Birmingham Living May 2020 issue 92

Birmingham g n i liv

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May 2020

HEALTHY BODY HEALTHY MIND

&

THE PERFECT HOME OFFICE

OUR NHS HEROES

BGT’s YAKUB SAUNDERS

CORONAVIRUS

BUSINESS FIGHTS BACK

LOCKDOWN LOUNGEWEAR

MICHELIN-STAR HOME COOKING

AJ PRITCHARD QUICK-STEPPING FROM BRUM TO STRICTLY AND BEYOND

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THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL HEROES

These images are part of a portfolio of pictures of frontline nurses, doctors, ambulance and fire crews, hospital porters and volunteers from Birmingham by photographer Kris Askey – krisaskey.com Instagram @krisaskey

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EDITOR’S VIEW

L

ike I guess pretty much everyone, me and my family have been outside our front door every Thursday night at 8pm clapping for the NHS. As well as the applause, some of our neighbours have taken to hitting their car horns or ringing bells too. And you know what? It’s actually quite an emotional and cathartic experience.

When all is said and done, clapping doesn’t actually give the frontline doctors and nurses and other emergency workers any tangible help – but you can never underestimate the mental boost our simple weekly action can give them.

And more than that, this coming together has made us think – maybe for the first time in a very long time – just how precious our Health Service and all the other essential service workers who have carried on cleaning, collecting and delivering through this crisis, really are.

This coming together hasn’t only been shown on the doorsteps and balconies but also in the response of the city and region’s organisations and businesses in stepping up to help the NHS – and each other – in what are the most commercially devastating times in living memory.

Some of the amazing stories of how the region has been pitching in – from schoolchildren working at home to provide help and support to the NHS workers to arts and companies giving their time and money to boost vital charities in financial hardship – are covered in our pages this month. Without sounding cheesy, they should all be very proud of themselves.

As we feel our way uncertainly through this pandemic to hopefully easing the restrictions, it is more important than ever that we carry on this support in the local community. Birmingham Living will certainly be here to report on and feature the region’s efforts to pull together and eventually come out of this incredible challenge stronger than ever.

s n h o J d i v a D

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living Cover image:

AJ Pritchard, photographed by Matt Crockett

/bhamliving

FINALIST

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

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

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

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

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INSIDE

10 14 16 28 40 48 04 birmingham living

Highlights

AJ Pritchard

Learning to dance in Brum, quitting Strictly and joining brother Curtis as the ‘new Ant and Dec’

How To Stay Fit and Safe Our experts give their top home exercise tips so you’ll leave lockdown in the best possible shape

Food & Drink Celebrating the talented chefs looking to reboot the region’s food industry, plus homemade treats

Style We’re embracing loungewear in this weirdest of times and we’ve found some great pieces

Homes What makes a great home office? We’ve been on the hunt for perfect pieces that really work

Young, Gifted & Brummie Dancer Yakub Saunders talks Britain’s Got Talent, dealing with nerves and dance school in Harborne

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CONTENTS

Best of the Rest

24 46 50 52 56 58 may 2020

Wine Survival Guide

Our expert Rob Price uncorks his top picks and tips for getting through the great lockdown

Motoring Sue Cooke looks at a young automotive brand bringing a dash of luxury to difficult times Schools Update Welcome to the virtual classroom as teachers, pupils and parents get creative with lessons for lockdown

Business Update How the city’s commercial community is meeting the pandemic challenges – and boosting the NHS

Books and Films There’s never been a better time to catch up on a classic. We pick out our personal favourites

Up Close Sean Foley, award-winning artistic director of Birmingham Rep, on his career’s greatest challenge

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NEWS

BIG BRUMMIE CAMP OUT

A new campaign is calling on friends and families across Birmingham to enjoy the great outdoors – albeit in their own back gardens. The Big Brummie Camp Out on Bank Holiday Friday, 8 May aims to bring a little light relief into lockdown while also raising money for Birmingham’s SIFA Fireside homeless charity. Whether you’re pitching a tent in the garden, building a DIY den on your balcony, or creating a cushion castle in the living room, everyone is being urged to get involved. To sign up, ‘campers’ donate a minimum £5 to the appeal. Visit bit.ly/BigBrummieCampOut.

NEWS HOME FROM HOME

Birmingham Royal Ballet has launched Home From Home, a new series of online content giving an insight into the company’s daily routine and speciallycurated performances as they stay fit and creative while in isolation in their homes.

The series opened with Ballet Class Live, an exclusive streamed session led by ballet master Dominic Antonucci. The initiative also included a ‘living-room’ performance of the Swan, introduced by Birmingham Royal Ballet director Carlos Acosta.

IN THESE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES, WE BRING YOU STORIES TO INSPIRE AND ADMIRE FROM ACROSS THE CITY

ROSIE ON THE RUN A head teacher has raised more than £1,000 to ‘give back’ to those who helped her daughter beat cancer. Mumof-four Jenny Byrne, from Wolverhampton, was joined by seven friends running the pre-lockdown Florette Fradley 10k near Lichfield on what marked both her 40th birthday and the anniversary of daughter Rosie’s diagnosis, five years ago. Jenny is head at St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School.

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NEWS

BELFRY CHIPS IN

Legendary Ryder Cup venue, the Belfry Hotel & Resort, will donate its green fee income on its first day of reopening post-lockdown to UK charities. The donation will support a variety of causes, from cancer, heart, kidney and Parkinson’s treatment, children’s hospitals and hospices, to charity trusts supporting ex-sportsmen. It also includes the two nominated Belfry charities for 2020, Matt Hampson Foundation and LoveBrum.

DANCING ON STREAM Birmingham Pro Class has announced a new programme of online classes aimed at professional dance artists, graduates and those in dance training, to be live streamed

BEVERLEY SINGS FOR NHS

via Instagram. Delivered and supported by DanceXchange, ACE dance and music,

Singing superstar Beverley Knight brought together more than 100 of the UK’s finest performers

Birmingham Dance Network, Autin Dance

to remotely record a cover of Lean On Me by the late Bill Withers in a viral campaign of support

Theatre, Rosie Kay Dance Company and other

for the NHS. The Wolverhampton legend and NHS Relief ambassador has strong health service

local dance artists, Birmingham Pro Class is a

connections – her mother used to be a nurse, her sister works for the 111 emergency helpline,

non-profit initiative offering a programme of

while her brother has recently recovered from Covid-19. Due to the lockdown, the track was

regular classes and workshops for the region’s

recorded with artists, including the likes of Joss Stone, spread across 30 separate studios.

growing professional dance community.

BABIES AND BAGGIES The Baggies have given birth to a new venture at their

Hawthorns ground. West Bromwich Albion has teamed up with Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to set up temporary maternity clinics at the football club. Midwives are providing both antenatal and postnatal care in the East Stand suites. Helen Hurst, director of midwifery, said: “Women are anxious about coming to hospital in the current climate so we wanted to find a safe space away from the hospital and we are really grateful to the Baggies for providing this space.”

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NEWS

VIRUS GAMECHANGER Birmingham experts are pioneering a ‘game-changing’ antibody diagnosis project in the battle against coronavirus. Working alongside University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Binding Site, experts at the University of Birmingham’s Clinical Immunology Service are aiming to improve antibody diagnosis to identify patients where prompt medical intervention can prevent them having to go into intensive care. The project also hopes to identify the

SHARING SHAKESPEARE

proportion of communities at large that are now immune.

SUE’S SONG OF HOPE Cancer survivor Sue Cressman has sent a message of hope in music to coronavirus victims.

Sue’s NHS charity single Survive is an anthem of courage and hope in a time of adversity and uncertainty. Sue, who with husband Rick has run historic Nailcote Hall Hotel for nearly 30 years, recalls writing and producing the single in 2019 to act as a beacon of light for fellow survivors. “Little did I know that only a few months later, it would be relevant to many others facing the global coronavirus crisis,” she said.

You can hear Survive on iTunes or YouTube.

HANNAH’S ART-BREAKER

A digital campaign to celebrate Shakespeare’s 456th birthday by

Harborne sculptor Hannah Northam broke a 10-year ‘hoodoo’ by taking one of

the Royal Shakespeare Company has attracted more than 1,000

the top two prizes in an

submissions from around the world. The #ShareYourShakespeare

international exhibition

campaign challenged audiences to share their love of

which attracted nearly 400

Shakespeare in whatever original way they chose – whether that

entries. Her work, entitled

be performing a speech, baking a cake, painting a picture or even

Interlude, became the first

teaching their dog to bark Macbeth. Project supporters included

3D sculpture in the past

Doctor Who and Broadchurch star David Tennant, pictured in the

decade to claim the

RSC’s production of Richard II.

coveted accolade in the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists’ Open Exhibition.

Hannah created the work, modelled in clay which she then carved and etched and finished in cold cast bronze, over several months.

VE DAY TRIBUTE Solihull BID has produced a handy guide to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May from the comfort of your own home. It includes Piece For Peace, a project which calls on as many people as possible to create five-inch knitted, embroidered, crocheted or patch-worked squares that can be sewn together to form a large memorial to commemorate VE Day as a symbol of peace. The designs will be showcased on the Solihull BID website and social media channels. More details: www.solihullbid.co.uk/pieceforpeace/

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NEWS

CONCERTS FOR HEROES The City of Birmingham Symphony

Orchestra (CBSO) will make 5,000 free tickets available to NHS workers once concerts resume following the coronavirus pandemic. The CBSO family, including the CBSO Chorus, Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorus, has launched the initiative as a way of thanking frontline health service staff. Key workers can register their interest on the CBSO website. To mark the initiative, members of the CBSO Chorus released a video performing Somewhere

BALLET IN THE BEDROOM

Over the Rainbow from their homes.

Elmhurst Ballet School teacher Sander

Picture: Nirvair Singh

READY TO ROCK

The gates may be closed at Birmingham Botanical Gardens and a spring visit isn’t possible right now – but gardener Chris Howell has created a virtual mini tour of the Rock Garden just as it is coming into bloom. To view pop on to Twitter and follow @christophhowell @BhamBotanicalGd

Blommaert is keeping dancers on their

STUART’S ON THE BALL

toes during lockdown with free online

Cricketer and Birmingham Living cover star Stuart Broad

ballet classes on his Instagram page.

was due to take part in England’s tour of Sri Lanka until

Aimed at dancers of an intermediate

coronavirus scuppered the trip. So Stuart employed

experience level, but drawing interest

some creative thinking and joined forces with teammate

from ballet professionals to those who are

Harry Gurney to re-open one of the pubs they co-own as

new to dance, the virtual sessions from

a takeaway and village shop. Not only are they helping

Sander’s home in Birmingham attract

to feed the local community, but also making sure their

more than 400 dancers via computers and

staff get paid. A free delivery service is also available for

TV screens each weekday.

over-70s and NHS workers in the area.

LIGHT FANTASTIC Birmingham’s landmark Number 3 Brindleyplace building was lit up in blue to show support for NHS workers. The tribute was made on behalf of the 10,000 people who normally work at Brindleyplace. Stacey Muir, marketing and events executive, said: “We wanted to show our respect for the NHS workers who are putting their lives on the line.

Brindleyplace is a place where people work, meet and socialise and we hope to be able to welcome all our

GOT ANY NEWS? Email your news and pictures to editor@brumliving.co.uk occupiers and visitors back again soon.”

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COVER STORY

BROTHERS IN ARMS

AFTER LEARNING THEIR CRAFT IN BIRMINGHAM, TV DANCE STARS AJ AND CURTIS PRITCHARD ARE LOOKING TO MAKE THEIR NEXT BIG CAREER LEAP – AS THE NEW ANT AND DEC! DAVID JOHNS TALKS TO AJ ABOUT HIS GRAND PLANS AFTER QUITTING STRICTLY

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COVER STORY

J Pritchard is known to millions as the boyish, goodlooking pro dancer from Strictly. His brother Curtis shot to fame in Love Island and then the Greatest Dancer.

Individually, the two brothers who grew up in Stoke and learned to dance at classes in Brum, are hugely talented. Together they are planning to make an even more formidable TV team in a splash which they hope will see them become the ‘new Ant and Dec’. Quite an ambition!

We caught up with AJ just before he shocked millions of Strictly fans by announcing he was quitting the biggest show on TV for the next stage of his career with Curtis. The brothers had been touring the UK together in their new AJ Live show before the coronavirus lockdown struck, forcing them to postpone and reschedule the final four dates for later in the autumn.

Fortunately for the brothers, they were able to bring the show to their hometown Stoke and the Regents Theatre before the virus kicked in. “Coming home is awesome,” said AJ. “We both have such great memories of growing up in the place and also attending dance class in Birmingham. This is where we developed our passion for dancing which we had always had right from a very young age.”

A

HAVE A QUAD BIKE! AJ says he knew he would become a professional dancer as early as he can remember – despite what his dad Adrian, himself a highly regarded professional dancer and teacher, told him. “He said ‘you will never dance – and here’s a quad bike instead!’, explained AJ. “But by the age of 12, I had made it clear that I was going to dance and become a proper dancer. While other youngsters were playing sports or computer games, I was dancing. My dad obviously helped me tremendously, as he did Curtis, and we went to dance classes in Birmingham.”

Like all youngsters who turn raw talent into a big success, AJ had to put in the hours and make sacrifices to reach his goal.

“There was lots and lots of travelling back and forth to lessons in Birmingham and to a studio in Solihull. Then there were all the competitions I competed in. It was all hard work but I loved it and I made loads of friends along the way too.”

Together with local dance partner Chloe Hewitt, AJ represented Britain in dance competitions around the world, winning the National Youth Latin Championships for three consecutive years between 2012 and 2014. A year later, the duo became British Open Youth Latin champions and European

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COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

Youth Latin champions. An appearance on TV’s Britain’s Got Talent saw AJ and Chloe reach the live semi-finals.

Bosses at Strictly Come Dancing were looking for an exciting, new home-grown pro dancer to join the show and called AJ in for an audition. The rest is history as he became one of the most popular stars on the BBC show, reaching the semi-final in 2018 – believe it or not, his first and only appearance in the last four!

AJ’s decision to quit Strictly came as a ‘bolt from the blue’, according to TV bosses. They were said to be surprised and shocked – understandable in view of how AJ had become a mainstay of the show. Of Strictly he says: “I’ve loved my time on Strictly. It’s an amazing entertainment show. Strictly allows everyone to see dance in its pure form being performed by celebrities who have never danced before but who become great dancers as the series goes on. It’s a huge workload for everyone – the celebrities, of course, but also the pro dancers who are having to teach, rehearse, choreograph, perform and bring out the best in their celebrities.”

“

In the end the 18-hour days, strung out over more than six months of the year for the past four years confirmed AJ’s desire to take his TV career in a new and different direction. He happily says that leaving Strictly means he can now avoid performing his ‘dance from hell’, the samba. “I love doing the tango and pasodoble,” he adds.

“But the samba is my own personal nightmare!”

Having become such a familiar face on our screens, a more permanent move into TV presenting seems the obvious course for AJ – he’s already done daytime slots with Lorraine Kelly on ITV’s Lorraine show. Now he’s keen to expand on that, saying: “I want to do lots more daytime TV and maybe have a game show and my own show.”

He says he would love to bring an all-singing, alldancing ‘Bruce Forsyth Saturday night feel’ to TV and, together with brother Curtis, emulate the success of Ant and Dec. Despite deciding to say goodbye to the nation’s favourite Saturday night show, it feels like we will be seeing plenty more of AJ in the months and years ahead.

As they say, watch this space! I

In the end the 18-hour days

over six months of the year for the past

”

four years confirmed AJ’s desire to take his TV career in a new and different direction from Strictly

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HEALTH SPECIAL

HOW TO STAY FIT AND SAFE

OUR EXPERTS GIVE THEIR TOP HOME FITNESS TIPS SO YOU’LL LEAVE LOCKDOWN IN GREAT SHAPE ere are five easy exercises which you can do at home in only five minutes. Do each exercise for up to one minute then as you improve turn this into a circuit by repeating the sequence twice, then three times so it takes 15 minutes.

H

1 Stair climbing Run up and down stairs at a fast pace non-stop for one minute – it will boost your heart rate and as it’s weight-bearing it will load your bones too.

If you find it easy then try carrying something heavy (evenly loaded carrier bags full of books will do fine).

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2 Squats Unless we do some strengthening exercises we lose muscle and that means we have less calorie-burning dense tissue which leads to a reduction in your metabolic rate. Stronger, denser muscles burn more calories even when you’re at rest. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart (or slightly wider) and push your hips back as if you’re sitting into an imaginary chair. Lower down so your thighs are as parallel to the floor as possible, with your knees over your ankles. Press your weight into your heels then push up to bring yourself back to the starting position.

Work up gradually to squat for 30 seconds then build it up to one minute.

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HEALTH SPECIAL

HOW TO LEAVE LOCKDOWN LEANER

Edgbaston Priory Club’s Fitness team has been delivering fitness classes via Zoom into members homes and providing mini workout ideas via their #EPCATHome platform. Here, personal trainer Mike Price offers six top tips to staying fit during lockdown.

Set aside time for exercise Develop a structure and pattern to your exercise. Build it into your daily routine by adding into your diary or blocking it out in your work calendar as you would a work meeting.

Focus on your goals Set small, short-term achievable goals that you can meet, such as ‘I’ll do five online classes this week’ or ‘I’ll use the heavier weights for the next session’.

Mix it up!

There are lots of different online classes out there, many offering 30-day free trials. Even though instructors will vary their classes, it’s always good to try different instructors for new exercises and a fresh face!

Eat well It’s really important to look after your nutrition – maintain regular mealtimes and try to avoid snacking, especially in the evening.

Sleep well Make sure you wake up reasonably early and go to bed reasonably early. Sleep is important for our mental well-being.

Have fun!

Be kind to yourself. If your body needs a rest from its new exercise routine, take it. Fitness should be fun.

On the floor, get into a push-up position then bend your elbows at 90° and rest your weight on your forearms. Your elbows should be directly beneath your shoulders and your body should form a straight line from your head to your feet. Hold the position for as long as you can up to one minute (and remember not to hold your breath).

3 Ropeless skipping Imagine holding a skipping rope then rotate the ‘rope’ forward as if you’re skipping. Add in the footwork, you can hop from one foot to the other or jump lifting both feet simultaneously. Remember to keep the arms turning – you can alternate circling forward and backward – and keep going for up to one minute.

4 The plank The plank works 100 per cent of your abdominal muscles compared to 64 per cent for sit-ups. You’re also less likely to strain your neck, which is common when doing sit-ups.

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5 Lateral raises Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms by your sides holding weights in each hand. You could start with bottles of water or tins of soup then build up to using hand weights. Raise your arms up and out to the side to shoulder level then slowly lower them back down and repeat. Don’t be tempted to let your arms drop suddenly, try to resist gravity. Keep going for up to one minute. I Edgbaston Priory Club, Sir Harrys Road, Birmingham, B15 2UZ. Tel: 0121 440 2492 www.edgbastonpriory.com

KEEPING THE MIND HEALTHY: SEE PAGE 26>

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living

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FOOD & DRINK Our top restaurants may be in various stages of lockdown at the moment but we still want to celebrate the talented chefs that will help this vital sector of our region’s economy bounce back once the restrictions are relaxed

GREG PRYCE Anyone remember Bernard Matthews turkey drumsticks? The head chef at Hotel du Vin Birmingham does – they were a childhood favourite.

Thankfully, all these years later, his palette has lived to tell the tale as he heads up one of the city’s top eateries!

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CHEF’S CORNER

Tell us about your cooking If I had to describe my style in just one word, it would be ‘classical’. I enjoy working with traditional tastes, taking flavours that are known and loved, but creating brand new dishes with them. The key here is to use only the finest quality produce and ingredients. At Hotel du Vin, we change our menus to only use seasonal ingredients that are in their prime at the time and we do our best to source them locally so they can keep their freshness.

How did you become a chef?

From a young age, I was always interested in the kitchen and captivated by the magic of cooking. I’d try and experiment with new styles, interesting flavours and exotic dishes. Finding that school wasn’t really for me, I decided to jump straight into pursuing a career at 16 and I joined a modern apprenticeship scheme. I trained at Birmingham College of Food one day a week and worked at St John’s Hotel in Solihull for the other four days, learning on the job and trying my hand at as many different dishes as possible. From there, I went to Marriott Hotel before joining Hotel du Vin 15 years ago as chef de partie and working my way up to head chef.

What do you eat when at home?

I don’t really have a ‘go-to’ dish at home but one of my all-time favourites is my homemade lasagne! It’s the perfect comfort food that’s both hearty and delicious.

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

I think Pierre Koffmann is the best chef in the world. He was one of a handful of chefs in the UK to have been awarded the coveted three Michelin stars at his restaurant La Tante Claire in London. He has also trained some of our greatest chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White, Marcus Wareing and Tom Kitchin. Closer to home, there’s no question about it – Glynn Purnell is the best in Brum.

Is the customer always right?

Unfortunately not…

Share a cooking tip Always try to use fresh ingredients that are local to

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Find the recipe to make Greg’s delicious Crispy Gressingham Duck Salad, Radish, Carrot, Watercress, Soy Sesame & Stratford Honey Dressing at www.birminghamliving.co.uk

you. All of the produce we use at Hotel du Vin has been produced less than an hour’s drive away.

What was your favourite food as a kid?

I may have been captivated by cooking from a young age, but I do always remember being a big fan of Bernard Matthews turkey drumsticks as a kid!

Food heaven and food hell?

I have a sweet tooth and chocolate is my food heaven.

When it comes to hell, I have never liked beetroot.

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

As someone who’s been on the food scene for a long time, I’m no longer easily surprised by unusual dishes. One thing I have tried is an ostrich burger.

Needless to say, it’s not going to making an appearance on the bistro’s menu anytime soon…

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

I have always had an interest in music and would quite like to think that maybe I’d be a DJ or even a music producer. I Hotel du Vin Birmingham, 25 Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2NR. Tel: 0121 794 3005 www.hotelduvin.com

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FOOD & DRINK

SPICE IT UP! WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE’RE ALL HAVING

TO GET USED TO COOKING AT HOME. HERE’S OUR GUIDE TO GIVING THOSE MEALS A REAL KICK… ating out is a no-no and takeaways are a distant memory… we’re all having to get creative in the kitchen right now. You may not think you’re a great cook, but needs must. And one brilliant way to make your meals ‘sing’ is to spice things up a bit.

We know from experience that most kitchens will have a shelf where the spices are stored. Chances are there are quite a few that have been pushed to the back and almost forgotten. Now’s the time to bring them out, or restock at the supermarket, and try something different. Your family will thank you for your efforts!

Not all of us are clued up on which spices are which and how best to use them. So, we asked spice kit brand Spicentice.com to put together a beginners’ guide to all things spicy. Here’s their flavour profiles of 13 common spices and advice on how best to use them in the kitchen to transform a dish.

The experts say that cumin carries a smoky and earthy flavour that’s best used in Mexican cuisine, but oregano’s peppery and aromatic qualities are great in Mediterranean, Greek, Italian, Mexican and Cuban cooking. And while sweet and pungent nutmeg is most often used in baked goods, it can also be added to savoury dishes for a warm note.

Ketan Varu from Spicentice.com said: “Many home cooks are wary about experimenting purely because they’re unsure how a particular spice is going to affect the dish.

Spices can transform a meal by adding a range of flavours, from a hint of sweetness to a kick of heat – not to mention, many also boast fantastic health benefits which will help boost your immune system. Now’s a great time to take the plunge and spice up your home cooking.” I

E

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FOOD & DRINK

SPICE AND EASY

8. Nutmeg

1. Cardamom This warm, aromatic spice is widely used in Indian cuisine. It’s also great in baked goods when used in combination with spices like clove and cinnamon.

Sweet and pungent, nutmeg is often used in baked goods but it also adds a warm note to savoury dishes.

It’s often used with cheese sauces, too.

9. Oregano 2. Cayenne Pepper Made from dried and ground red chilli peppers, Cayenne Pepper adds a sweet heat to soups, braises, and spice mixes.

3. Cinnamon Found in almost every world cuisine, cinnamon serves double duty as spice in both sweet and savoury dishes. It has a very unique flavour and is extremely aromatic. Cinnamon goes well with apples, beef, chocolate, in curries, stews and spicy dishes.

4. Cumin Smoky and earthy, cumin is used in a lot of southwestern US and Mexican cuisine, as well as North African, Middle Eastern, and Indian dishes. It can be found ground or as whole seeds, and is great in curries, soups, stews, and spice rubs, or with beans.

5. Fenugreek Although this herb smells like maple syrup while cooking, it has a rather bitter, burnt sugar flavour. It’s found in a lot of Indian and Middle Eastern dishes and the ground seeds are often used in curry powder, spice blends, dry rubs and even tea blends. Fresh and dried fenugreek leaves can be used to finish dishes like sauces, curries, vegetable dishes and soups.

6. Garlic Powder Garlic powder is made from dehydrated garlic cloves and can be used to give dishes a sweeter, softer garlic flavour.

Used primarily in Mediterranean, Greek, Italian, Mexican and Cuban cooking, oregano is amazing fresh but is just as good if you use a good quantity of dried. It’s peppery, aromatic, and earthy and is great with vegetables, in beef stew, in sauces, with meat and fish and with beans.

10. Paprika Paprika can be sweet, hot or smoky, but most often adds a sweet note to dishes, as well as a brilliant red colour. You can also get a spicier version which is often labelled ‘hot paprika’. Use it in stews, spice blends, and goulash, or as part of a dry rub for roast potatoes. It’s also a great way to add a kick to burgers. Just sprinkle some on the raw meat or across the top when on the grill.

11. Rosemary Strong and piney, rosemary is great with eggs, beans and potatoes, as well as grilled meats. Fresh rosemary is also good for adding to soup and stew, or you can stuff poultry with a few sprigs during cooking. Many people also use it during grilling – when laid in coals it gives a great flavour to meat and vegetables.

12. Saffron Saffron is the most expensive of spices and has a very subtle but distinct flavour that adds bitterness to food that, when used in dishes with lots of sweet or acidic flavours, balances out perfectly. It is used mostly with fish and rice and is a key ingredient in paella.

7. Ginger With a spicy, zesty bite, ginger can be found fresh in root form or ground and dried. Fresh ginger is great in stir-fries and marinades or grated into cookies and muffins, while ground ginger works well in curry powders, spice mixes and in general baking.

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13. Turmeric Sometimes used more for its yellow colour than its flavour, turmeric has a very mild woodsy flavour.

It is used in many curry powders for colour and flavour.

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FOOD & DRINK

NIBBLES and SHORTS

TIMES ARE TOUGH IN THE FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY, BUT BIRMINGHAM’S BARS AND RESTAURANTS ARE SHOWING HOW TO ADAPT TO THE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT WHILE HELPING LOCAL COMMUNITIES LIKE NEVER BEFORE

FRUIT2YOU

PEEL’S ON WHEELS The Michelin-star team from Peel’s restaurant at

The Birmingham-based boss of Europe’s oldest fruit

Hampton Manor has launched a POW! (Peel’s On

and veg wholesaler, George Perry Ltd, has turned the

Wheels) meal to get tastebuds tingling during the

150-year-old business into a home delivery service via

pandemic. Orders close on Thursday for deliveries on

courier Fruit2U.com. Mark Tate explained: “We

Friday or Saturday according to your location. You

launched Fruit2U and we’ve been doing 100 boxes a

need to be quick though as only a maximum of 100

day, which is our current limit. We also started to do

orders are available – in week one more than

free deliveries to older people from our Joe Richards

700 people registered their interest.

shops and that has been so successful we've had to put a cap on that at 30 a day.”

JOHN CLOSES DOOR ON 32-YEAR CAREER One of the best known faces on Birmingham’s Westside is calling it quits on a 32-year career after taking early retirement. John Maughan, 54, worked on many of the doors at Broad Street’s bars and clubs past and present – from the former Ronnie Scott’s, Liberty’s and Tiger Tiger to O’Neills, the Figure of Eight and Revolution.

Pete Willis, a senior warden for Westside BID, said: “I always found John to be a gentleman with a wealth of

Visit hamptonmanor.com for more details.

CARTERS HAMPERS While you can’t go out for a slap-up meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant during lockdown, you can do the next best thing! Carters of Moseley is delivering food hampers containing a ready cooked meal from chef owner Brad Carter. The hampers contain enough ingredients to cook up a feast for two at home – as well as two meals already prepared in the Carters kitchen that just need heating up! The hampers cost £65 and the restaurant is offering a 30 per cent discount to all NHS staff.

information and experience.”

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FOOD & DRINK

COOK LIKE CHEFS

TIPPING’S TEAS

It’s all about home cooking right now and in a move to deliver their own personal touch, two chefs at the High Field have

If you need some inspiration on what to

CHOCOLATE CRUSADE Businessman Bally Rama, owner of Summer House Bar and Grill in Hall Green, came up with an egg-stra special

created a range of recipe cards –

cook for dinner, check out Luke Tipping’s teas.

so you can make their meals in

treat for NHS staff last month by

From the award-winning chef at Simpsons in

your own kitchen. Delicious

spearheading an initiative to deliver

Edgbaston, there are a range of simple and

dishes include James Durrant’s

thousands of chocolate eggs to

delicious meals that anyone can make and

Cheese and Bacon Scones and

Birmingham and Solihull hospital trusts.

enjoy at home. Find out more at

Sam Collins’s Beer Bread and

With the help of other local businesses,

https://www.instagram.com/

his Easter Egg Challenge targeted buying

luke.tipping/

and distributing more than 20,000 eggs

Roast Chicken. More details at: https://makinglifepeachy.com/blog /our-peachy-recipe-cards/

BELFRY’S FAB FIVE

to distribute to staff in all the major hospitals in the West Midlands. During the lockdown, Summer House Bar and Grill, has also been offering free meals to NHS workers.

The Belfry Hotel & Resort claimed five wins at the annual 59Club European Service Excellence Awards. The awards honour individuals, teams and venues across Europe from the world of golf for their industry-leading performance throughout the year in sales, service, operations, retail, golf course, food & beverage and management. The Belfry retained the Ultimate Golf Resort title for the second consecutive year and its two Gold Flags. Jacques Hobson and Chris Reeve were named Food & Beverage Manager of the Year and Golf Manager of the Year respectively.

LEE’S LOCKDOWN Baked in Brick founder and European Street Food Trader of the Year, Lee DeSanges, has launched a lockdown ‘meal on

BANQUET FOR THE NHS

wheels’ service, cooking and

Asha’s bar and restaurant in Birmingham and Solihull will lay on a free

orders were people that couldn’t

banquet for NHS workers after the lockdown ends. The evening will give

be with their mums due to the

NHS staff the chance to enjoy the multi-award-winning cuisine on the house.

social distancing rules,” explained

General manager Domnic Norunha said: “We are in awe of the heroic work

Lee. “People are continuing to

being carried out by our brave NHS staff, so we thought it would be a great

order from me for their elderly

way of saying thank you if we entertained them for one evening.” Details

parents in Birmingham.” More

will be announced on the restaurants’ social media platforms.

details: https://bakedinbrick.co.uk

delivering 140 hot dishes a day. “I put together a delivery menu for Mother’s Day and it quickly sold out and I discovered many of the

ONLINE STOUT Birmingham’s Dig Brew Co brewery has entered the home deliveries market after launching its first Imperial Stout through a new online shop.

The award-winning craft brewery at River Street, Digbeth opened the easy-to-access shop at its website to serve customers initially in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire. As part of its expansion, the two-year-old brewery has already started delivering a range of 12 freshly brewed beers. Dig Brew Co’s taproom is closed during the pandemic. The brewery’s website is at www.digbrewco.com

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SEASON’S EATINGS

LOLLY DELICIOUS

These rice and prawn lollipops are tasty and so easy to make, even the kids can help e’re all going a bit stir crazy so why not try this simple recipe with the kids that’s fun, tasty and also kills another half-hour or so…

W

Ingredients I 100g rice

I 1 finely chopped onion

I 25g grated emmental cheese

I 1 ball of mozzarella cheese

I 20 peeled prawns, chopped I Salt and oil

I ½ chopped courgette

I Flour, 2 eggs, milk and breadcrumbs

Method Boil the rice and let it cool. In the meantime, fry the onion, courgette and prawns. Add the rice and leave it all in the pan for a few minutes. Add the grated cheese and pieces of mozzarella and mix it all up really well. Put to one side until it cools.

With a spoon, take a small amount of the mixture and form into balls using your hands.

Prepare a bowl with flour, another with the beaten eggs and another with the breadcrumbs. Take each ball and pass it through each one in this order until they are completely covered. Fry the balls in hot oil until golden brown and crisp then put them on a plate with kitchen paper and leave them to cool.

Add a stick and enjoy!

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

DALGONA COFFEE It’s the Korean coffee treat that’s taken the Internet by storm

ssentially an upside-down cappuccino with the frothy coffee on top and the milk underneath, Dalgona coffee looks and tastes fab. You can serve either hot or cold and pimp it up as an adult treat with a drop or two of coffee liqueur. It’s sweet, velvety soft – and damn delicious. I

E

ALL YOU NEED TO MIX IT UP BEAUTIFULLY INGREDIENTS:

I 2tbsp Instant coffee

I 2tbsp Very hot water

I 2tbsp Sugar

I Milk

METHOD: Add the instant coffee, sugar and hot water to a medium mixing bowl. Using a whisk or electric hand-held mixer, whip the coffee mixture until it is light brown, fluffy and holds stiff peaks when the whisk is removed. We like to whip it by hand which takes around 10 minutes to get the right consistency. If having hot, heat the milk and divide between two heat-proof glasses. If cold, add an ice cube or two to your milk.

Add dollops of the frothed coffee mixture on top and smooth out with a spoon. Enjoy!

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FOOD & DRINK

WINE SURVIVAL GUIDE ROB PRICE UNCORKS HIS TOP TIPS FOR

GETTING THROUGH THE GREAT LOCKDOWN hat a difference a month makes. So, while my wine tasting events have all stopped, my wine drinking has not!

In fact, I could make a good case as to why it should increase, although I’m sure my GP would disagree.

Now, as our activities are based on entertaining yourself at home, wine should play a part. Maybe you’re storing more wine, keeping a few extra bottles just in case. A lovely stat I like to quote is 80 per cent of wines are drunk within two hours of purchase, although possibly it’s increased slightly to three hours as we have more wine to get through!

W

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FOOD & DRINK

TIP-TOP TIPS Just in case you are thinking of keeping wines for a longer period of time, where and how you store them is really important. To keep your wine in tip-top condition here are my tips: I Keep the temperature cool and constant, 12 degrees centigrade is ideal.

I Keep them away from strong light sources.

I Keep wines closed with cork on their side.

So, mainly for the first reason, kitchens are the worst place to keep wine. Keep your wines in a room where the temperature varies as little as possible.

TASTE TEST In addition to storing your wines correctly here are some other tips to ensure your wine is going to taste its absolute best: I Drink your wine at the correct temperature I Let it breathe I Use the right wine glass While you should always store wine (whatever its colour) at a cool constant temperature, how you should drink it varies.

For all dry wines, a simple rule. The more flavour in the wine, the warmer you should drink it. But let’s put some boundaries around that. For full body, full flavour red wines room temperature is the recommendation.

This is 16 to 18 degrees, which may mean on hot days in the UK (rarely I know) you may need to chill your red wine. Countries – mainly new world such as Australia, the US, South America, South Africa – that have warmer climates, produce more powerful wines.

This tends to be true of red wines from the south of France, Italy and Spain.

may 2020

CHILL OUT For lighter bodied red and rosé wines that have less flavour (think more northern Europe), slightly cooling your wines will improve how they taste. Try around 13 or 14 degrees and they will taste more refreshing.

Most white wines benefit from being chilled, not too much. Full bodied whites at around 10 to 12 degrees will keep them refreshing and you’ll get far more flavour at this ‘warmer’ temperature. I think Champagne at this temperature tastes much better.

For medium and lighter bodied whites around 6 to 8 degrees is about right. With less flavour we want them to be even more refreshing. And of course, if you’re going to drink a really cheap bottle of white wine, then drink really, really cold. It will reduce any horrible flavours these wines may have!

Letting your wine breathe will greatly enhance how it tastes. Reds benefit more, so as soon as you have decided on a particular day to drink a red wine open the bottle and pour it into a jug/decanter, or just in some wine glasses. It will taste much better when you drink later in the day.

RIGHT GLASS And what about glassware? You can buy a myriad of wine glasses but three basic types will do. Big for reds, medium for white and flute shaped for fizz.

I hope you have a good stock of wine; it’s likely wine merchants will be closed for a while, so just drop that bottle of essential wine into your basket with your weekly shop.

Take care, look after your loved ones and stay safe.

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, Sutton Coldfield, and Warwick. For more information, contact Rob Price on 0121 270 7359 or visit www.birminghamwineschool.com

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HEALTH SPECIAL

KEEPING THE MIND HEALTHY

NOW MORE THAN EVER, IS A TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON MENTAL HEALTH. OUR 10-POINT GUIDE AIMS TO EASE THE IMPACT OF LIVING UNDER THE SHADOW OF CORONAVIRUS

s the impact of coronavirus takes hold, stress across the region is likely to be at an all-time high, with concerns over job security and personal finances escalating, and those who can, working in isolation from home in line with the government’s social distancing instructions. It’s so important that we keep an eye on our mental health in these difficult times. Here are a few tips to help keep you on top of things:

A

ROUTINE Establishing and maintaining a healthy daily routine can help put you in a positive mind-set.

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Getting up at the usual time, preparing a healthy breakfast, scheduling time for exercise, set times for dinner – all this can really help.

KEEP ACTIVE Experts believe exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy.

We may not be able to use the gym or sports clubs at present but many of us are still able to walk in the park or garden. And even doing

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HEALTH SPECIAL housework can help keep you active. There’s also plenty of online fitness classes that you can join in with for free. Experts say most people should do about 30 minutes exercise at least five days a week.

Try to make physical activity that you enjoy a part of your day.

EAT WELL There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel. For example, caffeine and sugar can have an immediate effect. But food can also have a long-lasting effect on your mental health. Your brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.

With the supermarket queues, restrictions and shortages it’s tough, but try to maintain a healthy balanced diet with lots of different types of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals, nuts, seeds and oily fish. Eat at least three meals each day and drink plenty of water. Try to limit how many high-caffeine or sugary drinks you have and avoid too much alcohol.

like WhatsApp, Skype and Facetime. Apps like House Party can also provide a valuable way to stay connected with loved ones.

The constant stream of news and social media updates about coronavirus can be anxiety-inducing, so use your calls to not only ask how friends and family are feeling but also to discuss other things too like films, books, hobbies, etc.

TRY SOMETHING NEW Concentrating on a hobby like gardening or the crossword can help you forget your worries for a while and change your mood. Maybe learn a musical instrument or try sketching. This is a great time to express yourself creatively.

THINK OF OTHERS Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together. It also helps us see the world from another angle. That can help to put our own problems in perspective.

DRINK SENSIBLY We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness but the effect is only temporary. When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of the way alcohol withdrawal symptoms affect your brain and the rest of your body.

Drinking is not a good way to manage difficult feelings. Occasional light drinking is perfectly healthy and enjoyable for most people but stay within the recommended weekly alcohol limits

TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. Talking this way isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to stay healthy. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone. And it works both ways. If you open up, it might encourage others to do the same.

It’s not always easy to describe how you’re feeling. If you can’t think of one word, use lots. What does it feel like inside your head? What does it make you feel like SWITCH doing? If it feels awkward at first, give it time. Make Give yourself some ‘me time’. Take a deep breath… talking about your feelings something that you do. and relax. Try yoga or meditation, or just putting your feet up. Listen to your body. If you’re really tired, give ASK FOR HELP yourself time to sleep. Without good sleep our mental None of us is superhuman. We all sometimes get tired health suffers and our concentration goes downhill. or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. If you feel you can’t cope, ask for help. Your COMMUNICATION family or friends may be able to offer practical help or a Strong family ties and supportive friends can help listening ear. Local services are there to help you, too. I you deal with the stresses of life. Friends and family Mental health and counselling support is available for can make you feel included and cared for. While we people struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic on can’t currently catch up with someone face-to-face we 0121 262 3555 (9am to 11pm) can still call and there are lots of free ways to video call

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ing livSTYLE

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SUPER SOFT

Clothing from Pure Collection

LOUNGE LIVING WE’VE FOUND EMBRACING LOUNGEWEAR A DREAMY

CONSEQUENCE OF THIS WEIRDEST OF TIMES. ARE YOU WITH US?

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STYLE

IT'S A WRAP

Live The Process wrapeffect top £160 and ribbed cotton-blend trousers £260, Harvey Nichols

o, here we are. As this issue goes to press, lockdown is still in full swing. Spain’s GREY beginning to relax restrictions tentatively DAYS Funnel neck jumper while the UK hasn’t peaked yet. The situation £155, Harvey Nichols changes so quickly that by the time you read this, who knows where we’ll be. It feels odd/inappropriate writing about fashion when people are losing their lives, but it’s a bit of an escape I guess.

As well as learning how to whip up a meal for four out of two bendy carrots, a can of Heinz tomato soup, some dusty garlic and a packet of puy lentils, what we’ve gleaned from lockdown life is how much we love loungewear. We’re also not sure we’ll ever go COSY back to wearing a bra again, but that’s another story. DAYS Pointelle The main stipulation for loungewear is comfort – leggings £20 and softness and stretch are absolutely king. The idea that matching top you need to suffer for fashion has no place on the chilling £18. Joe Brown at home catwalk. We’ve pulled together some top pieces that fit the lounging bill at wildly different price points from £12 to £450 which largely depends on the fabric.

S

SLOUCHY CHIC

American Vintage knitted alpaca-blend cardigan £195, Harvey Nichols

SLEEVES PLEASE

Gassato balloon sleeve cardigan £150, Pure Collection

SOCKS AWAY

Cashmere blend sock £24, Oliver Bonas

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STYLE

A wool cashmere blend is top of the tree for comfort in our book – check out the Vince cardi pictured. Yes it’s pricey, but since you’ve saved £3,000 by not eating out during lockdown… If you’re looking for pyjamas that transition from night to day because why the heck not? – look at the Olivia Von Halle’s silk beauties pictured.

A soft linen dungaree is also a winner when combining comfort and style of which Oliver Bonas has excelled itself – see pictured. And on the uber local front, have a butchers at Brum’s own Punks & Chancers for super soft tees and sweaters with bags of heart and a cheeky message.

It goes without saying that we’re not encouraging you to go actual shopping if lockdown restrictions are still in place, but you should be able to find all the pieces online. See you on the other side…I

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MATCHY MATCHY

Clothing from Matalan

may 2020

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STYLE BEST OF BRUM

Yes Bab sweater from Punks & Chancers

THE GOOD LIFE

Linen dungarees £59.95, White Stuff

AND STRETCH

Reebok x Victoria Beckham seamless stretch-jersey leggings £109, Selfridges

GONE DOTTY

Polka dot relaxed jumpsuit £40, Accessorize

COLOUR POP

Rainbow glitter tee £25, Oliver Bonas

NO SWEAT

Isabel Marant Étoile striped sweatpants £285, Harvey Nichols

PURPLE PATCH

Cashmere Lofty V neck sweater £150, Pure Collection

RIGHT STRIPES

Isabel Marant Étoile striped mohair-blend jumper £385, Harvey Nichols

may 2020

PYJAMA PARTY

Olivia Von Halle palm-print silk pyjama set £450, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

MIX YARN

Gathered shoulder jumper £49.50, Oliver Bonas

ULTIMATE COMFORT

Vince wool and cashmereblend cardigan £390, Harvey Nichols

HIGH STREET

Clothing from Primark

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STYLE

DREAM CREAM

Joggers and top, Miss Selfridge

ON TRACK

Bliss cashmere cuffed jogger £140 and zip hoodie £140, Figleaves

BE KIND

Kindness Matters hoodie £12.99, New Look

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LOCKDOWN BEAUTY STYLE

1

Quarantine has made us realise we’re fairly self-contained when it comes to beauty. Yes, we’re slightly heavy on product but we tend to do all of the main beauty admin at home including pedicures. We don’t dye our hair or visit the hairdresser often, eye lashes are au naturel and after a very offputting dodgy wax 15 years ago, even hair removal is done at home.

We’ve picked our faves for making the most of lockdown beauty.

2

1. NANNETTE DE GASPE BAIN NOIR CANNABIS SATIVA BATH SOAK TREATMENT 500ML – £230, SELFRIDGES.COM This is super luxurious, but worth it. You only need a small amount so it lasts a long time and leaves you with incredibly soft skin as well as claiming de-stressing qualities thanks to cannabis sativa seed oil. God knows we could all do with a bit of de-stressing!

2. DRUNK ELEPHANT UMBRA SHEER PHYSICAL DEFENSE SPF30 – £29, CULTBEAUTY.CO.UK No question lockdown has been made easier by the glorious sunshine, so we’ve upped our SPF game with this wonder from Drunk Elephant. It takes a bit of rubbing in – the kids think it’s a bit like porridge, but what do they know? It works a treat and feels really nourishing. We find it also lasts all day unless you’re dipping in and out of a paddling pool which, if our editor’s reading this, we absolutely haven’t been doing…

3. DR JART+ RUBBER MASK LOVER – £10, SELFRIDGES.COM Usually we rush a mask, favouring a 20-minute sheet version to anything lengthy. Now we have nothing to do, we’re indulging in this 40-minute, two-step mask that will be a fixture in our regime long after lockdown. An ampoule of highly concentrated serum is applied first followed by the mask. The rubber stops active ingredients from evaporating which makes for a more effective treatment. Once removed, apply the rest of the serum for nourished, juicy skin.

4. UMBERTO GIANNINI GROW SERUM – £8.50, UMBERTOGIANNINI.COM Such a cliché but we’ve cut our own hair. We put our flowing locks into bunches and chopped off about four inches which we absolutely don’t recommend. However, it’s only hair and despite looking lopsided rather than chic and choppy, it feels amazing. We’ve ditched the hairdryer in favour of naturally drying and regularly slather on Umberto Giannini’s sweet smelling cocoa serum which encourages hair growth.

5. NEUTROGENA NORWEGIAN FORMULA DEEP MOISTURE HYPOALLERGENIC BODY LOTION 400ML – £5.39, BOOTS.COM This is cheap as chips, but brilliant for maintaining smooth, soft skin. We cover ourselves from the neck down morning and evening and it feels amazing and absorbs nicely. Once the pump action yields nothing, unscrew the lid – there’ll be at least two further applications in the bottom of the bottle.

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3 4 5 may 2020

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From only £25

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STYLE FOR MEN

LOUNGE LOVER Clothing from Matalan

NEW NORMAL LOCKDOWN LIFE MIGHT HAVE BECOME THE NEW NORMAL,

BUT WE’RE NOT PREPARED TO SACRIFICE STYLE FOR COMFORT

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STYLE FOR MEN

NO SWEAT Carhartt WIP shell sweatpants £100, Harvey Nichols

THINK PINK Stone Island sweatshirt £205, Harvey Nichols

MR BRIGHTSIDE Alexander McQueen swallow-pint sweatshirt £275, Harvey Nichols

SLIDE INTO SUMMER Gucci Pursuit quilted matelassé rubber sliders £225, Selfridges

TO INFINITY Alpha Industries jersey sweatpants £105, Harvey Nichols

ike the world and his wife, we’re staying in except for our cherished daily run – no wonder dogs go loopy on hearing a high-pitched ‘walkies’. Our lockdown wardrobe is essentially stretchy, baggy, soft and snuggly or its gym gear for which Brummie brand Gymshark is our new go-to. Lounging in style is our new going out, so we’ve picked a handful of our favourite lockdown lovelies from Gucci sliders to the cosiest of hoodies. Obviously we’re not suggesting you actually go shopping, but everything should be available online. I

L

SET IN STONE Stone Island logo-patch cotton-jersey tracksuit shorts £200, Selfridges

TRUE BLUE Belstaff 1924 logo hooded sweatshirt £160, Harvey Nichols

ESSENTIAL KIT Boss Relax Mocc brown shearling slippers £120, Harvey Nichols

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ng il viHOMES THE HOME OFFICE

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UNLESS YOU ALREADY WORKED FROM HOME PRE-LOCKDOWN, YOU’VE PROBABLY REALISED YOUR OFFICE SITUATION DOESN’T QUITE CUT IT. IT’S TIME TO SORT IT OUT

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GOOD WOOD Desk £499.99, Oak Furnitureland

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HOMES

GREEN SET UP Furniture and accessories from Dunelm

POTS AWAY Fizz animal plant pots £19.99, Very

HANG ABOUT Foiled hanging plant pot £17.50, Oliver Bonas

CUTE STORAGE Vitra O-Tidy office accessory £29, Nest

he chances are we’ll all be working from home a bit more in the near future. Even once lockdown is lifted there’s talk of maintaining some form of social distancing until a vaccine is found, so we might as well make WFH, as it’s now known, as enjoyable and productive as possible by creating a home office that’s functional and stylish.

However much space you’re able to devote to your office, make it feel like a permanent fixture rather than a makeshift area at the end of your bed or the dining table. You’ll be most inclined to get stuck into work in an environment that feels ordered and practical.

T may 2020

CLEAN LINES Nikki computer and office desk £249, Cuckooland

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HOMES

TWO TONE CHIC Molander desk £299, Cult Furniture

ORDER ORDER

First things first, you need a decent desk and you don’t have to pay through the nose. Ikea has some cracking examples even for the tiniest of corners. A desk with ample drawers will help keep the space organised – tidy desk, tidy mind and all that jazz. If you’re prepared to pay slightly more, check out Heal’s as well as Lee Longlands which is always a good bet.

Invest in the best chair you can afford and go for comfort and ergonomics over style – ideally go for all three. Cult Furniture has some great examples, as does Heal’s. Add some mood-boosting greenery. If space is tight try a hanging planter which will have the desired effect while keeping the desk clutter free. For cute planters and accessories take a look at local lovelies Kin Home and Honey Bee Home.

Kraft file holder £7, Paperchase

SPACE SAVER Jones grey ladder desk £199, M&S

SHELVE IT Menu rail desk £300, Nest

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HOMES

DREAM JOB Furniture and accessories from Heal’s

LIGHT UP OLD SCHOOL Retro school office chair £95, Cuckooland

Dayo Jardinere table lamp £28, Dunelm

PURRFECT Fornasetti High Fidelity magazine rack £475, Selfridges

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HOMES

SIMPLE STYLE Furniture and accessories from Argos Home

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HOMES

INDUSTRIAL VIBE Furniture and accessories from Heal’s

Ideally, your workspace will be by a window flooded with light. If, in reality you’re under the stairs or in a dark corner add some decent lighting. If you’ve wall space, utilise it for a useful pin board, wall planner or shelving whichever suits your job function.

Inject some personality with a bit of colour, some prints and photos that will make you smile each day. For a distinctly Birmingham feel check out Brumhaus. I

LOVE LETTER House by John Lewis rose gold letter rack £10, John Lewis

MAKE THE MOST Ribbed office chair with short back £199, Cult Furniture

SERIOUS BUSINESS Soft pad office chair £239, Cult Furniture

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MOTORING

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, A DASH OF LUXURY AND EXTRAVAGANCE IS A WELCOME COUNTERPOINT. SUE COOKE LOOKS AT A YOUNG AUTOMOTIVE BRAND THAT FITS THE BILL PERFECTLY

FACTS AT A GLANCE Model: DS3 Crossback E-Tense

Price: £30,490 otr including government grant Powered by: 50 kWh Lithium-ion battery Performance: 0-62mph in 9 seconds and on to a top speed of 93mph CO2 emissions: 0g/km

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MOTORING

short time ago, ‘Before Covid’, one of the major changes in automotive terms was the move to all-electric powered cars. There may be many more concerning or wonderful changes in our future but, in the meantime, a little bit of luxury and extravagance can help to ease our cracked everyday lives.

In every DS – a young French automotive brand which is synonymous with absolute luxury – owners can expect to find all the rich splendour of diamond shapes, chrome, gloss, satin, texture and shimmering black finish. On some models there are detailed touches like signatures on the bonnet and lower doors.

Forty-five minutes of hand stitching goes into making every steering wheel.

I like the flush door handles that automatically pop out when the key fob is pressed to unlock. Daytime running lights have pearl-like vertical LEDs, and the Matrix LED vision headlamps provide fantastic visibility. Cutting-edge technology includes innovative night vision and the ‘driver attention monitoring’ system is able to detect signs of fatigue or distraction and alert the driver.

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SWOP SHOP From 2025, DS says that all new cars coming to the market will be electrically-powered. The company recently launched the DS3 Crossback E-Tense, a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle). An on-board charger and electric motor powers the DS3 producing no zero emissions, so no road tax to pay and no congestion charges. New owners are offered a free home charger pack and the range potential of the DS is a reasonable 200 miles. What’s more, boot space is not compromised as the battery sits under the rear seat. If a very long journey is planned, DS will invite you to temporarily swop your new electric car with a petrol or diesel model.

The DS3 Crossback has 10 body colours, nine themed wheel designs and three roof colours. Then there is a choice of five DS inspirations which mix and match colours and materials inside and outside the car to meet individual tastes and requirements. DS models are distributed via DS stores or DS salons. I visited the new boutique DS store for Birmingham North which is promising immediate delivery. Every salon is offering customers the ‘Only you, DS Experience’.

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OPERA STAR I drove the new DS7 Crossback E-Tense 4x4 which is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in a large SUV design. With CO2 emissions of 33g/km, new DS owners will find huge tax savings. The luxurious cabin has four different interior styles. The Opera trim on the road test car was designed with a link to the Palais Garnier in Paris. This opera house façade decoration is echoed in the top stitching on the seats of the DS7 Crossback and is reminiscent of tiny pearls.

A beautiful clock rises from the dash and seats are covered in a Nappa leather upholstery. I like the scrolling cylinders which are so easy to use while on the move to increase the audio volume or change the view of the digital instrument display. Pivoting Active LED Vision headlights provide a beautiful display and indicators flash sequentially.

DS is to launch its flagship saloon, the DS9 early next year. Firmly supporting Formula E-Cars, DS says the innovation that is used in motorsport finds its way into its new road cars. While nothing much is guaranteed currently, what is guaranteed in a DS is Parisian luxury and craftsmanship. New customers can join Club Privilege with links to Harvey Nichols Fine Dining. I

SHOWROOM DS Store Birmingham North, 857 Tyburn Road, Erdington, B24 9NY. Tel: 0121 3064442 wwwrobinsandday.co.uk

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

YAKUB SAUNDERS The explosive young dancer talks to

Shelley Carter about his BGT audition, dealing with nerves and his dance school in Harborne

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

akub Saunders initially took to the Britain’s Got Talent stage with a quiet confidence that belied the explosive, flamboyant moves that were to leave the judges agog. Aged just 10-years-old, Yakub’s high energy moves to the Lion King’s He Lives in You left the audience with distinctly leaky eyes. He took four resounding seals of approval from the judges with a muted thank you and left the stage with a sweet wave before hugging his proud foster mum, Juliet who’d been nervously watching in the wings with Ant and Dec. This isn’t one of those much-parodied tales of woe familiar to the TV talent contest format, but Yakub hasn’t had an easy ride. He joined his foster parents, John and Juliet Short, along with his sister two years ago. Until then Yakub had never danced in an official setting but loved to move. Juliet had once owned a dance school in Harborne, now called Mezzo Dance Company run by Adam Nightingale and Kirsty Nicholls.

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NATURALLY GIFTED Juliet thought the siblings would benefit from the focus dance offers as well as the opportunity to build friendships and above all enjoy it. It turns out Yakub is particularly naturally gifted and took to it immediately.

He attends classes twice a week in Harborne but dances for more like 12 hours in total with extensive practice at home. There’s even a tumble track in the garden so he can perfect the acro moves safely.

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Yakub had been working on his BGT audition routine for two months but still felt understandably nervous.

Although he had danced in competitions previously, they attract nowhere near the 4,000-strong studio audience of the BGT crowd. Yakub was allowed a dummy run because of his young age which Juliet says he made the biggest mess of! She says it was as though he was disorientated. Juliet took him into a side room, created cardboard cut-outs of the judges and made it all into a game which clearly worked because Yakub nailed his actual audition. He said he managed the nerves by blocking out the people and just focusing on the music.

Having had to persuade social services that it was a good idea for Yakub to enter the competition, Juliet was keen for it to be a positive experience whatever happened and thankfully it was. She says that everyone on the show was lovely and Ant and Dec were particularly brilliant with Yakub backstage, so she breathed a big sigh of relief. Yakub was keen to impress Simon Cowell above all the others which he most definitely did. Simon’s enthusiastic review including the suggestion that Yakub could be a contender to win the show couldn’t have been more glowing.

NERVOUS WAIT Yakub now has a nervous wait to see if he has made it to this year’s live finals. Of his experience so far, he says: “It was a day and performance I will always remember. I was so nervous but it was so exciting. Dancing in front of the judges and the audience was really scary but it felt great afterwards.” He adds: “I wish all the other contestants luck and look forward to seeing the rest of the auditions.”

Naturally, as well as Juliet and John and Yakub’s sister who was in the audience, Yakub’s dance teachers are incredibly proud of him. Teacher, Adam says: “Yakub has always had that spark – he just needed to believe in himself a bit more. To have such an amazing talent at only 10 is incredible. Kirsty and I are so proud of him. It is so rewarding for us to see one of our dancers do so well. We really believe in him and believe that he can go all the way in this competition.

He deserves it. He is the hardest working little lad.”

If you missed Yakub’s show-stopping audition it’s well worth a watch on YouTube. Fingers crossed for a trip to the live finals! I

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GROWING PLACES

BALLET MISSION Elmhurst Ballet School, Edgbaston and English National Ballet School in London joined forces to share a message of hope and support during lockdown by creating a short film. Edited by BalletBoyz, the film contains footage filmed by students from both schools dancing at home. They hope the film will inspire more dancers to find their own ways to keep dancing, stay connected and feel less isolated during the lockdown.

The video is available at https://youtu.be/oLZv0B3zvlM

FAB FACE SHIELDS

SCHOOL REPORT

Sandwell College’s Fab Lab is producing hundreds of face shields for the NHS using a 3D printer. After retrieving the college’s 3D printers, materials and a laser cutter from the lab, manager Anne Scrimshaw recreated a digital laboratory and print room in her house.

She started printing six visors a day and is now on track for a daily target of 20, which she then seals in silver bags to meet strict hygiene rules.

HOME SCHOOL HEROES Following the Government advice on school and college closures, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity gave parents across the region free access to its National Curriculum-based education activities. Sky Champs is a project funded by the charity’s corporate partner M6toll which provides youngsters between four and 11 (Key Stages 1 and 2), with educational resources in reading, writing, maths and creative skills. To receive the resources email: training@midlandsairambulance.com stating the age of the children and which worksheets you’d like.

GOODIES FOR NHS Pupils, parents and staff at Solihull Preparatory School have been busy creating goodie bags for NHS key workers to show their gratitude. Families have received #NHSstaffrock paper bags by the school to be filled and personalised at home.

A small band of volunteers then collect and deliver the finished product to NHS staff. Mark Penney, head of Solihull Preparatory School said: "We wanted to show the NHS staff how incredibly grateful we are for all they are doing.”

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GROWING PLACES

Picture by Andrew Ross

NATIONAL FINALS Prior to the national lockdown, two netball teams from Bromsgrove School competed in the National Schools Finals where the top 18 schools in the country battled it out at each age group. The U14 team played well to take an overall

BACK TO WORK

twelfth place. The 1st team beat Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, St Edmund’s

In a three-year project managed by Heart

College, Canford School, Felsted School, Oakham School and Streatham & Clapham

of England Community Foundation and in

High School to top their pool. They were narrowly defeated in the semi-final by Worthing College before winning the bronze medal play-off.

partnership with Walsall College, 157 people have been given key employability skills to help them get back into work. The programme was launched in order to coinvest in the local projects tackling the root causes of worklessness, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth. The project, part of the Building Better Opportunities programme, is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund

BAGS OF GRATITUDE

and European Social Fund.

Pupils and staff at Blue Coat School, Harborne are helping NHS heroes with a special sewing project during the Covid-19 pandemic. The school’s head of design & technology, Janine Lynn, and a team of volunteers have been making material bags that contaminated NHS kit can be placed into at the end of a shift which can then go straight into the washing machine – bag and all – resulting in less chance of the spread of infection in the home.

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BUSINESS NEWS

VIDEO VETS

A leading Solihull animal hospital launched video consultations to ensure

LAW FIRM EXPANDS

allows vets at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Shirley to give

A dramatic increase in clients needing wills and estates

with extended 15-minute appointments for primary care and 45-minute

advice has seen Thursfields Solicitors nearly doubling its dedicated team. The Wills & Estates team based in Worcester has grown to three full-time and two parttime solicitors since the beginning of 2019. A full-time legal assistant and a new enquiries assistant have also been recruited. The new arrivals include associate director Ruth Baker, associate solicitor Sam Thornton,

access to its specialist veterinary team throughout the lockdown. The service

NEWS

expert advice and updates on treatment for both existing and new patients,

BUSINESS referral appointments.

solicitor Cerith Rees, legal assistant Charlotte Dalloway and enquiries assistant Rachel Linton-Davis.

CHOCOLATE MASKS

The company behind Cadbury chocolate has

teamed up with engineering firm 3P Innovation to produce medical visors for NHS workers and other frontline services. Mondelēz repurposed its 3D printing technology, which is normally used to make chocolate sculptures at Bournville, to help print the visors. Mondelēz is helping to produce the hard-plastic bands which connect the top and bottom of the visor. It has also invested to help buy 3P injection mould technology.

MUSICAL CHEERS Birmingham Contemporary Music Group has launched Creating Music at Home – fun, free digital resources to encourage children to create music in their homes during the coronavirus outbreak. The initiative caters for children who don’t have a musical instrument as well as those who do. BCMG has also launched Arts Award Discover (KS1) and Arts Award Explore (KS2) to allow children to complete their arts awards remotely, either by themselves or with the support of people in their home.

THE 200 CLUB

More than 200 new neighbourhood help groups have been formed to fight the social crisis caused by coronavirus in Birmingham. The groups have come together to help the vulnerable and isolated beat loneliness and ease food shortages, says the city's top voluntary sector chief, Brian Carr, pictured. The chief executive of Birmingham Voluntary Service Council – the umbrella group for co-ordinating the C19 Support Brum Partnership – said the volunteer response to the city’s health crisis had been “fantastic”.

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BUSINESS NEWS

WORKING UP A SWEAT FOR NHS Gym clothing brand Gymshark is supporting the NHS by donating £175,000 to Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity. The money from the Solihull-based firm will pay for medical equipment and help improve the lives of patients and families in their care. Gymshark is challenging Brummies to work up a sweat at home then upload their ‘sweaty selfie’ to their Twitter, Instagram or Facebook main feed with the hashtag #NHSSweatySelfie.

For every selfie uploaded Gymshark will donate £5 per person to the charity.

HERE COMES THE SCRUBS! A bridal boutique in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter has swapped wedding veils for medical scrubs. Romantic Dreams became the Birmingham centre of the Scrub Hub network and within hours of launch Brum Scrubs had received its first order for 150 scrubs. The group has grown to a team of more than 180 volunteers including sewers and delivery drivers. Sammy Dingley from Romantic Dreams said: "When I heard about the need to make scrubs, I wanted to be involved.”

TRIBUTES TO NAZIR Birmingham’s business community is mourning the loss of leading Asian member Nazir Awan from coronavirus.

For 27 years, Nazir, 68, ran Awan Marketing with brother Nasir – a member of the board of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) – before opening Awan Real Estate with son, Amer. Nazir was a prominent figure in the city’s Muslim community and a founder member of the Institute of Asian Businesses. Paul Faulkner, chief executive of GBCC, said: “Nazir will be greatly missed.”

ONEBRUM LAUNCH Birmingham-based charity LoveBrum launched a new #OneBrum campaign to help raise vital funds for local causes and unite the city as it faces challenging times from the pandemic. Replacing LoveBrum’s regular monthly rounds of funding for the time being, #OneBrum will target a number of local causes delivering specific COVID-19 related initiatives, as well as helping LoveBrum to continue its own work.

MENTAL HELP ON CALL With key workers working around the clock to save lives of those affected by the pandemic, West Midlands charity, Living Well UK, has rolledout a new initiative to ensure that their mental

Executive director Paul Mitchell,

health needs are supported. The charity has

pictured, said: “We’re also be

teamed up with Birmingham and Solihull Clinical

organising virtual events and activities to keep the city entertained and moving over the next few months.”

Commissioning Group to launch a free call-line offering access to trained counsellors and talking therapists and, in more severe cases, immediate mental health triage support exclusively for those on the frontline.

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REMEMBER WHEN LIFE

SOCIAL SCENE

VIPS TOAST UNVEIL OF £3.5M HEDGE HOUSE

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Champagne reception launches Midland’s ultimate new property

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pre-lockdown VIP Champagne reception marked the official launch of the West Midlands’ most talked about property – Hedge House – on to the market. The event hosted by the Signature Collection by Centrick featured a first look at the £3.5million smart home in Knowle. Built by 10M Group and set in 6.5 acres, Hedge House is made from locally-sourced brick and larch felled by the Forestry Commission in Cannock Chase. Guests were treated to Champagne by Loki Wine, canapés by the Butchers Social and live entertainment by Elegant Entertainment. I

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1 Jodie Tipper, Monica Price, Hattie D'Souza, Barry Tomes, Olly Attfield, Tara Tomes. 2 Sophie and Phil Carlin. 3 Mike Bullard.

4 Samantha and Craig Gibbs. 5 Phil Innes. 6 Alan and Katherine Strang.

Simon O'Neill.

7 Marco Abonandi, Andy Butts, James Ackrill.

8 Adam Scott,

8 Russell Townsend, Natalie Beaver.

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WAS MORE NORMAL?...

SPECIAL CELEBRATION MARKS WOMEN’S DAY 1

SOCIAL SCENE

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Successful Asian Business Chambers event held at Edgbaston Stadium he Asian Business Chambers of Commerce (ABCC) recently celebrated International Women's Day with another very successful event held at Edgbaston Stadium. Keynote speakers included Judy Dyke, Dee Matto and Victoria Clare, CEO of the national UK ovarian cancer charity. Guests were also treated to a rousing performance from the Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer Choir. I

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4

5

7

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1 Veronica Kumeta, Qasim Majid, Shelley Duncan. 2 Victoria Clare, Fajli Bibi. 3 Judy Dyke. 4 Dr Haseena Lockhat. 5 Amina Sultani.

6 Lakhbir Sanghera, Omar Rashid, Rukeya Begum.

7 Dee Matoo.

Photography by Jas Sansi

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BOOKS & FILMS

CATCH UP ON NOW’S THE PERFECT TIME TO SETTLE DOWN WITH A GOOD BOOK OR MOVIE. WE’VE SELECTED A FEW OF OUR PERSONAL ALL-TIME GREATS FOR YOU TO ENJOY IN LOCKDOWN… ou know that great book you’ve always wanted to read – or re-read? And that brilliant movie you can never see enough times? Lockdown means many of us have got some extra home time on our hands to catch-up on stuff which we can’t normally fit in. So, sit back, take a

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MUST-READ BOOKS 1984 by George Orwell

break from all the gloomy news and make your pick from our selection (compiled with the help of professional story-tellers and biography writers, StoryTerrace) of must-read, must-see classics. You can buy them or get them streamed online if you don’t already have them tucked away somewhere…I

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Is there ever going to be a better time to try and navigate this classic novel that’s more than 1,200 pages long? It broadly focuses on Napoleon’s invasion of

One of the most iconic books of the 20th century

Russia in 1812 and follows three of the most well-

and one of the most impactful on those that read

known characters in literature – Pierre Bezukhov, the

it. The book also tops many lists of books that

illegitimate son of a count who is fighting for his

people claim to have read but have never got

inheritance and yearning for spiritual fulfilment, Prince

round to actually reading as well as one of the

Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight

books that many people own without ever reading.

in the war against Napoleon, and Natasha Rostov, the

So, now’s your chance…

beautiful young daughter of a nobleman.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo

Becoming by Michelle Obama

The Alchemist is one of the world’s largest selling books

A huge-selling autobiography – and one of the most

of all-time and has been translated into dozens of

inspiring and uplifting. While Michelle may be known as

languages since its original publication in Portuguese in

the wife of former US president Barack, her own

1988. It has a truly global reach and is loved by many

achievements serve as a huge inspiration in their own

generations, both by parents and their children. This is a

right. She described the experience of penning this book

great book to pass on and read together – one of the

as deeply personal – something that many people

most valuable parts of stories is the sharing of them.

identify with when they write their own book.

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

This compelling debut book covers the sexual and

Most of us use technology developed or influenced

emotional lives of three women from different

by Steve Jobs at Apple – whether that be through

backgrounds and regions of the United States. Lina, a

FaceTime, on iPhones or iPads. The founder of

suburban Indiana mother; Maggie, a 17-year-old high

arguably the world’s biggest brand had a huge

school student in North Dakota; and Sloane, a successful

impact on how we live and how we connect with

restaurant owner in the north-east whose husband likes

family members in a time of immense challenges and

to watch her have sex with other men and women.

social change.

Educated by Tara Westover A moving memoir describes the struggle of a young

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

by Louis de Bernières

girl who escapes from violence and an emotional

Set on the Greek island of Cephalonia during the

prison. It is a conflicting story of fierce family loyalty

Italian and German occupation of the Second World

as well as that of the intense sorrow that arises from

War, this gorgeous book charts the relationship

the division of one’s closest ties.

between Antonio Corelli, an Italian army captain, and Pelagia, the daughter of the local physician.

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BOOKS & FILMS

A CLASSIC MUST-SEE FILMS

ANNIE HALL Filled with poignant performances and devastating humour, an absolute American classic starring Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

Bridesmaids

AIRPLANE!

A fantastic female-driven comedy with star turns from Kristen Wigg and

Silly, juvenile…

Melissa McCartney. Incredibly funny,

but an utterly hilarious spoof

smart and more than a little crude, this

comedy full of cracking

modern day classic highlights the full

one-liners and slapstick gags.

horrors of being a bridesmaid.

MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL If there was ever a time to watch this classic comedy, it’s now. He’s a very naughty boy…

Ghostbusters The original and still the best with Bill

HARRY POTTER

Murray at his finest leading a stellar cast in

Treat yourself to the box set and marvel as the JK Rowling

this infectiously fun movie, featuring one

novels are brought to life in all their magical glory.

of the greatest-ever movie theme songs.

We ain’t afraid of no ghosts…

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES Steve Martin and John Candy star in this very funny and heartwarming comedy by John Hughes.

Withnail and I Richard E Grant and Paul McGann star in this iconic black comedy that follows the lives of two unemployed actors that share a flat in Camden.

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CLOSE WITHÁ SEAN FOLEY

THE AWARD-WINNING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF BIRMINGHAM REP HAS WORKED WITH MANY OF THEATRE’S GREATEST WRITERS AND ACTORS BUT HIS RETURN TO BRUM IS THE MOST EXCITING TIME OF HIS CAREER BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I’ve just directed Upstart Crow in the West End – the stage adaptation of the sitcom – and it’s been nominated for an Olivier Award. It’s the fifth show that has been nominated for the British theatre’s ‘Oscars’ since I started to direct 10 years ago. Before that I had my own theatre company and co-wrote and performed in many original shows, touring nationally and internationally and also playing in the West End – where I also won a couple of Olivier Awards. I’ve always concentrated on comedies and have directed everyone from Sir Kenneth Branagh to Joan Rivers, worked with writers as diverse as Harold Pinter and Ben Elton and performed on stage with the likes of Glenn Close, Sir Mark Rylance, Tom Hiddleston and Dawn French.

second city, but can be first in so many ways – one of which is to foreground the great cultural heritage and achievements of the city and use that to inspire us to create a popular and pioneering theatrical future.

IT’S WHAT I DO I’ve recently become artistic director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Like many Birmingham institutions, the Rep has been a pioneering presence in its field for a long time.

It was the first purpose-built repertory theatre in the UK in 1913, (the old Rep on Station Street), and is actually the forerunner of both the National Theatre and the RSC. My job, alongside a brilliant staff of more than 120, is to plan and produce great new shows and revivals of classic plays, comedies and musicals in our three auditoria. We also do an amazing amount of work with schools, community groups, local artists and writers.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED Always have a back up plan! So many things in our industry don’t happen, or fall apart, or are subject to unplanned events.

Also, try and be straightforward.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE I want the Rep to be seen as a truly great civic theatre – one that the people of Birmingham are proud of, giving them excellent theatre that is the epitome of a great night out. I also want the theatre to be nationally and internationally recognised as a hub of theatrical creativity. Birmingham is the nation’s

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BIGGEST SUCCESS I hope it’s in the future… but so far I’ve been lucky enough to work with many talented people to make successful shows.

I’ve been able to create work in different mediums as a writer, actor and director. I think the challenge of doing personal ‘firsts’ is what I love. I directed my first feature film, Mindhorn, a few years ago and I’d love to make another. I’m looking forward to working on the comedy-musical Something Rotten! as my first show at the Rep.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM My mum’s a Brummie and my dad was an immigrant Irish guy; they met at the Locarno on Hurst Street in 1962. I didn’t grow up in the city but my primary school years were in Dorridge before we moved away from the area. My impression now coming back is that there is a renaissance in the air. It’s an amazing city that can show leadership for the whole UK in terms of how its diverse population can work together to create something truly unique.

DOWNTIME Running (slowly, badly), all things Netflix, the Friday drink and – once the current lockdown crisis is over – body boarding in Cornwall. I

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