 3 students on his visit, leaving them with plenty of food for thought about their own careers. The 29-year-old, who won series 14 of the BBC One competition just before Christmas and works as a private chef, said: “This is the place it all started for me.

I came to an open day which sparked the idea – I’m going into cooking!”

WANTED: NEW VOICES OF SPORT The search is on to find sport presenters of the future.

Organisers of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are looking for 20 talented local people to be In Venue Hosts and Announcers, roles that will see them engaging with the thousands of spectators at each of the official competition venues this summer. Applicants need to be professional, confident, enthusiastic, aged 18 or over and live, work or study in Birmingham or the West Midlands. Go to birmingham2022.com for more details – but hurry, closing date for applications is 6 March.

ROLL UP FOR CRUFTS

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

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Crufts, the world’s greatest celebration of dogs, is back at the NEC from 10 to 13 March. Here’s the show in numbers: 20,000 – dogs under one roof; 222 – different breeds competing for Best in Show; 150 – breeds represented in the Discover Dogs area; 118 – this year is the 118th Crufts; 5,000 – volunteers on hand; 7 – the number of times a Cocker Spaniel has won Best in Show, more than any other breed; 25 – the number of acres of the NEC that Crufts covers.

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COVER STORY

LEAGUE LEADER JACQUI OATLEY IS ONE OF THE FACES OF LEAGUE FOOTBALL ON TV THIS SEASON, BUT THE PRESENTER KNOWS THE SCORE ON A WHOLE LOT MORE – INCLUDING A CAMPAIGN PROMOTING GREATER GRASSROOTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS AND DEALING WITH SEXIST ONLINE ABUSE good friend of Birmingham Living has a theory about what makes a ‘real’ football fan. Forget all the fancy-dans who get ripped off to watch the Premier League, he says. It’s the ‘lower’ divisions where you’ll find your true supporter. The kind of follower who’s watched their club struggle to survive for years, always living the dream, hoping against hope that one day their United or Town will get a taste of glory. Someone just like him, in fact!

While Jacqui Oatley is a self-confessed Wolves (Premier League!!) addict, knowing all there is to know about the Wanderers, she’s also completely clued-up on all things EFL (English Football League). She has been going to EFL matches for more than 30 years and spent 19 years reporting on them!

Jacqui lives and breathes footie at all levels – and that especially includes the growing appeal of professional women’s football which she started championing years before the relatively recent breakthrough in widespread press, TV and media coverage.

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HIGHLIGHTS This season Jacqui is one of the faces of the EFL, fronting the league’s popular weekend highlights show on Quest TV. She is also a regular commentator on Women’s Super League matches and on-the-spot reporter for Sky’s legendary Soccer Saturday show, having previously appeared on BBC’s rival Football Focus. While not a big fan of labels, it’s Jacqui who broke the ‘glass ceiling’ as the first female football reporter on BBC TV’s Match of the Day. Wolverhampton-born and growing up in Codsall, her love of football began as a child watching and

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playing – the latter being a challenge for a girl at that time! After graduating from university, she gambled on swapping a career in intellectual property for journalism, covering various levels of football for local radio, BBC WM, BBC Radio 5 – and eventually television.

GAMBLE “I realised that I wanted to do something in sport and was going to have to take a gamble and start all over again,” she said. “Covering my first match, I thought… yes, this is it!” Her breadth of sports knowledge extends beyond football to presenting ITV’s coverage of professional darts and she has also worked at the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Olympics.

Until this season one of Jacqui’s passions was her weekly Molineux View podcast with The Athletic on all-things Wolves, but sadly that was unexpectedly dropped. But as you have seen, she has many other projects to keep her busy. At the forefront is the ongoing challenge to improve women’s football and the opportunities for young girls to take part more easily in the sport – a determination and drive which helped earn her an OBE from the Queen for services to broadcasting and diversity.

“I got into football as a young teenager and at the time, I looked around and couldn't find any clubs anywhere near me,” she explained. That wasn’t the case when the time came for her own daughter to follow suit. Yet, Jacqui says there is still a lot of work to be done, which is why Women In Football, of which Jacqui is a founding member, launched #GetOnside last year which aims to get

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COVER STORY

organisations and individuals to think what they can do in a practical way to ‘improve the landscape for women working in football’.

The campaign has already won the support of some of England’s biggest football clubs, while the FA has pledged to invest in 1,000 clubs to grow the girls’ game at grassroot level. Jacqui recently said: “There is still a large percentage of people out there who think football is a game for men and that we don't need women involved.

“When a woman has an opinion on a football match and expresses that on TV or radio, it can spark vile abuse purely based on their gender on social media.

So, you still need to have a thick skin as a woman working in football.”

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FEATURE

MAKING THE DARK DAYS BRIGHTER THE BRILLIANT MOLLY OLLYS HAS SUPPORTED AND COMFORTED MORE THAN

16,000 CHILDREN WITH LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS ACROSS THE UK. AS IT MARKS ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, WE TALK TO THE REMARKABLE WOMAN WHO LAUNCHED THE CHARITY OUT OF A VERY PERSONAL TRAGEDY achel Ollerenshaw has faced battles and heartbreak most of us can’t comprehend so a drop of Covid wasn’t about to cause her any problem – beyond being stuck in her bedroom selfisolating for a few days! And Rachel being Rachel, she used the enforced incarceration to good effect, working on her ongoing mission to help some of the UK’s sickest children.

As co-founder with husband Tim of the Warwickshire-based charity Molly Olly’s Wishes, Rachel and her small team have made a big impact on young lives to the tune of more than £3million raised in the past 10 years. That money has provided much-needed support to more than 16,000 children across the country, with more than 13,000 of the charity’s much-loved Olly books and toys reaching youngsters at over 70 hospitals.

"It’s true, we could never have imagined we would get to where we are now when we launched 10 years ago,” said Rachel. The past two years with lockdowns have proved challenging. “Fund-raising has been a stretch because so much of what we do depends on being face-to-face, but now we’ve started going out again to the various networking groups and so on.”

Rachel and Tim set up the charity not long after their daughter Molly died, aged eight, from a rare

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kidney cancer after a five-year battle. As a small charity of only three staff and eight regular volunteers, it certainly punches above its weight, emotionally supporting children between 0 and 18 who have life-threatening illnesses. Key to this help is Olly The Brave, a therapeutic soft toy lion and award-winning books, as well as donating Wishes to children who are facing unimaginable challenges.

When we spoke to Rachel, the charity was about to undergo a bit of a rebranding with a slight name change from Molly Olly’s Wishes to just Molly Ollys (the apostrophe has been dropped as well as the Wishes).

“Helping children realise their wishes is and always will be very important but what we do now as a charity covers a great deal more,” explained Rachel.

In fact, more than 2,500 Wishes have been granted all over the UK since the charity began.

Each Wish the charity donates is unique to each child and there have been many weird and wonderful ones. One teenage boy who was a big fan of police interceptors asked to be arrested by police as his Wish. Rachel said: “We helped organise a 16th birthday party for him and the police turned up and arrested him in front of all his friends and family which he was delighted about.”

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FEATURE

The average value of a Wish is £500. “We don’t do Florida holidays or that kind of thing,” Rachel explained, “rather things like shopping vouchers, a day’s out experience, some kind of entertainment event, or just something personal that gives the child a boost when they really need it.”

One of the charity’s proudest achievements has been funding a consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for three years. After demonstrating the effectiveness of the role and significantly changing the experience for all those who have benefitted from the service, it is now being funded centrally by the NHS. Rachel said: “While working with Birmingham Children’s Hospital we learned that there was no consultant in paediatric palliative medicine for the area… the position just did not exist. There are only around 20 in the whole of the UK. We live in Warwickshire where there is one and so we knew the benefits and importance when we nursed Molly at

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FEATURE

DELIVERING HELP: Rachel and Tim started the charity to support other life-threatened children and their families after their own daughter Molly, here pictured aged four, passed away

home. We decided we would raise the funds and directly pay for a palliative consultant for Birmingham to help provide the best care for children with palliative care needs. It is fabulous to see what a real difference this role has made and is making to children’s lives.”

GROWING PLACES Due to that success, the hospital has taken on another palliative consultant and they have the opportunity to become a training hospital in the future, subject to funding. Also at the hospital, Magnolia House opened in February 2017 after the charity worked with health professionals to create and furnish the building at a cost of £45,000, providing a safe, nonclinical and comforting space where medical teams and families can have important discussions about diagnosis, treatment and end-of-life care.

Supporting children and their families emotionally and financially is the key purpose of Molly Ollys and the charity’s motto – which still rings true 10 years after it started – is ‘making the dark days brighter.’ Over the years, Olly The Brave soft toy lion has helped support thousands of children, normalising the effects of chemotherapy and comforting them when they were afraid. Olly has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane in different colours. “This helps children to feel ok when they lose their hair and if it grows back differently, they can put a fun one on Olly,” said Rachel.

For more information about Molly Ollys and how you can help, go to: https://www.mollyolly.co.uk/

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“Our 10-year anniversary is a good time to look at what we are doing and seeing what we need to do better and to grow and help more children and families,” added Rachel. “We are looking at expanding and adding to the Olly The Brave range and to support and increase the number of palliative carers across the UK.” One visible sign of the ‘freshen up’ will be on the roads with a fleet of 40-foot trailers operated by Redditch food distribution company Oakland International carrying the new Molly Ollys branding loud and proud! I

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FOOD & DRINK

JACK CINENSE From the Philippines to Brum’s Bavarian ‘pleasure palace’, the head chef at Albert’s Schloss on his role model father and how the grill is king

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CHEF’S CORNER

Tell us about your cooking Although my roots are in the food of the Philippines, my professional passion has grown into grilling, BBQ and smoking which I’ve honed over the years. Now at Albert’s Schloss, I’ve combined that with bakery skills with daily fresh pretzels and breads.

How did you become a chef?

I didn’t go to college to study food, so my route was a bit different. My dad was a private chef in London and growing up I was always around food. As a child I asked him to teach me the basics.

As a grown-up, having worked in a bank and studied business, a friend opened a Thai restaurant and asked if I wanted to get involved.

I started working as a porter and quickly progressed to the kitchen. When the head chef realised I had skills, he made me prep chef, then I moved to the grill and woks. I worked my way up to sous chef then moved to Grill on the Market where I was promoted to head chef within two months.

I met my other half who’s from Brum during this time and when she became pregnant, we moved to Birmingham. I worked at Hickory Smokehouse then Gusto and when Albert’s Schloss opened, I couldn’t resist coming here.

What do you eat at home?

My wife is a bit picky with food and only eats chicken breasts and beef! I go to back to my Filipino roots and cook chicken adobo which has dark soy, vinegar, ginger and garlic.

Who’s the best chef in the world and why? And who’s the best in Brum?

I wouldn’t like to say, but one thing’s for certain – my role model as a chef has to be my father.

How has your restaurant adapted to the current crisis?

We had a bit of a crisis in December when half the team had Covid, so on odd days we had a reduced menu due to lack of staff. There was a Sunday when we only had two chefs in the kitchen, so we had to serve main courses only. That wasn’t great, but thankfully disruption has been minimal. I think customers ‘get it’ and really appreciate being able to be allowed out again.

What was your favourite food as a kid?

Lechon which is crispy pork. You boil belly pork with spices like star anise, cinnamon and ginger, then take it out, dry the meat, roast for an hour then deep fry it until the skin starts to bubble.

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

Frog soup. It tasted just like chicken really. I lived in a village in the Philippines for seven years and remember eating some pretty unusual things.

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

I’ve always had an interest in numbers, so I’d probably be in finance. I

Albert’s Schloss, One Chamberlain Square, Paradise, Birmingham, B3 3AX. albertsschloss.co.uk/birmingham

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

RHUBARB & SAGE SPRITZ We’re ready to mix it up and put the zing into spring. Will you join us? t’s good to be back socialising again and not least because we got treated to this little number recently.

It reminded us that spring is just around the corner and there’s no better way to celebrate than with this rhubarb-inspired delight. I

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INGREDIENTS:

I 25ml rhubarb liqueur I 25ml gin

I 10ml rhubarb syrup I 10ml sage syrup

I 15ml lemon juice I Ginger ale

I Thyme and sage for garnish

METHOD: Pour the rhubarb liqueur, gin, both syrups and the lemon juice into a mixer over ice and shake thoroughly. Top up with ginger ale then pour into a glass, add more ice, garnish like a pro and then enjoy, responsibly, of course.

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NIBBLES and SHORTS

BIRMINGHAM’S BARS, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS ARE LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK. HERE’S OUR INSIDER GUIDE TO THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CITY’S EATERIES AND DRINKING DENS entrepreneur has created a new condiment brand. Red Loon is the brainchild of Raspal Kaur from Solihull. The seasoning products RASPAL Aarelocal based on recipes passed down through the generations of Raspal’s family for nearly 80 years. Versatile Red Loon Seasoning can be SPICES sprinkled on a wide range of dishes to deliver a punchy, spicy kick, while Red Loon Spicirub features tasty, aromatic spices that combine to IT UP! create the perfect marinade for meat, fish, seafood and vegetables. For more details visit https://www.redloon.co.uk/

GET SET FOR 15 COURSES OF 670 GRAMS! Digbeth restaurant 670 Grams has launched a new 15-course tasting menu. Owner Kray Treadwell, a finalist in TV’s Great British Menu and Michelin Young Chef of the Year winner, said: “I am committed to ensuring that the food I create is as accessible as possible. With the launch of our new tasting menu I’m hoping to introduce even more people to the world of fine dining, without the stuffiness and pretension that’s sometimes associated with it.” More details at: www.670grams.com

JAPANESE UNDERGROUND

Birmingham is welcoming a new Japanese cocktail & sake bar this month with the opening of Shibuya Underground. The bar features two menus to choose from – a Japanese cocktail menu or a Sake menu – both with six courses of drinks curated by the Shibuya Underground team under the watchful eye of sake expert Samuel Boulton. Shibuya Underground will also be hosting a range of events, including a monthly Sake School! Full details email: bookings@shibuyaunder ground.co.uk.

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ASIAN AWARD-WINNER

Indian eatery Dilbar Restaurant & Cocktail Bar in Broad Street has been named Best Restaurant in the Midlands at the annual Asian Food and Restaurant Awards. The family-owned independent restaurant, which was previously called East is East, opened in November 2019, shortly before the start of the pandemic. Owner Pam Bassi said: “We are very new to the restaurant industry which is why we are so pleased to have won this prestigious award.”

COOK THAI LIKE THE MASTERS Thai restaurant Chaophraya has launched cookery masterclasses – so you can learn how to produce the eatery’s favourite Thai dishes at home. The classes, held in the upstairs area of the main restaurant every Sunday, teach participants how to make one of five starters and mains, including some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes – Thai Green Curry, Pad Thai, Papaya Salad, Tom Yum Thai Soup, Spring Rolls and Massaman Curry. More details: https://chaophraya.co.uk/cooking-schools

WHO’S BEST IN THE WEST? Simpsons restaurant, Edgbaston and The Cross at Kenilworth are two of only three finalists in this month’s West Midlands Tourism Awards. The two restaurants will compete for the Taste of the West Midlands Award, along with Esquires Coffee in Coventry. Andreas Antona, chef restaurateur and owner of both Simpsons and The Cross said: “Following lockdown we set out to be even better than before and I’m extremely proud of the teams at Simpsons and The Cross for their hard work.”

FOUR OAKS BRANCHES OUT Work is underway to give the Four Oaks pub in Sutton Coldfield a multi-millionpound revamp. A fresh interior will see a new curved ceramic bar, limestone flooring, real oak features and exciting furnishings, while outside space is being reimagined and enhanced. A new food offering will celebrate the best of British produce. The extensive restoration will increase dining spaces, with more than 180 people seated inside and over 100 outside. Reopening is scheduled for May.

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SEASON’S EATINGS

ALDO’S ARANCINI T

A heart-warming wild mushroom arancini dish from celebrity chef Aldo Zilli o celebrate Aldo’s exciting partnership with Lucarelli restaurant in the Mailbox, the celebrity chef is sharing one of his favourite and incredibly tasty recipes with us this month. There’s only one word to add – Enjoy!! I

INGREDIENTS:

I 200g risotto rice I 2 tbsp white wine

I 600ml vegetable stock I 20g onion, chopped

I 50g mozzarella, cubed I 20g Parmesan cheese, grated I 200g breadcrumbs I 5 eggs I 100g flour

I 30g wild mushrooms ragu

(see brumliving.co.uk for Aldo’s special ragu recipe) I 60g butter I 500ml vegetable oil (for cooking)

I Salt/pepper

METHOD: The rice needs to be precooked at least two hours before.

Place the chopped onion in a large pan with 20g butter at low heat, when the onions are soft and cooked add the rice. Leave for few minutes and add the wine. Leave to evaporate and start to add the stock just to cover the rice. Stir during the cooking and add more stock when necessary. The rice will take about 19 minutes to cook.

When the rice is cooked take off the heat, add the Parmesan cheese, butter, adjust with salt and pepper to taste. Leave to cool in a ventilated area.

Place the flour in a tray, whisk the eggs in a bowl add salt and pepper, place the breadcrumbs in a tray. When the rice is cold with your hand form a ball, make sure you wet your hands so the rice will not stick to your hands.

When you have done all the balls, with your finger make a hole in the middle, insert some mushrooms ragu and reshape the arancini. Place them in the flour, then in the eggs and at the end in the breadcrumbs.

Set on the side. When all are done, place the vegetable oil in a pan, bring to about 170c. Place the arancini in the oil and leave them to cook until golden brown. Drain the rice balls on kitchen paper and serve with tomato sauce on the side.

Lucarelli Restaurant, Mailbox, 117 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RF. Tel: 0121 665 6762, lucarellirestaurant.co.uk

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

ESTADO INDIA

42-44 High Street, Harborne, B17 9NE. Tel: 0121 817 9969 estadoindia.co.uk t’s a year this month since Estado India flung opened its doors on Harborne High Street. Twelve months on, the restaurant is thriving, injecting warmth and vibrancy into what was once Café Rouge. Gone are the faux wicker chairs and insipid croque madame in favour of a classy dramatic interior, brilliant service and memorable Luso-Indian food.

Small plates (petiscos) are where it’s at with three per person recommended. Sticking to three was a challenge which we failed joyfully. Nuno, our waiter, was fantastic steering us in some directions we might not have headed, not least the cured beef croquette. If we worked here we’d be snaffling a dozen a day no question. Crisp on the outside, silky and smoky inside served with a lightly spiced aioli. Brilliant.

A prawn rissol was a bit like an empanada filled with delicately spiced prawns served with a Sumaar sauce which is like a souped-up aioli as well as a zingy herby dip. It was a cracker. Iberico vindaloo pork ribs were falling off the bone, melt in the mouth tender with, as you can imagine, a hotly spiced coating. Really super.

Keralan squid was perfection served with a curry leaf and mustard seed masala to dip the crunchy little morsels into. Chicken mappas was the only curry we sampled. On the bone, so still moist, the chicken was perfect with a complex spiced coconut milk green chilli sauce that screamed ‘drink me’. We didn’t order rice, opting for a tomato naan instead so mopped up the remains of the sauce with that. The naan wasn’t the big blistered beast

I

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you might get in a curry house – more a refined flatbread.

Word to the wise - we ordered a crunchy slaw (cabbage koshimbir) as one of our petiscos, however since all the small plates were served with a mound of the good stuff, we really didn’t need to order it separately.

A nod to the mixologist who’s got exciting plans for the drinks menu and who served up a couple of cracking mocktails – a zingy fresh Limao Spritz and a creamy coconutty Tropic Like It’s Hot. There’s nothing else quite like it in the city. Don’t expect a curry house nor is it Dishoom. The food is more interesting somehow and with a £15-for-three-petiscos deal for weekday lunch, it is a steal. We were kindly sent a gift card by the restaurant, but had we been paying, our bill would have been £68 which included two mocktails, seven small plates, two desserts and two pots of peppermint tea. That felt seriously reasonable given the level of the food and service. I

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FOOD & DRINK

THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE

ALWAYS AHEAD OF THE CURVE, BIRMINGHAM WINE SCHOOL’S KATIE GARDNER ESCHEWS THE REGULAR SUPERMARKET FARE TO SEEK OUT SOME

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or years the globalisation of the wine industry has meant that international grape varieties have thrived. The supermarket shelves are lined with homogenised labels touting Sauvignon Blanc or Merlot from all corners of the world.

Most of these grape varieties originate in France, their style and characteristics known and loved by consumers worldwide. It’s not a surprising decision on the part of wine producers, given the cost and work it takes to turn grapes on a vine to a bottle of wine. The prospect of gambling on a grape variety nobody has ever heard of is not a risk many of the big players are willing to make.

We are however always on the look-out for the ‘next big thing’ in the wine world, the new New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Argentian Malbec.

There are more than 10,000 grape varieties out there just waiting to be tried! Often the most interesting wines come from indigenous grape varieties from the country where they are produced.

F

ITALIAN JOB Italy alone has more than 300 native grape varieties to explore. The best thing about native grapes is that they have evolved, often over centuries, to be perfectly suited to the climate and environment in which they are grown. A great example of this is Fiano.

Fiano is widely grown in southern Italy and particularly in Campania. It has an aromatic fragrance of wild flowers and tropical fruits with honeyed notes and a hint of spice. It has grown for hundreds of years, first mentioned in the 13th century. It is also rumoured to have been the grape that the Romans used for their wine called Apianum.

It thrives in the volcanic soils of the Apennine mountains and winemakers often use lees ageing to add richness and complexity.

AUSTRIAN COMEBACK Austrian wines suffered after a scandal in the 1980s found that some rogue winemakers were adding diethylene glycol to their wines to give the appearance of body and sweetness. Diethylene glycol is a poisonous ingredient used in anti-freeze, so its no surprise it decimated the industry for a while. The good news is they now have some of the highest quality standards in the world and there are some fantastic cool-climate grape varieties to discover. The indigenous black grape called St

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KATIE’S

FOOD & DRINK

NATIVE WINES TO TRY

Paololeo Fiano del Salento £9.99, Waitrose Made from low-yielding grapes, the flavours of this wine are ripe and succulent tropical fruits, balanced by salinity and freshness.

Heinrich Hartl St. Laurent £13.99, Waitrose Barrel-matured for extra complexity, this wine shows velvety black fruits with spice and vanilla notes.

M&S Found Feteasca Regala £7, Marks and Spencer A dry, aromatic, crisp white wine scented with white peaches, roses and spring blossom.

Morande Reserva One to One Pais £8.99, Majestic Juicy and light-bodied with smooth berry notes and a hint of spice.

Laurent is grown in the warmer regions of Burgenland and Niederösterreich. St Laurent has a deep colour with flavours of dark cherries and smooth, silky tannins, sort of like a souped-up Pinot Noir.

ROMANIAN ROYALTY The queen of indigenous grapes in Romania is called Feteasca Regala. It’s a white grape whose name roughly translates as ‘royal maiden’. It is one of the country’s most widely-planted varieties. It’s well suited to the continental climate of the Dealu Mare and Transylvania wine regions and produces a wine which is quite rich in style with green apple and tropical fruit flavours. Its susceptible to noble rot, a technique used to make sweet wines and is often made in an off-dry style as well.

Pais is not technically indigenous to Chile but it has been there for a while. Plantings of the grape go back to 1520 when it was brought over by the conquistador Hernan Cortes and cultivated by Spanish missionaries.

For many years it was seen as a low quality, high yielding grape just used for rustic table wines. When the grapes are carefully managed though, it can make light, fresh and fruity wines similar in style to Beaujolais. I See UpClose, page 66 Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine education company that offers fun informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses online in Birmingham and Warwick. For more information contact Katie Gardner on 0121 270 7359, or visit www.birminghamwineschool.com.

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HEALTH

RUN LIKE THIS AND YOU’LL NEVER LOOK BACK EVER TRIED RUNNING BACKWARDS? OK, SO BEAR WITH US HERE, IT’S REALLY NOT AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS. IT’S ACTUALLY VERY GOOD FOR YOU AND IT’S MORE POPULAR NOW THAN EVER fficially it’s known as retro running, but it’s also known as backward or reverse running. And it is exactly what it says – running backwards! You run while keeping your lower limbs parallel to the direction of travel, but your shoulders and head should be rotated to keep your path under control – even though the best retro runners hardly ever turn it.

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Because the head is facing forward, the runner doesn’t see anything on the ground or in the way of their path in the backward run. And this method is especially good for runners who have knee problems as research shows significantly lower impact on that joint. Research also shows it burns more calories at a given rate so that 10 minutes backward running is equivalent to 25 minutes forward running

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HEALTH

BENEFITS Improves posture and balance: Running backwards leads to a natural change of posture.

You need to stand more upright, correcting your posture during the forward run. Without fully relying on sight you are forced to listen more attentively, improve your balance and develop your peripheral vision.

Better oxygenation: Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2) is 84 per cent in backward running versus 60 per cent in forward running; Better results for losing weight: If the reason for your workout is to lose the extra pounds, then retro-running is the fitness regime you were looking for: running backwards helps burn about 30 per cent more calories than running forward.

Reduces impact, kinder on injuries: Changing to running backward will reduce sore areas in your ankles and knees, letting any injured area recover. If you are able to alternate running forward and backward once healthy, you may be able to avoid developing any of those pains to begin with.

Better performance: When running backwards, more effort is needed in terms of movement. This increases cardiovascular efficiency and improves endurance.

TIPS

I Backward running is a less-natural motion, so

start out backward walking (also called retropedaling) which is relatively easy and increase your speed over time.

I Practice rolling and exercising force backwards with your arms through various exercises such as crab walking or axes as this can help stop damage or injury from falls.

I Running backwards up a gradient is safest as will

be at a lower speed, reducing the dangers caused if you should stumble.

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It reduces boredom: Conventional running for miles can be a tedious activity. Adding running backwards to your routine is fun and exciting.

Even Muscle Growth: Running backwards not only strengthens your muscles, but makes calf muscles, quadriceps and shins more balanced as you reach greater muscle strength.

Perfect abs: Running backwards engages your abdominal muscles, providing you with an on-thego ab workout. And it allows your lower back muscles to get some well-needed rest, too.

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HEALTH

FROM COUCH TO 5K AS THE WEATHER IMPROVES NOW MIGHT BE THE TIME TO JOIN IN THE GREAT PARK RUN DRIVE

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HEALTH

unning has never been more popular, thanks in part to lockdowns and the limited opportunity to get some decent exercise. The NHS drive to encourage a running plan for absolute beginners has really caught people’s attention and the Park Run events that take place throughout the country are more popular than ever. For those who don’t know, Park Run UK events are free, well organised runs that take place every weekend in parks and woodlands across the country with many in the West Midlands.

R

Here’s our guide to how to safely prepare for one in just a matter of weeks.

A 5K ‘race’ is a great target for beginner runners.

It’s long enough to feel like you’ve achieved something, yet short enough to take on after just a couple of months, or less if you’re in reasonable shape.

Most healthy people, even those who haven’t exercised in a long time, can train to run a 5K in a couple of months. 5K races have become hugely popular over the last few years, with hundreds of thousands of people signing up to various events across the UK, including many who have never run a race before.

EASY DOES IT When you first start running don’t try to do too much too soon. An average beginner’s pace is around 13 minutes per mile, but if you find that too hard, or not challenging enough, simply adjust your training accordingly. You’ll soon get a feel for what your body can do.

For beginners, it’s best to schedule three running sessions per week during the last eight weeks before the race.

At first you only need to do 20 minutes of alternate running and walking, building up to 40 minutes as you progress and race day gets near. If you’re really not used to running, or suffering weight problems, then it’s fine to walk throughout your first session.

Next time try running for a few minutes, then walk until you feel ready to run again, but when you walk, take brisk, purposeful strides.

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Schedule rest days between your training days and take plenty of minutes to warm up before each session.

Stretching before and after exercise is beneficial and something that many of us forget to do. By week three, you’ll already be starting to experience at least some of the many benefits of regular running.

Ideally you should try to work up to running for at least seven minutes (just over half a mile) nonstop before taking a walk break by the end of week three. You should also increase the length of your training sessions to half-an-hour, and once you can run for seven minutes, aim to run for eight, and then nine, which you should be able to achieve by the end of week four.

KEY TIME Weeks five and six are a key time. Now it is time to run for at least 15 minutes (just over a mile) non-stop.

Aim to build up to running for least 20 minutes by the end of week six. By the end of week seven you’ll be running for 35 minutes non-stop, which should get you to a distance of a little over four kilometres. It is still absolutely fine for you to take the odd walk break if you really need to, just get running again as soon as you can.

In week eight you should really enjoy your final week of training. A session where you run 30 minutes, then take a one-minute walk break before running for another 10 minutes, scheduled early in the week, should prepare you nicely to run your 5k race. After that just one more 20-minute run in the middle of the week is all you need to do.

RACE DAY When you come to Race Day just lap up the atmosphere. If you feel nervous, that’s fine, most of the other runners will too. Treat the race as a celebration of how far you’ve come in just a couple of months. Your aim is to go the distance without stopping, but if you need to take walking breaks that’s fine, this is only your first 5K race. I Details on the NHS week by week guide from Couch to 5K can be found: nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/.

Run events in Birmingham include Edgbaston Reservoir, Cannon Hill and Brueton Park. Visit www.parkrun.org.uk to find one close to you.

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BE SQUARE

Orange gingham top £55, Oliver Bonas

SS22 STYLE GUIDE

A LOOK AT THIS SEASON’S STYLE REVEALS WEARABLE TRENDS THAT, ON ONE HAND PACK A COLOUR-POPPING PUNCH AFTER DARK AND ON THE OTHER, AN AIR OF BACK-TO-BUSINESS BY DAY

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STYLE

DITSY PRINT

BOLD PRINT

LOVE IT

Orange tunic £45, Joe Browns

Sweet pea lightweight kimono £59, From My Mother’s Garden

Love and Roses V-neck jumper £30, Lipsy

TOP TIER

OVER HERE

The Mesh tiered ruffle skirt, Hope Fashion

Orange oversized shirt £16, George

TRUE BLUE

Trousers £18, Be Beau at Matalan

THINK PINK

Shoes from Office

here’s much to admire about SS22 – not least a professional vibe with brilliant blazers and cool trousers and at the opposite end of the spectrum, loungewear that we grew to love during lockdown and refuse to give up. And for those newly reinstated nights out we’re donning bold brights – think fluid tangerine dresses and lime green minis. A wide-ranging mix of styles we grant you, so here’s a bit of inspiration to get you started…

T

BACK-TO-BUSINESS This isn’t all sharp suits, there’s bags more personality than that.

Slouchy blazers and shirts with attitude and cute details are the ones.

Trousers take on a more casual vibe but are smart enough for the office.

Check out Ganni’s statement suits and Victoria Beckham’s trousers or Reiss, Whistles and Cos for some oh-so-cool relaxed tailoring.

AFTER DARK Not one for the faint-hearted, big bold splashes of colour are where it’s at. Check out Roksanda and Oscar de la Renta for the boldest of examples. On the high street, River Island and Oliver Bonas have some cracking options. If you’re after a more subtle pop of colour,

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STYLE

CHECK MATE

MOOD

Clothing from Matalan

Cropped blazer £39.99, New Look

CREAM OF THE CROP Linen blazer £49, John Lewis

SUITS YOU

Linen blazer £28 and shorts £14, Et Vous at Matalan

CUTE COLLAR

Rixo Lila blue cotton blouse £155, Harvey Nichols

check out cool accessories like a clutch bag or knockout footwear.

NOT JUST FOR BINGE WATCHING If you’re donning loungewear make it cool and comfortable. Check out Moncler for the ultimate hoodies, John Lewis and the White Company for super soft loungewear, and for vintage head to Cow Birmingham. I

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BOHO CHIC

Favourite Romance cream cotton top £100, Free People at Harvey Nichols

SMART CASUAL

Clothing from John Lewis

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STYLE COMFORT IS KING

Blue hoodie £34.99, M&Co

IN THE HOOD

Mrs Hinch mocha lounge top £16, F&F

COTTON TOP

Moncler cotton blend hoodie £375, Harvey Nichols

TIE DYE FOR

Papaya jumper £14.50 and joggers £12.50, Matalan

LOUNGE LOVER

Clothing from Primark

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STYLE NEAT PLEATS

Mini shirt dress £52, Lipsy

GET SHIRTY

Green shirt £24.99, New Look

MAXIMUM IMPACT

Maxine shirt dress green £140, Monsoon

BLAZER OF GLORY

Clothing from TU

LIME GREEN

ANIMAL MAGIC

Dress, River Island

Leela jumper £42 and Oslo joggers £45, Dancing Leopard

ARM CANDY

Jacquemas Le Chiquito long green top handle bag £470, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

GO GREEN

Shoes £85, Dune

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BEAUTY

REFRESHER COURSE

1

Spring is coming and with it a fab excuse to refresh

your skincare regime. We’ve rounded up a handful of products we’re most excited to slot into the mix 1. CALM-ESSENTIEL SOOTHING REPAIRING BALM, £28 CLARINS.CO.UK Launching this month, Clarins nourishing multi-use balm combats all your skin woes from dry elbows and irritated skin to redness and chapped lips. It feels disloyal to even think it, but it could just take the place of our favourite Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream…

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2. THE ORDINARY SET £15, SELFRIDGES If you haven’t already tried fuss free brand, The Ordinary, this kit is a fantastic introduction. It includes a squalene cleanser that melts into an oil and feels great massaged into the skin, Hyaluronic Acid 2% +B5 which packs a punch and Natural Moisturising Factors + HA. There’s a lot we love about The Ordinary – the price, the nononsense ethos and the results.

3.SKIN PROUD BRIGHT EYE £14.95, BOOTS Eye creams are the thing we struggle with most. We’ve found possibly two that work while the rest actually make our eyes puffy.

This is a gel cream and feels fresh and light. It’s packed with vitamin C, super-hydrating shea butter and pomegranate, is 100 per cent vegan and paraben free and more…

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4. SUPREMŸA ANTI-AGEING SKIN CARE LOTION £190, SISLEY Yes, it’s costly, but we’re increasingly finding Sisley does what it says on the tin which, as we know is not the norm in the beauty industry. Launching this month, this is an added step in the Supremÿa night time range to be applied every evening after cleansing. The idea is that this step prepares the skin for the nourishing products that follow and therefore maximises their effectiveness.

5. FFS FULL SHAVING SET £28, FFS.CO.UK Women have played second fiddle in the shaving stakes forever, so FFS (Fuss Free Shaving) is redressing the balance producing uniquely designed quality products with sustainability a top priority all delivered to your door. The three-step system includes a pre-shave body scrub, shaving cream and post shave balm for ultimate smoothness.

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STYLE FOR MEN

HEAD TO TOE Clothing from Primark

MOOD BOOSTER

HELLO SPRING YOU BIG, BEAUTIFUL LIFE-AFFIRMING SEASON. WE’RE FULLY EMBRACING THE FRESHNESS WITH A RAINBOW OF PERKY PASTELS

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STYLE FOR MEN

GO GREEN Classic pique polo in menthe £37, Crew Clothing

BIG CAT Kenzo tiger embroidered cotton sweatshirt £195, Harvey Nichols

BEACH LIFE Pink Bermuda shorts £49, Crew Clothing

niversally flattering, uplifting and chic, pastels are like a sartorial peppy tonic for the soul. Okay, it’s only fashion, but clothes really have the ability to lift the mood and that’s a hill we’re prepared to die on. Lilac, mellow yellow, baby blue, mint green, we’re donning the lot. Delayed due to Covid, when SS22 shows were finally allowed to go ahead they didn’t disappoint. Pastels, either in the form of fine knits and sweatshirts or trousers and tailored shorts, were a breath of fresh air with Fendi and Jill Sander leading the pack. We’ve pulled together some cool examples that’ll slot into your wardrobe and raise a smile. I

U

BABY BLUE Fairford jogger £49, Crew Clothing

TIE DYE Yellow tee, River Island RIGHT STRIPES JW Anderson embroidered relaxed fit cotton poplin £295, Selfridges

JOIN THE CREW Mint green crew neck £35, FatFace

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TEE GLEE Ami Paris blue logo cotton T-shirt £120, Harvey Nichols

PEPPY PURPLE Belstaff lilac logo cotton sweatshirt £235, Harvey Nichols SMARTEN UP Baby blue tie £4.99, TK Maxx

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HOMES

BRING ME SUNSHINE CONSIDER MAXIMISING LIGHT AND SPACE WITH AN ORANGERY OR CONSERVATORY THAT’LL BRING THE OUTSIDE IN ot blessed with year-round al fresco friendly temperatures, a conservatory, orangery or indeed a garden room can be a brilliant way of maximising space and making the most of your garden. It’s a win-win. It’s also the perfect spot for your house plants – and since we’re all nurturing a monstera (or 10) now, it’s a genuine consideration.

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BRILLIANT BLINDS Duette shades from Luraflex luraflex.co.uk

TRADITIONAL CHARM

By Vale Garden Houses www.valegardenhouses.co.uk

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HOMES

CLASS GLASS

By Anglian Home Improvements www.anglianhome.co.uk

There are three basic structures which largely depend on budget, space and style of your house:

ROOM WITH A VIEW Sheep skin rugs from Baa Stool

I Traditional conservatories are fully glazed and historically have been plagued by issues with temperature control – too cold in winter and too hot in summer. Not anymore.

Modern design techniques and under-floor heating can banish these issues.

I An orangery is different and features a flat roof with a glass lantern, often with masonry walls. The structure is insulated and feels more like part of the house than an add-on.

I Garden rooms are separate from the house and can make a perfect home office or chill-out space. Classed as outbuildings and built to less than 2.5m in height, they generally don’t need planning permission. Check locally though.

When you’re considering which structure to go for, think about how the addition will look alongside the rest of the house and shop around. Make sure you see examples of previous projects and get costs locked in. I

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HOMES

GREEN FINGERS Furniture and accessories from Dobbies

RAISED STRUCTURE

By Vale Garden Houses www.valegardenhouses.co.uk

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HOMES

SUPER SHUTTERS Shutters by Just Shutters www.justshutters.co.uk

SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED

By Anglian Home Improvements www.anglianhome.co.uk

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HOMES

RUSTIC CHARM Furniture and accessories from HomeSense

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HOMES

SUPER STORAGE Indi large sideboard £499, Dunelm CUSHION LOVE Hessian floor cushion £20, B&M

ON THE SIDE Lily multi side table £199, Cuckooland

LIGHT UP Poplar wood lantern £6.99, Dobbies Garden Centre

FINISHING TOUCHES

POTS AWAY Ferm Living Ando pot £205, Nest

ADORN YOUR NEW SPACE WITH SOME BEAUTIFUL AND PRACTICAL ACCESSORIES FOR ULTIMATE ENJOYMENT

RUSTIC CHARM Furniture from Lee Longlands

SOFA STYLE Koral sofa set £950, Habitat

COSY NIGHTS Tilly jacquard throw £54, Oliver Bonas

CUTE COCOON TRIMM Copenhagen cocoon chair £1479, Cuckooland TOP BRASS Nora floor lamp £109, Cult Furniture

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OUTSIDE IN Miami border leaf rug £69, Furniture Village

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MOTORING

NIFTY SHADES OF GREY PICK A COLOUR… AND THE CHANCES ARE IT’LL BE GREY! OFFICIAL FIGURES SHOW THAT’S WHAT WE BRITS GO FOR WHEN CHOOSING A CAR – ESPECIALLY WHEN OPTING FOR A CLEVER PLUG-IN HYBRID LIKE THE LEXUS NX SUV – SAYS SUE COOKE ascinating fact: Tangerine-tinted cars account for 1,156 registrations in the West Midlands, the highest in any UK region according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Most British drivers prefer a grey exterior paintwork though which accounts for a quarter of the market.

And grey, in all its shades is the preferred colour for plug-in hybrids and was the colour of the Lexus NX which I road tested this week. The mid-size premium SUV is Lexus’s first plug-in hybrid electric model. While it is a second generation NX there are 95 per cent new parts.

The contrasting curved surfaces, sharp angles and muscular styling attracted more than the usual

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number of questions from my neighbours! The grille has a new mesh pattern enhanced with four projector LED headlights and an adaptive high beam system.

Each unit contains 11 LED chips with light output controlled by a forward camera. I found their brilliance while driving at night very welcome.

COCKPIT CONCEPT As well as the advanced technology which creates the Sonic Grey and Sonic Titanium exterior paintwork, there is a total of 11 colours. If you opt for the F sport model you can choose Azure Blue or F Sport White.

The NX heralds new directions in cabin design and is the first model to feature the ‘Tazuna’ driver’s

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FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Lexus NX350h AWD Price: £39,250otr Engine: 4-cylinder, electric motor front, electric motor rear and lithium ion battery Performance: 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 124 mph CO2 emissions: 133-146 g/km Combined fuel consumption: 44.1-47.9mpg

Sport mode and while driving around busy Sutton Coldfield, efficiency was the priority with Eco mode.

cockpit concept. The Japanese word describes a rider’s use of the reins to control a horse so the layout of controls and information mean the driver can maximise hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

‘Feel More in Every Moment’ is the slogan Lexus uses to express the sensory and driving appeal of the NX and technology features certainly make life on board easier.

The number of switches has been reduced from 78 to 45 and thankfully some of the physical buttons have been kept for easier audio and air-conditioning adjustments while on the move.

Drive Mode Select allows the driver to choose between different modes to suit different driving conditions or driving styles. On a long run out to the Cotswolds for example I was able to sharpen performance choosing

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LIGHTING UP I found front seats are comfortable with side supporting bolsters. There are 64 different lighting colours to choose from in the cabin, reflecting different moods inspired by nature Lexus says. A climate concierge ensures cabin temperature is precisely adjusted to suit each occupant.

This first PHEV (plug in hybrid electric vehicle) is powered by a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle engine, a front electric motor, a rear electric motor and transaxle and a lithium ion battery. The NX can be driven for 43 to 47 miles in pure electric vehicle mode and at speeds up to 83mph. This range is much higher than other PHEVs I have road tested.

For safer driving on slippery muddy wet or icy roads, the 350h is also equipped with E-Four electric all-wheel drive for that extra grip. A front-wheel drive version is available when production starts in the summer.

The Lexus NX is one of those cars for all seasons and there are all reasons, including the great choice of paint colours, to buy the premium SUV with new connected and safety technologies and dynamic performance that together deliver a more rewarding connection between driver and car. I

SHOWROOM

Lexus Birmingham, 4 Wingfoot Way, Birmingham, B24 9HF. Tel: 01212 227679 https://www.lexus.co.uk/centres/birmingham

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

HASEEBAH ABDULLAH THE YOUNG COACH WHO’S CHANGING THE LIVES OF BUDDING YOUNG FEMALE BOXERS HAS BEEN CROWNED A HOMETOWN HERO BY BIRMINGHAM 2022 ith five brothers and two sisters, Haseebah was used to a bit of rough and tumble at home. And having watched her brothers train at Windmill Gym for years, stepping into the ring aged 11 seemed natural. At that time, she was the only girl in the gym which didn’t matter as she felt at home. But for lots of girls, particularly those wearing a headscarf, a boxing gym wasn’t – and still isn’t – an option.

Haseebah who is now a coach – the first hijabwearing coach in England – is on a mission to affect

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change and she doesn’t just talk the talk. Civil servant by day, boxing coach by night, Haseebah has been coaching since she was 23-years-old and is a tour de force, taking the fight for inclusivity to the boxing authorities. She has forced rule changes that allow girls to wear head scarves, leggings and sleeves which makes a huge difference to the opportunities for ethnic minorities.

CHANGING THE RULES Her own boxing career was stunted because of the head scarf rule, so having changed that for girls

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

coming through the system is massive. She says: “No one was representing us and there was such a lack of knowledge. I put forward a study to the head of England Boxing linking dress code to participation levels and highlighting the fact that covering up doesn’t affect athletic performance.”

She was successful and the rules were changed.

Haseebah recalls: “The nicest thing recently was seeing girls competing in full leggings and sleeves. It’s amazing.” Female coaching numbers and diversity at the gym have grown thanks to Haseebah. There are now four classes with 32 girls. “It’s a really nice mix,” says Haseebah. “I was the only Asian girl in the gym initially but now there are Polish, Pakistani and Albanian. It’s a real celebration of cultures.”

Haseebah has five carded fighters which means they have a licence to box competitively which is a big deal.

Her contribution and commitment is seriously inspiring and one of the reasons she’s been named one of Birmingham 2022’s Hometown Heroes.

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“I had no idea I’d been nominated. It was a huge surprise to me,” she says. “I didn’t tell my friends and family I’d been nominated until I got the nod I’d been chosen.” You may have seen her face on a mural

by Brum’s own Gent48 on Navigation Street which is quite surreal for Haseebah. “I keep doing a double take!” she adds.

Of the Commonwealth Games, Haseebah thinks they are a huge opportunity for the people of the city to come together. “It’s such a diverse city with so much talent and so much to celebrate. The opportunities aren’t just sporting, but it’s about job creation too in areas in the arts and creative industry too. It’ll be truly inclusive.” I

WE CAN BE HEROES For more Hometown Heroes or to nominate a baton bearer to be part of the Queen’s Baton Relay visit Birmingham2022.com

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GROWING PLACES

COMMONWEALTH LINKS

BUDDING MEDICS Year 6 pupils at Edgbaston High School got very hands on during a workshop by Medical Mavericks in which they used a wide range of real medical equipment. The girls used an ultrasound machine to check whether they were still growing, recorded their own ECG and even used a fake arm to take blood from using a real needle. The pupils also enjoyed a talk about the medical world and career opportunities available in the NHS.

Pupils from the region took part in a video call with children in Sri Lanka for the launch of Commonwealth Connections – a partnership between the British Council and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The partnership links 60 schools in the West Midlands with 60 schools across 10 Commonwealth countries. During the launch at Thorns Collegiate Academy, Brierley Hill, pupils from six schools in Dudley linked up with schools in Sri Lanka where pupils took turns to perform demonstrations such as traditional dance.

SCHOOL REPORT

WINNING PARTNERSHIP Thanks to a partnership with Division 1 Boldmere St Michael’s Women’s Football Club, rising female athletes from BMet’s Sutton Coldfield College are chasing their dreams. Chloe, a level 3 Sport student and Paige, a level 2 NVQ Activity Leadership student along with Katie, BMet’s team captain relished their Division 1 debut. BMet head coach, Simon Noakes said: “We are really pleased with how well the players have adapted to this new partnership, with the commitment from the club providing excellent facilities and with the college promoting the partnership.”

AWARDS SEASON Midlands training group Performance Through People was awarded three trophies at the Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards which celebrates the commitment and skill of apprentices and their employers.

The winners were Balbinder Thumber of Happy Kidz Day Care in Wolverhampton and Dorota Zajac of online fashion retailer Motel Rocks in Bromsgrove, while Staffordshire-based Above N Beyond which offers valuable support to asylum seekers was named employer of the year.

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HEARTY BREAKFAST Pupils from Ferncumbe CofE School were picked up by tractor and open top trailer and taken to Hatton Adventure World where they learned about the benefits of eating a hearty breakfast. The scheme run in association with the National Farmers Union is now in its sixteenth year. Teacher Charlotte Forbes said: “It’s important the children realise where food comes from and the link between the animals they feed and what they eat and they take responsibility for healthy food choices.”

STEM SUCCESS Lyndon School, Solihull has been chosen as one of 600 nonselective state schools in the UK to receive a fully funded STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) educational programme called Coding Success which aims to inspire a passion for coding and robotics. Coding Success is funded by BAE Systems, the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force to encourage the next generation of scientists, engineers and technicians. The programme provides teachers with tools such as teacher training sessions and lesson plans.

WALKING TALL More than 150 pupils from St George’s Edgbaston walked to school to raise awareness of the growing mental health crisis in young people, particularly post-lockdown. This was the school’s second Walk, Talk and Support event, which was also in support of Edward’s Trust – the local charity that helps young people and adults face loss and deal with bereavement. Students, staff and parents made the mile-long journey joined by Edward’s Trust mascot Teddy Edward. The last event raised more than £2,000 for Edward’s Trust.

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BUSINESS

GRAND PURCHASE Thanks to generous trusts and foundations, B:Music – the charity responsible for Birmingham Symphony Hall and Town Hall – has purchased a new Steinway concert grand piano for orchestras, pianists and performing artists to play at Symphony Hall. Birminghambased musician and graduate of the University of Birmingham and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, David Austin Grey, pictured, joined B:Music’s chief executive Nick Reed at London’s Steinway Hall to select the new instrument which will grace Symphony Hall’s stage for years to come.

BUSINESS

SHAKESPEARE-ON-SEA

Shakespeare is hitting the high seas in a partnership between the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and

NEWS

cruise line company Cunard.

Available exclusively onboard Queen Mary 2, transatlantic guests will be able to enjoy special theatrical performances by the RSC, including a new piece called Boundless as the Sea, a unique blend of Shakespeare’s iconic love scenes created by Owen Horsley from Shakespeare’s plays.

The onboard cast will also hold workshops and informal events, including Q&A sessions.

CASSIE TAKES THE CHAIR Culture Central, the collective voice of the cultural sector in the West Midlands, has a new chair. Cassie Chadderton was previously director Media and Stakeholder Relations at Arts Council England, Head of UK Theatre and currently chief executive of World Book Day. Cassie said: “With the combined promise of Coventry City of Culture and Birmingham Commonwealth Games it’s an exciting time to take on the role of chair of Culture Central.”

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WELCOME: Sue Beardsmore and Martyn Liberson at the Gardens’ newly restored bandstand

SUE’S GARDEN ROLE Former BBC Midlands Today presenter Sue Beardsmore is taking over as chair of trustees at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The broadcast journalist, recently chair of the National Lottery Heritage Fund Committee for England, Midlands & East, succeeds city-based solicitor Martyn Liberson, who has led the trustees for the past 10 years. Sue said: “There are ambitious plans to build on the nearly 200 years of heritage, but the Gardens are currently in need of urgent repairs and significant investment, so we must work hard to make that happen.”

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WANTED AND ON THE RUN The race is on to sign up for a popular annual run in Leamington which raises vital cash for charity. The Wright Hassall Leamington Regency 10k Run has raised more than £400,000 for local causes since it

MAKE IT A DOUBLE! Shakespeare Distillery has been shortlisted twice in the prestigious West Midlands

launched in 2005, and returns for its 18th year on

Tourism Awards. The independent artisan spirit producer based in Stratford-upon-

Sunday, 10 April. Organised by Leamington Round

Avon has been shortlisted in the Experience of the Year and Small Visitor

Table, the event will be opened by Birmingham 2022

Attraction of the Year and is one of only a handful of businesses to be shortlisted

Commonwealth Games heavyweight boxer Lewis

in the Stratford-upon-Avon area. Award winners, to be announced this month,

Williams and takes runners through Leamington’s

will go through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in June.

parks and gardens.

WEDDING WINNERS West Midlands-based catering company Caviar & Chips has been voted the region’s Best Wedding

BIKE4LIFE BOOST Motoring organisation, the RAC, has become the official partner of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival. This year’s event – which will see 3,500 bikers ride in a 23-mile convoy on Sunday 24 April – celebrates its tenth anniversary. Pam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Bike4Life has been a key event in our fund-raising events calendar for a decade. This year, we expect it

Caterer at the Wedding Industry Awards for the third year running. The awards saw entries from more than 900 wedding industry suppliers from around the UK. Caviar & Chips Catering has its production kitchen in Aston and delivers weddings and events nationwide. The business was founded by Jonathan Carter-Morris and Marc Hornby in 2017 when they were studying their

FACES OF FUTURE

to be bigger and better than ever.” More details at: bike4lifefest.com

MBAs at Aston University.

Future Faces Chamber of Commerce has re-elected Sabah Hussain as vicepresident and welcomed committee member Yung Lau, pictured right, to the presidential team. Sabah is a business architect and coach at Corella and has been a member of Future Faces for three years. She is also a Charity Board Trustee for Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid. Yung is a strategic consultant at Jacobs and was named Outstanding Young Achiever of the Year at the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce awards.

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BUSINESS

MUSICAL CHEERS

BUSINESS BITES CYBER CHIEF

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has extended its

Det Supt Vanessa Eyles has been appointed director of the Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands, responsible for driving the organisation’s financial growth as well as pushing the cyber resilience message. She was previously detective chief inspector for Western Complex Child Abuse of West Midlands Police.

partnership with Deloitte in the Midlands to bring musical experiences to more than 13,000 children in the region. The collaboration sees Deloitte support the CBSO’s Schools’ Concerts for Key Stage 1, 2

TREE TIME

and 3 pupils and Relaxed Concerts for children with special educational needs. The partnership launched in 2017 has allowed more than 38,000 children to attend a CBSO concert, many experiencing a classical music performance for the first time.

ABBIE’S APPETISING APP An app which plans meals and live tracks ingredients in your home has been launched by a Birmingham-born working mum. WhatsIn aims to reduce food waste, take the stress out of meal planning and make food shopping easier, says founder Abbie Aston. It ensures the user has the correct

Willmott Dixon Interiors has planted hundreds of trees in Birmingham as part of a new initiative to improve green spaces across the UK. The national fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor has delivered the woodland restoration project at Lickey Hills Country Park in partnership with leading nature charity, Conservation Volunteers.

GIGA-PLANT

Plans for a new Gigafactory manufacturing hi-tech lithium-ion batteries for the global automotive and energy storage industries, has

quantity of food in their cupboards, fridge and freezer

been given the go-ahead by Coventry and

without overspending, or under-buying. Abbie said: “I

Warwickshire planners. Production-ready from

wanted to create something that could help me better organise myself and take the stress out of mealtimes.”

LISA’S SALES PITCH Independent estate agent DM & Co Homes has appointed Lisa Smith as sales director, 18 months after she joined as branch manager and valuer at the company’s Dorridge office. Born and brought up in Solihull, Lisa briefly worked in London before returning to raise her family of three children in the Dorridge area. The company, which covers Solihull, Dorridge, Lapworth, Tanworth-in-Arden and surrounding areas, sold more than 360 homes in 2021 and increased staff numbers from six to 29.

2025, the £2.5bn project will create up to 6,000 new highly skilled jobs with thousands more in the wider supply chain in the region.

HOME BENEFITS A charity providing support and advice to autistic people in the West Midlands has been given a cash boost. Autism West Midlands received £1,000 from housebuilder Barratt Homes’ Community Fund. As a leading housebuilder in the region, Barratt Homes’ donation is part of its outreach into the local communities close to its developments. Adrian Evans, managing director at Barratt Homes West Midlands, said: “We were inspired when we heard about the incredible work that Autism West Midlands does.”

SHAKE ON IT: Lisa with managing director Dominic Murphy

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AT LAST! RESTAURANT CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY

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Double joy as Pushkar Dining also marks win at British Curry Awards

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uch-loved Indian restaurant Pushkar Dining has been a favourite of the Birmingham food scene for more than 12 years. Unfortunately, lockdown meant they were unable to mark their 10th birthday at the time, but a belated celebration was held with a special showcase dinner for media and influencers that also marked their third win at the British Curry Awards. I

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1 Ali Trigg, Liliana Anaya, Neha D'Souza. 2 Rai Singh, Anita Champaneri. 3 Sunny Nandhera, Monifa Bobb-Simon. 4 Tim Andrews, Sam Faulkener. 5 Laura McEwan, Emma Stokes. 6 Paul Fulford, Mike Olley. 7 Cristina Tataran, Money Chopra. 8 Rebecca Stew. 9 Andrew Riley, Jas Sangha. 10 Poonam and Abz Walid.

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Butchers Social launches new experience at the Forest Hotel isitors came together to celebrate the opening of the latest offering of the Butchers Social – the Forest Hotel in Dorridge. The eatery brings the signature style of the Butchers Social – seasonal, bold, modern British food with a nod to the classics – to the old coach house. I

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1 Katherine Strang and Hattie D’Souza. 2 Tim Andrews and Max Andrews. 3 Russell Martin, Darryl Eales, Genie’s Wish representative, Mike Bullard, Ben Howell. 4 Mike Bullard and Phil Moore. 5 Dave Pinnington, Louise Panayides, Brian Bladsdale. 6 Dave Totney and Russell Martin. 7 Steve Dodd and Anne-Marie Eden. 8 Jackie Ling.

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ucarelli restaurant hosted a special VIP event to celebrate its new partnership with celebrity chef Aldo Zilli. The 60 guests enjoyed a live demo by Aldo, showcasing his authentic pasta-making skills. They were then treated to a delicious meal crafted by Aldo which included dishes such as seared Sicilian tuna with fennel and orange topping, wrapped lamb cannon with Pancetta served on orange mash and lamb jus, and Scrigni Cacio e Pepe. The event raised £850 for mental health charity, Mind. I

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1 Aldo Zilli, Carmine Sacco. 2 Alex Dymova, Galina and Gareth Thomas. 3 Neha D'Souza, Lexi Florescu. 4 Andrew Riley, Alev Dervish.

5 Charlotte Ruff, George Hancorn. 6 Preeti Sidhu, Liliana Ayana. 7 Bharat and Anita Champaneri. 8 Wayne and Joanne Shemmell.

9 Gemma Morris, Amy Langston, Sophie Howell.

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Special launch event reveals planet Earth as you’ve never seen it before he breath-taking Gaia artwork, created by artist Luke Jerram, was revealed at a special unveiling event at Millennium Point. The installation is suspended from the venue’s atrium, giving visitors the chance to view the Earth from every angle in space as never before. On display until 28 March, it is accompanied by a specially created surround sound composition by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones. Gaia is free to visit for all ages, no booking required. More information at: www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/gaia/ I

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1 Shafeeq Rehman, Sophie Kesterton, Askir Uddin, Amy Hamilton. 2 Phil Oldershaw, Kate Canty, Steve Evans. 3 Simon Pitt, Rebecca Delmore, Jo Jeffries, Abbie Vlahakis. 4 Hanifa Shah, Abbie Vlahakis. 5 Fran Molina, Bastien Goubeaux, Ben Morgan. 6 Cllr Karen McCarthy, Simon Topman, Steve Holden. 7 Kevan Holland, Victoria Webb, Abbie Vlahakis, Henrik Court. 8 Jackie Graham, Natalie Graham. 9 Abigail Daniels, George Jessop, Holly Young.

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Photography by Vivienne Bailey

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WHAT: Luke Jerram’s ‘Gaia’ WHEN: Now until 28 March

WHAT: The Lion, the Witch and the

WHERE: Millennium Point,

Wardrobe

millenniumpoint.org.uk/gaia/

WHEN: 8 to 12 March

Created from detailed NASA imagery and

WHERE: The Alexandra, atgtickets.com

measuring seven metres in diameter, this

Step through the wardrobe into the

stunning art installation celebrates the

enchanted kingdom of Narnia. Join Lucy,

beauty and majesty of planet Earth on an

Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave

awe-inspiring scale, accompanied by a

goodbye to wartime Britain and embark on

specially created surround sound

the most magical of adventures in a frozen,

composition by BAFTA award-winning

far-away land.

composer Dan Jones.

WHAT: Wondrous Stories WHEN: 17 to 20 March WHERE: Centenary Square, birmingham2022.com/festival/ Marking the start of Birmingham 2022 Festival, there will be seven performances of this large scale spectacular outdoor production, designed to bring people together in a celebration of the wondrous stories of ordinary people across the region.

WHAT: Bree Runway WHEN: 11 March WHERE: Birmingham O2 Institute, academymusicgroup.com The fast-rising pop phenomenon cemented herself as one of the breakout stars last year when she was nominated as BET Award for Best New International Act and shortlisted for BBC Sound

WHAT: Coming to England

of 2021.

WHAT: Flo & Joan WHEN: 8 March WHERE: Town Hall, bmusic.co.uk The multi-award-winning musical comedy duo (and sisters) are climbing out of their pits, armed with a piano and percussion section to bring you a brand-new show of their critically acclaimed songs and comedy.

WHEN: 31 March to 16 April WHERE: Birmingham Rep, birmingham-rep.co.uk This wonderful stage adaptation by David Wood of Baroness Floella Benjamin’s award-winning book, bursts onto the stage with music, story-telling, humour and pathos.

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

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WHAT’S ON WHAT: John Bishop WHEN: 1 and 2 April WHERE: Utilita Arena, utilitaarenabham.co.uk The comedy superstar is coming back to Birmingham with his highly anticipated new stand-up show... and after the year we’ve just had, we could all do with a night of laughs!

WHAT: Stan WHEN: 19 and 20 March WHERE: Midlands Art Centre, macbirmingham.co.uk

WHAT: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Featuring awesome

WHEN: 3 to 26 March

animated dinosaurs, this is

WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome,

a powerful and poignant

birminghamhippodrome.com

new play by Sarah Emmott that celebrates the power

Birmingham, Be Our Guest! One of the most enchanted

of play, joy of

musicals of all time returns to the stage for a new, completely

communication and

reimagined tour that features all of the spellbinding music and

positive force of friendship.

lyrics of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

WHAT: Paul Zerdin: Hands Free WHAT: Texas WHEN: 5 March WHERE: Symphony Hall, bmusic.co.uk

WHEN: 9 April WHERE: The Old Rep, oldreptheatre.co.uk As well as his hilarious characters, the winner

For more than 30 years, Texas have proved

of America’s Got Talent gives a glimpse into

themselves to be one of Scotland’s best-ever bands

his own world, showing us what it’s like to

and nothing short of a national treasure south of

be able to throw your voice in everyday

the border too, having sold over 40 million records.

situations where anything and everything can talk back!

WHAT: The Mamma Mia Party with Viva ABBA WHEN: 26 March WHERE: Nailcote Hall, nailcotehall.co.uk For all you Dancing Queens, this is an unmissable night with one of the best tribute bands out there, belting out all ABBA’s incredible hits. Includes three-course dinner and after-show party.

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PERSON TO PERSON

CLOSE WITHÁ

KATIE GARDNER

Where many might have bottled it, Katie took a leap of faith and

switched careers from retail buying to the drinks industry. Now the born and bred Brummie is the toast of Birmingham Wine School

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I’m a born and bred Brummie and have lived here for most of my life. I studied languages at university and got the opportunity to live in France and Spain for a while. I started off my career in retail buying but decided to have a career change around seven years ago and make the leap into the wine industry. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

I took my WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) level 3 and after working in sales for a number of big drinks wholesalers for several years, I joined Birmingham Wine School. During my time in the trade I’ve been lucky enough to visit some incredible wine-making regions around the world, from Mendoza in Argentina to Franschhoek in South Africa.

IT’S WHAT I DO At the wine school, I host wine and gin tasting events for the people of Birmingham alongside my team of knowledgeable tutors and teach WSET educational wine courses for both hospitality professionals and novice wine lovers. Our events are fun and informal, we try to take the mystery out of wine tasting. The WSET courses are a great way of expanding your horizons if you already know a little bit about wine already.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE I’m on a mission to make wine fun and accessible to everybody. I think it can often be seen as an intimidating subject, but the most important thing is learning what you like. I love it when someone attends one of our events and

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says at the beginning – “I hate red wine…” and by the end of the evening I’ve usually convinced them otherwise!

BIGGEST SUCCESS Gaining my diploma in wine and spirits. I was working full-time and it was two years of late nights of studying and hard graft but so rewarding to finally pass. The final exam involved a blind tasting of 12 different wines! People often don’t believe that you can do a professional qualification in wine tasting.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED To not worry about the things I can’t control (still learning on that one!) I’m very prone to overthinking everything but sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM The accent. Everyone else in the country mocks it but whenever I hear it, it sounds like home. I also think the food scene is fantastic, you can find anything you fancy from some of the best curry houses in the UK to Michelin star dining.

DOWNTIME I enjoy the escapism of going to the cinema. Watching a film on the big screen in the dark and immersing yourself in a story for a couple of hours is my way of switching off.

Of course, I also highly recommend a nice glass of wine at the end of the day! I

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