Birmingham Living October 2020 issue 96

Birmingham vli ing

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October 2020

UB40 @40 DISHOOM

THE REP’S AMIT SHARMA

TRICKS TREATS

&

TOP CHOCS

RUSSELL & ATWELL

CHEF TOM COURT

COOL WINTER COATS

BLUE PETER’S RADZI THE TV PRESENTER ON POLITICS, SPORTS AND HIS NEW BOOK

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EDITOR’S VIEW

I

’ve set myself a goal in this month’s Letter. Not to let the words Covid-19 pass my lips. Damn, failed already! Anyhow, with the whole country suffering from virus fatigue and overload, let’s take a break and try to think positively with a look at what’s in store in this issue.

It’s hard to imagine a cover star with more positivity and energy than TV presenter Radzi Chinyanganya. The Blue Peter and all-round sports presenter talks about the challenges facing young people (particularly relevant in these difficult times) and his own experiences shaping his new children’s book.

I’m sure the guys in legendary reggae band UB40 won’t mind me saying that the profile of Radzi’s fans is maybe a touch younger than theirs! UB40 have been celebrating the 40th anniversary of their first, ground-breaking Signing Off album. A huge world tour, postponed due to the you-know-what until 2021, will mark the milestone.

Meantime, they’re keeping their millions of global fans upclose and personal with a brilliant new app featuring weekly live Zoom sessions, loads of their music old and new and even exclusive wine reviews (Red Red Wine, of course!) and movie reviews.

In any ‘normal’ October, we’d all be talking tricks and treats for Halloween. While some of the fun may have been watered down this year, I am glad to still see plenty of witchy, ghoulish products on the shelves of my local stores.

You’ll find a smattering of spook-tacular news, eats and treats through this issue.

Finally, what better way to cheer yourself up than having a spend-up – no matter how modest the budget. With winter approaching, our fashionistas have been scanning the virtual clothes rails for the coolest coats for the Big Chill. Simply brrrr-illiant!!

s n h o J David

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

Cover image:

/bhamliving

FINALIST

Radzi Chinyanganya

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

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

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

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g n i liv

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INSIDE

10 14 18 26 32 42 04 birmingham living

Highlights

Radzi Chinyanganya

TV presenter talks jumping out of planes, writing and his beloved Wolverhampton

UB40 at 40 The legendary Birmingham reggae band talk anniversaries, big breaks and Zooming fans

Food & Drink Tom Court, the man behind bespoke caterer, the Sticky Fig, plus news, views and reviews

Health The eyes have it for World Sight Day, plus top tips to win the winter battle of the bulge

Style A winter coat can be transformative and super chic. We trawl the virtual rails for our best picks

Homes What’s hot in the world of designer bathrooms?

Our guide has the latest luxury layouts and advice

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CONTENTS

Best of the Rest

50 52 57 60 64 66 october 2020

Motoring

Sue Cooke drives Volvo’s new XC60 Hybrid, an SUV that delivers greener motoring and luxury

Young, Gifted & Brummie Yakub Saunders, the talented young dancer who wowed the Britain’s Got Talent judges Business News Latest news and views as commercial community faces challenging times

Russell & Atwell New Birmingham-based brand is delivering fresh quality chocolates at supermarket prices

What’s On After months of lockdown, some music and performance venues are back making a splash

Up Close Amit Sharma, deputy artistic director of Birmingham REP on a life-changing decision

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NEWS

SELFRIDGES NEW LOOK

Selfridges is getting a dramatic new look. The iconic Bullring building will be wrapped in a striking patterned hoarding, created by Birmingham-born fashion designer and artist Osman Yousefzada while it undergoes major renovation, completed in time for the city’s 2022 Commonwealth Games. Entitled the Dogtooth Flower, it is the designer’s first piece of public art. During the works, the store’s 15,000 silver disks are being removed and stored, while the building’s facade is replaced.

NEWS TOP RAPPER AWARD

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

Birmingham’s Stefflon Don was named female artist of the year at the GRM Daily Rated Awards which celebrate the UK’s black music genres. The rapper beat the likes of Ms Banks, Little Simz and Shaybo to take the top prize. The awards, which took place online due to the coronavirus pandemic, featured performances from Kano, Dizzee Rascal, George The Poet and M Huncho and were hosted by comedian Mo Gilligan and presenter Julie Adenuga.

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MEASURING UP A new store stocking formal and casualwear has opened in New Street.

Suit Direct specialises in modern, stylish clothing for any occasion, stocking several own brands as well as a selection of carefully-curated accompanying labels – from Peaky Blinders-influenced Antique Rogue, Melka Studios and Marc Darcy to favourites such as Ben Sherman and Jeff Banks.

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NEWS

TRAIL-BLAZERS! The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced an exciting trail for families. Designed by Andrew Lock and Fiona Barlow – whose previous work for the RSC includes The Swirl and Inside Out – the fully immersive installation has been created with social-distancing in mind and takes its inspiration from the plot of William Shakespeare’s The HITTING THE TRAIL: RSC actors Greg Haiste and Jonathan Broadbent celebrate the opening of the new socially distanced family trail

Comedy of Errors, which was due to run at the RSC but was postponed in March due to Covid-19.

PHIL HONOURED Birmingham entrepreneur Phil Oldershaw has been awarded a Birmingham LGBTQ+ Community Lifetime Achievement Award by Midlands Zone.

STEVE’S RUN-RAISER Take a bow, Steve Ball. The REP’s associate director walked from Birmingham to London’s Theatre Land to raise funds for the REP’s industry-leading work with young people. Steve completed his 116-mile trek over seven days, raising nearly £4,000 with donations still coming in.

The REP’s creative learning programme is one of the largest in the UK, engaging with more than 70,000 children, young people and adults in the community each year.

GLYNN BOOKS IT

Phil has been an instrumental figure in the Birmingham LGBTQ scene for more than 30 years, including co-founding Birmingham Pride, and ran the Nightingale Club for over a decade. He also launched the Loft Lounge in Bromsgrove Street with business partner Lawrence Barton and has helped raise more than £300,000 for charities.

Yummy Brummie Glynn Purnell has unveiled a new book.

A Purnell’s Journey: There and Back Again comes four years after publishing his last much-acclaimed cookbook, Rib Ticklers and Choux-ins. The new tome features more than 30 dishes representing the best of Glynn, his innovative menus and the creative chefs and staff who make up the Purnell’s family. Available now, priced £85, at Purnell’s or direct from the publisher: www.awaywithmedia.com/buy-books/glynn-purnell

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NEWS

HAUNTED CASTLE Get set for some really Spooky surprises as Warwick Castle celebrates Halloween. Top features include a new haunted house walk-through with a trick or treat in every room. As darkness falls the spirit of Halloween delivers a scary maze, fire-breathers, live music and the best in local street food and drink from Digbeth Dining Club. The celebrations run from 24 October to 1 November. More details at www.warwick-castle.com

MINI TESLA FOR KIDS Young patients at Birmingham Midland Eye Centre will be able to travel down the corridors in style, thanks to a ride-on Tesla Model S for kids. The ‘mini’ Tesla was donated to Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust by Tesla Owners UK via Your Trust Charity, which raises money for special projects.

Deryn Harvey, Tesla Owners UK mini Tesla programme coordinator, said: “The car is sure to bring joy and alleviate anxiety in young children in hospital.”

SOUND OF THE FUTURE

WATCH THIS SPACE! Workers, visitors and residents of Colmore Business District are enjoying a new outdoor space after Colmore BID installed its first parklet – providing nearby hospitality venues with more facilities to serve customers. The new community space in Waterloo Street,

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has launched a fiveyear, £12.5million fundraising campaign to mark its centenary. With £4.4million already raised, the Sound of

outside Purecraft Bar and Kitchen, is part of a larger scheme to

the Future initiative aims to

support the district’s leisure and hospitality industry hit by the

ensure the orchestra’s

lockdown. If a success, further parklets will be installed, potentially

recovery post-Covid and

saving hundreds of jobs across the district.

redefine the CBSO’s future for the benefit of Birmingham and the West Midlands. The launch was marked by a performance led by former CBSO music director Sir Simon Rattle, pictured, from a warehouse in Longbridge, viewed worldwide on the orchestra’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

LOTS OF SUCCESS The village of Barford celebrated ‘lots’ of success at a special prize giving ceremony.

The joint Parish Council Allotments organised a Best Kept Allotment Competition to recognise and celebrate the efforts that people had put in during this difficult year. The overall winner was Eugene Kennedy, who was presented with the Challenge Shield by Cllr Andrew Day, leader of Warwick District Council.

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NEWS

TIME FOR A SPIN? After reimagining Hanif Kureishi’s ground-

breaking film for a new generation last year, Nikolai Foster’s acclaimed staging of My Beautiful Laundrette has been made available to watch for free online. Co-produced by Curve, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Leeds Playhouse, the captioned recording is available to stream until Curve is able to reopen its doors for performances. The comedy tells the story of a young British Pakistani, Omar, who transforms his uncle’s run-down laundrette into a thriving business.

ARE YOU MISS WRITE? Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage, one of the UK’s leading arts development agencies, has launched MY CITY, MY HOME – a major, specially commissioned, international writing competition for women and girls from diverse communities in Birmingham, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The competition is part of Transforming Narratives, a ground-breaking three-year project to establish Birmingham as a global centre for contemporary arts from Pakistan and Bangladesh. More details at www.sampad.org.uk

GOLDEN WONDERS Gold medal-winning badminton stars Chris and Gabby Adcock took a break from preparing for next summer’s rearranged Olympic Games to look at new homes being built near venues for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The pair visited Persimmon’s Perry Park View development in Perry Barr which is just a short walk from Alexander Stadium which is undergoing a huge facelift to host the Games athletics and opening and closing ceremonies.

BRUM TOPS RESPONSE LEAGUE Birmingham has been named the UK’s emergency service hotspot where an ambulance will reach you faster than you can boil a kettle. A report on 32 cities by Confused.com revealed Brum has the quickest emergency response time with the average ambulance taking only 1.43 minutes to reach its call. Ambulance response was part of the Most Secure Postcodes survey looking into the safest cities in the country.

ROYAL TITLE Aston University’s provost and deputy vice chancellor, Prof Helen Higson, has been appointed the new Vice Lord-Lieutenant to the West Midlands’ Lord-Lieutenant, John Crabtree. Since 2017, Prof Higson has been a © Shaun Fellows / Shine Pix ltd Deputy Lieutenant and lead on the education group working with schools, colleges and universities to promote good citizenship. Prof Higson said; “It is an exciting time to take up the position as the region celebrates the Capital of Culture in Coventry in 2021 and the Commonwealth Games in 2022.”

GOT ANY NEWS? Email your news and pictures to editor@brumliving.co.uk october 2020

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COVER STORY

RAISED IN WOLVES

TV’S RADZI CHINYANGANYA TALKS LEVELLING UP, JUMPING OUT OF PLANES, WRITING AND HIS BELOVED WOLVERHAMPTON TO SHELLEY CARTER

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COVER STORY

adzi Chinyanganya’s CV is a scorcher featuring BBC stalwarts Songs of Praise and Blue Peter alongside a nail-biting run on Ninja Warrior UK, presenting at both the winter and summer Olympics, the US Open and the World Snooker Championships. With a children’s book set to launch in January, he can now add author to the bulging list of achievements.

Radzi’s book, Move Like a Lion, is aimed loosely at children aged six to 11 years and encourages youngsters to move in a way that’s non-competitive and imaginative. As a sporty child, Radzi used his prowess to make friends – he went to seven different schools and moved house six times, so he had a lot of experience of fitting in.

He says: “I used sport as a way of communicating. If I could make it to break time, I could show people I wasn’t bad at most games and use it to make friends. Meeting children through Blue Peter made me realise that’s just not the case for everybody. Sport can exclude as much as include and there are some children that dread PE.”

R

ARE YOU A PRESENTER YET? Move Like a Lion features exercises modelled on the natural movements of animals which lets children explore life in the animal kingdom while getting the heart pumping.

There are no motivations in terms of how exercise makes you look, it’s all about enjoying the experience. Radzi says: “Rather than an end goal, it encourages children to look at the flowers along the way.” Having never written a book, he approached DK to get their view and they loved it. Due out in January, it’s something that Radzi is proud of.

Before getting into TV, Radzi studied economics which didn’t fill him with joy and he knew he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life doing it. People would come up to him on a weekly basis in the street and at the gym and ask him if he was a presenter. He’d help out in his mum’s dance school for certain events where one of her friends

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COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

would ask the same question. “She’d say, ‘Radzi are you a presenter yet?’ which I found slightly annoying because deep down I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

BIG BREAK In November 2010, Radzi bit the bullet, made a show reel with a camera at university and spent every day e-mailing people and arranging meetings. He did a lot of work for free at various events like the Olympics and Paralympics as well as interning at shopping channel, QVC. Radzi remembers: “I earned just enough interning to pay the train fare, hostel and food.” He also did a stint on Big Brother, was a mascot twice, commentated on netball and volleyball and worked at CBBC for free.

Then came his big break when he was asked to do a screen test for Wild on CBBC which involved having a giant Gambian pouch rat perched on his head. Radzi is petrified of two things – sharks and rats, but he hid the fear and got the job. The Blue Peter gig followed soon after which was Radzi’s dream growing up. He said: “If you asked 10-year-old Radzi what he wanted to be when he grew up the answer would have been Blue Peter presenter. Whether you’re nine, 19 or 90, you know Blue Peter and it just makes people smile.”

GLASS CEILING The experiences Radzi enjoyed through Blue Peter are varied and in some cases breath-taking, like his exhibition routine at the World Gymnastics Championships with a giddy Beth Tweddle and Matt Baker looking on and throwing himself out of a plane with the RAF Falcons, but it’s the small moments that please him most. He explains: “When a child comes up to me in the street and says I’ve grown my hair because of you that’s special. It was such a privilege. Bucket list just doesn’t do it justice.”

Long term, Radzi wants to contribute to making societal change, particularly in education, and is an advocate of levelling up.

october 2020

“My mother was and is implicitly supportive, but it’s not the case for everyone. I’d love to see a reimagining of the education system where the glass ceiling is removed. Seventy-five per cent of the country’s Prime Ministers have come from one school where tuition fees are greater than 50 per cent of the population’s salary. That’s a sad indictment.”

He adds: “There needs to be more emphasis on life skills in schools – cooking, paying bills, interview skills – things that help you flourish.

Pupils need a grasp on the world we live in to thrive.” Radzi appeared on Question Time alongside the likes of Ken Clarke which was a bit daunting. He says: “I’d just landed from covering the Pyongyang winter Olympics when I got the call. I watch Question Time every week and always feel that it’s a shame no one looks like me, so I had to do it.”

BLOKE WITH A MICROPHONE When Covid-19 hit and lockdown became a reality, like lots of people Radzi lost work – he was supposed to be in Tokyo covering the Olympics as well as the World Indoor Athletics Championships and the London Marathon, but he’s fairly philosophical about it. “My mum’s worked in the NHS for 40 years and I’m acutely aware of the challenges, so really, who gives a monkey’s about a bloke with a microphone?”

Radzi moved back to Wolverhampton to be with his mum during lockdown. He says: “I shoehorn two things into every interview, Wolverhampton and my supportive mum. I love being from the Midlands. Would it have been more convenient for a career in TV if I had parents with a six-bed house in Kensington? Yes, but growing up in Wolverhampton has shaped me and therefore laid the foundations, so I’m grateful. People don’t tend to shout about Wolverhampton, but I love it.” I BOOK CLUB Move Like a Lion is published by DK (£5.99) and is out on 7 January 2021

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40

LIFE BEGINS AT

Legendary Birmingham reggae band UB40 reveal big plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their ground-breaking first album – a year late due to lockdown – and the launch of a new app bringing them closer than ever to their millions of fans around the world

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FEATURE

t’s hard to believe, says UB40’s Robin Campbell with an audible sharp intake of breath. “Forty years… gone just like that, in a flash!” The founder-singer-guitarist with one of the UK’s most famous bands paused for a moment and added: “But we’ve never experienced a year quite like this one…”

The Birmingham boys had everything lined up for an amazing, show-stopping celebration of their milestone anniversary since releasing their iconic first album, Signing Off, back in 1980. A huge worldwide tour, spanning the UK, Europe, the US, Africa and more. New music on the way too to add to the occasion for their millions of fans. Then came Covid-19, and like everything else around the globe, time stopped still and lockdown arrived.

“We had so much booked up to do,” said Robin, “and then it was all cancelled. Luckily for us, we have managed to push it all into 2021 – assuming the dreaded virus doesn’t mess that up too.” Robin revealed that he had actually been tested for Covid. “I was feeling really rough for days and I didn’t know

I

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what it was, so I thought I’d better get it checked out.

I’m glad to say I was given the all-clear!”

LIVE ZOOM SESSIONS While the anniversary schedule may have been put back, the band has tried to keep busy, especially in regards to their huge fanbase. “We’ve finished off another album which we’ve done as a collaboration with reggae artists from around the world, which should be out at the end of the year,” explained Robin. And then there’s the new UB40 app, launched to give fans unrivalled, upclose personal contact with the boys.

“We needed a way to keep in touch with the fans during these times,” said Robin. “The app gives them direct access to us. We do live Zoom sessions with the fans, interaction sessions, all our back catalogue is available and there’s loads of other content. I even do wine reviews and Jimmy our drummer reviews movies.

Our new album is yet to be released but we have played most of the tracks individually on the app. I think more bands will follow what we are doing, it’s the way to go

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FEATURE

known each other since their school days. “Most of the band went to school with my kid brothers, I was the older kid,” said Robin. “We hung out together as we grew up and went to the same pubs, clubs, youth clubs. When we formed the band it felt more like a social circle than a group if you know what I mean.”

Robin acknowledges that the band have had some good breaks along the way, the biggest being when they were playing a gig in London in the early days and Chrissie Hynde was in the audience. “She came to us afterwards and said: I love you guys! Would you come and support me?”

Robin puts the band’s longevity down to having a unique sound and luck! “If you have an instantly recognisable sound, you have a career,” he said. “You can hear other reggae bands in the UK and you know immediately that they aren’t us. I go to clubs and bars which I have been going to for years and see some bands that have been playing there for 20 or 30 years and they just didn’t get the right break.”

to have control of your interaction with your fans.”

If you look at the pantheon of legendary bands, UB40 are right up there with the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Who, U2, etc. Their fusion of reggae beats with lyrical presentation has seen them have more than 50 UK hit singles and equally huge international success with the likes of Red Red Wine and (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You to name but two. There have been four Best Album Grammy nominations along the way and two Billboard number ones.

SPLITS AND RIFTS There have also been some much-publicised splits and rifts – in keeping with what you’d expect from a closely-knit group of family and friends who have For the UB40 app go to: https://shop.gigrev.com/ub40/ or https://t.co/OxLGHxL875?amp=1

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BLACK LIVES MATTER Forty years on from its release, Signing Off remains a pivotal album by a British band, tackling issues such as racial tensions, social inequality and politics head-on – subjects which, sadly, are as relevant today as they were in 1980. Considered to be the greatest reggae album ever released by a British band, those early themes are mirrored in UB40’s latest album, For the Many.

With all the racial tensions and political unrest still prevalent in 2020, Robin declares he is “disappointed” that so many issues addressed in that first album remain and, indeed, have actually worsened, as can be seen from the Black Lives Matter movement. “Twenty-seven albums and 40 years later and we are still going on about the same things,” he adds.

With 1.3million followers on Facebook as well as their new app, the band has a great profile for not just entertaining their fans but for getting their messages across more directly than ever before. Already thrilling fans with their Sunday Evening Sessions, the band continues to share exclusive, never-heard tracks, rare pictures and exclusive merchandise, stream live shows and, as Robin alluded to earlier in this interview, give a guided tour of their cellar filled with Red, Red Wine! I

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FOOD & DRINK

TOM COURT

The man behind bespoke caterer, the Sticky Fig, tells us how he turned what could have been a lost summer into a success and found the holy grail of work/life balance

Picture by Joel Davies Photography

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CHEF’S CORNER

Tell us about your cooking The priority is always fresh and local. We launched Sticky Fig six years ago just as street food was becoming a big thing which we embraced, then we moved into weddings and festivals as well as film crew catering.

We’ve met some fabulous people. We’re also on our third series of catering for Great British Menu, which is being filmed in Stratford-upon-Avon, feeding the likes of Tom Aikens and the country’s finest home economists. It’s quite the endorsement.

How did you become a chef?

I’ve been working in food since I was 14. I started in a bakery. It’s always been about food for me. We grew up on a sort of small holding with loads of animals – cattle, ducks, etc – and my parents were hippies really. We were a bit feral! My aunty was behind Berkswell cheese and I used to drink the milk. I was a head chef for someone else for 13 years working 90 hours a week before going it alone. Now I work hard, but if I want to take time off to go and do something I can.

How did you adapt to the restrictions around Covid-19?

Initially it looked like a whole summer gone. Weddings, festivals, events all gone. It was horrible getting calls from brides and grooms. Thankfully most of them have moved their weddings to next year. Luckily, we had the Revival trailer already, so we started doing pop-ups. The first was the Swan at Chaddesley Corbett which got us rolling again and it built up to five days a week in different villages in the area.

It could be fish and chips, really good burgers – we make our own buns, pizza, brownies. We also started doing picnic boxes for delivery which worked well, so much so that we’re planning Christmas hampers.

What do you eat when at home?

We’re very lucky, we get to eat leftovers!

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

I’d probably say David Everitt-Matthias at Le Champignon Sauvage. If he’s not cooking, the restaurant doesn’t open and I like that. I think there are a lot of Michelin-starred chefs who don’t actually cook in their kitchen and that’s not for me. In Birmingham, Harborne Kitchen is top of my list.

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Is the customer always right?

Yes. It has to be like that. We’re built on reputation, so yes always.

Share a cooking tip Don’t overcook eggs.

What was your favourite food as a kid?

Meringue or a Sunday roast at home.

Food heaven and food hell?

Heaven is a really good chine of beef cooked on the bone with plenty of fat. Hell is any kind of processed food. KFC would be pretty hellish.

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

A few weeks ago in Borough Market there was a long queue for one of the stalls, so I thought I’d join it. I ended up eating sea urchins – I won’t be doing that again!

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

Poor… I Sticky Fig Catering – tel: 07983 421 447, website: www.stickyfigcatering.co.uk Instagram: sticky_fig_catering/

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NIBBLES and SHORTS

BIRMINGHAM’S BARS AND RESTAURANTS ARE SHOWING HOW TO ADAPT TO THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, WHILE HELPING LOCAL COMMUNITIES LIKE NEVER BEFORE

BUTCHER ON THE BOX Aubrey Allen, five-time winner of Restaurant Magazine’s Chef’s Favourite Butcher award, is bringing its high welfare British meat and artisan cheeses to homes across the UK. The family-owned Leamington butchers is launching meat and cheese boxes in time for Christmas. Aubrey Allen provides meat to more than 400 restaurants around the UK and the boxes include one with cuts selected by top chef Raymond Blanc.

SUITE SUNDAYS The Belfry Hotel & Resort has

launched the ideal Covid antidote – with its new luxury Suite Sunday package. The price, from £209 per room, includes dinner, a

COSY CASH Sales of coffee and burgers during the opening month of Cosy Club, Brindleyplace, raised nearly £700 for older people’s support charity Independent Age. Amber Wood, Cosy Club’s MD, said: “The money raised by

WE’LL DRINK TO THIS…

bottle of Champagne in the room, full English breakfast and

late check-out the following day.

If you love your wine, this could be for you!

The Belfry’s Our Pledge To You The Wine Staycation on Saturday 17 October is the commits to the highest standards work of Living for the Weekend – organisers of of cleanliness procedures and Birmingham Cocktail Weekend and Birmingham protocols across the resort.

Wine Weekend. It blends the finest wines, expert sommeliers and great food pairings at an overnight stay at the Rotunda in Staying Cool’s serviced A bar inspired by a pioneering female protestor from apartments. the early 1900s has launched at the Arcadian Centre. Portrait

PORTRAIT OF COURAGE

is billed as a “celebration of expression, of being who you are and not conforming to the picture-

those who visited us in the

perfect image that contemporary culture places upon us”. It looks to Bertha Ryland who was

first month will go towards

arrested and jailed in 1914 for slashing a painting in Birmingham Art Gallery in protest against the inhumane treatment of suffragettes.

providing vital care, support and friendship services to relieve loneliness.”

CHOCS AWAY!

HAIL PUB HEROES The Virgins & Castle pub in Kenilworth High Street is vying with five other UK inns for the Great British Pub Heroes award. The award was set up to showcase contributions made by pubs during the pandemic. The Virgins & Castle was shortlisted for its staff welfare support through the pandemic. To vote for the Virgins & Castle go to www.greatbritishpubawards.co.uk/staff-welfare

A Midlands-based maker is giving a taste of how it aims to challenge the way consumers consider modern chocolate. Wnder, founded by Luke Pearson, has released two bars from its inaugural collection – Vineyard which is reminiscent of the South of France and Campfire, which Luke says sparks memories of “laughing around a campfire”. Try some yourself at www.wnderchocolate.com

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

ESPRESSO DELIVERY Creamy, rich and very indulgent… go on, pour yourself an Espresso Martini

o, we may be back to limited get-togethers again but that’s no reason why you and your significant other can’t have a thumpingly good time. Creamy, rich and definitely hyper-indulgent, the Espresso Martini is a lively cocktail that delivers a nice little kick just when your lockdown energy levels might be dipping. As always, please enjoy responsibly. I

S

INGREDIENTS:

I 25ml Smirnoff Black Vodka

I 15ml sugar syrup

I 25ml Tia Maria

I 15ml espresso liqueur

METHOD: Pour ingredients into a Boston shaker with ice. Give it a good shake for three minutes before slowly straining straight into a chilled Martini glass.

Be sure to do this slowly because then you’ll get that lovely foam texture on the surface. To finish garnish with three or four fresh coffee beans.

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SEASON’S EATINGS

SOUPER SPOOKY

What better way to pump up Halloween than by making our special recipe pumpkin soup? ubble, bubble, toil and trouble! This timely recipe for pumpkin soup is anything but trouble – it’s so simple to make and spookily delicious. There’s loads of ways to up the Wooo factor, too. Try drizzling with cream to make a really awesome cobweb design. A great way to make sure your pumpkin is more than just a scary face this Halloween…

H

Ingredients

I 2 tablespoons of olive oil I 2 finely chopped onions

I 1kg pumpkin peeled, de-seeded and chopped into chunks I 700ml vegetable or chicken stock I 150ml double cream

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Method Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, then gently cook the finely chopped onions for five minutes, until soft but not coloured. Add the pumpkin to the pan and cooking for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until it starts to soften and turn golden.

Pour the stock into the pan and season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then simmer for a further 10 minutes until the squash is very soft. Pour 150ml of double cream into the pan, bring back to the boil, then purée with a hand blender. Serve with croutons and a handful of toasted seeds.

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

DISHOOM

One Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3AX. Tel: 0121 809 5986 dishoom.com/birmingham aving cooed over that bacon naan roll on social media, we were as disappointed as the next person about the current global pandemic delaying the opening of Dishoom. I mean there were other Covid-related worries at the time, but it was valid. We have the Dishoom ‘cookbook’ at home – we say cookbook, but it’s more than that. It’s a brilliantly evocative guide to Bombay and generally the best vehicle for pushing tourism to India we’ve seen. The photography is incredible and makes us want to hop on a plane immediately. Oh wait!

Damn pandemic…

Anyway, with hospitality opening up, we did the next best thing and popped off to check out the restaurant.

Firstly, we loved the interior. Despite being housed in the squeaky clean, brand new One Chamberlain Square, the clever sticks at Dishoom have created a restaurant that feels aged and character-packed paying homage to Bombay’s Swadeshi market. It’s a vast space – good for social distancing – and most tables were filled which warmed the cockles. We really wanted this to be a success and first impressions were massively pleasing. Obviously, there were hand sanitiser shenanigans, but we’re used to that now.

The menu is storming. We had a wonderfully enthusiastic waitress who talked us through it. Drinks are inventive – alcoholic and non. There’s good old Kingfisher if that’s your thing, but it’s well worth

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sampling the Virtuous Tulsi Sour – like a non-alcoholic whiskey sour with ginger, lemon and secret botanicals (we’d tell you if we knew) or the East India Gimlet for gin lovers. Glassware is gorgeous and the metal water jugs are dreamy. It’s all in the details.

The smells from the kitchen seriously got us salivating. We haven’t space to talk you through everything we ate, so we’ve picked our top three. If you only eat one thing go for the Keema Pau which didn’t look much, but tasted incredible. Warming spiced lamb mince with chilli, ginger, coriander, mint, bay, garlic, onion and more served with the softest rolls either for mopping or piling the meat in and eating like a sandwich. Honestly, beautiful.

If you eat two things, we’d add in the chicken Ruby – one of the best curries we have ever eaten. I guess most similar to butter chicken, but with a makhani sauce.

Rich, perfectly spiced, loads of sauce, tender charred meat… it was the dream. If you eat three things try the House Black Daal. So moreish, we loved the depth of the sauce and could eat this on the daily. We’ve looked at recreating it at home but realised we’d have to give up a significant chunk of the weekend, so we’ll happily be leaving it to the experts.

We reckon Dishoom will quickly become one of our regulars and while Birmingham isn’t short of Indian restaurants, this is different and inventive and only enhances the food scene. I

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FOOD & DRINK

IMPROVING WITH AGE WINE EXPERT GEOFF BOLTON TAKES A LOOK AT

BOTTLES THAT GET BETTER AS THEY GET OLDER – AND SELECTS A FEW THAT YOU MIGHT JUST LIKE

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question that I get asked a lot is: “When should I drink this wine?” And the simple answer is “Within one or two years of buying it.” The vast majority of wines are meant to be drunk and enjoyed when they are young.

There are however a few wines that improve with ageing in their bottles – and the key word is ‘improve’.

Because improvement must be the reason for keeping them in your wine rack/cellar/cubbyhole, in fact anywhere that’s cool-ish, dark and not subject to great temperature changes. Oh, and lying down as well.

By ‘improve’ I mean change for the better as reactions inside the bottle alter the wine. Its constituent parts – and particularly the acids and tannins – which at first tasting unpleasantly obtrusive, start to settle down. The wines become rounder, richer, softer and develop tastes that couldn’t be detected when they were younger. Red wines take on a brown tinge as they age, especially on the edges of the wine when it’s poured into the glass.

White wines change to a deeper yellow as they age.

A

GOING GEEK But be warned that when experienced, this improvement in taste is what may turn a casual wine drinker into a ‘wine geek’ – and one who has to dig deeper into his or her pockets for the chance of that ‘magic experience’. And it is unforgettable. Those ‘keepers’ are often more expensive, which brings me to another question: “Apart from price, is there any way of telling which wines are worth keeping?”

There are lots of guides, electronic and printed, as to which wines may improve. These guides even give ‘drinking windows’ – estimates for when the wine will be at its best. But like many guides, they are general. And wines can be like us. They don’t improve consistently. They can be the annoying yet charming child, the sulky teenager who must be tolerated, but then can blossom into the beautiful adult. White Burgundy from the Chardonnay grape is a specific case in point here.

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4

FOOD & DRINK

TO KEEP & TASTE

1. Top of the list must be a claret, a red wine from the Medoc in Bordeaux. 2009 was a very good year for the region and produced some great wine. I’d be tempted to go for the Cabernet Sauvignon dominant Chateau Cantemerle, rich fruits with a backbone of tannin which will ensure longevity. (£44 from Fraziers in Solihull.)

2. Connolly’s sells a fine Burgundy range, so your white could be a 2014 St Aubin. It won’t break the bank but will give the Chardonnay richness that can last – and develop deeper notes for another five years. (1er Cru Chataniere, Thomas – £23.95.)

3. Rieslings with their lovely balance of sweetness and acidity can go on improving for many years. Fraziers sells Dr Loosen’s 2018 Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese (late picked) for £27.99. This is a powerful Mosel wine still very much in its infancy. Cellar it for another 20 years – if you can resist it.

4. And a vintage port? Nicholls and Perks in Stourbridge will sell you a bottle of Taylor’s 1983 for £90. It will be drinking well now but have plenty of life left in it. An experience not to be missed.

TOP VARIETIES Certain grape varieties produce wines that age better than others. Red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and some Pinot Noirs age more successfully. For white wines, the age-worthy varieties are Riesling, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, especially those from the Loire. To this list can be added vintage ports and dessert wines where alcohol levels and sugars also help them to improve.

Right, let’s talk specific wines for keeping as I recommend four to taste, or better keep for a while, then taste! I Our regular expert Rob Price is away this month. Geoff Bolton looks after Birmingham Wine School’s Sutton Coldfield events at New Hall Hotel.

Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine education company that offers fun informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Warwick. More information from Rob Price on 0121 270 7359 or at www.birminghamwineschool.com

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HEALTH

KEEP YOUR

EYE

ON THE BALL

THIS MONTH’S WORLD SIGHT DAY IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE YOU HAVE A CLEAR VISION

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HEALTH

ow’s life looking to you? Chances are that it may be a bit fuzzy these days – and it’s nothing to do with having too many glasses of the red or white due to spending more enforced time at home. With opticians closed in the pandemic, lockdown has affected people’s sight just as it has so many other health-related issues.

Newly-released figures reveal some shocking numbers. According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, globally at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment that may not have been addressed. That figure could have been halved with the correct action. The Agency also calculates millions of people are living with eye conditions that increase the risk of sight loss.

Here in the UK, the College of Optometrists reports that 86 per cent of Brits value sight more than any other sense – yet nearly one in five (more than seven million people) has either never been for a sight test or to an optometrist in the last five years. The College also reveals that more than 60 per cent of people across the age range have poor vision, with 50 per cent unable to even see the TV or read a book clearly.

The need to focus on the health of our eyes is at the heart of this month’s World Sight Day on Thursday 8 October which seeks to bring global attention to vision impairment and blindness. To mark the day, we looked at the key actions you should take to help make sure your eyesight stays sharp.

H

WHAT TO WATCH FOR Cataracts are a very common condition that tend to affect people as they get older. The lens in your eye becomes cloudy – as though you are looking through a fogged-up window. You may find your glasses prescription changing and you experience glare at night from headlights or difficulty reading in dim light.

If the cataracts begin to affect your lifestyle you can have them removed during a routine operation.

The other condition most will have heard of is glaucoma. It is painless and causes no symptoms in the early stages, so regular eye examinations are important to spot the condition. It is usually caused by high pressure inside the eye that causes damage to the delicate nerve. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause a serious reduction in your peripheral vision, affecting things like your ability to drive.

WEIGHT FOR IT Eating a diet low in saturated fats but rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli may help delay the progression of cataracts. Oranges, kiwis, nuts, seeds and oily fish may also help prevent and slow down some eye conditions. Obesity can increase the risk of developing diabetes, which in turn can cause sight loss.

SUN LIFE TESTING, TESTING Most of us should have an eye test at least once every two years. This can often pick up the first signs of an eye condition before you notice any changes in your vision – so you get vital treatment at the right time.

UVA and UVB rays in sunlight can harm your eyes.

Wear sunglasses, glasses or contact lenses with built in UV filter will protect your eyes. Only buy sunglasses that have a CE mark or carry British Standard BS EN ISO 12312-1.

QUIT IT

GOGGLE BOX

If you smoke, don’t! Smoking can double the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the UK's leading cause of sight loss. The risk is potentially as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer.

DIY causes thousands of eye related injuries each year. Always wear approved safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris and particles. If you’re playing racquet sports, wear proper sports goggles too. I

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HEALTH

CHILL OUT TO WIN BATTLE OF THE BULGE MANY OF US WORK-OUT IN SUMMER

BUT WHEN NIGHTS ARE DARK AND

COLD OUR FITNESS LEVELS CAN SINK

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HEALTH

e may have managed to stay in shape during the warm summer months but as the winter sets in the motivation to train wanes. It’s oh so tempting to settle down on the sofa and relax the regime, but do you really want to watch your waistline expand?

Now, more than ever, it’s so important that we try to stay healthy and in shape. Here are some simple tips that can help with fat burning and keep you nice and trim.

W

AN APPLE A DAY Apples contain numerous beneficial antioxidants, but they are also a slow digesting carb. An apple a day has been known to improve strength, endurance and even fat loss. This boost in your endurance and strength can further help fat loss as you’ll be able to train harder. Most apples contain around 200mg of apple polyphenols (the good antioxidants) and around 30 grams of carbs.

GREEN TEA Studies show that people who regularly drink green tea and exercise lose significantly more fat around the abdomen than those who don’t.

COLD WATER We all know that we need to drink two litres of water a day but research has shown that downing two cups of cold water can temporarily boost your metabolic rate by 30 per cent. Perfect for when you start your training session.

EAT GOOD FAT Now let’s get this one out of the way. Certain fats are good for you and can even promote fat loss, particularly Omega 3. Eating fat does seem odd when you’re trying to lose it, but if you keep your fat intake at around 30 per cent of your total daily calorie intake you can actually boost your fat loss compared to a low fat diet. Fish such as salmon, trout and sardines are a perfect source of Omega 3.

october 2020

FREE WEIGHTS Free weight exercises, such as squats, burn more calories than doing similar exercises on resistance machines like the leg press. Scientists believe it could be down to the greater number of stabiliser muscles used during exercises with free weights.

TAKE THE STAIRS Try running or walking up and down the stairs in your house or flat. It can be a great high intensity cardio and leg workout. Just make sure you work at your own pace and don’t push it too hard if you haven’t worked out for a while.

TRAIN SMART Without question, cardio is the main component of getting lean. It’s by far the easiest way to burn the most calories during your training session. However, research has shown that people who completed their cardio session after their resistance training burned significantly more body fat than when they did cardio first. Train smart and complete a weight training session followed by a 30-minute cardio session.

PARTNER UP Enlist your friends and family as exercise partners. Set a date to meet a friend at the gym and you’re much more likely to follow through.

Instead of meeting a friend for a meal, arrange to go for a brisk walk around one of Birmingham’s many beautiful parks. Exercise can be social and fun.

TOP TUNES Listening to music while you train can boost your workout activity and therefore fat loss.

There’s lots of evidence to suggest that you can go for longer and train harder when listening to some of your favourite, uplifting tunes. I

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CLASSIC TRENCH

Findhorn jacket £249, Barbour

WARDROBE HERO MORE THAN MERELY A FUNCTIONAL PIECE, A WINTER COAT CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE AND

SUPER CHIC. WE’VE VIRTUALLY TRAWLED THE RAILS TO BRING YOU THE BEST OF THE SEASON 32 birmingham living

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STYLE SMART CASUAL

Clothing from Dorothy Perkins

BELT UP

Saskia trench £199, Hobbs

he humble coat has the power to transform an outfit from average to show-stopping. It can also hide a multitude of sins (pyjamas on the school run, extra lockdown pounds, etc…) But more than that, a great coat gives the feeling of being done, polished.

There’s no question a winter coat can be pricey and nothing beats a swishy cashmere number to swan about town in, but there are also some cracking coats across all price points this season. We’ve highlighted

T

HIGH NECK

Asymmetric funnel neck coat £45, TU Clothing

THINK PINK

Camelia coat £219, Hobbs

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COLOUR BLOCK

Mads Norgaard Costanna wool blend coat £345, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

examples ranging from £35 to £1,970 including transitional trenches, puffers that pack a punch and super chic tailoring.

If your budget only stretches to one new item this season, we’re really impressed with the reversible wool Bista coat from White Stuff (pictured) with big checks on one side and classic navy on the other. Win win! If you’re splashing out, Max Mara is the one.

An investment? Yes, but it will last a lifetime if looked after. I

DUVET DAY

Long quilted coat, M&S

SUPER POWER

Khaki oversized superlong coat £35, Primark

PARK IT

Bakewell parka £110, White Stuff

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STYLE

PAD IT OUT

Clothing from Primark

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STYLE

INVESTMENT PIECE

Victoria Beckham belted woolblend tweed coat £1,790, Selfridges

CHECK MATE

Clothing from Dorothy Perkins

ON THE DOUBLE

Topshop two-layer trench coat £90, Very

TWO FOR ONE

Bista reversible wool coat £219.95, White Stuff

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STYLE

TEDDY LUXE

Max Mara teddy camel-blend coat £1,970, Selfridges

IN THE NAVY

Max Mara main doublebreasted stretch-wool coat £815, Selfridges

FAUX FUR

Longline borg coat £35, Primark

HERO HERRINGBONE

Textured Crombie £35, Primark

october 2020

NO SLOUCH

Clothing from Primark

CHIC GILET

Fur gilet £59.50, Oliver Bonas

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BEAUTY

USE IT OR LOSE IT Like many sectors, the beauty industry has

taken a real battering. Prolonged lockdown measures earlier in the year meant salons inexplicably reopened weeks after other

sectors – and even then only with a reduced menu of treatments permitted. Brum has

some brilliant salons that could do with our

support right now, so let’s show them some love. There’s not space for them all here, so we’ve picked a few favourites. (At the time of writing we’re allowed to visit a salon.)

NAILS AND THE CITY Kenyon Street, Jewellery Quarter.

Tel: 0121 408 3095 nailscity.co.uk Services: Nails, lashes and ‘pain-free’ waxing.

Offers: Back to Office gel manicure £14.99.

VIBRO SUITE HEALTH AND WELLNESS 100 Canal Square, Browning Street, B16 8EH. Tel: 0121 454 7975 vibro-suite.com Services: Gym, sports massage, facials, waxing, nails, lashes, full body treatments, reflexology.

Offers: 20 per cent off many treatments.

PICKLES AND CO 44 Kenyon Street, Jewellery Quarter, B18 6DH. Tel: 0121 389 8498 picklesandco.com Services: Hair including extensions and bridal hair, beauty by Indigo, specialist men’s service.

Offers: Check online.

MISS BEAUTIQUE 11A/B Pitsford Street, Birmingham, B18 6LJ. Tel: 0121 554 757 missbeautique.co.uk Services: Nails, lashes, facials, tanning.

Offers: Pamper package from £90.

SKN CLINIC Harborne Road, Edgbaston, B15 3AA. Tel: 0333 060 5796 sknclinics.co.uk Services: Acne, scarring, thread veins, mole removal, rosacea, fillers, skin peels.

Offers: Various, including 30 per cent off for NHS staff.

KAT AND CO 20 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, B15 1R. Tel: 0121 456 7930 cckat.com Services: Surgical treatments, plus laser skin resurfacing, fillers, micro-needling and Cristal fat freezing.

Offers: Check online.

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STYLE FOR MEN

SHEARLING JOY Shearling jacket, Burton

TOP COATS THE STRUCTURE THAT COMES WITH AUTUMN STYLE IS A

BEAUTIFUL THING AND TOP OF THE WISH LIST THIS YEAR IS A WINTER COAT TO SLOT INTO YOUR WARDROBE

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STYLE FOR MEN

WAX ON Supa-Commander wax jacket £549, Barbour

IN THE HOOD Into the Woods parka £99, Joe Browns

GET SHORTY Black short parka £49, Burton

ou might be mourning the loss of the warm weather, but there’s something comforting about pulling on a winter coat that makes us smile. After months of lockdown wearing flip flops and tees we’re craving a proper shoe, a tailored jacket and, most of all, a winter coat. Whether you’re in the market for a grown-up classic, super cool shearling or a perfect puffer, we’ve got your back with our pick of the winter warmers. I

Y

IF IT AIN’T BROKE Lorden jacket £179, Barbour

GREY DAYS Grey button coat £249.99, TK Maxx

WET LOOK Black puffer jacket £30, Primark

TRUE BLUE Canada Goose Lodge logo-patch shell-down hooded jacket £525, Selfridges

october 2020

WINNING BOMBER Burberry shell bomber jacket £990, Selfridges

PRACTICALLY PERFECT Pike Lake hooded jacket £135, Columbia STATEMENT PIECE Dries Van Noten Rawly checked wool blend coat £1,525, Harvey Nichols

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ng il viHOMES

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AND RELAXâ&#x20AC;¦ SORT OF 42 birmingham living

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HOMES

NOTHING BEATS SINKING INTO AN INDULGENT BATH AT THE END OR EVEN MIDDLE OF A LONG DAY. WHAT’S LESS APPEALING IS SINKING INTO A BOG STANDARD BATH STARING UP AT AN EIGHTIES ARTEX CEILING TO THE SOUND OF A DRIPPING TAP…

HOME SPA Tratto by Scavolini

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HOMES

ontemplating a new bathroom can be bamboozling and expensive. It’s easy to get lost down a Pinterest rabbit hole, but the actuality of getting it done, of managing different trades and living with the mess is a different story. Worth it? Yes, but being prepared is probably going to make the process more palatable. Here are some things to consider when planning.

First, get a realistic budget sorted and if it stretches far enough to include a bathroom designer who will hold your hand and manage the difficult trade-y bits, do it. We can’t stress this enough.

They’ll have existing relationships with the relevant trades which will make a huge difference and the chances are they’ll come up with a design for the space that you might not have seen.

If that’s not an option, decide what you want and then bore into the detail.

In terms of achieving the look, what do you need? Yes, it’s fun picking out those scallop Ca Pietro tiles and dreamy Fritz Fryer wall lights, but get to grips with the stuff that’s integral to the system.

Are you moving plumbing around? Are the electrics in the right place? Would you like underfloor heating? Talk to proposed trades people and get recommendations and read reviews.

Meet them and shop around. Trust your instincts. Find people that get you and are enthusiastic about your project.

Also, take their lead on timings. You need to have a schedule and understand when to get which trades in, in which order.

C

NEUTRAL PALATE Accessories from Dunelm

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HOMES

CLEAN LINES Featuring Geberit Acanto geberit.co.uk

COLOUR ME GOOD

By Ripples

october 2020

DREAM SET UP Featuring Luceo wall lamp £460, Nest

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HOMES

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a useful and hopefully not too daunting check list of important elements: I Water systems (combi, pressurised, gravity fed) I Wall/floor insulation I Access panels for maintenance I Radiator/underfloor heating I Odour extraction/flushplate I Lighting I Extraction I Grout choice (type as well as colour) I Tile trim finish I Brassware finish I Storage I Paint I Accessories

WHITE OUT Accessories from Amara

TWIN SHOWERS Twin shower wall, Merlyn Showering

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BUBBLE TIME Bathroom by Lisa Melvin at Kuche & Bagno

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HOMES

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HOMES

NATURAL TONES Bath board £39.50, Oliver Bonas

TRAY SLAY Vitra Rotary tray £41, Nest

MIRROR MIRROR Mirror £18, Argos

SQUEAKY CLEAN Menu wiper £70, Nest

FINISHING TOUCHES

GOOD WOOD Wooden toothbrush holder £6.99, HomeSense

ADD TO YOUR SPA-LIKE BATHROOM

WITH THESE GORGEOUS ACCESSORIES

BACK TO NATURE Hestia set of two gold finish metal planters £60, Very

POM POM Cotton pom pom bath mat £12.50, M&S

INDUSTRIAL VIBE Towel rail with nickel hooks £125, Amara

BASKET CASE Large rattan laundry basket £16, M&Co

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TROLLEY FOLLY Low shelving unit £145, Cuckooland

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From only ÂŁ25

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MOTORING

BEST LAID PLANS

SUE COOKE DRIVES VOLVO’S NEW XC60 HYBRID, AN SUV THAT DELIVERS CLEANER, GREENER MOTORING WITH SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AND LUXURY

good friend of mine is a planner to the utmost.

He will always have a plan B and even a plan C just in case plan A goes awry. For him, driving a car powered by a hybrid system is reassurance that if the plan A electric battery runs out, then there is always plan B automatic switch to petrol or diesel. Volvo considers that hybrids are the part-time electric cars that will encourage confidence in and changes in people’s driving behaviour for a transition towards fully electric cars. The Volvo XC60 has a plug-in hybrid model with a powerful petrol engine and a battery powered electric motor. This delivers a virtually silent, zero emission city car, an astonishingly fast performance car or a reassuring allwheel drive car, all at the touch of a button. While

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emitting less CO2 emissions so you pay less road tax, this medium-sized SUV has so many other benefits which I discovered during my week of road testing.

CHARITY RUN Having spent lockdown clearing out my wardrobe, I took unwanted clothes to a charity warehouse in Shenstone. A lady came over to the car to give me some instructions and did a double take as she said: “Wow, I love the interior of your car. It is beautiful.” I received comments like that all week, but I was driving the top of the range trim – Inscription Pro. The power operated tailgate closed at the touch of a button as I unloaded black bags from the boot which will hold 483 litres and walked across the road to donate.

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MOTORING

There is a beautiful crystal gear lever which operates the automatic transmission with a light touch, forward or reverse. The powered glass tilt and slide panoramic sunroof provides an almost convertible-like driving mode as it stretches the length of the car but has a ‘sun curtain’ if required. I felt as if I was sitting on a cushion of air as the nappa soft leather seats have front seat cushion extensions. There is a front seat backrest massage option and plenty of space for long legs and many useful storage spaces.

Keyless start meant I could keep the keys in my pocket, too.

In a week of hot sunshine, the B pillar ventilation was of more use than the heated seats. A technology which I always find useful is the head-up display which provides information on the speed of the road, the speed the car is achieving and any sat-nav instructions.

FACTS AT A GLANCE Model: Volvo XC60 Inscription Pro Automatic Price: £60,855 otr Engine: Hybrid T8 Twin Engine AWD Performance: 0-62 in 5.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 140mph, capped to 112mp CO2 emissions: 47 g/km

SOUND CHOICE There is an option for a Bowers and Wilkins audio system with 14 speakers, a fresh air subwoofer and surround sound and voice activation which allows me to change the radio station, input an address in the sat-nav and even alter the cabin temperature – all without moving my hands from the steering wheel or my eyes from the road.

The XC60 has a theoretical top speed of 140mph but Volvo has announced that from 2020, all new cars are limited to 112mph. A ‘care key’ allows further speed restrictions if needed.

Whether taking a refined city drive or an exhilarating adventure there is little need for plans B or C when the very intuitive Volvo XC60 is in charge. It says it all when the company announces that by the end of 2020 its vision is that nobody shall be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo. I

SHOWROOM

Combined fuel consumption: 94.2-122.8 mpg WLTP.

Paul Rigby-Volvo Cars Birmingham, Chester Road, Erdington,

All electric range 27.3 to 33.6 miles

Birmingham, B24 0QY. Tel: 0121 382 1222 www.paulrigbygroup.co.uk

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

YAKUB SAUNDERS

FOLLOWING A NERVOUS WAIT, THE TALENTED YOUNG DANCER RETURNED TO OUR SCREENS AFTER BEING PICKED FOR THE BGT SEMI-FINALS

ur favourite pocket rocket is back on the BGT stage wowing judges with a moving performance to Elton John’s Can You Feel the Love? Ashley Banjo’s socks were blown right off as Yakub flipped and spun his way through a confident and touching performance. Yakub’s ‘buzzing to be back’ and managing to keep his nerves in check. He says: “I’m so excited. It’s the biggest and best thing I have ever done in my life.”

You might remember Yakub initially took to the Britain’s Got Talent stage in Brum with an explosive routine that left the judges agog. Aged just 10-years-old at the time, Yakub’s high energy moves to the Lion King’s He Lives in You lit up the Hippodrome. Four unquestioning nods from the judges were met with a

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quiet ‘thank you’ before Yakub headed off stage to hug his proud foster carer, Juliet.

It was Juliet who nurtured Yakub’s talent enrolling him at Mezzo Dance Company in Harborne and Stratford shortly after fostering him and his sister. Before then, Yakub had never danced in an official setting, but Juliet thought the siblings would benefit from the focus dance requires as well as building friendships and ultimately having fun. It turns out Yakub is naturally gifted and took to it straight away.

STANDING OVATION Despite having only a couple of lessons a week, Yakub trains non-stop at home on the tumble track in the garden. Juliet says that, taking into account the time

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

Yakub trains at home, he probably racks up around 12 hours. Having never danced in front of anything like the 4,000-strong crowd, Yakub’s nerves got the better of him in his dummy run at the initial BGT audition, but he rose to the occasion in his actual performance and nailed it receiving a standing ovation. Obviously Yakub’s dance teachers are incredibly proud of him.

Teacher, Adam says: “Yakub has always had that spark – he just needed to believe in himself a bit more. To have such an amazing talent at only 10 years of age is incredible. It is so rewarding for us to see one of our dancers do so well. We really believe in him. He is the hardest working little lad.”

Having had to persuade social services that it was a good idea for Yakub to enter the

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competition, Juliet was keen for BGT to be a positive experience whatever happened and thankfully it was. She says that everyone on the show has been lovely and particularly Ant and Dec are brilliant with Yakub backstage, so she can breathe a big sigh of relief.

CONFIDENCE BOOST After his semi-final performance, judge Ashley Banjo told Yakub: “You have everything apart from one thing – a little bit of self-belief.” Juliet thinks BGT has made a massive difference to Yakub’s confidence. She says: “Yakub has had an amazing BGT journey and making the semi-final has completely boosted his confidence.” I

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GROWING PLACES

CAREER GIRLS

BUDDING SAILOR

Max Morgan from Bromsgrove PrePreparatory School has completed his Royal Yachting Association Level 1 certificate – at the age of just five! Most sailing clubs don’t accept Level 1 learners until they are eightyears-old, but Abersoch Sailing School in north Wales made an exception after being contacted by Max’s parents. “We are so proud Max has achieved this at such a young age and we love how much he likes being on the water,” said his dad.

Moreton Hall school has been nominated for a top award to recognise the success of its Careers and Futures advice and guidance programme. The accolade in the Independent School of the Year Awards recognises the many initiatives introduced by Moreton’s careers team. For head of careers Catherine Ashworth, life skills co-ordinator Sarah Pritchard and senior sixth form tutor and UCAS advisor Caroline Lang, it’s an endorsement of the department’s commitment to young people.

SCHOOL REPORT

FRIENDS REUNITED When Hallfield School became co-educational in 1995, Amelia Derry, pictured, was the first girl to join and to mark the 25-year anniversary, the school held a reunion at Edgbaston Golf Club. The event also marked the launch of Hallfield Seniors which is an extension of the school’s educational offering to incorporate years 7 and 8 making Hallfield the only prep school in the city offering co-educational learning to aged 13.

PPE FOR SCHOOLS

Jaguar Land Rover has donated 1,000 reusable protective face visors to schools in Halewood, Warwickshire and the West Midlands as pupils returned to classrooms. Designed and produced by JLR, the visors were initially manufactured to fulfil the need for frontline NHS staff at the start of the pandemic. Each visor can be easily cleaned for reuse, ideal for school staff interacting with different groups of students each day.

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GROWING PLACES

BIG WIN

VIRTUAL SUCCESS

South and City College Birmingham has scooped a top award at the internationallyrenowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards. The vocational college was named winner of the Education and Training Services Sector award. The awards are open to organisations worldwide and entrants must demonstrate a robust and high-quality safety management system as well as consistently excellent or continuously improving health and safety performance.

Midland Expressway, operators of the M6toll, has handed Midlands Air Ambulance Charity a ÂŁ15,000 cash boost to launch its Sky Champs Education Programme online for teachers.

Throughout lockdown the charity provided Sky Champs education packs, which are in line with the National Curriculum, to help those working from home to occupy their children during school closures. The new funding will see education and training programmes support teachers and teaching assistants in Midlands schools.

TOP BRASS Awards for Young Musicians has invited 10 musicians from the region to join its 2020 awards programme after receiving a record number of eligible applications. Among those invited is Lily, pictured, who plays the tuba. All the award winners will receive a grant of up to ÂŁ2,000 to cover musical costs such as instruments, music lessons and travel.

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BUSINESS

HELPING KIDS AT A STROKE Fitness fans from a Birmingham outsourcing specialist have raised £5,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital with a charity 5k-a-day challenge. A team of 25 employees from Sigma Financial Group committed to 5,000 kilometres of fitness each day for 25 consecutive days. The challenge saw the group, based in the McLaren Building in the city centre, walk, run and cycle to achieve the target – with some paddle boarding, swimming and surfing thrown in for good measure, too.

BUSINESS

NEWS

ART IN THE YARD

A new art house is opening at Port Loop – Birmingham’s new island community – bringing culture to the doorsteps of new homeowners and the surrounding neighbourhood. YARD will be home to three resident artists and feature art and community space which will be open to Port Loop residents and the wider community, with a regular timetable of events. These will range from yoga classes to artist workshops, roundtable discussions, cook outs, live music and poetry nights.

BEM FOR ELSPETH A long-standing volunteer for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity was awarded the British Empire Medal for her charitable services to the lifesaving, rapid-response emergency organisation. Elspeth Martin shared her delight and surprise to receive the recognition saying: “When I received the congratulatory call, I was absolutely amazed.” Elspeth and husband Alan, a past mayor of Solihull, have dedicated their time to the service since the early 1990s.

Elspeth said: “I consider Midlands Air

SPRINTING TO SUCCESS Former 100-metre runner Stephen Emelieze is on his marks and all set to go with the launch of his first-ever gym in Birmingham city centre. Stephen, who worked as a sports coach and personal trainer after his running career ended, is putting the finishing touches to 5Ways Transformation Gym which opens this month in Islington Row in what was previously a bookmakers.

Stephen, who competed for the Nigeria national team for more than a decade, is creating 10 new jobs at the gym.

Ambulance Charity as family.”

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BUSINESS

TOP DOG MARIE PANDEMIC POET Birmingham businessman Jim Cockburn has launched a collection of Covid-19-inspired poetry after falling ill with symptoms of the virus back in February. Jim, who heads up Martin James Network in Edgbaston, was inspired to write Covid Spring – a collection of 17 poems reflecting on the world during the pandemic. Fellow Brummie and spoken word artist Amerah Saleh has brought a selection of the poems to life in a series of performances on Basic Existential Boy’s YouTube and social media channels.

Marie Yates, director of Birmingham’s Canine Perspective CIC (Community Interest Company) is one of only 22 leaders selected to join the first group of UK Acumen fellows – chosen for their commitment to bridging society divides and tackling injustice across the country. Canine Perspective is dedicated to bringing a new approach to recovery and resilience-building for survivors of rape and sexual violence, using the power of the human-canine bond.

TRUST’S NEW DUO

Birmingham Museums Trust has appointed Sara Wajid, pictured, and Zak Mensah as joint CEOs. The pair will join the charity in November, taking over from Dr Ellen McAdam who stepped down in June. Sara and Zak’s appointment represents the only instance of a shared CEO role among the group. Niels de Vos, chair of Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “Their experience, proven past results and openness to experiment and push boundaries is what made them stand-out candidates.”

APPEAL CASH

More than £3,300 was raised for Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity’s £3.5million Woodland House Appeal at the Great Birmingham Chambers of Commerce annual awards – thanks to generous donations from the audience, as well as a £2,000 gift from the Richardson Brothers Foundation. The appeal is aiming to provide a stand-alone

YOUTH BOOST Youth skills development has received a shot in the arm after it was revealed that a Birmingham engineering firm has provided innovative pre-apprenticeship spots for 60

bereavement centre at the Edgbaston hospital in

young people over the past five years. The milestone by leading engineering business, adi

support of families who have experienced

Group, was commemorated in a virtual ceremony for this year’s graduates that concluded

pregnancy or baby loss.

with a tribute video from West Midlands mayor, Andy Street. The evening saw parents and

DEVELOPING STORY

students gather online with senior adi personnel and programme mentors.

Story Comms has appointed Stephen Waddington, pictured, as a nonexecutive director as it targets its next phase of growth. The five-yearold agency plans to double in size in the next 18 months. Story has invested in content production, video production, digital and SEO services, during the pandemic. It is now targeting further regional expansion from its base in Birmingham. The agency works with corporates, B2B companies and the public sector.

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BUSINESS

DIGITAL WINNER BUSINESS BITES Moseley-based AI marketing specialist MCG Digital and Aston University have teamed up to create a new AI marketing tool for the business. The new application, initially developed for property developers, uses a set algorithm to identify and qualify investors quickly and effectively through e-mail and SMS text. MCG Digital founder Gez McGuire, pictured, said: “The new application will speed up transactions and better enable business to identify customers’ essential requirements.”

POWERHOUSE PROJECT

NAILING IT

Redditch commercial property agents John Truslove secured premises for two enterprising sisters to launch a high quality nail bar in the town centre. Szara Wahid and Gabriella Rozsa opened G&S Nails at The Kiosk, Alcester Street, after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

AGENCY DEAL

A major project is underway to convert an historic industrial site into a new £2.4million creative hub for artists. Daimler Powerhouse – once home to the world-famous car factory – will become a purpose-built and collaborative art production facility as part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021. Wigley Building and Development, the construction arm of the Wigley Group which owns Sandy Lane Business Park where the site is based, is

31 IN 31

Supporters of bereavement charity Edward’s Trust are gearing up to run, walk and hula hoop in its ’31 in 31’ virtual challenge event through October.

The event will help raise funds for the services provided to thousands of grieving families each year.

A major independent marketing services business has further strengthened its portfolio after adding highly respected events agency WRP to its group. The move by Sutton Coldfield WAA Group follows rapid and continued expansion into international markets.

undertaking the works for completion in March 2021.

ADAPTING TO COVID A digital studio is thriving despite the pandemic. Adaptable, which celebrated its seventh anniversary this summer, lived up to its name with one of its busiest-ever periods of new client partnerships and team growth. The Jewellery Quarter agency secured a major digital project for a historic UK-based consumer goods brand, as well as new client partnerships including globally-recognised Boss Design.

The business has also added Faye Jones as digital project manager and Heather Williams as digital designer.

LEADING THE WAY Midlands law firm Thursfields has unveiled a new leadership team. MD Nick O’Hara steps up to the new role of chairman with Michelle O’Hara taking over his position. Her role as head of employment is taken by Helena Morrissey, previously of Squire Patton Boggs (formerly Hammonds). Associate director Jade Linton becomes Thursfields’s HR business partner while Ian Bond joins as a director to head up the wills and estates department.

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RUSSELL & ATWELL WE TALK TO THE CO-FOUNDERS OF THE NEW BIRMINGHAM-BASED BRAND TO FIND OUT HOW THEY ARE DELIVERING FRESH

RESTAURANT QUALITY CHOCOLATES AT SUPERMARKET PRICES ho doesn’t like chocolate in their life? But there’s chocolate, and there’s chocolate – as Steve Russell and Giles Atwell are quick to point out. The duo with more than 30 years collective experience in chocolate started their new Birmingham-based business, Russell & Atwell, with a simple question: “Why are we still eating long-life chocolate if everything tastes better fresh?”

Of course, fresh chocolates can be bought at specialist boutiques, but you’re likely to pay a small fortune for one tiny piece made with Himalayan Goji Berries and other exotic flavours.

Steve said: “We set ourselves the ambitious challenge of making restaurant quality chocolates for supermarket prices.” Restaurant quality means chocolate made with fresh, high quality and sustainable ingredients. Supermarket prices have been achieved by selling direct to customers – so, no spending on fancy boutiques or advertising campaigns. Last month saw the launch of three new lines from Russell & Atwell, with more promised on the way.

W

WORLD CLASS Both men have backgrounds covered in chocolate! Steve was the global head of chocolate recipe design for Cadbury/Mondelez

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and Godiva (basically the Willy Wonka). Giles was on the commercial side, as marketing director of chocolate in Brazil, global head of candy at Mondelez.

“We knew of each other at Mondelez but met working on Godiva together where Giles was leading taking Godiva from boutiques into supermarkets around the world and I was leading the development of the chocolate recipes,” said Steve. “We hit it off immediately and the rest is history!” Founding Russell & Atwell has allowed both men to realise their life-long dream of creating the ultimate chocolate experience.

They set out by making hundreds of prototypes in search of their perfect chocolate recipe. Steve said: “We discovered unsurprisingly that the fresh products always tasted a whole lot better. It sounds simple but the chocolate bar was invented at the start of the 20th century and fridges didn’t appear in most people’s homes until the 1950s. So, for years chocolates have been ‘long life’.

“We went back to basics, building our recipes from scratch around five key ingredients.

Shedloads of sustainable cocoa, a dollop of fresh organic cream and butter from the Cotswolds, just enough sugar, a drizzle of British wildflower honey and a pinch of Dorset sea salt.”

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FEATURE

Russell and Atwell chose an artisan smallbatch UK manufacturer to produce their chocolate. Steve said: “We picked them because of their expertise in making high quality chocolate and also a family connection – they were Giles’s grandfather’s very first customer when he started a chocolate company in 1921.”

NEW CATEGORY Giles added: “Starting a business is never easy, especially in the middle of a pandemic! We’ve strived to keep all our costs, beyond the chocolates, as low as possible. We’ve got this far by entirely self-funding. Moving forward we are selling direct to consumers, longer-term we’d like to appear in cafes, delis and quality food retailers. Our ambition is to create a new ‘fresh chilled chocolate’ category, but we know that this will take a while!”

The guys know only too well what a competitive market they are in. “We’ll never out-spend the big

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guys,” said Giles. “We prefer to let our product do the talking, so we will try to get as many samples into people’s homes as possible (challenging during Covid)! We are also relying on ‘word of mouth’ – this has really helped us with our Kickstarter campaign where we were fully-funded in 48 hours and the world’s No1 Food Project.”

Crowd funding on Kickstarter provided the support to scale-up to the first 10,000 chocolate batch. Russell & Atwell is now developing a new salted caramel flavour in time for Christmas.

Better watch those waistlines guys! “I think Steve and I both carry a bit of timber, from trying a lot of chocolate over the years,” says Giles, “but we equally also try to stay in-shape!” I Russell & Atwell is fundraising on crowd-funding platform Kickstarter, becoming the most popular food project on the site: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thefreshchocolatiers/ russell-and-atwell-the-fresh-chocolatiers

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SOCIAL REWIND AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO MAKE THE RETURN OF NETWORKING AND PARTYING A DISTANT HOPE, WE LOOK BACK AT HOW IT USED TO BE WITH A REVISIT TO A COUPLE OF THE BEST SOCIAL EVENTS PRE-LOCKDOWN

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HOSPICE BOOSTED BY PHOENIX HIGH-FLIERS 3

St Mary’s receives welcome cash help thanks to Bootcamp Media

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irmingham St Mary’s Hospice was the beneficiary when city-based digital marketing company Bootcamp Media hosted the Phoenix Business Club networking lunch at Simpsons restaurant. The event raised more than £2,000 for the hospice which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.

The three-course lunch at the Michelin-starred restaurant brought together business professionals from across the city. I

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1 Paul Brown, Eleni Constantinou, Mark Linton. 2 Jaimon George, Jamil Shabir, Ryan Doyle. 3 Raj Chadha, Sandie Lehal. 4 Charlene Wall, Pamela Hodgetts. 5 Naomi Aly, Anita Champaneri. 6 Charlotte Wallace, Stuart Moseley, Chantelle Herbert. 7 Steve Brittan, Abid Khan. 8 Pinder Dhaliwal, Jamil Shabir, Ninder Johal.

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Photos by Edwin Ladd – Mr Ladd Media

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SOCIAL REWIND

COMEDY STARS SHARE A BIRTHDAY WITH GLEE 1

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Guz Khan led tributes to mark top club’s 25 years of laughter omedian Sara Pascoe and creator of BBC’s Man Like Mobeen, Guz Khan, headed a star-studded line-up when the Glee Club, Hurst Street celebrated its 25th anniversary. Also taking part in the special event were Shooting Stars’s Angelos Epithemiou, Canadian Mike Wilmot and regular compere Andy Robinson from Oldbury, who has been performing at the club for more than 20 years. Friends of the Glee and regular guests also joined in the celebrations. I

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1 Jemima Cox, Kate Glaze. 2 David Parkinson, Jonathan Noone. 3 Claire Tooke, Elin Dowsett. 4 Duncan and Fiona Burns. 5 Esther Cheung, Brian Smith. 6 Hannah and Stuart Haynes. 7 Matt Beck, Laura Still. 8 Laura Davis, Matt Gregor, Harriet Park-Davies, Alex Hill. 9 Neelam Ara, Faisal Aslam.

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WHAT: Gaydon Gatherings WHEN: 13 October

AS WE RETURN TO SOME KIND OF NORMALITY, A NUMBER OF INDOOR THEATRE,

WHERE: British Motor Museum, tel: 01926 927823

MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE VENUES ARE ABLE TO REOPEN WITH SOCIALLY DISTANCED AUDIENCES. HERE’S A ROUND-UP OF SOME EVENTS, BOTH LIVE AND VIRTUAL, TAKING PLACE THIS MONTH. PLEASE NOTE ALL MAY BE SUBJECT TO LASTMINUTE CHANGES OR CANCELLATION, SO BE SURE TO CHECK FIRST…

www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk The first in a series of brand-new monthly evening gatherings aimed at motoring enthusiasts. An opportunity for petrol heads to indulge their passion with likeminded people, these free-to-attend gatherings will offer special access to some fantastic vehicles from the collection rarely seen out of the museum.

WHAT: Krištof Kintera: THE END OF FUN! WHEN: Now until 22 November WHERE: Ikon Gallery, tel: 0121 248 0708 www.ikon-gallery.org A new flagship exhibition from the internationally acclaimed Czech artist known for his sculptural, often kinetic works imbued with a characteristic energy and imaginative wit.

Including work shown in the UK for the first time, a timely exhibition that probes pressing environmental issues.

WHAT: The Stranger Things Quiz WHEN: 22 October WHERE: The Old Crown, Deritend www.theoldcrown.com Fans of the hit TV series are invited to come and join a journey into the upside down for a night celebrating all three seasons of Netflix's record-breaking show. Prizes to be won with teams of maximum six people and over 18s only.

WHAT: Birmingham Literature Festival WHEN: 1 to 14 October WHERE: Online, www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org Circumstances dictate that this hugely popular festival will be online this autumn but there will be plenty on offer with a series of specially-commissioned podcast discussions, online writer workshops and one-off live digital events curated in partnership with Durham Book Festival.

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: The Writing of Stones, Gin Rimmington Jones WHEN: Now until 30 October WHERE: Argentea Gallery, St Paul’s Square www.argenteagallery.com A stunning exhibition of black and white photographs of a remote, semi-desert region in

WHAT: Lady Sanity

Southern Spain. These striking

WHEN: 16 October

images of the imposing marble quarries and deserted, dry-baked gorge of the Los Gasquez region speak to the appreciation of the natural world and suspension of time.

WHERE: THSH online via Facebook Available on Town Hall Symphony Hall’s Facebook and YouTube channels, this is a chance to watch Lady Sanity perform a never-before-seen set, accompanied by Ashley Allen and filmed at the world-renowned Symphony Hall.

WHAT: Rosie Kay WHEN: 21 November WHERE: Birmingham REP, www.birmingham-rep.co.uk The Birmingham-based award-winning choreographer returns to the stage to perform a new solo show with works that look backwards and forwards at her personal experience as a female in dance. Performed to a socially distanced audience, Absolute Solo II will also be live streamed to audiences at home.

WHAT: Van Gogh Alive WHEN: From 8 October WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome, www.birminghamhippodrome.com Van Gogh’s works have been exhibited and admired for more than a century – but never like this. The multi-sensory experience provides visitors with the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in his artistry and truly venture into his world through beautifully curated projections accompanied by a stunning classical soundscape.

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Image credit: Ian Wallman

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PERSON TO PERSON

CLOSE WITHÁ AMIT SHARMA THE DEPUTY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF BIRMINGHAM REP ON THE DECISION THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE AND THE CHALLENGES FACING THE THEATRE POST-LOCKDOWN BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I began my career with a company called Graeae (pronounced grey-eye) on a course called the Missing Piece aimed at tackling the lack of deaf and disabled people training to work as actors. Over the last 20 years I’ve performed and directed shows across the UK and internationally. I recently directed a show called One Under by Winsome Pinnock which came to the REP last year and The Solid Life of Sugar Water by Jack Thorne which came to the DOOR before finishing its tour at the National Theatre. I’ve also co-directed a couple of large-scale outdoor productions with a company called La Fura Dels Baus, as part of the London 2012 Festival and the UK-India Year of Culture. There were 150 deaf, disabled and non-disabled performers flying through the air!

IT’S WHAT I DO As the deputy artistic director at the REP, I support the artistic and creative work alongside artistic director Sean Foley and the team. My main responsibilities centre around our exceptional creative learning and participation team. I’m also responsible for artist development, especially early career artists. I also get to direct shows and support with programming in the theatre’s three spaces as well as reading scripts.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE Working at the REP is a big ambition fulfilled! I’d really love to get back to the theatre as quickly as possible as I miss the hub of the building and the hive of activity. I think there is the opportunity to engage even more with

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the variety of communities in Birmingham and make theatre and culture a massive part of the ongoing regeneration of the city.

BIGGEST SUCCESS Walking away from university at 19 to pursue a career in theatre. I have had the wildest of rides. That single decision changed the course of my life and I look back on it with utmost pride.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED Goodness – where do you start?! I think to have belief in myself and to trust the path ahead is the right one. To be kind to myself and others and make sure I have space then to make room for others.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM The people! Right from the minute go, I’ve been so generously welcomed. This place has a buzz to it!

DOWNTIME I wish! I have a three-year-old son… for those of you who know… you know!

FINALLY… We’re going through an unprecedented time at the moment. It’s important that we support each other as we navigate the rocky path ahead. I also feel that we have a duty to hear voices that haven’t been given the platform in the past. This doesn’t mean at the expense of anyone else.

Rather, that we have a genuine sense of equality across the board so no one gets left behind. I

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