May 2016 (issue 44)

Birmingham g n i liv

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May 2016

MIDLANDS MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

MASTER IN METAL

JACOB CHANDLER

BIRCHFIELD HARRIERS GOING FOR GOLD

SING YOURSELF FIT

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JONATHAN CHEETHAM PHO THE BUREAU PGS GLOBAL

SUMMER’S

HOTTEST HEELS

KINGS of the

KITCHEN

Edgbaston’s colourful twins who built Joseph Joseph

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EDITOR’S VIEW

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The Josephs’ first product was made right here in a small factory in West Brom, and still is. That’s both inspiring and cool!

hen we get our new kitchen done,” said a (very hopeful) Mrs J, “one of the first things I want to get is a set of those coloured chopping boards I’ve seen in John Lewis. They’re brilliant.” Right, ok, fair enough, I thought – before consigning Mrs J’s comments to a rusty recess somewhere deep in the back of my mind.

Chopping boards weren’t high on my ’must do in life’ priority list to be honest – until this week, when I got to interview Antony and Richard Joseph, better known as Joseph Joseph, the makers of said chopping boards. After just a few minutes chatting with the twin brothers from Edgbaston, I was feeling as enthusiastic about kitchen utensils as Mrs J. Maybe more so!

Like all great entrepreneurs, these guys exude enthusiasm and passion about what they do – which is to design, manufacture and sell more than 400 of the coolest, most colourful and top quality kitchen products on the market. As hyperactive kids they messed about in their dad’s garage building whatever they could from odds and ends and scraps. As fully-fledged businessmen they now run a multi-million success story with offices across the globe, selling in more than 100 countries. Inspiring stuff.

But do you know what’s really inspiring? They’ve never forgotten their roots. The very first product they made when they started out in 2003 was a glass chopping board produced in a small factory in West Bromwich. That product still sells well today – and is still made right here in West Brom, providing valuable work for eight people. Now that’s cool!

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David Johns

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, Adrian Hailwood

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: Joseph and Joseph

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

may 2016

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When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

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INSIDE

Highlights

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Joseph Joseph The hyperactive Edgbaston twin brothers who became global kings of the kitchen

Birchfield Harriers Behind the scenes of the Birmingham athletics club with Olympic gold in its blood Food and Drink Rob Price’s top wine buys kick off our section devoted to Brum’s best food and drink Style Fantasy Footwear: It’s time to get your toes out people as new season shoes strut in Homes Pods, cabin and kitchens… great ideas to create exciting new havens outdoors Up Close With… Nick Reed The new chief executive of Town Hall Symphony Hall on why the hills are alive with running!

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CONTENTS

58

Best of the Rest

22 40 56 58 64 72 78 may 2016

Restaurant Reviews Our critics deliver their verdicts on The Bureau, Colmore Row and Pho, Grand Central Health & Beauty Sing yourself healthy and Rose Gallagher’s top beauty buys of the month Motoring Sue Cooke previews exciting Ford that takes hi-tech wizardry to a whole new level Young, Gifted and Brummie Award-winning sculptor Jacob Chandler on moulding a career in metal Spotlight on Business Company to Watch PGS Global, plus latest news and views from the 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

ANIMAL CRACKERS

g n i v liTODAY

This little chap is all set to cause a bit of a stir about these parts. Entitled Deep Sleeper, the amazing picture of a seal taking a nap was snapped by Norwegian photographer Audun Rikardsen. It is among 100 images in the prestigious 51st Wildlife Photographer of the Year show being held at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, in conjuction with London’s Natural History Museum. The show opens on Saturday 23 July.

©Audun Rikardsen

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

SUNDAY GETS EXTRA ZIP Fancy a thrill-seeking challenge?

Edward’s Trust, the Birminghambased bereavement charity, is hosting a Zip Wire and Family Fun Day at the Edgbaston Stadium on Sunday 5 June. The day will run in conjunction with NICE, another Birmingham based charity specialising in movement disorders. For the less brave, other activities going on throughout the day include face painting and a variety of stalls. More details, contact 0121 456 4838.

ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET… BAKE! REP REVEALS ITS SECRETS Pastry chef, chocolatier and author of the bestselling Afternoon Tea at Home, Will Torrent, is coming to town. He will be joining local Michelinstarred chef Glynn Purnell and X-Factor winner Sam Bailey at Glynn Purnell’s Friday Night Kitchen on 7 October at Villa Park’s Holte Suite. More than 400 guests will enjoy petit fours prepared by Will. The event in aid of Cure Leukaemia has raised more than £100,000 in the last two years.

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It’s something we’ve all wondered – what exactly does go on behind the scenes on the stage of a top theatre? Visitors had the chance to see for themselves when Birmingham Rep revealed all the secrets at a special open day – including how sets are built, scenery painted, wigs made and costumes created. The Rep hosts more than 450 performances to an audience of 191,000 every year.

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NEWS

READY TO MAKE A SPLASH?

ALL ABOARD WORLD’S BIGGEST JET Take a seat on Birmingham’s new high-flying superstar. Civic leaders joined airline and airport executives to celebrate the arrival of Emirates giant double-decker A380. The world’s biggest jet is operating daily flights from the city following major investment by Birmingham Airport in lengthening its runway and building a £1 million air bridge designed so passengers can get off both decks of the Airbus at the same time

The team at Edgbaston Priory Club has pulled a masterstroke with the launch of an exciting new swim academy. The club, which offers parent and baby, junior and adult swimming lessons, has agreed a three-year deal with STA, the world’s largest independent swimming teaching and lifesaving organisation. The new STA Edgbaston Priory Club Swim Academy is introducing the International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP) and supporting teaching programmes.

RSC UNVEILS SWAN SURPRISE The Royal Shakespeare Company unveiled the newly restored Grade II listed Swan Wing to mark Shakespeare’s birthday and the 400th anniversary of his death. The 1879 building has undergone a £2.8million restoration and features a new artwork by artist Steven Follen with 2,000 stainless steel stars suspended from the ceiling by fine wires to form a three-metre high human face.

BAND LAUNCHES IN BRUM Top band Eliza And The Bear popped into HMV Birmingham to perform live acoustic sets and sign copies of their new self-titled debut album. HMV’s Laura Thomas said: “We were thrilled that the band chose to launch their debut album with us. They are a young band who already have a huge following in the UK.” Frontman James Kellegher added: “We wanted to get out of London and its distractions.”

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Photograph by A&J Visage

JUNGLE BOOK FIRES UP THE ARCHERS Jungle fever is in the air! The new Disney movie, The Jungle Book, is proving a hit in the cinemas – and it seems the excitement’s got them going at Birmingham’s National Sea Life Centre too. They’ve created a new Jungle Tank with the stars being a shoal of Archer Fish firing spouts of water at a target. Hit the bullseye and they get rewarded with tasty treats. Great fun!

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NEWS

DAME ESTHER HAILS CHILD SAVERS TV star Esther Rantzen came to Birmingham to launch an appeal for volunteers for children’s charity ChildLine, which she founded 30 years ago. Dame Esther made her plea during a visit to ChildLine’s Birmingham call centre in Hagley Road, Edgbaston, where she spoke to volunteers, past and present.

The Birmingham base is the second biggest in the country with around 170 volunteers, but needs more to meet increasing demand.

KILLER THREAT IGNORED IN BRIEF More than half of Brummies are unaware of the causes and symptoms of the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, according to a new survey. Independent research for BMI, which runs Birmingham’s Priory Hospital, showed huge ignorance about how diet and lifestyle can raise the risk of developing bowel cancer. Only 40 per cent recognised that eating red and processed meats increases the threat.

DIGGING IN FOR THE DISABLED A charity in Birmingham is helping drive a new national project to use gardening to improve the lives of people living with disability or ill health. Thrive which operates five days a week from Kings Heath Park is joining the £1.3million Lottery-funded scheme which will create accessible and stimulating gardens and outdoor spaces at dementia care settings across the UK, including Evesham Community Hospital.

TOP TABLES More than 150 visitors attended the launch of the new Artisan Alchemy Gallery in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

Innovative bespoke designer furniture is displayed in beautiful airy premises at 85 Caroline Street.

SIX-A-SIDE Travel services firm Eze Group wants Midlands businesses to take part in a six-a-side football tournament at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s ground.

The Blues 6-A-Side Kickabout Tournament on 6 May will help raise money for charity.

BIG BEN’S BIRTHDAY TREAT CASH POT Leukaemia patient and West Brom fan Allan Morris from Hanbury had a birthday to remember when he visited the club’s training ground to meet Baggies’ and England goalkeeper Ben Foster. Allan was being treated for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia when Ben took part in a London to Paris cycle ride to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia last summer. Ben raised £10,000 – money that helped patients like Allan, who is now in remission from AML.

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Thirteen councils in the West Midlands will share £5.7 million Government funding to repair 108,000 potholes in local roads during this financial year. The money is part of the £250 million Pothole Action Fund included in the Budget.

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NEWS

LIZZIE PENS NEW KIDS’ FAVOURITE A Sixties’ VW Campervan is the unlikely hero of a new hit children’s book by local author Lizzie Allister. The van – part of a successful wedding transport business which property marketing manager Lizzie runs – is the star of The Adventures of Bumble the Bus: A Day at The Seaside. The book, the first in a series by Solihull-born Lizzie, has already notched up significant sales in the US and Australia.

JAMES BOOSTS GARDENS’ APPEAL TV gardener James Wong is set to give Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ £1million fund-raising Glasshouse Appeal a boost. The Kew-trained botanist, writer and presenter will be the guest speaker at the annual trustees’ ball on 30 September. Led by chief executive James Wheeler, the appeal aims to refurbish and revitalise the Edgbaston attraction’s glasshouses and gardens.

WINNER: Last year’s top young cook Trevor Whitelock, 14, from Wheelers Lane Technology College, Kings Heath with Luke Tipping

SEARCH FOR JUNIOR

MASTER CHEF Secondary school pupils are being invited to don their chef whites and put their culinary skills to the test to find a top young cook. Busy Bees Training Academy’s ‘Greens to Gourmet’ cookery challenge aims to encourage Year 9 and 10 students to pursue a passion for cooking. Luke Tipping, chef director from Michelin-star restaurant Simpsons, is among the judging panel.

GEM OF A MUSEUM The museum which brings to life two centuries of jewellery making in Birmingham has won a top national accolade.

VisitEngland has given the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter its prestigious Best Told Story award. Oliver Buckley, manager for Birmingham Museums Trust’s six heritage sites, said: “It is a privilege to be able to demonstrate to the public the experiences of jewellers in the space that was once one of the top jewellery workshops.”

RAVE THAT’S ALL THE RAGE Award-winning ‘family rave’, Big Fish Little Fish, has been launched in Birmingham – and sold out twice over! Tickets for the opening party at the Rainbow Warehouse, Digbeth were snapped up in days and a further 12 June date which was added has also sold out. To cope with demand an extra party has been now been added on 22 May The event, which features a multisensory dance floor, bubble machines and glitter cannons, was voted Best Family Event for the last two years at the National Family Arts Festival.

GOT ANY NEWS? Email your news and pictures to editor@brumliving.co.uk 10 birmingham living

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COVER STORY

KINGS

OF THE

KITCHEN

Twins Antony and Richard Joseph’s talent for clever design and innovative thinking all started in their dad’s garage in Edgbaston. David Johns talks to the brothers who have made Joseph Joseph a multi-million household name s twin brothers growing up together in Edgbaston there wasn’t much the two Joseph boys weren’t into. With a mum who was an architect and a dad who ran the family glassmaking business, Antony and Richard were unsurprisingly naturals at designing and building things, taking the odd bike, or other bits of machinery lying around in the garage, apart and rebuilding them again. In one particularly hare-brain moment the duo set about trying to construct a full size sand yacht from scratch with whatever they could lay their hands on.

“I think it was at about this point that mum said ‘enough is enough’ and we’d be sent off to let off steam and run wild around the Botanical Gardens – it was the place we’d go to when we were especially hyperactive,” says Antony with a slightly sheepish tone to his voice. “The two of us were always busy though,

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It was at this point that mum said ‘enough is enough’ and we’d be sent off to let off steam and run wild around the Botanical Gardens

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TOP TABLE: Antony, left, and Richard have created a cutting edge brand which blends innovative design and function

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COVER STORY

trying different things. Dad liked to give us projects to do and we’d even sweep up for him when there was glass making going on.”

They say that the early years are the most important and formative ones of your life, and that certainly has to be the case with the Josephs – who eventually hit the big time. The very big time! If you haven’t already worked it out, you’ll probably recognise how big if I give them their business title of Joseph Joseph.

COOL DESIGN That’s right, the lads from Edgbaston are the brains behind the coolest-designed kitchen accessories on the shelves. The name that you’ll see on colourful, innovative and brilliantly conceived products in leading stores like John Lewis up and down the country. In fact Joseph Joseph currently produces more than 400 lines of which 70 per cent are exported to over 100 countries – which means they have offices in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Dusseldorf as well as their HQ employing more than 70 people in London.

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“I think mum and dad are really proud of what we have achieved so far,” said Richard. “They know themselves how hard you have to work to do well with your own business. They’re both retired now and still live in Edgbaston and take a real interest in what we do. Mum has been known to do some ‘live’ marketing for us by dropping into John Lewis’s kitchen department from time to time!”

Antony and Richard are one of two sets of twin boys which mum and dad have ‘had to cope with’ over the years. “Peter and Philip are also both in business together – in architecture and interior design. We also have two sisters, and one of them is an architect too.”

Antony and Richard went to West House School in Edgbaston before moving on to Winterfold House in Kidderminster. They spent their senior years boarding away from home at Stonyhurst College in Clitheroe, Lancashire. “With six children knocking around I think mum thought it was time we were packed off to give her a break,” joked Antony. After senior school the boys went their separate ways for a while, Richard studying at Loughborough and Cambridge and Antony at Central St Martins, London.

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COVER STORY

Both gained degrees in industrial design before coming together again to launch Joseph Joseph in 2003 after realising how very dull and boring the world of kitchen utensils and accessories was at the time.

“I guess we started out right at the moment that celebrity chefs, people like Jamie Oliver, were beginning to be seen, which was quite handy,” said Antony. “We started with just four products – our very first one was a functional and hygienic glass chopping board, which we still produce and remains a very popular seller today.” Indeed, while production of all other Joseph Joseph products happens in the Far East, the chopping board is still made by a workforce of eight people in a small factory in West Bromwich. “It works well, so why change it?” said Antony. “The factory and the people there mean a lot to us, it’s how we started.

We’re both very proud to be from Birmingham and while we are now both in London, the place continues to be our roots.”

Richard admits that in those early days they produced “some really wacky things”. He explained: “When you’re small you try to get noticed. We both love product design, and seeing our things on the shelf in a shop is really exciting. We were very much in the ‘doing it to survive’ mode. We wanted to take tried and tested items and give them a real art and design approach. We wanted them to stand out because of the quality of the design and the colours, but also the quality of the finish and how they work. We wanted

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people to know a Joseph Joseph product just by how it looks and feels and works. It takes a couple of years for a product to come from concept to the finished item.”

It’s all that flair and attention to detail which now sees the business turnover tens of millions of pounds a year with brilliantly colourful and ingenious cooking utensils (how clever are those bowls within bowls!), knives and chopping boards. But the boys aren’t done yet – no way!

FUTURE PLANS Earlier this year they went into recycling with their 60-litre Totem waste separation bin – cleaning and organisation in the home is ‘the’ big thing of the moment according to the boys. “But there’s lots of stuff for us to look into doing in the future,” said Antony.

“There are some areas which we aren’t into very much at all, there are some we aren’t in at all – stuff like small cookware and electricals. There’s lots we can do in the empty spaces. We have 200 products in development at the moment, but we can’t say too much about them because we get copied so much!”

As the nation laps up all things cooking and baking on TV, in books and online, it’s good to know that a couple of mischievous boys from Brum have truly become kings of the kitchen! I

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FEATURE

HOORAY HARRIERS With the countdown on to this summer’s Olympics, David Johns finds Birchfield Harriers are on track to maintain a remarkable record inety-seven days and counting. The race to go to the Olympic Games in Rio this summer is under starter’s orders and for the top athletics club in the Midlands it can’t come soon enough. Birchfield Harriers is steeped in Olympic tradition and history having been represented at every Games, bar one, since 1908.

This year looks to be no different with a clutch of great young athletes – including Commonwealth triple jump champion Laura Samuel – aiming to make the British proud in Brazil.

You could call Laura, pictured above, the ‘pin-up’ girl of Birmingham athletics. She’s one of the

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current crop of role models based at the Alexander Stadium, where the final pre-Olympics meet will see many of Britain’s finest athletes take to the track and field on 4 June.

But there’s more – much more – to Birchfield than the big stars past (such as Olympic champion Denise Lewis) and present. Birchfield is a place where anyone can turn up and run, jump or throw whether they’re nine years of age or 79. The club has more than 800 members who enjoy the outdoor facilities but also the High Performance Centre, an indoor base which provides training for a range of events – even pole-vaulting!

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There’s proper professional coaching on club nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the club runs two youth academy programmes for youngsters from nine to 15 on Saturdays and Wednesdays. “We want to give as many youngsters as possible the chance to have a go at lots of different events,” said Birchfield’s commercial manager (and also a coach) Cath Muth.

SPOTTING TALENT “Of course we are always looking out for young talent to develop, the ones that show not only talent but a real commitment to work hard and a mentality to succeed.” For those teenagers with real elite promise, Birchfield has a junior development programme launched in 2012 and sponsored by Lloyds Capital which currently helps finance 10

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budding stars of tomorrow. It’s this kind of attention to youth that has seen 100 Birchfield Harriers fly the flag for Britain at the Olympics and countless more compete in European and Commonwealth championships.

Birchfield held its very first track meeting way back in 1879 when a cinder running path was laid on a meadow at Aston Lower Grounds which was part of the Aston Hall estate. The club was created after a row in a cross country event led to disillusioned runners meeting up in a Sunday school in Wheelers Street, Lozells. They took their name from the Birmingham district where they were based.

It’s doubtful many of today’s Harriers know how their illustrious club came about. They are much more likely to recognise the names on the modern roll of honour. Like Olympic bronze medal-winning heptathlete Kelly Sotherton, now one of the Harriers coaches, gold medal sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis, bronze 400 metres runner Katharine Merry – and of course Denise Lewis. The club also boasts London 2012 Olympic wheelchair gold medallist Mickey Bushell among its stars.

While the sport of athletics internationally is mired in ongoing doping controversy, there’s been no impact on major regional clubs such as the Harriers attracting youngsters into track and field.

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FEATURE

“We are very confident about the sport at our level,” said Cath. “We take a lot of care in everything we do and we make sure that our athletes have all the relevant information they need.”

Cath quoted an example of just how alert the club is to any possible drugs issues. “This was a couple of years ago,” she explained. “We were holding training inside the stadium when we could smell someone smoking what seemed to be cannabis outside in the park. We reported the incident to the authorities as we didn’t want any of our athletes facing the possibility that they had inhaled it from outside. That’s how careful we are.”

UNFIT KIDS In fact it’s child obesity rather than drugs which is of more concern day-to-day. “The general fitness and condition of youngsters has fallen hugely,” she explained. “When youngsters first come to us we have to do a lot of work with them to get them fit before they can even step onto the track.”

Despite this, Cath is confident the Harriers will continue to discover future Olympic talent in Birmingham. At the end of April the club launched Search For A Star with a free year’s membership and paid-for training fees for the best boy and best girl winners who will be selected at the stadium on 8 June.

Who knows, maybe the next Denise Lewis or Mark Lewis-Francis could be among them… I Birchfield Harriers holds its fund-raising dinner hosted by Katharine Merry at the ICC on 4 May. For more details about this and joining the club visit birchfieldharriers.net

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il ving IN THE PINK

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FOOD & DRINK

Rob Price explains why we should all be drinking rosé this summer ore than any other style of wine, rosé engenders a strong reaction. Normally negatively, but there are many people who love it… and it sells in huge quantities. And really, what’s not to like? Rosé has more flavour than most white wines and it’s more refreshing than red.

Coming into warmer weather – I am forever the optimist – it’s the perfect little tipple. I’m not really sure why it has its own category. I know rosé is a different colour, the clue’s in the title, but in effect it’s just a light-bodied red wine.

A quick lesson here on how wine is made: White wine – no skins used, just the juice (which is colourless) is fermented. So you can use any colour of grape you like to make white wine.

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THIRST-QUENCHING Red wine – needs skins from red or black grapes which are fermented with the juice to extract colour. There’s also tannin extracted, (that bitter, drying substance) that gives red wine more structure and allows it to age. Grape skins also give more flavour, which is why most reds have more flavour than whites.

Now what about rosé wine! Remember it’s just a light-bodied red, so we need the skins but just for a short period of time. Around one to two days instead of the more normal couple of weeks for reds. After two days the skins are removed and the fermentation (converting sugar to alcohol) continues – but without the skins no more colour or tannin is extracted.

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

ROB’S FOUR TO TRY Chateau Pigoudet ‘La Chapelle rosé from Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Wonderful and light and oh-so-pink. Red apples, ripe cherries and flower petals. This aromatic rosé lingers on with a beautiful mineral finish. Majestic sells for £9.99. Just buy the latest vintage you can – 2014 is available at the moment.

Patrimonio rosé, Clos Aliva 2014 from Corsica This is made from free run juice, tiny yields, hand-harvested, culminating in a beautiful and fresh rosé. Using the Sangiovese grape, it’s is simply delicious. Available from the Wine Society for £12.50.

English Pinot Noir Marks and Spencer sell this aptly named rosé. Pale salmon in colour, raspberry and strawberry fruits with a hint of spice and vanilla. M&S produces it in collaboration with Denbies from the North Downs in Surrey. Try the 2014 vintage at £11 per bottle.

Cono Sur Pinot Noir Rosé from Chile A wonderful pink fizz from a relatively new wine region in Chile called Bio Bio. Delightfully dry and easy drinking with refreshing red fruits. Available quite widely at around £6 per bottle.

Of course another way of making rosé is simply blending red and white together. Surely that’s cheating? Well this is the way the vast majority of rosé champagne is made. And they know what they’re doing. They are experts in blending wine. I just don’t like the fact rosé champagne costs more when there is no good reason.

Rosé is also a good food match. It is one of the few wines that can cope with strongly flavoured summer foods — from garlicky charcuterie to cold curried chicken. Some pink wines may lack the crisp acidity of whites and the fruit and complexity of reds, but they have a terrific thirst-quenching quality of their own.

So go on try a rosé this summer and find out what you’ve been missing… I

CHAOPHRAYA WILD TEA How do you take your tea? How about with vodka, elderflower and pressed apple juice… ea has come back with a bang thanks to the explosion of varieties and blends you’ll find on every supermarket shelf. You’ll find tea too in our bars and restaurants – Absolut Wild Tea, a vodka from Sweden flavoured with black tea and elderflower. Top mixers Damon Davis and James Poyner from Chaophraya Birmingham have created this glorious cocktail combining Absolut with elderflower cordial, pressed apple juice, egg white and fresh lemon juice, all served in a chilled Martini glass. Cheers boys! I

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Ingredients:

I 37.5ml Absolut Wild Tea I 37.5ml freshly pressed apple juice I 20ml lemon juice I 1 egg white I 12.5ml Vanilla Gomme I 12.5ml elderflower cordial

Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake. Add cubed iced and shake again. Double strain and garnish with a pinch of green tea and dress with star anise.

Chaophraya Birmingham, Spiceal Street, Bullring, B5 4BH. Tel 0121 643 2424 www.chaophraya.co.uk

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

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

THE BUREAU 110 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 3AG. Tel: 0121 236 1110 www.thebureaubar.co.uk or the third time in a disproportionately short space of time we began a review drenched in liquor – this time a pint of Czech beer with a splosh of tonic. We’re getting a complex people! Spillage dealt with swiftly and charmingly by the apologetic bar tender, we switched tables and started over.

The décor of the bar is stunning, packed with old school glamour in what was once a bank. A tour of the grand old building revealed a beautiful staircase (there is a lift, but we’ve become Fitbit bores so the climb suited), a cool roof terrace, and downstairs a private room with its own bar in the basement.

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TOP DISH The menu was a simple but lovely thing refreshingly free from nonsense and surprisingly reasonable.

Intrigued by the Deli Slate (£12), the other half couldn’t pass it up – a pick of five small dishes from a long list featuring local producers.

Sweet potato and chilli fritters were a triumph with a decent thwack of heat. The beetroot bon bons – our top dish of the night – stood up mightily against some strong meaty flavours. A sizeable duck Scotch egg had an oozing middle with a flavour-packed surround that inspired some Gregg Wallace style praise. Rich, tangy

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Herefordshire Hop cheese pleased, salted pollock fritters were seriously tasty served with a sweetcorn relish, while cured meat and pickles did what they said on the tin.

My main course of fishcakes (£8.50) looked boring by comparison but was actually blooming delicious, generously packed with salmon and its smoked variety, capers and parsley. The tasty patties were served on top of the most pleasing accompanying veg we’ve tasted for ages – warm green bean salad with homemade red pepper pesto. Sounded simple, tasted fantastic. It’s worth noting the homemade Deli Dog (pictured) and the burgers looked damn fine as they wafted out of the kitchen and passed our table.

Dessert was a mess – not literally. The Bureau’s take on the classic sweet was definitely one to share for it was enormous and in our book could have done with less cream and more berries. We’re being picky though.

We’ve racked our brains but there’s nothing not to like here. Cracking food, fabulous surroundings, great service, a well-stocked bar and proper value for money. I

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LUNCH SPOT

PHO Grand Central, Stephenson Place, Birmingham B2 4XJ. Tel: 0121 392 8915 www.phocafe.co.uk i-Pho, hi-Pho, it’s off to lunch we go. It’s actually more of a fuh than a foe, but you get the picture – we’ve been lunching at Pho. Having skirted around the fragrant Vietnamese eaterie for a few months (only because it’s so blinking busy you understand!) we were determined to give it a whirl, so we took a lunch so early it was almost brunch and beat the crowds that were out in force by 1pm.

Street food’s the thing in a distinctly relaxed atmosphere with plenty of buzz created by the station below. We took a steer from the helpful army of staff who talked us through menu while we sipped cold Saigon beer.

A dipping, rolling and sharing vibe going on with the starters appealed, so we tucked into crispy pork spring rolls served with lettuce, mint and peanut sauce. The idea being that you wrap the spring roll in lettuce with a mint leaf and dip. It was bursting with herb packed meatiness and the right amount of heat with contrasting cool lettuce and mint. The addition of the rich peanut sauce meant it was seriously moreish stuff.

The restaurant’s namesake and signature dish Pho was next up. A fragrant broth with noodles

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and shredded beef served in a gigantic bowl and a plate of intriguing garnishes to add included Thai basil, red chilli, bamboo shoots and more mint. As well as being flavourful the broth felt nourishing in that healer of all ills, homemade chicken soup sort of way. Condiments on the table added another dimension with a splosh of fish sauce taking it to another level. It was a bit messy to eat, but that says more about me being terribly British than the quality of the food.

My friend enjoyed the more familiar dish of Cari with beef brisket. Very similar in flavour to a Thai massaman it was rich, warming, spicy, creamy and packed a punch on lots of levels.

We left feeling chipper having had a break from the normal sort of office lunch understanding why the place is often packed. Hands up who doesn’t want a quick, reasonably priced punchy lunch with a decent cold beer in a lively atmosphere? Just go early. We reckon pre-12.30pm and you’re good. 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 HAVING A BALL – 10,520 TIMES OVER! It seems we Brummies just love meatballs. Marta Retenaga, owner of Spanish restaurant Amantia on Bennett’s Hill which is celebrating its first birthday, tells us that during the year 10,520 Albondigas were eaten – enough meatballs to cover two-thirds of the silver dots on Selfridges apparently!! Diners also consumed 9,956 crispy croquetas, 2,761 portions of calamari and 4,828 pints of Spain’s finest Alhambra.

CHARITY BOOST ON THE MENU Well done to the good guys at the White Horse pub and restaurant, Balsall Common who have launched a new menu, bringing back its popular lasagne to raise funds for The Lily Mae Foundation. Every lasagne order will see 50p go to the Foundation which helps families who have suffered stillbirth or neonatal death.

THE ONE PLACE TO BE… If cocktails are your thing, we hear a brand new bar in Piccadilly Arcade could get you nicely shaken and stirred. Be At One Birmingham boasts more than 150 drinks on the menu – and what’s more it’s open till 3am through the week. There’s even a ‘virtuous’ list of health-inspired blends including the superfood-packed Beetroot Retox.

HIGH CLASS EATING ON THE ROOF Renowned restaurateur Des McDonald is shaking up the Birmingham dining scene with his latest venture Rofuto, a restaurant set atop the new Park Regis Hotel with superb 360-degree views. Rofuto offers an izakaya-style restaurant, serving a high quality modern Japanese menu and sits alongside the Kurabu cocktail lounge and sake bar.

MUM INSPIRES MPW CONCEPT You just can’t keep Marco Pierre White out of the news. He’s launching a new ‘ultra-casual’ dining concept, Bardolino Pizzeria Bellini and Espresso bar. While pizza will be the star dish, the restaurant will also focus on Italy’s other classic plate – pasta. The restaurant takes its name from the town of Marco’s mother’s birth, Bardolino, and opens at The Cube this month.

CALLING ALL COCKTAIL LOVERS A ‘must-do’ date for your diary! Birmingham Cocktail Weekend is back and bigger than ever with nearly 30 participating venues now including The Botanist, The Bureau and Fleet Street Kitchen. The three-day cocktail celebration is from 15-17 July and aims to get Brummies to discover and experiment with new venues and flavours.

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ADVERTORIAL

To whet taste bu your ds h special re ere’s a cipe from MasterC hef finali st Tony Rood, p ictured, who will also be at th e festival.

SEA TROUT ON SAMPHIRE WITH CRAB SAUCE AND CRAB SALAD (serves 4) For the Crab Sauce:

I 200ml crab/fish stock I 200ml dry cider I 10 plum tomatoes I 20ml double cream I 1 dressed crab (shell and brown meat only)

For the Crab Salad:

I 1 dressed crab (white meat only) I 1 tbsp mayonnaise I ½ lemon (juiced) I 1 tbsp fennel fronds (chopped)

To Serve:

I 4 sea trout fillets I Pinch salt and pepper I 2 tbsp vegetable oil I 200g samphire I 20g butter I 4 wedges of lemon

Method: To make the crab sauce: Simmer the stock, cider, shells, brown meat and tomatoes for 40 minutes. Pass the liquid through a sieve, discarding the solids and return the sauce to the stove and reduce by half until a thick sauce consistency. Add the double cream and reserve until ready.

To make the crab salad: Pick the white meat to ensure no shell remains and mix with the mayonnaise, lemon juice and fennel. Place in the fridge until ready.

Season and pan sear your sea trout with a few tablespoons of oil, skin side down for 2-3 minutes depending on the thickness of your fish. Add your butter to a pan and cook for a further 30 seconds skin side down, flip for another 30 seconds and remove to a board to rest.

Blanch your samphire in salted, boiling water for 1 minute and then drain. Place your samphire in the base of a bowl, ladle in some of your crab sauce and place the sea trout on top with the skin side facing upwards. Place a spoonful of the crab salad on top of the fish and a wedge of lemon on the side.

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CALLING ALL FOODIES! The Foodies Festival is back next month with a mouth-watering line-up at Cannon Hill fter a hugely successful launch event the Foodies Festival returns to Canon Hill Park in June. Some of the region’s finest chefs are on show including Richard Turner, Brad Carter, Andy Waters and Aktar Islam. As well as the artisan market, Street Food Avenue and vintage tea tent, there will be cooking demonstrations, workshops and an opportunity to learn how to bake in the Cake and Bake Theatre. There’s loads for the kids to do too, including the Children’s Cookery Theatre making this an awesome day out for all the family. I

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Foodies Festival, 3 to 5 June, Cannon Hill Park, www.foodiesfestival.com

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FANTASY FOOTWEAR Nothing ruins a look more than a girl lumbering about like a velociraptor – so buy a fabulous shoe that makes you feel a million dollars, not nauseous with every step

GLAMOUR PUSS Available from BIBA at House of Fraser

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STYLE RAZZLE TASSLE

MAROON HIGH FIVE

Rae Sandal £169, Hobbs, Grand Central

Aquazzura nubuck sandals £420, Harvey Nichols, The MailboxCentral

THE NEW BLACK Jaygo sandal £85, Dune, Bullring

edicure? Check. New season footwear? Not yet, but boy are we looking forward to some retail therapy. It’s time to get your toes out people (well ankles at least) and we couldn’t be more excited. This season we are utterly spoilt for choice – preppy platforms at Saint Laurent, which incidentally would look super cute with an ankle sock, understated block heels from Finery London, numerous winning flat-forms from Stella McCartney. Decision, decisions.

As expenditure goes, shoes make up a hefty percentage of our wardrobe, so it’s worth being logical and not buying on impulse.

We can feel you yawning, but seriously dig out all of last summer’s shoes and assess the situation, so you’re not doubling up. Only now can you make some decisions. Make a list. We like a list. Even if we don’t stick to it, the list makes us feel organised. Try it.

We reckon summer requires at the very least the following fab four – a classic tan wedge that will go with everything you own and lengthen your pins, a sassy flat sandal that you’re be happy to pound the pavement in, an all-out party shoe that injects a swagger like Bey and a strong smart look for the office. If you’re blessed with slim calves a block heel could work. If you’re not blessed, go for something more elegant lest you risk channelling Miss Trunchbull rather than Carrie Bradshaw.

Once you’ve got those four nailed, go forth and be frivolous. The Binx starry flatform by Stella McCartney has our name all over it. I

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POM POM PARTY Light pink suede pom pom sandals £68, River Island, The Fort Shopping Park

PEEPO Coral suede open toe, Debenhams, Bullring

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STYLE

IN THE CITY Leather espadrilles £39.99, H&M, Pavilions Birmingham

TWINKLE TOES Stella McCartney Binx star detail metallic flatforms £340, Selfridges, Bullring

RED HOT Milano sandal £85, Dune, Bullring

COMFORT ZONE NATURAL BEAUTY BRILLIANTLY BONKERS

Suede espadrille wedge in natural £129, The White Company, Grand Central

Sophia Webster suede sandals £650, Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox

Available from Hobbs, Grand Central

SNAKE HIPS M&S Collection Shoe £29.50, M&S, Pavilions Birmingham

TALL ORDER Stella McCartney faux leather flatforms £645, Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox

SUPER SLIPPER Nicholas Kirkwood Eden satin slippers £640, Selfridges, Bullring

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STYLE

BLOCK PARTY Silver mid-block heels £39.99 New Look, The Fort Shopping Park

LOAFING ABOUT Embrook pink loafer, Finery London, John Lewis, Grand Central

LAZY DAYS Suede espadrille £89, The White Company, Grand Central

LASER CUT Charlotte Olympia Belinda laser-cut platform sandals £970, Selfridges, Bullring

IN THE NAVY TANGERINE DREAM

Alicia sandal £159, Hobbs, Grand Central

Orange suede sling back, Debenhams, Bullring

IN VOGUE BROGUE Available from La Redoute

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TRUE BLUE Lanvin studded wedge sandals £395, Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox

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STYLE CRIMSON TIDE Autograph red sandal £49.50, M&S, Pavilions Birmingham

PUMP IT UP ON THE FRINGE Gaga fringe tie court £56, Topshop, The Fort Shopping Park

Chloe scalloped suede pump £365,Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox

FASHION EDITOR'S FAVOURITE Saint Laurent suede platform sandals £620, Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox

MIGHTY MULE Maxi tan mule £65 Dune, Bullring

KHAKI CUT OUT Stiletto £12, Primark, The Fort Shopping Park

GREEN GODDESS Sandals £58, River Island, The Fort Shopping Park

UNDERSTATED CHIC Available from House of Fraser

QUEEN’S SPEECH Leigha shoe, Finery London, John Lewis at Grand Central

HEAVY METAL Galaxie loafer £85, Dune, Bullring

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STYLE DENIM DAYS Cherish Forever tunic £49.95, White Stuff BOLD PRINT Kiya print soft flare £79, Mint Velvet

HELLO SAILOR Augustina trouser £110, Hobbs

NO PLACE LIKE HOME Gingham shirt £28, Topshop OPTICAL ILLUSION Striped Go Crazy dress £59.95, White Stuff

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THINGS WE LOVE

WIDE LEG Boss Orange navy trouser £160, House of Fraser

STUD YOU LIKE Cheese cloth wrap dress £50, Nine by Savannah Miller at Debenhams

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CUTE COLLAR 3D rectangular collar £24, Oliver Bonas

THINK PINK Pink pony skin pouchett £29, Biba at House of Fraser

RIGHT STRIPES Satin striped jumpsuit £55, Wallis

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ADVERTORIAL

AMERICAN BEAUTY Explore one of the awe-inspiring frontiers of America from Birmingham Airport. Daily flights by both American and United Airlines mean it’s never been easier to experience the best this vast country has to offer he USA is enormous – nearly two-and-ahalf times the size of the European Union.

The state of Texas is almost twice the size of Germany and you could squeeze two United Kingdoms into California. Planning a trip there is a herculean task, but don’t worry we’ve done your homework for you. Here’s our guide to the best places to visit in each region.

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NORTH EAST New York – The Big Apple never sleeps. Great theatre on Broadway, global cuisine on every corner, skyscrapers stretching as high as the eye can see and dozens of museums and galleries. Don’t limit yourself to Manhattan; Brooklyn and the other three boroughs have lots to offer too and upstate New York is quiet and serene. The Catskill mountains are perfect for hiking while the Hudson Valley is dotted with tiny river towns.

Boston – Founded in 1630, Boston is the best place to discover the country’s founding with the Freedom Trail that links historic sites from the American Revolution. It’s also a major sports city with professional baseball, basketball, hockey and American football teams.

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SOUTH EAST New Orleans – Nowhere epitomises ‘melting pot’ quite like this French-Creole-Southern city. Come to eat – sugar-sprinkled beignets, shrimp-stuffed po’ boy sandwiches, gumbo thick with spices and seafood.

Come to learn – French, Spanish and African history all rolled into one. Come to dance – brass bands, jazz clubs and Mardi Gras.

Tennessee and Mississippi – Nashville is the country music capital of the world and in Memphis you can see Graceland, Elvis’s former estate. The Mississippi Delta is the birthplace of the blues.

Beach Life – The south east has some of the best beaches in the country, from the glamour of Miami’s South Beach to the rustic shores of the coastal islands of North and South Carolina.

MIDWEST Great Lakes – Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior together form the largest body of

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ADVERTORIAL

GETTING THERE Birmingham Airport has daily direct flights to John F Kennedy Airport in New York City (American Airlines) and Newark Liberty Airport (United Airlines). From these major hubs, you’re only a connecting flight away from anywhere in the US.

freshwater in the world. But the region is also the former industrial heartland of the US where fortunes were built at the turn of the 20th century. Visit museums and cultural institutions of Chicago, have a pint at a craft brewery in Milwaukee or watch revitalisation in action in Detroit.

WEST National Parks – Celebrate the beauty of the American West by exploring the region’s national parks.

From Yellowstone’s geysers and Redwood’s giant trees in California to Olympic’s rainforests in Washington and Arches’ stone formations in Utah.

OUR MUST SEE CITY FOR 2016 – CHICAGO

Colorado – Winter in the Colorado Rockies is a skier’s dream – sunny days and consistently heavy snowfall. The big ski towns of Aspen, Vail and Telluride have some of the world’s best downhill, cross-country and backcountry skiing.

in Austin, try authentic Tex Mex in San Antonio and go to a rodeo in Dallas.

Texas – Explore Texan hospitality through its cities.

Hang with hipsters and listen to the latest indie bands

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‘The Windy City’ is brimming with skyscrapers, fascinating culture and an abundance of open, green spaces. The art and architecture provide multiple photo opportunities like The Bean Chicago and the incredible views from the glass-floored Willis Tower. Stretch your legs in the glorious Grant Park too.

Las Vegas – There aren’t many places where you'll find Elvis propped up against a bride inside a packed casino at 4am. Time means nothing here – there are no clocks in the city, so you can truly escape reality. Catch a residency show on the strip and party until sunrise.. I

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STYLE

ON YOUR TOES Aside from your warm smile and dazzling patter, footwear is one of the first things people notice about you

e hate to say it, but it might be time to bid ‘ta ta’ to last year’s battered Converse and refresh. Job interview, first date, a relaxed weekend in the city… whatever the occasion you need a shoe that fits the bill.

We’ve pulled together a handful of examples that will suit whatever this season throws at you. Our favourite allrounder – the Chukka boot from Jigsaw.

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SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND Grey slip on available from Dune, Bullring

SMART CASUAL Perforated leather trainer £129, Jigsaw, Cannon St

LITTLE MR SUNSHINE M&S Collection weave loafer £49.50, M&S at Pavilions Birmingham

OVER THE RAINBOW Fraser Island shoe £40, Dune, Bullring

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STYLE ROLL UP, ROLL UP Clothing and shoes available from House of Fraser, Corporation St

MAN ABOUT TOWN Multi-coloured Collino brogue £105, Office, Bullring

FIFTY SHADES Moss London grey suede brogue £40, Moss Bros at Pavilions Birmingham

SHARP SHOOTER Tan slip on loafer, Steel & Jelly, Grand Central

SLIP IT ON Hammond & Co navy weave slip on £70, Debenhams, The Fort Shopping Park

BLUE BLOOD Espadrilles £34.99, Office, Bullring

LIGHTWEIGHT Chukka boot £149, Jigsaw, Canon St

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HEALTH

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may 2015

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HEALTH

SING YOURSELF HEALTHY

Breaking into song exercises much more than just your vocal chords on’t know about you but sometimes the trip to the gym can get a bit too much – all that running, jumping, pumping weights while watching The One Show or something equally thrilling on the big screens. Please save us from the Temple of Sweat.

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So, what are the alternatives? Well, there’s always a nice brisk walk along the canals, or maybe an interesting and energetic cycle in one of Brum’s beautiful parks? Or how about a sing-song? No really, seriously, singing is very good for you. Whether it’s singing at a concert, in the shower or while sat at traffic lights it exercises those vocal chords – and that delivers a number of health and general well-being benefits.

The guys from Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir definitely know the benefits of a good song or two as this year the group is celebrating its 116th anniversary.

Among its members are those who’ve stuck around for nearly 40 years, so being part of a choir is clearly addictive as well as being very good for the soul. Here’s five ways singing can improve your lifestyle…

1. Better sleep for you – and your partner Physically, singing can improve your sleep. Research has shown a set of daily vocal exercises can often strengthen a weak throat as well as your palate muscles which are known to be significant causes of snoring. Your partner will thank you for taking up the new hobby!

2. Stronger and more toned body It’s what everyone wishes for! Involving yourself in a choir can be of huge benefit to your heart and circulation by improving your aerobic capacity and decreasing

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muscle tension. Singing also improves posture and the weekly practices consistently exercise the mouth area, so facial muscles are toned up too. Previous scientific studies at Frankfurt University in Germany have also found that singing helps the immune system, giving it a boost to help fight against disease. Looks like the gym isn’t the only place to get a workout.

3. Happier outlook Even better news is the decrease in depression as during singing the body releases pain-relieving endorphins to give a positive boost to mentality. Music itself stimulates specific parts of the brain responsible for concentration and memory, so next time you’re thinking about where you put the car keys don’t dismay, your musical mental workout will have helped you remember.

4. Stress busting Singing doesn’t just have a positive impact physically, it can also increase a person’s self esteem and confidence as well as being a useful stress reducer. Researchers at a leading university in Sweden found that when people sing together their heartbeats synchronise – giving a calming effect that is as beneficial to your health as yoga.

5. Helps you make new friends Rarely do we see people coming together for a good old sing-song these days, so joining a choir is a great way to make new friends and guarantee that your 2016 social diary is jam-packed. Scientists have actually found that singing groups bond much more quickly than any other social activity group. I For more information about Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir call 0121 358 1740 or visit www.bimvc.org.uk

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BEAUTY

BEST OF

BRITISH

Beauty expert Rose Gallagher picks her favourite home grown brands and products

n celebration of all things British, I raided my bathroom cabinet to find the quintessential beauty brands that I have grown to love and rely on.

One of the quickest and easiest cleansers to remove every scrap of make-up, Liz Earle’s Cleanse & Polish cleanser is something of a cult classic. This year Liz has created a rosy variation to mix things up for regular users or those who prefer a scented ritual.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Limited Edition Rose & Cedrat £20.75, from John Lewis

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A heady, relaxing bath concoction, a few drops of this potent blend will ease any tension in mind or muscle. What I love is that a bottle lasts for an age and the smell travels through the entire house for the rest of the evening.

Olverum Bath Oil £23.50, from Fenwicks Facial oil is one of my musthaves for glowing, healthy skin.

Massage a couple of drops of your chosen Cowshed oil into damp skin to lock in moisture at bedtime and your make-up will glide on effortlessly by morning.

Cowshed Raspberry Seed AntiOxidant Oil £36, from John Lewis

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I’m a big believer that beauty starts from the inside, especially when it comes to glowing skin. You can use these supplements in a number of ways but I love to sprinkle a helping of the Organic Berry Complex onto my cereal to aid my intake of vitamins.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Berry Complex £22, from Neal’s Yard Remedies Beauty with a sense of humour, Soap & Glory make-up is just as beautiful on your dresser as it is on your skin. The new cheek sticks are great for adding luminosity to the skin.

Use alone for an all-over glow or mix into your foundation to create a radiant, dewy coverage.

Soap & Glory Glow All Out Cheek Stick £8, from Boots Capturing the magic of the traditional English greenhouse, these limited fragrances from Jo Malone will send you straight to the heart of the countryside.

Enjoy a complimentary hand and arm massage at your chosen boutique for expert guidance on finding the perfect scent.

Jo Malone London The Herb Garden Collection £44, from Selfridges

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS

A bit of TLC in the garden goes a long way, so embrace it now and create a haven HEAVENLY HIDEAWAY: Garden pod from a selection at Garden Hideouts

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HOMES

TASTE OF THE MED: Dining accessories available from George at Asda

ressure washed and weeded to perfection we’re shopping for the pieces that will create an idyllic spot to entertain in and a tranquil corner to switch off and relax. With a short window of opportunity – thank you Great British summer – let’s make the most of it.

Treat your garden like a room in your home.

Think about different zones for different activities making sure there’s a chill out corner to retreat to with a good book. An outdoor kitchen might feel extravagant, but if you have the space and entertain lots it makes total sense. No more trotting back and forth to top up guests.

Garden pods and cabins can extend the use of your outdoor space when summer’s long gone.

There are superb examples on the market offering hugely versatile space. Check out local firm Garden Hideouts (pictured). I

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HOMES

CLEVER

TOUCHES BALMY NIGHTS Peru parasol £129, M&S MINI GARDEN Miniature greenhouse £12, Tiger

LAZY DAYS Marble lazy Susan £60, Oliver Bonas

PATIO PIZZA Uuni 2S wood-fired pizza oven £199, Cuckooland

SLICKER WICKER Capri chair £199, M&S

COLOUR POP Set of eight T-light holders £29.95, Dotcomgiftshop

LIGHT FANTASTIC Large glass lamp £45, Cookes Furniture

AND RELAX Ocean Wave day bed by Alexander Rose £1,799, Cuckooland

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HOMES

TEA FOR SIX: Classic garden furniture available from Leekes

GARDEN KITCHEN: Accessories available from Houseology

RUSTIC CHARM: Wooden furniture available from M&S (left)

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HOMES

BRIGHT SIDE: Accessories available from Matalan

URBAN JUNGLE: Accessories available from House of Fraser FLOORED: Outdoor rug from a selection at Cuckooland (left)

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AUCTIONS

THE DEPRECIATION GAME Adrian Hailwood identifies the jewellery and watch pieces that will hold their value epreciation is one of those facts of life that we all have to accept. Most of the things we buy start to lose value from the moment we hand over the money.

Over time, they often end up being virtually worthless. But there are a few asset classes that buck the trend – including jewellery and watches.

Jewellery will have a commodity value that underpins its market price. This gives a minimum price that the object can fall to, based on the cost of the metal and stones. Fashion will add desirability on top of this, or not, dependent on the style, quality and era.

Pieces from the top designer houses will always sell for more than comparable generic examples, but this has to be balanced against the eye-watering fall from the original purchase price.

Of course if the jewellery has interesting provenance or a particularly rare stone set into it, the collectability of the piece can send the resale value rocketing up.

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BUY AT THE BOTTOM So, if a ring has its gold-weight and diamond to fall back on, what do we make of a steel watch with no metal value that may retail for thousands? Watches are a very complex area with residual values based on brand, material, functions and age. All watch brands with a very few exceptions will depreciate immediately after purchase. There are a few such as the grand complication Patek Philippes which are in such short supply and high demand that they can immediately sold for a profit.

If you are re-selling watches into the market, the only

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factor that counts is popularity with buyers. Well-known, highly regarded brands will fare best, while niche pieces can be ignored, no matter how much of a saving is offered from the original retail price. This goes some way to explain the dominance of Rolex and Patek Philippe in the watch auction world. They are instantly recognisable brands that have a great track record so their residual value is buoyed by that desirability.

There is a way to escape the depreciation trap, and that is to ‘buy at the bottom’. This means avoiding the issue of VAT, allowing someone else to experience the joy of first ownership and then letting the market decide the true second-hand value. To do this you need to buy at a specialist auction – specialist because you need to be sure that the items, whether jewellery or watches, are described correctly and are as they should be.

If you have your eye on a popular watch brand or a piece of jewellery from a top designer you should be able to save a significant sum against the retail price. Should your tastes run to the rare vintage collectable end of the scale then there is every chance that your jewel or watch may cost you more than original buyer paid, but rest assured, if the piece is that desirable, you won’t be losing money should you want to move it on again as both the vintage jewellery and watch markets are buoyant. I Adrian Hailwood is director and watch specialist at Fellows Auctioneers www.fellows.co.uk

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HOMES

Hot Properties Camera, lights, action! A lavish home with its own cinema gets star billing, along with loft apartments and a country cottage in this month’s top picks

A REAL BLOCKBUSTER Farquhar Road, Edgbaston Guide price: £2,995,050 Agent: Fine & Country, tel: 0121 746 6400 An awesome wine cellar is just one of the ‘special’ attractions of this substantial three-storey Edwardian home. In total, there’s nearly 10,000 square feet of accommodation on offer including nine bedrooms, an exceptional bespoke breakfast kitchen and even a sound-proofed cinema. All set in mature and secluded grounds in one of Birmingham’s premier residential locations.

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HOMES

BRICKS&BITS

ST MODWEN’S CHIEF NAMED Mark Allan, the head of specialist student accommodation developer Unite, has been appointed as the new chief executive of Birmingham-based regeneration group St Modwen. He will join the firm in December, succeeding Bill Oliver who is retiring. St Modwen is responsible for the £1billion regeneration of Longbridge.

VILLAGE SHOW HOME OPENS A show home has been opened at luxury retirement village Audley St George’s Place, Edgbaston. Nick Sanderson, CEO of Audley Retirement, said: “The show home marks a milestone in our initial phase of development and allows us to showcase our first property in the village.” The village will create 50 new jobs from sales to restaurant staff and gardeners. First home owners will move in by the end of the year.

PARKGATE PUT UP FOR SALE A shopping centre which opened only two years ago is for sale. Tenants in the 195,000 sq ft Parkgate centre in Shirley include Asda, Pizza Express, Poundland and Peacocks. Ed Purcell of Cushman & Wakefield’s retail team confirmed the freehold investment will be sold later this year.

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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LOFTY LIVING Sherborne Lofts, Birmingham Guide price: £575,000 Agent: Maguire Jackson, tel: 0121 634 1520

An impressive loft apartment in a converted warehouse featuring exposed brick, steel work, high ceilings and about 2,100 sq ft. The lovely master bedroom has French doors opening to a balcony, while there’s a feature staircase which leads to a stunning mezzanine and second balcony offering views over the canal.

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COUNTRY DELIGHT Roost Hill Cottages, Newborough Guide price: £350,000 to £375,000 Agent: Frank Innes, tel: 01283 532001

If a delightful country cottage is what you’re into, look no further!

Featuring deceptively spacious accommodation, the home is set in an idyllic rural, but not isolated, position among beautiful gardens. There’s a large double detached garage with generous upper floor space – ideal for working from home.

MASTER CLASS Wellington Road, Edgbaston Guide price: £1,795,000 Agent: Knight Frank, tel: 01789 868329 This Grade II listed period property sits in 2.3 acres and boasts seriously impressive accommodation, including a master suite with separate dressing room and en-suite bathroom, plus a further five bedrooms.

The recently refitted kitchen leads to the breakfast room and there’s also a separate one- bedroom coach house and double garage.

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

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MOTORING

WHO NEEDS A

DRIVER?

Technology means that before long your new car will be able to do pretty much everything itself. Take the new Ford Kuga for instance, says Sue Cooke ar technology gets more and more amazing. I read the other day about the open convertible that alerts the driver by smartphone to a forecast of rain! And in 2017 there will be a car that will have no physical key but will be locked, started and more by an app on the owner’s smartphone.

Ford is one of the most innovative auto manufacturers. The new Kuga sport utility vehicle, which was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March and goes on sale this year will have Ford’s new SYNC 3 communication and entertainment system. Push a button and say “I need a coffee”, or “I need petrol”, or “I need to park” and the technology will direct you. Ford has also introduced new lighting which improves

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visibility at roundabouts, stop, and give way or yield signs, and draws the driver’s attention to pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals in the vehicle’s path or even just off the road. Amazing!

COPPER PULSE The Kuga spearheaded the company’s SUV expansion for Europe after first going on sale in 2008 and writing about the new crossover at that time I commented that it was one of the prettiest SUVs on the market. That made it all the more disappointing when Ford launched the current bland looking car which I road tested this week.

I am looking forward later this year to the promised bold and sporty exterior features of the new Kuga with a trapezoidal grille, new headlamps

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MOTORING

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Model: Ford Kuga Price: £20,995 otr Engine: 1.5T EcoBoost six-speed manual front-wheel drive Performance: 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 121mph CO2 emissions: 143g/km Combined fuel consumption: 45.6mpg

navigate. The steering wheel is offered with heated leather to improve comfort in cold weather. I drove a car with this feature last winter and really missed warm fingers when the car went back. All automatic new Kugas will feature paddle-shift controls that enable drivers to manually select gears while keeping their hands on the wheel. A feature I think that all drivers would benefit from.

HIGHEST SALES

incorporating LED daytime running lights and new colours. Restyled tail lights will complete the sporty look, while a new range of alloy wheel designs will be available. A new vibrant colour, Copper Pulse, will be offered throughout the range.

There’s also a power-operated retractable tow bar which automatically stores itself out of sight below the rear bumper when not in use to retain the new Kuga’s sporty looks.

Another piece of great technology is for families returning to the car loaded up with kids or shopping and requiring access to the boot. The New Kuga offers a hands-free liftgate. Just make a kicking motion underneath the rear bumper and open sesame!

There is more intuitive technology inside the new Kuga. The steering wheel and airconditioning controls feature fewer and more easily distinguishable buttons and switches, making the controls simpler to recognise and

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Sales in the SUV segment are poised to increase to 27 per cent of all vehicles sold in Europe by 2020. Ford says the Kuga is now selling at its highest level since it was launched with three times as many finding homes compared with five years ago. It doesn’t surprise me because apart from the amazing cutting edge features, the Kuga is an easy car to drive.

My road test car came with the latest 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine and this powerful unit will be available in the new Kuga, but Ford is introducing two new diesel engines. There’s a 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi with improved fuel efficiency of about five per cent to 64.2mpg and 115g/km CO2 while producing the same power. A 2.0-litre TDCi engine with 150PS will also be available.

With hands-free parking in side-by-side spaces and cross traffic alert which warns drivers reversing out of a parking space of vehicles that may be about to cross behind them, the new Ford Kuga has all the amazing technology required. But I guess once you get beyond brand loyalty, price and performance, it’s gadgets that attract and sell cars. I

SHOWROOM: Bristol Street Birmingham, 156-182 Bristol Street, Birmingham, B5 7AZ. Tel: 0121 666 6000 www.bristolstreet.co.uk

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

JACOB CHANDLER The award-winning sculptor tells us how illness forced him to re-evaluate his future and follow his dreams ot many of us know what that moment feels like when you tell your parents you want to be an artist creating enormous metal sculptures that will be tricky to transport and expensive to produce.

Cue Jacob Chandler. Blessed with a trained blacksmith father and woodworking mum, he couldn’t have asked for more understanding parents and from his sizeable workshop at the bottom of the garden things are going pretty well for the talented 21-year-old.

Jacob was invited to exhibit by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists at its gallery in the Jewellery Quarter last month as part of its national open competition. He is the youngest artist in the society’s 200-year history to be given this privilege and his sculpture Poise and

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TIPPING POINT: Poise and Tension (picture by Malcolm Couzens)

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Tension III took pride of place alongside professional artists, receiving positive reviews and plenty of media attention.

Most of Jacob’s work so far aims to ‘capture the most dramatic part of an action, the tipping point from one movement to another, a point that is more often felt rather than seen’. The medium of choice is corten steel which is the same metal used by one of Jacob’s heroes Antony Gormley. He explained: “The rusting that is characteristic of this material is also a dynamic process and is wholly in keeping with my rationale.”

DYNAMIC RUST Having the space and logistics to produce and transport the life size sculptures presents its challenges and Jacob tries to stick to a rule when designing a piece. “If it won’t fit in the people carrier, it’s not made,” he says. He admits to flouting this now and then by adding a trailer to the vehicle, but he hasn’t had to hire a lorry just yet.

The inspiration for the pieces comes from many places, but dance has been a big influence – in fact Elmhurst School for Dance in Edgbaston has one of Jacob’s works titled The Lift in its reception. Of his fascination with the dancing form he says: “My cousin Corinne Cox is a dancer with Czech ballet company JK Tyl and a family friend Anna Kaszuba is a contemporary dancer, so I’ve been to numerous performances and events which have sparked my fascination with a dancer’s amazing strength and beauty.”

Although Jacob was always interested in art at school and had a particularly supportive A-Level teacher who encouraged his large scale projects, he thought the sensible thing to do in order to future proof his career would be to study architecture.

“I was content with my choice but had subordinated my

dreams of becoming a sculptor, due to the inherent difficulties of making a living as an artist,” he says.

Four weeks into a seven-year architecture course at Birmingham City University fate intervened and Jacob was struck down with a severe allergic reaction teamed with a flulike virus that left him bed-bound for months. He remembered: “It meant that my studies had to be deferred.

Recovery was slow and in order to keep my spirits up, I turned to art. My parents encouraged me to turn my misfortune on its head, saying this was my opportunity to prove I had what it takes to become an artist.”

The garden slowly filled up with pieces as Jacob grew stronger. Working with 200kg pieces of metal was pretty exhausting but interest from a local school and hospital spurred him on. Meeting with structural engineers, specifying materials and building business relationships made Jacob realise this could be a viable career.

GRAND PLANS He exhibited a year’s worth of work at the Big Art Show in Shrewsbury and was delighted with the response from both the public and fellow artists. On a roll, Jacob got business cards printed, created a website and began ‘to feel like a professional’.

He now sells through his website and exhibits at the sculpture park at the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry and the Ironbridge Fine Art Gallery.

With grand plans, Jacob would love to exhibit in a London gallery as well as creating a larger piece in a public space like his hero. He enthused: “The tension created in the sculptures at their tipping point, would be accentuated with the increasing scale. It’s this feeling of fleeting and precarious movements and balance that I most want to capture.” I Check out more of Jacob’s work at www.jacobchandler.co.uk

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GROWING PLACES

WE’VE GOT THE

WILDLIFE BUG Year 2 pupils from Hagley Primary School are working with CALA Homes to create wildlife friendly gardens at the housebuilder’s Wychbury Fields development. Helped by wildlife expert Richard Fishbourne, pictured, they’re designing environments for inclusion in the show home gardens. These include planting for wildlife and creating habitats for bugs, birds and bees. Headteacher Vanessa Payne said: “It is both fun and educational for the children.”

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

LOBBYING: Students at the MUN event

MILLY’S ENGLAND CALL-UP Moreton Hall’s Milly Home was selected to represent England in lacrosse at the Home Internationals at Surrey Sports Park. Milly is one of only two girls in the UK to be picked from Year 10 and will now start working towards the Under 19 World Cup. Kate Groves, head of sport, said: “To be called up for your country is a staggering achievement and highlights Milly’s superb commitment.”

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STUDENTS UNITED The sixth Joseph Chamberlain College Model United Nations (MUN) event took place with 40 countries represented. The conference aims to increase global awareness among students and those participating from other colleges. They represent countries’ positions on a number of issues, debating and developing compromises. MUN resolutions have been taken to full United Nations meetings in the past, supported by the likes of actor Samuel L Jackson.

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PIONEER TALKS TO GIRLS Pupils at Edgbaston High School for Girls hosted a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) day event on behalf of the Girls’ School Association (GSA). More than 100 girls from eight schools across the country travelled to EHS to hear a speech from fertility treatment pioneer Lord Robert Winston, pictured centre, and take part in workshops and a careers fair.

SUB-ZERO HERO Shellie Taylor-Joyce swapped text books for the sub-zero Arctic – all in the name of charity. The teaching assistant from Castle Vale along with four friends travelled by dog sled from Oteren, Norway to Jukkasjärvi, Sweden – a distance of more than 250km to raise funds for John Taylor Hospice. Their total stands at £4,250 and you can add to it at https://www.justgiving.com/ arcticmushers/4

EARLY YEARS SUCCESS Hallfield School’s early years provision has been classed ‘outstanding’ in all four areas assessed during the EYFS interim inspection.

Headmaster Roger Outwin-Flanders thanked his staff for “working incredibly hard to achieve this amazing result”. He added: “In particular head of EYFS and acting head of Prep, Anne Oliver and all of the teaching staff and estates team.”

MIDLANDS HOCKEY CHAMPS

The U13 girls hockey team from Bromsgrove Preparatory School won the Midlands mini hockey tournament at Cannock Hockey Club, qualifying for the national finals as regional champions. Jenney Weller, head of girls PE and games in the Preparatory School, said: “It’s another great sporting result for the school. The girls played fantastic hockey and are looking forward to the finals this month at Beeston Hockey Club.”

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PERSON TO PERSON

CLOSE WITH…

NICK REED The new chief executive of Town Hall Symphony Hall on coming back to Brum, tinkering with old cars and why the hills are alive with running!

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I have worked in theatre and concert hall management my whole life after leaving Sheffield University in 1984 with a politics degree. When I started it was very much get in on the ground floor and get experience. A politics degree doesn’t really help you navigate employment law in South Carolina or deal with prima donna soap stars in Llandudno. I have managed some great venues but coming back to the city where I grew up is a particular pleasure.

IT’S WHAT I DO As chief executive of Performances Birmingham Ltd, the charity responsible for managing Symphony Hall and Town Hall, I am responsible for the artistic direction and commercial management of a business with a £13million turnover and more than 70 permanent staff.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE Birmingham is one of the youngest, most diverse cities in the UK and we need to reflect that in both the audiences we attract and the artists that we work with. Despite welcoming more than half-a-million visitors a year there are still many people in the region who haven’t yet enjoyed a life-changing performance in our buildings – whether that be a concert in one of our halls, a free gig in our foyers or taking part in our community and education programmes.

BIGGEST SUCCESSES I’ve taken some pride in opening a couple of new venues – moving from a building site to a sold-out first performance is always an invigorating journey. I’m not sure that I regard myself as personally successful but if pushed I’d cite running the length of the Thames self-supported as my least mediocre achievement.

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BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED Despite a career in the arts I wish I had paid a bit more attention to science at school. A basic understanding of electricity is very helpful if you own a 43-year-old Italian car!

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM A lot of things have changed since I moved away from Birmingham in 1980 but most of that change has been for the better. There’s now a really vibrant cultural scene with amazing theatre, dance and music being made in the city. There is a sense of pride when people describe the rebirth of New Street station and the Paradise redevelopment will further enhance the city as great place to live and work.

DOWNTIME I’m a long distance runner, the longer the better. I enjoy getting out running in the hills for a few hours, but even half-an-hour by the canal is better than nothing. This year I’m running a 100-miler in the Lake District and a mountain race around Mont Blanc in August. Also a week of cycle touring in Romania, so I need to get back in the saddle.

I also enjoy tinkering with old vehicles and have a couple of classic cars and some old motorcycles and scooters. It is easy to lose a few hours in the garage tweaking a carburettor from ‘acceptable’ to ‘barely functioning’...

FINALLY… On 12 June Symphony Hall celebrates its 25th birthday with a day of music and free activities for the whole family. Find out more at www.thsh.co.uk and come and join us! I

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PGS GLOBAL LOGISTICS How a business started by ex-milkman Paul Eyles with a white van has become the cream of the delivery and distribution industry wenty-five years ago Paul Eyles was delivering pints as a milkman. Today it’s pallets, parcels and more as the boss of a successful logistics business. This year PGS Global Logistics will have a turnover of more than £13million with nearly 70 vehicles and 170 staff operating out of three rapidly growing centres in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

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It’s the kind of story that Paul could only dream about when he decided he’d had enough of the early morning rounds on his float. He wanted a better life for his family, so he bought a humble white van and started his own business.

PGS is now a leading name in distribution and warehousing, serving clients domestically and globally and providing bespoke parcel and pallet

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COMPANY TO WATCH

operates depots near Birmingham Airport and NEC at Kitts Green and in Droitwich, Worcestershire. In January, PGS bought its first premises, a bigger warehouse near their airport site in what is known in the storage industry as ‘the golden triangle’. The move has seen the firm more than double its warehouse space to 142,000 sq ft to boost the company’s distribution network. It also created another 24 jobs.

“This was our first purchase of a site, previously we have always rented, and it shows how the business continues to grow,” said David. “Because of all our warehousing space we’ve turned from what was a haulage business into a full logistics organisation where our customers can use us as a warehouse.” PGS’s success has won it a number of top awards, including being named Network of the Year.

The company is a member of the two most progressive networks in the country, meaning that their next day parcel service through APC and next day pallet service through Pallet-Track ensures they get the delivery to its destination when the customer wants it.

DELIVERING THE GOODS: PGS founder and managing director Paul Eyles, right

delivery services for a range of customers, including large-scale hauliers. PGS delivers anything and everything from document to pallet, including fragile goods.

But back in the early 1990s, it was all very different.

Small-time and a bit of a gamble would be one way to describe Paul the man with his van. Five years after launching his company Paul was joined by David Bayliss who worked in design and printing. “We met through Paul knowing my business partner,” explained David, who is commercial director at PGS. “In those early years PGS was a small operation, but then it started to grow, and then grow more quickly.”

The company is based in Mackadown Lane on the site of the old BSA small arms factory and also

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THE BIG RED BUS PGS also has a high profile in other areas – most notably helping charities’ fund-raising. A couple of years ago Paul hunted down and bought an old London Routemaster bus and completely refurbed it.

The Big Red Bus as it’s known is regularly provided free of charge to help charities such as Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Brain Tumour Charity at events.

“Paul is a transport guy through and through and everything he does in life is based around it,” explained David. “He’s also a very generous family man who likes to help others.” The bus is an eyecatching sight around Birmingham and Paul loves to drive it himself, ferrying charity backers and sponsors and raising money for good causes. The rest of the PGS team are equally generous charity supporters having taken part in numerous fundraising events both locally and across the UK. I

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STRIKING NEW LOOK GREETS BOWLERS Birmingham’s Hollywood Bowl at Park Way, Rubery, has undergone a £350,000 refurbishment. The 26lane centre includes a new Hollywood diner and bar serving handcrafted burgers, gourmet hotdogs and freshly made shakes, as well as American classics from the new menu. Four exclusive VIP lanes have also been created and named after American icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.

BUSINESS

NEWS LEGAL EAGLES SOAR Leading Midlands law firm George Green has promoted three of its lawyers. Clare Lang (corporate), James Bird (commercial) Morgan Rees (dispute resolution) have become partners.

Chief executive David Stevenson said: “These promotions are a testament to the their talent and hard work and also the way we work together to help our people succeed.” George Green, listed in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, has offices in Cradley Heath and Wolverhampton.

BELFRY NAMES DIRECTOR The Belfry Hotel & Resort has appointed James Stewart as resort director. James, who has held senior roles with Forte Hotels and other spa and golf resorts, said: “The professional team and world class facilities at The Belfry make this a truly exciting opportunity.” The Belfry was named England’s Leading Resort at last year’s World Travel Awards and has been nominated for the prize again in 2016. may 2016

SHAKE ON IT: Gordon Wilson and city council chief executive Mark Rogers

SOFTWARE GIANT OPENS MAILBOX HQ Advanced, the third largest software provider to the UK market, has opened a new Midlands HQ at the Mailbox. The company is undergoing a major transformation which includes the launch of a talent acquisition programme creating 1,000 roles over the next 18 months – 400 based at the Mailbox. CEO Gordon Wilson said: “We are passionate about identifying dynamic individuals who will make a major contribution to our company. Birmingham is the clear choice given it has the UK’s largest regional urban economy.”

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BUSINESS

PROPERTY FIRM REBRANDS Birmingham property firm CP Bigwood has undergone a rebranding following its acquisition by SDL Group. The business will now be known as SDL Bigwood with three divisions, each covering key areas of the residential, commercial and management and professional services parts of the business. Chief executive Rory Daly, pictured, said: “The intention is to drive our growth as a major UK player.”

RICK’S SUCCESS IS BEST PAR NONE It’s been a tough battle at times, but 25 years after rescuing Nailcote Hall from receivership owner Rick Cressman is toasting a remarkable success story. The businessman has restored the fortunes of the Jacobean building, creating a thriving wedding and leisure venue as well as becoming home to the celebrated British Par 3 Championship. “Designing and building the golf course has probably given me the most joy and Tony Jacklin has been a huge inspiration and support,” said Rick who is holding an anniversary party and concert on 4 June.” Rick and wife Sue have raised more than £250,000 for local charities.

YOU’RE HIRED… KIDS GET ON BOARD

JUST WHAT THE

If you think you have a future Lord Sugar or Sir Richard Branson in your midst, Drayton Manor Park wants to hear from you. The Midlands theme park wants to find eight new child directors for its board who will be involved in helping to shape its future. Each board member will also receive a season pass to the attraction. To apply, children and their parents are being asked to create a 60-second video. Deadline is 15 May with more details at http://kidztakeover

DOCTORS ORDERED A Birmingham business is taking the medical world by storm. More than one in 10 medical students and junior doctors globally signed up to New Media Education’s Meducation platform in the past year. Meducation has been growing internationally by 10,000 new members a month with its educational digital content used more than three million times in the last year. The business’s CEO Jeremy Walker attended King Edward Five Ways school and the University of Birmingham.

BRAVE TEAM ON THE RUN Staff at Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham have been training to step into Dave ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley’s shoes by running 10k blindfolded. Regional MD Derek McDonough and hotel manager James Bee got on their marks for the Great Birmingham 10k Run on 1 May while blindfolded alongside Blind Dave to raise funds for Queen Alexandra College for the Blind. Dave is the first blind person to have run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.

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BUSINESS

VIVA ESPANA!

SUPPORTER: Golf legend Tony Jacklin with Rick at the opening of Nailcote Hall’s new clubhouse

Birmingham Airport has welcomed the arrival of Iberia Express serving four weekly flights to Madrid, with connections to more than 30 destinations across Spain, Portugal, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. All services carry British Airways codes and members of Iberia Plus programme as well as BA’s Executive Club can earn and redeem Avios when they fly.

“This is our 11th new airline to recently launch,” said head of airport management and network, Trevor Martin.

SMALL BUSINESSES REMAIN CONFIDENT More than three-quarters of small business owners say they are confident about the general outlook for this year, according to a survey by leading Birmingham accountancy firm Moore Stephens. The report also found 73 per cent are confident about meeting revenue targets and 68 per cent of hitting profit targets. Top of the ‘worry list’ are the strength of the UK economy and skills shortages, while 60 per cent back the UK remaining in the EU. BIGGER PICTURE: Suk Aulak and Mark Lamb of Moore Stephens with John Wyn-Evans from Investec Wealth & Investment

SKY FALLS IN ON TICKET TOUTS

WOOD WORKS FOR ANDY Andy Cox-Peel has turned a passion for carpentry into his day job by launching the Just Shutters brand in Birmingham. Andy covers the whole of Birmingham and much of the West Midlands, from Redditch in the south to Tamworth and Cannock in the north. “I really enjoy how shutters transform a space and equally the customer’s delight in the finished installation,” he said. Visit www.justshutters.co.uk/birmingham or call 0121 227 4183 for more details.

may 2016

The Ticket Factory – part of the NEC Group – has announced a pioneering partnership to crackdown on secondary ticketing prices.

The agency is teaming up with ethical ticket re-seller Twickets to allow genuine fans to buy and sell tickets at face value. Stuart Cain, managing director of The Ticket Factory, said: “I saw an article quoting £24,000 for an £85 Adele ticket with a four-figure booking fee. The online secondary market is hurting the industry.”

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BUSINESS

“

WHAT BUSINESS NEEDS FROM BRUM It is imperative that the now-jaded New Street becomes a remodelled, improved conduit having a major and positive effect on the city

Please introduce yourself I am Jonathan Cheetham, chair of Retail Birmingham Business Improvement District and general manager of Grand Central.

What does your organisation do?

The role of the BID is to ensure that Birmingham city centre retains a thriving business and retail environment and continues to grow as a world-class destination for visitors, businesses, employers and employees.

”

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

How long have you got? One of the best connected cities in the country, HS2 coming soon, investing major expenditure in infrastructure, transport and people. Private investment flooding into the city on a constant basis, major blue chip businesses relocating, building flagship developments in the core of the city. I could go on...

What should our priorities be as a city?

Is Brum a good place to do It’s all about connectivity and quality. The business? quality of the built environment to attract An incredible place to do business. It’s business/people. The quality of transport one of Europe’s most youthful cities with and great walking/cycling routes to net migration into the city centre. It has a encourage movement and thus vitality and cityscape which is constantly evolving for accessibility which equals improving the better, with planned and far-reaching desirability and value. Sounds very simple. A development and embracing and leading phrase I use is ‘connecting the bunkers of in technology, business and an everexcellence’ within this great city and there growing and successful legal and financial are more and more of these available as it centre of excellence. develops… the secret is making it connected, Jonathan Cheetham, chair of Retail BID liveable and workable, which Birmingham is What are your biggest gripes with it? beginning to do so much better than many cities.

The city has traditionally undersold its values and assets to the rest of the country. We are great at the ‘big picture’ If you had £1bn to spend on improving Brum but historically not so great with the detail and what would you do with it? maintenance. We need to get better at talking up the city. It The remodelled Bullring added positivity to Birmingham, should be easy – we haven’t got to exaggerate or make anchoring the outer edge of the city core and radically anything up, we have it all. Ballet, theatres, museums, improving the quality and standard of offer. The newly world-class conferencing facilities, more Michelin developed Grand Central and New Street station are the restaurants than any city outside London, a centre of latest addition to this central area. With the Paradise Forum engineering, technological and automotive excellence. development at the mid-end of the city underway, it is imperative that the now jaded New Street becomes a How do you feel your clients see the city? remodelled, improved conduit for that walkability and great Extremely positively or they would choose not to be here. I connection that this street was once famed for throughout the can see a continuing momentum in civic pride beginning to Midlands. This would have a major and positive effect on the grow which is always an excellent harbinger of success. city, New Street and the connections between. I

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CLOUD LIFTS GLOOM ON BUSY BOSSES Businesses introduced to tech answer to financial headaches

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ecruitment firm Haig & Co partnered with Synapse at an a event to introduce Cloud CFO – a tech solution for organisations drowning in spread sheets – to the finance and business community.

Director of Haig & Co, Damian Navas, said: “The night was a wonderful opportunity to drive a truly revolutionary product and to see how easily businesses could benefit from it.” Synpase MD, Brian Donelly, added: “It was a great way to demo our new product and meet some fantastic people.” I

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1 Jamie Dunning, Sarah Harvey, Damian Navas, Tracey Byrne, Matt Rolfe. 2 Bhovinder Nagra, Josef Baker. 3 Frank Barr, Sarah Harvey, David Williams. 4 Sarah Hunter, Jo Udy. 5 Eleanor Murray, Jason Pitt. 6 Tineke Booth, Damian Navas. 7 Vanessa Hill, Rachelle Tuft, Tineke Booth, Lauren Haird, Jane Dale. 8 Josie Byrne, Brian Donnelly, Dominika Sterninska, Lauren Haird.

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PATRONS WELCOME POSITIVE MESSAGE We’re on our way to the top, confident council boss tells city business leaders ew Birmingham city council leader John Clancy addressed a specially invited audience of business leaders at the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce patrons dinner held at Hotel du Vin. Stressing his determination to cast off the council’s image as a ‘problem’ for Birmingham, he highlighted the crucial importance of economic growth. He said: “It is important we have confidence in the city. This is the most investable city in the UK and the sixth in Europe. I expect us to go way up the European league table.” I

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1 Prof Julian Beer, Mark Rogers, Paul Faulkner. 2 Steve Brittan, Katrina Cooke, Henrietta Brealey. 3 Paul Faulkner, Saqib Bhatti, John Clancy, Tony Elvin. 4 Justine Howl, Tony Elvin, Mandy Haque. 5 Rajinda Sanghera, Omer Simjee, Russell Jeans. 6 Zaheer Afzal, Dr Haseena Lockhat, Rana Nazir, Majid Salim. 7 Manjit Kang, Waheed Saleem, John Clancy, Dee Kundi. 8 Harvir Sahota, Anjum Khan, Aftab Chughtai, Mandy Canny.

9 Alan Hill, Zak Mahmood, Steve Jones, Waheed Saleem.

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Locals raise their glasses as doors open on stunning revamp of village landmark ward-winning gastro-pub business, The CD Pub Co, celebrated the completion of its £500,000 refurbishment of the newly-named Chequers at Crowle by throwing open the doors and giving locals and guests a pre-taster of their renowned fine food and drink. The landmark pub was previously known as the Old Chequers Inn. Charles Harris, operations director of CD, said: “We’ve had some fantastic support from the locals which is greatly appreciated and we’re all really excited about becoming an integral part of village life.” I

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The Chequers at Crowle, Crowle Green, Crowle WR7 4AA www.thechequersatcrowle.com

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1 David Mills, Faye Donely, Christine Harris, Charles Harris. 2 Sophie Warren, Ollie Bradley, Elinor Swatton. 3 Charlie Wood, Matt Wood, Karen Smith. 4 Nicola Parker, Irene Ryan, Sue Sherwood. 5 Shirley and Nigel Clay. 6 Clare Green, Tammy Sheen. 7 Phil and Michelle Nolan.

8 Clare Lynam, Shelley Carter, Nick Lynam. 9 Michael and Patricia Clarke, Maureen Thomas. 10 Florence, Issy, Martha Hershman.

Photography by Andrew Llewellyn

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BUSINESS STARS SHINE AT SIGNATURE AWARDS Best of Asian professionals named at glittering event at Edgbaston Stadium he second annual Signature Awards showcasing the best of Asian professionals were held at Edgbaston Stadium. The awards celebrated excellence in a number of categories including finance, law, banking, business, owner practice and diversity. There were also accolades for Young Professional of the Year and a special Lifetime Achievement award for Sewa Singh Mandla. Guest speaker Paul Bassi, CEO of Real Estate Investors, highlighted the rejuvenation and rapid rate of new investment into the city and region. The night raised ÂŁ6,500 for the LoveBrum charity. I

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8 Neelum Rani, Amarjit Ranu, Narinder Johal, Sonia Sanghera. 9 Sewa Singh Mandla, Ninder and Narinder Johal. 10 Tommy Sandhu, Jatinder Paul, Tim Andrews.

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BARREL OF LAUGHS FOR LEADING LADIES Everything you ever wanted to know about beer, courtesy of Purecraft

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he latest on-the-move networking event for Hippodrome’s Leading Ladies was hosted at Purecraft Bar & Kitchen. Beer sommelier and TV presenter Marverine Cole took on the challenge of proving that beer is just as much for the girls as the boys! The evening started with a twist as Purecraft’s Martin Hilton mischievously served Leading Ladies’ sponsors, members and their guests with welcome beer in champagne glasses. Other highlights included discovering beer’s favourable calorie count and experimenting with ideal food pairings. More than £1,000 was raised for Hippodrome CREATIVE. I

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1 Aneesah Atallah, Jessica Harper, Helen Benussi, Donna O'Neill. 2 Martin Hilton. 3 Kristie Loakes, Faith Brotherston, Sara Elwell.

4 Lisa O'Keefe, Vicky Colliandris, Natalie Merrix. 5 Gaynor Powell, Claire Burnell, Alex Brady. 6 Faith Walker, Marverine Cole, Martin Hilton, Claire O'Connor 7 Patricia Kennedy, Kimberley Owen, Veronica Kumeta, Cosette Wright.

Photography by Vivienne Bailey

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PRESS CLUB SCOOPS DATE AT NEW HOTEL Members get the inside story as £50m Park Regis opens its doors irmingham Press Club held a networking session at Park Regis Birmingham, just days after the opening of the city’s newest £50million four-star hotel on Broad Street. Members were entertained in the 1565 restaurant and bar on the fourth floor of the 16-storey hotel. Formerly Auchinleck House, the hotel is the first Park Regis in Europe but the fifteenth globally, with locations in Australia, Asia and the UAE. I

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1 Stalingrad O’Neill, Tony Adams, Shazma Javed. 2 Adrian Kibbler, Sue Green, Christopher Mowbray. 3 Clive Reeves, Sian Floyd, Bradley Meersand, Matt Walker, Harry Jenkins. 4 Kerry Millward, Pat Murphy-Wright, Adrian Hindmarsh, Hazel Horton-Peppercorn.

5 Daryl Jackson, Alan Carruthers, Alice Rosenthall, Colin Palmer. 6 Lesley Wilde, Stephen Talboys, Fionnuala Bourke. 7 Lois Burley, Harry Jenkins, Elizabeth Taylor.

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WHAT: NatWest T20 Blast WHEN: 27 May WHERE: Edgbaston Stadium, tel 0844 635 1902 www.edgbaston.com The first home game of the new season should once again be a thriller as the Birmingham Bears take on local rivals the Worcestershire Rapids.

WHAT: The Kenilworth Show WHEN: 6 June WHERE: Stoneleigh Park, www.kenilworthshow.co.uk A pageant of carriages, grand parade of livestock and quad bike stunt displays will be among the main ring attractions in a fun-filled, exciting and educational day for all the family.

WHAT: Mark Steel WHEN: 3 June WHERE: The Old Rep Theatre, tel 0121 605 5116 www.oldreptheatre.org.uk The acclaimed author, columnist and Have I Got News For You regular presents his newest stand-up show – a surprising and enthralling story told with aplomb.

WHAT: Morrisons Great Birmingham 10K

WHAT: Grumpy Old Women

WHEN: 1 May

WHEN: 10 June

WHERE: Central Birmingham,

WHERE: New Alexandra Theatre, tel 0844 8713011

www.greatrun.org/great-birmingham-10k

www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

Take on a 10K around the streets of Birmingham and choose to run it, jog it or walk it! You can pick whichever musical starting waves suits you best and with music from the 70s, 80s, 90s and the 00s, the event promises to bring a party to the city’s streets.

Returning after a critically acclaimed total sell-out spring 2015 tour, the Grumpies are back to knock some sense into the nation. Perrier Awardwinning comedian, writer and original star Jenny Eclair will be joined by fellow recruits Susie Blake and actress and singer Kate Robbins.

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WHAT: Josh Groban WHEN: 21 May WHERE: Symphony Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk The internationally renowned singer, songwriter and actor has a baritone voice that’s instantly recognisable and unparalleled among his peers.

He’s also a cracking live act – so get yourself down to Symphony Hall.

WHAT: Stylian Petrov Foundation golf day WHEN: 8 May WHERE: The Belfry, tel 0121 355 8092 WHAT: Big Fish Little Fish

www.thestiliyanpetrovfoundation.com

WHEN: 22 May

The foundation set up by the Villa legend to help address the issues involved when people are diagnosed with acute leukaemia.

This first charity golf day helps raise vital funds and gives players the chance to rub shoulders with celebs such as James Milner, Gareth Barry and David Moyes.

WHERE: Rainbow Warehouse, Digbeth www.bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk The award-winning ‘family raves’ have come to Brum! Cracking family fun celebrating the oldskool vibe with a multi-sensory dance floor, glitter cannons and a giant parachute dance helping to create the atmosphere of a real rave.

WHAT: Barry Manilow WHEN: 18 June WHERE: Genting Arena, tel 0844 338 8000 www.ticketfactory.com WHAT: Foodies Festival WHEN: 3 to 5 June WHERE: Birmingham Cannon Hill Park, www.foodiesfestival.com This wonderful celebration of food and drink returns with some of the region’s finest chefs on show. Includes live demonstrations, the street food avenue, wine and champagne theatre and a chance for the kids to cook too.

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The singing legend has been at the top of his game since 1975 and the colossal worldwide hit Mandy. The multi-million selling, multi-award winning musician is simply awesome live and this One Last Time tour date is a must-see.

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WHAT: RHS Malvern Spring Festival WHEN: 5 to 8 May WHERE: Three Counties Showground, tel 01684 230127 www.threecounties.co.uk/rhsmalvern/ An awesome collection of top medal-

WHAT: Royal Ascot Ladies Day in The Marquee

winning show gardens, charming school

WHEN: 16 June

gardens, spectacular floral displays,

WHERE: Nailcote Hall, tel 02476 466174

celebrity talks and even a visit from Mary

www.nailcotehall.co.uk

Berry this year! Love your garden. Love

This annual Ascot celebration is always fantastic fun. Enjoy a champagne reception on the Terrace, buffet lunch and live big screen TV coverage of all the action, followed by an indulgent afternoon tea.

your food. Love this show.

WHAT: Dysmortal Life with Delyth Law WHEN: 5 June WHERE: The Kitchen Garden Café, Kings Heath, www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk

WHAT: King Lear WHEN: 19 to 28 May

A very funny, autobiographical show as one lady lays bare her view on life with a candid (and often naughty) examination of her romantic trials and tribulations. Just how do you navigate through life once your father has appeared on national television playing his guitar in the nude?

WHERE: Birmingham Rep, tel 0121 245 2024 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk In a Britain bound by loyalty to the clan and the power of the sword, King Lear decides to give up his crown.

As he divides the kingdom between his daughters, family ties disintegrate, order disappears and the land slides into chaos. Starring Don Warrington.

WHAT: The Alchemist WHEN: 26 May to 6 August WHERE: Royal Shakespeare Theatre,

WHAT: Cats

tel 01789 403493 www.rsc.org.uk

WHEN: 30 May to 4 June

When London is hit by an outbreak of the plague, the wealthy Lovewit flees to the country, leaving his townhouse in the hands of his trusted butler. But it’s not long before the house is turned into a den of criminal activity. A hilarious satire that revels in just how vain we can be.

WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome, tel 0844 338 5000

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www.birminghamhippodrome.com Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking 2015 Olivier award nominated musical comes direct from its sell-out seasons at the London Palladium, for one week only. A wonderful blend of fantasy, drama and romance with an amazing musical score.

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WHAT: Bill Bailey Limboland WHEN: 3 June WHERE: Barclaycard Arena, tel 0844 338 8000 www.theticketfactory.com With his trademark intelligence and sharp wit Bill Bailey explores the gap between how we imagine our lives to be and how they really are. And it just wouldn’t be the same without music, so there’s plenty of that too!

WHAT: Nelly WHEN: 4 June WHERE: O2 Academy Birmingham, tel 0121 622 8250 www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk After collaborating with Florida Georgia Line on the six times platinum single Cruise and on the back of last year’s chart topping hit The Fix, the multi-talented, Grammy award-winning rap superstar comes to the city.

WHAT: An Evening With Jacqueline Wilson WHEN: 26 May WHERE: Town Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk Jacqueline Wilson is an award-winning author and heroine to millions of children – and she is popping into town to chat about her career and her brand new book.

Plenty of opportunity for questions from the kids, plus book signings.

WHAT: Brindleyplace Dragonboat Race 2016 WHEN: 18 June WHERE: Brindleyplace, www.brindleyplace.com Now in its 17th year, the event promises to be bigger and better than ever. Twenty teams do battle in fancy dress to help raise £70,000 for Birmingham-based blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia. Sponsored by Deutsche Bank there is be plenty of familyfriendly entertainment for spectators and supporters to enjoy.

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IN THE CITY I am delighted to be back in my home city. Every day you see improvements being made – some of the previously less desirable areas are now really appealing. It’s a new vibrant Birmingham!

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I am Robin Ford, general manager of the new Park Regis Birmingham and Europe’s first Park Regis Hotel.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN? I commute by car. It’s German made… it’s very good on emissions!

HOW’S THE COMMUTE? It’s fairly effortless really as long as I time it right. I live in a small village and it usually takes me around 35 minutes door-to-door. However, it can stretch well into 90 minutes if I leave at the wrong time.

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN?

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Cornwall Street – their food is always good and it’s a great environment too. Failing that we have a local sandwich shop called Sandwich Club which is also excellent.

POWERWALKING?

Ah, yes… I need to do more of that. A brisk stroll down to Brindleyplace is often nice, but it’s not frequent enough however!

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY? Every day you can see new improvements being made around our city, some of the areas that were previously less desirable are now quite quaint and appealing. I love seeing the improvements made to New Street and the Grand Central complex and the investment and reinvention that is going into Digbeth too.

It’s a great place to work. Being born and bred in Birmingham I am delighted to be returning to my home city. It has an amazing history yet it’s also the youngest city in Europe with Robin Ford, boss of the new Park Regis Birmingham AFTERWORK PINT? under-25s accounting for nearly 40 You are spoilt for choice in the city. per cent of the population.

I tend to stick with the Mailbox, a great place in the summer Commercially there has been lots of progress made and to have a nice chilled drink. the cityscape has changed so much – it’s a new vibrant Birmingham! It’s also an investable place and is a great HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER? location to establish the first Park Regis in Europe.

There are many historic buildings that are crying out COFFEE BREAK? for restoration and improvements, many not even Being involved in a new hotel means lots of meetings occupied. We are doing very well on the transformation both on-site and off-site. We are fortunate that we have a of Birmingham but there still needs to be a joined-up great on-site marketing suite with great coffee! Off-site it’s approach to partnership and achieving the same goal, a quick call to Starbucks or Costa, they are consistent!

I feel it’s quite disjointed. The work completed at Grand Central is excellent and with proposed tram LUNCHTIME? infrastructure and strategy on transport and I rarely eat lunch but when I do it’s often on the reduction within the city centre I believe these are move. I recently had lunch with a client at Opus on key priorities. I

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