Feel Alive Magazine Summer 2012 by Coventry City Council

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR COVENTRY CITY CENTRE

SUMMER 2012

sharp summer style FRE E

News, fashion and events for your city centre

contents

Editors Welcome

Summer 2012

latest news stories and Travel 04 The 28 City updates for your city centre Useful numbers to help get on developments and 10 Updates city centre improvements Woman 12 Aztec Fashionable trends and

On Classic 30 What’s So much to see and do over 14 Timeless Look and feel beautiful with the summer holidays these simple tips

What an exciting last few weeks we have had in Coventry city centre. The Olympic Torch, manufactured here in Coventry, returned to the city in July and was welcomed by 30,000 proud and passionate well-wishers; Olympic Football kicked off, witnessed by a global audience and putting the city at the heart of the world’s greatest sporting event; and with major new developments taking shape and plenty of new city centre events on show, there is lots to celebrate. We are also excited about our new look Feel Alive! We have de-cluttered, swept away the cobwebs and created a magazine which is richer in content and crammed with more information than ever before. From high street fashion to a huge What’s On feature and all of the latest news stories, gadgets, vouchers and interviews, we cover the lot. These fantastic changes are all down to you and the huge response we have received from our readers survey in the Spring. We would love to get your feedback on the latest issue, so why not get in touch? Have a great summer.

2012 29 London Sporting events in August/ September, perfect for all the family

high street favourites

One amazing summer!

you on your way

in Bloom 37 Coventry Gold winners three years 15 Swimwear Get set for the beach with our running, we have entered top swim picks

again in 2012

Men Cool and sophisticated outfits and accessories

Fragrance Collection Our selection of fragrant classics

Summer 18 Neon Fashionable garments for your little cherubs Review 20 Retailer Fascinating insight into our high streets charity shops to West in 20 Mins 22 East Delicious recipes that are quick and easy St Mary’s 25 Experience Guildhall One of the city’s historic and most exclusive venues

City Centre Map A fun bite sized map to help you find your way around

Choice 38 Editors The best tech, gadgets and innovations available on the high street Unsigned 40 Godiva Exclusive interview of winning band the Dark Actors Facts 42 Fun How many of these fascinating nuggets did you already know? Tours 43 Walking Brand new tours of your city centre, get signed up today! Day 44 Independents Another nine retailers go under the spotlight Rising Stars 48 Coventry’s We catch up with Coventry’s young stars in TV and Film Offers 50 Exclusive Exclusive money saving vouchers

Darren Taylor Editor and Staff Writer darren.taylor@coventry.gov.uk 024 7683 1385 Marc Dwyer City Centre Manager marc.dwyer@coventry.gov.uk 024 7683 1266

Stevie Keith Editor and Staff Writer stevie.keith@coventry.gov.uk 024 7683 3461

Design and Print Astwood Design Consultancy www.astwood.co.uk 01789 778111

Distribution George Cooke, Contributor Alex Myers, Contributor

JM Circular www.jmcircular.co.uk 024 7666 3069

Feel Alive magazine is entirely funded by the Business Improvement District (BID) for Coventry city centre and is operated by Coventry City Council. The BID contributes to security and CCTV, greening and cleaning of the city centre and marketing. Although every effort has been made to ensure this publication is as accurate and grammatically correct as possible, mistakes can happen and dates can change. Coventry City Council accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions from time of press. The views and opinions of the interviews in this magazine do not represent those of Coventry City Council and its employees.

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

NEWS

Calendar 30 Day Competition! Enter our official Coventry 2013 Calendar competition now and you could be one of the 12 chosen winners who would see their photo in print. To win, all you need to do is send us your photos of Coventry to feelalive@coventry.gov.uk or upload to our Flickr group www.flickr.com/groups/covcalendarcomp. We are looking for images that really showcase our city at its best; the landmarks, the iconic buildings, skylines and its special attractions. The official calendar will be available this October online and through our eShop on www.visitcoventryandwarwickshire. co.uk in all good book retailers and available in Tourist Information Centres around the region.

Time is running out so get your images in quick. Closing date August 31 2012.

Terms and Conditions Images must be between 3MB-8MB in size. Only images taken in Coventry will be chosen. Closing date August 31st. Winning photos will receive a copy of the calendar and name credit. Winning photos will be notified by email/ telephone. Please provide this information with your entries. All images will be used to help market the city through the website and online image galleries. 4

On the Buses Electric buses that can be charged in 30 minutes are now in operation in Coventry.

The three vehicles, owned by family firm Travel De Courcey, operate park and ride routes in the city. The ÂŁ1m scheme has been part-funded by the government and is the first rapid recharge system to operate in the UK. The new buses, which can carry up to 40 passengers at a time, also recharge their batteries under braking, similar to technology used in Formula 1 cars. Each bus will save about ÂŁ120 per day in fuel. The buses have also been part funded by Coventry City Council, Cenex and Centro.

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

NEWS

Priory Place

bringing the world to Coventry city centre Major changes are happening at Priory Place. In tune with the Olympics and Coventry’s increasingly international feel, the city’s ‘too cool’ continental piazza is being warmed up. The proposals under way will see the large bar units divided into 12 restaurants serving different food types from around the world. The square will also get a makeover taking it from a backwater to a buzzing hotspot with allweather outside eating in a central pavilion. On board already are Sushi, noodles, Nigerian and Indian street food, traditional fish & chips, a French/Indian café and Chinese and frozen yoghurt. Watch this ’Place’ for more details.

F i n e E s t a bl i s h m e n t Recently opened, The Establishment Bar & Grill has added a vibrant, sophisticated and modern twist to the historic, cobbled streets of Coventry’s Cathedral Quarter. Located in the Old County Hall on Bayley Lane, The Establishment is a welcome addition to the city centre. Serving fine British gastro food, daily specials and a selection of tempting cocktails, The Establishment has already proven to be popular with lunchtime workers and evening diners. This trendy new venue hosts a regular selection of DJ’s, live bands and a variety of entertainment mid-week and throughout the weekend. For the latest events and dining information call 024 7622 2727.

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NEWS

In Poll Position Staff at Coventry Transport Museum are celebrating after the museum was named ‘Best place to visit in the Midlands’ in a public poll from Heart FM. It topped attractions such as Warwick Castle, the National Sea Life Centre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Alton Towers to take the coveted title. The museum is home to the world’s biggest collection of British road transport, and there really is something for everyone to enjoy here. Admission to the museum is free of charge - find out more about Coventry Transport Museum at www.transport-museum.com.

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A Coventry Action Youth Team is giving the opportunity for young people to get involved in voluntary work to help raise the profile of volunteering in the area. As part of the experience you’ll gain firsthand knowledge of what they do and help out organising and planning future events. You’ll also be able to work as part of a team with likeminded, highly motivated people and attend regular fortnightly meetings. Coventry Youth Action Team is looking for 18-25 year olds who can help them out at events in the city. Young people can often be portrayed as ‘hooligans’ or looked badly upon by the general public as a result of negative press and so this is the perfect opportunity to help change public perception of the younger generation.

NEWS With the £7m Broadgate redevelopment finished in time for the Olympics in Coventry the Cathedral Lanes building is about to undergo a transformation of its very own. Consultation is currently taking place and the first artist plans have been drawn up to show how the finished building may look. The current building will be transformed to promote Coventry City Centre’s move towards a retail haven, attracting more high street businesses and opening up into the new Broadgate space, improving the look and atmosphere for residents and creating a vibrant buzz for visitors.

Cathedral Lanes Transformation COVENTRY

ROOTS If you would like to become a volunteer, or would like more information on volunteering in general please contact: The Volunteer Centre, 26 City Arcade, Coventry, CV1 3HW. Tel: 024 76220381 Email: volunteering@vacoventry.org.uk www.vacoventry.org.uk

y il eir sGaller ema in th ot llery om or jo om/Ro e ga c .c ct th gmail. cebook @ onta To c roots www.fa e ery. gall ook pag b Face

Coventry City Council is delighted to announce a new tenant for the former Glass Box, located in central Coventry. Artist and Curator Sian Conway has been awarded 12 months to manage and curate the iconic city centre space which has reopened as ‘Roots Gallery’, located off Earls Street.

The gallery has a history of showcasing a range of visual art works and projects by local community organisations and artists, including student and graduate exhibitions. The City Council has appointed Sian Conway to build on this existing structure, bringing a strong artistic flair to develop a new vision for the gallery programming whilst improving and strengthening links with local community organisations and artists.

Roots Gallery will re-establish the Glass Box space as a dynamic space for contemporary visual art and will be driven by the desire to support and promote creative talent within the city. Artists at all stages of their career are welcome to exhibit at the gallery and will be supported in doing so. FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

NEWS

New Openings at The Terrace The food court at West Orchards has always been the hub of the shopping centre with 1.1 million people eating there each year. New food outlets are coming this autumn, offering more diversity and choice to an already impressive selection. These include Rubens, serving fantastic light Indian cuisine, Spuds & Pies, Pizza Corner and City Fryer, a brand new chip shop unit.

Premier Traveller now open! Following the recent closure of GAME in West Orchards, Premier Traveller will be opening in the centre. They specialise in travel products, a great range of suitcases plus some specialist motor cycle accessories, helmets and clothing.

New Look The city centre’s High Street branch of Subway has seen a fantastic new re-model take place, just in time for summer snacking! Now almost 10 years since the store first opened, the premises has seen a fresh lick of paint along with newly fitted soft furnishings and renewed features. Don’t forget, you can now choose from a range of nine freshly made Subs and ANY regular drink for just £3 leaving you with no excuse not to pop in. (Terms and conditions apply) 8

Spotlight Bride Wedding Gowns by Susan Graley are holding an open weekend during 11-12 August where brides to be can sample exquisite, designer vintage-style gowns to help inspire that flawless fairy tale dream. For more information on this event call 024 7622 1450 or visit www.weddinggowwnsbysusan.co.uk FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

the

NEWS

Queen

Go Nuts!

Looking for a professional, friendly and respectable tattoo studio? Then look no further than ‘Queen of Hearts Tattoo Parlour’, located off Hay Lane, right next door to Pizza Express in Coventry city centre. This fresh, new and friendly tattoo studio is home to the creative artistic talents of tattooist Natalie Oughton, one of the most respected female tattooists in Coventry. The tattooists at Queen of Hearts Tattoo Parlour offer a free tattoo design and custom tattoo service in a modern, clean and hygienic tattoo studio. Specialising in custom design and skilfully turning any idea into reality, Natalie and the team provide a professional service to help you make your mark. Go online at www.queenofheartstattoo.com email info@queenofheartstattoo.com Tel: 024 7696 0807

As an established city centre retreat for hungry customers, The Squirrel pub has continued to work alongside local suppliers in order to launch their fantastic new menu! Using the freshest ingredients, dishes are homemade by an experienced chef, serving clean and contemporary dishes to suit every palate including tasty burgers, deliciously crisp salads and fantastic pasta options. Premium wines and quality beers are available to accompany your meal or should you wish for something a little lighter, freshly brewed coffee or an array of soft drinks are also offered. The suntrap outside area to the front and rear of the pub is comfortable and heated throughout the year, and is complimented with a splash of floral décor and greenery. Set in a stylish, laid back environment, The Squirrel is somewhere to relax throughout the week; with both a new look food and wine menu to tempt you, be sure to try the new creations and specials on offer! FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Just the start for city centre...

012 is proving to be a really special year for Coventry, but it’s not all about the Olympics. It’s also about continuing the improvement in the city centre, with the new look Broadgate, the link between the station to Bull Yard and increasing the number of city centre events. Coventry City Council Leader Cllr John Mutton says that ‘Visitors to the city have been getting a brilliant, warm welcome – even if the good weather can’t always be guaranteed’. He added ‘Part of the welcome that visitors are experiencing is as a result of positive changes to the city centre. The first area of grass in the heart of Coventry has now been laid outside Holy Trinity Church – just around the corner from Broadgate and the extension of Greyfriars Green looks equally as fantastic in Bull Yard.

The improvements are all in response to local people who were clear they wanted to see a greener city centre. Broadgate is now a fantastic new events space in the heart of the city centre, with a packed events calendar. Now we need to secure planning permission for the city centre south plan and a developer so we can turn the plan into reality’. New Broadgate pictured right and BELOW

Godiva statue gets a makeover B roadgate is shaping up to be the ideal venue for events this summer and the Lady Godiva Statue now has a floral feature to confirm its place at the heart of the city. The redeveloped square is already creating a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere and shoppers and visitors are being encouraged to get along to a range of events.

Reinventing Far Gosford Street E lsewhere in the city centre, Far Gosford Street improvements are shaping up and a giant mural is the latest addition to one of Coventry’s most historic streets. The eye-catching artwork illustrates the major regeneration of Far Gosford Street, which involves the restoration of buildings dating back to the 16th century. Cllr Lynnette Kelly, Cabinet Member for Coventry City Council’s

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

City Development, said: “The mural has turned a redundant and derelict space, which is earmarked for a proposed retail and residential development, into a really colourful, interesting and lively feature.” She added that it reflects the plans to restore and reinvent Far Gosford Street as a thriving creative quarter and will hopefully help in attracting more creative enterprises to the area.

Coventry

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ork Helping local people into w If you are looking for work, come and talk to the Employment Team. We can help you apply for vacancies which are not advertised elsewhere, allocate you a personal advisor and support you to access training and workshops so you have the right skills for work. Our support is FREE and includes: Personal one-to-one support from an experienced advisor Access to our Work Club - including use of computers and phones to look for work Help to get your CV up-to-date and to complete application forms A range of workshops including interview techniques and selling your skills to employers Advice and skills training relevant to the industry you want to work in If you are a young person aged between 16 and 24, we provide advice and guidance around learning and work and paid placements with a range of Coventry employers and apprenticeship or training opportunities. We also provide extra support if you are a disabled person, someone with a health issue, if you are being supervised by the Probation Service, are specifically looking for work in construction or if your family circumstances make finding a job more challenging. Come and see us at the Job Shop in Hertford Street and see what we can do for you. e-mail: em

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Be bold and prepare for summer with glam, Aztec prints alongside a splash of chic and neon attitude. Experiment with tribal designs teamed with muted, pastel accessories for a catwalk inspired look. 4 1

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FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

1. Next Sunglasses £10 / 2. Next Wedges £50 / 3. Next Belt £6 / 4. Debenhams Dress £40, Jacket £40, Satchel £29, Wedges £38 / 5. Debenhams Dress £80, Cuff £15 / 6. Primark Waist Coat £12, Trouser £10, Top £5, Necklace £4, Sunglasses £2, Wedges £16, Belt £5 / 7. Monsoon Key ring £6 / 8. Warehouse Playsuit £30 / 9. Primark Visor £4, Hoops £2.50, Bra Top £5, Skirt £7 / 10. Monsoon Top £42, Trousers £45, Scarf £22 / 11. New Look Crochet Top £24.99, Jacket £29.99, Shorts £19.99, Bag £14.99, Wedges £24.99 / 12. Next Wedges £48 / 13. Next Bag £28 / 14. Accessorize Sunglasses £15 / 15. Bon Marche Vest £4.50, Shorts £8, Necklace £6 / 16. Bon Marche Blouse £15, Tankini Top £12, Shorts £12.50 / 17. Monsoon Playsuit £58 / 18. Debenhams Sandals £32 / 19. Next Belt £12 / 20. Shoe Zone Sandals £9.99

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Timeless Classic (Source: www.vogue.co.uk)

Year upon year, Dame Helen Mirren continues to triumph with her dazzling good looks and effortless taste in fashion; however, the red carpet star insists that she really is very low maintenance! In that case, how are we able to mimic her classic, celeb style at home?

ame Helen Mirren said she was amazed that she had become a style icon at 65 - and that she didn’t think of herself as stylish. “I think it’s great, I’m so surprised by it,” Mirren said. “At my age, it’s like: Wow, that’s so cool. I never thought that might happen. And I think of myself as sort of a bag lady, really. I wash up nice, but mostly I’m not very stylish.” Helen insists that she relies heavily upon her beauty sleep whilst preferring a healthy, balanced diet to quick-fix weight loss trends. Confessing that just like you and I, occasionally Helen’s weight will fluctuate, she upholds that eating a little less whilst maintaining a healthy exercise regime keeps her in tip-top condition. Similarly, admitting that she rarely visits a hairdressing salon, perhaps we can take some inspiration from Helen’s laid back and low-key beauty regime? Helen’s minimal makeup routine consists of using neutral, natural tones alongside a flash of vivid red lipstick for those extra special, star studded events. Revealing that fourinch platforms are her secret to longer looking legs, we hail nononsense Helen our celeb style hero this summer!

If you’d like to mimic Helen’s look, why not sample our favourite beauty products available to you right here in Coventry city centre. Lily Cole - Lip & Cheek Dome (The Body Shop - £10) Cream-to-powder colour for lips and cheeks that’s easy to wear and easy to blend; wear it just as it is or under lip gloss. They’re limited edition so don’t miss out catch them while you can!

No7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream (Boots - £21) No7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream visibly improves fine lines and first signs of ageing! Now contains ultra UV-Ageing Protection.

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finishing Lipstick (Superdrug - £5.49) Developed by Kate Moss for Rimmel’s exclusive signature collection, these products exude red carpet glamour. Creating gorgeous, hypnotizing tones that will make them look, and then look again. Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth (The Body Shop - £22) The Body Shop’s certified organic range has been created to fight the first signs of ageing. This innovative concentrate helps to enhance surface skin condition, leaving it looking smoother, fresher and healthier.

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Next Bikini £14 Brief £12 Bon Marche Swimsuit £15

Primark Bikini £5 Brief £3

Debenhams Swimsuit £38

Primark Bikini £5 Brief £3 Hat £4

Swimwear

M&S Swimsuit £29.50

Ladies, team feminine curves with figure fitting, patterned swimwear. Animated, vibrant prints flatter every size and shape whilst tropical, Hawaiian inspired designs remain popular this season.

M&S Vest £19.50 Bikini Brief £15 M&S Swimsuit £29.50 Earrings £9.50 Debenhams Swimsuit £42

Bon Marche Swimsuit £16

Primark Swimsuit £8 Bangle £3 Rucksack £8

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Next Bikini £16 Brief £12

Chaps, combine your trendy chinos with vibrant stripes and essential summer plimsolls. Blocked colour and laid-back apparel compliment tailored, summer pieces. 1

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1. Primark Vest £5 Jeans £19 Plimsoll £8 Belt £4 Bracelet £2 / 2. Next Jacket £64 Trousers £35 Shirt & Tie Set £28 Boots £30 / 3. Primark T-Shirt £7 4. Debenhams Rucksack £30 / 5. Next Boots £35 / 6. Bank Vans £40 / 7. Primark Jacket £12 Vest £4 Trouser £15 Plimsoll £8 / 8. Debenhams Sunglasses £9.50 9. Marks & Spencer Belt £25 / 10. Debenhams Jacket £55 T-Shirt £18 Shorts £38 11. Next Bag £35 / 12. Next Belt £13 / 13. Bank £40 / 14. Debenhams Shirt £40

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1. DKNY - Summer WOMEN (The Perfume Shop - 100ml £37.50) A colourful medley of sparkling Clementine and Pomegranate, accented with a touch of luscious Green Papaya, a sexy, energetic introduction that captures the spontaneity of summer in New York. 2. STELLA McCartney - Summer Rose (Debenhams - 100ml £39) Stella Summer Rose by Stella McCartney is a floral, fruity fragrance for women. For 2012, Stella McCartney reinterprets the classic Sheer Stella and celebrates summer with a new beautiful Limited Edition bottle.

Fragrance Collection Leading season fragrances are readily available to you right here in Coventry city centre; enhance your summer style with our pick of the best.

3. MARC JACOBS - Daisy (Boots - 20ml £25) In an unexpected twist, characteristic of Marc Jacobs, the luxe Daisy fragrances are transformed into playful flowers. Daisy classic is a sparkling floral bouquet wrapped in comfort and warmth; fresh and feminine, with playful innocence. 4.VIVIENNE WESTWOOD - Cheeky Alice (The Perfume Shop - 30ml £31.50) The new fragrance from Vivienne Westwood is this feminine and provocative perfume which perfectly embodies our Cheeky Alice. At the heart of this cheeky and delightful fragrance is a fresh and floral bouquet that perfectly captures Alice’s femininity and impertinence. 5. DKNY - Summer MEN (The Perfume Shop - 100ml £33.50) Captivating from the start, the invigorating energy of summer in New York is embodied with a fresh and luminous burst of Yuzu and Grapefruit, enhanced with White Pepper hues. 6. JOOP - Summer Ticket (Debenhams - 125ml £33) With summer coming, there is a whole world of undiscovered destinations to visit and great, new encounters to make. The new Joop! Limited Edition for summer 2012 brings the power of seduction to every man - no boundaries, more possibilities! 7. BOSS BOTTLED SPORT (Superdrug 100ml £47.99) The BOSS BOTTLED SPORT man is primed to succeed; competitive, driven and ambitious. The immediate hit of the sharp citrus top notes of grapefruit, yuzu zest and pink peppercorn heightens the senses, helping increase the mind and body reflexes.

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8. PAUL SMITH - Sunshine Edition (The Perfume Shop - 100ml £25.50) This fragrance was created to transport you to a radiant summer’s day. Full of energy and fun, the fragrance is a burst of sunshine in a bottle!

1. Monsoon Dress £40 Cardigan £18 Bandeau £5 / 2. Debenhams Dress £18 / 3. Marks & Spencer Top from £22 Skirt from £9 Sandals from £10 4. New Look Jacket £14.99 Dress £29.99 Bangle Set £4.99 Sandals £6.99 5. Next Blouse & Shorts Set £16 6. Debenhams Dress from £15 Jacket from £14 Trilby £8 Sandals from £12 7. Next T-Shirt £5 / 8. Next Jelly Shoe £6.50 / 9. Debenhams Shoe from £7 / 10. Next T-Shirt £6 11. Marks & Spencer T-Shirt from £6 Shorts from £9 (2 pack) 12. Monsoon 4 Piece Suit Set from £45 / 13. Monsoon T-Shirt £16 Trousers £22 Aviators £7 Jumper £24 / 14. Frolic Toms Youth Classic £25.99 / 15. Next Desert Boot £15 / 16. Debenhams Short & T-Shirt Set from £9

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For younger fashionistas; comfortable, neon shades teamed with trendy stripes or Aztec prints reflect current adult trends. 15

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Retailer

We’ve taken some time getting to grips with the fantastic work undertaken by the dedicated staff and volunteers who work within the numerous charity shops found in Coventry city centre. Occasionally misunderstood, these unique stores are jam packed with goodies; selling stylish, vintage clothing, fascinating books, home ware and more.

Review

By selling goods donated by the public, nearly £170 million is raised for charity every year nationwide; a further use is being provided for many items that might otherwise have gone to landfill. An estimated 363,000 tonnes of clothing and other textiles pass through charity shops every year providing good quality, affordable clothing and other items to those in need. Harnessing the skills of more than 180,000 volunteers nationwide; charity retail promotes charitable causes and an environmentally sustainable retail experience. If each UK household donated one extra black bin bag of clothing each year, we could save 25 million bags from landfill and raise over £740 million for charity. Clothes which cannot be sold in-store can be sold to textile merchants to raise money for other good causes. (source: www.charityretail.org.uk)

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Oxfam – Store Profile We put some of our questions to Andrew Clarke, manager of Coventry city centre’s Oxfam store to find out more… 1. HOW DOES THE CUSTOM OF COVENTRY SHOPPERS BENEFIT THE OXFAM CHARITY? “All profits from the shop go to support our overseas project work all around the world. Donations help alleviate poverty and suffering in crisis situations, deliver emergency relief and provide further sustainability and development.” 2. WHAT VARIETY OF PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOUR CUSTOMERS? “In the shop we sell books and music items along with posters, comics and graphic novels. We also sell greetings cards and fair trade food and/or gifts alongside ethically sourced and environmentally friendly cleaning products.” 3. ARE THERE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT OXFAM AND/OR OTHER CHARITIES? “We sell products through the Oxfam online shop website that also includes clothing, toys, bric-a-brac and a wider range of fair trade and ethical gifts. There is a fundraising part of Oxfam which people are able to get involved in should they wish - details can be found on the website www.oxfam.org.uk” 4. DO YOU OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS? “Yes, we need volunteers with a passion and knowledge of books and music to help in the store. We also need people with an interest and knowledge of computers to help list, photograph and sort stock to sell on our online shop.”

Why not try the city centre’s other charity outlets? British Heart Foundation 47-49 Hertford Street, CV1 1LF British Heart Foundation - Furniture and Electrical 25-35 Market Way, CV1 1DF Cancer Research UK 7 Trinity Street, CV1 1FJ ExtraCare 54 Corporation Street, CV1 1GF Scope 37 Hertford Street, CV1 1LF The Myton Hospices 51 Trinity Street, CV1 1FJ For further information on the benefits of charity retail, please visit www.charityretail.org.uk FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

5. HOW DO CHARITY SHOPS SUCH AS OXFAM HELP THE ENVIRONMENT? “We have a strong approach to helping the environment, not only in things that we sell in the shop i.e chemical free and recycled cleaning products, stationary etc. but we also have our own recycling facilities for clothing and books meaning neither of these go to landfill.” 6. DO OXFAM HOLD ANY FUNDRAISING EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES LOCALLY? “We are keen to get involved in local activities when we can to raise the profile of the shop itself. October will see the shop celebrate its 40th birthday in Hertford Street and we will be marking the milestone locally. We have fundraisers who collect donations door-to-door and a local team who help organise Oxjam events throughout the year.” 7. WHAT KIND OF DONATIONS DO YOU REQUIRE AND HOW CAN WE DONATE THESE? “We are always looking for donations of books and music that are in good condition to re-sell. Also, any comics/ graphic novels plus TV, music and film related memorabilia. Film and music posters, stamps, coins and ephemera are also appreciated. We can also accept donations of good quality clothing, accessories, bric-a-brac plus toys and games at the shop to sell online, however due to space constraints, if people have large quantities of donations, we’d ask that these be taken to the Oxfam branch of Walsgrave Road. Unfortunately, we don’t have a collection service so we ask if customers could drop them off at the shop, it would be much appreciated. Please contact the shop beforehand if you should need to deliver to the back door of our shop, thank you.”

You can find the Oxfam store at 74, Hertford Street. For more information, please call 024 7622 9684. 21

Eastern flavour meets Western classics from the comfort of your very own home with these sumptuous dishes infused with a special oriental twist.

Duck Stir Fry Succulent Duck breast marinated with sweet honey and finely chopped chilli creates a perfectly blended taste sensation guaranteed to get those taste buds dancing. Why not compliment the duck with slightly seasoned egg noodles and a variety of fresh vegetables adding texture and colour to your dish. Coventry market is a great place to find authentic ethnic ingredients and spices, as well as seasonal vegetables to help make this perfect dish. No time to cook? Treat yourself at one of the many restaurants in Coventry city centre offering that taste of Asia including China Red in Hertford Street, China Express in Priory Place and Cosmo in Corporation Street which provide a huge selection of oriental delights.

Method Score the skin of the duck breast and place skin-side down in a cold frying pan. Set over a medium heat and fry gently until the skin has browned. Turn the breast over and drizzle the honey over the skin. When the duck breast has cooked through, take off the heat and leave to rest for 5 minutes. Cut into thin slices. Cook the noodles following the instructions on the packet. 22

Heat the olive oil and sesame oil in a wok or frying pan. Add the chilli, garlic, ginger, carrots, mange tout, peppers and spring onions. Pour over the mirin and soy sauce and stir-fry for a few minutes. Add the noodles and coriander stalks and toss together. Spoon into serving bowls, fan the duck pieces over the top and sprinkle over the coriander leaves. FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Recipe

Source: Tana Ramsay Good Food Channel Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 20 min 1 Duck Breast 1 Tbsp of Honey 200 (G) Egg Noodles 1 Tbsp of Olive Oil 1Tbsp of Sesame Oil 1 Finely Chopped Red Chilli 1 Finely Chopped Clove of Garlic 3 (cm) Strips of Ginger Handfuls of Baby Carrots Handfuls of Sugar Snap Peas or Mangetout 1 Red Pepper Cut into Strips Handfuls of Spring Onion Cut into Strips 1 Tbsp Mirin 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce Handfuls of Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves

Duck and Sautéed Parsnips Classic British ingredients marinated with lemon and parsley and finished with a rich, fruity brandy and blackcurrant glaze. To add an even more traditional British feel to the dish the Coventry Farmer’s Market offer great locally sourced products that can be lightly seasoned with an array of spices or honey for those with a sweet tooth. There is also Abantu or Walter Smith butchers in Coventry city centre, each serving delicious joints of fresh meat as a supplement to Duck. The newly opened Terrace Bar and Grill on Ryley Street is just one example of Coventry’s restaurants offering traditional British dishes with a contemporary twist, as well as The Castle on Little Park Street and Blue Bistro and Restaurant on Spon Street.

Recipe

Source: Jan Cutler allrecipes.co.uk Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 20 min 250 (g) of Small Parsnips Peeled and Sliced 2 Onions Cut into 8 Wedges 4 Duck Breast Fillets 1 Tbsp of Sunflower Oil 8 Tbsp of Brandy 4 Tbsp Blackcurrant Squash / Cordial 1 Juice of a Lemon Parsley to Garnish

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Method Cook the vegetables: Put the parsnips and onions into a large pan and pour in boiling water to cover. Bring back to the boil, then cover and reduce the heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and return to the pan. Crisp the duck skin: While the vegetables are cooking, prick the duck skin all over without cutting into the meat. Heat the sunflower oil in a frying pan over a high heat and add the duck breasts, skin side down. Reduce the heat and cook, pressing the duck occasionally (but not turning the pieces), for 5 minutes or until the fat has run and the skin is crisp and very well browned. Brown the vegetables: Drizzle 2 tbsp of the duck fat over the parsnips and onions, and mix well, leave to brown. Stir and turn the parsnips and onions occasionally, adding seasoning to taste. The parsnips should remain firm and the pieces of onion should be tender but slightly crisp in places. Finish cooking the duck: Pour off the remaining excess fat from the frying pan and turn the duck breasts over. Cook them for 10-15 minutes, turning over once more. after 15 minutes they should be cooked through but still pale pink in the middle and succulent. Make the glaze: Add the brandy, blackcurrant squash or cordial and lemon juice to the frying pan. Bring to the boil for about 30 seconds, stirring in all the sediment from the pan, to reduce the mixture to a sticky, aromatic sauce. 23

Vegetable Stir Fry This dish offers a creative and tasty alternative for vegetarians based on an oriental classic. With a selection of vegetables such as asparagus, red pepper, mushrooms and garlic cloves plus a hint of freshly ground black pepper helping to spice up the mix, it’s a delicious and colourful dish. Tesco Express, Marks and Spencer’s, Joe Richards Greengrocers and Sainsbury’s all offer a wide choice of vegetables to help you create this dish. Coventry’s City Centre also has many eateries that offer vegetarian meals including Bella Italia in Belgrade Plaza, Nando’s in Trinity Street and Pizza Express in Hay Lane offering great quality food and a diverse choice.

Method Heat Oil in a large nonstick skillet Add all the vegetables, now add sesame seeds & toss it well, then add all the seasonings except salt. Put the flame on high and cook it for 5 - 6 mins for that crunch needed in this recipe, you can cook more if desired. Add salt (optional) Mix it very well. Serve Hot. I would just eat them alone.....Works great as a side dish with Plain Rice / Indian flat bread / or with any other main course.

Recipe

Source: Muskaan at A2Z Healthy Vegetarian Cuisine Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 20 min 1 Tbsp of Oil 4 Spring Onions cut into 2, ½ cm Lengths 4 Crushed Garlic Cloves 2, ½ cm lengths of Ginger 100 (g) Mangetout 100 (g) Baby Corn 100 (g) Baby Asparagus 1 Diced Red Pepper 100 (g) of Sliced Mushrooms 2 Tomatoes Skinned, Deseeded and Chopped 1 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce Freshly Ground Black Pepper 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3 Tbsp Sesame Seeds 1 Tbsp Dried Coriander Powder 3 Tbsp Taco Seasoning Mix 1 Tbsp of red Chilli Flakes (Optional) 1 Tbsp Tumeric Powder

Breakfast served from 8am... Our food court is changing... We will bring new exciting tastes for you soon Meanwhile enjoy KFC Cocoa Caffe Subway Love Shake & McDonalds

...great fresh food all day

westorchards.co.uk

St. Mary’s Guildhall Bayley Lane Coventry Tel: 024 7683 3328 www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk

Experience… St Mary’s Guildhall T

ucked away on the picturesque Bayley Lane, facing the dramatic ruins of the old Cathedral, it is easy to miss St. Mary’s Guildhall, but venture through its medieval gates and vaulted porch, and you will discover one of Coventry’s greatest historic treasures.

glass windows and decorated roof carvings of the soaring Great Hall, to the stone vaulting of the Undercroft, and the Armoury’s half-timbered walls. Throughout the rooms are fascinating relics of the past, with original paintings of Kings and Queens, elegant sculpture, arms and armour, and the stunning, nine metre wide Coventry Tapestry – a 500 year old masterpiece that is one of the rarest and most important tapestries in the country. A grand history Regarded as probably the finest surviving medieval guildhall in the country, St. Mary’s was built in the 1340s for the wealthy merchant guild of St. Mary, as an impressive base for their grand banquets, ceremonies and meetings.

From the delightful central courtyard, arched doorways lead you to a series of rooms that ooze historic charm and interest at every turn, from the beautiful stained

1687, a guest leaned on a heavilyladen table which tipped over, showering the royal party with food. Even us ordinary folk can get to feel like a VIP, as the Guildhall is available to you as a prestigious venue for unforgettable weddings, celebrations and corporate events. Visitor value St. Mary’s Guildhall is free to visit, which should appeal to families and groups on a tight budget, and even your taste buds get to share in the experience, as the atmospheric Undercroft also houses Godiva’s, a popular café restaurant.

A venue fit for royalty From its earliest times, to the present day, the Guildhall has been the venue of choice for the city to entertain royalty and visiting VIPs, sometimes with comic incident: at a banquet for King James II in FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Take a closer look at Coventry city centre this summer With more events than ever happening in the heart of the city, we’re trying to make it easier for visitors and local people to get around and enjoy what’s on offer this summer. If you have friends or relatives visiting the city why not catch up on the London 2012 celebrations and use this Coventry city centre map to help you get out and about in the city centre? A new look pedestrian friendly Broadgate Square is shaping up as an ideal events venue and the Live Site screen in Millennium Place is a great location to catch up on all the action. They’re among the many central locations that you can make the most of in the coming months. So take a closer look at your city centre and be part of the celebrations! For more details go to www.visitcoventryandwarwickshire.co.uk

Broadgate heart of the action!

Look out for these topiary figures around the city

*Free shuttle bus pick-up/drop off; every 5 minutes only on match days

Car parking

Toilets

Disabled toilets

Information

City centre tours and trails

Coventry Cathedral

The map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stationery Office. ÂŠ Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Coventry City Council 100026294. 2012

Olympic rings outside the City of Coventry Stadium

Live Site - interacting with the giant TV in Millennium Place

Citytravel Coventry is one of the most accessible shopping locations in all of the UK, situated right at the heart of the country. You can effortlessly arrive either by car, bus, coach or train! We’ve provided some useful contacts below, along with the relevant travel information to make your trip to Coventry city centre even easier!

by bus

by rail

There are two bus-based Park & Ride sites serving the North and South of Coventry. Each site is conveniently located for drivers to park and complete their journey into the city centre by bus.

With newly improved accessibility, Coventry station is just a five minute walk from the centre of Coventry, and is served by three of the main train operators including Virgin Trains, London Midland and Cross Country Trains.

Park & Ride North Austin Drive, Courthouse Green, CV6 7NS 163 free parking spaces Park & Ride South Memorial Park, Kenilworth Road, CV3 6PT

by car

402 free parking spaces

The A45, A46 and A5 serve as main arterial routes around Coventry; the city centre offers a whole host of affordable, safe and accessible car parking facilities. For full details, please visit www.coventry.gov.uk or call 024 7683 3671/3650.

and journey details at all places where services meet; Coventry’s Pool Meadow bus station is located in Fairfax Street, CV1 5RX.

For all bus routes, timetables and fare information including the Park and Ride, please visit www.networkwestmidlands.com or call Traveline (public transport info) on 0871 200 22 33. You will find timetable information at bus stops alongside improved maps

For rail questions, timetable and fare enquiries, below are some useful points of call for further information: National Rail Enquiries 0845 748 4950 Virgin Trains 08719 774 222 London Midland 0800 092 4260 Chiltern Railways 08456 005 165 For any further information you may require regarding your journey to visit us here in Coventry city centre, please do not hesitate to call our local Tourist Information Centre on 024 7622 5616.

Anyone for tennis? Exciting NEW Community Tennis Club comes to the War Memorial Park War Memorial Park Community Tennis Club caters for all ages and abilities who want to play tennis in a friendly and social atmosphere. The membership is based on 4 newly refurbished, floodlit courts, plus 2 new mini tennis courts. This now provides a fantastic venue to play tennis.

£35

JOIN NOW!

Membership only per year • Free court usage, 7 days a week • Club nights and social play • Free coaching session with every • Online Booking system membership • Key fob access to courts • Under 9’s join free • Free entry into annual competition Inspire2coach offer a full programme of coaching, competition and match play for all ages and standards. Visit the website for further details, terms and conditions and membership options at www.warmemorialparktennis.co.uk or phone 024 7615 0688.

London 2012 in Coventry www.coventry.gov.uk/london2012

There are plenty of events and activities that you can get involved in here in Coventry during London 2012. See the August and September events calendar below.

Paralympic Torch Celebration

Highlights:

Coventry has been chosen as one of 34 communities across the country to host a Flame celebration as part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay.

Super Saturday – a medal-winning weekend On Saturday 4 August why not enjoy the London 2012 sporting action at Coventry’s Live Site big screen.

Rita Tompson, 86, has been chosen as Coventry’s Paralympic Ambassador and has the honour of collecting the Flame from London alongside Coventry’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Tim Sawdon.

Want to play a new sport, return to a sport from your past, volunteer or just support your local club.

On Saturday 25 August the city will celebrate disability sport, art and culture as part of the nationwide Flame celebrations with an event in Millennium Place from 2pm – 5pm.

Saturday 18 August, Millennium Place

More information: www.coventry. gov.uk/paralympic-flamecelebration

For more details go to: www.coventry.gov.uk/join-in

Sept

Aug

MONTH: 1 – 12

Local sports clubs showcase Olympic sports and provide opportunities to sign up.

EVENT:

VENUE:

TIME:

Olympic special – all the action on the big screen

Live Site

Various

Olympic Football x2 Men's games Japan Vs Honduras, Senegal Vs United Arab Emirates

City of Coventry Stadium

5pm - 9.45pm

Olympic Football Women's quarter-finals game

City of Coventry Stadium

7.30pm - 9.30pm

Godiva Awakes arrives in London

Waltham Forest, London

11am

Olympic Football Women's bronze medal game

City of Coventry Stadium

1pm - 3pm

Olympic Games Closing Ceremony

Live Site

7.30pm - 10.30pm

Join In – London 2012 Celebration of Sport

Millennium Place

10.00am – 5.00pm

Paralympic Torch Flame Celebration

Millennium Place

2pm - 5pm

Remembering the Titanic community dance day

Broadgate

11am - 3pm

Opening Ceremony for Paralympic Games

Live Site

7.30pm - 10.30pm

Paralympic Closing Ceremony

Live Site

7.30pm - 10.30pm

: www.tickets.london2012.com Search for Coventry 2012 Games:

Coventry City Council, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RR e-mail: 2012gamesenquiries@coventry.gov.uk #CovOlympicFootball

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On With so much to see and do in Coventry over the summer, we thought it would be a good idea to plan ahead and take a look at all of the exciting local events and activities for you and the family.

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Pedals to Medals

Craft Fair - Coventry Transport Museum

(June 22 - October 14) 10am to 5pm

(25 August - 26 August & 17 November - 18 November)

This summer, Coventry Transport Museum is honoured to present an extraordinary new exhibition that celebrates the history and heroes of all kinds of competitive cycling. Including bikes rode on the glory roads by Olympic champions. PLUS – make your own piece of cycling history with a range of interactive family activities.

Local craftspeople, beautiful oneoff gifts and a lovely day out. With stalls including one-off jewellery pieces and toys, paintings and photographs, artisan food products and cards, you’ll be amazed to discover the range of items being created by local people from across our region.

Admission FREE www.transport-museum.com 024 7623 4270

Admission FREE www.festival-ofmotoring.co.uk

Bands in the Park

Coventry Festival of Motoring

Enjoy a delightful array of musical performances over several dates throughout the summer months in various locations around Coventry.

(August 25 – August 26) 10am - 5pm daily This exciting two day celebration of unique transport heritage will this year be held at Stoneleigh Park. Incorporating a spectacular historic vehicle run through the Warwickshire countryside as well as a whole range of events and activities throughout the whole weekend, this fantastic free event is the perfect day out for motor enthusiasts.

Sunday 5 August Dayspring Steel Band War Memorial Park Sunday 12 August Coventry Festival Band Spencer Park Sunday 19 August Jaguar Land Rover Allesley Hall Sunday 26 August Jazz Unlimited War Memorial Park Sunday 2 September Gershwin Gang Allesley Hall Sunday 9 September City of Coventry Band Caludon Park (coincides with Heritage open day)

Admission FREE www.festival-of-motoring.co.uk

Triathlon Demo Session (August 3 – August 7) 10am – 5pm Have you got what it takes to swim, cycle and run? See the experts take on one of the most grueling Olympic sports and see if you have what it takes to be a top triathlete. FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Cadbury Activation Day

Paralympic Flame Celebration

(July 31 & August 3, 7 and 10) 11am to 5pm

(August 25) 2pm – 5pm

Get yourself down to Millennium Place in Coventry city centre and witness a fantastic free family event celebrating all things chocolate. Spread over four days throughout July and August, Cadbury’s are on site to offer a whole host of family entertainment including chocolate giveaways and fantastic goodies.

Join in with a celebration of disability sport, art and culture as part of the nationwide Flame Celebrations. Welcome the Paralympic Flame lantern from London in Millennium Place, Coventry city centre.

International Market (August 1 – August 12) A celebration of food and drink from around the world to tie-in with the Olympic Football in the city. Join us in the new look Broadgate this August to taste the delights of culinary dishes and inhale the aromas from world spices, sizzling grills and fresh produce. Open from 9.30am every day.

The Summer Jam (31 July – August 2 & 9 – 11 August Skateboarding, BMX and Inline Event in Millennium Place, Coventry city centre. Two sessions will be held, first one on Tuesday 31 July-2 August and the second to be held on Thursday 9 August-11 August. There will be a temporary skate park, pro demos and competitions to enter.

Coventry Half Marathon sponsored by Decathlon Heritage Weekend (Open Days)

(September 7 – September 9) The Heritage Open Days weekend will soon be upon us, with events across the county promising to be bigger and better than ever before and with a whole host of venues opening their doors. From September 7 - 9, over 40 attractions across Coventry will be offering free entry into their venues that are either usually closed to the public or charge an entrance fee. Many famous sites across Coventry will be open, including Coombe Abbey, Caludon Castle, Lunt Roman Fort and St Mark’s Church. The Heritage Open weekend is a wonderful way to learn more about the history and heritage of the city with so many fantastic hidden gems for visitors to discover.

(October 14) 8am – 2pm Tackle the Half Marathon by registering for this year’s event at www.coventryhalf.com. Every entrant will receive a £10 Decathlon voucher. You can alternatively register a place for the Team Relay as a foursome, each getting a £5 Decathlon voucher for your participation. Call 0870 122 2003 for entry forms or visit the website

For more information about this event visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

DINOSAURS UNCOVERED 21 JULY 2012 – 6 JANUARY 2013

TICKETS £18.00 TICKETS: CHILDREN £4.95/ADULTS £5.95/UNDER 4S FREE/FAMILY DAY THE ON PAY OR ERT.ORG HEHERB WWW.T AT SAVE 10% BY BOOKING FREE FAMILY SUMMER EVENTS & MONSTERS OF THE DEEP SUMMER AQUARIUM

The Dinosaurs Are Coming! (July 21 – January 6) Dinosaurs Uncovered opens on 21 July and invites you to travel back 250 million years to come face to face with some of the most iconic and awe-inspiring creatures to ever walk the Earth. Come face to face with the skull of the ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex, witness the strength of the Stegosaurus’ armour plating and be astonished by the Triceratops’ three horned might. Packed with exciting interactives and touch screen technology, you can design your very own dinosaur skin, piece together dinosaur skeletons and test your knowledge of these astonishing creatures. Tickets for Dinosaurs Uncovered cost £4.95 for children/concessions, £5.95 for adults or £18.00 for a family (two adults with two children OR one adult with three children). Save 10% by booking online at www.theherbert. org or simply pay on the day. You can also have a wander round the FREE Monsters of the Deep aquarium in the Studio. Between 21 July and 9 September this unique CGI prehistoric aquarium shows the reptiles that swam the Earth’s seas millions of years ago as the

dinosaurs roamed the land. Take a tour of some of these amazing creatures including plesiosaurs, pliosaurs, marine crocodiles and icthyosaurs, and the remarkable underwater world they inhabited. Included in the Monsters of the Deep is our FREE Early Years Activity Space. Your little ones can explore the deepest waters of the prehistoric ocean and create your own sea monster to dive, splash and swim with. Our all age activity space includes a special baby friendly area.

Want to know more? Join our mailing list for regular updates on all of our exhibitions, creative events and family workshops and be entered into a FREE quarterly prize draw to win £50 worth of dinosaur goodies from the Herbert shop… ask at reception or go to www.theherbert.org

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Geoff Thompson’s Fragile

Marc Bolan musical - 20th Century Boy

(September 8 – September 22) From Sat 8 to Sat 22 Sept is Fragile, a brutally compelling new drama from BAFTA award-winning, Coventry writer, Geoff Thompson. Starring film, TV and stage actor Craig Conway, Fragile charts one man’s remarkable journey through traumatic abuse, self-discovery and ultimately redemption. Tickets are available from the box office: 024 7655 3055 www.belgrade.co.uk

Lunt Roman Fort Horses and jockeys (August 2 – August 3) 11am – 4pm Here is a chance for the children to put their parents/guardians through their paces as they horse around awaiting your commands as a jockey. Wear some old trousers! And say hello to Paris, a real horse who will be dropping in for a visit.

(September 14 – September 29)

Lunt Roman Fort Ancient Food and Fitness (August 14 – August 15) An extra special event spanning over a whole day of activities to show children and families what life was like as a roman soldier. Including Morning breakfast, Spartan fitness session, a BBQ and more. Ancient Food and Fitness cost £5 per person, booking is essential 024 7678 6142 or 07969 636670 The Lunt Roman Fort has changed its opening hours. They are now every school holiday between Tuesday and Friday between 11.00am and 4.00pm

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre continues its stellar summer/ autumn line-up with its brand new Marc Bolan musical 20th Century Boy coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the iconic star’s death. Rocker, poet, electric warrior, king of glam and godfather of punk, Marc Bolan tried many styles on for size in his search to become a superstar. Before his tragic death on 16 Sept 1977, a few days short of his 30th Birthday, Bolan lived life at breakneck speed, creating a series of iconic images, a string of number one hits and an army of obsessive fans. This new musical looks behind the glitter and the sequins to tell the extraordinary story of Marc Bolan’s life from the early age of nine, partly from the perspective of his son Rolan as he seeks to find out more about his famous father who died when he was just two years old. 20th Century Boy will be packed with all of T. Rex’s ‘70s hits, including Ride a White Swan, Metal Guru, Get It On, I Love to Boogie, Children of the Revolution, and of course the title track 20th Century Boy. Tickets are available from the box office: 024 7655 3055 www.belgrade.co.uk

PEDALS MEDALS

Supported by:

22 June to 14 October

An exhibition celebrating the history and heroes of competitive cycling.

FREE ADMISSION Includes: Interactive family activities plus a range of special family events throughout the school holidays.

Tel: 024 7623 4270 I www.transport-museum.com Coventry Transport Museum, Millennium Place, Coventry CV1 1JD. (Reg charity no. 1113605)

American family drama - The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (October 20 – November 10) Written by William Inge, who dedicated the play to his friend, rival and contemporary Tennessee Williams, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs has not been seen in England for a generation. It follows the trials and tribulations of the Flood family, forced to face their fears and a changing world. Tickets are available from the box office: 024 7655 3055 www.belgrade.co.uk

Talon - Best of the Eagles (October 2) Talon were formed back in September 1997. Fifteen years on and they are recognised throughout the industry as the world’s definitive Eagles tribute show. The 15th Anniversary Tour features all the classic Eagles hits from their timeless back catalogue including Hotel California, Lyin’ Eyes, Take It Easy, Desperado, Take It To The Limit, Life In The Fast Lane, The Last Resort and many more. The show features seven world class musicians and the powerful vocal harmony on which Talon have built their reputation. Tickets are available from the box office: 024 7655 3055 www.belgrade.co.uk

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

ABBA Mania (October 3) The world’s number one touring ABBA production, ABBA Mania, returns to the UK to bring ABBA fans old and new a night not to be missed. Fresh from a smash hit tour of the USA, this unmissable show features all of your favourite ABBA hits including Mamma Mia, Voulez Vous, Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All, Super Trouper and many more. If you’re looking for an excuse to party, reminisce or simply be entertained by the best music ever, then ABBA Mania is for you. So dig out those platforms, dust down your flares and thank ABBA for the music. Tickets are available from the box office: 024 7655 3055 www.belgrade.co.uk 35

Jubilee Organ Concert Dame Gillian Weir

Summer Movie Flicks

(September 15)

Ice Age 4 Continental Drift (Out Now) Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore a new world.

(September 15)

Concert organist Dame Gillian Weir is one of the foremost musicians in the world today. Combining natural talent, study and hard work along with copious amounts of grace, charm, and wit, she has defined an entirely new role as an ambassador for the ‘King of Instruments’. To mark Gillian Weir’s final year of public performances she will play in many of her favourite and prestigious venues in Europe and Great Britain. The organ of Coventry Cathedral is one that she greatly admires. Her recital will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of this iconic instrument to the full. See website for information on tickets www.coventrycathedral.org.uk or call 024 7652 1200.

Summer Skating Planet Ice Arena Art Exhibition ‘Journey into the Light’ (September 1 – October 28) This exhibition will explore the inspirational journey followed by Epstein, Sutherland, Piper and the other great artists who created the famous art treasures of Coventry Cathedral. Their sketches, models and design studies, many never before seen in public, will be displayed inside the Cathedral next to the masterpieces, now recognised as highpoints in twentieth-century Christian art. The exhibition, which is kindly supported by Peugeot, runs until 28th October. Normal Cathedral opening hours and entrance charges apply. See website for more details www.coventrycathedral. org.uk Telephone: 024 7652 1200 36

(July 20 – September 4) Get your skates on and head on down to Planet Ice Arena Coventry for a summer spectacular. With prices starting from £7.00, you can skate with friends and family, enjoying a wide variety of events and promotions during the school holidays. Summer breakout foam parties, meal deals, learn to skate in 5 days with unlimited all day skating passes, you’d be mad to miss out! For more information visit www.planet-ice.co.uk or call and email on 024 7663 0693 boxoffice@planet-ice.co.uk

The Dark Knight Rises (Out Now) Eight years after Batman took the fall for Two Face’s crimes, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham’s finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy. Brave (Released August 17) Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. Taken 2 (Released October 5) In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter. Catch these movies and many more at Coventry’s ODEON cinema. Visit www.odeon.co.uk or call 0871 224 4007 for further information.

To keep up to date with all of the local events throughout Coventry and Warwickshire, as well as listings for all major attractions, restaurants and shops, bookmark www.visitcoventryandwarwickshire.co.uk in your browser today. If you think we’ve missed an event from our comprehensive listings, let us know at feelalive@coventry.gov.uk and we’ll be glad to add it to the website.

BREAKING NEWS: New heritage tours are now available in the Coventry eShop, which you can buy online at www.visitcoventryandwarwickshire.co.uk See page 43 for more details. FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Editors Choice! Our Top 5 Picks!

This issue we pick out our Top 5 hardware picks for 2012, take a peek at several of the world’s leading videogames and look forward to the latest James Bond blockbuster, Skyfall, out this October. 1. Apple iPad

Leading the way in the tablet market, the latest iPad from Apple is simply wonderful. Viewing hundreds of songs, movies, books and photos in high definition, with retina display quality is simply breath-taking. With a 5MP iSight Camera, 3.1 million onscreen pixels, ultrafast wireless connectivity and 1080p playback it’s a great gift for any member of the family. Available to order from £329 at KRCS in Coventry City Centre.

2. Apple MacBook Pro The brand new MacBook Pro with Retina Display features over 5 million pixels on its 13 and 15 inch screens. Measuring just 1.8cm thick, the Pro features flash storage for maximum performance, the most powerful processors and latest innovative graphics plus access to millions of apps and software programmes, its undeniably smart, sophisticated and the very definition of cool. Available to order from £999 at KRCS in Coventry City Centre.

3. PlayStation 3 Slim Sony’s current generation gaming machine continues to grow from strength to strength, and is now more affordable than ever. With a built-in 160GB hard drive and Blu-Ray player, thousands of PlayStation 3 titles available, network and Internet capabilities, wireless controllers, USB and HDMI ports, 1080p playback and impressive movie and music online services, it’s the ultimate multimedia platform. Available to order from £189.99 at Argos, City Arcade in Coventry City Centre.

4. Xbox 360 and Kinect This matt black, 250GB powerhouse is Microsoft’s current videogame console. With thousands of software titles available for all ages, Xbox also provides great Xbox Live content including Sky, Netflix, Love Film, BBC iPlayer and Muzu.tv when connected to the Internet. Wireless straight out the box and joined with Kinect, your family can enjoy hours of entertainment using motion control and voice recognition. Bundles are available. Available from £179.99 at GAME Broadgate, Gamestation Hertford St and HMV Upper Precinct in Coventry City Centre.

5. HTC One X The HTC One X smartphone is the most powerful Android mobile available on the market. With a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 4.7 inch 720p screen, 8MG camera and Dropbox/Cloud integration the HTC is powerful, portable and perfectly suited to a life on the go. Available on contract from all good phone retailers in Coventry City Centre.

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Breaking News Nintendo Wii U Revealed Available this winter, the brand new home console from Nintendo is the natural successor to the groundbreaking Wii platform first launched in 2005, and offers gamers of all ages a different way to play fun and interactive games in full 1080p HD. It supports up to two Wii U Game Pad controllers, with touch screen, two thumb sticks, camera, mic and face buttons, plus your existing Wii controllers and balance board. With 8GB of internal flash memory, SD and USB slots, slot-loading optical disc drive and adopting the new Near Field Communication technology, the next generation of videogames have arrived in style. Available to pre-order at GAME Broadgate, Gamestation Hertford St and HMV Upper Precinct in Coventry City Centre.

Games of 2012

From first person shooters, action adventures, RPG’s and puzzle games; videogames are leading the charge in providing top quality content direct to your living room. Whether you love gaming on the go or snuggled on the sofa, there’s something for everyone this autumn. LEGO Batman 2

(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, 3DS, DS) From £34.99 Out Now

Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance (3DS) From £29.99 Out Now

NEW Super Mario Bros 2 (3DS) 17th August 2012

F1 2012

(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Vita) 21st September 2012

FIFA 13

Halo 4

Need for Speed Most Wanted

Call of Duty Black Ops II

Assassins Creed III

Pikmin 3

Dance Central 3

Wii Fit U

(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U) October 2012 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) 30th October 2012

(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U) 31st October 2012 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U) November 2012

(Xbox 360) 6th November 2012 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U) 13th November 2012 (Wii U) November 2012 (Wii U) November 2012

All titles are available to pre-order or purchase at GAME Broadgate, Gamestation Hertford St or HMV Upper Precinct in Coventry City Centre. Dates subject to change. Microsoft Announces New Surface Tablet The Microsoft Surface Tablet will be available in two options, the lightweight RT design and the Windows 8 Pro edition. The former weighs in at just 9.33 mm thick, featuring a 10.6” ClearType HD Display, microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, Office Home & Student 2013 RT, Touch Cover, Type Cover and is available in both 32 GB and 64 GB sizes. Microsoft Surface comes with a sturdy, integrated kickstand and SmartCover that features a fully functioning keyboard, with a trackpad. It connects with a single magnetic click.

James Bond

S k y fa l l 26th October 2012

ond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. Directed by Sam Mendes with Screenplay written by John Logan, Daniel Craig stars as Bond, James Bond for the third time in this role. The suave British spy is appearing in his 23rd film, following the successful Quantum of Solace released in 2008. Skyfall is out in cinemas on October 26th in all UK cinemas. Book your tickets at ODEON Skydome Coventry. FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Tel: 0871 22 44 007 Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. Address: ODEON Coventry, Skydome,Coventry CV1 3AZ 39

GODIVA Photo: Russell Whitehead Photography

Following their big win at the 2012 Godiva Unsigned competition, we took time out getting to know local up and coming musical talent, ‘Dark Actors’.

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

WINNERS 2012

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Congratulations on your recent success at the 2012 Godiva Unsigned competition! What does it mean for the band to win such a fantastic title? “Cheers! It means a tremendous amount to the band to win the title. We entered the competition fairly late, and were happy just to be involved, but to come through at every stage and eventually win the whole thing was incredible! It’s a shame it couldn’t have been at the Godiva Festival as planned, but we look forward to playing the main stage next year. “ How long have the band been together? Where/how did you meet? “The band formed in September of last year, and played our first gig shortly afterwards. We have all known each other and been in various bands over the last few years, but we’ve been waiting for this line-up to come together to take it to where we all wanted to be.”

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...Imagine a bottle of Jack Daniel’s thrown into Lake Michigan by Neil Young in 1974 which has somehow washed up in the Swanswell Pool. It’s nothing like that...

Which bands, current or otherwise inspire your style? “The Band, The Beatles, Dylan, Wilco, Cotton Mather, Bowie, Kelly Joe Phelps, Band of Horses.” What are your aspirations for the future? “We’re hoping to capitalise on our success at Godiva Unsigned by building a bigger fan base, and playing to larger audiences in Coventry and beyond. Way beyond! The crowds and reaction over two weekends at the Kasbah has really whetted our appetite for more. We are also working on an album which we hope to have finished around September, so hopefully we can take it to the next level. And then the one after that.”

Photo: Russell Whitehead Photography

How would you best describe the bands style? What makes you different? “I think a few of us feel we were born a long, long way from where we should’ve been. It has been noted that there’s a ‘twinge of Americana’ in our music, and it’s fair to say there’s a strong American and Country influence in our sound. But our sensibilities, melodic touch, and cynical outlook all remain staunchly Anglo-Irish. Imagine a bottle of Jack Daniel’s thrown into Lake Michigan by Neil Young in 1974 which has somehow washed up in the Swanswell Pool. It’s nothing like that.”

In what way has Coventry’s musical heritage influenced your career? “Although we’re not directly influenced by the likes of The Specials, Primitives or The Enemy, their successes over the years serve to remind us and other Coventry bands that with great songs and the right attitude it’s entirely possible to get your music out there to the rest of the country and beyond. There’s also a rich well of talent and superb musicians around at the moment, so we know we have to keep our standards high! Venue-wise, Cov is lucky to have the long-standing Kasbah, where Dee & Thanos continue to support and push local bands!

When Will the Good Times Begin? Watch this space... For further information about the band, please visit www.soundcloud.com/darkactors FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

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Fun Facts

We uncover some fascinating facts about our historic city, celebrate more recent achievements and look forward to the future.

Leofric was one of the three most powerful men in the country, reporting directly to the King. It was King Cnut who appointed him Earl the year after coming to the throne in 1016, and for forty years Leofric’s influe nce and power grew until he died in 1057. Godgifu died ten years later - by then the most powerful lady landow ner in England. Did you know th The London 20 was made in at the first ever English Bi 12 cycle Coventry? Bu was made in pa Olympic Torch called the Ar ilt in 1870 it rt iel. With a la w as rge front and two sites, Exha in Coventry, at rear-wheel (fi ll and Walsgra small tted with solid ve. The 8,000 hole obviously the rubber tyres) s represent 8, forerunner of it is 000 individual torc the penny fa though far hbearers. rthing, from as extr eme in dim Interestingly ensions. the Rover Ca r Company gr the family fir The UK ew from m that made C the Ariel. next July orporate Game s2 bringing thousan 013 is coming Coven to ds of vis tr itors to th Coventry from y’s watchm e city. Paralym boom a p k ing in to bu 1900. Coventr ics GB Fenc dust st in U y Unive collap ndaunted between 1 ry went rsity in g team based T h e 800 a final se, in the buil th by th M nd 1909 the m d up to emselves at e ind the C M London u o ity of ens Olymp made st complic r JW Playe stry’s Cove 2012. ic ntry S Footba r a in ll qua tadiu Unfor Britain at ted watch built l m on if tu a cost e 23 Ap ying matc folded nately, of £1,0 ver h was ril 20 th the fo 0 12. held llowin e compa 0. at The g year ny C . Cat i t y was of C hed o Cen ral L Venu chosen ventry S t a e an ta as a with re is b nes S m d n O dium a ho tc ei h throu hes ov sted 12 lympic new new ng rev opping er ghou offic look store amp ei ia t Jul s a ed . y/Au ght da l nd y gust a 2012 s . FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Choose from a selection of tours all delivered by experienced tour guides. All tours start from the Tourist Information Centre. You can book a tour online: www.visitcoventryandwarwickshire.co.uk by telephone: 024 7622 5616 or in person: Tourist Information Centre, St Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tower, Old Cathedral Ruins, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5AB

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For more details go to: www.visitcoventryandwarwickshire.co.uk

London 2012 in Coventry app www.coventry.gov.uk/smartapp

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INDEPENDENT REVIEW

Showcasing Coventry city centre, another collection of fantastic independent stores go under the spotlight in our popular feature Wedding Gowns By Susan Graley Owner: Susan Graley Location: 161-162, Spon Street, Coventry, CV1 3BB Contact: 024 7622 1450 www.weddinggownsbysusan.co.uk

Arcade Fancy Dress & Party Shop Owner: Elizabeth Wood Location: 24, City Arcade, Coventry, CV1 3HW Contact: 024 7663 3924 www.fancydressonlineshop.co.uk Owner, Elizabeth Wood dreamed of owning her very own fancy dress business from a young age as she worked in the family magic shop during weekends and school holidays. Her dream eventually came true as she opened her own store in Coventry at the age of 30, meeting the fancy dress requirements of city residents! 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/ what can you offer customers that other stores may not? As an independent store, we offer excellent customer service; openly welcoming all who visit us. Selling countless fancy dress products, our staff have heaps of experience, offering advice and ideas for any type of event. Stocking everything from great quality, full costumes to make up and accessories, you’ll be spoilt for choice here! We also sell an entire range of kids costumes plus we offer a next-day order service - perfect for last minute party essentials!

Graley’s have been trading in Coventry’s historic Spon Street since August, 1986. Offering customers a unique, welcoming and personal service, bridesto-be are put at ease with Susan’s expert knowledge and advice. 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/ what can you offer customers that other stores may not? Our wide range of wedding dresses, bridesmaid outfits, shoes and tiaras plus brides accessories are housed within our delightful, 14th century building. As you step back in time walking through the front door, you are greeted by our friendly and expert staff before visiting our medieval gallery which runs the length of our shop, giving brides and the wedding party a chance to view their outfits in a full length mirror within the spacious room. We have two brand new stockists, LouLou and the fabulous Intuzuri, expanding our fantastic collection of wedding gowns even further. 2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours?

2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours? We like visiting West Orchards shopping centre. 44

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

During my spare time, I visit Debenhams, WHSmith together with Marks and Spencer.

Ristorante Etna Owner: Carmelo Grasso Location: 54-57, Hertford Street, Coventry, CV1 1LB Contact: 024 7622 3183 www.etnarestaurant.co.uk The fabulous Italian eatery, Etna’s has been trading for over 30 years! Serving rustic Italian and Sicilian cuisine to either eat in or take away, this family run business has been passed through the generations keeping with true, Italian family tradition. 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/ what can you offer customers that other stores may not? Here at Etna’s, we make everything from scratch. From our sauces, to our pasta, we even make our own traditional Italian ice cream! We also specialise in serving the very best fresh fish dishes. Every detail is overseen with great care and attention to keep the authenticity and standards high, every dish is freshly prepared using only quality ingredients. 2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours? We work in the city during six days of the week so all of our shopping is done throughout Coventry city centre!

CONROY’S COFFEE HOUSE Owner: Mary Jones Location: 59, Corporation Street, Coventry, CV1 1GX Contact: 024 7622 8448 Opened in November 2009, family owned Conroy’s Coffee House offers a warm and welcoming haven from the bustle of city life. Serving freshly baked goods and hot beverages plus much more, you’re bound to feel very welcome at this friendly city centre café. 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/ what can you offer customers that other stores may not? We are proud to offer many delicious, gluten free products for customers with specific dietary requirements. Alongside these, we sell freshly prepared toasted sandwiches, panini’s, homemade soups, cakes and jacket potatoes. We have a fantastic selection of meals or light bites to suit every taste! 2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours? As we are constantly busy dealing with our customers we rarely get an opportunity to step outside our own doorway.

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

SKUD CLOTHING

BLUE BISTRO

Owner: Hamida Bismillah Location: 5, City Arcade, Coventry, CV1 3HW Contact: 024 7622 2676

Owner: Peter Dunkley Location: 21, Spon Street, Coventry, CV1 3BA Contact: 024 7622 9274 www.blue-bistro.com

Trading in Coventry for over 25 years, Skud Clothing is a family owned business which originally began as the store, ‘Shambles’. For the past 11 years, the business has been based in Coventry’s City Arcade. 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/what can you offer customers that other stores may not? We offer men’s, boys and ladies fashion wear at the right price and fantastic quality; we have a wide range of fashion items to suit every taste. Our friendly and approachable staff are always on hand to advise and assist customers! 2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours? During our time off, we spend time at the SkyDome, in particular the Odeon Cinema. We also visit various food outlets and we really enjoy visiting the Transport Museum!

Blue Bistro is the newest independent restaurant in Coventry. Open since September 2011, this welcome addition to the historic and beautiful area of Spon Street serves fabulous, modern British cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/what can you offer customers that other stores may not? Boasting two floors in a unique building found on medieval Spon Street, dining at Blue Bistro is an experience that offers a blend of warm neutrals, intimacy and understated luxury. We were proudly bestowed with the title of most romantic restaurant in the Midlands and declared the winner of the most notable wine list by opentable.com, Diners Choice Awards 2012. 2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours? Most of our staff are members of Pure Gym here in the city centre, located just around the corner from Blue Bistro. Open 24 hours, we all get a chance to have a good work out in our spare time!

MARIA’S BAKERY & PATISSERIE Owner: Jerone Smith Location: 6a, West Orchard Link, Coventry CV1 1QX Contact: 024 7652 5533 Established in 1977, Maria’s Bakery is a family owned business which first began in Coventry Market. Current owner Jerone took over in 1991 before expanding the store to West Orchards shopping centre in 2010. 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/what can you offer customers that other stores may not? Here at Maria’s Bakery, we pride ourselves in serving freshly baked and prepared pastries, bread rolls and ciabbattas with over 15 different filling options on offer. Whilst offering a wide array of delicious cupcakes, we are one of Coventry’s leading celebration and wedding cake specialists. From the more traditional style to the unique or out of the ordinary, all celebratory cake needs are catered for here. 2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours? You will always find us using Coventry Market with its vast choice of foods and products to suit your daily needs. We also spend time around Millennium Place making use of the various bars and food outlets!

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

DROP IN THE OCEAN Owner: Kewal Singh Talwadia and Smauti Talwadia Location: 17, City Arcade, Coventry CV1 3HX Contact: 024 7622 5273 www.drop-in-the-ocean.co.uk Drop in the Ocean was established some 35 years ago. Current owners Kewal and Smruti took over the business almost 5 years ago; as a family run store, Drop in the Ocean offer extensive advice, stocking an array of alternative health medicines. 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/ what can you offer customers that other stores may not? We specialise in organic and fair trade herbal remedies along with food suitable for those with numerous allergies. The qualifications and experience we have between us makes us a very specialist, niche business; able to give free and in-depth advice on various health issues. Smruti is a trained nutritionist whilst Kewal is highly practiced in Ayurveda, an alternative Hindu medicine. We have around 10,000 different products in stock to suit a whole collection of individual health requirements. 2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours? We are fairly new to Coventry so we like to explore different parts of the city whenever we can; our favourite place to relax is the War Memorial Park and we love to eat in Habibi’s restaurant.

The Old Bridge Club Owner: Anita Jardine Location: 17 Medieval Spon Street Contact: 024 7625 8010 The Old Bridge Club is a new meeting room business which has been developing since April of this year. With word and mouth it has quickly developed into a great venue for meetings, training and events. 1. What makes your business unique in Coventry/ what can you offer customers that other stores may not? Anyone who visits the Old Bridge Club is amazed by the size of the building and the facilities it offers. The building has loads of character and parts of it date back to the 16th Century. Viewed from Medieval Spon Street, The Old Bridge Club just looks like two rooms above 17a Hair Salon, however it is surprisingly large with an inner court entrance, multiple rooms of various sizes and a rear secret garden. A selection of good value meeting rooms offering plenty of character and can cater for all your needs. 2. Where do you spend your time in Coventry city centre, outside of working hours?

In the 70’s and 80’s Coventry City Centre was vibrant and had loads to offer all different age groups, and in subsequent years things tailed off and many of the attractions were under 25’s. Thankfully, with businesses like Blue Bistro in Spon Street and Pizza Express in Belgrade Plaza, Coventry is appealing to a wider audience. Couple this with all of the new development work taking place, Coventry can continue to attract new visitors and residents. FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Coventry’s Back in 2011, Feel Alive featured its highly successful ‘Cover Star’ competition where nine lucky winners were selected to join a local casting agency with three of the winners chosen to grace the cover of our magazine in the spring. 18 months on, we caught up with some of those finalists and other rising local talent to discover just what they’ve been getting up to!

FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

Saffron Davies from Coventry was chosen as joint winner with two other children to feature as the face of ‘Feel Alive’ and received a free photo shoot and representation by ReAct Kids Agency. Today, Saffron has recently made her fantastic TV Debut in ‘The Line of Duty’ BBC2 Series. Saffron has also been selected for other TV ads and shortlisted for many other great roles; she really is a star in the making! Aidan Docker, another of our successful candidates was chosen to appear in Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Dancing on the edge’ BBC2 Series following his success. Ciaran O’Sullivan aged 13 was also selected to star in the show before going on to star in T.G.I’s, Sainsbury’s and Muller Lite commercials. Redmond O’Sullivan aged 15 years has starred in the successful BBC Waterloo Road series, a ‘Relate’ viral advert, and grass man short films. Redmond also co-wrote a show while he was at the Priory Youth Theatre that was performed in 2009 with The Youth Theatre. He has also been involved in the making of local film’s with Call the Shots local independent film makers!

Jack Foskett, Jessica McClleland and Joseph Lees also worked on the ‘Dancing on the Edge’ BBC2 Series starring John Goodman. When they arrived they couldn’t believe that he was on set, the Mum’s who chaperoned were also star struck and buzzing for days after about the whole experience of filming! Luke Thomson aged 10 and Luke Wood Eden aged 11 years have featured in a Sainsbury’s commercial, ‘Eye of the Driver’ road traffic awareness film and recently filmed a toy commercial for ‘Worlds Apart ‘Wobble Deck’! Luke said, “The best bit of filming was when I had to stand on special glass and the camera was underneath me, it was so much fun and was all done with green screen so I can’t wait to see how it will look when it is on TV!”

Saffron Davies

REDMOND O’SULLIVAN

CIARAN O’SULLIVAN Caitlin Cronin and Reece Stowes who also attend ReAct Kids Academy starred in the box office smash, ‘Nativity’ starring Martin Freeman along with the eagerly awaited ‘Nativity 2’ Starring David Tennant; Mason Daw was also cast for the film! The intentions for the future are that ReAct will give many more children the chance to follow their dreams and will help them launch careers in Film and TV although a lot of the castings take place in London and Manchester at very short notice which requires a lot of commitment from parents.

AIDAN DOCKER

ReAct Kids Academy hold weekly workshops which include acting for camera, audition technique, script work, improvisation and teaches the terminology used on set and what to expect when you are on a TV/Film shoot. The workshops are designed to build confidence and knowledge about the filming industry in order to be more successful when attending castings. ReAct are holding summer sessions for children throughout the upcoming holiday teaching how to act for camera, improvisation, script work, audition technique and also for the more experienced, a workshop that at the of the week will be working with local film maker Brian Harley to make a film which will be entered into film festival’s around the country. Places will be limited.

JESSICA MCLLELAND

For more information, email samantha@reactkidsagency.co.uk or call 01926 710 001. www.reactkidsagency.co.uk FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

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FEEL ALIVE SUMMER 2012

TEam RElay...

Tackle the half marathon as a team of four...

Legs to suit at 2.0 mile (leg 1), 4.8, 3.2 and 3.1 (leg 4, the glory leg!)

£5 Decathlon voucher for all entrants

fuN RuN...

Half not for you? Go all the way in the fun run... (approx 1 mile), friends & family invited

Enter a group of four for £10

Sunday 14th October 2012 Starts 9:00am

ENTER NOW coventryhalf.com Every entrant will receive a

£10 Decathlon voucher 24 hour automated information line

0870 122 2003 for entry forms and Q&As

www.decathlon.co.uk

New CoveNtry store opeNiNg sooN!