Dluxe West Midlands Spring 2019 Issue 31

LU E D X WEST MIDLANDS EDITION

SPRING ‘19

INSIDE

YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY

WWW.DLUXE-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

BANANARAMA AMAZING MALAYSIA SPRING TRENDS EDIT JUDGE JULES & MOS BMW 7 SERIES SPRING INTERIORS

APERITIVO HOUR

DINNER CAN WAIT T WO CO C K TA I L S , £ 1 0

T WO CO C K TA I L S + A N A N T I PA ST I S H A R I N G P L AT E , £ 1 5 Sunday: 4pm – 8pm Monday: 4pm - 7pm Tuesday - Friday: 4pm - 8pm Harvey Nichols Brasserie & Bar The Mailbox, 65 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RE

IN THIS ISSUE. I’m writing this letter to you in shorts and t shirt at my garden table. It’s late February! I think it’s fair to say that Spring has well and truly sprung! Should this bizarre wave of fine weather continue throughout the year then we’re sure of a cracking summer meaning that the prospect of a post Brexit enforced staycation (the Dluxe dog’s summer trip to France may well be postponed due to pet passport problems) doesn’t seem like too bad a thing. They’re always welcome for a weekend at the gorgeous Hotel Du Vin anyway so all is not lost – see them on their advert on page 35.

This viewpoint has been backed up whilst we’ve been busy researching and preparing this, our Spring edition, as, quite frankly, there is so much good stuff coming up in our region that you’d be a fool to want to miss it! Starting with our lead interview, Keren Woodward of the fabulous Bananarama who, following the phenomenal success of their sold-out Original Line up tour, are set to provide the soundtrack to a ‘cruel summer’ with an all new album launching at a special, intimate concert in Birmingham this April. Read up on it on page 22.

Our dancing shoes well and truly on, we’ve also talked to club legend Judge Jules as the Ministry of Sound take clubbing classical at Birmingham Symphony Hall this May. In theatre land Gary Barlow’s Calendar Girls are set to take over the Hippodrome (p16) and the Rep have programmed a whole season of all new drama for you to sink your

teeth into (p58). I’ll bring the chocs. It’s all too cute at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery with their new exhibition which looks at why it’s sinister to be sweet on page 10.

With all of these events to venture out to you’ll be pleased to know that your staycation need not be stylish. When it comes to wardrobes, we’re going au naturel for the ladies and bold blues for the boys from page 26. For all of your homebirds we’re thinking pink for interiors and adding the season’s biggest trend, fringing, to the mix in our Living section (p38).

If, however, all of this excitement does leave you craving an escape, we do have some international options for you with the perfect planner for Stag and Hen do’s abroad and an adventure in the cities and in the Jungles of the amazing Malaysia from page 44. Careful, there are spiders!

Sadly all of that play has to be paid for somehow and this issue’s Paperwork section starting on page 62 is sure to offer some tips on keeping business busy.

So, no matter the forecast, we hope you enjoy this issue of dluxe and find plenty within its pages to inform, enjoy and inspire.

Until Summer,

Jonathan Fraser Group Editor In Chief

WE CAN’T WAIT FOR...

STEPHEN KING’S PET SEMATARY It has to be said that we’re getting a bit sick of all the remakes in Hollywood right now – where is the original storytelling guys??? But anyway, at least there is not a hint of a superhero in this remake and we guess that if there’s one horror film to remake then it has to be from the master of horror, Stephen King.

Pet Sematary is a timelessly chilling tale! King’s novel tells the story of a family who upon moving moving to a remote area and following the death of the family cat, bury it in the local Pet Sematary, renowned by neighbours.

But when the cat returns from the dead the trouble truly begins, after all, sometimes dead is better… now here kitty kitty...

4 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

BERNADETTE PETERS The Award winning Broadway star returns to Birmingham Symphony Hall on the 14th June.

Renowned around the world as one of the foremost interpreters of Sondheim, the Grammy and Emmy Award nominee will perform timeless, signature songs from the multitude of iconic shows that includes Gypsy, Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George.

THE MISTER

Following on from the huge success of her notorious novels, the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, EL James is back with a new romance set in present day London. Playboy Maxim Trevelyan falls for an enigmatic young woman, recently arrived in England with little more than a dangerous and troublesome past…

Expect a roller-coaster ride of danger and desire to leave you panting over your paperback.

Deutschland 86 The long awaited follow up to the hugely successful Deutschland 83 finally arrives on More 4 this March and we cannot wait.

The socialist project is under threat so the consistently out of his depth Martin and uber spy Auntie Leonora are back in the field with dangerous orders or carry out in South Africa, Angola, Libya, Paris, West Berlin and the GDR.

TALK TO US MANAGING DIRECTOR Kevin Urquhart Kevin@fu-media.co.uk 07713 740 272

GROUP EDITOR IN CHIEF Jonathan Fraser Jon@fu-media.co.uk 0772 580 9654

PRINT & DIGITAL ADVERTISING Lilith Hunt-Sheppard lilith@fu-media.co.uk 07975 970711

PRINT & DIGITAL ADVERTISING Donald Peden donald@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445

ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATION Carey York carey@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445 The night skyline of Kuala Lumpur - read about our visit on page 48

08 AGENDA

38 LIVING Think Pink, get gardening

Our personal picks of our favourite features, stories and products from around the West Midlands.

and get ready to fringe- everything!

22 SPOTLIGHT

do? Then look no further than here. How about a honeymoon in Malaysia? We explore the urban and the jungle.

The dluxe office gets proper starstruck as we talk to the iconic Bananarama and ask what was Robert actually waiting for?

26 FOR HER

Going Oh Naturale, Pony Play and Complexion Perfection whilst Cleo Lacey sorts out your Spring Wardrobe.

32 FOR HIM

Blue is the colour of the season whilst pattern and print are everywhere. Be best dressed here.

36 MOTORS

Taking on the Rolls, Bentley and Range Rover at their own games, BMW’s new 7 series is the car for all seasons.

DIGITAL CONTENT EXECUTIVE Francesca Arculeo Francesca@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445

44 TRAVEL Organising a stag or hen

50 DINING Our new resident

pattisiere will have you salivating, there are spring treats galore at Harvey Nichols and Anita Champaneri is back with her roundup of restaurant news.

54 DIARY What’s happening and

DLUXE BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL LOWER TRINITY STREET, DIGBETH, BIRMINGHAM. B9 4AG 31 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1RE TEL: 0116 2533 445

www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk

what’s happened in and around Brum this season.

62 BUSINESS The latest thinking

info@fu-media.co.uk

66 HOROSCOPES National

dluxe.magazine

and topic led business advice from some of the city’s top business brains.

treasure, sensational star gazer Russell Grant on what the future holds for us all.

Disclaimer: Copyright 69 & dluxe BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publishers. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy in compiling this publication, the Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, omissions, breach of copyright or otherwise since compilation. The Publisher cannot be held responsible for any material submitted to the publication, not excluding advertisements. The views expressed within this title are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply recommendation by the Publisher. © 69 Magazine Ltd 2019

dluxe mag

dluxemagazine dluxe-magazine.co.uk 5

LOVE YOUR #GUARANTEEDRENT UK WIDE

POSTCODE

AGENDA.

regeneration scheme moves to next stage Plans for a ÂŁ330m regeneration development in Edgbaston are edging closer with the submission of a Reserved Matters Application, the next significant step in bringing forward the first phase of the New Garden Scheme that is set to occupy the 10.70-acre site, west of the city centre along the Hagley Road.

The site is next to the Plough and Harrow on the Hagley Road and stretches down to Five Ways, towards Francis Road and back towards Duchess Road. The development will be set around a magnificent 180m x 30m high quality garden square public realm, formed from a series of eclectic gardens and mature trees, fronted by the retained existing classic Grade II listed buildings along the Hagley Road.

The mixed-use development, created by Glenn Howells Architects and brought about by Calthorpe Estates and U+I will provide approximately 500,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, up to 400 residential apartments, and up to 2,400 sq m of retail space to accommodate bars, restaurants and convenience stores, along with the potential for a 100 bed-hotel, and 900 8 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

car parking spaces, transforming the existing 1960s commercial offices site into a new, mixed use scheme.

New Garden Square will benefit from plans which will see the metro extend up the Hagley Road, with a terminus stop opposite the scheme outside 54 Hagley Road. The new SPRINT network will also run in parallel with the metro and continue along Hagley Road to Quinton.

Keep up to date at www.newgardensquare.co.uk

RSC’S FIRST TIME FRIDAY! NEW SCHEME Launched FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

NEW HOME

FOR BARBERS SHOP With celebrity clientele including the likes of Cillian Murphy, Lenny Henry and The Vamps, The Barber House is putting even more customers in the hot seat with an expansion that sees the business more than double in size.

Now located on Waterloo Street in Birmingham city centre, the all-new salon and shaving parlour oozes early twentieth century cool and is targeted at discerning gents looking for the best beards, classic cuts and tailored tash’s.

Whilst the move marks a big change for The Barber House, the team remains dedicated to offering the experience that has made it one of the city’s most successful independents.

Founder Dale Sampey said “Increasing our capacity to nine chairs was integral to cope with the demand that we’re seeing. All customers will still enjoy complimentary shoe shines and drinks from our bar when they visit.”

The Barber House was one of the first traditional barbershops to arrive in the city, marking the return to the good old days.

Starting with a team of three back in 2014, the business now has 11 barbers, from apprentices to senior level, and will welcome two new employees at Waterloo Street.

Located at Neville House on Waterloo Street, in the heart of Colmore Business District and just a stone’s throw from city hotspots Adam’s and The Ivy Brasserie, The Barber House also launches a brand-new booking system.

Still offering its signature walk-ins, customers can now also book in advance by calling 0121 236 7507 www.thebarberhousebirmingham.co.uk

Since 1875 the Royal Shakespeare Company has been entertaining audiences across the country. Originally named the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre the venue has survived fires and undergone redevelopments to bring us the now transformed Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Recently they’ve launched a new scheme called First Time Friday – where you get the opportunity to enjoy £10 tickets to any show.

I have been to so many theatres across the region, writes Lilith Holsey-Sheppard, but I find it had to believe myself that I have never visited the RSC until now. As we arrived at the beautiful red brick building we made our way straight upstairs to the rooftop restaurant for a bite to eat before the show. As we were shown to our table I was surprised at how big the Rooftop Restaurant is. Keeping part of the old wall as a feature that is covered in old show posters, we were taken to a window table where we could see fireworks exploding in the dark skies around us.

There were two shows running on the night and the restaurant was busy. That said, the service was great and the food was very tasty. Opting for Chicken & Salmon, both plates were cooked well and the sauces were delicious. The menus have a good selection on offer including vegan and gluten free options that change seasonally and there’s an exciting and playful wine menu (I enjoyed a glass of Stone The Crows red wine).

Walking back through the restaurant, we went back downstairs to make our way to the Swan Theatre for Tartuffe. The Moliere classic is brought bang up to date by BAFTA and Emmy-Award winning writers, Anil

Gupta and Richard Pinto (The Office, Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at No. 42). Set in Birmingham the tale follows a family as their father invites a stranger in to the fold.

As we enter the auditorium to take our seats, we are thrown back in time. With an almost circular auditorium, the audience surrounds the stage. I felt like I had literally been stooped in history and in a scene from Shakespeare in Love. I looked around the packed auditorium in awe.

Tartuffe has got to be one of the funniest stage shows I have ever seen. Incredibly well acted, the whole room filled with laughter as we followed the escapades of Tartuffe and as you can imagine, all does not end well for the leading man in this hysterical show.

As a first time visitor to the RSC I loved it and can’t wait to visit again. Upcoming shows include As You Like It and The Taming Of The Shrew, until 31 August 2019 and Measure For Measure, until 29 August 2019 with Kunene And The King, 21 March – 23 April 2019 and The Provoked Wife, 2 May – 7 September 2019 in the Swan Theatre.

For more about their First Time Friday scheme visit them online at www.rsc.org.uk/first-time-fridays dluxe-magazine.co.uk 9

AGENDA.

WHEN SWEET GETS SINISTER Artist and filmmaker Rachel Maclean is transforming Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery as she curates a major exhibition that showcases the multiple manifestations of sinister cuteness using works taken from Birmingham’s collection and the Arts Council Collection.

From adult onesies to bunny ear photofilters, there is an overwhelming presence of cuteness in contemporary society. Through the exhibition Maclean will ask why we feel the need to share and reproduce cute things, as well as question the fine line between cuteness and creepiness.

The artist known for her distinctive satirical films has also created an opening film to introduce the themes of the exhibition Cult brand FENTY Beauty by Rihanna has launched a whole new range of makeup bag must-haves – including 50 concealers designed to suit all skin tones.

The latest additions feature the impressive selection of Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealers as well as ten new Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Long-wear Foundation shades and eight new Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powders. There’s also a Precision Concealer Brush, Powder Puff Setting Brush and a Lil Precision Makeup Sponge Duo. FENTY Beauty was launched after Rihanna noticed a lack of products that performed across all skin types and tones. She created her makeup line “so that women everywhere would be included.” The addition of ten new Pro Filt’r Foundation means there are now 50 boundary-breaking shades available.

Available exclusively from Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox, & online at harveynichols.com 10 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

featuring ‘Dr Cute’ - a grotesque bearlike creature played by Maclean. Other artists’ work featured includes John Isaacs, Gillian Wearing, Ana Maria Pacheco, Helen Chadwick, Paula Rego, Peter Blake and Hermann Sondermann.

Rachel Maclean said: “I’ve had a fantastic time exploring the Birmingham collection and the Arts Council Collection and it’s been an honour to be able to bring together a show that includes so many artists that I admire. I have been fascinated by cuteness for a long time and think that despite it being an area that so many artists investigate, it can often be overlooked as being too silly, shallow or feminine a subject for debate.

“I think cuteness is fundamental to our experience of consumer capitalism and it’s important that we take it seriously in order to understand what we use cute objects for and the effect they have on us. Something which has come to the fore in curating the show has been the number of artists that toe the line between cuteness and creepiness.

There is something fascinatingly complex about this and for me it is the fundamental mystery of the cute object, how can things that look sweet be simultaneously sinister?”

Too Cute! Sweet is about to get Sinister is at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery until the 12th May. To find out more visit birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whatson/too-cute

FIFTY SHADES OF FENTY

DRAKE RITA ORA WESTLIFE TAKE THAT OLLY MURS

MRS BROWNS BOYS D'MUSICAL ANDREA BOCELLI LITTLE MIX HALL & OATES RUSSELL HOWARD ARIANA GRANDE CHER SHAWN MENDES

BE PART OF SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL Hospitality packages and memberships for those who live for live entertainment

MEMBER BENEFITS

GUARANTEED TICKETS

PRIVATE BOOKING SERVICE

ACCESS TO PRIVATE LOUNGES

THE HOTTEST SEATS IN TOWN

EXCLUSIVE ENTRANCES

Call 0844 338 0333 and Quote AMP DLUXE

to receive £40.00 OFF your booking of 2 places or more!

AGENDA.

A NEW HOME FOR CHINESE FOOD IN THE CITY Wing Wah, Birmingham’s longestablished Chinese restaurant, has moved to fantastic new premises with a fresh and exciting menu.

Based for 21 years at the iconic Wing Yip Centre in Nechells, the restaurant has relocated to bustling Chinatown in the heart of the city and just a short stroll from the main railway station and shops.

Wing Wah has dropped the buffet menu that brought discerning diners flocking to its previous premises and now concentrates on dim sum and full a la carte.

Its smartly-decorated ground-floor location boasts more than 120 covers and an open-plan dim sum kitchen so diners can watch a team of highly-skilled chefs painstakingly prepare the beautifullycrafted small dishes.

Chefs in a separate kitchen prepare a range of sumptuous a la carte dishes.

Below, there are private rooms, each separately themed and with different capacities, where customers can enjoy freshly-prepared food, drinks and karaoke.

Above is the completely separate Ming Moon restaurant - in the same ownership - which offers a buffet service. The whole building boasts an astonishing 700 covers.

14 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Wing Wah specialises in authentic, wellcrafted Cantonese cuisine. As well as lesser known Chinese dishes popular with the Chinese community, you’ll find familiar names on the menu such as sweet and sour - but cooked to the highest and most exacting standards and un recognisable from the versions served at most Cantonese restaurants.

Wing Wah’s owner Kin Bong Lam, a highly-skilled chef, says the restaurant is going back to its roots. He explains: “When we opened 21 years ago, we specialised in dim sum and a la carte and launched the buffet menu only later. Our exciting move to our new premises allows us to return to our first passion - letting our highly-talented chefs create wonderful dim sum and a la carte dishes using the finest ingredients. Cantonese food is well-known, but Wing Wah’s kitchens offer a truly authentic and scrumptious experience.”

These are early days at the new premises with, owner Dorian promises, further major changes to cement Wing Wah’s position as the region’s premier Cantonese restaurant.

Wing Wah, 8 Wrottesley Street, Birmingham B5 4RT. Tel. 0121 622 5588. www.wingwah.net

NURTURING & INSPIRING

ONE SCHOOL

FROM NURSERY TO SIXTH FORM Small Class Sizes Academic Success Individual Attention

prioryschool.net

Priory School 39 Sir Harry’s Rd Birmingham, B15 2UR

Please contact our Admissions Department:

0121 440 0256 admissions@prioryschool.net

AGENDA. a day across different media channels, they will believe that the agency is far more superior or dominant #morelion than its competitors and will trust them to sell their home faster and for far more money, regardless of the economic or political climate in which they are selling. In independent research conducted nationally, buyers only chance price negotiations with home owners directly or online pay upfront models who have no interest in performance and achieve 5% below the High Street average.

Why quality home marketing beats no-deal uncertainty Bobby Singh. Esq, Founder of multi award winning property group Love Your Postcode tells us how to market residential property in a way that sets a new ceiling price, no matter how dominated news cycles are by Brexit speculation.

Over the last few months, it has become impossible to watch the news on TV without having to sit through at least ten minutes of speculation about Brexit. Will there be a deal?

Won’t there be a deal? Will the country collapse and resemble a relatively modern village from the Stone Age if no deal is agreed by 29th March? If you bought into this speculation and the hype it generates, it would be easy to hesitate before making any investments and spend the next few weeks stocking up on tinned food. It is important to remember that whatever happens in this ever-changing political andeconomic time that we’re living through, people will always value quality. When

it comes to homes, if you use innovative marketing to show people that their bestlives can only be lived at the home you’re selling, then they will see the investment as an essential purchase, which they should make regardless of what various commentators are saying as they enjoy their patisserie selections on various TV shows.

LOVE YOUR POSTCODE How will you be able to persuade someone else to love living in your area if you don’t love it yourself? When a prospective buyer visits your home for a viewing, you need to be able to tell them about your area’s perks. Where is the best place to dine? Where are the best shops?

Where are the hidden gems that very few people know about, but many people love? Giving people an experience that they’ll remember for a long time when they visit your home will make yours stand out in their minds when they compare your home to every other property they’ve

seen that week.

MARKETING TO THE RIGHT AUDIENCE You need to make sure that everyone who might see an advert for your home has the money to buy it. Ask your estate agent if they have a preferred waiting list of national and international vetted clients, to whom they give early priority access to the homes they market.

Even if speculation on the news exacerbates perceptions of risk in the market, those with the most to invest have the resources and experience to see through the speculation and identify the wonderful investment that your home represents.

STRONG BRANDS COMMAND RESPECT Regardless of how pessimistic news bulletins may be, consumer confidence will always be swayed in favour of powerful brands.

Trust is everything in this business. If consumers see an estate agency’s brand five times

SELL A LIFESTYLE TO COMPLEMENT THE PURCHASE When news cycles are full of doom and gloom, nothing cheers people up like indulging in a bit of luxury and spoiling themselves and their loved ones.

You need to make sure that your home is included in their luxury shopping. That means that you need to sell the executive lifestyle that new owners will enjoy both inside and outside your home.

If people are gifted with the opportunity to live like bosses, they’ll spend like bosses. If they are only offered a home, they’ll buy a different one.

INVEST IN YOUR GARDEN When people walk up to a property, they want to walk into a paradise of luxury and calm.

Walking through rainbowcoloured oasis will set your home apart from anything else they are viewing. You’ll allow them to feel as though they’re stepping out of a world fraught with political uncertainty and into a utopia which they will certainly enjoy for many years to come. Adding vases of flowers to tables throughout your home only adds to this wonderful experience.

Quality will always have value, and the opportunity to invest in quality is always spotted by those with the experience and resources to identify what they want and then buy it immediately. If you can present this quality in your home’s marketing, you will sell to your ideal buyer for the asking full price and more. If you do not communicate this message effectively in your marketing or fail to reach the greatest audience, then you may struggle to sell your home in light of negative Brexit speculation.

Find out more information about achieving a Performance&®️ driven outcome free phone 0800 862 0870 or visit www.loveyourpostcode.com 16 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

AGENDA.

Beautiful Bloomsbury!

giving our later dinner an air of Narnian adventure. The Dalloway terrace offers diners a casual brasserie menu for brunch, lunch and dinner. We sampled their delicious and heaty super food salad, delicious roast chicken with preserved lemons and traditional chunky fish and chips before indulging in a divine baked cheesecake with perfectly tart blackberry sorbet on the side.

On to the hotel itself. Through the gorgeous reception and lounge with its period papers and portraits of literary figures from the 1920s creative heyday of the area – the bright young things of the Bloomsbury Set, charcoal corridors lead to period styled rooms and sumptuous suites designed with comfort and style in mind in equal measures.

If you’re popping down to theatreland then why not make a night of it? Located just a hop skip and a jump away is the art deco delight that is The Bloomsbury Hotel.

Steeped in history, The Bloomsbury was built in 1929 as the Central Club for the YWCA and it is here that the young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were brought for afternoon tea following their much written about secret trip on the Tube from Hyde Park Corner. The building was used as an air raid shelter and services accommodation throughout the war before being transformed into a hotel by current owners The Jurys Doyle Hotel Group.

There are many jewels in the Bloomsbury’s crown the first of which you encounter before entering the hotel itself – the sumptuous covered Dalloway Terrace. Named after one of literature’s most famous hostesses, the heated terrace restaurant is apparently the most instagrammed restaurant in London and is extravagantly decorated for each season. Our visit in January saw festoons of frosted pine cones, gothic ivy, winter berries and evergreen fringing artfully arranged

We were lucky enough to be shown into one of the Bloomsbury’s Luxury Studio Suites, set on the corners of the building to maximise space, light and views. An entrance hall and dressing area lined with heavy floral wallpaper led us through to a stunning dark blue bedroom suite with superking bed and herringbone floor. Slinging panelled doors opened into an Italian marble lined bathroom with freestanding bath with television, walk in shower, double basins and separate WC. The only downside to the room is that it is so lovely you don’t want to leave it and explore the city that awaits around you!

If, like us, you couldn’t bear to stray too far from all that luxury, then The Bloomsbury offers two additional bars for guest to enjoy. The gorgeous Coral Room, painted floor to ceiling in a bright coral pink and adorned with giant Morano glass chandeliers is a wonderful place in which to sip a cocktail or two and indulge in a bit of people watching (we’d recommend the Rhubarb Triangle and Midtown Swizzle). Downstairs The Bloomsbury Club Bar offers a more intimate environment with wood panelled walls and leather club chairs in dark greens and blues, the perfect place for a late night assignation or post dinner drink before going back to that wonderful room.

Whether eating, drinking or staying the night, The Bloomsbury is an unmissable part of a weekend in London’s West End. We can’t wait for our next visit.

Rooms at The Bloomsbury Hotel start from around £240 per night based on a weekend visit. To book your stay visit www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-bloomsbury-hotel

THE CALENDER GIRLS ARE COMING

The Calendar Girls Musical is coming to Birmingham for the first time from Tuesday 28 May –Saturday 8 June 2019 at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Leading the cast of Tim Firth and Gary Barlow’s musical are Sarah Jane Buckley (Blood Brothers and Hollyoaks) as Annie, Sue Devaney (Dinnerladies, Casualty, Coronation Street, Mamma Mia!) as Cora, Julia Hills (Broadchurch, The Archers) as Ruth, Judy Holt (Cold Feet, Scott & Bailey) as Marie and Lisa Maxwell (Loose Women, Hollyoaks, The Bill) as Celia, Ruth Madoc (Hi-de-hi and Little Britain) as Jessie and Rebecca Storm (Evita, Les Miserables, Chess) as Chris.

Inspired by the true story, Calendar Girls The Musical tells the tale of a group of ladies, who decide to appear nude for a Women’s Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital, in memory of one of their husbands, and have to date raised almost £5million for Bloodwise. This musical comedy shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters, and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary.

For tickets visit birminghamhippodrome.com

18 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

TC_Dluxe_Ad.indd 1

22/01/2019 15:48

MEat. Bread. Beer.

38 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham B2 5SN 0121 236 9039

@pintshopbrum

AGENDA.

Fur-friendly stays at Hotel du Vin

Can’t find a dog sitter or miss the company of your four-legged friend? Hotel du Vin Birmingham has the answer. The hotel is one of few hotels in the city centre that is dog friendly, allowing you to enjoy your weekend away with your dog in tow.

Nestled into the one of the city’s most popular locations, the hotel boasts the perfect getaway right in the centre of town; with 66 timelessly styled rooms and suites, each one is designed to deliver all the creature comforts for you both.

Whether you want to enjoy the relaxation of the standard rooms, or the luxury of the suites Hotel du Vin is happy for your dog to cosy up with you too. Your pampered pooch will be welcomed with open arms and treated to their own comfy basket and water bowl – they won’t want to leave!

The hotel’s hidden-gem Pub du Vin offers a taste of the country in the heart of the city: with great ales and hearty food, it’s a real haven for you and your pup to have a drink and settle for the night. And if your doggy-friend would

like to enjoy a stroll, the staff are always on hand to recommend the best routes to walk your dog.

On your next stay in the city centre, why not pack the bags for you and your furry friend for an escape with the perfect travel buddy. With plenty to do, they will no doubt be curled up and fast asleep in one of the hotel suites in no time.

Hotel Du Vin 25 Church St, Birmingham B3 2NR, To book your room call 0121 794 3005 or visit www.hotelduvin.com

Spring can be so inconsitent. One minute it’s sunshine the next is goomy skies and April showers. However, we all know that even on the darkest of days there’s nothing like a Disney Classic to lift the mood so what could be a better way to spend a rainy Saturday in London’s West End than by escaping to the mystical, magical east and the fairytale world of Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, Genie and Friends at the Prince Edward Theatre writes Jonathan Fraser.

Following on from other Disney stage successes, such as the unmissable The Lion King, Aladdin follows its film source faithfully but adds a distinct dollop of pantomime panache to the well-loved tale.

Any director will know that if there’s one thing you don’t do its mess with people’s favourite Disney movie so film fans are sure to settle back and slip straight into Casey Nicholaw’s version as if it was the comfiest

An Oasis Of Calm In The Heart Of Birmingham One of Birmingham’s most popular spas has undergone a half-million pound transformation. Already a favourite with people from right across the region, the extensive refurbishment work at thespa at The Cube on Wharfside Street, has resulted in an extension of the relaxation area plus the addition of 20 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

more treatment rooms. Oozing luxury it will appeal to those looking for a place to chill out and relax.

There has also been an increase in the number of double and single full-length loungers, and a series of hanging canvas cacoons © have also be installed where guests can quite literally hang out! Soft lighting will also make this area the perfect place for people to lie back, relax and get away from the stresses and strains of modern-day life. The new look facilities also include two traditional Arabian Rasul mudbased spa treatment rooms. Combining the

A WHOLE NEW WORLD An independent co-educational day school from 3 months - 11 years

TUESDAY OPEN MORNINGS CALL 0121 454 1496 for more information

pair of Arabian slippers – curly toes included!

Those slippers will soon be tapping a beat as we go from curtain drop to song and dance number in seconds although you do have to wait a while for the any big showstopping tunes. The score may not be well known or, to be honest, really that memorable until your get to the big hitters from the movie such as A Whole New World and Friend Like Me. That said, the whirl of shimmering costumes on stage and some slick choreography entertain until the star and heart of the show, the sickeningly sassy Genie, played expertly by Trevor Dion Nicholas, is released from his lamp and fills the stage and health enhancing properties of mud, steam and heat, guests will be able to draw all the benefits of the treatment which includes exfoliating and toning the skin, while detoxifying the body and leaving them feeling totally relaxed.

In addition, part of the refurbishment will see Elemis, the UK’s leading provider of skincare products, open a flagship store on site, increasing further the

brings the show to life.

It’s at this moment that the show really comes alive. The sets get grander in scale and the story becomes much more involving.

It’s sure to keep children as entertained as any panto but aside from a couple of standout scenes there’s little for fans of musical theatre to sink their teeth into. Still if you are a huge Disney fan, have small people to keep entertained, or if you merely have a fascination with flying carpets then you’ll find some fun here.

To find out more about the show or to book tickets visit www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk

venue’s appeal to those wanting a luxurious spa day.

As a special launch offer, book Spa Therapy treatments for £50 or over and receive a two - course lunch and glass of prosecco in Marco Pierre White’s Bardolino Pizzeria, Bellini & Espresso Bar.

Find out more at www.theclubandspabirmingham.co.uk/the-spa/ or call 0121 643 2200

Outstanding Academic Results: 82% Pass rate to Select Entry LA Grammar Schools 19 Scholarships to Independent Schools

www.hallfieldschool.co.uk 0121 454 1496 admissions@hallfieldschool.co.uk Church Road, Edgbaston Birmingham, B153SJ

SPOTLIGHT.

REALLY SAYING S THEY WERE BRITPOP BEFORE BRITPOP AND WERE DEFINING GIRL POWER BEFORE SCARY SPICE PUT THE AH IN THE ZIG A ZIG, BANANARAMA HOLD A HUGELY SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEARTS OF MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF POPKIDS AND PRACTICALLY INVENTED SASS IN THE MEANTIME. DLUXE MAGAZINE’S JONATHAN FRASER CHATTED TO ONE HALF OF THE NANAS, KEREN WOODWARD, ABOUT 2017’S HUGELY SUCCESFUL ORIGINAL LINE UP TOUR, SPENDING ALMOST FORTY YEARS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS AND THEIR FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 10 YEARS ‘IN STEREO’.

22 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

SOMETHING

First things first I’m afraid, I have to do a little bit of fangirling. I was lucky enough to be in the audience for the Original Line Up tour and was blown away by it!

Wasn’t it fun!. Sarah and I have been doing shows since like forever but we’d never ever done a show with Siobhan. We’d get together with her and we’d say oh you don’t really get it because you’ve never done a live show with us and it just seemed like the opportune time to do it. It was only ever going to be a one-off tour just for the experience and to celebrate that period of our lives. It was great and enabled us to put on a proper show. Sarah and I have done so many festivals and things but obviously you don’t have big screens so it was great being able to have all of that, I mean it was great fun putting all of the screen content together, looking back at things from the past. It was all really good fun.

Sometimes when bands reform for one last time it has the feeling of ‘cause we haven’t got a pension tour’ but this was so far away from tha: the production values were really high and you could see a huge amount of work and effort had gone into it.

Oh God no, it really wasn’t that! The money went into putting on a fantastic show so it wasn’t about getting as much money from it as we can. It was a celebration tour, it wasn’t about anything else.

The tour sold out incredibly quickly. Was that a little overwhelming?

Yes it was, especially once we put the extra dates in. I mean I did think it would be popular but maybe not go quite as well as it did. It was amazing. I think particularly for Siobhan who had that tour experience with us. Sarah and I have been performing regularly, you know at festivals in fields with 10,000 people and when you do your set and finish it with everyone singing back at you it’s such a great feeling. So we’ve experienced that and that’s for a crowd that weren’t specifically coming to see us! So with these shows, where the audience were only there to see us was so amazing.

By the end of it, did you feel like you were drowning in nostalgia a little bit? Was it like this is taking me back to 1984?

Well it was because obviously we were doing it with Siobhan, we were sort of limited to songs, as in it was a celebration of an era and it was very nostalgic and yes we did throw in a few other songs but it was very much about that time.

There have been so many incarnations of the band; there’s the original from the post punk line-up, the Stock Aiken and Waterman years, Siobhan, Jackie, you guys as a duo...

Yeah, Sarah and I have been a duo now for 30 years almost. We’ve been sort of the beginning and it was very natural with Siobhan, it was actually natural with Jackie but it was quite difficult because I think she thought she was always going to be seen as the new girl. Seeing as though we work so well together and we’ve known each other dluxe-magazine.co.uk 23

SPOTLIGHT.

“

We never had a master plan, which is probably obvious since before time began, we just love doing it. You never think that when you are going to embark on a career, that you almost fell into, there is no way that you’d envisage that 37 years or whatever it is that down the line you’re still going to be doing it. It feels like the most natural thing and if we love doing it, why not?

You’ve never been the typical girl group have you and I think that’s what’s made you endure. You predated the whole girl power and ladette thing didn’t you? You were never putting out the stanadrd downtrodden female, heartbroken by my man kind of love song love...

Well I think we’ve always had the same sort of attitude and we’ve always kind of controlled things ourselves and done what we’ve felt was right. We never had a master plan, which is probably obvious, we just do what we want to do and what comes out at the time as it works on different levels.

You go through periods when you think oh that’s it then and then oh apparently its not.

It’s almost more fun now, I mean I loved the Eighties but they were so busy and we didn’t have time to stop and think or even breathe. And then you get to a stage where you think ‘yeah, I wanna do that’ and ‘no, I don’t wanna do that’ and it actually becomes more enjoyable in lots of ways.

You don’t have the pressure of thinking ‘Oh My God I’ve got to release a record and if it doesn’t get into the top ten then I’m going to be devastated’. That almost becomes immaterial so on that level and in the album we’re just about to release we really have done it all ourselves which 24 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

”

would have been completely impossible in times gone by. You end up having more and more control really.

Tell me about the album. I’ve read that Richard X has been involved We’ve done one track with Richard X which is great and then the rest of it with our stalwart Producer and very good friend Ian Masterson although it’s not like we went in and said ‘ooh let’s do an album’, we just love working together and over a period of the last few years, every so often we’d say ‘oh come on, let’s do a few tracks’ and then suddenly you’ve got two albums worth of material. It’s all pop and all Bananarama. That’s what we do.

Will the album be ending on a ballad as is almost tradition now for you guys?

We are! We’re going back to the traditional ballad at the end which I’m rather fond of actually. I won’t tell you the stories behind them because that would be all very embarrassing but you can only really write about personal experiences can you!

It’s not all discos and happy times, is it. But that is one of the things I love about live shows is hearing the background to all of the songs and the stories behind them…

Well I think the shows that we’re doing in April I’m really excited about as there will be a lot of that in there, again it’s finding something to do sometimes and to do the smaller shows that we’re doing.

The shows will be a mix of new and older material and there might be a few

surprises in there too: change things up a bit. It’s going to be something different, properly up close and personal and we are going to do Q & As at the end of each one so it’s anything goes really. I’m not sure what the format is going to be, but there’ll be a whole heap of chat and the audience will have the chance to ask us anything that they want to ask us. We might say no to a couple but on the whole it’s going to be a surprise for us as well as them.

We just did a show in San Diego and it was almost like a Q & A anyway! It wasn’t planned, the audience just kept shouting stuff out and we just had a bit of a chat really. There were a few familiar faces there, people that have been following us for like forever which is so lovely to see, people from Australia, people from the States and from over here as well. We’re just blown away by the loyalty of some people. I think it’s going to be amazing, they can ask all of those burning questions that they’ve always wanted to ask us.

On that note… If there was one Bananarama song that you would put into a time capsule to represent you, what would it be?

Ooh! Love In The First Degree I think

And finally then, what was he waiting for?

Who Robert? Oh I’ve no idea! Probably very little!

In Stereo is released on the 19th April.

Catch an Evening with Bananarama at the Glee Club, Birmingham on 28th April. www.bananarama.co.uk

The home of the

HOUSE PROUD

New Roman Blinds Collection Our exciting new collection of Roman Blinds opens up a whole world of style choices. All backed by a service we’re pleased to say is second to none; with the highest quality products expertly made to measure and fitted beautifully.

So whatever the design, window or room we will do your house proud.

luxaflex.co.uk

LuxaflexÂŽ Showrooms: Solihull Blinds, Solihull: 0121 733 1001

HER STYLE. 1

HOME ON THE RANGE 26 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

COMPLEXION PERFECTION

2

3

From the perfect primer to Insta-ready foundation, raise your game with these makeup bag must-haves from Harvey Nichols Birmingham. LISA PIDDINGTON reveals her beauty essentials for a flawless finish.

THE BASE: Heaven Skincare’s Orange Flower Hydrogel, £19, not only works as a great primer but it also gives your complexion an instant hydration boost. The added benefits of organic neroli and vitamin C promote skin rejuvenation while maintain oil levels.

4

THE CONCEALER:

Newly launched Instant Retouch Concealer from Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r, £19, is creamy, long-wear and crease-proof. It’s designed to deliver light-as-air, medium to full coverage in a ground-breaking range of 50 matte shades.

5

THE SKIN TINT: Hourglass’ superior Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint, £51, uses advanced technology to promote the appearance of a smoother, firmer and more youthful complexion. Fortified with Hyaluronan Complex, it plumps fine lines and wrinkles, tightens sagging skin and delivers a luminous glow.

6

THE FOUNDATION: For coverage that lasts for up to 24-hours, Marc Jacobs Re(marc) able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate, £37, blends instantly to cover pores and blemishes. It also boasts patented golden mica pigments for a radiant, natural-looking glow.

7

THE HIGHLIGHTER: Stila’s Heaven’s Hue Highlighter, £29, has a gossamer-light, radiance-enhancing formula with a buttery texture that melts into skin for a barely-there feel.

Ultra fine, light-diffusing particles help skin look perfectly lit with a soft, luminous, natural-looking glow.

8 9

10 11

1: Outfit by House of Fraser. 2: Gingham Midi Dress, £55 Oasis 3: Rope Tie Heeled Sandals, £45, Wallis.

4: Jacket, £180, V by Very 5: Bon Bon Retro Daisy Pleated Neckerchief Scarf, £15, Accessorize 6: Ava cropped embroidered gauze top, £110, Free People. Harvey Nichols 7: Mini Marcie Saddle Bag, £675, Chloe. 8: Cowboy Boots, £30, Tu. 9: Patch Bag, £37, Accessorize. 10: Gingham Top, £25. V by Very 11. Brown Belt, £TBC Alberta Ferretti.

THE POWDER: This Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder, £29, is formulated without talc for a translucent finish that sets makeup for all-day wear without adding any colour to the skin or overpowering the finish of your foundation. Light-diffusing particles blur and smooth for a skin-perfecting airbrushed effect that doesn’t look chalky or dry.

All products featured are available from the Beauty Hall at Harvey Nichols Birmingham or online at harveynichols.com. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 27

HER STYLE.

SPRING/SUMMER

WARDROBE ESSENTIALS We’ve all got a little post winter wanderlust so what better way to look ahead to your travels than with an easy guide to a capsule wardrobe for your spring summer holiday essentials. from your Fairy Clothes Mother.

They are not necessarily on-trend pieces but provide a basic foundation for your spring wardrobe. You will need to decide on which pieces to add to your wardrobe depending upon your own lifestyle needs, but these are items you may simply want to consider.

You can use this summer checklist to build a strong foundation of timeless pieces that can be paired with so much already in your wardrobe creating lots of outfits. I’ve selected my top 8 pieces that will get you through every rendezvous, cocktail hour and beach trip! When the summer arrives, make sure you’re ready with these can’t live without essentials:

GOOD QUALITY BLACK & WHITE T-SHIRT

This probably goes without saying but investing in a few quality t-shirts that you can wear alone with jeans, shorts or with a great accessory or layer under your jackets is crucial. I personally prefer a V or scoop neck line as it is always more flattering than a crew or boat neck style.

My favourite brands are American Vintage, Alexander Wang, All Saints, LNA, Splendid, Jigsaw and Hush.

WHITE JEANS

Nothing makes a crisp statement more than a pair of white jeans. They pair well with literally everything from neutrals to pastels to brights. I can’t imagine my summer wardrobe without them! The most important thing is to find a pair that fits well and the material is thick enough that you can’t see through it. I always advise my clients to invest in white jeans as you need the quality.

Brands I love are Paige and J Brand.

SUMMER DRESS

Short, midi or Maxi, the decision is yours.

Even if you’re not a dress person, summer is definitely the time to showcase the best the shops have to offer. From casual day time, to the beach, to the bar, there’ll be a style right for the occasion. Much easier to wear then separate pieces, just throw one on with either flat sandals or wedges, a little denim or leather jacket if needed and you’re good to go!

DENIM JACKET

A denim jacket is a great staple to have in your wardrobe all year round but is the perfect layering piece for spring. I love how it looks layered over a dress or skirt to make it look a little more edgy.

It also looks great with a basic white t-shirt and white jeans. They need not cost the earth and can be picked up for less than £50 in Topshop, Oasis, Warehouse, Zara or H&M.

SUNGLASSES

Because nothing says summer more than a great pair of sunglasses!

They make a fab fashion statement plus they protect your eyes. There are so many different styles, make sure you choose the right frame for your face shape. If not my top tip would be to go for an aviator style, always on trend and suits many face shapes. Tom Ford, Victoria Beckham and Dior are my go to.

WEDGE SANDALS

Be sure to try your swimwear on before you buy, so you know what it looks like on you. If you need to go up a size compared to what you wear in regular clothing, do not despair! Swimwear tends to be cut smaller and fit tighter. Panic over.

Your swimwear should flatter your exact body shape and accentuate your positive features as this will naturally detract from the negative areas you don’t like. Most people feel insecure about at least one part of their body. Those insecurities can definitely amplify when the bathing suit season arrives. We can’t change Mother Nature but we certainly can disguise her!

BEACH BAG

If you’re only going to have one pair make it a neutral tone, as they are a fab way to achieve height with comfort and perfect for outdoor events such as weddings, Summer BBQ’s or festivals. Steve Maddens and Jimmy Choo always provide a good choice.

My personal go to is the Louis Vuitton Never Full, perfect for traveling with on the plane which then doubles as a beach bag when you arrive at your destination. I also love the personalised bags from Rae Feather. Chanel offers complete luxury but the thought of destroying it with sand and sun cream scares me!

SWIMWEAR

If all this is still too much for you to take in, you haven’t got the time or even a clue where to start and just want to invest in some professional honest guidance and advice, either for yourself, or a loved one, you know where to find me.

You are never more exposed than when you are on holiday. My ultimate tip for your well-earned and much needed fix of sunshine is to invest in some decent swimwear and flattering cover ups. A wellcut swimsuit can make you look as though you have shed pounds and work wonders at helping you to look and feel at your best.

Remember we all need help because looking good doesn’t just happen, and it’s the stylish ones that ask for it!

Working as a Buyer and Image Consultant for high street fashion chains as well as high end designers, including Amanda Wakeley, Cleo now runs her own personal styling and shopping service, helping real men and women to take control of their wardrobe.

E: cleolacey@demi-couture.co.uk W: www.demi-couture.co.uk Facebook: Demi Couture Twitter: @cleolacey Instagram: DemiCoutureStylist 28 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Cotton Citizen T Shirt £70 Harvey Nichols, J Brand White Jeans £225 Net A Porter, Denim Jacket £45 River Island, Sunglasses by ArticleOne, Wedge £39 Lipsy, Colourblock Underwired Shaping Halter Swimsuit £60 Figleaves, Summer Dress by Anonyme, Neverfull Bag £920 Louis Vuitton.

OH NATURALE!

NEUTRAL GEAR

Main: Free People Meet Me In Montauk linen-blend jacket, £130.

Adidas Originals Falcon blush leather trainers, £110.

Malone Souliers Daria 100 elaphe and leather pumps, £545.

An easy alternative to this season’s rainbow brights, opt for fleshy shades of caramel, beige, off-white and stone. Neutrals are very much in the spotlight for SS19, as showcased on the spring catwalks by fashion’s big hitters Burberry, Balmain, Tom Ford, Stella McCartney and Max Mara. Look out for laid-back tailoring, linen and trench coats Free People Fluffy Fox in muted shades chunky-knit and wear the palette jumper, £130. from head to toe.

Lisa Piddington from Harvey Nichols Birmingham reveals how to achieve Boutique Moschino this most understated cotton poplin shirt dress, £485. look.

Free People High Holiday lamé midi skirt, £110.

Acne Studios mélange wool scarf, £110.

Team this season’s neutral trend with co-ordinating accessories for a look that’s straight off the catwalk. Here’s our pick of the SS19 must-haves from Harvey Nichols Birmingham.

Givenchy GV3 small leather shoulder bag, £1,590.

Olivia Burton Watercolour Florals rose gold-plated watch, £80.

Saint Laurent Jamie medium leather shoulder bag, £1,710.

Stella McCartney Falabella reversible canvas tote, £720.

Isabel Marant Étoile Cabria ecru wide-leg jeans, £225.

Stella McCartney sand cotton jacket, £765.

Toino Abel sand straw top handle bag, £150.

Valentino Garavani Uptown ivory top handle bag, £1,950.

Free People Sweet Melody striped trench coat, £170.

Rick Owens silk blend biker jacket, £1145.

Vince taupe wide-leg woolblend trousers,

Valentino Garavani Rockstud 100 studded leather pumps, £650.

£290.

All items featured are available from Harvey Nichols Birmingham, in store and via Style Concierge or online at harveynichols.com

Accessories featured are available from Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox and online at harveynichols.com. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 29

HER STYLE. have worked so hard to find a solution to my own skincare needs without having acne; it made me realise what a terrible torment it can be.”

One of the first products she created was her Age Defiance Cream – designed to combat break-outs – and it quickly put Deborah’s brand on the map, becoming a firm favourite with a host of famous faces. “I believe this was the product that really kickstarted my success,” she says. “It’s been used by Victoria Beckham, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Claudia Schiffer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zoe Ball and Tess Daly because it helps keep their skin spot-free and in great condition.”

However, of all her natural, organic products it is her must-have bee venom masks, dubbed the “facelift in a jar”, that remain her best-sellers, thanks to fact they control the facial muscles to tighten, firm and lift while at the same time penetrating fine lines to give an immediate anti-ageing effect.

So where did the idea of using bee venom come from?

“Historically, bee venom has been used as pain relief but it had never been used as a skincare product before. I’m always dreaming and I use my dreams to fuel my ideas. I wanted to find an alternative to Botox after I noticed wrinkles starting to appear on my face. My sister is a beekeeper, so I had a lot of information about bees and honey in my head and I just knew what I had to do. Being dyslexic, my brain has to work harder than other people’s but this has always helped me see things that others may miss. I guess it’s similar to a blind person having extra good hearing.”

HEAVEN SENT Deborah Mitchell’s famous Heaven Skincare brand is sold all over the world and she has recently opened a brand new salon in Birmingham’s Harvey Nichols. Despite suffering from dyslexia, she has carved out a hugely successful business that can count a host of royals and A-listers amongst its biggest fans.

She talks to LISA PIDDINGTON about her best-selling products and what continues to motivate her.

Twelve years ago, the mumof-two began experimenting at her kitchen table and developed her patented super ingredient ABEETOXIN®, a formulation of bee venom, Manuka honey and botulism, the natural form of the toxin used in Botox that can be harvested in bee hives. “My clients loved it straight away but it took another three years to get it sold around the world.

It has since gone on to be one of the most successful face creams; we have the world patent now and yes, there have been many copies in different formats, but I hold the key!”

She is quick to point out the venom used is extracted without causing any harm to the bees – she devised a system where they are encouraged to sting a pane of glass with an electric hum running through it. This means the venom is milked and the insects survive with their stings intact.

Guru may well be an over-used term in the beauty industry, but when it comes to Deborah Mitchell few words are more fitting.

Thanks to her multi-million pound Heaven Skincare empire, the 52-year-old businesswoman is world renowned for her agedefying creams – most notably her bee venom range – and boasts a client list that reads like a veritable who’s who of the rich and famous.

Despite travelling around the globe training therapists, meeting clients and promoting her business, Deborah remains one of the country’s most popular facialists, regularly treating the likes of The Duchess of Cornwall and Simon Cowell. She also continues to perform therapies at her flagship Shifnal salon in Shropshire where her two-year waiting list is testament to just how in demand she is.

But as a teenager, Telford-born Deborah experienced severe bullying at school due to her dyslexia; being the canny woman she is, she turned this to her advantage. “I’m certainly not saying that bullying is ever justified,” she explains, “but for me it meant that I hid in the library during break times and that gave me the time I needed to do extra research and pass my exams.”

With her famous roster of celebrities, does she ever get star struck? “No, I never have. I admit I get very shy when I meet anyone new in a normal social setting, but when I am looking after clients and know that I can help them I realise how good I am at my job.

She also suffered from severe acne, which again she turned into a positive giving her the impetus to think up products suitable for her troublesome skin. She signed up for a beauty course at her local college and became a mobile therapist at just 17, using what she learned on the job to devise remedies that would help specific complexion complaints. “I starting mixing and blending essential oils into various creams and using them on myself.

“I was very inventive even then, I’d try anything. I would not 30 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

“I have always loved looking after people and I still have a passion for inventing new products,” she smiles. “I’m very happy with my success but it still feels strange when I’m in a coffee shop and I get recognised. When I think back to being bullied as a teenager it reminds me that I haven’t done too badly, eh?”

Heaven Skincare by Deborah Mitchell is available at Heaven Health & Beauty, 13a Market Place, Shifnal, Shropshire, and at Harvey Nichols Birmingham. You can also shop online at heavenskincare.com.

AN OASIS AWAITS the new and improved spa at theclubandspa birmingham, opening april 2019.

We can’t wait to reveal our new spa after a £500k makeover, with new treatment rooms and luxury facilities it will be the perfect place to chill out and relax. Find us nestled within Birmingham’s most prestigious landmark, The Cube.

FIND OUT MORE

Scan here to find out more about our treatments and facilities or visit our website. theclubandspabirmingham.com THE CUBE, MAILBOX DISTRICT, BIRMINGHAM, B1 1RN

HIS STYLE.

PATTERN

& PRINT

SPRING

FLING

32 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Suit by Simon Carter.

Vegas Print Shirt, £28, River Island

Jack Printed Linen-Blend Shirt, £110, ONIA

Camp Collar Paisley-Print CottonCanvas Shirt, £250, Dunhill

Floral Shirt, £34.99, TK Maxx

Panda Shirt, £575, Dolce & Gabbanna

ACTIVE EYEWEAR Leopard Print Floral Shirt, £45, Jaded

‘Orion’ Slim Shirt, £45, Twisted Tailor

Brown print button-down shirt, £28, River Island

Linen Floral Shirt, £360, Vivienne Westwood.

Struggle with your eyewear during your morning jog or cross country trek?

Article One has partnered with Tracksmith Running to produce the first vintage-inspired technical running frame that’s built to meet the needs of the most gruelling long-runs, The Charles is the result of both brand’s desire to create something equally engineered and elegant.

Made using TR90 polymer plastic, an incredibly lightweight and hypoallergenic material made to hold its shape after contouring to your face, the Charles features silicone nose pads to grip and hold - with a wire core skeleton runners can squeeze tight during a workout, and let loose afterward.

The frame includes Italianmade, CR-39 Polarized lenses by Divel, that block 100% of UVA/ UVB rays and prevent road glare, plus the back side has an extra anti-reflective coating to counteract any reflection coming from the eye.

Find out more at articleoneeyewear.com dluxe-magazine.co.uk 33

HIS STYLE.

MENSWEAR EDIT: TRUE BLUE Add a splash of instant colour to your wardrobe with this season’s chicest colour trend for men. Sharp shades of cobalt, midnight, sky and navy were favourites on the SS19 catwalks at Dries Van Noten, Valentino, Ermenegildo Zegna. Here’s our edit of the new season from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM.

3

1

2 7 4 5 6

9 8 All items featured are available from Harvey Nichols Birmingham, in store and via Style Concierge or online at harveynichols.com 1: Balenciaga Triple S blue mesh and nubuck trainers, £610 2: Balenciaga mirrored oval-frame sunglasses, £295.

3: Golden Goose Deluxe Brand suede trainers , £310. 4: DSquared2 logo-print vinyl backpack, £480. 5: Givenchy logo-jacquard jersey sweatshirt, £1,065. 6: J.Lindeberg cashmere-blend jumper, £190. 7: Kenzo jersey sweatpants, £270. 8: (and main image) Billionaire Boys Club reversible shell jacket, £375. 9: Stone Island nylon shell jacket, £330.

MARVEL AT THE MAILBOX A new collection of limited edition prints, celebrating the life of late Marvel legend, Stan Lee (1922-2018), have been released in Birmingham.

The Marvel Superheroes collection has been created in collaboration with Marvel’s fine art publisher, Choice Fine Art, and is available at Castle Fine Art galleries in the The Mailbox.

Individually hand-signed by Stan Lee before his passing, each piece of artwork features one of Marvel’s many iconic characters: The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, The Invincible Ironman, Thor and Wolverine.

Speaking ahead of the collection launch, JC Lee, Stan Lee’s daughter, said: “I want the work that my father started to continue. That’s what he would want and that is what I want to carry forward.”

The six signed limited edition prints, available in boxed canvas and giclée on paper, start from £1,950 each.

34 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

I N DU LGE I N

AFTERNOON TEA FROM £24.95 PER PERSON

The paw-fect place for you & your pooch

At Hotel du Vin Birmingham, we know just how important the bond between you and your four-legged friend is. at’s why we’ll always welcome you both with open arms.

Man’s best friend is our best friend www.hotelduvin.com/locations/birmingham ||

MOTORS.

Who’s the daddy?

With a new engine line up that utilises six, eight and 12 cylinders as well as an electric hybrid offer the new BMW 7 Series is ready to take it’s place back at the head of the BMW Family and sets out its stall as the ultimate vehicle for luxurious driving pleasure.

traditional Hofmeister kink (the upturned line at the towards the back of the side window) are still in place ensuring that this is still instantly recognisable as a BMW and for those who prefer to be driven than to drive there is still the choice of a long wheelbase model

First produced by the German manufacturer in 1977, this new generation of the 7 series introduces an all new face for the family.

Around 50mm taller at its foremost point the 7 series front end is dominated by the traditional BMW kidney grille, now set to loom even larger in your rear view mirror on the motorway. It’s a look that is undeniably aggressive and has all of the visual impact of Rolls Royce and Bentley. The grill is framed by large air intakes, that only open when the need for cooling air is increased, and an aerodynamically contoured front apron giving the 7 Series the look of a brutal blunt instrument that means business..

The rear of the BMW 7 Series offers a clean jewel like lighting bar with the wide air intakes of the front echoed in the rear apron. Here the exhaust system’s tailpipes are edged in menacing, wide chrome surrounds, grounding the rear of the car, enforcing its purposeful stance. That stance comes about from wide alloy wheels that range from 18inch to 21-inch designs.

Hallmark BMW design cues such as the 36 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Inside things are a little more familiar with the latest version of the BMW Touch Command unit able to controlled from every seat and even outside of the vehicle.

This removable tablet with a 7-inch screen lets the occupants operate comfort functions such as seat adjustment, interior lighting and

climate control, as well as the infotainment, navigation and communication systems. It can also be used to play external audio and video files.

The rear-seat entertainment system comprises two 10-inch full-HD displays complete with a Blu-ray player that allows users to access the entertainment, navigation and online functions of the vehicle from the rear seats with even the viewing angle of the screens, which now have touchscreen functionality, being adjustable in accordance with the rear seat passengers’ existing seat position.

Standard specification for the new BMW 7 Series includes the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant – an intelligent, digital helper who responds to the prompt “Hey BMW”.

This technology learns routines, habits and preferences to help the driver get the best out of the in-car functionality such as the seat heating or the places they navigate to.

Drivers can also give the Personal Assistant

a name for even greater individuality and personality. The Assistant is familiar with the vehicle’s functions and is able to operate them as required. Saying “Hey BMW, I’m cold” will prompt the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant to adjust the temperature inside the car accordingly.

It can even attend to the driver’s sense of wellbeing by providing vitality and relaxation programmes and can activate air conditioning, seat massage, fragrance or music to refresh or relax the driver while they are at the wheel. The selected programme runs for a duration of three minutes. The new BMW 7 Series additionally offers three different Experience Modes for the interior to choose from, which are geared to suit the driver’s current mood and can be activated for as long as desired.

450Nm, the 740i and the 740Li accelerates from 5.5 and 5.6 seconds, respectively. The fuel consumption figures are between 31.734.0mpg* and 31.0-33.6mpg*, the with CO2 emissions of 161g/km and 164g/km*.

For those looking at hybrid options there are the BMW 745e and the BMW 745Le xDrive. The plug-in hybrid models that will be available at the launch of the new BMW 7 Series feature a six-cylinder in-line petrol engine from the current BMW Efficient Dynamics family of power units with maximum output of 286hp and an electric motor with a rated output of 113hp and a peak torque of 265Nm.

The new BMW 7 Series also features the optional Integral Active Steering system.

This technology allows the driver to execute low-speed manoeuvres with only small steering inputs and without having to change their grip on the steering wheel.

At higher speeds, meanwhile, the car’s responses to movements of the wheel are less pronounced, improving both directional stability when driving in a straight line and precision on the way into corners.

So with all that luxury in the back who cares how it drives? Well BMW do as this is still very much a drivers car, even if that happens to be only on the chauffeurs day off. Petrol and diesel engines using six, eight and 12 cylinders as well as a plug-in hybrid drive system offering an increased electric range, enhanced performance and lower consumption are all on offer. The eight-speed Steptronic transmission fitted as standard on all model variants has also undergone further improvement as has the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system that can be combined not just with the petrol and diesel engines but with the hybrid drive too.

Spearheading the line-up of engines for the new BMW 7 Series is the 6.6 liter 12 cylinder petrol engine with 585hp. As you would expect top speed is electronically limited to 155mph but the benchmark zero to 62mph sprint can be achieved in 3.8 seconds putting this care into supercar territory. All that performance costs though with combined fuel consumption at 20.8-21.6mpg* and CO2 emissions are at 282g/km*.

The entry level petrol engine comes in the form of the BMW 740i and 740Li. With a power output of 340hp and a peak torque of

Handling all that power is the option of BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, which comes as standard on the V12 and V8 petrol models and the two most powerful diesel models, while it is available as an option for the BMW 730d. All variants feature, as standard, adaptive suspension including electronically controlled dampers and two-axle air suspension with automatic self-levelling. Plus, the Driving Experience Control switch can be used to activate a range of damper settings to shift the emphasis of the driving experience further towards either comfort or sportiness. The ride-height can be adjusted manually. For example, it can be raised by 20 millimetres at the touch of a button on bumpy road surfaces or steeply angled ramps on the way into garages.

The new plug-in hybrid drive technology enables the BMW 745e and BMW 745Le xDrive models to record zero to 62mph times of between 5.3 and 5.1 seconds while achieving an electric-only range of between 32 and 36 miles*. BMW quote combined fuel consumption figures for the plug-in hybrid luxury versions of between 108.6-134.5mpg* and The CO2 emissions produced when burning fuel average between 48 and 52g/ km*.

By turning the rear wheels in either the same direction as or the opposite direction to the front ones, depending on the road speed, the system also makes the BMW 7 Series nimbler in city driving and increases its agility and tracking through corners. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels, easing the car’s manoeuvrability and significantly reducing its turning circle. By contrast, at higher speeds, the rear wheels follow the same direction as the front wheels, allowing the car to follow the course set by the driver even more quickly and accurately.

The new BMW 7 Series is on sale from 13 April 2019 with prices starting from £69,430 for the BMW 740i. To find out more visit www.bmw.co.uk

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 37

LIVING.

F R I N G E

DEBENHAMS 38 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

1

B E N E F I T S Tassels and fringing were a prominent fashion feature on the Autumn/Winter 18 catwalks and this retro look is now making its way into our homes in 2019.

3

The look can be introduced to your home on lights, mirrors, furniture, cushions and other accessories. It is a great way to add some fun and texture to sleek, minimalist spaces.

2

If you’re concerned about the naff factor and reminders of your Granny’s house, then rest assured that this time around the look is more chic boutique than old fashioned 1970s.

Here are a few key ways to easily introduce the new fringing style to your home: FRINGED LIGHTING

4

Make a bold statement with fringed ceiling lights or even a fringed chandelier. For a more subtle look, a fringed lamp will add just the right amount of interest and texture to a gloomy corner of a room.

FRINGED CUSHIONS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES

6

Add a few cushions with a fringe to your space as a small introduction to the trend. Mix and match them with regular cushions. Fringes 5 work well with a knitted texture and there are even sparkly and metallic options available. Blankets, duvet covers and wall hangings are just a few other ways to add this trend to your home.

FRINGED TIEBACKS You could go all out and add fringed curtains to your room but a cute and easy idea is to scale it down and add simple fringed tiebacks instead.

FRINGED FURNITURE Fringed furniture is definitely a more prominent retro fringed look and will appeal to those who really want to embrace the trend and turn heads. Many furniture pieces can be ordered with a fringe added to the bottom such as sofas, footstools and occasional chairs.

Although this look isn’t for everyone, the new version of fringing is definitely making waves or ‘swishes’ in the interior design world this year.

8

7 1. FrauMaier Pascha Pendant Lamp £115 www.nunido.co.uk 2. Pink Wink Suspension Light. £347 www.nedgis.com 3. Comodino clipper,£1700 Amerigo Milano 4. Blush and Pink Fringed Cushion £39.95 www.audenza.com 5. Abode Living, Fringe Yellow Velvet Lamp £120 www.abodeliving.co.uk 6. Isaac Fringed Armchair, £599 Sweetpea & Willow 7. Eichholtz Fringe Chandelier, £2355 Sweetpea & Willow 8. Blush Pink Fringed Cushion £45 www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

LIVING.

GET OUT IN THE GARDEN AND GET REady for spRIng Lift and split herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses. Not only does it increase your stock, it also allows you to fill up any bare areas in your garden. If you only re-plant the younger growth and discard the old material it will also provide the plants with renewed vigour to grow.

Turn your compost heaps. On a cold day this job will warm you up and it will allow the layers of material to mix together, letting in air and helping material to rot. This gives you a much better chance of making high-quality garden compost.

Start planting summer flowering bulbs such as Lilles and Gladiolus for a summer display or to use as cut flowers for your house.

As Rose buds are fattening up, it’s the perfect time to prune your roses to an outward facing bud.

It’s important to clean glasshouses and cold frames ready for the new growing season.

Spring is in the air – we’ve had more than a few hints as to the warmer climes coming – and the gardening team is getting ready for a busy season. We’ll be dividing and repositioning grasses and herbaceous plants in the grass garden.

We’re also making plans for the summer displays on the terrace, while the indoor team will be busy re-potting the orchids in the Subtropical House Orchid Case.

Early spring is a great time to re-pot them as they have finished flowering and new stem growth is about to come through. Once they are taken out of their pots, all the old compost is removed and any dead roots are trimmed off we then select a big terracotta pot that has enough space for two years growth and cover the plant in orchid compost. This comprises 10 parts medium grade pine bark, 5 parts

fine grade pine bark, 1½ parts of perlite and ¼ part granulated charcoal. Bark is also used as many orchids are epiphytes - growing on tree branches in the wild for support.

Lastly, daffodils grown in pots and cold frames over the winter will now be brought into the cool greenhouse. Green garden canes and string will be used to stake the tall flowers to stop them from falling over.

With views of the stunning Malvern Hills as the backdrop, a delicious selection of cakes, sandwiches and drinks will be served before the experts give an hour-long talk about their passion for all things horticulture. Afternoon tea tickets are extremely limited and cost just 40 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Sow hardy annuals seeds such as sweet peas (if you didn’t get round to doing it in the autumn) – remember that April will be too late to do this.

SEASONAL TIPS FOR MARCH

Start feeding houseplants with a high nitrogen fertiliser every 7 to 14 days to encourage growth.

If you aren’t sure of what needs to be done in your own garden, why not follow our seasonal tips for March below:

Place Canna, Dahlias and Ginger Lilies in a warm spot in the glasshouse and give them a good water to encourage new growth.

Give any bulbs that you have in pots a highpotassium feed every 10-14 days to prolong the display, as well helping the bulb replenish it stores for next year.

To find out more and for more tips, follow Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Twitter @ BhamBotanicalGd or visit www. birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

FROM GREEN FINGERS TO GREEN TEA RHS Malvern Spring Festival (May 9-12) is offering the chance to book an exclusive afternoon tea with gardening’s best-loved stars. Gardening expert, TV presenter and author Carol Klein will host an afternoon tea for festival goers on Friday, May 10, while gardener, cook, writer and presenter Sarah Raven will welcome people on Saturday afternoon.

Wash plant pots and seed trays to prevent pests and diseases from damaging precious young plants.

£39pp (excluding festival entry).

RHS Malvern Spring Festival, at Three Counties Showground, in Malvern, celebrates the finest in both gardening and food.Other special guests appearing at this year’s festival include Monty Don, Jo Whiley, John Torode and Raymond Blanc.

For tickets visit www.rhsmalvern.co.uk/buytickets.

WIN!

We’ve got two tickets to a hosted Afternoon Tea to give away. For your chance to win visit www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk

STORY TIME WITH

Wednesday 24th April 2019

See Peter Rabbit™ during Story Time sessions, led by a narrator, at intervals throughout the day.

Don’t forget to bring your camera.

Peter Rabbit™ © Frederick Warne & Co. Limited and Silvergate PPL Limited, 2019. All rights reserved.

For more information or to purchase general admission tickets, please visit:

birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk Find us on:

Your support keeps the Gardens growing

AN EDUCATIONAL CHARITY

LIVING

THINK PINK! 1 2

4

8 is undoubtedly the c Pink accessories, Spring is the

3

6

5

42 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

7

colour of the moment. From scatter cusions, throws and furniture to wallcoverings and statement time to be in the pink!.

10 9

1. Watch Out! Pink Wallpaper, £150 www.decoville. co.uk 2. Contemporary Pink Lips - Wall Art Print £5 www.abstracthouse.com 3. Wild & Wolf - Retro Telephone Dusky Pink £50 www. hurnandhurn.com 4. Pink Martini Glasses (set of 4) £38.95 www.audenza.com 5. Pink Faux Monstera Potted Plant. £54 www.audenza.com 6. Jackson 2 Seater Sofa, £649 www.cultfurniture.com 7. The French Bedroom Co, Kilim Vintage Rug £499 www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 8. ‘Rock Pool Beach’ Mural by Lara Skinner. Price dependent on wall size. www.wallsauce.com 9. Polka Vase, Large, Pastel Pink ,£59.95 www.annabeljames.co.uk 10. Seletti Lipstick Plate Pink £34.95 www.smithersofstamford.com

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 43

TRAVEL.

BEST HEN & STAG DO

DESTiNATIONs ABROAD

So, you’re planning a hen or stag weekend abroad? It’s an exciting yet daunting task we know. Whether you’re the maid of honour or the best man, we’ve picked out the best hen & stag do destinations around the world to give you a helping hand!

THE BEAUTY OF BARCELONA Sun, sand and sangria… what more could you want for your last hurrah! The home of Catalan culture, months of endless sunshine, a lively nightlife and incredible gastronomy – this Spanish city has it all.

Whether you want to spend days lounging on the beach, get involved in some pulse racing activities, explore the local culture and attractions or dance the night away with the locals, Barcelona is the destination for your stag or hen do.

44dluxe-magazine.co.uk

TOP ACTIVITIES IN BARCELONA: • Visit Barcelona’s iconic attractions like La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s Park Güell and Mercado de la Boqueria • Go on a tapas crawl of the bars of the Gothic Quarter • Relax on Barceloneta beach • Hit the world-famous nightclubs on the seafront Spending money: ££ Approximate Flight Time: 2h5m Fly direct with: Ryanair and Vueling

WHAT’S THE KRAK WITH KRAKÓW? A less expected destination on the list is Poland’s second city and former capital Kraków. In Kraków, you can explore a

harmonious blend of old and new, going from fascinating history to pumping nightlife in a matter of footsteps. Spend some time admiring the architecture and history of this cultural city and then get the party started! A small and compact city, Kraków has one of the world’s highest density of pubs, bars and clubs, and it’s one of the cheapest cities in Europe.

TOP ACTIVITIES IN KRAKOW: • Mooch around the main market square, Rynek Główny • Take a walking tour around the Old Town and visit Wawel Castle

SPECIAL FEATURE

TOP ACTIVITIES IN BELFAST: • Visit the Titanic Belfast Exhibition • Browse Ireland’s oldest continually operating market, St. George’s Market • Enjoy an Irish Dancing show or have a go yourselves • Crawl the city’s oldest pubs Spending Money: ££ Approximate Flight Time: 1h0m Fly direct with: Flybe and easyJet

BERLIN’S BEST FOR BARS

• Crawl the bars of the historic Jewish district, Kazimierz • Try pierogi (Polish dumplings) Spending Money: £ Approximate Flight Time: 2h25m Fly direct with: Ryanair

BROWSE THE CULTURE OF BELFAST Who says you need to leave the UK for a fun stag or hen do away? Belfast is Northern Ireland’s vibrant, fun and friendly capital, ready to welcome you with open arms. As well as a great nightlife scene, Belfast is home to many galleries, opera houses, museums and movie theatres, making it a wonderfully cultural place to explore. Why not book a group activity like a cocktail masterclass, a brewery bike and beer tour, or the Belfast pub experience?

If the bride or groom is the type who will enjoy clubbing until the early hours, the cool German capital is the best city to visit.

With no official closing hours throughout Berlin, the nightlife on offer is legendary.

From tiny basement clubs to industrial techno temples, from picturesque beer gardens to fancy cocktail dens, there’s something for everyone 24/7. If you can pull your group away from the parties, Berlin is a city full of vibrant culture, cutting-edge architecture, fabulous food and tangible history. A captivating combo of glamour and grit, this edgy city is a great hen and stag do destination.

DUBAI IS GLITTERING LUXURY You don’t have to stick to Europe for a stag do or hen weekend. If you’re out for one big bang, ultra-modern, urban and glamorous, Dubai is a destination like no other. A city set in the middle of a desert, you won’t see any rain here. Relax beside infinity pools and beautiful golden sandy beaches or head into the desert on an exquisite safari. The city boasts worldclass shopping, dining and entertainment attractions too, meaning your stag or hen party won’t be stuck for things to do.

After dark, Dubai really comes alive.

From flashy dance temples, shiny rooftop terraces and funky beach clubs to fancy cocktail caverns, shisha lounges and concerts under the stars – Dubai is a fantastic choice for your hen or stag do abroad.

TOP ACTIVITIES IN DUBAI: • Explore the attractions in Dubai • Spend an afternoon at the uber hip The Beach JBR • Sandboard or quad bike along the desert sand dunes

TOP ACTIVITIES IN BERLIN:

• Treat your taste buds in the souks

• Walk along remnants of the Berlin Wall

Spending Money: ££££ Approximate Flight Time: 7h0m Fly direct with: Emirates

• Stand in the very room where the Holocaust was planned • Pedal through Berlin’s streets on a famous party bike • Stay up all night at one of the city’s famous clubs

Fly direct to these hen and stag do destinations, including many more, from Birmingham Airport. Make your getaway more special by booking your party into one of our airport lounges before you fly.

Spending Money: ££ Approximate Flight Time: 1h45m Fly direct with: Flybe

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 45

TRAVEL

AMAZING M A L A YS I A

A melting pot of religions, cultures and communities, Malaysia’s rich heritage, cosmopolitan and contemporary nightlife, stunning national parks and the world’s oldest tropical rainforest make it the perfect destination for those looking for exploration and entertainment writes Jonathan Fraser.

Arriving in Kuala Lumpur after a comfortable 13-hour flight from London’s Heathrow with British Airways you’re immediately hit by the vibrancy and chaos of the city. Cars and scooters intertwine on the city streets as traffic police in traditional uniform attempt to conduct the dance. Neon signs blink, billboards rotate and what look like the ruins of Victorian architecture snuggle up against structures of steel and glass that announce that this is a city of history and of progression. Kuala Lumpur – or KL as you’ll see on every baseball cap and bumper sticker- is Malaysia’s capital and its largest city. Named after the point where two rivers join together, Kuala Lumpur means muddy 46 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

confluence, the city originated as a trading and provision point for Chinese tin miners who would work further up river. In the late 1700’s Malaysia was colonized by the British and the winding alley ways of wooden shacks that made up the town were replaced with brick buildings and wide walkways in the style of the Empire much of which, as in other parts of Malaysia particularly Penang, is in evidence today despite the country being under Japanese control during the second world war.

Must visit remnants of the city’s past include Merdeka Square home to the stunning neo Nughal and Moorish Revival designed Sultan Abdul Samad Building where Malaya declared itself independent from colonial forces in 1957, becoming Malaysia. Shoppers will delight at the Central Market, remodelled in Art Deco style but home to shopping in Kuala Lumpur since 1888 and packed with over 300 shops that celebrate Malaysian arts and crafts. The nearby Petaling Market in the city’s China Town is

and a counterfeiter’s delight. A must see as is the imposing Petronas Twin Towers with connecting Sky Bridge, one of the world’s top 20 tallest skyscrapers and available to visit – but make sure you book ahead for some unforgettable views.

At night Kuala Lumpur offers a mix of western style tourist pubs, swanky rooftop hotel cocktail bars and restaurants and nightclubs where the DJ keeps the decks spinning until the early hours of the morning. By far our favourite aspect of afterhours Kuala Lumpur are the huge array of Speakeasy or Hidden Bars around the city. Opium Den styled destinations await behind fake shop frontages and hidden doorways – tip a top hat to the right and a door will open, press a panel on the left and an enigmatic entrance will be revealed where some seriously good cocktails await– perfect!

Centrally located and excellent value, the Hotel Istana offered us a huge room with an amazing view of

the city and an excellent breakfast to start us on our day.

Much more than just a stopover hotel, Sama Sama is conveniently located at the airport and offers guests multiple restaurants and lounges, a fabulous outdoor pool to relax in and well equipped gym.

Leaving Kuala Lumpur behind us we set off by boat along the Tembeling river to Tamar Negara national park, the world’s oldest Rainforest and Jungle. The magical journey passing Water Buffalo, Kingfishers, Macaque monkeys and Hornbills, takes around two hours and in incredibly comfortable sat two abreast in a low-slung river boat with tin top to keep off the sun and let the breeze in. Cruising through the rainforest is an incredibly emotional experience, sometimes overwhelming as you realise the epic scale of what surrounds you.

We were lucky enough to be staying in the heart of the jungle itself in the only rainforest resort in Malaysia – the Muriata resort. Made

up around 100 wood and bamboo air-conditioned huts high up above the waterside along with restaurant, reception building, spa, shop and activity building the accommodation is functional but supremely well located for the sights and sounds of jungle life.

Walk out of your hut, past the Macaque monkeys laying on your lawn and the jungle is literally all around you. The resort employs a large number of excellent guides who took us through readymade rainforest paths both in the black of night – this is one place where there really is no such thing as light pollution- and in the midday sun. The jungle at night sings with unknown life and although, thanks to an earlier rainstorm, much of its residents kept well out of our way, we still got to meet speckled huntsman spiders, giant stick insects and centipedes as well as the odd snake or five. Daylight allows for a closer study of the exotic flora and fauna of the region as well as a walk across the treetop canopies – an amazing adrenalin

fuelled treat and another great way to experience and enjoy this amazing location.

If your hankering for some more time on the river then why not take an open boat to Lata Berkoh for a spot of river swimming? Call in on Malaysia’s tallest tree on the way and switch the engines off for a relaxed drift back to camp listening to the jungle life around you.

Keep your eyes peeled as Tigers, elephants, deer and macaques all still live within the jungle.

Two nights at the Mutiara Tamar Negara resort including some meals and guided activities cost from around £148 per person. Visit mutiaratamannegara.com to find out more. www.tourism.gov.my, www.hotelistana.com.my, www.samasamahotels.com www. mutiaratamannegara.com, www.britishairways.com

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 47

TRAVEL NEWS.

Marella Cruises customers take off from Birmingham on the UK’s only direct flights to Langkawi, Malaysia

Airport awarded grant funding Towards electric buses Birmingham Airport has been awarded £1.4m from the Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme administered by the Department for Transport (Df T) and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

The funding awarded will support the electrification of the airport’s landside bus fleet with ultra-low emission buses

operating as a passenger transport service on all of the Airport car park routes.

The grant will partly fund the purchase of electric buses as well as the installation of dedicated bus charging infrastructure.

The remaining investment, to achieve this infrastructure, will be made by Birmingham Airport.

Birmingham Airport employees take to the runway to support Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Turkish Airlines reaches 10year milestone at Birmingham Airport Award winning airline, Turkish Airlines celebrates 10 years of flying from Birmingham Airport. To mark the momentous occasion, employees from Turkish Airlines and Birmingham Airport, as well as passengers, gathered on the day of the very first ever flight from the Airport 10 years ago.

Birmingham Airport celebrated the milestone with cake and gifts for customers boarding. The Boeing 787 then took off for Langkawi with excited cruisers onboard.

Marella Cruises is the only cruise line to operate cruise-only flights on its own exclusive airline, providing customers with a seamless end-to-end customer experience. Flying from regional airports, the third largest cruise line in the UK gives customers the opportunity to travel from the airport most convenient for them. The brand new TUI Airways flights to Langkawi will make it relaxing and stress-free for local customers to start their holiday, before enjoying fantastic, adult-only itineraries onboard Marella Discovery.

Before Christmas, Birmingham Airport employees, friends and family came together to take part in a midnight run down the runway, in aid of the Airport’s charity partner Acorns Children’s Hospice.

More than 120 participants took part in the run, braving cold and wet conditions at just past midnight to tackle the three kilometres of the Airport’s runway, which was specifically closed for the charity run.

Passengers due to board the 11:05 flight to the airline’s hub of Istanbul were invited to join the festivities, celebrating the airline’s growth over the past decade.

Between them, they raised more than £15,000 to help pay for the vital services Acorns provides to life-limited children and their families across the Midlands.

In 2008, Turkish Airlines joined Birmingham Airport operating five services per week. In 2012, this grew to a daily service, shortly followed by flights operating up to 12 times a week. From March this year, the airlines will increase its services to twice daily.

Birmingham Airport has been a longtime supporter of Acorns and has used the Airport infrastructure to raise funds before - back in 2016, 50 employees raised £12,000 in a 100-foot charity abseil from the roof of the Airport’s headquarters, Diamond House.

48 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Marella Cruises customers jetted off from Birmingham on the UK’s only direct flights to Langkawi, Malaysia.

TUI Airways is operating the flights to fly cruisers to the Langkawi homeport for Enchanting Far East and Eastern Sunsets itineraries, forming part of Marella Cruises’ new Asia programme as the cruise line continues its pledge of offering its customers more choice and flexibility.

Wizz Air announces new direct service from Birmingham Airport Wizz Air recently relaunched a direct route to Romania’s second largest city, Cluj-Napoca from Birmingham Airport.

To mark the occasion, an inaugural ceremony was held at the Airport where passengers and employees gathered to celebrate.

The 166 passengers departing on the 07:40 flight were greeted with a celebration for the new route which operates twice weekly on a Wednesday and Sunday.

Here for Here your forjourney your journey

DINING.

READY, STEADY, BAKE!

MEET THE NEW DLUXE STAR BAKER!

Originally from Nottingham, Cameron Lamb is a Patissier, who has always had a passion for baking! After graduating from college he started in the midlands as a pastry chef before before moving to London to pursue his dream of becoming a world class pâtissier.

After attending worshops by master pâtissier Eric Lanlard he was approached to work at his Patisserie in London, Cake – Boy. For more of Cameron’s recipes, head over to his blog www.cameronolamb. com or follow him on Instagram @ cameronolamb you’ll also find this stunning recipe for Hot Passion Fruit Souffle there so what are you waiting for?

LEMON OLIVE OIL CAKE I love this cake! It’s super simple, but can be made into a real Show Stopper! The lemon & olive oil works really well together - just be sure to use a good quality olive oil because this will produce the best flavour.

Cream cheese frosting is perfect with this cake. When making cream cheese frosting I always buy full fat cream cheese, and I try to get the driest cream cheese I can - because this allows you to beat it without it becoming liquid. If you can’t find a dry consistency cream cheese, don’t worry. As long as you make the frosting in advance and leave it to set in the fridge, it should be the perfect consistency to pipe or spread!

Ingredients: For The Cake: 4 eggs 200g golden caster sugar 200g plain flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 160g extra virgin olive oil 40ml milk Zest & juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

50 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

For the cream cheese frosting: 250g unsalted butter, softened 250g icing sugar 500g cream cheese Juice of 1 lemon Method: Pre-heat the oven to 180°- 160° fan, and grease and line two 8” sandwich tins.

Crack the room-temperature eggs into a bowl and and add the golden caster sugar. Using a mixer, whip on high speed until the mixture is pale and has tripled in volume.

Once the eggs and sugar are whipped, gently fold in the lemon and vanilla, being careful not to beat out any air. Combine together the plain flour and baking powder, and sift this over the surface of the egg mixture, fold in - once again being careful not to beat out any air.

Now fold in the olive oil and milk - you guessed it...be careful not to beat out the air!

Turn the mixture out into the tins. Place in the pre-heated oven and bake for 30 mins.

Or until golden brown, and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Once baked, leave the cakes to cool in their tins for 10 mins and then turn them out and leave them until they are completely cooled.

For The Frosting Using a mixer beat the softened butter and icing sugar together until soft. Then beat in the lemon juice.

Add the cream cheese and mix until incorporated and smooth. Be careful not to beat too much otherwise your frosting will become too runny.

Leave to set in the fridge until needed.

A TASTE OF THE SEASON

Leek risotto

Lamb rump with artichoke and heritage potatoes

From locally sourced lamb to the freshest fish, Harvey Nichols Birmingham is shining a spotlight on great flavours of the season. LISA PIDDINGTON reveals the delicious dishes that take centre stage at the luxury Mailbox Brasserie over the coming months.

So many of today’s diners demand more from restaurants than a simple set menu they can get at any high street chain. Offers may lure them in once in a while; and bottomless brunches are always going to tempt. But when it comes to enjoying great food, it’s all about provenance and sustainability.

“We have seen a real change over recent years with diners asking more about where their food comes from,” says Stewart Mackie, Head Chef at Harvey Nichols Birmingham. “They want to know they are making the right choices and that means eating food that is in season, that impacts less on the environment and that helps support local and smaller businesses.”

To meet customer needs, the luxury Mailbox store is putting seasonality at the heart of its Brasserie menu, with a range of delicious dishes focussing on key ingredients. Each month, two new dishes will feature on the a la carte menu as a way of highlighting great flavours throughout the year.

During March, spring lamb takes centre stage with supplies from renowned Scottish butcher Donald Russell. The lambs are raised on open pasture and traditional hill farms throughout the UK, giving them the best, natural flavour; the meat is then expertly matured for a minimum of ten days. Tender rump will be served with in-season artichoke and heritage potatoes from Wellocks in Lancashire.

Also making a welcome return is moules mariniére, in a garlic, parsley and wine sauce. The mussels are sourced by Kingfisher Brixham, which works passionately to promote responsible and sustainable fishing.

For April Devonshire crab, again from Kingfisher Brixham, features on the menu and is served as flavoursome Goan crab cakes with an Asian Salad. Leeks also come to the fore with a tasty risotto that features a number of different ways to cook the spring vegetable. The leeks come from Lancashire-based Wellocks, which uses recyclable delivery crates for suppliers and customers to help reduce waste and improve efficiency.

The new dishes will be available as part of the Harvey Nichols Birmingham Brasserie a la carte menu. To make a reservation or for more information, please call 0121 616 6028, email reservations. birmingham@harveynichols.com or book online at harveynichols.com

REVIEWED: PINT SHOP Bennetts Hill’s Pint Shop burst on to the city’s food and drink scene late last year and is fast making a name for itself. Serving an incredible selection of craft beers from small breweries across the UK and a tasty seasonal menu from head chef Mark Walsh, dluxe went along to try their spring food offerings for ourselves.

Make your way past the bustling bar to the restaurant upstairs and you’re in for a treat. Moody and intimate with an open kitchen (I do love watching chefs at work and so this was perfect) we ordered our drinks of a Brummie G & T and one of the craft ales and looked at what to order off the new menu. Choosing was hard! Being a seafood lover, I went for Coal Cured Loch Duat Salmon with lime dressing and crispy seaweed while my partner went for the Warm Rillette Of Duck & Chicken, Pickled Veg and Sourdough.

Both looked gorgeous and tasted wonderful. The salmon was thinly sliced and I loved the lime as opposed to the usual lemon with the seaweed adding a welcome crispy texture to the dish. The Duck & Chicken was just as good, the duck was particularly full of flavour and the pickled veg crunchy and tangy. The addition of the sourdough was perfect to mop up the remaining amazing flavours.

Plates cleared and on to the mains. Feeling fishy I went for Whole Grilled Plaice, Cockle, New Potato with Parsley and Brown Butter whilst my partner went for Lamb Leg Steak on the Bone with Green Pea Cassolette. We ordered additional sides of Buttered Kale and Cheese and Onion Chips with Salt Beef Ends. My plaice was cooked beautifully and fell off the bone. I loved the little cockles and the buttery new potatoes were wonderful. The lamb steak was another big hit! Cooked to perfection, the lamb was juicy and tender and we loved the pea cassolette. Now we come to the sides. We are both big fans of kale and for some reason, never cooked it in butter. We certainly will be now as it was delicious. The real star side was the cheese and onion chip with beef ends! They were an absolute winner.

As puddings use a separate stomach, we found room! I went for the Caramelised Apple, Walnut Sponge Tart with Roasted Cinnamon Ice Cream and my partner went for a Chocolate Knickerbocker Glory.

My apple tart was lovely and the walnuts really shone in this alternative frangipane based dessert. The Knickerblocker glory disappeared in a flash, so I think we can safely say, it was a huge hit too.

Pint shop offers a contemporary take on some great British classics and the new spring menu is brimming with things we can’t wait to try (the onion bhaji scotch egg’s are apparently amazing!) We are definitely eager to go back and with a lunch menu featuring all dishes under £10, I don’t think it’ll be long until we do!

Pint Shop is at 38 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham. B2 5SN. Tel. 0121 236 9039 www.pintshop.co.uk dluxe-magazine.co.uk 51

DINING.

dINING DIGEST It’s all going on in Birming-yum writes DLUXE Dining correspondent Anita Champaneri. Read more food news at dluxe-magazine co.uk and msdelicious.blogspot.co.uk

Time to say ‘Aloha’ to Kuula Poké as Birmingham’s first Hawaiian eatery comes to Colmore Row, on the corner of Great Western Arcade.

Kuula Poké is an exciting, new, fast-casual eatery, creating an oasis of Hawaiian sunshine in the heart of Birmingham’s business district.

Set to revolutionise the traditional lunchtime fare, Kuula Poké is proud to offer chef-inspired Hawaiian poké bowls made of healthy premium ingredients and Asian-inspired toppings.

Create your own poké bowl with over twenty choices, ranging from coconut brown rice, salad greens, sushi salmon and tuna, chicken and tofu to pineapple, wakame and superfood slaw, all topped off with crunchy sprinkles and delicious sauces.

Or opt for one of the signature poké bowls of Lomi Lomi Salmon, Classic Ahi Tuna, Tahini Miso Chicken or Huli Huli Tofu.

Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options are always available.

Spring. The one that we’ve been eagerly keeping our eye on is the new Oyster Club

by Michelin starred chef Adam Stokes.

Set to open on Temple Street underneath The Ivy, the new seafood restaurant will be the second establishment in the city by the Chef. Inside, will be a meet and greet area when diners will be shown to a 24 seater bar which leads down to the 30 cover restaurant area.

The interior by Faber Design, although designed to be casual, promises to be chic.

As well as a bar where diners can eat, there will be a separate oyster bar area -where you can see the chef’s shucking oysters.

The menu will be predominately fish led with small and large plates available, such as White Crab on Sourdough, Smoked Salmon, whole Dover Sole and Turbot on the bone. There will also be other options such as Salt Chamber Aged Steaks too.

Head Chef will be Rosanna Moseley, a former Master Chef competitor and longstanding member of the team at Adam’s.

Doors are due to open early April.

The quick service restaurant is sure to be a crowd pleaser for the busy people of the business district, with poké bowls available as a grab-and-go, click-and-collect, home delivery and corporate delivery option!

Word on the street is there is a new concept coming to the city. Enigma will be a mix of food, drink and technology by Alex Claridge of Nocturnal Animals and Robert Wood.

So if you are a fan of clean living and want to enjoy sunshine in a bowl, look out for them from 1st April.

Cocktail bar and restaurant group The Alchemist is opening a second venue in Birmingham. The company has announced it will launch a new bar this summer in Brindleyplace in the site of the

Lots of new concepts are springing up this 52 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

old fish restaurant Le Monde, which closed in early 2017. The Alchemist has proved very popular for its theatrical cocktails, super decadent interior and cocktail lab.

Finally a well done to 40 St Paul’s, who won World Gin Bar of the Year at the Icons of Gin World Gin Awards and to The Edgbaston Boutique Hotel who picked up the Bar Team of the Year award at the Imbibe Personality of the Year Awards 2019.

A LA CARTE

DIM SUM

BANQUET

KARAOKE ROOM

PRIVATE DINING

8 WROTTESLEY ST, BIRMINGHAM B5 4RT

BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE CHINA TOWN

PRIVATE DINING & KARAOKE ROOMS AVAILABLE TO BOOK

0121 6225588 WWW.WINGWAH.NET NO ROOM HIRE FEE

SUN-THURS (11:00AM -10:00PM)

FRI - SAT (11:00AM -10:30PM)

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVED CATERER

CLOSED EVERY WEDNESDAY

THE DIARY.

54 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

MINISTRY OF SOUND

THE ANNUAL CLASSICAL At a time when it seems like everyone who ever went within 50 miles of a club in the 90s is now touring with an orchestra, it’s about time the daddies of them all stepped in to show how it should really be done.

Ministry Of Sound, the London behemoth which defined not only clubbing but the dance compilation market, is launching a huge orchestral tour in honour of its Annual albums, those yearly round-ups of the biggest dance smashes of each 12 months, compiled and mixed by the likes of Tall Paul and Judge Jules.

The latter has been on board since the beginning, curating the playlist from the first five Annual albums and helping shape the sound and mood of the events. It’s little wonder he jumped at the chance.

Sit-down shows, in proper concert halls, with a documentary and even Classic FM on board, Jules is the man tasked with bringing that sound to all things orchestral.

We chatted to him ahead of the tour’s visit to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on the 18th May, to talk about the albums, curating the music for the orchestral tour and why he loves Ministry Of Sound so very much.

How did you get involved with the Ministry orchestral tour?

They brought me on board because of my association with the MoS over many years, including mixing many of the biggest selling Annual compilations.

Was it something you jumped at?

The synergy between me, as a long standing DJ and, dare I say it, “brandname”, and the Ministry made this something I did indeed jump at.

What was your role in song selection and the process of making them work with an orchestra?

I have been involved as curator, both in respect of the tracklist and the way that the songs are presented. Having played these records over many years, I’ve got a deep insight into how they move people and my association with other orchestra shows has given me a deep understanding of the interplay with a live multi piece orchestra.

The shows are sit-down concerts rather than basically a club night with an orchestra playing - how do you think clubbers will respond to that concept?

Although in theory this show is “sit down”, the reality is that it will be more “stand up and jump around”.

The Annual albums revolutionised the compilation world and indeed the dance market - is it nice looking back to have been involved in such a gamechanger?

The Annual series, especially during the period of my involvement, remains the biggest selling dance music compilation of all time by some distance. It was a huge calling card for me personally.

The Ministry was set up in part by very close personal friends and influenced by the Paradise Garage in New York, a place I visited when I was super young with the guys who set up the Ministry. So, I saw the MoS happening from inception right through to the present day and therefore feel very personally associated.

What are your five favourite Ministry memories?

The best thing about the Ministry, and this applies to every set I’ve played there, is that the DJ booth is its own mini club.

You literally “feel” music in the way that few other clubs in the world allow the DJ to.

Tickets for The Annual Classical are available from Ministry Of Sound also via SeeTickets, Ticketmaster. Prices start at £22.50 dluxe-magazine.co.uk 55

THE DIARY.

TATTU LAUNCH

MARCH

Kinky Boots

Until 23rd March at Birmingham Hippodrome With songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots takes you from the factory floor to the glamorous catwalks of Milan.

Too Cute

With an interior inspired by a fusion of tattoos and eastern culture, Tattu opened its doors on Barwick Street on yet another busy night of networking and events in the city and welcomed a guest list made up of the great and the good of the city all eager to sample the restaurant’s modern take on Chinese cuisine.

Until 12th May at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Maclean’s display will showcase the multiple manifestations of sinister cuteness with works ranging from 19th-century oil paintings to internet-inspired installations. Artists include John Isaacs, Gillian Wearing, Ana Maria Pacheco, Helen Chadwick, Paula Rego, Peter Blake and Hermann Sondermann.

George Ezra

17th March at Resorts World Arena Birmingham George Ezra today continues his phenomenal ascent with the announcement of his first ever headline arena tour.

Bournville Book Festival

Until 21st March Meet your favourite authors.

Discover astonishing books.

Interactive storytelling fun at Birmingham’s only dedicated children’s book festival for 0-12s.

Edmond De Bergerac

15th – 30th March at Birmingham Repertory Theatre Meet the man behind the nose! Inspired by the story of Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond De Bergerac took France by storm and now makes its English-language premiere at The REP.

KT Tunstall

20th March at Town Hall, Birmingham Brit and Ivor Novello Award winning singer and songwriter KT Tunstall is touring for the first time with an all-female band.

NAO

22nd March at O2 Institute Birmingham Soul-pop singer, Nao is back with her refreshing, bold and experimental new album, Saturn, and she’ll be taking it on the road to showcase its power and positivity.

56 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Unforgettable performance, powered by you 0844 338 5000* birminghamhippodrome.com *Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge. ).

Foil, Arms and Hog: Craicling

Mon 11 Sat 23 Mar

Tue 26 & Wed 27 Mar

Thu 28 Mar

Tue 2 Apr Sat 11 May

Sat 18 May

Tue 21 May

Wed 22 Sun 26 May

Tue 28 May Sat 8 Jun

Wed 19 Sat 22 Jun

Tue 2 Sat 13 Jul

Tue 16 Sat 20 Jul

Tue 23 Jul Sun 11 Aug

THE DIARY. in 2004 and featuring the current lineup of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie.

40 Years of Disco 2

24th March at Resorts World Arena Birmingham After the huge success of the 2018 ‘40 Years Of Disco’ tour, the 2019 line up has been announced. Bringing together disco legends for this unique arena concert, legendary acts confirmed are: Village People, The Trammps, Imagination featuring Leee John, The Gibson Brothers, The Three Degrees, The Real Thing and Eruption.

NEW DRAMA AT THE REP There’s plenty of drama at Birmingham Repertory Theatre this Spring with plays set to take hearts and minds to Paris, Afghanistan and Cephalonia.

First up is Edmond De Bergerac, set in Paris, 1895. Edmond is a struggling playwright with writer’s block. His last play was a flop and he’s down on his luck until he helps his best friend woo a girl by writing romantic letters to her as if from him...and has a brilliant idea for the plot of his brand new play, Cyrano De Bergerac. Starring Freddie Fox, Henry Goodman, Josie Lawrence and Chizzy Akudolu, Edmond De Bergerac is the triumphant hit comedy that took France by storm and now makes its Englishlanguage premiere at The REP from 15 – 30 March.

Giving a rare glimpse into contemporary Afghan history is the UK stage première of Khaled Hosseini’s international best-selling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns.

From the writer of The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns is the powerful story of three generations of women discovering strength in unity and finding hope in the unlikeliest of places. (2 – 18 May) Also making its way to the stage for the first time, is Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, based on the best-selling novel by Louis de Bernières. Marking the 25th anniversary of the novel’s original publication, this unforgettable love story, set against the backdrop of World War II, is adapted for the stage by Rona Munro and directed by Melly Still. The show opens 29 May – 15 June.

Bring a hankie!

For tickets and further information visit birmingham-rep.co.uk 58 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Noughts & Crosses

26th – 30th March at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry This gripping Romeo and Juliet story by acclaimed writer Malorie Blackman and adapted by Sabrina Mahfouz is a captivating story of love, revolution and what it means to grow up in a divided world.

Pepperland

26th & 27th March at Birmingham Hippodrome Mark Morris celebrates the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band with an exuberant new dance work that revels in the eccentric charm and joyful optimism of The Beatles’ ground-breaking album.

Panic! At the Disco

26th March at Arena Birmingham Panic! at the Disco is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed

Gabrielle

28th March at Town Hall, Birmingham Gabrielle is one of the UK’s most successful British singer-songwriters. She has sold over 5 million records in the UK alone and scored 2 #1 singles, 10 Top 10 singles, a #1 album and 5 Top 10 Albums.

She is also a two time BRIT Award winner, receiving the Best British Breakthrough Act in 1994 and the Best British Female Solo Artist in 1997.

Gabrielle has also won various MOBO Awards and an Ivor Novello for Outstanding Song Collection.

UB40

29th March at Arena Birmingham With 2019 marking 40 years since UB40 first performed live, the legendary reggae band will be celebrating with a greatest hits set that features global smashes including ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Cherry Oh Baby’, ‘Rat In Mi Kitchen’ and ‘Kingston Town’. Ali & Astro will be joined on-stage by their incredible eight-piece reggae band.

An Evening with the Hairy Bikers 30th March at Symphony Hall, Birmingham National Treasures Si King and Dave Myers, aka The Hairy Bikers have announced a huge nationwide tour for 2019 taking in over 37 dates between February and April.

An epic night of cooking and conversation.

Butterflies, Business and the Battle for Glory – Spring 2019 at the Belgrade Theatre From life in the post-industrial North to the simple joy of song and dance, the Belgrade Theatre is serving up another diverse programme this Spring, with highlights including Emma Rice’s Wise Children, Ishy Din’s Approaching Empty, and Nick Ahad’s Glory.

First up, Tamasha, Kiln Theatre and Live Theatre offer a fresh perspective on North East England in the aftermath of Margaret Thatcher’s death in Approaching Empty, showing 20-23 March. Penned by the awardwinning writer of Snookered and Wipers, this compelling drama lays bare the struggles of a generation of working class British men, exploring themes of family, friendship and cutthroat capitalism through the story of a failing minicab firm. When Mansha decides to buy the business from his lifelong friend Raf, it’s only afterwards that the realities of the state of the company begin to unravel.

Then from 2-6 April, the hotly anticipated Wise Children bursts into the Belgrade in a whirlwind celebration of show business, family, forgiveness and hope, with director Emma Rice stepping into the role of showgirl Nora Chance. Marking the debut of her new company of the same name, Wise Children sees the former Shakespeare’s Globe and Kneehigh Artistic Director bring her exuberant vision to Angela Carter’s last great novel in a big, bawdy tangle of theatrical joy and pain. Expect showgirls and Shakespeare,

sex and scandal, mischief and mistaken identity and butterflies by the thousand.

Finally, from 10-13 April, the Dukes and Red Ladder present Glory, the second production from Tamasha’s IGNITE programme to hit the Belgrade after Under the Umbrella.

Exploring the resurgence of grassroots wrestling in Britain, this compelling drama touches on the difficulties of discussing men’s mental health. Jim “Glorious” Glory used to be a colossus, but now his empire

has crumbled. Meanwhile, three young men – Dan, Ben and Sami – are compelled over the ropes and into the ring in search of glory of their own. Through them, Jim catches a glimpse of his resurrection, but as they wrestle with life, demons and each other, only one hero can emerge.

Tickets to all of these shows and more are available to book now by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055, or visiting www. belgrade.co.uk where prices are cheaper

BOOK ONLINE to save money

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S

2 – 6 Apr

From £20.75*

BOOK NOW *Ticket

8 – 13 Apr

024 7655 3055

From £25.25*

24 – 27 Apr

www.belgrade.co.uk

prices include a £1.50 booking fee. No booking fee applies if booked online.

Kids from £18.25*

THE DIARY.

Gatekeepers Guild and The PA Way

APRIL

Les Miserables

February saw the official launch of the collaboration between two of the city’s leading PA networks, the Gatekeepers Guild and The PA Way, at a glamourous event in the Hyatt Regency. With fizz, canapés, speeches, and even a chance to be made-up by the likes of Harvey Nichols’ Fenty Beauty experts, Marc Jacobs, and Hourglass beauty, the event was a roaring success.

The event brought together 100 of Birmingham’s assistants, and celebrated what will be the creation of one of the largest PA and EA networks in the region.

2nd April – 11th May at Birmingham Hippodrome After nearly a decade since the last sell-out UK tour, Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed Broadway production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical Les Misérables returns to Birmingham Hippodrome in April 2019.

Dear Zoo Live!

11th & 14th April at Birmingham Hippodrome Rod Campbell’s best-selling lift the flap book has delighted generations of young readers since it was first published in 1982. This production will delight all those who have read the book as it unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction.

Legends Live

An Evening with Alfie Boe

2nd & 3rd April at Symphony Hall, Birmingham One of the world’s greatest classical singers Alfie Boe brings it back to the UK, announcing a 2019 tour in what is becoming another landmark year for the much loved tenor. Last month, Alfie revealed his return to the solo spotlight with the release of his vibrant and instantly classic album As Time Goes By.

12th April at Resorts World Arena Birmingham Following the success of last year’s Legends Live concerts, its back for 2019! The show will bring together the Queen of Rock Suzi Quatro, Pop icon David Essex, Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers and legendary rock band Smokie.

Glory

Wise Children

2nd – 6th April at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Emma Rice (Romantics Anonymous, Tristan & Yseult, The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk and Brief Encounter) brings her unique, musical and exuberantly impish vision to Angela Carter’s great last novel, Wise Children, at the same time launching her new theatre company of the same name.

60 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

10th – 13th April at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry A new play from the writer of Partition and the awardwinning* The Chef Show – Glory takes you inside the wrestling ring in this painfully funny, sweaty and gutsy story about what people will do to achieve glory.

Zog

19th – 22nd April at Town Hall Birmingham Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved Zog comes to life in Mike Shepherd’s magical adaptation with Johnny Flynn’s folk score featuring live musicians.

15–30 MARCH

EDMOND DE BERGERAC

The hilarious romantic comedy featuring Freddie Fox, Henry Goodman, Josie Lawrence and Chizzy Akudulo

13–20 APRIL

THE HALF GOD OF RAINFALL

inua Ellams’ contemporary saga weaving poetry with storytellingoin a majestic, chaotic journey across mythologies

2–18 MAY

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

SPRING & SUMMER 2019 SEASON ON SALE NOW

The European stage première of Khaled Hosseini’s powerful story

29 MAY–15 JUNE

CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN Based on the best-selling novel, this unforgettable love story comes to the stage for the very first time

27–29 JUNE

DEADTOWN The sons of Oscar-winning Milos Forman bring together a spectacular cast of 20 acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians in this extraordinary Wild West tale

Box Office 0121 236 4455 | BIRMINGHAM-REP.CO.UK We charge a transaction fee of £2.50 on all payment types Registered in England 295910 Charity No.223660

birminghamrep

@birminghamrep

@therepbirmingham dluxe-magazine.co.uk 61

THE DIARY.

HEAVEN SKINCARE VIP LAUNCH

Rufus Wainwright

More than 150 VIP guests enjoyed an evening of cocktails, music and beauty as Heaven Skincare launched its new salon at Harvey Nichols Birmingham.

The luxury beauty brand – founded by Deborah Mitchell – is a favourite of royals and celebrities and now offers a complete range of products and treatments at its new Mailbox home. The event included live music, DJ and drinks provided by Tiger Gin while guests got the chance to see the new treatment rooms and watch facial demonstrations.

As one of the country’s most indemand facialists, multi awardwinning Deborah created Heaven more than 25 and has seen her business go from strength to strength with spas now located in Hong Kong, Slovenia, South Africa, Australia, Dubai and America.

“It was such a pleasure to share our launch with so many of our VIP customers, local press and influencers,” says Deborah. “Our new spa in Harvey Nichols is already proving a great success for us and the feedback on the evening was incredible. We are delighted to have such a luxurious home in the heart of the city.”

22nd April at Symphony Hall Birmingham Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and composer Rufus Wainwright will play 4 highly anticipated UK dates in April 2019 to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of his eponymous debut which first burst him onto the music scene. Immediately beloved and critically acclaimed, both Rufus and the record were widely hailed as a breakthrough. It influenced many artists that came after him and set the path for his illustrious career ever since.

Wet Wet Wet

5th May at Town Hall Birmingham Wet Wet Wet are one of the most successful bands in British pop history with an amazing back catalogue of songs including three No.1’s – ‘Help From My Friends’; ‘Goodnight Girl’; and ‘Love Is All Around’. They have sold over 15 million records to date and played to more than four million people around the world.’

Darryl Hall & John Oates

24th April at Resorts World Arena Birmingham Daryl Hall & John Oates, the biggest selling music duo in HISTORY, have announced four arena shows through the UK in April and May 2019.

This will be the first Daryl Hall & John Oates headline tour in the UK for five years.

MAY

Olly Murs

10th & 11th May at Resorts World Arena 2019 will see Olly return as a coach on The Voice and also embark on a 16 date UK arena tour.

Rotterdam Harlem Globetrotters

2nd May at Arena Birmingham The Globetrotters’ one-of-akind show is unrivalled in the world of family entertainment.

Every game will showcase incredible ball handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, hilarious comedy and unequalled fan interaction.

62 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

20th – 22nd May at Birmingham Repertory Theatre Following a criticallyacclaimed West End run, Jon Brittain’s Rotterdam is embarking on a UK Tour.

It’s New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she’s gay.

But before she can hit send, her girlfriend Fiona reveals that he has always identified as a man and now wants to start living as one named Adrian.

A

BENJAMIN BRITTEN

MIDSUMMER

NIGHT’S DREAM 12 / 13 / 15 / 16 June 2019

Also at Nevill Holt Opera

Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte

26 / 27 / 29 / 30 June and 2 July 2019 Tickets on sale now, visit nevillholtopera.co.uk

BUSINESS.

BUSINESS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR Crystal Balls Since I wrote the book, Grow, Sell and Retire, we have been approaching planning differently. We have 6 levers to make things happen. All of these levers come together on the OST document. It is based on Objective, Strategy and Tactic. The objective is that big goal. It has to be as specific as you can make it. 15 new clients, generating £250,000 in business adding to the £450,000 which will generate PPC of £75,000 of profit.

The more specific you are the easier it is to ask your co workers and influencers to send you great new clients to help improve their lives.

If I hear one more person putting off plans until after Brexit or a wall is built or the snow goes away I may just have to call a No-Deal departure from dealing with business people writes dluxe Business Editor Bart Dalton.

Most of you have been working for many years in your selected fields and you will have seen so many problems, crises or perfect storms that you would need to take off your shoes and socks to count them but you are still improving your life and reading about making things happen. Pundits have been predicting that there will be horrible things that will happen to business and the economy of the UK. Predictions and forecasting should give us even more focus to make successful businesses from the adversity and fear that our competitors are taking. Read below if you want to see how our teams are working with people to make sure that our clients are turning Crystal Balls into Power Balls and Taro Cards into Top Trump cards.

“Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.” - Winston Churchill How often do you and your team plan what it happening to your business. As a lazy over-achiever I want things to be as simple as possible so here is the plan that you can use to make sure that you power through perfect storms. Instead of battening down the hatches we are looking to point the ship in the direction of success and throwing up the 64 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

spinnaker. Here are the three things to apply to your business.

1.

Evaluate your last year's business and choose 3 topics / products/packages to focus on.

2.

Plan using a simple tool.

3.

Share the plan and review monthly.

Evaluate your last year's business. Have you heard of the term PPC in the marketing world? It stands for Pay-Per-Click and it is used to look at what a social media campaign is bringing you for every pound you are spending. In my world we are really driving towards a measure of Profit-Per-Client.

Most businesses that are in the early stages of creating something that is too good to sell are focused on turnover. Then we move onto the next stage which is profit and this is where most companies stop and they are usually successful, to a point. Now looking at scale ups and their ownership teams, we see teams with plans to capture a client base, demographic or capture a competitor’s black book. What or who were your top three revenue sources last year? This is the first group of people or client types we’re going spend the most of our time on.

Plan using a simple tool. We have been looking for one-page documents to make sure that we are not using 27 page business plans that the banks are looking for when it comes to get funding. These end up under a pile of invoices, work orders and CVs. They are usually the document that is made after an away day or when the management team attends a seminar. Sound familiar?

Now that you have your objective the hardest part is to make sure that your team can deliver and feel that they are successful. Here is how we are doing it. Strategies are the 3 to 4 things you are going to turn your team loose on. The normal things that you can put in your strategy to re-engage clients, sell packages, plan social media, segment clients, implement control systems (CRM, Online booking or ordering), Influencer/Introducer Marketing. This is not an exhaustive list but they show up about 75% of the time and have made it onto the past 50 OST sheets we have designed with clients. Give your team members a strategy each to report on monthly. They don’t have to do all the parts of the strategy, but they have to have a finger on the pulse.

Now you have these written down, so what?

Here is where the rubber meets the road.

Tactics are the things that you are going to do on a daily, weekly, monthly basis to bring the strategies and turn them into the Objective.

These are so granular that they could be; call 5 clients daily, buy a CRM system and put in 30% of the clients, engage a business coach to build the next-level plan for our business(Shameless plug for us helping you). These tactics are the things that seem simple but are easy to get lost out in the plan to make big changes. (HINT: Nobody likes change, but they do like make their lives easier.)

Share the plan and review monthly. Now that you have an OST style document, make sure that you diarise meetings monthly to bring the team together to address the points on the strategies to make sure that they have all the tools necessary to feel successful.

Celebrate mile stones and make sure that when you complete or have a strategy under control that you may want to replace it with your next stage towards having a business that is too good to sell.

This practice would make Mr Churchill very proud. You will be able to weather the storms and your business will fight them on the beaches, in the air and most importantly all the way to the bank and hopefully you will have a lot more fun doing it.

If you're looking for any more tips to help you start planning then come and see me at www.bartdaltonconsulting.com

Combating the ‘al desko’ culture

BUS Boost FOR Cancer Charity A runner has received a £250 boost to his fundraising efforts for a local cancer charity thanks to National Express.

The UK’s largest coach operator has supported the fundraising efforts of senior manager, Mark Hollis, who ran the Cheltenham Half Marathon for Solihull based Breast Cancer Haven, after hearing of his close friend’s battle with the disease.

Mark, Head of Operations at National Express' Birmingham head office, submitted an application for the extra funding from the company’s employee charity panel in a bid to maximise his fundraising.

“I was devastated to find out that someone so close to me had breast cancer. Kate became aware of her local Breast Cancer Haven drop-in clinic as part of her treatment and I have seen how magnificently they have supported people locally through tough times, so I decided to raise money to help them help others.

“After raising £500 in sponsorship myself, I was really pleased the business chose to support my efforts and generously donate an additional £250 to my nominated clinic.”

The National Express Employee Charity Panel supports employees’ efforts in their own fundraising and volunteering work outside of the organisation. The Charity Panel itself is made up of staff from across the National Express businesses who meet quarterly to review their peers’ applications. Since it was launched in 2009 the panel has awarded over £129,863 to charities and groups supported by employees throughout the UK. Elysa Cooper, Community and Events Fundraising Officer at Breast Cancer Haven West Midlands, said: “We are so grateful for the support we’ve received from Mark. Not only has he raised a fabulous amount of money but by running as part of ‘Team Haven’, Mark has also raised vital awareness of the charity and the support we offer for local people affected by breast cancer.

We’ve all done it - attempted to eat that BLT sandwich whilst tapping out an email, at the same time as reading a report that’s been on your desk for 2 days.

You finish your sandwich thinking you’re a role model for multitasking. In reality, half of the sandwich is on your keyboard and neither the report is read, or the email sent.

When you’re under pressure at work, eating lunch at your desk seems like a productive way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

However, taking a break from your desk is essential in restoring energy levels and of course overall wellbeing. Not to mention better for our waistlines too. A recent American study of 5,000 employees, found that those who ate regularly at their desks were more likely to be obese.

Many underestimate the benefits of a quick break from the screen. Leaving your desk can be a great way to recharge, enabling you to be more productive when you return to your desk, reducing the chance of stress and burnout. So as a nation, why do we love to dine ‘al desko’?

Research carried out by the wellbeing experts at CABA, suggests office workers fear judgement from their peers and senior management. So, it’s essential that managers set a precedent for their employees, creating a workplace culture where staff feel comfortable to leave their desk for lunch.

CABA has offered its tips on how to combat employees regularly missing out on a lunch break and how to promote the importance of stepping away from the screen.

1.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE If your employees see you working through lunch, they may feel like this is expected of them too. Make a point

of letting your team know it’s okay and expected that they take a lunch break 2.

ENCOURAGE TEAM LUNCHES A great opportunity for your team to get to know each other away from the desk and work chatter. Suggest a team lunch every week or in the summer, make the most of the warmer weather and take a picnic outside 3.

CREATE A DESIGNATED DINING AND DOWNTIME AREA We’re not suggesting you create a canteen but just an area that invites colleagues to take a break. This could include a picnic bench, or table and chairs, soft lighting, comfy chairs and things that provide distractions from phones and screens such as magazines and newspapers. Encourage your employees to relax away from the glaring screen of a monitor or laptop 4.

LUNCH AND LEARNS It’s still work but combining lunch with learning a new skill as a team could be a way to encourage food free desks every week or month. These can easily be run and hosted by your team with no need to bring in external trainers. By utilising staff to run these sessions you’re also giving team members the chance to upskill and practise their presentation skills too. Just make sure the topic is fairly light, so staff don’t feel drained after. Aim for a short and engaging 30-minute session 5.

FOOD FREE DESKS If you’ve tried all the above and are still struggling to notice a shift in culture, then banning food being eaten at desks is an option, albeit an extreme one. You could still allow ‘light’ snacks but ask everyone to respect your policy and take lunch elsewhere. It’s probably better for our health considering the average desk contains 400 times more germs than a toilet seat anyway. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 65

HOROSCOPES.

Written in the Stars with CELEBRITY Astrologer Russell Grant To find out more or to arrange a personal reading, visit www.russellgrant.com ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) Embarking on a spiritual journey is advised for the beginning of March.

The New Moon on the 6th urges you to turn your attention inward. You want to take on a different role at the beginning of April, but there are people around you hoping to block your path. The New Moon on the 5th April makes you fully aware of the conservative attitudes and stuffy restraints that are holding you captive. An unusual moneymaking opportunity will become available on the 4th May, courtesy of the New Moon.

Opportunities will arise out of the blue. You might have a chance to move into a cutting-edge field.

You won't have much previous experience, so you'll have to learn as you go.

LEO (July 24th-Aug 23rd) Money from an inheritance, royalty payment or legal settlement will arrive on the 6th March, just when you need it most. The New Moon is urging you to enjoy a quiet retreat. If you're in a romantic relationship, you'll have an especially good time with your amour. Legal problems could block your path at the beginning of April. The New Moon on the 5th April warns against breaking the rules.

You'll fare much better colouring inside the lines than defying authority. The New Moon on the 4th May marks an unusual career opportunity.

You'll be asked to take the helm of a glamorous, high-profile company. This position will suit you perfectly.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st) The New Moon on the 6th March marks a happy time at home.

A pregnancy or a birth could be announced. You might relocate to a beautiful place. It's even possible you'll sell or buy a piece of property; this deal will create both emotional and financial stability. The Full Moon on the 19th April is ideal for attending a festive occasion. There's a good chance you'll meet someone who finds you utterly charming. A wonderful job offer will arrive on or around the 4th May, thanks to an enriching New Moon. This will be a great opportunity to build a nest egg. Although you're not especially materialistic, you will benefit from having a financial cushion.

TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st) Joining a group or team will pay off handsomely during the first half of March. The New Moon on the 6th urges you to join forces with other creative people.

Working behind the scenes will be stressful at the beginning of April. The New Moon on the 5th finds you butting heads with an expert who wants to take all the credit for your hard work.

Staying in this situation will make it impossible to advance. The New Moon on the 4th May invites you to make a radical transformation. This would be a wonderful time to go for a complete image update and take on a whole new style. If someone offers to give you a makeover at the beginning of the month, accept.

VIRGO (Aug 24th-Sept 23rd) The New Moon on the 6th March paves the way for a passionate encounter with your partner. Take this opportunity to enjoy a relaxing vacation with your amour. You'll enjoy visiting restaurants, shops and sites of local interest together. The Full Moon on the 19th April will improve your economic situation. Buying or selling a piece of property will put you in a much stronger position. The Full Moon on the 18th May will make you feel pressed for time. It may be impossible to finish your list of chores. If this is the case, it's time to delegate jobs to others. Don't hesitate to ask relatives, neighbours and colleagues for help.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22nd-Jan 20th) Good news reaches your ears on the 6th March. The New Moon has a powerful message for you. Be open to accepting signs from the spiritual realm. A strange coincidence, a chance encounter or a found object will affirm you are on the right path. The New Moon on the 5th April creates tension on the home front. Everyone is resisting your authority.

You won't be able to rein in someone who is intent on going their own way. Instead of trying to shield this relative from trouble, let them go.

The first half of May will make you feel like you've been reborn. On the 18th May, the Full Moon will prompt you to break off a troubled alliance.

LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) Finding ways to rest and relax will cultivate renewed health at the beginning of March. Listen to what your body is telling you on or around the 6th March.

That's when the New Moon will urge you to scale back your work schedule. The Full Moon on the 19th April further emphasises the importance of satisfying your own needs. Use this opportunity to take a college course for pleasure, go on a short trip or finish an important project. The New Moon on the 4th May brings a windfall that turns your financial situation around. Take this opportunity to pay off debts and put money into savings. Creating a retirement fund will make you feel optimistic about the future.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th) On the 6th March, the New Moon will attract a moneymaking opportunity.

Getting paid to exercise your creative talent will be the answer to a prayer. If you're not happy with your current job, you could accept a position with a charitable, cultural or religious organisation. The Full Moon on the 19th April might find you returning from a trip, collecting a diploma or publishing some written work. Don't be surprised when your popularity soars as a result. Exciting changes will happen in the domestic front on the 4th May, thanks to a refreshing New Moon. Relocating to a beautiful part of the world is a distinct possibility.

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st) The New Moon on the 6th March pulls an exciting career opportunity into your orbit. You could take on a new role with a charitable organisation, cultural institution or creative company. Your ability to work with people from all walks of life will fuel your success.

A stressful New Moon on the 5th April warns against lending or borrowing money. Coming to a troubled person's rescue won't resolve their problems. An unpleasant routine will come to an end on or around the 18th May. That's when a tense Full Moon will make you choose between duty and happiness. Delegating a job to a relative or colleague will be difficult. You feel in control when you're in charge of this responsibility.

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd) You'll have a chance to expand your horizons at the beginning of March.

That's because the New Moon on the 6th will prompt you to improve your qualifications, take an overseas trip or develop a personal project. Your path will become clearer after the 19th April, when the Full Moon will help you sew up a real estate matter. Buying or selling a piece of property will cultivate stability. You'll be asked to join an exciting club on the 4th May, thanks to the friendly New Moon. You'll have lots of fun with this organisation. Traveling to local places of interest, studying different artists or learning how to cook will help you discover aspects of yourself you didn't know existed.

SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov 22nd) On the 6th March, the New Moon attracts romance like a flower draws bees. If you're single, you'll be surrounded by admires at the beginning of March. A work assignment you receive in early April will be difficult to complete. That's because you'll be getting conflicting signals from your colleagues. Things will be especially tense near the 5th, when a stressful New Moon causes a clash of egos. On the 4th May, the New Moon will mark the beginning of an important relationship.

Falling in love, forming a business alliance or signing a contract will be liberating. Two heads are definitely better than one at the beginning of May.

PISCES (Feb 20th-Mar 20th) The New Moon on the 6th March invites you to dream big. Realising a cherished goal will make your soul sing. Whether you want to relocate, land a great job, complete a creative project or embark on a romance is not the central factor. A moneymaking opportunity on the 5th April has strings attached, due to the challenged New Moon. You might have to prove yourself to an unfriendly group that doesn't want you to succeed. Instead of trying to live up to their expectations, it may be better to look for another job. On the 18th May, the Full Moon will bring an end to a legal matter, business trip or a period of study and learning.

To find out more or to arrange a personal reading, visit www.russellgrant.com 66 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

FREE INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE. CONTEMPORARY DANISH STYLE.

FROM DENMARK. TO YOUR HOME.

D A N I S H I N T E R I O R S AT BOCONCEPT BIRMINGHAM Amazing home styling, made easy, with our free interior design service and luxurious Danish furniture.

Our interior consultants will work with you to design furnishings custom-made for your home.

From reception spaces and hallways to living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms.

To arrange a design consultation call on 021 661 4980 or Email birmingham.mailbox@boconcept.co.uk Or simply drop in to our showroom in the Mailbox and we'd be delighted to meet you!

D AN ISH DESIGN SINCE 1952 I BO CO NCE P T. CO . U K BO C O NCE PT. L E V E L 1 , T H E M AILBOX , BIRM IN GH AM B1 1RD