November 2015 (issue 38)

Birmingham g n i liv

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MIDLANDS MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

HAPPY

130

TH

BMAG TWO TOWERS

BREWERY ALPESH CHAUHAN

November 2015

PREP TO PARTY STYL E, BEAU & HOMES TY

FOOD & DRINK

007's NEW COCKTAIL

The next Sir Simon Rattle?

ADIL RAY

Citizen Khan creator on family, film and the BBC

+

JAMES EARNSHAW, ANITA BHALLA, PAUL FULFORD, VIVAANTA … AND MORE

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EDITOR’S VIEW There’s so much that’s good going on in our city, it almost makes your head spin

ellow journalist Paul Fulford takes a look In The City this month (see page 98). For more than 20 years Paul worked on the Birmingham Mail, mainly as its food critic, and now runs his own food and drinks website – so he’s more qualified than most to give the rest of us a taste of how our city is shaping up over two-plus decades.

It’s fair to say that his verdict is positive. In fact, Paul reckons that today’s Brum has a vibrancy and excitement not seen around these parts since the 1960s. The evidence backs up the view. After London, Birmingham is the undisputed good food capital of the UK, thanks in no small part to our record five Michelin-starred restaurants.

But more than that, there’s so much that’s good going on it almost makes your head spin: shoppers’ paradise Grand Central, the new-look Mailbox, the newlyopened Resorts World at the NEC, the brilliant Barclaycard Arena and the expanding and thriving airport to name just a few.

I was lucky enough to take a few days off in Paris earlier this month and opted to fly from Birmingham rather than trek down to London and the Eurostar. What a great experience. Twenty minutes to the airport, breezed through the very smart terminal with helpful, smiling staff on hand all the way, on the plane and into Paris in just over an hour later. Flying is normally a complete pain, but not from Birmingham! The airport is a great facility and thanks to the efforts of its team in attracting more airlines and passengers, it really feels like it is going places.

F

David Johns

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Editor: David Johns david@brumliving.co.uk

Features editor: Shelley Carter shelley@brumliving.co.uk Designer: Tracy Duffy

Contributors: Rob Price, Sue Cooke, Lisa Melvin, Rose Gallagher

Account manager: Jane Morris jane@brumliving.co.uk Photography: David Morphew, Andrew Llewellyn Publishing director: Jonathan Carter

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

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Cover image: Adil Ray

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

november 2015

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When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

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g n i liv

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INSIDE

Highlights

12 18 22 26 40 54

Adil Ray The star of TV's Citizen Khan star on family life, the Beeb and his vision for his home town Alpesh Chauhan The young musician from Hall Green who is being tipped as the next Sir Simon Rattle

Birmingham’s Greatest Exploring the wonders of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery – one of Britain’s finest Food and Drink Chris Haynes, executive head chef at Marco Pierre White steakhouse, on his love of… fish!

Style Pick of the perfect pieces and top trends as the big party season approaches Homes How to properly prep your humble abode for all those party-popping visitors

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40 04 birmingham living

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CONTENTS

12

Best of the Rest

28 50 68 70 74 84 94 november 2015

Restaurant Reviews Critics’ verdict on Vivaanta at the Mailbox, and Thai treats at Choaphraya Health and Beauty Hands up if you know what has 22 joints and 38 muscles and tendons!

Motoring Sue Cooke hits the road in the colourful new Renault Kadjar Young, Gifted and Brummie Award-winning hair stylist James Earnshaw, creative director of the Francesco Group Spotlight on Business Company to Watch… Two Towers Brewery, plus 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 arts and entertainment scene

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NEWS

g n i v liTODAY

LIGHT FANTASTIC IN

THE BULLRING There was plenty of bull in the Bullring shopping centre with the unveiling of this dramatic Disco Bull Head. The 3D, 15ft spectacle, officially know as Taurus Geodesica, came to life each evening for two weeks, creating a light installation never seen before in Birmingham.

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

MEX AND MATCH The Midlands and Mexico were involved in an exchange ‘visit’ with a difference when two head chefs took to the kitchen at Mallory Court Hotel. The hotel’s Paul Foster and his counterpart Alfredo Villanueva from the Romero y Azahar in Monterrey each created three dishes showcasing their skills.

SIX-STOREY UNVEIL AT THE CUSTARD FACTORY

Picture by TH Photography

CALLING ALL MUSIC LOVERS Birmingham Bach Choir launches its 2015-2016 concert season with a performance of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle on Saturday 21 November at the CBSO Centre. The choir will be joined by the Longfordbrown Piano Duo, featuring James Longford and Lindy Tennent-Brown.

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The UK’s largest ever multi-city street art project kicked off in Birmingham with the unveiling of a six-storey high artwork spray-painted on the Custard Factory. Inspired by local poet and writer Benjamin Zephaniah, Get It Right from a Genuine Site also features Birmingham film star Felicity Jones and rapper Mike Skinner of The Streets.

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NEWS

BIGGER SAFARI PARK

ON TRACK

MARKS OF PERFECTION?

An £80 million scheme to expand West Midland Safari Park has been approved by council planners.

New additions include a water park, 250-bed hotel and conference centre and spa. The park and its 1,600 animals are one of the region’s top attractions with 750,000 visitors a year.

The pursuit of physical perfection is challenged in this artwork by Birmingham artist Oliver C Jones. It emulates the preop markings used by cosmetic surgeons and features in an exhibition that gives local art lovers the chance to buy new work from some of the Midlands’ leading Birmingham Hippodrome teamed up with local brewery Purity for artists and galleries. Entitled SALON, it a Spotlight Nights reception at Alan Carr’s Yap Yap Yap show. runs from 13 November to 23 December Spotlight Nights gets young professionals involved in the at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

DATE WITH THE CHATTY MAN

theatre beyond the main stage. Guests included

Birmingham Young Professional of the Year, Katie Kershaw and chair of BPS Birmingham Future, Rebecca Simkiss.

3

CONCEPTS IN DESIGN

CLASSIC BOND

CHARACTERS

HONEY RYDER (1962). The new Bond movie Spectre is out this month, but who can forget the iconic image of Ursula Andress emerging from the sea in a white bikini in Dr No… JAWS (1977, 1979). Actor Richard Kiel put the bite on 007 with his massive metal molars in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker.

MAY DAY (1985). Arguably scarier-looking than Jaws, Grace Jones was at her brooding best alongside Roger Moore in A View To A Kill.

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An independent art and design exhibition has been launched in the Custard Factory, Digbeth. Concept Room’s bi-annual event showcases hand-made conceptual pieces by talented Midland artists and designers. It features fashion and jewellery design, furniture, lifestyle and product design and visual arts.

KEVIN’S GRAND TOURER? A grand design or disaster? TV’s Kevin McCloud can’t quite make up his mind as he gets to grips with an origami-based, fully working car designed by Lexus for Grand Designs Live at the NEC. The electric-powered saloon was crafted out of cardboard.

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NEWS

MATT’S WINNING TEAM Too many cooks? No way, as this team is bringing an exciting new taste experience to diners. Former head chef at Simpsons, Matt Cheal, has opened his own new fine dining restaurant. Cheal’s of Henley is on the refurbished site of the old Edmunds restaurant in the High Street.

INDIPOP STAR IN TOWN International superstar and Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans is bringing his unique sound to the Midlands. The artist who has sung in movies and released his own Indipop albums will appear at Wolverhampton Civic on Sunday 20 December. His only other UK date is at the O2 in London.

IN BRIEF LET’S COOK Bakers are in for a treat at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC, 26 to 29 November. Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood are among TV cooks giving demos and tips.

HAPPY SCARLETT GETS THE BIRD

LOST ALICE

Design student Scarlett Byfield is cock-‘ahoot’ after hearing that one of her creations is getting a permanent perch in town. A campaign was launched to give the 18year-old’s giant owl, which was located outside Birmingham Metropolitan College, a spot in the centre of Sutton Coldfield.

Scarlett’s creation was illustrated with scenes of the town.

A new art collection in Birmingham is celebrating 150 years of Alice In Wonderland.

Lost Alice, featuring six paintings and four sculptures by Peter Smith, was launched at Castle Fine Art, ICC.

MEET THE MASTER Think you’re a master chef? Find out for yourself from Masterchef judge John Torode.

The TV chef will be at Leekes Coventry on Saturday 14 November to give an insight into his career while cooking a selection of dishes from his new book, My Kind of Food.

Details at johntorodeleekes.eventbrite.co.uk or 0333 222 4120.

november 2015

GOOD GRIEF! The Midlands is the second most expensive place in the UK, after London, for funeral costs according to new research by the Royal London life, pension and investment company.

Figures show the average price of saying farewell to a loved one is nearly £4,000.

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NEWS

TOP TWEETS FOR BRUM Our pick of what’s been said about Brum this month Lisa Pilkington @EGLisaP Sad to hear the news of Sir Albert Bore’s resignation. His vision has had a huge impact on Brum. However, the renaissance must continue The Big Hoot @thebighoot2015 We did it! Huge congratulations to @Bham_Childrens for beating their target. The total going to BCH is £508,035.01!

AMY AND THE GIANT DANDELIONS Twelve giant dandelions have taken root in a show-stopping display at a Midlands attraction. Standing five metres tall with seed heads over a metre wide, the sculptures at Trentham Estate are the brainchild of Robin Wight and his daughter Amy. She said: “It’s really hard to appreciate the full scale of the dandelions until you’re up close.”

Grand Central @GrandCentralBNS Grand Central Retweeted Birmingham Newsroom It’s been 2 weeks since we opened and we’ve already drawn in over 1 million visitors!

Birmingham What's On @WhatsOnBrum WOW! CONGRATULATIONS to @RestaurantAdams + @AdamStokesChef NOW UK’s No.1 restaurant on @TripAdvisorUK (+ #4 World!)

Alex N-E @alex_ne This evening I finally got to @1847Birmingham for dinner and @lokiwine for drinks. Life will never be the same again... #lovebrum

HANDS ON AT THE BELFRY Relax and enjoy… the spa at the Belfry Hotel & Resort has launched the Midlands’ first fourhanded massage treatment. The Purva Karma treatment involves two therapists working in synchronised harmony for the ultimate tension-releaser. Sheer bliss!

SIZZLING CHALLENGE TV celebrity chef Paul Rankin launched a search to find Birmingham’s best ‘mini’ chef. He visited the Bullring to ask youngsters for their own special recipes, using his newly created Irish family sausage. Brum’s finest will join other regional winners to battle it out for the UK best junior chef title.

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WRAPS OFF THE NEW SIMPSONS Michelin-starred Simpsons in Edgbaston is celebrating a new era following an extensive refurbishment. A bigger main dining space opens onto a newly decked al fresco area, giving the Grade II listed building a more modern feel. The restaurant also features new menus created by chef director Luke Tipping.

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NEWS

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS Have you got what it takes to make it in music? Midlands Academy of Musical Theatre is looking for aspiring performers to enrol on its intensive two-year diploma.

Launching in time for September 2016 entry, the academy is the only musical theatre drama school in Birmingham to offer full-time places to students aged over 17. Visit www.mamt.org.uk

LET THEM EAT CAKE Staff at Taylor Wimpey’s Himley View development in Kingswinford put the kettle on in support of Macmillan Cancer Support’s world’s biggest coffee morning. Local residents were invited along to enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake, and make a donation to the charity.

BUENOS DIAS BIRMINGHAM! HASTA LA VISTA,

BRUMMIES The Terminator is heading to Birmingham! An Experience with Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday 21 January at the ICC will see Arnie discuss

More great news for Birmingham Airport! The Iberia Group is to launch a new Birmingham-Madrid service next March. Iberia Express will operate the flights in what is a further expansion in the growing number of airlines and routes now operating out of the airport.

his life and illustrious career in a live onstage interview. Tickets are available from http://www.olexyproductions.com/

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

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COVER STORY

MR KHAN DO NO WRONG Writer, actor, funny man and presenter Adil Ray talks to Shelley Carter about family, the Beeb and an ambitious vision for his home town

Photography by Andy Fallon

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COVER STORY

ost of us have a skill or two we’ve mastered over the years – experts in our chosen field perhaps – and we’re happy with that. After interviewing Adil Ray, I’m left wondering if there’s anything this lovely ball of Brummie talent can’t do.

Best known for the creation and portrayal of Mr Khan, the hilarious self-appointed Muslim community leader and head of a Pakistani family in BBC One’s Citizen Khan, Adil’s CV goes on and on. For instance, he has nailed radio both in comedic terms – Mr Khan started life as a character on radio – and from a serious broadcaster perspective. On his Radio 5 Live show Adil broke the story the night the UK went to war with Libya, as well as the riots of 2011 and the phone hacking scandal. He’s made landmark TV documentaries such as the ground-breaking and award-winning Exposed: Groomed for Sex for BBC Three which tackled the controversial issue of young girls being groomed by some Pakistani men.

M

MUM’S BLOOPERS You get the picture. The man’s versatile, talented and clever but he’s not beyond feeling the fear.

Recording Citizen Khan in front of a live studio audience is something that still gets the 41-year-old a bit jittery. “There are moments when I think ‘why do I put myself through this?’ but it’s good fun too.

The audience seems to enjoy the bits that go wrong almost as much as the bits we get right!” In fact Adil’s own mother, who watches the filming of every show, enjoys the bloopers. “Mum will say ‘oh

november 2015

I love that bit when you made a mistake. Keep it in.

That’s funny’.”

Growing up in Yardley, Adil’s Pakistani family was unusual for the area and they were the first Asian kids at Yardley Junior Infant School. Adil explained: “Mum and dad wanted us to have a broad British upbringing and chose Yardley for that reason. It was a tricky time and although as a child I was largely unaffected my dad remembers suffering.” Adil has fond memories of his childhood with good neighbours such as Uncle Arthur and Auntie Betty, the couple across the street.

“

”

Brummies doing great things –

that’s what we need more of!

After successfully passing the 11+ Adil went off to Handsworth Grammar School where his first day was hardly a dream start. It was the day after the Handsworth riots. “The shops on Grove Lane were boarded up and it was scary. I remember the headmaster trying to reassure us that it wasn’t normally like this.”

He learned to relish the journey to school that involved two bus rides and while Adil felt privileged to be enjoying a grammar school education, he felt connected to and excited by the vibrancy of the city.

He said: “Birmingham is unique. It’s fantastically diverse with a rich history of immigration. You see

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COVER STORY

”

The man’s versatile,

talented and clever but he’s not beyond feeling the fear

>> ADIL ON ADIL I am by Adil Ray http://adilray.com I am a son, a brother, a friend, a partner, a neighbour, a Brit, a Pakistani, a Kenyan, a Brummie, a graduate, a broadcaster, an actor, a writer, a dreamer, a laugher, a crier, a control freak, a Villa fan, a cricket fan, a burger fan, a chicken fan, a curry muncher, a chilli sucker, a sun lover, a sea lover, a home lover, a hugger, a kisser, a Prince lover, a Dave Allen admirer, a feminist, a Twitter addict, a sinner, a worrier, a tea drinker, a biscuit dunker, a cake baker, a blogger, a blagger, a pub goer, a sometimes club goer, a jeans wearer, a suit wearer, a Puma wearer, a Tom Ford wearer, a deviant, a hedonist, a socialite, a ligger, an obsessive, an optimist and a pessimist, a bit of a narcissist, a questioner. And a Muslim.

people from every walk of life here and I think the stat is something like 350 nationalities which is phenomenal.”

RESISTING TEMPTATION The BBC was instrumental in Adil’s career taking off. “Without BBC Birmingham and the Asian Network, Citizen Khan wouldn’t have happened,” he

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says. “However I do think the media here needs to connect more. Over a 10-year period BBC Birmingham provided opportunities, but I didn’t receive one call from any other media outlet in the city. Yet when I spent a short time in Manchester I was contacted by two or three companies.”

I’ve interviewed a few Brummie actors/producers for this magazine including Adrian Lester and

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COVER STORY

“

I’d love to see a film

”

studio built here, independently funded or with council help

David Harewood who felt moving to London was the way to get on, but not so for Adil. He explained: “I did stay with a friend in Bayswater once and I thought, ‘this is nice’ but I’ve never been seriously tempted. I need to be in London for certain jobs, filming or casting, but it’s so easy to get there that it’s not an issue.”

A big fan of the Beeb and of Birmingham, Adil is thrilled about plans for the BBC Academy. He enthused: “It is hugely exciting. It will be a massive training and networking ground for the best, keenest writers, strategists, technicians, etc. If they see the city, they may well stay or use the city for filming.”

Adil would love to see a film studio built here. “Either funded independently or council-backed or a combination of the two. We’ve got the space – perhaps on the NEC plot.

We should invest in this and focus on it. Birmingham’s location makes it ideal for crews to travel in, film and go home at the end of the day.”

CHICKEN SHOP The next series of Citizen Khan began at the end of October and sees the characters developing and tackling family issues common to all of us regardless of ethnicity.

“It doesn’t matter that the Khans are a Pakistani family.

The issues they face are the same. People come up to me and say, ‘I recognise my own family’ or ‘Mr Khan is just like my dad’. They’re not Pakistani and that’s great.” Mr Khan tries his hand at entrepreneurship in this series by opening Birmingham’s 300th chicken shop and goes on a fitness drive jogging around Brum. There’s also a Christmas special which sounds like a hoot.

About four or five years ago Adil admits he started to fall out with Birmingham a bit, but the love affair is back on track.

“There’s so much going on. It’s such a great time for Birmingham. Grand Central, the plans at Brindleyplace, the area around the Old Library and the strip around Temple Row and Bennetts Hill is thriving. A friend of mine has opened Nosh and Quaff and that whole area is fantastic.” He added: “While it’s great that the city is attracting big brands we need to support local independents too. Brummies doing great things – that’s what we need more of.” I

DON’T MISS… Citizen Khan on Fridays 8.30pm BBC1

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FEATURE

PICKING UP THE

BATON

Alpesh Chauhan came home from school one day with a cello under his arm – now he’s being tipped as the next Sir Simon Rattle. He talks to David Johns about his love of music and Brum word of advice. If you’re around seven or eight years of age and decide you want to play an instrument, choose one that’s a bit easier to lug home than a cello.

“Mum and dad were a bit surprised when I stumbled through the front door with it from school,” remembers Alpesh Chauhan. “They weren’t into music at all and wondered quite what was going on.”

The sudden conversion to the cello came earlier that day when Alpesh was one of the bright young faces among pupils attending morning assembly at Hall Green Junior School. The ‘guest visitor’ was local music teacher and cellist Veronica Raven from Birmingham Music Service.

“She’s a bit of a legend and I remember it was amazing to listen to her. From that moment I knew it was what I wanted to do,” says Alpesh. “I spoke to her – and the next thing is that I was given a cello to take home!”

Fast forward 15 years or so, and the lad who fell in love with the cello is now winning rave reviews conducting some of the greatest orchestras in the world, including our own City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The highly

A

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talented 25-year-old has been creating quite a buzz since becoming assistant conductor at the CBSO in 2014. Such is his impact that critics are tipping him as the ‘next big thing’ with comparisons being made to the young Sir Simon Rattle, another CBSO star who has gone on to achieve legendary status.

Maybe as a result of his humble beginnings, Alpesh isn’t getting carried away with the accolades however. “In career terms, I’m still on the landing strip, haven’t even lifted off yet,” he says. “Obviously you aspire to lead a great orchestra, but that’s a long way off and there’s lots still to learn. I am passionate about what I do and I love and live every minute for music. I just work as hard as I can and I am very thankful at how things are working out.

“I owe everything to the amazing opportunities I’ve been given since I fell in love with music as a child. I’ve had so much help from so many people over the years especially Birmingham Music Service which is the best in the country for encouraging and getting children to play instruments. They help tens of

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FEATURE

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Mum and dad weren’t into music at all – they didn’t quite know what was going on!

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FEATURE

”

Obviously you aspire to lead a great orchestra, but in career terms I’m still on the tarmac

thousands of children, kids just like I was.”

Alpesh learned to play the cello while at Hall Green and then Handsworth Grammar School before studying the instrument with the CBSO’s coprincipal cellist Ulrich Heinen. He joined the CBSO’s highly-rated Youth Orchestra in 2005 and rose through the ranks to become leader of the cellists before gaining a place on the prestigious conducting course at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music.

He returned to Birmingham as the CBSO’s first conducting fellow before taking up his present role as assistant conductor – a position that has taken on extra responsibilities since the departure of the orchestra’s much-loved musical director Andris Nelsons. “When I was in secondary school I knew I wanted to conduct,” he explains. “I started out conducting little groups of musicians at school.”

Today he leads considerably bigger ensembles, whether in Birmingham or across the UK and Europe. As we spoke Alpesh was hard at work having been asked at short notice to conduct leading orchestras in Italy and Germany in the weeks ahead.

“As assistant at the CBSO I spend a lot of time with them, but all conductors are freelancers so I have the opportunity to conduct elsewhere too,” he explains.

His credits include the BBC Scottish Symphony

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Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic in Manchester and Netherlands Symphony Orchestra as well as other leading orchestras in France and Italy.

“All this means that I don’t get to play cello much now, which is a bit of a shame because I want to play it. I love the instrument. But my time is completely taken up studying scores. As a conductor you have to know the scores so well. When I first started I had a little space on my desk for the scores, then it became a shelf, then two shelves, and now it’s a huge bookcase full of scores!”

WORK ETHIC This incredible work ethic and attention to detail, as well a huge amount of natural talent, has led to BBC’s Music Magazine naming him as one of their rising stars in the Greatest Artists of Tomorrow. Alpesh also appeared recently in a new film celebrating Birmingham released to coincide with the opening of the new John Lewis store at Grand Central.

It’s a far cry from the little lad carrying his first cello home from school – but Alpesh has a message for any youngster with the same dream. “Any kid who really, really loves music can come through,” he says. “It’s not easy, it’s tough, but there is so much in Birmingham to help you make it. Believe me, it’s true, you can make it happen!” I

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BIRMINGHAM’S GREATEST

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BIRMINGHAM’S GREATEST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

BMAG

BIRMINGHAM’S

GREATEST

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery celebrates a major milestone this month as it marks 130 years of life at the heart of the city’s communities t’s a big, big month for Birmingham Museum and Art Galley. On the 28th the museum in Chamberlain Square in the heart of the commercial district will celebrate its 130th birthday.

Opened in 1885 by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, BMAG has been at the heart of the city’s cultural offering ever since. And today through its great exhibitions and displays and interaction with communities and schools, it is more relevant to Birmingham life than ever.

Home to the priceless Anglo Saxon treasures of the Staffordshire Hoard and the largest public collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings and art in the world, BMAG has quite a birthday party planned to mark its anniversary. A special exhibition traces its rich past, its position today as a major tourist attraction and its ambitious plans for the future, while events include live music, entertainment for visitors of all ages and the creation of a time capsule for future generations to explore.

Among the founding ideas when the gallery was first launched was that it should be generally free to the public and open at weekends when working people had the best chance of visiting it. Hundreds of thousands of visitors from the UK and abroad have taken advantage of that promise since.

I

Dr Ellen McAdam, director of Birmingham Museums Trust – the largest independent museums trust in the UK – which runs BMAG and eight other museums and galleries in the city, including the ThinkTank science and Jewellery Quarter museums, said: “The Museum and Art Gallery was originally founded to improve the quality of Birmingham’s manufactures in the face of foreign competition by showing the city’s craftsmen the best in art and design. We continue to use the city’s great collection to inspire the people of Birmingham as well as visitors to the city.”

The Staffordshire Hoard is a good example.

Discovered in 2009 by a man with a metal detector on farmland near the village of Hammerwich, the gold and jewelled treasures buried more than 1,400 years ago drew crowds queuing in the street outside the historic Grade 2-listed BMAG building when they went on display later that year. Since then more than a million people have seen the collection which has its own dedicated gallery.

The past is also celebrated by the Birmingham History collections which chart the city, its people and background. But BMAG is also looking to the future with its Collecting Birmingham project which works with communities via volunteers and Picture: Jas Sansi

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BIRMINGHAM’S GREATEST

Picture: Jas Sansi

local ambassadors in areas such as Aston, Ladywood, Nechells and Soho.

Encouraging youngsters to know more about their roots and city is an important element of BMAG’s education programmes. On-site and outreach sessions are led by a specialist team of learning officers who cater for all ages from early years to further education students with interactive science shows, workshops and mobile sessions in schools.

The team handles all styles of learning, including special needs and home education.

MUSEUM IN A BOX The innovative Museum In A Box project allows schools to use the museum’s collection in classrooms with more than 200 boxes available to support lessons by handling authentic artefacts, some of which are more than 3,000 years old! How cool is that?

The Arts Council has called BMAG “one of the jewels in Birmingham’s crown” and leading tourist website TripAdvisor says “Birmingham’s art gallery is one of those hidden treasures waiting for you to discover”.

So, happy birthday BMAG – and here’s to the next 130 years! I

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FOOD & DRINK

CHRIS HAYNES The executive head chef at the Marco Pierre White steakhouse reveals a passion for… fish! And a dislike of cucumber – and alligator’s tail Tell us about your cooking I love to produce good honest food – food for everyone that’s just cooked correctly and with real care and attention. It’s important to embrace modern techniques but it’s equally important not to go over the top. It’s vital to keep ingredients seasonal and although MPW is renowned for steaks, I have a particular passion for fish. I think it takes real skill and expertise to get it just right and I’ve loved seafood ever since childhood on family holidays to Brittany.

How did you become a chef?

The whole family was brought up with a love for food. My amazing mum and dad were both chefs and met while working at the Midland Hotel, which at the time was Michelin-starred and one of the finest venues in the northwest. They were always chatting to me and my brothers about food, produce and ingredients, generally encouraging us to try new things. From a very young age I knew that I just wanted to be a cook. I did really well at catering college and got all the classical training, then I cut my teeth at Mere Golf Resort and Spa followed by an incredibly inspiring time working for two Michelin-starred Giorgio Locatelli in London before returning to Manchester and The French at the Midland Hotel.

What do you eat when at home?

I know us chefs have a terrible reputation for not eating well outside of work and I’m just as bad! I tend to eat out a lot with my girlfriend and if I’m not working on a Sunday I’ll always have a roast. I do love a bit of egg and chips too!

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CHEF’S CORNER

For the recipe to make Chris’s Grilled Swordfish Steak with Sauce Vierge, Baby Fennel and New Potatoes go to www.brumliving.co.uk

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

I really admire Marcus Wareing and Tom Kerridge. It’s amazing what Tom has done for the industry by winning a Michelin star with producing stunning food in a pub environment. The cooking scene in Birmingham is amazing, far better than up in Manchester, with loads of cracking chefs. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better meal than recently at Carters in Moseley.

Is the customer always right?

Customer service demands mean that the customer will always be right. If somone’s worked hard all week to enjoy a night out then it’s absolutely their choice if they want a well done steak or the lamb cooked through. It’s painful for me sometimes though!

Share a cooking tip It’s best to focus on seasonal produce rather than being obsessively local. And be brave; try those oysters and mussels. Get stuck into shellfish!

What was your favourite food as a kid?

My mum’s shepherd’s pie. Simply unbeatable and I really miss both, my mum and her pie.

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Food heaven and food hell?

Heaven is new season lamb. Hell is cucumber – I just can’t get on with it.

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

I tried alligator’s tail in Florida. A cross between pork and chicken and not as good as either.

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

I was pretty artistic at school so I reckon I’d be an architect. I love to design and build, so not too dissimilar to being a chef.

What do you recommend from this evening’s menu?

We have a lovely swordfish dish with new potatoes and baby spinach, but I’d suggest a really good ribeye steak. I

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

VIVAANTA 22 Waterfront Walk, Birmingham B1 1SN, Tel: 0121 665 6568 http://vivaanta.co.uk

e reckon opening a restaurant at the Mailbox is a pretty sound business move right now. The hoo-haa about the place reopening in a new improved stylish guise has got to be a boost for the bars and eateries in the vicinity. So we think the people behind the canal-side Vivaanta are onto something. We popped into the lively opening night for a cocktail or two, but had to leave before the main event – the food. Not ones to miss out we went back for dinner to sample the full experience.

Firstly, the place is huge and decked out almost entirely in red and black with a hefty helping of bling in the form of elaborate lighting, large mirrors and bejewelled seating. Intimate booths ideal for cosy suppers run the length of the restaurant and we happily nestled into one.

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AMUSING START We’d booked an unusually early table at 6.30pm, but there were already people tucking into cocktails at the bar, a couple clearly on a first date and a few tables of friends saying hello to the weekend. A steady stream of diners packed in while we ate resulting in a lively atmosphere and a happy vibe. Word’s most definitely out.

We got off to an amusing start as the waiter chucked a glass of water into my lap. He was very apologetic and we quickly moved tables. Dried off, all was well

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with the world again as I sipped a welcome mojito and the friend slurped a lychee and strawberry daiquiri.

As well as the inventive a la carte menu there’s a dedicated seafood listing which is the head chef ’s passion.

It’s full of mouth-watering dishes that it seemed rude not to try, so we ordered the seafood pakoras to start as well as the whole quail from the a la carte menu. The spiced quail was beautifully presented and tasted just as good as it looked. The menu said it was boneless which it wasn’t, but don’t let that put you off. It was delicious and well worth tackling the carcass.

The Nepalese seafood pakoras were delicate and perfectly cooked. Beware the orange chilli on the side of the plate though! My friend thought it was a fried onion and tucked in. It was pretty fiery and he’s a bit of a lightweight, so the effect was fairly dramatic. A glass of Petit Chenin Blanc Ken Forrester was called for to cool the palate – any excuse. While we’re on the subject, the wine list is a varied selection starting at £17 per bottle with many options served by the glass.

I stuck with seafood and ordered a Goan style fish

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curry – whole monkfish tail cooked in olive oil with curry leaves, aubergine, plum tomatoes, an onion stock reduction and coconut milk. It was really good and presumably required a lot of skill to get right. It had just the right amount of heat for me. Not usually a big bread eater I mopped up the moreish sauce with an equally moreish fluffy naan.

BUTTER CHICKEN The friend enjoyed butter chicken from the a la carte menu. Chicken breast had been braised in yoghurt, coriander and dry chillies then simmered in caramelised onion, garlic, tomato and butter and finished with cream and coconut milk. It was light, moist and seriously tasty.

There were clean plates all round.

By this point the place was lively and the Mailbox was looking stunning by night. Just as we were about to leave the manager offered to show us the private dining room. It’s a fantastic space either for a party or a business meeting – slick, modern, unfussy and, er… private.

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From the owners and the head chef who is also one of the owners too, to the waiting and bar staff, the people at Vivaanta are as impressive as the food.

They’re almost obsessional about quality produce, perfect cooking and attention to detail and it shows.

They’ve picked a great space in a perfect location which looks set to be a winner. I

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Revills Farm Shop

Christmas from the award winning farm shop

Locally reared turkey, goose & duck available

Delicious homemade cakes & pastries

Fresh local vegetables and fruit

Beautiful festive hampers available

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

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SEASON'S EATINGS

HEALTHY POTATOES When the chips are down, there’s a lot more you can do with the humble spud e Brummies love our spuds. According to a survey by the intriguingly-titled Potatoes: More Than A Bit On The Side campaign (we kid you not!), nearly half of people in Birmingham said they would rather banish the booze than forego potato in their diet. As the editor of this magazine is a self-confessed potato-holic, he was quick to say: “Good call, Birmingham!” This month’s Season’s Eatings recipe shows the humble potato at its versatile, yummy – and healthy – best. I

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THAI BEEF AND POTATO SALAD Ingredients (serves 4):

I 400g salad/baby potatoes (such as Charlotte or Maris Peer), cubed I 4x 6oz rump steaks, fat trimmed off I 2tbsp soy sauce I 1tsp sesame oil

I 2 garlic cloves, crushed

I ½ head of Chinese cabbage, finely shredded I 4 spring onions, thinly sliced

I 1 large carrot, very thinly sliced I 1 red chilli, finely chopped I 2 garlic cloves, crushed

I 1tbsp fresh chopped coriander and mint I 1tbsp ground nut oil I 2tsp sesame oil

I 1 tsp sesame seeds

Method: Cook the potatoes for about 5 minutes in salted boiling water and drain. Place a frying pan over a medium heat. Pop rump steak into a bowl with soy sauce, sesame oil and garlic. Mix well.

In a wok or large frying pan, heat ground nut oil and sesame oil over high heat, add potatoes, carrot, spring onions and cabbage. Cook for a couple of minutes. Add the chilli, garlic, coriander (save a little for sprinkling at the end) and mint. Turn heat off. Ideally you want to have a crunch in the vegetables.

Cook steaks for 2-3 minutes on both sides and rest for 2 minutes before slicing. Place the wok fried vegetables onto plates, slice the steak and arrange over the stir fry. Finish with sprinkling of sesame seeds and coriander.

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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 LOCAL GEM SHINES AT CAFE OPUS Cafe Opus at Ikon has been voted Birmingham’s ‘local gem’ by the Good Food Guide. The guide described the cafe as “fabulous and excellent value for money” in a setting that provides “the ideal opportunity to watch the world go by”. Café director Irene Allan said: “We are very proud of our manager Greg, chef Zack and the team.”

ANDY OPENS UP AT RESORTS WORLD Birmingham chef Andy Waters has closed his Edgbaston restaurant Waters on the Square to open an eatery on the second floor of the new Resorts World complex. Andy has worked with the likes of Jean Christophe Novelli and Andreas Antona at Simpsons in Kenilworth when it won its first Michelin star.

RUM DO AS HAVANA COMES TO MOSELEY The Bull’s Head in Moseley is undergoing a Cuban revolution. Renamed as the Cuban Embassy, the old watering hole is barely recognisable, swapping beer and pies for salsa, samba and authentic Havana cocktails. There’s more than 100 different types of rum on offer, so the planned taster nights are not to be missed!

APPARENTLY, IT’S THE NEW PLACE TO MEAT Industrial-styled diner Meating has opened in the Arcadian Centre. Its no-nonsense Lovely Bun patties are stacked with Yorkshire rare breeds and all manner of toppings. Even the interior has been designed to look like a cowshed! (We’re told there is fish on the menu too, by the way…)

MUST-VISIT FESTIVAL FOR WINE LOVERS If you like your wine, be sure to drop in on the new Love Wine Festival Birmingham on the 7 November. The festival at Hotel du Vin showcases 250 wines from 40 retailers. They include Champagne producers Jospeh Perrier, local merchants such as Loki Wine, Nickolls and Perks, and the Drinks Emporium and English vineyards Astley, Biddenden and Ridgeview.

BELLISSIMO TO OUR BEST ITALIAN A top Birmingham eatery has been named the Best Italian Restaurant in England in a prestigious national competition. Cielo Italian, Brindleyplace beat off competition from hundreds of other restaurants. Head Chef Adam Talla and his team lifted the trophy at a glittering ceremony in Manchester.

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

THE SPECTRE Now pay attention, 007... your vodka Martini has been given a new twist! n hot anticipation of the new James Bond movie, the team at Sabai Sabai has gone 007 crazy and created a new cocktail in time for the launch of the blockbuster. Owner Torquil Chidwick dreamed up The Spectre – a vodka Martini with an apple twist. And in keeping with the Best of British theme, the recipe uses home-grown Cox apples. I

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Ingredients:

I 50ml Mamont vodka I 10ml Vermouth I Cox apples I Cinnamon stick

Method: Line the inside of a Martini glass with a dash of Vermouth and pour away the excess. Add the apple twist. Shake two shots of Mamont vodka over ice, then strain and sieve into the Martini glass. Taste the hint of apple and you’re ready to sweep Moneypenny off her feet!

Sabai Sabai, 268 High Street, Harborne B17 9PT. Tel 0121 426 2688 www.sabaisabai-restaurant.co.uk

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A modern twist on traditional Bengali cuisine…

Coming soon!

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

Enjoy delicious cocktails and fine Indian tapas food.

OPEN

Evenings Sun – Thurs: 5pm – 11pm Fri – Sat: 5pm – 11.30pm Sunday lunch buffet from 12.00pm Take away and delivery service available

Final bookings being taken for

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

www.mahfil.co.uk

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LUNCH SPOT

CHAOPHRAYA Spiceal Street, Bullring, Birmingham B5 4BH. Tel: 0121 643 2424 http://chaophraya.co.uk/ espite Birmingham’s thriving restaurant scene, Thai food seems particularly under-represented. In fact I’ve probably enjoyed three Thai meals in the city in the eight years since decamping from the capital. Cue an overdue trip to Chaophraya to get our fix.

Co-owned by Kim Kaewkraikhot who ran a successful restaurant in Bangkok before bringing her Thai flavours to the UK, Choaphraya is based on the principle of Ow Jai Sai which means from the heart.

From the heart or not, even before we’d taken a seat the irresistible smells wafting from the kitchen had us. We wanted to eat our way through the whole menu immediately, but held back. At £11.95 for two courses, the lunch menu is reasonable and do-able for a weekday break from the office – provided it’s speedy enough.

Unintentionally, we both chose starters that had been deep fried, but they were far from heavy. The Khanam Pung Na Gung was like a sooped-up version of prawn toast with minced chicken and prawns, coriander and pepper served with a sweet chilli sauce. It was a very large starter, but we happily devoured it. We also ordered the Moo Dad Deow – deep fried marinated pork with honey and Thai herbs with a tangy chilli sauce. It was super and so rich that the texture was almost like liver but in a good way.

Everything looked pretty as a picture including the waiting staff that floated around decked out in gold as they elegantly delivered gorgeous-looking plates of food. My main, Pad Graproa Moo Grob,

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was street-style stir-fried crispy pork belly with chilli, garlic, fine beans, sweet basil and jasmine rice. It was absolutely delicious. The pork was tender with a nice crunch from the crispy fat and the sauce was moreish with a good hit of chilli. The Massaman Gae – strips of lamb slowly cooked in coconut milk with potatoes and onions was excellent too. I’d only ever tried massaman with beef, but the lamb really worked.

We didn’t partake in any booze, but the cocktails looked fantastic as did the wine list. We were in and out in 45 minutes comfortably, so it made an excellent, fragrant change to the usual lunchtime fodder and we were back at our desks within the hour.

The Christmas menu looked brilliant too and we’ve placed a subtle copy in the boss’s in-tray. If you’re reading this big man – and why wouldn’t you be? – book it! I

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FOOD & DRINK

FULL-BODIED

REDS

Rob Price’s perfect picks for those chilly winter nights

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s the nights draw in, and with a chill in the air, I feel the need for some spicy full-bodied reds.

Grapes have to be full of flavour, so need hot climates to make big bold powerful red wines. Australia, North and South America fit the bill perfectly, with warmer regions in Europe.

Shiraz (or Syrah) from Australia is a top grape that does really well in the hot climate Down Under. It’s smooth and rich with ripe black fruit and spicy and peppery with lots of alcohol. Australia has some of the oldest vines in the world going back to the 1840s and Shiraz is its most significant red wine, helped of course by being the grape that makes Penfold’s Grange – its iconic red wine.

First created in 1952, it was intended to be an attempt to emulate the great wines from Bordeaux, but such was the short supply of the Bordeaux grapes – Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot – they made it from Shiraz instead! Initially nobody liked it and it was almost ditched but they persevered and now it sells for more than £100 a bottle.

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PREMIUM BLENDS Shiraz from France is found in Southern Rhone and generally blended with Grenache, producing wines from premium regions such as Chateauneuf-du-pape and Gigondas. But in Northern Rhone red wine is 100 per cent Shiraz, (save five per cent Viognier sometimes blended in), with Hermitage the most prestigious region. Here it produces firm, tannic, complex wines that need time to mature and develop.

An increasing trend is to add a small percentage of Viognier into the blend, designed to give the wine a lift.

This stems from Cote Rotie, another premium region in Northern Rhone, where traditionally all wines have around five per cent Viognier added.

Another full-bodied favourite is Zinfandel, not the rosé version that makes a delightful summer afternoon tipple but the brooding, robust, juicy and brambly red wine. The homeland of Zin, as the Americans like to call it, is California where it’s produced in bucket loads – well, barrel loads I guess would be a better description.

The cheaper Zins will be blended across all California and while good they do not have the concentration or complexity of Zinfandel from older vines from specific areas such as Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County,

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ROB’S FOUR TO TRY ARGENTINA’S MAGNIFICIENT MALBEC

Mendel Unus 2011 from Mendoza Argentina has 30 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend with Malbec and is one of the very best Argentinian wines I have tasted. Smooth, complex and intense. From old vines, giving concentration of flavour and aged for 15 months in small oak barrels. Available from the Wine Society, £19.50.

ITALY’S BEAUTIFUL BAROLO You really must try Terra da Vino Riserva, 2004. This year is one of the best vintages, and to taste mature Barolo at 11 years old shows why Barolo is one of the very best Italian wines. It’s elegant with reds fruits and long finish. Don’t be deceived by the colour – this packs a punch! Waitrose stocks, £22.99.

DOWN UNDER’S TOP VALUE STAR My third pick is an excellent value Australian McLaren Vale Shiraz, 2011.

This wine is deep and full-bodied with spicy black fruit. What’s more, it’s only £8 from Tesco!

UNCLE SAM’S ZIN WINNER Chronic Cellars’ Purple Paradise from Paso Robles, California is exactly what a premium Zinfandel should taste like – smokey vanilla, chocolate, soft and smooth. Majestic sells for £16.99 (buy two and save 25 per cent)… just don’t be put off by the label!

Alexander Valley or Napa Valley. Here you’ll find juicy blackberry, pepper, refreshing acidity but with a brooding intensity… Two examples to try at differing ends of the spectrum.

TWO SUPERSTARS Italy also produces its own Zin in the form of Primitivo.

Scientists have identified this as the same grape as Zinfandel and down in the deep south of Italy in Puglia many a satisfying deep, full-bodied Primitivo may be found. It’s also normally much better value than its American cousin. Staying in Italy and moving to the north, it would be wrong not to include Barolo from Piedmont and Amarone from Valpolicella. Two Italian superstars that produce some of the best full-bodied reds.

Flying to South America and ascending high into the Andes we come across Malbec from Mendoza in Argentina. Many of its vineyards are over 1,000 metres, some 3,000 metres high up in the mountains. This enables the grapes to ripen more slowly and retain their natural acidity better, adding the flavours and complexity of Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine and beer education company that offers fun informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses in Birmingham and Milton Keynes city centres and expanding in Sutton Coldfield. For more information contact Rob Price on 0121 270 7359, or visit www.birminghamwineschool.com

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ing livSTYLE

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BLACK AND GOLD Bruce by Bruce Oldfield dress exclusively for John Lewis

YOU SHALL GO TO THE BALL Transform your work clobber into cocktail attire in minutes with these nifty little tips and pieces

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STYLE SUITS YOU Black and gold jacquard jacket £75, Wallis

CLASSIC EVENING Breanna heel £79, Dune

ANIMAL MAGIC Dress £35, La Redoute

ROCK CHICK CLASS ACT Suede trench dress £599, Jaeger

Alexander McQueen satin box clutch £1,165, Harvey Nichols

e’ve been avoiding the ‘c’ word for as long as humanly possible, but can hold it in no more! We love Christmas and its lengthy build up, so we are proudly launching into party season with the enthusiasm of a seven year-old in the John Lewis toy department. With invitations to post work soirees flooding in, we’re contemplating how to turn office gear into party wear with minimum effort.

Firstly and probably most importantly don’t underestimate the power of the party shoe. A great heel can transform your outfit and your mood in seconds. Check out the Giuseppe Zanotti sandal from Harvey Nichols that will give you an instant lift and a fair smattering of swagger.

The addition of an evening jacket to your work outfit, such as the velvet ruched version from Balmain or the gold fringed crop from Biba at House of Fraser will make you feel a million dollars. Faux fur stoles are having a moment too worn slung over one shoulder for an edgy vibe.

Accessories provide a quick and effective way to pimp up your look in no time. Ear cuffs are everywhere right now and add more than a touch

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of cool. A statement bracelet or stack of bracelets will achieve instant glamour while swapping your day time tote for an evening bag will ensure a polished look.

Alternatively, wear a simple, chic dress to the office with a smart jacket by day which you can then ditch for the evening. The Bruce by Bruce Oldfield black and gold number is perfect. When it’s party time whip off the jacket, add killer heels and accessories and you’re good to go.

If you’re not a party frock sort of girl, there are some brilliant trousers this season. Try a wide leg like the velvet ones from Hobbs with some serious shoes and a figure hugging top to create a stunning silhouette. Or rock a pair of well-cut cigarette pants and flats for a chic, understated look. Checkout M&S on the high street for cigarette pants and Finders Keepers at Harvey Nichols for the ultimate wide leg trousers.

You might want to freshen up your hair and make-up too without starting from scratch.

Follow beauty expert Rose Gallagher’s top tips and favourite products to pep up your look on page 52. Now, go on clock off, the cosmos are waiting. I

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STYLE

PARTY CIRCUIT Portman bag £139, Radley

ARM CANDY Paula Mendoza bracelet £430, Harvey Nichols

BLING BLING Cuff from a selection at Accessorize

MAKES SENSE

SNAKE HIPS

Black Dakota court £119, Mint Velvet

Snake skin effect cut out sandal £39.50, Wallis

CUTE CLUTCH Furry clutch bag £25, Dorothy Perkins at The Fort Shopping Park

UNDERSTATED COOL Noir collection jacket £89, top £25, trousers £99 and loafers £29.50, M&S

ACCESSORISE TO THE MAX Abigael dress £169, Ted Baker

SKULL’S OUT Alexander McQueen Swarovski crystal skull ring £235, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

WIDE LEG Angie silk blouse £129, Cennen trouser £179, Helena earrings £25 and bracelet £35, Hobbs

ATTENTION TO DETAIL BANG ON TREND Black fringe bag £40, Dorothy Perkins at The Fort Shopping Park

Sportmax Code Moretto embellished collar dress £225, House of Fraser

MWAH! Lulu Guinness Orange perspex lip clutch £245, House of Fraser

GOLD RUSH Biba Gold fringed jacket, House of Fraser

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL Black and silver boots £29.99, New Look

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STYLE STOLE THE SHOW Betty Jackson at Debenhams

BAGS OF STYLE Gold bag £12, Primark

SKY HIGH Black stiletto laced boots, Office

ULTIMATE PARTY SHOE Giuseppe Zanotti suede and glitter sandals £570, Harvey Nichols

SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE Beatrix metal box clutch £35, Monsoon

WE’RE READY Balmain ruched velvet jacket £2,145, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE TAKE A BOW Pussy bow blouse £28, Next at The Fort Shopping Park

CHECK MATE Best of British skirt £99, M&S

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THINGS WE LOVE

WRAP UP Fur scarf £25, Miss Selfridge at The Fort Shopping Park ATTENTION! Long line double breasted coat £130, Wallis

SMART AND SASSY Collared dress £28, Dorothy Perkins

TASSEL DAZZLE Biba tassel gilet £125, House of Fraser

VICTORIANA VIBE White dress £26, Dorothy Perkins

JUMP TO IT Gray & Willow Jakki scratch jumpsuit £109, House of Fraser FANCY FOOTWEAR Best of British boot £185, M&S VA VA VINTAGE Clara navy patent & suede boots £165, Agnes & Norman

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STYLE

WINTER BLUES Blue overcoat, White Stuff

JACKET IN A coat can make or break an outfit and this season we’re completely bowled over by the choice and quality at every price point e generally spend a lot of money on a beautiful winter coat the logic being it will last. It probably will. The mantra ‘you get what you pay for’ is relevant. For instance, a Canada Goose parka will be your go to cover-up in a cold snap for years to come and treated with a bit of care, a timeless Dolce and Gabbana wool coat will be your friend for a decade. Now call us greedy, but we also like buying a couple of coats every year that follow trends rather than pricey classics.

This year we’re in luck. The high street is doing coats marvellously well with New Look leading the pack – yes New Look. Their teal and grey textured coats are fantastic examples and a steal at less than £100. Local lad Luke Roper has nailed casual with the quilted Westy. House of Fraser has a classic camel overcoat that defies the price tag at just £300. And don’t get us started on John Lewis. It’s all too much. Go forth and shop.

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STYLE

DOUBLE BREASTED Navy Nelson double breasted pea coat £225, Kenneth Cole at House of Fraser

CLASSIC CAMEL Camel classic overcoat £300, Corsivo at House of Fraser

IN THE NAVY Navy Arden wool jacket £299, Barbour at House of Fraser

PARKA FOR LIFE Canada Goose army green parka £775, Harvey Nichols

RAINY DAYS Cotton mac £79, M&S at Pavilions Birmingham

INVESTMENT PIECE Dolce & Gabbana wool coat £1,795, Harvey Nichols HIGH STREET FAVOURITE Men's textured grey coat £64.99, New Look at The Fort Shopping Park

MAKE WAVES Deep khaki Westy £100, Luke Roper

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TEAL'S A STEAL Teal long winter coat £59.99, New Look at The Fort Shopping Park

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HEALTH

HANDLE WITH CARE Our hands contain dozens of bones, muscles and tendons and experience a daily workout that can leave them far worse off than just battered and bruised… e use our hands constantly, making them an integral part of our day-today wellbeing. But with more than 22 joints and 38 muscles and tendons, our hand is one of the most complex areas of the body. If you have a hand injury even the smallest of activities can be challenging and frustrating.

Here Dr Gunaratnam Shyamalan, a hand and wrist surgeon working from Spire Little Aston, shares his quick guide to some of the most common complaints. And he warns: “You should seek investigation if you are experiencing pain, swelling, reduction in movement and strength. Acting quickly, coupled with the identification of the cause, is important in being able to stop the condition becoming worse and preventing future injury.”

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COMMON CONDITIONS Sports Injuries:

From the weekend warrior to the professional athlete, sports enthusiasts can develop a multitude of fractures and ligament tears and these can be

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potentially disabling. “In many cases an early return back to the sports field is possible with rapid diagnosis and minimally invasive surgery,” said Dr Shyamalan.

Dupuytren’s Contracture:

This is a condition mainly affecting the over 50s. It causes one or more fingers to bend into the palm of the hand, affecting one or both hands. It can also affect the thumb. minimally invasive treatments such as injections and needle therapy can deliver excellent results in treating the condition. In many cases, patients can be back to work with normal function within a few days.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

The nerves that supply the hand originate from the neck and compression can cause pain, weakness, numbness and pins and needles. Resting the affected wrist, taking painkillers and wearing a removable wrist splint can often treat this condition. If symptoms persist for longer than three months or the level of pain becomes intolerable, then a small surgical procedure is carried out to decompress the nerve in the tunnel.

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HEALTH

Osteoarthritis:

One in three of the UK population over the age of 45 is affected by osteoarthritis. It occurs where the cartilage that protects the joints becomes soft and starts to become damaged. The hand and wrist are especially prone to symptoms. A number of corrective procedures, from arthroscopic keyhole surgery through to joint replacement, are available.

Trigger Finger:

Nothing to do with guns… trigger finger affects the tendons in the hand. When the affected finger or thumb is bent towards the palm, the tendon gets stuck and the finger clicks or locks. The exact cause is not known. The symptoms can include pain, stiffness, clicking and a small lump in the palm at the base of the affected finger or thumb. I

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HANDY FACTS Only 10 per cent of the population is left-handed – they include celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Justin Beiber, Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt.

The wedding ring is worn on the left ring finger due to the vein in that finger being known as the venna amoris or ‘vein of love’.

According to tradition, it is said to directly connect to the heart.

According to the NHS, five in 100 women experience Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in their lifetime. The figure is three in 100 men.

The heaviest lift using the little fingers is 67.5kg achieved by Kristian Holm in Norway on 13 November 2008.

For more information on diagnosis and treatment, contact the Hand & Wrist Service, Spire Little Aston Hospital, 0121 580 7119

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BEAUTY

1

3 2 4

DESK TO

5

DANCEFLOOR

Rose Gallagher picks her five must-haves for the perfect party look

1. Do you find that your foundation has disappeared by the end of the day? Take a concealer in your handbag and touch up simply the centre of the face. Adding some extra coverage to the nose, inner cheeks and chin is a quick tip to leave your face looking fully made-up because these are the most noticeable areas.

My go-to is the Clarins Instant Concealer £20, from John Lewis 2. Lashes are the best way to get you into the party spirit. Try something graduated like the Fleur de Force Eylure lashes in Fleur Loves, this way they’ll start off subtle and get longer at the ends, giving you a feline eye look.

Fleur de Force Eylure Lashes in Fleur Loves £5.25, from Boots 3. A hint of glitter makes even the most subtle eye make-up look well-blended and infinitely more glamorous. Press a fine glitter like Illamasqua’s

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pigment in Beguile onto the lids before your party.

Use alone for a fresh sparkle or on top of a dark shadow to add depth and texture to your smoky eye.

Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Beguile £17, from Selfridges 4. For me the right perfume is monumental in gearing up for a party. Azzi Glasser has just created a range of 11 new fragrances, each designed to complement a variety of personalities. What’s more the bottle is compact enough for your handbag.

Azzi Glasser The Perfumer’s Story Perfume £95, from Harvey Nichols 5. And the last step? A show-stopping lip. It’s a total cult classic. Go for a striking red like MAC’s Ruby Woo and you’ll be ready to dance the night away.

MAC Cosmetics Lipstick £15.50, from Selfridges

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CHILLER THRILLER Jo Sampson chiller and shot glasses from John Lewis

PREP

If you’re planning to play host this party season there are a few things to consider that will ensure it goes with a bang not a whimper

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HOMES

GREAT GATSBY Furniture available from Next

BIT ON THE SIDE Bodo side table £299, House of Fraser

KEEP YOUR COOL Champagne bucket £24.99, Home Sense

hink of the best parties you’ve been to. Why were they good? The chances are the hosts did their homework and you felt relaxed. If you do the hard yards before your guests arrive you can enjoy the party as much as they do. Consider these simple tips and best buys to get the party started.

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1. If possible move cumbersome furniture out of the way creating more space and make sure there is enough seating.

Include a couple of cosy corners for guests who might want to retreat from the action for a while.

2. Dim the lighting to a flattering level to give your guests a confidence boost. Everyone is more relaxed in good lighting.

STATE OF THE ART Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 music system £1,699, John Lewis

CROWD PLEASER Chocolate fondue £20, The Great Gift Company

GREAT VALUE Moroccan-style table £24, Sainsbury’s Home

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HOMES

LIGHTS OUT Solar punched large lantern £18, Sainsbury’s Home

GEO TRICK Hex side table £125, Next

NICELY CHILLED Tom Dixon ice bucket £200, John Lewis

3. Chilled music will avoid any early silences before the party takes off.

4. Dot coasters around so guests don’t worry about where to put their drinks.

5. Serve nibbles in proportion to drinks!

6. Lots of small occasional tables dotted around are more effective than a large central table. Guests will mingle more.

7. If you have space, prepare an outdoor area for smokers with patio heater, cushions, a few candles and ashtrays.

8. Don’t overlook non-alcoholic drinks.

HASHTAG CUTE 9. Create a playlist that suits the spread of guests you’ve invited. Hashtag light £75, Next STANDING ROOM Lene Bjere Belmont cake stand £364.50, Occa-Home

COASTING Embossed wooden mats £22, Next

REGAL CHARM Tom Dixon scented candle royalty £55, Occa-Home

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DRAMA QUEEN Festive accessories from M&S

FOCAL POINT Puccini drinks cabinet £1,999, John Lewis

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HOMES

WAX LYRICAL Set of three candle sticks £50, House of Fraser

MAGICAL MOROCCO Moroccan side table £399, House of Fraser

TROLLEY DOLLY Wood and metal trolley £129.99, Home Sense

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HOMES

FESTIVE VIBE Glisten wine glass, set of four £24, Next

CLASSIC FIZZ Champagne saucer £28 for two, Houseology

PRETTY PASTEL Set of four Polka Champagne flutes £30, Houseology

FINISHING

TOUCHES

Whatever kind of party you’re planning you need glassware that oozes style. Here’s our favourites

BLACK MAGIC Set of four black champagne flutes £20, Next

SHOTS AWAY Colourful schnappes glasses £25, John Lewis

OLD SCHOOL Handmade amber glass £6, John Lewis TRUE BLUE Set of four Tribeca blue mix wine glasses £15, M&S

COCKTAIL O’ CLOCK Orange cosmo glass £2.99, Home Sense

CHUNKY STEM Selection available from Debenhams

HEAVY METAL Set of four mixed metallic tumblers £24, Oliver Bonas

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HOMES

Hot Properties An ancient monument, rambling family home and a slick city pad…welcome to this month’s pick of the top homes for sale

EDWARDIAN EDGBASTON Farquhar Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham Guide price: £2.995m Agent: Fine & Country tel: 0121 746 6400

With nearly 10,000 square feet in the heart of Edgbaston, this house has got the lot. Nine to ten bedrooms, masses of entertaining space, an enviable wine cellar, secluded gardens and a premier location, it’s got to be seen to be believed.

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HOMES

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HOMES

BRICKS&BITS MORE CITY CENTRE FLATS Plans have been revealed for the latest apartment block to be built in central Birmingham – the second in the same street. Gallan Developments and Orion Capital are proposing 82 flats on a car park on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter and near to the Barclaycard Arena. Gallan wants to develop 29 one-bedroom, 52 two-bedroom and one threebedroom apartment and a ground floor retail unit covering 3,175 sq ft.

GO-AHEAD FOR BCU EXTENSION A six-storey extension on the BCU’s Eastside site has been given the go ahead. The canal-side development is the latest step in a bid to move BCU’s £260 million campus from Perry Barr to the city centre. The extension to the existing Curzon building is due to open in 2017 with up to 3,000 students using the extended part of the building.

SINGING THE £2M BLUES The church where Birmingham City Football Club was born at the end of the 1800s is up for grabs for a cool £2 million. Fine and Country is selling the Grade II listed Holy Trinity church which was split into three floors 30 years ago as a potential conference centre, business premises or even a show stopping home for an avid blues fan with an eye for a project. That’s dedication.

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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MINT CONDITION Mint Drive, Jewellery Quarter Guide price: £350k Agent: Maguire Jackson tel: 0121 634 1520

A brand new mansion-style conversion in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, Mint Drive features the high ceilings, wooden floors and original features you would expect from the building alongside contemporary gadgets and fittings from Bang and Olufsen, Bosch Kitchens and Burlington Bathrooms. Two parking spaces are a bonus. (The show flat is pictured).

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HOMES

POOL WITH A VIEW Spencers Lane, Berkswell, Coventry Guide price: £1.5m Agent: Fine & Country tel: 02476 500015

This five-bedroom, Georgian-style home is set in four acres of land with formal gardens including a natural pool pond and paddock. All five of the bedrooms have en suites plus downstairs, as well as bags of elegant entertaining space there are a further two bathrooms – one being a full wet room with access straight out to the pond pool.

PARTY PAD Concorde House, Birmingham Guide price: £725k Agent: Maguire Jackson tel: 0121 634 1520

Loft 14 at this highly-stylised development is on the fourth floor and offers a whopping 2,803 sq ft with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large open plan kitchen/living space and a cinema room. The minimalist industrial vibe is evident throughout, giving it a modern, urban feel.

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HOMES

HISTORIC HOME The Old Castle, Studley Guide price: £1.75m Agent: Knight Frank tel: 01789 297735 The Old Castle is on the site of a former Motte and Bailey castle and dates back to the sixteenth century.

Naturally it’s packed with character – both Tudor and Georgian, is Grade II listed and has been designated an Ancient Monument. Inside the walls the owners have created a striking and comfortable family home with the flexibility of two self-contained apartments.

Outside there are extensive lawns, a sweeping drive and a paddock.

Don’t miss Property of the Week on our Facebook page every Thursday

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ANTIQUES

BLACK BEAUTY Dark, mysterious, mesmerising… the precious gem that has fascinated generations of collectors ounding like a cross between a thoroughbred racehorse and a rip-roaring supercar, Whitby Jet has mesmerised and fascinated mankind since its discovery in early pre-history through to the present day.

Dark and mysterious, the gleaming black-velvet fossil is about 180 million-years-old and emerged from the cliffs of the North Yorkshire seaside town, since when it has been skillfully transformed into items of beauty, such as brooches, lockets and earrings. Because of its deep black colour and difficulty in working, Whitby Jet pieces have become increasingly collectable and much sought-after.

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TOURIST TRAP The fossil derives from one ancient species of tree called Araucaria Araucana which sank into the seabed millions of years ago in the Jurassic period. This explains why jet feels so light because it is wood not stone. The hardest, purest, saltwater jet comes from the seven-and-ahalf-mile stretch of coast around Whitby.

Whitby Jet achieved its height of fashion during the Victorian era, popularised by Queen Victoria when she wore it in mourning following the death of her beloved Prince Albert. Her royal patronage greatly increased demand for the gem. Whitby became something of a tourist destination with fashionable Crinoline-clad

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ladies of the period buying pieces of handmade jewellery as a souvenir of their visit. At its zenith in the early 1870s there were about 200 manufacturing shops and 1,500 people employed in the trade in and around Whitby. The style for fuller dresses so beloved of the Victorians, led to larger pieces of jewellery being produced. Whitby Jet was the ideal material given its distinctive colour yet very lightweight nature.

A wealth of designs was created by the town’s workshops ranging from delicate florals to mythical and classic motifs. Facetted beads and bold geometric shapes were also popular at the time.

Whitby Jet has been used to make jewellery and body adornment for thousands of years right up to the present day. It can be turned on a lathe but it cannot be massproduced. Consequently it has never been cheap. This, combined with its rarity value makes it attractive for collectors – and celebrities. It has been worn in movies by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, and three years ago the gem was seen teamed with diamonds on the red carpet in a stunning spider and cobweb dress worn by Donna Air for the premier of The Amazing Spiderman, pictured above.I See fine examples of Whitby Jet at the Antiques for Everyone Winter Fair at the NEC, 19 to 22 November. Visit www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk

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MOTORING

COLOURFUL WELCOME Renault’s classy new Kadjar greets its driver with a technicolour light show, but is our own Sue Cooke left dazzled or disappointed on the road? t the launch of Renault’s first crossover, the Kadjar, it wasn’t the whisper quiet, refined but powerful engine or the precise steering which excited me. It was the colour-changing instruments on the dashboard. Owners can select from five display colours. And once the hands-free beautifully designed new key card is activated, drivers and passengers are treated to a ‘welcome aboard’ scenario with visual and audible effects. It’s fantastic!

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GROWING SALES And let’s face it, on clogged up highway arteries there is little chance of road testing the 9.9 seconds achievement of the 1.5-litre diesel – but you will be staring at the quality interior which has meticulous finish and attention to detail.

Since Renault employed a new designer in 2013, the company has seen huge growth. In the UK, the

launch of the stylish Clio that year increased growth by 37 per cent. With the launch of the Captur (a Clio on steroids) and the new Dacia brand in 2014, Renault has seen growth increase by 42 per cent.

The stylish Kadjar is a crossover – three cars in one Renault says – and the C segment in which it sits now represents 11 per cent of the car market. With a subtle blend of SUV, estate and saloon, the Kadjar has all the good qualities of each.

The estate car versatility can be seen in the boot mounted, one-touch, easy-folding rear seat system.

There are high and low boot floor positions which keep shopping from rolling around the large 472 litres area, which increases to 1,478 litres depending on seating arrangements. If there is no Bose sound system, which fits into the boot and is part of the R link 2 entertainment system, then a full spare wheel can be accommodated.

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Model: Renault Kadjar Signature Nav Price: £24,795 otr Engine: 1.5-litre Energy dCi 130 Performance: 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 118mph CO2 emissions: 113g/km depending on tyre size Combined fuel consumption: 65.7mpg on smaller tyres

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MOTORING

Saloon characteristics are evident in all the quality interior features I have already mentioned and the excellent tight turning circle of 10.72 metres. There is an extensive array of driving aids, which include hands-free parking and a reversing camera.

The Kadjar is built on the same platform as the Qashqai under the Renault Nissan Alliance, with 60 per cent of parts shared with the Nissan. SUV features include an all-wheel drive system, 190mm of ground clearance and approach and departure angles of 18 and 25 degrees respectively. Built in Spain, the Kadjar name is an amalgamation of two French words meaning agile four-wheel drive.

STANDARD GOODIES There are 18, 4x2 and 4x4 models to choose from and four trim levels, three engines and two gearboxes. Renault expects the best-selling engine to be the 1.5-litre 130 diesel. Fuel consumption is 65.7mpg with combined use and Renault says CO2 emissions are 113g/km. There is also a 110 diesel

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and a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol unit. A long list of standard safety features include traction and understeer control, cruise control, speed limiter, hill start assist, six airbags and ISOFIX child seat mounting positions. Kadjar achieved a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP safety test results.

Renault also offers a four-year warranty and roadside assistance package. And as the dealer network grows to 155 in the UK, it will be much easier to road test a very stylish Kadjar, which costs from ÂŁ17,995 otr.

Next year Renault will introduce an all-new Megane. I can’t wait. For me, design and good looks are always the big attraction. I You can follow Sue Cooke on Twitter @cookecars

SHOWROOM: Renault Birmingham, 75-80 High Street, Digbeth, B12 0LL. Tel: 0121 418 0103 www.renaultretail.co.uk

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

PUTTING ON THE STYLE Creative director James Earnshaw tells us that when he does the ‘supers’ hair at London Fashion Week, he’s far too busy to be star struck – and how Jennifer Aniston could do with a snip

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

hatever the talent of the youngsters we write about in these pages, there’s a common theme that comes through time and again – drive and determination.

Musicians, athletes, artists, dancers, actors, even handy gardeners, we’ve covered the lot and without exception they’re driven individuals for whom failure is not an option.

Take James Earnshaw; he knew early on that he wanted to be a hairdresser and not any old hairdresser at that, but the best. Nothing was going to stop him realising that dream.

Aged 15, James told his own hairdresser about his career plans who snapped him up straight away on a part -time basis alongside school.

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GETTING NOTICED Ambitious as he was, James stayed for a while then moved to a bigger branded salon for a couple of years before an opportunity at the Francesco Group came up in Shrewsbury. He took it, then moved to the Birmingham branch in 2012 as a stylist. He remembered: “I wasn’t happy being a stylist. I wanted to better myself all the time.

I was promoted to senior stylist and wasn’t happy with that either! I wanted to be creative director ultimately, so I pestered my boss about how to do it.”

Her advice was to get noticed. James needed to be known to be a creative director – a sort of brand ambassador, so he got busy entering competitions, working social media and putting himself out into the industry and it paid off when aged just 24 he landed his dream role.

As creative director he has a varied working week which he loves. He spends three days at the company’s academy nurturing new talent and two days in the salon plus photo shoots, catwalk shows and competitions. He was a finalist in the Wella Trend Vision awards this year and secured a highly sought after place on the Wella Professionals Generation NOW Team which

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opens doors within the industry. He reached the grand finals of the L’Oreal Colour Trophy and was a finalist in the Midlands Hairdresser of the Year category at the British Hairdressing Awards, but finalist isn’t good enough for James. He’ll be taking home the gong next time!

London Fashion Week is a particularly exciting date in the calendar where James styled supers Jordan Dunne and Cara Delevingne this year, but he was ‘far too busy to get star struck’. He was also involved in Style Birmingham Live for which the Francesco Group was responsible for the genius use of simple hair grips arranged to look like eye catching head pieces that shimmered on the catwalk.

I wonder whose hair he’d like to get his hands on? “Jennifer Aniston purely because she’s had the same hair cut for such a long time. I’d take the length up and give her a Caroline Flack length bob to freshen it up a bit.”

With his career flying I wonder what’s next for James? “I’d like to win at the British Hairdressing Awards. BHA is like the Oscars of British Hairdressing and the top accolade, so that’s next.” I GET SNIPPY ON SOCIAL Follow James on Instagram @jhair_stylist

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GROWING PLACES

ASHES STAR MOEEN GOES BACK TO SCHOOL A new £2 million sports hall and performance space at Moseley School was officially opened by England cricketer and former student Moeen Ali. The facility includes four basketball and badminton courts, cricket lanes, stage area, theatre lighting, sound-proofing and seating for 350. The new project follows a £20 million redevelopment of the main school building three years ago.

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

IT’S A RAP FOR SUPER SONGSTERS Pupils from five Midland primary schools are poised to become recording artists after their original songs and performances impressed rock legend Rick Wakeman in the finals of a song contest. The former Yes member judged the competition devised by Birmingham road safety charity DriveSafe & StaySafe and held at Hampton Manor, Solihull. Winners were Delves Infant School, Walsall with their rap song, It’s All About Road Safety.

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BIG SCRUM AS RUGBY

TEAM CHECKS IN Warwick School hosted the Japanese Rugby Team during the Rugby World Cup. The school was selected as one of the official team bases for the tournament. The team was welcomed at a reception at Warwick Castle before attending training sessions at the school where the players signed autographs and even presented prizes at an under-11 rugby tournament.

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GROWING PLACES

HALLFIELD QUARTET WOWS CBSO Four children from Hallfield auditioned successfully for the prestigious City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Children’s Chorus. Officials from the Chorus wrote to the school to praise the high standards of students Astrid Gibara, Rohan Galappahie, Shreya Srinivas and Gemma Reese-Rogers. They will perform at this year’s CBSO Christmas Concert at Symphony Hall.

COLLEGE CLAIMS CAREERS AWARD Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College in Highgate, Birmingham has been recognised for its outstanding careers work. The award from Prospects, the education, employment and skills company, goes to schools who demonstrate the importance of careers information and support for students.

ACE DAY: Mark Pxxxxx

NEW SOCCER ACADEMY ON TARGET Ex-England star Andy Sinton and Grace Academy Darlaston have opened the doors on their new Football Development Academy which gives students an exciting, new way to learn through sport. The youngsters are coached by Andy, who said: “We believe that our new academy is a really great opportunity for 16 to 19-year-olds in the Darlaston area.”

SIDRAH SADDLES UP HER BIG BRUM BIKE Whether rushing to college or commuting to her part-time job, psychology student Sidrah Jawed loves being out on her bike. And Sidrah, 17, from Saltley is now enjoying cycling in the city even more after winning a new ‘Big Birmingham Bike’ from Birmingham Cycle Revolution – the city-wide project which encourages cycling to make our city healthier, greener and safer.

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TWO TOWERS Please raise your glasses… to the brewery producing some of the Midlands’ finest ales – including the intriguing Complete Muppetry!

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COMPANY TO WATCH

hey say that some of the best ideas come from mates relaxing, having a chat and a pint together. That’s certainly true in the case of school teacher Mark Arnott-Job. Back in the late 1990s, Mark and lifelong friend and telecom consultant Trevor Harris talked about turning their passion for real ale into something more than a hobby of brewing a few pints of their favourite tipple in the kitchen at home.

Just over a decade later in 2010, the duo took the plunge and opened for business as Two Towers Brewery. And in the five years since, beers produced from the micro brewery in the Jewellery Quarter have built up a growing following and won accolades from leading real ale experts and groups.

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HERITAGE FIRST

from time to time. “We’ve come a long way in the past five years,” said Mark, who is now the sole boss of Two Towers after Trevor returned to his original career. “When we started out we were essentially home brewing ‘geeks’.

“Having established a proper business around brewing beer, the romantic image that most people have is that you stand around all day and watch the beer brew.

But as well as always looking for new ideas for the beers themselves you have to be very motivated to spend time marketing and getting the beers out there for people to taste and buy.”

Mark said there are 1,400 breweries in the country, “so getting your brand and product firmly in front of people is vitally important”. While many businesses would achieve that through heavy marketing and PR, Two Towers has gone about it all a bit differently. “We’ve never really gone in for marketing programmes,” explained Mark. “We rely a great deal on word of mouth and also the regular tours we run at the brewery. Around 7,000 people have so far been on one of our tours.”

What began as a tiny five-gallon batch operation in the kitchen, scaled up to a batch capacity of 360 gallons and is now producing more than 16,000 gallons-a-year of finest ales. While that may be a drop in the ocean for the big multi-national brewers, it’s a pretty good base for a successful micro brewery such as Two Towers.

When we started we were just a couple of home “We’ve always wanted to ensure that our beers really stand out, and we try to brewing geeks. We’ve come a long way since then focus on reviving and keeping alive traditional ales,” said Mark. “We also like our beers So impressed are visitors to Mott Street that in to be linked to Birmingham’s heritage.”

2014 the brewery was named Birmingham’s best So, that’ll explain some of the names they’ve given to tourist activity by travel website TripAdvisor. Two their beers then! There’s Jewellery Porter which is Towers has also been part of the Midlands festival pretty self-explanatory given the brewery’s location. scene this year, including having a presence at The intriguingly-titled Bhacker Ackhams has various Fort Dunlop events and attending Solihull somewhat darker roots as it refers to what once was a Jazz Festival. Their beers are available in dozens of notorious red light spot behind the former Rackhams pubs, bars, restaurants and shops across the region store, now House of Fraser. as well as via their own website and in their shop at “We have a Two Towers Brewery Club,” said Mark, the brewery. “and we ask members on our mailing list to suggest “Within the next five years we want to become a names for our beers.” Other notable brews are significant regional brewery with Birmingham as the Complete Muppetry, an aromatic IPA-style beer which platform,” said Mark. “We want to be the beer of choice together with the hoppy Chamberlain Pale Ale makes from the city and the Midlands as a whole. We have a up Two Towers’ best sellers. strategy in place to achieve this – but I’m not telling As well as four or five staple beers, Mark and his you what it is as we’d rather none of our competitors team also produce special ‘limited edition’ beers knew about it!” I

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NEW SUIT FOR STARTERS? After a break of nearly a decade one of Birmingham’s best-loved retail clothes stores has returned to the city with a new made-to-measure shopping concept. Owner Mike Lewis has opened up Nicholls tailors in the Chameleon Bar’s Green Room restaurant, merging shopping with socialising. Order your new suit while enjoying a drink and fine dining at the same time!

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CRYING WOLF? A team from Quilter Cheviot stockbrokers in Birmingham have successfully tackled the notorious Wolf Run, a wild race which sees contestants pitted against man-made and natural elements.

The 10km-long course includes 15ft walls and mud baths. The team raised more than £2,400 for Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

ZOO CHIEF WINS BUSINESS TITLE Midlands zoologist Dr Sharon Redrobe has been named Businesswoman of the Year at the prestigious Women of the Year awards. The chief executive of Twycross Zoo received the accolade in recognition of her success in transforming the attraction – including the unveiling of a £55 million investment programme to double visitors to one million a year.

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ROLLS-ROYCE CHIEF SPEAKS OUT A leading figure in the manufacturing industry will be the principal speaker at the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce’s dinner at the ICC on 21 November. Dr Hamid Mughal is director of manufacturing at Rolls-Royce and was awarded an OBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours for services to innovation, technology and manufacturing.

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BACKING KIDS OF COURAGE CANADA PRIZE The best tech brains in Birmingham have been brought together with their counterparts in Ontario, Canada in an exciting tie-up. Ontario’s Minister of Trade signed a deal during a visit to the city which will see a number of joint initiatives between Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone – the top-ranked university-based tech incubator in Canada and fifth in the world – and the Innovation Birmingham Campus.

BOSSES URGED TO USE NEW HUB Local companies were urged to take advantage of the Greater Birmingham Growth Hub at an event attended by more than 300 entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Run by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, the Hub is the new home for all business advice, funding and support in the area.

Birmingham Chambers of Commerce director of events Henrik Court has become an ambassador for the Courageous Kids Awards.

The awards have been launched by Tappy Twins, an in-school, online and telephone support organisation for children in need. The awards at the University of Birmingham on 21 November celebrate children’s achievements.

FUN TEAM UNLOCKS INSTANT SUCCESS A Birmingham entertainment venue opened less than a year ago which challenges players to escape from a locked room is stepping up plans for expansion. Escape Live in Henrietta Street is top of TripAdvisor’s list of Fun & Games in the city after receiving more than 8,000 visitors. The company is creating two new themed rooms at its location and opening another venue in Essex.

KEY TO SUCCESS: Joint owners Jas Sodhi and John Dalziel with manager Jordan Ladley

KATIE OPENS FIRST SHOP… HONEST! A leading online skincare brand has chosen Kings Heath for its first retail space. Honest skincare and apothecary’s shop includes a product kitchen, where shoppers will be able to see the products being made by hand, and two treatment rooms. Honest (which stands for Holistic, Organic, Natural, Ethical, Simple and True) was founded by Katie Fisher, pictured.

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LEGAL EAGLE RICHARD JOINS THE ELITE Richard Cooper, a solicitor at law firm Sydney Mitchell, has been appointed a full member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists – one of only a handful of ACTAPS members in the Midlands.

Only solicitors and barristers with specialist expertise in disputed wills and inheritance claims are admitted to the association.

DESIGN DUO’S 30-YEAR SWITCH Two friends who graduated from college and built a multi-million-pound design firm are celebrating 30 years in business. Stephen Eldred and Richard Pope ignored the lure of London to set up Switch right here. Starting from Richard’s rented flat in Kenilworth, today the company is based in the Jewellery Quarter and works with major clients in the UK, New York and Dubai.

FAIR COP: Juliette Smith, Sarah Moss, Julia Lowe, Lucy Obrey and Jo Denning

BUT WE WERE ONLY CELEBRATING, OFFICER..

What better way to mark your 140th anniversary than being transported back in time? Midlands law firm Higgs & Sons hosted two birthday events as 500 guests looked to the past at the Black Country Living Museum, and then to the future at the Library of Birmingham. The events were organised around the theme ‘proud of our past, passionate about our future’.

PETER’S HAVING A BALL Careful how you handle him ladies! Peter Dent, founder of Edward’s Trust charity ball, got carried away when he heard that this year’s event had raised more than £34,500. The local bereavement charity’s James Bond-themed night at the National Motorcycle Museum featured an auction, casino and live band.

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RESORTS WORLD OPENS Europe’s first resort destination, Resorts World Birmingham, is open for business. The complex on the NEC site features a host of top retailers in fashion, homeware and gifts, as well as bars and restaurants. The site also houses an 11-screen cinema complex that includes a purposebuilt IMAX auditorium, and the four-star Genting Hotel.

REVVING UP: KPMG’s regional chair Mike Steventon with an F1 McLaren car at the firm’s offices.

WHY KPMG LOVES BRUM… SCAN-TASTIC APP A new smartphone app that provides an instant translation in over 40 languages when any object is scanned has been developed by a Birmingham business. Learning Labs chief executive Veejay Lingiah said: “If you scan a handbag with the FlashSticks app, it can tell you that it’s a red leather women’s bag and translate that into foreign languages, together with audio options to help with pronunciation.”

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Accountancy firm KPMG Birmingham has become a patron of LoveBrum, the charity that supports unsung projects doing great things for Birmingham. As well as helping local causes, KPMG will advise the LoveBrum team in growing their business. Among the causes supported by LoveBrum is a bi-weekly soup kitchen which feeds hundreds of homeless people every month.

CHUNG YING’S BIG ART BOOST Birmingham Big Art Project has been given a £3,700 boost – thanks to the annual Chung Ying Walk. The project aims to commission and install an iconic piece of public art for Birmingham which will put the city centre on the world’s cultural map.

CASH-RAISERS:William Wong, Anita Champaneri, Leah

More pictures, see Social Scene Naipaul and Glyn Pitchford

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WHAT BUSINESS NEEDS FROM BRUM Culture and creativity is not just about providing a buzz or a bit of icing on the cake but hard economic outputs and jobs

Please introduce yourself I am Anita Bhalla, chair of Performances Birmingham Ltd (Town Hall and Symphony Hall). Previously I had a 26-year media career with the BBC which included being one of the first regionally-based bi-media correspondents and setting up the Asian Network, which is now a national service. I was also BBC England’s head of Political and Community Affairs and head of the Corporation’s Public Space Broadcasting. I also presented Channel 4’s Eastern Eye and other national radio and TV programmes. I am chair of the Creative City Partnership, board member of Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, nonexecutive director of Birmingham Women’s Hospital and recent past chair of MAC (Midlands Arts Centre).

What does your company do?

We run Town Hall and Symphony Hall and are also engaged in outreach and community education work, making music an important part of everyone’s lives.

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

We have some great people in the city. Our infrastructure is good (and getting better), we have terrific road and rail links and a young, digital and diverse population with one of the largest numbers of students in the country. Our culture offering is second to none and it plays not only to local but global audiences, driving more than a million additional visits into the city.

We’re an enterprising city too with over 1,000 trades and where modern architecture sits comfortable alongside our Victorian heritage. Culture and creativity is not just about providing a buzz or a bit of icing on the cake but hard economic outputs and jobs. The West Midlands is at the centre of a creative jobs boom with nearly 20,000 new roles in just three years, according to official figures.

What should our priorities be as a city?

Tackle social inclusion, divisions and the skills gap, create more jobs in sectors which we don’t give enough priority to, build on our cultural heritage, raise our profile, think differently – and come up Anita Bhalla of Performances Birmingham What are your biggest gripes with more projects like The Big Hoot to with it? bring people together.

People here don’t believe in themselves enough and we don’t think big enough which limits our dreams.

If you had £1bn to spend on improving Brum what would you do with it?

How do you feel your clients see the city?

Introduce a Birmingham Oyster Card and make public There probably isn’t another city in Britain that has been transport easier and more accessible. Provide more more maligned in the past than Birmingham, often described affordable housing, cleaner streets, more meaningful as soulless, uninteresting and with no clear-cut identity. But apprenticeships, more art work around the city, open up people who use such descriptions really don’t know the city areas like Digbeth by improving street lighting and today. When people come here they see the warmth and real insisting that disused buildings are repurposed and brought energy we have. back to life. I Is Brum a good place to do business?

It is a great place – there is so much history to build on and so many opportunities to be had.

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HOLA! TASTE OF SPAIN AT ALLIANCE’S LUNCH Tapas on menu as new restaurant hosts networking event for Calthorpe Estates

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Calthorpe Business Alliance event took place at El Borracho de Oro, the new Spanish tapas bar and restaurant on Harborne Road, Edgbaston. Estate team members welcomed more than 100 guests from local businesses across the Calthorpe Estate to the networking lunch. They were given an update on news and events across the Estate, including The Village, Edgbaston while enjoying a tapas lunch with refreshments. I

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1 Ellie Coen, Alex Tross, Emma Davenport, Ross Bendall. 2 Sarah Robinson, Adrian Corry, Jayne Herritty. 3 Peter Hodgson, Ralph Minott. 4 Elizabeth Rose. 5 Heidi Ferguson, Mark Lee, Maria Clune. 6 Sinead O'Herlihy, Max Malic, Saba Iqbal, Cathy Bradshaw. 7 Nicky Smith, Gordon Tyler, Jonathan Carter, Annelle Rowlands. 8 Richard Brannigan, Robert Bray, Jo Kirk, Nick Ellson.

Photography by Vivienne Bailey

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STARS ON THE BALL AT LUKE SPORT DAY Fashion brand’s golf event gives John Hartson Foundation a big cash boost he fourth annual Luke Sport Golf Day, held by local top fashion brand Luke Roper, took place at the Welcombe golf course, Stratford-upon-Avon. European Tour professionals, celebrities, rock stars, sportsmen and friends of the brand enjoyed the fun event in aid of the John Hartson Foundation, the charity set up by the former football star following his battle with testicular cancer. Refreshments and food were supplied by Thornbridge Brewery and Nicks Tandoori Nights. A party followed in the evening, helping to push the total raised to more than £4,000. I

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4 Stephen Graham. 5 Paul Jones. 6 Chris Hollins and team. 7 Girls Roc and John Hartson. 8 Ed Cosens, Joe Carnall.

9 Dan Walker and team.

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NETWORKING GROUP CLAIMS WORLD TITLE BNI Sunrise enters Hall of Fame after sensational last 12 months

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Birmingham networking group celebrated being rated as one of the best in the world at a special black tie event. BNI Sunrise, which meets every week at Aston Villa FC, has passed more than ÂŁ3.46 million over the last 12 months between its members, leading to it gaining Platinum status and entry to the BNI Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is reserved for the top one per cent of networking groups worldwide. As part of the celebrations, awards were made to members who had made significant contributions in growing the group. I

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1 Lisa Gregory, John Moore, Peter Higgs, Sarah Cauer. 2 Daniela Forsyth, Jodie Cook. 3 Manpreet Singh, Nigel Evans. 4 Peter Howard, Gurd Ubi. 5 Manuel Castineira, Adam Mohammed. 6 Scott Littlehales, Nicola Lathbury, Steve Quance, Spencer Turner, Jo Bailey.

7 Carl Deane, Vaughan Allcock. 8 Mo Askar Mohammed, Steve Quance. 9 Laura Franklin, Simon Hawker, John Blair, Nicola Lathbury, Chris Brown.

Photography by iOne Photography

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CURRY CLUB BACKS LOVEBRUM CHARITY SimkissGuy Recruitment hosts event for business professionals at Itihaas etworking was on the menu when SimkissGuy Recruitment hosted its monthly Colmore Curry Club in partnership with Birmingham charity LoveBrum. The event at awardwinning Indian restaurant Itihaas gave more than 40 of the city’s business professionals the chance to enjoy some naan and networking before hearing more about how to get involved with the local charity. LoveBrum promotes and celebrates hidden gem projects that help make the city a better place. I

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1 Lakhbir Singh, Deepak Bagga, Matt Clarke. 2 Clair Yates, Tom Snell, Tessa Rhodes. 3 Bigyan Humagain, Paul Mahood, Leanne Harkin, Kawaljit Singh. 4 Brian Epstow, Richard Paterson. 5 Jonathan Bryce, Michele Wilby, Mike Mountfield. 6 Jess Leo and colleague, Paige Sherwin, Jess Brookes. 7 Lee Gill, Tony Taylor, Tim Cuthbertson. 8 Rebecca Simkiss, Richard Paterson, Richard Guy. Photograph by Jas Sansi

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NEWSMAN HEADLINES FOREST CHARITY PUSH Jon Snow reveals his vision to grow Heart of England project V newsman Jon Snow outlined his vision for the Heart of England Forest charity during an event held with local business leaders. The awardwinning presenter and journalist has been appointed chairman of the Heart of England Forest and hosted around 40 organisations from across the region to mark the latest stage of the charity’s project to plant and preserve a native broadleaf forest in the Midlands. The forest is the brainchild of the late publishing mogul Felix Dennis who lived in Dorsington. I

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1 Ian Leggett, Alison Hunter, Jon Snow, David Bliss. 2 Andrew Boyd, Stephen Dallimore. 3 Stuart Flint, Lucy Davis, Julian Thorne, Alex Robinson. 4 Steve Twigger, Paul Rice, Adam Dent, David Bliss. 5 Alison Hunter, Russell Bartley. 6 Eleanor Barratt, Charlotte Robb.

7 Ian Allen, Ian Leggett, Craig Ride.

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MOON WALK ECLIPSES CASH-RAISING RECORD Chung Ying group gives Birmingham Big Art Project funds a £3,700 boost hung Ying Restaurant group held its annual Chung Ying Walk, celebrating the 2015 Chinese Moon festival and raising a record £3,700 for Birmingham Big Art Project. Starting at Chung Ying Central in Colmore Row, the event included a guided tour exploring the heritage of the city’s Chinese community and the history of the Moon Festival. Guests also enjoyed a Cantonese feast at Chung Ying Garden, where Indi Wouhra performed some swing classics live. I

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1 Sophie Webber, Steve Evans. 2 Jonathan Hill, Sam Murray. 3 Dominga Devitt, Glyn and Maggie Pitchford, Leah Naipaul.

4 Anita Champaneri, Maila Tablizo. 5 Millie Wilby, Julie Ward. 6 Glyn Pitchford, Mary Moore 7 Emily Allen, William Wong, Abbie Thomas-Brown. 8 Jeremy Walker, Jonathan Carter, Mario Flanagan.

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Hippodrome Leading Ladies get off to a fund-raising flier at Bar Opus irmingham Hippodrome Leading Ladies opened their 2015-2016 season at Bar Opus at an event hosted by Opus group managing director and Hippodrome Theatre Trustee, Ann Tonks. Top city designer Suzanne Barnes, whose practice SBDP is behind the design inspiration of the Opus venues, shared her experiences of more than 20 years as a business owner.

Ann Tonks gave a similar insight into the changing face of the city’s hospitality sector. The event raised £1,800 for Hippodrome Creative, the newly named education, access and outdoor programme at the theatre. I

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1 Natalie Merrix, Hanna Callis, Lisa O’Keefe, Jessica Leo. 2 Irene Allan, Ann Tonks, Suzanne Barnes. 3 Victoria Duddles, Raj Holness, Julie Stepney. 4 Rachel Hill, Ruth Dickin. 5 Nicola Fleet-Milne, Kirsty Organ. 6 Beth Rose, Melissa Roe, Faye Shipley. 7 Amy Grzegorzek, Amanda Plester, Jayne O’Malley. 8 Jayne Bradley, Victoria Khandker, Tessa Rhodes. 9 Gaynor Powell, Amanda Headland, Alex Brady, Cosette Wright.

Photography by Vivienne bailey

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DASH OF BOLLYWOOD LAUNCHES VIVAANTA Mailbox’s new fine dining Indian restaurant welcomes VIP guests he good, the great and the glamorous attended the official press launch of Vivaanta, the new fine dining restaurant on the Mailbox canal. Guests included Capital FM DJs Katy Poulson and Sacha Brooks, Steve Denyer from Heart FM, Andy Goulding from Free Radio and Noreen Khan from BBC Asian Network. Also joining in the fun were presenters Shefali Oza from BBC Midlands Today and Genelle Aldred from ITV Central. Seafood canapÊs and cocktails were served while entertainment was provided by Bollywood violinist Jessica Crabtree and Bollywood Dreams dance duo. I

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GALA DINNER IN AID OF MACMILLAN CARE Comedian Bobby Davro heads East End Foods’ charity night

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ore than 500 guests attended East End Foods’ gala charity dinner held at Vox Resorts World in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care charity. Host for the night was comedian Bobby Davro with entertainment from 14-year-old singer Connie Talbot, British-Armenian comedian and pianist Kev Orkain and finally Indi Wouhra and his 30-piece band, known as Indi and the Unconventional Crooners. The event was organised by Dr Jason Wouhra, director of East End Foods and chairman of West Midlands Institute of Directors. I

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1 David Rowell, Judi Gilbert, Marc and Claire Reeves, Phil Birch. 2 Jason Wouhra, Bobby Davro, Daali Wouhra. 3 Harvir Sahota, Anjum Khan, Raai Shamji. 4 Nicki and Paul Thandi. 5 Saqib Bhatti, Shaun Hindle. 6 Henrik Court, Emma Larkin, Garry Peal.

7 Mary Louey, Camilla Ho. 8 Mr and Mrs Amit Sharma. 9 Alan and Veronica Balmer, Ravinder Wouhra, Jas Bushell.

Pictures by Jas Sansi

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BUSINESS BREAKFAST UPDATE BY NEC BOSS MD speaks at special event hosted by Birmingham Chambers of Commerce athryn James, managing director of the NEC Group, spoke at a breakfast event hosted by Birmingham Chambers of Commerce at Jurys Inn hotel. She gave an update on latest developments at the NEC, including Resorts World. MD since 2007, she is responsible for the strategic direction of the NEC – increasing revenue and profitability through the identification of market opportunities, developing existing business and building strong relationships within the industry and with key stakeholders.

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1 Harriet Kendall, Nicky Keye, Paul Faulkner. 2 Deborah Perry, Sandeep Malhi, Zaneta Zareba. 3 Ewelina Tomiszczak, Nicola Corfield, Asa Walker, Justine Davy. 4 Iain Hall, Harriet Kendall, Sophia Johnson, Dom Nyari. 5 Henrik Court, Grahame Douglas, Kathryn James, Paul Faulkner. 6 Gavin Evans, Ellie Griffiths. 7 Ben Rossiter, Sarah Waldron. 8 Colin Oakley, Ben Stockdale. Photograph by Jas Sansi

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WHAT: Antiques for Everyone Winter WHEN: 19 to 22 November WHERE: NEC tel 0844 5810827 www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk

WHAT: Lucille Price

The largest vetted art, antiques and interiors fair in the UK returns for another awesome pre-Christmas event. With more than 240 exhibitors and a huge range of antiques on show there is something to suit every budget.

WHEN: 30 November

WHAT: Duran Duran WHEN: 4 December WHERE: Genting Arena tel 0844 338 8000 www.ticketfactory.com One of the most culturally influential and commercially successful bands of all time, selling more than 100 million records worldwide, return to their home town. Awesome!

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WHERE: Town Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk The outstanding winner of the 2015 THSH Conservatoire Prize performs works

by Pedro Iturralde, Takashi Yoshimatsu, Franҫois Borne and Jean Matitia. This event is a free prelude to the Oliver She recital, also at Town Hall on the 30th.

WHAT: Frankfurt Christmas Market & Craft Market WHEN: 12 November to 22 December WHERE: Victoria Square, Centenary Square & Chamberlain Square Loved and loathed in equal measures the largest outdoor Christmas Market in Britain has now been running for more than a decade…and we love it!

Over 180 stalls, so gluwein, stollen and giggles all round please.

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: Will Young WHEN: 4 and 16 November WHERE: Symphony Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk

WHAT: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

This is Will’s first tour in four years and comes hot on the heels of the release of his brilliant album 85% Proof representing his most accomplished work to date.

WHEN: 19 November to 16 January 2016 WHERE: Birmingham Rep tel 0121 236 4455

WHAT: The Nutcracker

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

WHEN: 27 November to

Walk through the wardrobe and prepare for an adventure…This timeless classic is a brand new production directed by Tessa Walker and promises all of the thrills and excitement you would expect from such an enduring festive epic.

13 December WHERE: Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Birmingham Hippodrome, www.brb.org.uk You’ve just put the bikini away and already Christmas is coming! You can’t fight it and there’s no better way to embrace the festive season than with this stunning ballet that delights young and old alike. This production by Sir Peter Wright, with exquisite designs by John Macfarlane, is acclaimed as one of the best in the world.

WHAT: Snakecharmer WHEN: 5 November WHERE: Robin Hood 2, Wolverhampton tel 01902 401211 www.therobin.co.uk Six of the UK's most highly-esteemed and experienced rock musicians have joined forces to create Snakecharmer. This is classic twin-guitar based rock as it should be played.

WHAT: Paul Weller WHEN: 27 November WHERE: Barclaycard Arena tel 0844 338 8000 www.theticketfactory.com WHAT: Public Masterclass with Karin Rehnqvist WHEN: 13 November WHERE: Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire http://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

It’s been another whirlwind year for Paul Weller and he pops into Brum as part of a 10 date arena tour with support from mercury prize winners, Young Fathers.

Rehnqvist is one of Scandinavia’s most wellknown contemporary composers whose work is regularly performed all over the world. In this public masterclass with her, Le Page Ensemble will perform new works

by Birmingham Conservatoire composers.

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WHAT: Cinderella: A Fairytale WHEN: 3 December to 9 January WHERE: Mac Birmingham tel 0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk

WHAT: Fiona Banner WHEN: Runs until 17 January WHERE: Ikon Gallery,

Since it’s very first performance this has held audiences Brindleyplace, captivated by its dazzlingly original take on one of the oldest tel 0121 248 0708 and best-loved fairy tales of all times. This funny and heartwww.ikon-gallery.org warming, award-winning show is simply fantastic.

Scroll Down And Keep Scrolling is the most comprehensive exhibition of WHAT: Aladdin Banner’s work to date, re-presenting WHEN: 19 December to 31 January key early projects alongside recent WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome and unseen works that span a period tel 0844 338 5000 of 25 years.

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

WHAT: The Midlands Expo WHEN: 12 November WHERE: Trinity Suite, Aston Villa Football Club

WHAT: The Lennon and McCartney Experience

tel 0843 289 4634 www.midlandsexpo.co.uk

WHEN: 21 November

With a terrific line-up of exceptional speakers including John Davies, Jackie Chappell and Brad Burton, this special business event will provide an inspirational day. Free to attend.

WHERE: Nailcote Hall

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tel 02476 466174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk Enjoy all the hits and the unmistakable sounds from the Fab Four.

She Loves You, Help, Yesterday…no one does it better than the fabulous Lennon and McCartney Experience.

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WHAT’S ON WHAT: A Night with Alex Bond WHEN: 28 November WHERE: Hampton Manor tel 01675 446080 www. hamptonmanor.com For one night only the young chef that’s been ripping it up at Richard Turner’s Michelin-starred restaurant in Harborne pops in the Manor to create a stunning sixcourse tasting menu complete with creative wine pairings.

WHAT: Treasure Island WHEN: 20 November to 3 January WHERE: The Old Rep tel 0121 359 9444 www.oldreptheatre.org.uk This original adaptation inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale is set to be one magical, swashbuckling adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

WHAT: Dancing Queen The Concert

WHAT: Queen Anne

WHEN: 28 November

WHEN: 19 November to

WHERE: Palace Theatre Redditch

23 January

tel 01527 65203

WHERE: Royal Shakespeare Theatre

www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk

tel 01789 403493

It’s back! An action-packed party show featuring all the greatest smash hits from Abba, Grease and the 70s with a fantastic cast of singers and musicians that will have you dancing in the aisles.

www.rsc.org.uk

WHAT: Kodaline

Helen Edmundson's gripping new play explores the little known story of a monarch caught between friendship and duty. Directed by Natalie Abrahami with Natascha McElhone, below.

WHEN: 2 December WHERE: O2 Academy Birmingham tel 0121 622 8250 www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk The debut album from this Irish rock band was a top three smash selling over 250,000 copies in the UK alone. This was followed by the fantastic Coming Up For Air released earlier this year – come and see what the fuss is all about.

november 2015

birmingham living 97

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IN THE CITY

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There’s a sense of vibrancy about the place last seen in the Sixties – we’ve become one of the country’s great dining destinations

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF My name is Paul Fulford and for more than 20 years I worked as a journalist on the Birmingham Mail, most of that time as its restaurant critic. It was fantastic to witness first-hand the development of our city from a culinary backwater to its stature today as one of the country’s great dining destinations. This summer, I launched a food and drink website (paulfulford.co.uk) and I’m also offering PR and consultancy services to the hospitality industry. Loving it!

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN? One of the glories of being selfemployed is being able to work from home, so no daily rush-hour commute. When I have meetings in town (and there are lots) I jump on the No.50 bus, which is frequent, fast and not too unpleasant if you don’t mind discarded drinks cans rolling round your feet.

KEEPING FIT? I manage to keep in shape – just about – by running… slowly. I’ve done a couple of marathons and a few halfmarathons. Running provides a good space for thinking as well as burning up all the calories from eating and drinking out so much.

King of the food critics Paul Fulford

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN? Absolutely. I’m a Brummie born and bred and have always loved the city’s ‘can do’ attitude and the welcoming nature of its population. But these days there’s a sense of vibrancy about the place that I don’t think I’ve known since the 1960s… yeah, I know, hard to believe I’m THAT old!

COFFEE BREAK? I love any of the independent coffee shops, particularly York’s. Why would anyone wish to line the pockets of a giant chain when they could support a local business with a real commitment to quality?

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LUNCHTIME? A pint and a Scotch egg at Purecraft Bar & Kitchen in Waterloo Street – beer and pub grub as it should be.

Sometimes I treat myself to the lunchtime menu at one of Brum’s best restaurants – the lunchtime deals at high-end restaurants like Simpsons provide great value.

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY? I adore the Jewellery Quarter. So many fabulous buildings and great small, quirky businesses. Such a shame that we didn’t preserve more of our heritage over the post-war decades. I’m also a big fan of the hustle and bustle of the markets.

AFTERWORK PINT? I much prefer to change into my jeans, slump on a chair at home and open a good bottle of red wine with something savoury to nibble. That said, I’ve been known to pop into the Prince of Wales in Moseley for a swift one.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER? Let’s concentrate more on supporting small, independent businesses, especially in the food and drink industry, that offer diversity and interest to our city. For too long the council has obsessed about bringing big names to Brum. Let’s begin backing our own. I

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