dluxe Birmingham & Solihull Issue 19 Spring 2016 by Fraser Urquhart Media

spring 2016

FOR BUSINESS & LEISURE

Breakfast At Tiffany’s

pixie lott

INSIDE THE NEW

ROLLS ROYCE

The

Ultimate

Dawn

SPA HOLIDAY guide

50 things

for spring

YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY

WWW.DLUXE-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

The ultimate shopping experience, offering the very best in fashion, beauty, food and wine.

T H E M AI LB OX 65 W HA R FSIDE ST R EET B I R M I N G H AM B 11R E +44 121 616 6000

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Letter Editor from the

Int’ Brum Brilliant, Bab

There’s never any shortage of superlatives to describe our Second City, as this great city of ours is ever-changing and pushing forward. We can look to the skyline in any direction and you will see it dominated not only by the skyscrapers, but the signs of high-rise development and investments being made. In fact, Birmingham ranks as the highest UK city for investment prospects in the 2016 Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2016. Similar accolades are coming thick and fast presently. Walk the streets and look past the roadworks and diversions and you will see similar signs of success; of a city on the ascension with some of the most exciting and tantalising bars, restaurants, fashion boutiques and hotels springing up to support the inward investment and hordes of new inhabitants of the city. So assured are some that they don’t tell anyone about their existence; favouring a hidden almost prohibition-style secrecy. Now that takes confidence. And it’s this confidence that you can almost smell. There has never been a more exciting time to be a Brummy. It’s no surprise there has been a flurry of new Award Events created to showcase, show off and support the many talented businesses and operators who make Birmingham and its surrounds so very special. Take BYPY (Birmingham Young Professional of the Year) which celebrates the emerging business leaders of the city’s professional services sector; the Birmingham Awards, which launched last October to huge fan-fare and acclaim; the Midlands Fashion Awards which has just announced its programme for 2016 and is building on eight years of success in supporting our fashion and beauty industries and the inaugural event for the Birmingham Food Drink & Hospitality Awards 2016, which is to take place in June. That we are so ready to pat ourselves – and each other – on the back is heartening. All of this activity has left us burning the midnight oil bringing you the most up to date and beautiful magazine we can. There’s so much to talk about and so little time! I’ve not even mentioned our special features on the new Rolls Royce Dawn; the company who’s bringing DNA technology to skincare in the city; our recent bucket-list trip to San Francisco or our interview with pop-star Pixie Lott ahead of her appearance as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the New Alex. But it’s all in there and a whole lot more, besides. We hope you enjoy this Spring edition, as we’ve loved creating it for you. Until Summer, COVER STAR: Pixie Lott as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Directed by Nikolai Foster and playing at the New Alexandra Theatre this April. Picture credit Uli Weber. Jonathan Fraser Group Editor In Chief

We can’t wait for... 1.

Wipers at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. 12-21st May.

New Season of Game of Thrones, Sky Atlantic, 24th April 4 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

The return of the Foodies Festival at Cannon Hill Park on the 3-5th June.

Once we were seven years old... Lukas Graham’s debut album gets released on April 1st.

The launch of the new Park Regis Hotel - we love a party!

CONTENTS... 06 THE EDIT What’s on the top of our shopping lists and ringed in our diaries this season. 24 SPOTLIGHT We chat to singer Pixie Lott as she prepares for the role of Holly Golightly in an all new production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. 28 FOR HER Fifty things that every

wardrobe should have this spring along with an essential guide to the tools of the beauty trade.

34 FOR HIM Fifty things that every

guy’s wardrobe should have this spring along with a selection of grooming heroes and a guide to relaxed tailoring.

38 LIVING How to take the tropical

trend in hand for your interior as well as a guide to where canny investors should be putting their money in the midlands.

44 MOTORS The saloon is dead so long live the SUV. We look at some of the best luxury cars on the market that are as practical as they are polished. 46 TRAVEL Our editor leaves his heart in San Francisco and we look at some of the best spas around the world. 52 DINING We embrace vegetarian

dining, explore elderflower and look at what’s new in Birmingham’s dining scene.

58 DIARY What’s happening and what’s happened in the West Midlands this season.

70 PAPERWORK West Midland’s

business in focus.

74 PEOPLE Playwright Ishy Dinn talks

to us about Wipers, a new play that explores the contribution made by South Asian soldiers in WW1.

GET IN TOUCH MANAGING DIRECTOR Kevin Urquhart Kevin@fu-media.co.uk 07713 740 272

MARKETING EXECUTIVE Carey York carey@fu-media.co.uk 07587 056969

PR ACCOUNT MANAGER Sarah Potter sarah@fu-media.co.uk

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

MARKETING EXECUTIVE Lilith Hunt-Sheppard lilith@fu-media.co.uk 07975 970711

PR ACCOUNT ASSISTANT Sian O’Leary sian@fu-media.co.uk

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 2016

FOR EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES CONTACT: DLUXE BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL HQ 31 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1RE TEL: 0116 2533 445 6 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

info@fu-media.co.uk / www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk @dluxemag

I AM SPRING I AM ALL THE THINGS YOU COULDN’T WEAR IN WINTER

bullring.co.uk

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A Rolls‑Royce like no other AFTER THE DARKNESS COMES DAWN. ITS STRIKING SILHOUETTE TRANSFORMED AT A TOUCH, ITS INVITING INTERIOR OPENED TO THE ELEMENTS – TO FRIENDS, TO THE UNEXPECTED, TO ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. SENSUOUS STYLING

Dawn’s alluring presence is unmistakable, right from the very first encounter. Striking and assertive, its charm and charisma draw you in. With the top up, the mood is powerful. With one touch, its sensuous appeal is unveiled: the roof silently folds away, revealing a seductive interior that connects you to your surroundings like never before.

UNCOMPROMISED COMFORT

Dawn’s interior is an effortless continuation of its exterior. Banks of leather create a soft line, fusing inside and out. The interior is also a destination in itself. Crafted from wood and leather, the cabin is indulgent. Roof up or down, Dawn wraps its passengers in comfort, providing a cosseting private haven and uplifting spaciousness. The deck and rear are finished with handcrafted veneers that waterfall forward to meet the driver. Superior noise isolation, comparable to that enjoyed within a hardtop, lets you carry tranquillity with you. Dawn’s interior offers everything, except compromise.

EFFORTLESS YET EXHILARATING

Beneath Dawn’s sleek exterior sits a 6.6-litre V12 twin-turbo engine. One engineered to deliver a surge of seemingly infinite power that will awaken your senses. A sensation that’s heightened the very second the roof quietly opens. This is open-top driving as you’ve never experienced it before. Here is a motor car that looks to the future and brings with it a new level of finesse. Every drive opens new possibilities.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NEW ROLLS ROYCE DAWN CONTACT, MARK OR PAUL AT RYBROOK ROLLS-ROYCE 2635 STRATFORD ROAD, HOCKLEY HEATH, B94 5NH. TEL. 01564 787170. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 9

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Foodies Festival Returns to Cannon Hill Park

Birmingham’s food-lovers can look forward to another taste-bud-tickling weekend this summer, as Foodies Festival returns to Cannon Hill Park for its second year, serving up a lip-smacking feast 3rd to 5th June. This year’s festival sees Birmingham’s culinary elite and Bake-Off winner Nadiya Hussain cooking live in the Aga Rangemaster Chefs Theatre, showcasing her culinary skills, sharing insight into 2016’s food trends and answering questions from the audience. Bake-Off winner Nadiya joins baking extraordinaire Charlotte White and master chocolatier Fiona Sciolti on the Cake & Bake stage, working their baking wizardry to inspire visitors to reach for their whips and spatulas at home and create show-stopping cakes and delicious summer bakes. A neighbouring Chocolate, Cake and Bake Village sells freshly baked breads, sponges, tarts, jellies and trifles to enjoy with a bubble tea or fresh juice. Afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the beautifully decorated Vintage Tea Room, where teas, handmade cakes and scones with clotted cream and jam are served on china from a tea trolley by vintage styled tea ladies and gentlemen, and vintage music for ambience. There’s a special focus on Brazilian street food this year to celebrate the Olympic host’s cuisine, including traditional Brazilian BBQ and Rio’s favourite dish Feijoada made from black beans, salted pork, trimmings, smoked sausage and jerk beef, which is cooked in a traditional clay pot. Brazil’s national cocktail Caipirinha, a mix of lime, sugar and Cachaça (made from sugarcane juice with an ABV of 48%), and Brazilian coffees will be available. The Olympic theme continues into the Children’s Cookery School, where little foodies can decorate their very own gold medal with coloured icing, glitter and edible ribbon. Pizza and cupcake making classes also allow kids to explore their taste buds and learn basic cookery skills to practice at home. Other highlights include an Artisan Producers Market featuring a glittering array of Great Taste Award winners, the Sip Drinks Theatre where expert mixologists and sommeliers, including Neil Phillips and Charles Metcalfe will host champagne and wine masterclasses whilst beer connoisseur and writer Melissa Cole is on-hand with craft beer tutorials. There’s even the Spice It Up - Chilli-Eating Challenge for those who like things a little hotter!

Tickets costs from £10 and are on sale now at www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111 10 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

SILVER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS Disney On Ice invites you to embark on the ultimate sightseeing holiday with all your favourite Disney characters as they commemorate 25 years of Disney On Ice in an action-packed ice adventure that travels to four magical destinations. Join tour guides Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck as they visit the magical worlds of Disney’s The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan for the Disney On Ice presents Silver Anniversary Celebration which comes to the Genting Arena on the 6th -10th April. Discover four unique landscapes including the African Pride Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa; voyage deep under the sea to Ariel’s mystical underwater kingdom; and tour London with Peter Pan and Wendy. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll then travel to Arendelle for an extraordinary adventure with royal sisters Anna and Elsa, rugged mountain man Kristoff and everyone’s favorite huggable snowman, Olaf. Told through an international team of awardwinning skaters, breath-taking choreography and a musical score filled with familiar Disney hits and rock and-roll classics, the whole family is sure to experience a little bit of Disney magic.

Find out more at www.disneyonice.co.uk

Inviting Interiors AT L E E K E S

STYLISH LIVING... The new season is the ideal time to invigorate your interior with the latest looks at Leekes. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to revitalise your dĂŠcor or refresh your room, discover stylish new additions from our retro revival or copper collections.

Leekes Bilston, Great Bridge Road, W. Mids. WV14 8LB Leekes Coventry, Junction 3 M6, W. Mids. CV6 6PA Tel: 0333 222 4120 | Online: leekes.co.uk

“

The world’s finest luxury designer brands for newborns to 16 years

”

The most complete collection of designer childrenswear labels for boys and girls, from Versace, to Roberto Cavalli, Fendi, Chloe and all that’s in between. Shop in-store or online.

24 DRURY LANE, MELL SQUARE, SOLIHULL, B91 3BG WWW.CHOCOLATECLOTHING.CO.UK

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LEXICON PRIVATE BUSINESS CLUB LAUNCHES Lexicon is “A private members club created by business people for people in business”. It has been conceived by Town & Country Inns PLC, for a limited number of professional people to enjoy a unique range of tailored services and advantages in purpose-built and beautifully crafted surroundings. Whether for those working in the city, or from home, the club will provide Birmingham with its only customised venue for individuals looking to meet with clients, or to make new contacts, in a discreet and luxuriously appointed setting. Mark Jones, Managing Director of Town & Country, is pleased that the concept has attracted a lot of positive interest, and applications for membership: “I knew there was nowhere in Birmingham to compare with the many private members clubs in London. I was confident that the prospect of an exclusive venue, with limited membership, offering access to all of the resources of a state-of-the-art office, but with so many other social and hospitality benefits and advantages, had to

appeal to anyone in business unsatisfied with the very public crush of cafés and hotels. The meeting rooms, in particular, offer fabulous value for money, while the pontoon on the canal will make Lexicon one of the most beautiful places to eat and drink in Birmingham. We have tried to think of everything that people in business

might want or need, and we think we’ve succeeded.”

LEXICON Private Business Club TEL: 0121 710 4233 membership@ lexiconbirmingham.com www.lexiconbirmingham.com

FISHER HOUSE & HENRY WONG

HOLIDAY CLUB SUCCESS The recent half term holiday saw the launch of Edgbaston High School’s very own Holiday Club and we’re pleased to report that it was a resounding success! From 8am until 6pm, newlyappointed Holiday Club Manager, Alex Sanzari, provided a range of activities and theme days to entertain and capture the girls’ imagination. Thankfully the weather was kind and allowed for a trip to the Botanical Gardens next door where the girls joined in with a Bug Hunt in the fabulous surroundings. Arts and Crafts played a big part in the week’s activities with colouring and drawing stations, painting tables, cake and biscuit decorating and there was even a ‘Frozen’ theme day where a life-sized drawing of Elsa and Anna was coloured in, princess tiaras and wands were made, and ‘Olaf’ was created using marshmallows. As well as enjoying a host of activities the girls enjoyed periods of quiet time with members of staff just to sit and read the vast collection of story books, while others got involved with the games and dancing.

Henry Wong of Harborne have announced QE’s Fisher House as their chosen charity for 2016. Touted as a ‘Home away from Home’, Fisher House is intended for injured military personnel - many of whom have suffered life changing injuries in service – and their immediate families. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is the receiving hospital for all the UK’s military patients who are injured or fall ill anywhere around the world during active service. These military patients are treated by both NHS and military medical staff. Over 400 serving military personnel form the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine are based here.

Edgbaston High School’s Holiday Club is another way of providinge the highest quality of education for girls at every stage of their development. Plans are now being made for the Easter Holiday Club, which will be open to Edgbaston High School girls aged 2½ to 11 from 8am until either 4pm or 6pm.

Help from businesses like Henry Wong of Harborne is integral to the running of Fisher House, as it solely relies on funds from charitable donations. Mike Hammond, the Chief Executive of QEHB Charity, which runs Fisher House explains “We are extremely grateful to everyone at Henry Wong of Harborne for choosing to support Fisher House. It costs the charity £250,000 a year to run the facility and we rely entirely on the generous support of individuals and companies, like Henry Wong, to raise this. More fundraising means we can offer more free accommodation and support to more military patients and their families. We very much look forward to working with Henry Wong of Harborne in 2016”.

To find out more contact Holiday Club Manager, Alex Sanzari Alex on 0121 454 5831 or visit www.edgbastonhigh.co.uk

Henry Wong of Harborne will be organizing a calendar of exciting events both on and off-site that will raise awareness and funds for Fisher House.

14 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

STYLING YOUR HOME

LAURA ASHLEY AT

PLUS CHAR WALLAH.H&M L’OCCITANE.LAURA ASHLEY LITTLE GERTIES.M&S.MOSS PRETTY GREEN.THORNTONS AND A 700 SEAT FOOD LOFT

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A Sweet Treat: The Midlands’ Most Luxurious Childrenswear Company Launches in Solihull This month sees the opening of Chocolate Clothing in Solihull: a childrenswear retailer who promises “the most complete selection of luxury childrenswear brands” outside of London. It is the culmination of months of building work and significant investment in Solihull. Chocolate Clothing is owned by Aaron Deep (and family), who comments; “Chocolate clothing is a multi award winning business that has taken a change of direction into luxury childrenswear. We’re thrilled to be opening our first store in Mell Square. We consciously chose Solihull as the location for our flagship store, as Solihull and Birmingham is undeniably the place to be right now – you only have to look at the national statistics and studies to see that this is where the smart money is investing! Mell Square is already home to some of the most exciting independent fashion retailers in the region, so it seemed logical for us to base ourselves here.” He continues; “There has been a huge trend recently in designer childrenswear as more and more people want to emulate their favourite celebrities and their children. Famous faces like Jaden Smith, Romeo and Brooklyn Beckham and Kaia Gerber have all recently dipped their toes into the world of modelling, and it seems that parents are beginning to understand the appeal behind high end products for their little ones. There has also been a rise in the ‘Mini-Me’ trend, whereby parents dress their youngsters in designer clothing not too dissimilar to their own. Chocolate Clothing intend to cater for all of these customers, and many more”. On choosing Solihull as the location of their flagship store, he adds; “It’s a little known fact that the West Midlands is home to more millionaires than anywhere outside of London - everyone expects it to be the North West. We found that so many of these people would gravitate 16 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

towards London, especially when it comes to luxury childrenswear, which is why we have introduced Chocolate Clothing to Solihull. We’re immensely proud to bring over 50 of the world’s most coveted brands to the store – many of which are exclusive to Chocolate Clothing”. From newborn to teen, Chocolate Clothing will stock collections and accessories from over 50 of the world’s hottest designers including Young Versace, Roberto Cavalli and Little Marc Jacobs. All items will be on display both in the state-of-the-art store, as well as to view/purchase online. Highly trained staff will be in-store to advise and talk you through the seasonal trends. The store is located at 24 Drury Lane, Mell Square, Solihull B91 3BG. Tel. 0121 709 5044 www.chocolateclothing.co.uk

Midlands Fashion Awards 2016 Announces D e a d l i n e f o r D e s i g n e r A p p l i c at i o n s The ninth annual Midlands Fashion Show and Awards has announced its deadline for designer applications: 31st May 2016. The MFA, which was launched in 2008 by Birmingham-based Jenny Eason, (pictured right) recognises and celebrates the exceptional and emerging talent in the fields of fashion design, fashion styling and make-up artistry in the Midlands. The annual competition provides an outlet for new, emerging and independent designers and creative talents to present their work, providing a platform to launch their collections to the industry. Previous winners and finalists have gone on to showcase at London Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week while others have gone on to showcase at the pre-Oscars Fashion Show for The Stars in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Jenny Eason, Founder of Midlands Fashion Awards comments; “We are looking forward to the 2016 show being our biggest and best yet. Each year, the standard of entrants gets stronger and the fact that some of our previous winners have gone on to such incredible success is testament to the need for a showcase such as Midlands Fashion Awards.

•

Spread the cost of your next service over 12 months & avoid the big bill.

•

As a member, you’ll be entitled to £400.00 worth of FREE additional services.

•

Have peace of mind knowing that no matter how tight money is, we will always look after your car.

•

Also enjoy free collection and delivery within a 10 mile radius and use of our brand new courtesy cars.

This year, we look forward to applications from across the region, including Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham and Derby. But applicants should be prepared to wow us…” 2015’s Young Designer of the Year, Georgia Richardson comments; “Since winning Young Designer of the Year, I have had a great response from the media resulting in interviews and features in magazines, BBC Hereford and Worcester and the Daily Mail Online. Since MFA, I have launched my own company called Fourth Generation selling handmade, made to measure dress range. The website goes live very soon at www.fourthgeneration.uk.com”. The high profile catwalk event and competition plays host to high end retailers, fashion influencers, fashion editors, bloggers and journalists and is attended by an audience of 300 visitors from across the UK and beyond. MFA is actively seeking category and headline sponsors for the following category awards: Independent Designer of the Year, Emerging Designer of the Year, Young Designer of the Year (final year fashion students graduating in 2016), Accessory Designer of the Year, Aspiring Stylist of the Year and Aspiring Make-up Artist of the Year.

The Midlands Fashion Awards 2016 will be held Friday 7th October at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, CBSO Centre, Berkley St, Birmingham B1 2LF. For more information on how to submit your application or to sponsor one of the categories, visit www.midlandsfashionawards.co.uk

From

£10.00 monthly

Get a quote or book online at motorservuk.com or call the team on 0121 405 0702 UNIT 26, MONKSPATH

BUSINESS PARK, SOLIHULL, B90 4NZ.

YOU’LL ALSO RECEIVE FREE: • • • • • •

Your annual MOT * 4 Wheel Laser Alignment * 30 Minute Diagnostic Air Con Service * Vehicle Health Check Fluid Top Ups (up to 1 lt)

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Tyre Fitting and Balancing Use of Courtesy Cars Puncture Repairs Express Valet (x4) Bulb Replaced (exc. Xenon) * Redeemed Annually

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Luxury and lifestyle at the Mailbox

The Urban Room

Since its much anticipated unveiling in October last year, the Mailbox has brought premier lifestyle and retail brands to the shoppers of Birmingham and beyond. With a host of new openings lined up for 2016, there’s never been a better time to visit.

The Mailbox will soon be home to worldclass interior design, with the arrival of Kitchen Gallery’s flagship showroom later this year. Due to open in May, Kitchen Gallery is the largest exclusive SieMatic dealer in the Midlands, delivering bespoke luxury kitchens with a sleek

There’s lots to celebrate in the canalside area too, with Everyman Cinema recently marking its first birthday at the Mailbox. With its renowned sofa seating and the option to enjoy food and drink from the comfort of your cinema seat, the boutique brand has enjoyed a fantastic first year. Closely followed by both Gas Street Social and Aluna who also celebrate first anniversaries this year, the range of bars and restaurants ensure the canalside area is one of Birmingham’s most vibrant evening and weekend destinations.

With luxurious seating and finishes, a glass sky-lit roof and sleek store frontages, the Urban Room forms the centrepiece of the Mailbox experience. Already the perfect place to relax and unwind during a shopping trip, or the ideal spot for a business meeting, visitors will soon be able to enjoy a range of treats and Italian coffee from the stylish new champagne truck. Open from 17th March, Oh You Pretty Things is the latest addition to the stunning Urban Room. Now open at the Mailbox, the new Armani Collezioni store showcases Giorgio Armani’s diffusion line of finetailored clothing, stylish sportswear, eveningwear, outerwear and accessories. Impeccably detailed, the collection embodies Giorgio Armani’s signature elements: clean lines and subtle colouration, exclusive fabrics, exceptional attention to detail, fit and finish. Also home to the pioneering Armani Jeans collection, the new store is an exciting addition to the Mailbox’s range of luxury retail stores. 18 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Complete with full kitchen displays, ovens and working appliances, Kitchen Gallery will also be used as an event space for cookery classes, demonstrations and wine tasting sessions outside of retail hours.

With so much more to look forward to in 2016, including an exciting programme of events across fashion, beauty and lifestyle, the Mailbox is the place to be this year. European twist. Featuring appliances by leading brands including Siemens and Gaggenau, as well as designer furniture and lighting, the showroom will be a focal point for architects, developers, designers and individual clients.

To keep up with the latest Mailbox news, offers and events, sign up to the Mailbox newsletter at www.mailboxlife.com, or join the conversation on social media, @ mailboxlife.

H A RV E Y N IC HOL S C A ST L E F I N E A RT

‧ ‧

ARMA NI COLLEZIONI DA N I EL FOOT W E A R

L.K. BENNETT

‧

NICKY CLARKE

‧

BOSS

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C A LV I N K L E I N U N D E RW E A R

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G I E V E S & H AW K E S

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TOMMY HILFIGER

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More exciting brands opening soon. # lifemadebeautiful

K I TCH E N GA L L E RY TONI & GUY

BEAUTY FOCUS: THE NON SURGICAL TREATMENTS TURNING HEADS AND TRANSFORMING BODIES.

If you’re one of those people who have tried every lotion and potion – prescribed and over the counter – for conditions, but to little effect; or if you’re someone who has yo-yo dieted for decades yet still there are stubborn areas of fat and lumps and bumps that won’t shift, read on as we may have the answer to all of your concerns from the cognoscenti… G-Labs is a Non-Surgical based clinic that has recently arrived in the Second City from Harley Street, London and brings with it the most cuttingedge DNA-based treatment solutions ever seen in the city. Understanding and unlocking your unique DNA code is as individual as a fingerprint and requires a forensic approach. G-Labs, which has over three decades in the aesthetic, health and wellbeing sector, can run over 285,000 tests with one simple swab to solve the challenges that you may have endured for years with an A-Z Testing & Analysis Service.

Lea Lawrence, Clinical Director of G-Labs, believes that “Aesthetics, health and wellbeing treatments shouldn’t be a ‘one size fits all’ approach. G-Labs tailors your treatment to suit your DNA for results that last a lifetime. We look at the real you: your lifestyle, genetics and individual DNA to obtain the results you want to see and feel, by getting your body to its optimum level”.

“Aesthetics, health and wellbeing treatments shouldn’t be a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

The G-Labs approach fuses state of the art sciences and technology for ground-breaking aesthetics to bring non-surgical relief for Anti-Aging, Fine Lines and Dark Circles. The exclusive 5-Step Nefe Gold Facial will turn back the clock with an unrivalled ability to lift, sculpt and tighten the face, forehead, eyes, cheekbone, neck, jawline, jowls and neck – all areas that can sag with age and all without going under the knife in one treatment. But it’s more than skin deep: G-Labs will go beneath the surface and obliterate fat deposits (as most surgical and non-surgical treatments will always re-appear somewhere else), to banish cellulite and minimise fat cells. Its pin-point 20 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

precision takes into account every aspect of your being as well as identifies aspects of your DNA that may be affecting your aesthetics, health & wellbeing to ‘make the invisible visible and develop specific solutions to treat your issues, whether acute, chronic, severe or mild’.

Far from fiction, the state of art equipment used by G-Labs is also used by NASA – in fact, Astronaut Tim Peake’s treatment programme for optimal health and wellbeing for his recent space mission uses the same technology.

G-Labs launched their signature testing & analysis, procedures and treatments for clients as the first specialist in DNA aesthetics and cosmetics at their clinic on the prestigious Harley Street and recently opened at The Hyatt Regency in Birmingham. The concept of the G-Labs Medi-Spa at Hyatt Regency is to offer these world-class treatments in an environment that is less intimidating than a traditional clinic or private hospital where guests can, enjoy the facilities of a Spa at the Hyatt Regency and for more in-depth work, we combine treatment packages with an overnight stay at the hotel. Prices at G-Labs start from just £150 for an individual test.

The G-Labs Medi-Spa can be found at Hyatt Regency, Birmingham B1 2JZ Call 07810313846 or visit www.g-labs.co.uk for more information.

INTERIOR ECCENTRICITIES, UPCYCLING ADVENTURES AND CLASSIC COLLECTABLES

www.braderie-anglais.co.uk

BATTLE to be the BEST IN BRUM

In a bid to be the best in Birmingham, businesses across the city are invited to battle it out at the annual Brindleyplace Dragonboat Race, whilst raising valuable funds for Cure Leukaemia in the process. Now in its 17th year, the Dragonboat Race returns to the canal at Brindleyplace on Saturday 18 June 2016. In teams of 11, over 200 of the city’s professionals are invited to take to the water in 20ft traditional Chinese longboats to demonstrate their paddling-power; swapping suits for fancy dress as they compete in a series of challenging heats, all in the name of charity. Each crew entered, comprising of 10 ‘paddlers’ and one ‘drummer’, is asked to raise £200 per team member, with a charitable entry fee of £500. All funds raised go directly to Cure Leukaemia. Places in the race are limited and all teams need to have registered their interest by April 30th 2016.

To enter a team or find out more this year’s Dragonboat Race email alex.perrins@gva.co.uk or visit www. brindleyplace.com.

NEW BISTROT FOR BIRMINGHAM

INDEPENDENT French restaurant group, Le Bistrot Pierre will be opening its fifteenth bistrot in the heart of Birmingham’s historic canals in a Grade II listed building in Gas Street, which has been empty for several years with plans to refurbish the historic building to bring it back to its former glory. “We have been working closely with our architects to make best use of the stunning building, which will have original features throughout, and will give diners a real sense of its heritage which is all part of the experience we want to create.” explained Rob Beacham, coowner of Bistrot Pierre. Each bistrot has a unique interior and the group prides itself on creating an exceptional yet affordable dining experience serving freshly prepared dishes which use authentic ingredients sourced from France by talented chefs who visit France to develop the unique flavours. 22 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Downtown Launch Rise & Grind More than 70 people attended Downtown Birmingham's first Rise & Grind breakfast event at Everyman Cinema in the city centre recently. The Mailbox cinema was busy with guests from a variety of businesses, keen to pick up copies of Downtown's latest Big Black Book guide, which features Movers & Shakers, Ones To Watch and Female Leaders from Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Lancashire and Birmingham. PR expert Lis-Lewis Jones of Birminghambased agency Liquid gave a fascinating talk about crisis communications, using topical issues and news coverage as reference points before taking questions from the audience.

Downtown Birmingham chairman Stacey Barnfield welcomed guests with a brief overview of events in the DIB calendar, such as a discussion about Business Improvement Districts and their impact; a look at transport schemes and how they affect business, and more networking events and members-only dinners and debates in the city.

For details of the next Rise and Grind breakfast event visit www.downtowninbusiness.com

Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches

Featured in the February auction

The Watch Sale Wednesday 30th March Tuesday 26th April Tuesday 24th May View the full auction catalogue online & sign up to bid www.fellows.co.uk FOR INFORMATION REGARDING FREE VALUATIONS, CALL 0121 212 2131 OR EMAIL INFO@FELLOWS.CO.UK

Jewellery Quarter Saleroom | 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham B18 6JA

fellowsauctions

An independent school for girls aged 21/2 -18 years

Preparatory School and Westbourne Open House - 2Â˝ to 11 years Thursday 5 May 2016 9:30am - 3:00pm Visit Westbourne - Nursery, Kindergarten and Reception at our Open House Morning on Thursday 16 June 2016 9:30am - 11:45am Senior School Open Day Thursday 30 June 2016 4:30pm - 7:00pm

Academic, Music, Sport, Art Scholarships 0121 454 5831 admissions@edgbastonhigh.co.uk www.edgbastonhigh.co.uk

dluxe spotlight

pixie lott

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Pop star, dancer and now actress. Victoria Louise Lott, better known by her childhood nickname of Pixie, is the very definition of the triple threat. Having stormed in to the pop charts at the age of eighteen and captured the nation’s heart as winner of the BBC’s smash hit Saturday night series Strictly Come Dancing, she’s now set to flex her acting muscles playing one of the 20th Century’s most iconic characters; Holly Golightly in the stage adaptation of Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Dluxe Birmingham & Solihull’s Jonathan Fraser chatted to her during rehearsals of the show, directed by Nikolai Foster and coming to the New Alexandra Theatre on the 18th -23rd April, about what it’s like to get back on stage and how she’s gone about finding her own Holly.

There’s been a huge amount of excitement and a lot of talk about this being your stage debut but it’s not is it? Well this is my first play so I guess it is my debut although I’ve been in musicals; my first professional West End show was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium when I was about 12. I absolutely loved it, it was such a great experience for me and I just loved being on the stage and was so sad when it was over. After that I went to a theatre school, so we did loads of different shows in school productions. I always knew I wanted to be a recording artist though and so that sort of took over. I was writing songs on weekends and week nights after school and then when I left school I just went straight into that. It’s really nice to get back to my roots and get back on the stage, doing theatre rather than just doing a concert. So does being back in rehearsals feel a bit like you’re back at stage school? A little bit yes. It feels completely different to anything I’ve been doing for the past 8 years; popstar stuff is completely different to this sort of stuff. In a way it does feel like I’m back at school So has it always been the plan to get back into acting? Well I love performing but music will always be my number one favourite passion. When I went to school for 7 years, I truly believed that I could be doing all three things; dance music and drama so I worked really hard in all areas but I dluxe-magazine.co.uk 25

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always had that real connection with music. I think even in my first interviews I always said I want to get more involved in acting at some point so it’s great to now have that opportunity. I just want to be as rounded as a performer as possible. I mean, experiences like this will definitely open me up. I’ve always enjoyed learning and working on this show with the other actors and Nikolai the director is such a great learning experience. Was it that desire that led you to take part in Strictly? Learning something new as a performer, new skills like Ballroom and Latin that’s something I’ve always wanted to do and to have that one to one guidance by someone as great as my dance partner, well I just felt so lucky to have that experience. I definitely learnt a lot and I’m hoping that this will be the same. I really enjoying coming out of my comfort zone and branching out into other things. So how did the opportunity to be part of Breakfast at Tiffany’s come about? Well I didn’t want to do musicals yet. I wanted to do a play because I think it’s quite intense; it’s more hardcore on the actors! The audition came up and the role of Holly is every girls dream isn’t it? So I was lucky enough to get the part and now here we are in rehearsals.

“If I walked away from this taking a bit of Holly with me then that’d be a great thing”

How much time do you have left in rehearsals? Well this is the start of our second week and we’re into the second act now. We get three and a half weeks in all so that’s just a week and a half of rehearsals left, which is really scary now I’m saying it out loud! And I have to learn the guitar for the part. Oh of course, the iconic Moon River moment. I think that’s the bit that everybody will be waiting for… Exactly so I can’t mess up, that’s why I’m trying to perfect it. Audrey Hepburn is so well known for this role; the character of Holly and her are so intertwined. How difficult has it been to take on that character? Are you finding your own Holly now? Yeah, definitely. I’ve deliberately not watched the movie again as I didn’t want to get stuck into copying or trying to recreate it. I just want to try and do my own interpretation from reading the book and the script and see what comes naturally to me. I feel like the more we do it the more I can relate to her and get into the character I suppose, because Audrey Hepburn’s portrayal is so loved that you’ve got to balance what the audience want and what they expect whilst also making sure you are your own Holly… Exactly! I always feel like if you do your own interpretation and put your own personality on it then you can’t be compared as much. Her portrayal was so amazing; she really made the part and did such an amazing job in the movie that it’s hard to compete with the original. The book and the movie are quite different though, the script is slightly different and creating it from scratch with Nikolai and the rest of the cast is really exciting. I suppose it’s like with my music, I mean I like to do a lot of covers, I put them on Youtube but I never purposely copy the original. I don’t think you can compare because it’s the original and it’s always the best. You have to do your own version so that then it stands on its own. So what are the main differences between the film and the show? Well the movie is set in the ‘60s and this is mainly based in the 1940s. So the styling is different and they reference the 26 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

war a lot. I think it’s good that we’re staying true to how Truman Capote originally wrote it. So I hope that he would like it. Is it quite exhilarating being someone else for a change? It’s a completely different feeling to getting up there and being yourself, it’s fun. I mean, I think I can learn from Holly because she has so many great qualities you can look up to, like the way she is so carefree and she has ambition and has everything calculated. She’s an amazing woman. I think if I walked away from this taking a bit of Holly with me then that’d be a great thing. What else do you think you’re going to take away from the experience? Oh just so much. Getting into the acting world again and getting into a character rather than just writing songs and singing. One of the things I found hard when I first went into singing my own songs was that I was being myself whereas before, being at theatre school, I was used to being a character and hiding behind that. My first gig, I think I was around twelve or thirteen, I remember I was so nervous thinking I’m not anyone I’m just myself and I’ve had years and years of just being myself. It’s great to go back to perform as someone else. So what’s next for you?

Ultimately it’ll always be music ‘til the day I die. I want to go back to finish my album as I’m wanting to get that released next year. I would love to keep acting alongside it though and if some dancing things come up then great. I did a dance tour last year after Strictly with Trent which was really fun: we did a few random shows and then we did one in Monte Carlo which was amazing. Different opportunities might pop up, but alongside my music would be ideal.

Richard Greenberg’s adaptation of Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s will be at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham from 18th – 23rd April. For tickets or to find our more visit www.atgtickets.com

NEW RANGE ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE

THE CITY. ITS NEW NATURAL HABITAT.

Introducing the world’s first premium compact convertible SUV. Featuring Land Rover’s new InControl Touch Pro Infotainment system and the very latest Terrain Response technology, the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible is perfectly adapted to the city. Colliers Land Rover 823 Tyburn Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B24 9NY 0121 514 7526 www.colliers.erdington.landrover.co.uk

Range Rover Evoque Convertible 2.0 Td4 HSE Dynamic Auto Representative Example On the Road Price* Customer Deposit Total Amount of Credit Purchase Fee (incl. in final payment) 36 Monthly Payments Final Payment Total Amount Payable Duration of Agreement Representative APR % Interest Rate (Fixed) %

£47,500.00 £13,500.00 £34,000.00 £10.00 £399.00 £25,868.00 £53,732.00 37 months 6.9% APR 6.72%

*The model pictured is a New Range Rover Evoque Convertible HSE Dynamic Auto with optional Phoenix Orange premium metallic paint (£625) and Black Design Pack (£2,075) at an On the Road price of £50,200 Colliers Land Rover is a trading style of Colliers of Birmingham Limited who is acting as a credit broker and not a lender.

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Range Rover Evoque Convertible Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 24.8 (11.4) – 42.2 (6.7) Extra Urban 40.4 (7.0) – 55.4 (5.1), Combined 32.9 (8.6) – 49.6 (5.7). CO 2 emissions g/km: 201 – 149. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only. Model shown is a New Range Rover Evoque Convertible HSE Dynamic with optional Phoenix Orange premium metallic paint (£600) and Black Design Pack (£2,000). Representative Example relates to a Range Rover Evoque Convertible 2.0 Td4 HSE Dynamic Auto. Representative 6.9% APR available on new Range Rover Evoque Convertible 2.0 Td4 HSE Dynamic Auto models registered between 1st January to 31st March at participating Retailers only. With Land Rover Freedom Personal Contract Purchase you have the option at the end of the agreement to: (1) return the vehicle and not pay the Final Payment. If the vehicle has exceeded the allowed mileage a charge per excess mile will apply. In this example, 14p per excess mile up to 4,999, or for excess mileage of 5,000 or more, a charge of 28p will apply to each excess mile above the allowed mileage. If the vehicle is in good condition and has not exceeded the allowed mileage you will have nothing further to pay; (2) pay the Final Payment to own the vehicle or (3) part exchange the vehicle subject to settlement of your existing credit agreement; new credit agreements are subject to status. Representative example is based upon an annual mileage of 10,000 miles. Credit is subject to status and only available to applicants aged 18 and over resident in Mainland UK and N.Ireland. This credit offer is only available through Black Horse Limited trading as Land Rover Financial Services, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. We can introduce you to Land Rover Financial Services and a limited number of other lenders to provide funding for your vehicle. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to such lenders.

AL R FLO

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dluxe her FIFTY THINGS FOR SPRING

what every wardrobe needs this season

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SPECIAL FEATURE

F L O R A L FANTASY

From delicate ditzy prints to big and bold blooms, who can resist beautiful florals? MELANIE PRYOR, Womenswear Manager at Harvey Nichols Birmingham, reports on this most feminine of trends. 19

As fashion’s perennial favourite, there’s no doubting that spring flowers certainly bring a burst of freshness to the new season. For S/S16, this most feminine of trends has been amplified with designers opting for standout colours and vibrant prints. 20

On the catwalks, Gucci, Chloé and Thakoon opted for beautiful botanicals, while it was hand-drawn flowers at Derek Lam, Giorgio Armani and Agnes B. Erdem showcased his floral pieces with fragile and fraying details for an edgier look.

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32 ALL ITEMS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS, THE MAILBOX, OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM 33

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34: Alice + Olivia satin maxi skirt, £515. 35: Anton Heunis bracelet, £125. 36: Isabel Marant Etoile floral top, £220. 37: Max Mara silk blouse, £275. 38: Olivia Burton watch, £80. 39: Stella McCartney espadrilles, £255. 40: RED Valentino faille skirt, £300. 41: Valentino brocade dress, £2000. 42: Victoria, Victoria Beckham satin mini dress, £805. 43. Gucci bamboo blooms bag, £835.

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1. Dune London - Melrose sandals £79 & Bexy clutch £59. River Island Ruffles £60. 3. River Island floral jumpsuit £48. 4. Asos Candy Dress £85. 5. Phase Eight_Poppy Burnout Fit & Flare Dress £140. 6. Debut Floral Dress £160 Debenhams. 7. Phase Eight_Casey Dress £150. 8. House Of Fraser Ellen Tracy Floral fit and flare dress £130. 9. Gerry Weber Taifun floral coat £170. 10. Marks and Spencer_Best of British Floral Shirt Dress £149. 11. Autograph Print Trouser £45, M&S at Pavilions Birmingham. 12 Topshop Shirt Dress £40. 13. House Of Fraser Salsa Denim jumpsuit £110. 14. Denim Shirt £19.99, New Look at The Fort Shopping Park. 15. Saint Laurent Denim Pumps £390 Harvey Nichols. 16. River Island flowing top.17. Stripe dress with yellow pleated side £160 SportMax Code Floral frame bag £39 Therapy House of Fraser. 18. Vorley bouclé jacquard midi dress £1340 Harvey Nichols. 19. Dune Jess keyring, £19. 20. Dune, Emory, £55. 21. Radley Lollipops Large Tote Bag £119. 22. Limited Edition skirt £39.50, M&S at Pavilions Birmingham. 23. Dress £7.99, H&M at Pavilions Birmingham. 24.LK Bennett Wrap Dress £225. 25. TOMS Utility Backpack, Citrus £60. 26. Gentle Monster Flying Piggy mint clubmaster-style sunglasses £167 Harvey Nichols. 27. Jumpsuit £65, Next at The Fort Shopping Park. 28. Striped D-Ring Culottes £19.99, New Look at The Fort Shopping Park. 29.Hobbs Belize Jacket £199. 30. Betty Jackson Black Earrings £15, Debenhams at The Fort Shopping Park. 31. Beatnik High Leg Gladiator £55 Office. 32. J by Jasper Conran white canvas hat £22, Debenhams at The Fort Shopping Park. 44.Ted Baker Zaldana print dress £179. 45. Lipsy Love Michelle Keegan suede buckle biker jacket £145, Lipsy at The Fort Shopping Park. 46.lordagandsondag £229. 47. Tom Ford Eye Color Quad, Starry Night £64 Harvey Nichols. 48. Grey Bomber Jacket £24.99, New Look at The Fort Shopping Park. 49. House of Fraser_Armani Jeans Grey patent backpack £190. 50. Saint Laurent Small Shoulder Bag £470 Selfridges.

ANTIQUE AND MODERN JEWELLERY AND DESIGNER ACCESsORIES AUCTION AT FELLOWS Birmingham-based Fellows Auctioneers hold over 100 auctions a year, selling everything in weekly jewellery sales from antique and vintage gems to modern designer pieces. The Antique & Modern Jewellery auction is hotly anticipated each month by jewellery collectors and connoisseurs alike in the UK and internationally; regularly featuring over 600 lots, there is a large variety of high-quality pieces which appear every month. Upcoming sale dates include Thursday 14th April, Thursday 12th May and Thursday 16th June. View the full catalogue online at www.fellows.co.uk and sign up to bid. Fans of designer handbags and accessories can take their pick on the 17th April at the newly launched Design Collection auction at Fellows Auctioneers. A huge collection of over 450 pre-loved handbags, vintage shoes and silk scarves are going under the hammer to the highest bidder at a timed online auction from Tuesday 5th – Sunday 17th April and with prices starting from £50 for a Hermes silk scarf lots are more affordable than you may initially think for these premium designer pieces. Undoubtedly one of the many highlights will be the Hermes Birkin 35 handbag in blue fjord leather. With no need to sign up to a lengthy waiting list, this iconic style has an estimate of £5,000-£7,000 – far below the retail price of around £12,000. With designer and branded accessories like this Birkin looking to only increase in price in upcoming 30 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

years, investing now could turn out to be a savvy move in the long run. Accessories and handbags from Louis Vuitton, Dior and Gucci will be on view on the 12th April at Marco Pierre White Champagne Bar in Birmingham from 12-8pm.

RSVP to the Birmingham viewing of this auction by calling 0121 212 2131 or email events@fellows.co.uk and register to bid in auctions at Fellows at www.fellows.co.uk/register

SPECIAL FEATURE

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

With the right tools to hand you will be capable of creating a masterpiece. Get the basics right and you are guaranteed a professional finish every time. So whether it’s curlers, tweezers or every brush imaginable, here are the must-have products from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM to ensure the most stylish cosmetics case.

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brand focus: helen howe atelier Midlands based, Helen Howe designs and produces the luxury tweed outerwear collection ‘Helen Howe Atelier’ which specialises in bespoke and tailored capes, coats and jackets. We caught up with Helen to see what inspires her, what it takes to be a fashion designer and so much more.

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How did Helen Howe Atelier start? I’ve worked in fashion for over 16 years, designing and pattern cutting for High Street stores and I’ve also worked as a tutor and lecturer in Fashion, pattern cutting and fashion retail which I loved! I’ve always had a bit of an obsession with coats, tweed and pleating and knew that this is where my heart truly lies, so having worked my way up through the industry I decided the time was right for me to focus on my own brand, incorporating my passion with the knowledge and experience I’d built up over the years.

How would you describe your brand? Luxury tweed outerwear, handmade in Britain using the finest quality British tweeds. It’s made to last – timeless elegance. They are investment pieces for you to enjoy for many years, heirloom pieces so to speak. The garments are perfect for every day, a special occasion or outdoor pursuits including equestrian, hunting, shooting and walking. The handwriting is unique, incorporating a range of pleat detailing, curved seaming and using a variety of William Morris and Liberty linings. How long does it take you to create your pieces? It depends on the piece, some take more development than others and some have more work involved in the general make-up. I would say from design and sourcing, through product development, fit and final make-up each new style could take a week, however once the style is finalised subsequent garments are thankfully much quicker!

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Who would you love to see wearing Helen Howe Atelier? Hmm tricky one. I guess if I could choose absolutely anyone it would be the Duchess of Cambridge at a polo match/a day at the races! I think my target market is anyone with a love of luxury garments, and those who are interested in British fashion While I hope that my products appeal to as many people as possible I'd say most of my clients have an interest in not only fashion, but in equestrianism, shooting, rural and country life. Where can we get Helen Howe Atelier? As well as my online store, the collection will be stocked at carefully selected stores/boutiques around the country.

To see Helen’s latest SS16 collections, you can visit her website at www.helenhoweatelier.co.uk or follow her on Twitter at @ HHoweatelier.

1: Estée Lauder sculpting eye shadow brush, £22. 2: Hourglass double ended complexion brush, £52. Hourglass No7 finishing brush, £48. 3:NARS lash curler, £15. 4: Rodial brush case, £100. 5: Shiseido pureness oil control blotting paper, £18.50 6: Laura Mercier tweezers, £18.50. 7: Sisley foundation brush, £36.50. 8: Valentino Animali Fantastici cosmetics case, £230. 9: Shiseido lip brush, £20.

VISIT THE BEAUTY HALL AT HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM AND DISCOVER THE LATEST MAKEUP RANGES FROM LEADING BRANDS INCLUDING DIOR, ESTÉE LAUDER, LANCÔME, SPACE NK, HOURGLASS AND YVES SAINT LAURENT.

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FIFTY THINGS FOR SPRING

what every wardrobe needs this season

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1. Blue Textured Grandad Shirt £25 Next, 2. Slim Fit Blue Single Cuff Outline Paisley Casual Shirt £35 Moss at Pavilions. 3. Indigo Leaf Print Shirt £26 Burton at The Fort Shopping Park. 4. Textured Slip Ons £26 Next at The Fort Shopping Park. 5. Long Sleeve Mint Shirt £25 Burton at The Fort Shopping Park. 6. H&M Studio SS16 Jacket £49.99 H&M at Pavilions. 7. Dolphin Boat Shoes £59 Office. 8. The Case Factory Varan iPhone 6 and 6S case £80 Harvey Nichols. 9. Denim Zip Up Shirt £32 Next at The Fort Shopping Park.

SPECIAL FEATURE

THE BOMBER JACKET

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Perfect for casual weekend styling, bomber jackets are this season’s hero piece. Seen on the catwalks at Alexander Wang, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Louis Vuitton, it’s the go-to musthave that looks cool and comfortable. Give this 50s throwback a modern update with on-trend colours and fabrics. Here’s our top ten from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM.

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10. Shirt £25 Moss at The Fort Shopping Park. 11. Shirt £35 Moss at The Fort Shopping Park. 12. Top £7.99 H&M at Pavilions. 13. Mantaray Floral Shirt £36 Debenhams. 14. T-Shirt £9.99 H&M at Pavilions. 15. New & Lingwood tie, House of Fraser £40. 16. GUCCI Floral-print skate shoes £405 Harvey Nichols. 17. Shirt £9.99 H&M at Pavilions. 18. Hammond & Co. Sandy Shark 3D Shirt £36 Debenhams. 19. VALENTINO Green Japanese-print shirt £585 Harvey Nichols. 20. New & Lingwood shirt, House of Fraser £85. 21. Paul Smith Palm Hat £85 Harvey Nichols. 22.Ted Baker Bloom Tie £49. 23. Ted Baker Jersey Top, £59. 24. RJR. John Rocha floral shirt £40

ALL ITEMS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS, THE MAILBOX, OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM 25: Rick Owens silk blend bomber jacket, £1000. 26: Polo Ralph Lauren shell bomber jacket, £345. 27: Philipp Plein faux leather bomber jacket, £760. 28: Kenzo printed bomber jacket, £540. 29: Helmet Lang jersey bomber jacket, £345. 30: Gucci reversible satin bomber jacket, £1750. 31: Dsquared2 coated cotton bomber jacket, £685. 32: Dolce & Gabbana leather bomber jacket, £1385. 33: Canada Goose fur-trimmed bomber jacket, £975. 34: Alexander McQueen leather bomber jacket, £1685.

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35. Sandals £24.99 H&M at Pavilions. 36. M&S Collection Panama Hat £49.50 M&S at Pavilions. 37. Comme Des Garcons Zip Wallet £60 Selfridges. 38. Hugo Boss tan leather holdall £800 House of Fraser. 39. M&S Collection Deck £49.50 M&S at Pavilions. 40. John Lewis Wayfarer Sunglasses £12.41. M&S Collection Black Mix Ripley Sunglasses £25 Marks and Spencer. 42. M&S Collection Belt Weaven Tan Belt £17.50 M&S at Pavilions. 43 Thomas Pink Tenby Stripe Socks, £16. 44. Suede Weave Loafers £45 Next at The Fort Shopping Park. 45. Jumper £85 Lyle and Scott. 46. Bag £160 Lyle & Scott. 47. Paul Smith Jockey caps printed silk backpack £375 House of Fraser. 48. Gucci monogrammed backpack, £745. 49. Giuseppe Zanotti grained leather backpack, £1,210. 50. D1 MILANO Premium matte brown ballistic polymer watch £160 Harvey Nichols.

RELAX INTO SPRING For spring 2016 there is a wide-ranging mix of trends in men’s fashion. From mohair threepiece suits, a vibrant use of colours for bold prints, a sporty take on the military theme, a variation on the camouflage desert style, nudes and lace for the androgynous look, to slim-striped co-ordinates. Whatever your style or occasion, there are many ways to add your own personality and flair to your attire. Whether you’re a fan on the pinstripe, the Prince of Wales check or subtle weaves, there has never been a better time to experiment with different fabrics and textures to suit your individuality. The bright blues of last year are replaced with more muted tones and earthy palates including monochrome greys, especially charcoal, and shades of khaki and emerald green. Even though suits will remain slim, the emphasis will be on a more relaxed and looser style than the recent super-slim / skin-tight look. Tailored garments make you feel more comfortable, so give your spring wardrobe a boost with a lightweight business suit or a crease-free wool blend when travelling. For a refined style to wear to the office, the grey checked suit is a great option. Wear with a crisp white shirt, a vibrant colourful tie and black lace-up shoes to complete the look. When you want to kick-back a little then you can’t go far wrong with a smart pair of chinos, a soft and lightweight blazer, a pastel-coloured shirt and a silk pocket handkerchief. This is the perfect attire for that after work drink or a weekend break in the country. 34 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Spring is a great time of year to diversify your wardrobe and indulge in a more relaxed look to your attire. Enjoy the season!

For more information about tailoring your wardrobe to the seassonal trends see www.thebespoketailor.co.uk or call Adrian Barrows on 07968 438717

Spring is the perfect time for men to give their wardrobe a refresh. Bullring, Birmingham’s premier retail destination, has something to suit all male needs. Whether it be a key piece such as a bomber jacket or something more bold there are luxury and high street retailers with trends straight from the runway. This season, the classic and understated style continues to be a favourite, with top brands such as Diesel, Pretty Green and Tommy Hilfiger offering a range of simple options from shirts, jackets, trousers as well as statement pieces with a splash of safari print and a pop of floral. With sports all over the screens, guys will be glad to know the athlesiure trend isn’t going anywhere, find the latest and greatest sports apparel at Lacoste. For those wanting a one stop shop for all their needs, Bullring is home to one of only four iconic Selfridges stores, with clothing, footwear and accessories from an unbeatable lineup of designer names from Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs to streetwear names including Trapstar and Hood by Air. If shoppers need some extra guidance with their fashion finds, stores including Topman and River Island have styling suites equipped staff on hand to help incorporate this season’s must have looks to any wardrobe. Simply make a booking and be in the safe hands of a stylist. With all that retail therapy, shoppers are sure to work up an appetite. Bullring has a great range of eateries with dining options inspired from around the world, including thai inspired cuisine from Chi Kitchen, and Italian delights at Jamie’s Italian.

For more information on events, offers and activities at Bullring, visit www.bullring.co.uk.

GROOMING HEROES

FROM NICHE BEARD OIL TO MEN-ONLY FACE PACKS, HERE’S ALL YOU NEED TO BE THE PERFECTLY PRESENTED GENT THIS SEASON. HARVEY NICHOLS PRIVATE SHOPPING MANAGER JOHN PAUL MCGUIRK SHARES HIS SUPERSTAR PRODUCTS FOR A HARD-WORKING GROOMING ROUTINE.

Comme des Garçons Wonderoud EDP, £87 (100ml): Blending a tantalising concoction of woody scents from oud to cedarwood, this will ensure you’re hitting all the right notes Tom Ford For Men Skin Revitalizing Concentrate, £110: After months of wintery weather, it’s time to call in the big guns. This formula nurses dry skin back to health and is excellent both preand post-shave. Dermalogica Close Shave Oil, £25.85: This ultrasmooth shaving oil creates a barrier that encourages razor glide while allowing for maximum visibility while shaving, making it ideal for grooming around goatees and moustaches.

Starskin Leading Man Hydrating Mask, £8.50: Slap on this redness-reducing face mask, specially formulated for male skin, to cover up those telltale signs of too many late nights. Creed Aventus EDP, £175 (75ml): Modern, dynamic and masculine, the Aventus brew is bursting at its sweet-smelling seams with fruity and woody notes.

Rodial Dragon’s Blood Eye Gel, £45: A multi-talented blend of rose water, arnica and hyaluronic acid de-puffs, soothes and refreshes tired eyes, and protects from further damage. Dr Jackson’s Face Oil, £30: 100% natural ingredients help improve skin tone and elasticity, alleviate dry and damaged skin as well as boost hydration. Lancôme Ultimate Cleansing Gel For Men, £22: Give your skin a much-needed, post-winter deep clean. Easy to use, this gel will leave you feeling fresh and super clean. Espa Brightener, £36: Lighten up gloomy skin with this clever formula that perks up skin tone while antioxidants nourishes and protect for an instantly fresher, healthier finish. Floris No89 Shaving & Beard Oil, £25: A power-packed oil for an exceptionally smooth shave. It can also be used to gently condition, strengthen and stimulate your beard, nourishing the skin underneath and promoting growth.

PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS AT THE MAILBOX OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM dluxe-magazine.co.uk 35

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A FRESH LOOK FOR SPRING aT BULLRING

SPECIAL FEATURE

GITTE

COPENHAGEN - NEW YORK - LONDON - FRANKFURT www.skagen.com @skagendenmark

available at:

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dluxe CLUB TROPICANA

The popularity of the pineapple in interior design and the influence of fifties furniture design has led to this tropical trend. Oversized leaf prints, flamingos and summertime brights bring an air of eccentricity against a muted backdrop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you just cannot over accessorise!

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Designer Tip

KEEPING TROPICAL TOPICAL!

There’s no doubt that this is the go to trend for those who like to make a statement. For those fearless enough to go totally tropical why not make furniture fabrics fruity or add an oversized leaf print to walls? That’s right, foget about feature walls, we’re talking taking that print all over! We love the Jungle paper from Cole and Sons, available in a range of colour options and a snip at £78 a roll. All a bit much? Well this trend is definitely not for everyone and we can understand that some people might not want to be starting at a room full of pineapples and jungle print all year so why not trying to incorporate a few accent pieces into your existing interior? A great way to do this is with colour – it’s amazing how adding a splash of lime or yellow to a neutral scheme can make things zing! Still too much? Then why not bring out the pot plants? Weeping figs, ferns and even the humble spider plant can add a touch of jungle fever to any interior.

1. Cushions using fabric from Harlequin, 2. Oliver Bonas Large Decorative Suitcase £70. 3.Brenne Pendant £80 BHS. 4. Heal’s 1810 Large Round Tray in Le Jardin D’Ete £40. 5. Amara Silken Favours - Watermelon Silk Shaped Cushion £95. 6. Pineapple Glass Vase £20 BHS. 7. Amara Silken Favours - Lemon Silk Shaped Cushion £95. 8. Flamingo Cocktail Sticks £1 Tiger. 9. Spotty Glass Platter £12 next. 10. Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson Designer pink flamingo lamp £75, bedding from £40, cushions from £25,Debenhams.

Whether you go all out or keep things subtle it’s important to bring balance to any room. If you’re going with a jungle print on walls or furniture then make sure you keep your accessories secondary in your design statement and vice versa. Try thinking about your room as a journey and group accessories to create areas of interest as you move round it. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 39

Now Is The Perfect Time To Invest In T

Thomas Avery, MD

With student numbers higher than ever at our city’s numerous universities, the imminent arrival of HS2 bringing the Capital to Birmingham – and vice versa – there has never been a better time to invest your money into the second city’s property market, says Thomas Avery, Managing Director of Rhubarb Property of Birmingham.. With a population of 1.1million and an average age of just over 35, Birmingham has an abundance of demand from young professionals and well-off students looking for quality rental accommodation and boutique-style agencies such as Rhubarb Property – which celebrates its eighth-year anniversary later this year – has led the charge offering on-the-pulse advice, as well as an ear to the ground of where the smart money is investing. It is a busy, cosmopolitan city, home to some of the UK’s leading blue-chip companies. These conglomerates bring a property surge in their wake. It also seems that investors from the capital are already looking at the city after it was named above the likes of Milan, London and Paris in a recent annual European survey of investors! It all adds up, as property values in the city have risen by 8.27 per cent in the past two years, according to figures from Zoopla – and this doesn’t look set to dip - so it is without surprise that Birmingham’s property market is buoyant and fortunes are being created, if you’re shrewd. “Once area of unrivalled growth is within the student market. Investment in to student accommodation has never been so popular – Birmingham is, afterall, the UK’s second biggest conurbation after London and has two large Universities: Birmingham University and Aston University - and seems to be the future for cash buying investors,” says Avery. Demand for high quality student accommodation has not dipped, despite the introduction of tuition fees in recent years. In fact, anything but with both of the city’s major universities reporting record numbers of admissions. “Going to university these days is an investment decision in its own right. Today’s students are more strategic, more motivated than generations previously and they are very aware that they are the consumers of the University product. Their expectations are higher both in terms of academic experience, but also their living environment. 40 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

This has led to a new wave of students pods, which are increasingly popular among young, overseas students. Some of these pods come with facilities such as onsite cinemas, gyms and concierge services being included in the rental price. And with these enhanced lifestyle aspects comes an enhanced price tag; something the more savvy investors are starting to notice and capitalise on and rivalling that of residential developers in the city,” says Avery. “It is a far cry from the traditional student digs of yesteryear”. This new wave of accommodation is being led by developers such as Seven Capital who are buying up big swathes of the city in a way not seen since before the recession: another sure fire sign that the Second City is on the up. Reflecting this inward investment, Rhubarb Property, which also has operations in Manchester, is to launch a dedicated Property Sales operation from its base on Newhall Street offering the same insight and advice on property purchasing and portfolio building. He comments; “As Rhubarb hits its eighth anniversary, the time felt right to take the plunge into sales, as the market has picked up so much after the crash a few years ago. First time buyers alike are now finding it slightly easier to get onto the property ladder and if you’re an investor the returns are pretty good at the moment. We are offering free advice, valuations and assistance to anyone wanting to live or invest into either Birmingham or Manchester.” He continues; “As part of our expansion, I felt Rhubarb needed to re-brand alongside the changes happening in both Birmingham and its property Market. As part of this, www.kamazoy.co.uk have re-designed our logo and website – www.rhubarbproperty.co.uk – which now makes finding the right property and advice even easier”.

For more information, call Rhubarb Property on 0121 309 0550 or visit www.rhubarbproperty.co.uk

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The UK’s Second City

OFFER FOR NEW SCHEMES TO WATCH LANDLORDS* image by wwww.benfearnhead.co.uk

NO1 HAGLEY ROAD

“This conversion of a former 1970’s office block will create 271 homes priced between £130-250,000 and is the city’s biggest residential scheme since The Cube. Interestingly, over 75% of the investors were from overseas. With the imminent launch of the Park Regis Hotel on Five Ways, all eyes are on Broad Street this summer”, says Tom.

0% SET UP FEE FULLY MANAGED SERVICE FOR £50 PER MONTH VALID UNTIL JUNE 1ST 2016

THE KETTLEWORKS If the ever-popular Jewellery Quarter is more up your street, check out Seven Capital’s other development The Kettleworks as part of the up and coming new St George’s ‘urban village’. Prices start from just £132,000 and come with a projected 20% capital growth or 7% rental yield although it’s entirely sold out, despite not being finished until Q4 2017 – such is its hotter than hot status.

Avebury House, 55 Newhall Street, B i r m i n g h a m , B 3 1 Q X . Te l 0 1 2 1 3 0 9 0 5 5 0 w w w. r h u b a r b p r o p e r t y. c o . u k *Offer applies to new customers only. Offer valid from March 1st 2016 until June 1st 2016. The £50 full monthly management fee is excluding VAT. Subject to terms and conditions and upon successful application and referencing.

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G Plan Vintage LAUNCH THE Fifty Nine range

Midnight hues and deep shades of peacock are on-trend for Spring/Summer 2016, so it’s no surprise that G Plan Vintage’s Fifty Nine range’s velvet colour palette includes shades of berry, shell, topaz, teal, copper, flamingo and emerald. Designs are taken from the G Plan archives with the Two Piece Corner Unit costing from £3,050. For more G Plan furniture visit Leekes, Silverstone Drive, Junction 3 of the M6, Coventry. www.leekes.co.uk

REPLACEMENT RULE CHANGE FOR LANDlORDS Landlords should wait to replace furniture in let properties until 6 April 2016 when the 10% wear and tear allowance is replaced and such costs become deductible under a new tax relief. From 6 April 2016, the favourable 10% wear and tear allowance for fully furnished residential properties will no longer be available. Instead, only the actual costs incurred in replacing furniture, furnishings, appliances and kitchenware provided for the tenants’ use will be deductible. Initial costs are not allowed, only the replacement of such items. The Government expects this measure will bring in around £165 million/year from 2017 onwards. Landlords of fully furnished properties will feel this change adds additional complexity to an increasingly complicated area of deductible costs, following closely on the heels of the restriction to finance cost expenditure. However, the change is good news for landlords of part or unfurnished properties, who will be eligible to claim this new relief. Currently such landlords do not generally receive any relief for such costs HMRC have promised to provide ‘comprehensive guidance’ on the thorny areas of whether a replacement is an ‘improvement’ or not. Where the asset is replaced to its nearest modern equivalent, the ‘improvement’ as a result of technological upgrades should be ignored so that the cost is still allowed in full.

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Time to get back in the garden as the clocks go forward With spring almost here – yes, the clocks are going forward this month – it’s time to get back in the garden, if you haven’t already done so! A senior horticultural supervisor at Birmingham Botanical Gardens explains what tasks can be done in the garden in early Spring. There are lots of tasks to be getting on with right now that will get your garden in optimum shape for this year’s growing seasons. If the soil remains frost free, add plenty of compost or wellrotted bark mulch to planting areas. This is an important task to undertake in any year but even more so this year because the wet weather we’ve experienced over the winter means many nutrients will have been leached from the soil, leaving it depleted. If the mulch is not well rotted, add nitrogen-rich fertiliser to help the bacteria break down the bark. If you have been thinking about moving shrubs to different areas of the garden, now is a good time to do it because it’s mild and wet enough for them to put down roots.

your chances of a very colourful display next winter. If you love fresh herbs, start sowing the seeds indoors ready to be planted outside in later this year. If you don’t have a herb patch in the garden, just keep your favourite ones in pots on windowsills so that they get lots of natural light. If you only have a short amount of time to dedicate to your gardening, the best thing you can do this month is cut the lawn – it’s likely to be looking quite long by now, thanks to the wet and relatively warm temperatures. Make sure the grass isn’t too wet and set your mower to the highest cut; this will get rid of the shaggy growth from the winter. You can repair or put down new areas of grass either with turf or seed towards the end of the month. When the clocks go forward on the 27th, make sure you switch from winter to summer feed for citrus plants and if your indoor plants are starting to grow, feed them with a diluted balanced fertiliser.

Deciduous hedges, such as beech and privet, can be cut this month, although it’s still too early for conifers, so leave those for a few weeks.

Finally, carry on picking over dead leaves on indoor plants, ready for them to start growing again.

Wisteria should be pruned this month to encourage large flower panicles. It’s easy to do: simply cut back the branches to three buds and make sure you leave enough room when tying to allow for a year’s growth.

Feeling motivated?

Tackle any buddleia now, too, by pruning them so that the flowers are at head height, and also cut back salix and cornus to maximise

Why not visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens for more inspiration. Westbourne Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3TR www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk dluxe-magazine.co.uk 43

dluxe mot ors JAGUAR F-PACE

Described as a performance crossover, Jaguar’s F-Pace arrives in UK showrooms this April and shares it’s underpinnings with the successful XE and XF saloons. With a superstructure that is almost 80% aluminium and engine options including a 178bhp 2.0 diesel, 296 bhp, 3.0 twin turbocharged diesel and a 375bhp 3.0 supercharged petrol engine the F-Pace is no slouch. Available in four trim levels; Prestige, R-Sport, Portfolio and S, the F Pace comes as standard with 18in alloys, front and rear parking sensors, powered tailgate, heated front seats, touchscreen, cruise control and infotainment system with sat nav. Options include panoramic roof, red brake calipers, full-LED headlights with LED ‘J’ blade Daytime Running Lights, and configurable interior mood lighting.

First to be launched is the Jaguar F-PACE First Edition which comes with the 3.0-litre V6 300PS diesel engine with eight-speed automatic transmission and All-Wheel Drive. The F-PACE First edition costs £65,275.

BENTLEY BENTAYGA

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Perhaps the ultimate in luxury off roading, Bentley say the Bentayga is a true Bentley, combining unparalleled luxury with sporting ability, off-road performance and everyday usability.

with confidence. Inside the craftsmanship continues with detailing in metal, wood and leather to provide the epitome of modern British luxury.

Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Crewe, the Bentayga’s styling is pure Bentley. Sculptural with an elegant, timeless execution, it balances athleticism

An all-new twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine delivers a 0-60 mph time of 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph making the Bentayga the world’s most powerful and fastest SUV. Prices start at £160,200.

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VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Volkswagen have given the formerly staid and solid Tiguan a sporty new look whilst increasing its size and reducing its weight for improved performance and efficiency. It’s also been reengineered to cope with trailer loads of up to 2,500 kg making it perfect for a horse box or for those who enjoy a spot of caravanning. As well as looking more premium outside the Tiguan is set to feel more premium inside with quality set to rival the Mercedes GLA and BMW X4. Prices are yet to be announced but are expected start at around £23,000.

TESLA MODEL X We’re already smitten with Tesla having tested the stunning Model S and we can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the stunning Model X. With all-wheel drive and a 90 kWh battery providing 257 miles of range, the all-electric Model X has seats for seven adults with room for all their luggage thanks to boot space both front and rear- there’s no engine remember. The Model X’s electric motors allow for

instantaneous power so it’s ludicrously fast, accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in as quick as 3.2 seconds. We’re in love with the futuristic Falcon Wing doors which allow easy access to second and third row seats from even a tight parking space. With only a foot of clearance on either side, Falcon Wing doors articulate smoothly up and out of the way and the side and overhead opening is so large that parents can buckle children in without ducking or straining. If the idea of all that technology seems terrifying Tesla offer an 8 year, infinite mile battery and drive unit warranty along with a 4 year, 50,000 mile limited warranty. The Model X is set to cost around £65,000.

LAND ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE At first the idea of a convertible SUV seems a little ridiculous but with the Evoque’s reputation as THE must have auto accessory for fashionistas and hipster types it should come as no surprise that Range Rover have launched a version that adopts even more ‘look at me’ styling tricks to an already successful formula. The ground breaking and distinctive

shape of the original Range Rover Evoque lends itself to an elegant convertible design perfectly and Range Rover have worked hard to ensure the Evoque’s distinctive profile remains with the roof up or down. The lightweight fabric hood stows in only 18 seconds, at speeds up to 30 mph. Its Z-fold mechanism lays flush with the rear bodywork for a sleek,

uncluttered appearance when lowered. The fabric roof is the longest and widest currently fitted to any vehicle on sale today. Prices start from £47,500. Find out more at Colliers Land Rover, 823 Tyburn Rd, Birmingham B24 9NY Tel. 0121 382 5566

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LEAVE YOUR HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO With its stunning bay, iconic Golden Gate Bridge, eclectic mix of architecture and steep rolling hills traversed by cable cars, San Francisco is one of America’s most iconic city’s and has a vibe all of its own. Jonathan Fraser took a trip to the ‘City by the Bay’ with United Airlines and left his heart in San Francisco.

A mild year-round climate mean it’s no surprise that San Francisco is a popular leisure destination throughout the seasons, and with United Airlines it is easy for travellers from the Midlands and Central England to reach this great city. From Birmingham Airport, United operates year-round nonstop flights to its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, not only providing direct access not only to the Big Apple, but offering conveniently timed connections to San Francisco and more than 300 other destinations throughout the Americas. www.sanfrancisco.travel @onlyinsf

WHERE TO GO San Francisco is perhaps the most European like of American cities thanks to its mixture of distinctive architectural styles. The cinematic trolley cars, imported from across

the world and restored for service in the city, trundle their efficiently between historic districts such as Fillmore, where you will find designer boutiques, art deco bars and the Doubtfire residence (yes we went there too) and the infamous Castro, home to human rights hero Harvey Milk and the scene of gay liberation in the seventies. Other essential areas to explore include Haight Ashbury; the origin of San Francisco’s historic hippie subculture and China Town where gaudy furniture stores crammed with carnival glass mix with restaurants and gift stores with an Asian association. Buy a MUNI passport to ride the trolley all day or, if you’re not big on public transport then make sure you download the Uber app to your phoneit makes travelling round the city incredibly easy and is great value. A great way to explore the city is by bike. (www.blazingsaddles.com/sanfrancisco) We took a ride by the city’s

SPECIAL FEATURE and kitsch treasures, there are regular markets and meets to visit including the Treasure Island Flea on the last weekend of every month (www. treasureislandflea.com) and the Alameda Point Antiques Faire at the former Alameda Naval Air Station on the first Sunday of every month.

introduced them to espresso martinis and they got it in one. Make sure you order one for us. Wise Sons Jewish Deli -Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Breakfast and Lunch Saturdays. wisesonsdeli.com The Farmers Market is foodie heaven and a great place to grab a lazy brunch on Saturday morning. Make sure you stop in at Wise Sons Jewish deli though and grab one of their amazing Reuben sandwiches; Pastrami, Corned Beef or Turkey griddled with sauerkraut, swiss cheese and Russian dressing. I’m literally drooling at the memory of it!

WHY NOT… WHERE TO STAY Known as the Grande Dame of San Francisco Boutique Hotels and winner of the 2015 Trip Advisor certificate of excellence award, Kimpton’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel is perfectly placed in Union Square for those visiting the city. Easily identified by its Beefeater dressed doormen and with a trolley car line right outside, the Sir Francis Drake oozes individuality and style. Rooms are well sized and eclectically appointed and for those looking for fun the top floor Starlight Room offers evening entertainment and a Sunday Drag brunch. Fabulous! www.sirfrancisdrake.com

WHERE TO EAT

Whilst at the waterfront why not take a trip to the island of Alcatraz, the former prison home of some of America’s most hardened prisoners including Al Capone. We talk an evening audio tour of the island and prison narrated by former guards and inmates. Incredibly evocative, we’d recommend booking a nighttime tour in advance; just make sure you don’t get locked in solitary after dark… (www. alcatrazcruises.com) Shoppers will love to explore the streets of San Francisco thanks to its mix of big name stores, designer boutiques, independent and vintage stores. From Union Square with its twin Macys, Tiffany’s, Neiman Marcus and Westfield Shopping Centre, to the neighbourhood boutiques of Fillmore and Hayes Valley, make sure you leave plenty of room for shopping in your luggage. For flea market fans in the market for vintage

One Market – 1 Market Street, San Francisco. CA 94105 onemarket.com Featuring the award winning farm-to-table food of Chef Mark Dommen, One Market is a stylish and sophisticated restaurant offering an open exhibition kitchen with a special “Chef ’s Table,” a wood-fired grill, private dining rooms, and a luxurious bar. It’s also home to the best steak I’ve ever head. A must visit for a special night. John’s Grill- 63 Ellis Street, between Stockton and Powell, San Francisco CA94102 www.johnsgrill.com One of the city’s oldest establishments, John’s Grill is a slice of Old San Francisco style thanks to its dark paneled interior and period furnishings. Well priced steaks, seafood and pastas are on offer along with an extensive cocktail menu; we

Take a walking tour? Dogpatch is a former industrial district of San Francisco which is starting to become popular with young professionals struggling with rising rents and property prices in the city. As a result many small businesses and artisan makers have been attracted to the area including cheese sellers, wine makers, French bakeries and chocolatiers. www.walksftours.com

HOW TO GET THERE We flew to San Francisco in style with United BusinessFirst and enjoyed flat-bed seats as well as a multi-course menu accompanied by a sommelierchosen selection of wines. United Economy customers benefit from personal on-demand entertainment on

board as well as complimentary beer and wine as part of a new, high-quality inflight dining service, whilst United Economy Plus offers up to six inches of extra legroom. From Birmingham Airport, United Airlines offers nonstop service to its hub at New York/Newark Liberty International Airport, with connections to San Francisco and over 300 other destinations across the Americas. Return fares in United Economy from Birmingham to San Francisco via New York/Newark start from £789.64, and fares in United BusinessFirst start from £3931.64 (including taxes, January 2016). For latest prices, visit www. united.com or call 0845 8 444 777.

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harbor and beach before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and a downhill ride to the pretty town of Sausalito. Take the ferry back to the city and stop off at the Ferry Plaza food market at Pier 1 or take a ride on the carousel at Pier 39 before visiting the huge number of souvenir stores and restaurants.

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editor’s pick: FIVE OF THE BEST Spas iN THE WORLD

Whilst holidays are a break away from the stresses and strains of everyday life, sometimes you need a little bit more from your break. Spas provide the perfect escapism for those seeking serenity and pure relaxation of the mind and body. The popularity of spas has only grown over the decades and the bathing traditions and culture differ from country to country. To really make the most of the experience, immerse yourself in some serious pampering and book a treatment from the wide selection available on offer at the spas.

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BUDAPEST Some refer to Budapest as the ‘City of Spas’ so it seems logical to start off our guide in this thermal epicentre. The city is built upon an abundancy of thermal and medicinal spring waters and has a spa history dating back to Roman times. Bathe in the healing waters of the Szechenyi Baths, the oldest in Budapest, with outdoor pools and palatial architecture. For a different experience, visit the Lukacs Baths for a night party with electro music, laser lights and plenty of cocktails! Take your pick from the 15 public thermal baths on offer in the city, some even house special pools for children, whirlpools and wave machines.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Another short hop from Delhi is Bangalore and one of the top spiritual spas in the world. Soukya is a dedicated treatment centre built by one of the leading holistic specialists in Asia, Dr Mathai, who lives at the spa and is on hand to share his secrets and advice. If

MADRID

After spending a few days exploring the lively Spanish city, make sure you find time to unwind and kick back in one of the luxury spas. The spas are a welcome sanctuary of peace and calmness away from the buzzing fiestas and bars this beautiful city is so infamous for. For a personalised spa experience, Wathermal Spa & Wellness offers a menu of over 100 treatments, performed to a backdrop of your own music played from your iPod or memory stick. Oriental spas are popular within the city with Chi Spas focusing on holistic treatments which drive energetic forces and restore harmony. Take in the sights of the city from a height in the Club Metropolitan spa which has roof top pools and a sun terrace and can be found in the heart of Madrid. Last but by no means least we can’t not mention the contemporary and super slick spa inside the Urso Hotel. Housed inside a former palace and surrounded by elegant boutiques and laid-back squares, the setting is perfection. With diamond dust facials available in the spa, need we say any more?

REYKJAVIK

We’d challenge you to find a more picturesque setting for a spa day than the stunning country of Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is one of Europe’s most famous geothermal spas and has gained the moniker of being one of the 25 Wonders of the World. There’s something very special about feeling sprinkles of snow falling on your nose whilst relaxing in a thermal pool amongst lava fields and snow topped mountains. The white silica mud and mineral salts gently exfoliate your skin and revitalise your body, and with water temperatures of over 37°C year-round, you won’t be chilly! Swimming costumes, towels and bath robes are available to hire from the Blue Lagoon to save you having to worry about finding space for those in your suitcase as well!

INDIA

Just one connecting flight away from Delhi, Goa houses some of the most premium and luxurious spas in the world. The spa culture has really taken off in India in recent years and the Sereno Spa in Goa was voted as the ‘World’s Number One Spa’ by the readers of Conde Nast Traveller. It is a complete wellness destination, set amidst the stunning and unspoiled beach front with an outdoor pavilion and garden. For a more rejuvenating and detoxing experience, many of the spas in Goa offer yoga retreats which they promote as offering balance and healing to your

you can cope with a regimented routine, including strict rules of no alcohol or smoking, this place will really work on calming your soul and uplifting your outlook on life. It has even been visited by British royalty, and if it’s good enough for Charles and Camilla, then it’s good enough for us!

DOHA

Immerse yourself in the traditional Qatari experience at one of the spa havens in Doha. Where better to unclutter your mind in Qatar’s prosperous capital than in The Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village. The spa features four unique themed spa areas, complete with traditional water features and local artwork. The treatment rooms are designed to resemble typical village residences and create a Middle Eastern ambience. Its outstanding service and level of luxury resulted in the spa being voted ‘Qatar’s Leading Spa Resort’ in the 2013 World Travel Awards.

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body. Ashiyana offers yoga holidays which offer more flexibility than typical retreats, allowing guests to attend yoga classes whilst still being able to explore the beautiful surroundings of North Goa and the Dudsagar waterfall, spice farms and national parks.

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Emirates introducing T R A V E L Airbus A380 service into N E W S Birmingham Airport TURKISH AIRLINES DOUBLE DAILY FLIGHTS FROM BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

Turkish Airlines will increase its services between Birmingham and Istanbul from 12 flights a week to twice a day from the 30th May . Particularly beneficial for business travellers, customers will also have greater access to Turkish Airlines’ extensive route network from Istanbul to 283 destinations around the world.

Emirates will be upgrading its lunchtime service between Dubai and Birmingham to the iconic Airbus A380 from 27th March 2016, this news comes as Emirates celebrates its 15th anniversary at Birmingham Airport. The magnificent aircraft will carry 557 passengers in Economy Class and 58 in Business Class. Passengers will enjoy the extra generous Emirates baggage allowance. Business Class passengers can also enjoy Emirates’ complimentary Chauffeur-drive service, to and from their flights, and access the world-class Emirates lounge at Birmingham Airport. Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport, said: “This is really great news for the Airport and our community. The A380 will not only give an additional 188 seats a day from Birmingham but will also offer customers that want to experience the A380 aircraft an opportunity to now do so from the Midlands region. I’m certain that the service, just like the programme spanning 15 years from Birmingham Airport, will be hugely successful.” Birmingham will be the fifth route operating the new two-class A380 since it was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow in November 2015 by Emirates. Passengers flying from the Midlands with Emirates can travel to Dubai and beyond, to an ever expanding global network. Popular destinations on the Emirates network include Dubai, Islamabad, Bangkok, Mumbai and Hong Kong. Laurie Berryman, Emirates Vice President UK, said: “The A380 is hugely popular amongst our passengers as it provides a unique level of service that has become synonymous with the Emirates brand. We are very excited to be the first airline to introduce the iconic A380 into the region and look forward to more of our customers enjoying the experience of flying on the world’s largest passenger aircraft.” To book a seat on the iconic aircraft and take a virtual tour of it visit www.emirates.com

IT’S A PASSENGER RECORD!

Birmingham Airport has celebrated its most successful year to date, handling 10.2 million passengers during the 2015 calendar year – almost 5% more than the previous year. Overall, 10,188,889 passengers travelled through the airport in 2015 – the first time the airport has broken the ten million passenger mark in a calendar year in its 75 year history. Records were also set for its 50 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

busiest month ever in August and for the busiest day ever on 28th August 2015. Long haul traffic saw the greatest increase during the year, with a 21.4% increase from 2014 due to greater capacity from Birmingham to destinations such as Dubai, Delhi, Amritsar and Beijing. Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport said: “2015 was a fantastic year for

Birmingham Airport as we not only handled more passengers than ever before but we also broke the news that eleven new airlines were being added to our growing list of carriers. “With brand new services launched to Reykjavik, New York, Madrid, Warsaw, Budapest and Poznan, plus additional frequencies added to key hubs such as Dubai, Istanbul and Delhi, we are seeing more airlines realise the huge benefits of flying to and from Birmingham due to its extensive catchment area and strong economy. “Looking forward, 2016 is set to be even busier as we get set for the launch of Qatar, Blue Air, Iberia and Czech Airlines, as well as welcoming the Emirates A380 aircraft each day from March.”

Turkish Airlines has some great offers departing from Birmingham Airport to Bangkok from £414 and Singapore from £441. Bookings can be made by calling the airline’s reservations number on 0844 800 66 66, or online at www.thy.com

FLYBE ADD NANTES, RENNES–SAINTJACQUES AND LIMOGES TO THEIR LIST OF ROUTES Flybe has announced a further expansion three brand new routes from Birmingham to regional France. Flights will operate five times a week to Nantes, Rennes, the capital city of Brittany, and Limoge. Flights to Rennes-Saint-Jacques will operate four times a week whilst flights to Limoges will operate twice a week. Seats are available for booking now at www. flybe.com

MONARCH LAUNCHES MADRID AND LISBON FOR SUMMER 2016 Monarch has extended its summer schedule with four weekly flights to Lisbon and three weekly flights to Madrid from Birmingham Airport. Additional frequencies have also been announced to many of the airline’s most popular destinations from Birmingham with an extra weekly flight announced to Lanzarote, Alicante, Rome, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria and two more weekly flights to Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife. To book visit www.monarch.co.uk

BIRMINGHAM TO SOFIA IN BULGARIA ANNOUNCED BY WIZZ AIR Wizz Air, Eastern Europe’s new low cost airline, will commence flights from Birmingham Airport to Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia, from 27th March . The twice weekly service will operate on Sundays and Wednesdays and is Wizz Air’s sixth low-fare route from Birmingham joining Bucharest, Budapest, Poznan, Warsaw and Wroclaw. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked at www.wizzair.com

Fourteen flights a week to Madrid. No bull. No kidding. We’re now offering fourteen flights every week to Madrid and you can fly with one of four top European airlines Iberia Express, Norwegian, Monarch or Ryanair. Whether you’re going for a stag/hen do, some retail therapy or simply a long weekend, few other capital cities can offer what Madrid does. World-class art museums including the famous Prado and Reina Sofia. A thriving nightlife as there are more bars here than any other city on earth. A rich culinary scene with food from every Spanish region on offer, and you could also dine at the world’s oldest restaurant. A taste of traditional Spain, with its flamenco shows, smoky bars and tapas restaurants. And for those who do like a bit of bull, there’s Plaza Toros Las Ventas – the home of bullfighting in Spain.

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NATIONAL VEGETARIAN WEEK (MONDAY 16 – SUNDAY 22 MAY) IS AN ANNUAL AWARENESS WEEK AIMING TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW TASTY AND NUTRITIOUS A VEGETARIAN DIET CAN BE. TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK OF DELICIOUS MEAT-FREE EATING WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A SELECTION OF RECIPE IDEAS PERFECT FOR A VEGGIE FEAST.

SPRING ONION AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO This easy risotto recipe is full of delicate and fragrant flavours thanks to the spring onions and celery – a real taste of summer Serves: 2 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes YOU’LL NEED: 25g butter 1 stick of celery, finely diced 1 clove garlic, crushed 175g Arborio rice 100ml white wine 750ml vegetable or chicken stock, hot 6 asparagus spears, chopped into 1cm rounds, tips kept whole 3 spring onions, sliced 50g Parmesan cheese, grated WHAT TO DO: Melt the butter in a large, heavy based saucepan. On a medium heat cook the celery for 5 minutes until it becomes tender, then add the garlic, then the rice and stir to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the wine and stir until absorbed. Pour in half of the hot stock, stir well and simmer stirring occasionally. Once the stock is almost absorbed, pour in half of the remaining stock and continue to cook. Add the asparagus and spring onions and half the remaining stock. Continue adding half of the remaining stock and stirring until the rice is cooked with a slight bite in the centre and not mushy. The risotto should be wet with a creamy sauce. Remove from the heat, stir in half of the Parmesan and some black pepper, check the seasoning and adjust as necessary. Serve with the remaining Parmesan sprinkled over and any left-over celery tops, chopped. As you get towards the end of the cooking time keep tasting the rice and use a little more or less stock if required. 52 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

CURRIED BEETROOT AND LENTIL SHEPHERD’S PIE Packed full of tasty vegetables, this super healthy alternative to a traditional shepherd’s pie substitutes beetroot and lentils for minced lamb and is dairy free too making it perfect for both vegetarians and vegans alike. Serves: 2-3 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes YOU’LL NEED: 3 medium sized potatoes, peeled and quartered 60ml unsweetened almond milk or buttermilk 2 tbsp olive oil 250g Sweet Chilli Beetroot, chopped in half 1 large onion, chopped 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped 2 sticks of celery, chopped 100g dry lentils 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp medium curry powder 1/4 tsp sea salt 600ml vegetable stock

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PAPPARDELLE OF SHALLOTS, WILD MUSHROOMS AND TARRAGON Serves 4 Prep time: 20 mins Cooking time: 15 minutes YOU’LL NEED: 8 Echalion (banana) shallots 300g pappardelle pasta 200g wild mushrooms 20g French tarragon 50ml Madeira 50ml olive oil 75g butter WHAT TO DO: Peel and dice the shallots into a medium size dice. Place a large pan of salted water on the stove for the pasta and bring to the boil. Sauté the shallots in the olive oil and, when almost cooked through, add the wild mushrooms. Allow to cook for 1 minute and then season with salt and pepper. Add the Madeira and allow it to reduce. To this mushroom mix, now add the chopped tarragon and butter. This should form a sauce that will coat the pasta. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add directly to the pan with the shallots and mushrooms and serve. WHAT TO DO: Preheat oven to 200C/180C for a fan oven. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the chopped potatoes. Cook at a controlled boil for 10 to 15 minutes, until potatoes are soft when poked with a fork. Strain potatoes and mash them with the almond milk until smooth and creamy adding sea salt to taste. Set mashed potatoes aside for later. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and gently fry the onion, carrots, and celery for about 8 minutes until just done. Add the dry lentils, curry powder and garlic and sautée for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vegetable stock and bring mixture to a full boil. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are cooked through; about 25 to 30 minutes. Add the chopped beetroot to the pan and stir for about 2 minutes. Pour the beetroot and lentil mixture into a medium sized oven dish. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly on top of the vegetables and place the oven dish on a baking sheet.

WINE TASTING WITH SIOFRA O’BRIEN Like many meat eaters there are days when I leave my carnivorous cravings to one side to enjoy a great-tasting veggie dish. Perfect with a chilled glass of white wine, it’s a fuss-free indulgence that makes me feel just that little bit more virtuous. Our recent Winter Feast menu featured a delicious cream of Jerusalem artichoke soup which got me thinking, what wine would I choose to complement its fresh flavours? I plumped for our own-brand South African Chenin Blanc 14, £12.50. Produced by DeMorgenzon in the renowned Stellenbosch region, this succulent wine reveals floral notes together with subtle aromas of green apple and white peach, leading to a silky textured palate of ripe stone fruits and hints of acacia honey. The perfect meat-free accompaniment! Siofra O’Brien is the Wine Specialist at Harvey Nichols Birmingham. Join her in store every Wednesday to enjoy complimentary drop-in taster sessions from 7pm-8pm. Call 0121 616 6024 for more details.

Bake in the centre of the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until the shepherd’s pie is bubbly and the potatoes are starting to get brown and crispy. Sweet chilli beetroot is available in a number of supermarkets, or choose a different flavour from the infused beetroot readyto-eat range. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 53

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HOSPITALITY AWARDS HOST ANNOUNCED

Alison Hammond, presenter of ITV’s This Morning show will be the host of this summer’s inaugural Birmingham Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards.

B I R M I N G H A M C O C K TA I L W E E K E N D

It’s the news that Birmingham’s cocktail-connoisseurs have been waiting for: after a tremendously successful launch last year, Birmingham Cocktail Weekend is back in full-force for 2016. Taking the city by storm for the second year running, this three-day event will see participating venues concoct a new and exclusive £4 cocktail, available only from 15-17 July.

The effervescent Brummie has seen a dramatic rise in her star power since Big Brother and has enjoyed major success on prime time shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here and of course Celebrity MasterChef.

This year, the event is bigger and better with around 30 of Birmingham’s best-loved venues confirmed to take part. Island Bar will be playing host to the Jim Beam Hub where revellers can collect their wristbands and guidebooks before beginning their cocktail expedition.

Alison said, “I’m delighted to be taking the helm of these awards. I love Birmingham and we have never had it so good when is comes to going out to great places for fabulous food and drink. I’m looking forward to celebrating the best of the best in the city.”

Once wristbands are in place, BCW attendees will be able to branch out across Birmingham. Participating venues include New Alexandra Theatre, the newly refurbished Mailbox with Gas Street Social, Malmaison, Aluna, Bar Epernay, Pennyblacks, Marco Pierre White’s, and Harvey Nichols all taking part this year as well as the Hyatt Regency’s Gentleman & Scholar pub, Pushkar, and Rub Smokehouse. Across the city Hotel du Vin, Great Western Arcade’s 1847, Amantia, Cosy Club and the Lost & Found will all join in on the action.

The Birmingham Food Drink & Hospitality Awards will be held in the city this summer, celebrating the genius of the best talent. Whether one has a roaring restaurant trade, a coveted chef, a master mixologist or the best bed and breakfast in town, this is a chance for them all to shine. The award ceremony’s mantra is “Eat, Drink, Sleep, Repeat” and is open to all restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels in the city’s hospitality sector. The award ceremony itself will take place at Edgbaston Stadium on Monday 6th June 2016 with an expected 500 guests.

Wristbands will be available for purchase online from 1 March, costing only £6! Wristbands will not only allow the wearer to enjoy the exclusive signature cocktail in each venue for just £4, but will also grant access to all of the great free tastings, master-classes and exclusive events too.

To find out more, visit birminghamcocktailweekend.co.uk

TAKE FIVE: ELDERFLOWER

PERFECT FOR SPRING, ELDERFLOWER IS THE IDEAL COCKTAIL ACCOMPANIMENT. DELICATELY SWEET AND ELEGANT, IT ADDS A FRESH, FRUITY FLAVOUR TO A RANGE OF TIPPLES. HERE’S OUR PICK OF THE BUNCH FROM HARVEY NICHOLS. 54 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

L-R: Chase elderflower liqueur, £21. Edinburgh Gin elderflower liqueur, £19.50. St Germain elderflower liqueur, £23. Warner Edwards elderflower infused gin, £41.50. Tails Elderflower Collins single serve cocktail, £4.75.

After the successful launch of the weekend brunch menu last summer at Gas Street Social, it seems Birmingham’s bright young things haven’t been able to get enough of the classic brunch dishes, unlimited toast, sharing breakfasts and Bottomless Bellini, which were served up until noon every weekend in the popular Mailbox restaurant. The relaxed, industrial chic of GSS, combined with informal yet super friendly service makes it a great spot for some serious chilling out. With a good selection of brunch cocktails, including a Bostin Bloody Mary and Full English Breakfast Martini, it’s the Bottomless Bellinis that seem to have got everybody talking. You can enjoy two hours of unlimited Bellini for just £15 per person when ordering any dish off the brunch menu. It’s no surprise then that the restaurant is regularly fully booked before midday with groups of friends making the most of the free flowing Bellini to wash down their Eggs Benedict, Bacon Pancakes and Full English.

until 5pm every Saturday and Sunday. The All Day Brunch menu also features some great lunch time options such as Flat Iron Steaks, Moules Frites, Club Sandwiches, juicy Burgers and a great selection of veggie choices. The Union hand roasted coffee with freshly ground beans is worth a stop off alone! And yes, we’ve been reliably informed that those famous Bottomless Bellini will be flowing all day too – get there before 3pm to take advantage of the full two hours, the last Bellini is poured at 5pm!

To book for brunch call 0121 643 0362

But the two-hour brunch service just wasn’t cutting it for those of us who like their lie-ins long at the weekend. Their customers asked, and Gas Street Social listened and are delighted to announce that their weekend brunch menu is now available all day! You can now enjoy your fry up well into the afternoon with all breakfast and brunch dishes served from 10am

WIN!

To celebrate the launch of the new All Day Brunch menu at Gas Street Social, we have a fantastic prize to get you and your friends together for some serious brunching! Enjoy a delicious brunch, with Bottomless Bellinis, for you and five friends any weekend at Gas Street Social. www.gasstreetsocial.co.uk

Competition T&C’s: Table must be booked in advance for maximum 6 guests by email to book@gasstreetsocial.co.uk Booking is subject to availability. One dish from the bunch menu per guest Bottomless Bellini for 6 guests, all guests must be over 18 Any additional food / drinks will be payable on the day dluxe-magazine.co.uk 55

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ALL DAY BRUNCH LAUNCHES EVERY WEEKEND AT GAS STREET SOCIAL

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After the culinary and cocktail explosion of 2015, this year is all about our new project The Birmingham Food & Drink Awards, we’ll be celebrating the greatness of the city’s food and drink scene. The motto is ‘Eat Drink, Sleep, Repeat’ and its only going to get better and better. 2016 is heading to another level and here’s a look at what’s new… Birmingham’s most exclusive private members club, The Colmore Club has just opened at its Grade II listed home on Colmore Row. After decades as basement offices, the place has been given a new lease of life. Beyond a decorative gate, two big green doors and the 150-year-old oak door of a former Black Country church is the city’s first Business Private Member’s Club

A NEW HOME FOR ADAM’s RESTAURANT The city’s foodie community were besides themselves with glee at the opening of Adam’s Restaurant on Waterloo Street. Michelin starred chef Adam Stokes has moved his ‘pop-up’ twenty-eightcovervenueonBennett’sHilltoapermanentestablishmentonWaterlooStreet which exudes a charm and elegance reminiscent of the best restaurants in Knightsbridge. Adam’s was fully booked for three weeks so we had to grab an early midweek lunch sitting. When we arrived we enjoyed a champagne cocktail at their gorgeous looking bar before being seated to our table a deux. The décor is high end luxury and looks large, warm and welcoming for what is essentially a 45 seater restaurant. One end can be sectioned off for private dining and there is a Chef’s table in the impressively large downstairs kitchen. If you’re going to do Michelin, you may as well go the full nine yards, so we chose the 8 course taster menu priced at £85. Even before the first dish arrived we enjoyed a steady succession of fantastic amuse bouche: earthy beetroot macaroon with goats cheese filling; steak tartare bites on mini tasting spoons with miniature egg yolks; crab on the tastiest crispiest chicken skin; a juicy quartet of tempura prawns with silky béarnaise and a decadent sample of parmesan ice cream. Yes, cheesy ice cream! Which was glorious. The tasting menu was an eclectic hymn sheet of heavenly dishes. After starting with a mini minestrone soup with sausage and sweet prawns we moved onto my favourite - the hare with minus 8 vinegar, watercress, blue cheese, blackened onion, and chocolate. An odd combination to you and me, but the end result tasted magical. Then on to plump scallops with white onion, baby leeks, and rhubarb, followed by another favourite; lamb with caramelised onion, miso, and fennel. The first dessert of rhubarb and custard was uniquely presented with the pink colour popping out against the crumble, which was ‘powdered’ into a soft sand-like appearance. All the dishes were exceptional, stylishly presented and great tasting, like little pieces of art on a plate. Even the plates were stunning. Adam’s is contemporary fine dining excellence and if there were a contender for two Michelin stars then this would surely be the front-runner.

Adam’s Restaurant, New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo St, Birmingham B2 5UG Tel. 0121 643 3745

Billed as a place for professional men and women to unwind, the private members’ club promises Victorian elegance and grandeur and of course ... discreetness and privacy. Expensively refurbished in good taste this place has been designed as the perfect location for the great and the good of business, politics and philanthropy. The venue boasts a home-from-home social room, “peaceful” study room, private dining/ board room. The traditional study includes oak ceilings and floors, huge leather Chesterfield sofas and a baby Grand Piano to cater for the professional and business clientele of the Colmore district. Membership starts at £500 a year for a personal membership up to £1500 for a corporate one. And it’s motto? Privacy without pretentiousness; we’ll drink to that.

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READ MORE FOOD NEWS AT MSDELICIOUSPR.BLOGSPOT.CO.UK

BOURNE & CO CoCKTAILS AND COFFEE BAR OPENS ITS DOORS ON SUFFOLK STREET The city’s cracking cocktail line-up means we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to a night out. Yet the new Bourne & Co bar is still manages to impress. Based a few doors down from the Island Bar on Suffolk Queensway, the line-up is sure to rival any top cocktail establishment in the city and then some. At night, expert mixology is available for anyone who wants to add a tasty new drink to their repertoire and by day, Bourne’s identity (see what I did there?) also prides itself on serving up top-notch coffees using blends from around the world, and raw juices. So if you want to offset your excess by balancing your booze and trying a healthy fruit smoothie or a detoxifying vegetable juice – Bourne & Co is your best bet. Bourne & Co. 7 Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B1 1LT. Tel. 0121 643 1253 56 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

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dluxe diary WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE TO BE in the west midlands THIS winter Bring on the Bollywood @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry 23rd – 30th April www.belgrade.co.uk

City and country, old and new collide at Colonel Pawar’s ancestral home. Enter the good looking and newly eligible Ronny – a quiet and withdrawn young British man who is here to scatter the ashes of his love. The Pawars have found a potential suitor to their quickwitted and resolute daughter Katrina, who is sharp, sassy and in complete control, until she learns of her parents intentions. Be prepared for wit, wild parties and some wicked dances in Bring on the Bollywood.

Raphael Mazzucco

Dirty, Flirty Glebe Readers @ Library of Birmingham

4th Tuesday of the month www.libraryofbirmingham.com For lovers of romance, bring your Mom, sister, a friend or just yourself and discover new books and authors.

The Government Inspector @ The Repertory Theatre

19th-26th March www.birmingham-rep.co.uk The Mayor has heard news of the government inspector coming to visit. He is full of fear as he has been lacking in his official duties, the hospital is a health hazard, the schools a war zone, the soilders haven’t got trousers, and he never got round to finishing his building program. Surely the only solution is bribery? The situation becomes complex for the mayor, what will happen when the unwanted visitor arrives?

A Raisin in the Sun @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry 22nd- 26th March www.belgrade.co.uk

One of the world’s most influential fashion photographers made a special appearance at the Mailbox to launch his brand new exhibition at Castle Fine Art recently. Raphael Mazzucco welcomed guests which included both art collectors and fans of Mazzucco’s work, and who were given the opportunity to meet the artist while enjoying food and drink from the neighbouring Malmaison hotel.

Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking drama, A Raisin in the Sun, is one of the great American family dramas. The Younger family are living in a small apartment that fit them when they were half their number. Their hopes, dreams and aspirations have been put on hold for years within the four walls and around the kitchen table. But when a chance to change the course of their future emerges, the pressures of opportunity threaten to overwhelm them.

A former professional soccer player and model, Mazzucco has photographed countless celebrities and created iconic images for some of the world’s best-known brands over his twenty year career, including Ralph Lauren, Victoria’s Secret and Guess Jeans. His photographs have also appeared across some of the world’s most noted media – Vogue, Playboy, Vanity Fair and Sports Illustrated to name a few. You can view the collection at Castle Fine Art, The Mailbox, Birmingham

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SOLIHULL FASHION WEEK

The Railway Children @ The Electric Cinema Birmingham

28th March www.theeclectic.co.uk E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children follows the story of Roberta (Bobbie), Phyllis and Peter, three sheltered siblings who suffer a huge upheaval when their father, who works for the Foreign Office, is taken away from their London home and falsely imprisoned. The children and their mother, now penniless, are forced to move from London to rural Yorkshire near a railway line.

Collabro- Act Two Tour @ Birmingham Town Hall 29th March www.thsh.co.uk

Hay Fever @ The Crescent Theatre

30th March-7th April www.crescent –theatre.co.uk Coward’s 1920s comedy shows with brilliant with the devastation caused by the four members of the Bliss family when they invite a guest each to spend a highly eccentric weekend at their house in the country.

Stones in His Pockets @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry

31st March – 2nd April www.belgrade.co.uk A quiet Irish village community is turned upside down with the arrival of a Hollywood film crew, looking for the ‘real’ Ireland for their latest schmaltzy blockbuster. A pair of extras, Charlie and Jake, watch with amazement, envy and delight as cultures clash, divas strop, and everyone fights over the last portion of lemon meringue pie.

Gadget Show Live 2016 @The NEC Birmingham

The countdown to Solihull Fashion Week began in style as sponsors, retailers and the media enjoyed afternoon tea at the Ramada Hotel to find out more about the must-see catwalk shows and displays taking place across the town centre in April. Solihull Fashion Week, arranged by Solihull Business Improvement District (BID), takes place between Thursday, April 21st-Sunday, April 24th and will showcase latest clothing, beauty treatments and hair styling with new trends, expert talks and demonstrations. The series of events begins with an exclusive show on Thursday, April 21st, at The Ramada Hotel, where guests can meet Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke and mingle with fellow fashionistas. Andrew Barton, the award-winning London-based hair stylist to the stars, continues the high-profile events on Friday April 22nd with a series of demonstrations and a Q&A with popular ITV Central broadcaster Sameena Ali-Khan.

Less than a year after winning Britain’s Got Talent, Collabro have announced their second nationwide tour. The announcement of their 2016 Act Two tour tops off an astounding year for the band which has seen them go truly global.

The Perfect Murder @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry 29th March – 2nd April www.belgrade.co.uk

The two main sponsors have now been confirmed with Mell Square named as partner for Solihull Fashion Week, while John Lewis has been confirmed as the sponsor for the Fashion Show catwalk at the Ramada hotel.

For more information about Solihull Fashion Week and to buy tickets visit www.solihullbid.co.uk 60 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

For your airs of f 10 p to win 1 o e Gadget o Th tickets t dluxeit Show vis o.uk .c magazine

3 Cockneys 1 Stage and 1 Mic @ The Drum

Mell Square will be at the heart of Fashion Week activity with a stunning Style Arena showcasing the latest beauty trends, including hair and make-up demonstrations throughout the four days, with the latest prom styles and menswear collections over the weekend. And Solihull’s varied independent retailers including Clements & Church, Le Scarpe, Aspire, Fabulous and Chocolate Clothing will be at the heart of Fashion Week activity.

WINch! Ance

31st March3rd April www. thenec. co.uk Gadget Show Live is the UK’s largest consumer technology exhibition, where established brands and emerging inventors showcase their products, giving you the opportunity to learn experience and invest in some of the latest products on the market.

Award-winning actors Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace star together on stage for the very first time in the ingenious and critically acclaimed stage hit of Peter James’ No.1 best-selling thriller, The Perfect Murder.

1st April www.the-drum.org.uk ‘3 Cockneys, 1 Stage and a Mic’ features three of London’s princes of comedy. The lineup includes Mr Cee - one of comedy’s soothsayers. Toju the man of many voices and the comedian of many styles, And finally, to round off this cockney trio is Slim. As the heavyweight defender of UK comedy for many years, tonight, he’ll be bringing to the stage his firebranded humour, drawing

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Sartaaj Live@ Birmingham SYmphony Hall 2nd April www.thsh.co.uk

Levinson and Link, whose work includes the mystery series Murder She Wrote.

Antiques for Everyone Spring Fair @ The NEC Birmingham

7th-10th April www.thenec.co.uk You won’t want to miss the country’s largest art, antiques and interiors fairs in the UK. Taking place at the NEC in Birmingham – Antiques for everyone offers special exhibitions, celebrity talks and over 250 dealers showing everything from jewellery to furniture.

Satinder Sartaaj is an outstanding poet and singer from India, He has mesmerised audiences across the world with sell out tours. From performing at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall to crowds of over 50,000 people in India this amazing talent is set to grace the majestic stage and host an intimate Mehfil in the stunning backdrop of Symphony Hall.

The Rotters’ Club @ The Rep

2nd-9th April www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Set in 1970’s, three teenage boys from Birmingham battle typical teenage life, going on first dates, sports matches and exams. The Rotters’ Club is rebellious, earnest and heart-felt. Re-live the music, the political events, the awkward encounters with the opposite sex and the dreaded moment when you forget your swimming trunks.

The Chicago Blue Brothers @ The New Alexander Theatre

13th April www.atgtickets.com Celebrating over 30 years of the Blues Brothers phenomenon, this non-stop revue is packed with over 2 hours of the very best Blues, Motown & Soul music from both of The Blues Brothers movies - and plenty of laughs too!

Buddy Holly- A Legend Reborn @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry 20th April www.belgrade.co.uk

The UK’s number one Buddy, Marc Robinson, arrives with the fabulous concert show. Marc revives classic hits like Peggy Sue, That’ll be the Day and Oh Boy. This is an authentic slice of rock ’n’ roll nostalgia that ensures Buddy’s incredible legacy of unforgettable hit songs lives on.

Romeo & Juliet @CBSO Birmingham A full one day course on Bridal Flowers, for those who want to learn how to create flowers for a big day.

The Devil Inside @ The Rep

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18th- 23rd April www.atgtickets.com The iconic 1961 film, is being given a new lease of life as a stage play with music in a sparkling, sophisticated production starring the multi award-winning Pixie Lott as Holly.

17th April www.warwickartcentre.co.uk

4th-9th April www.atgtickets.com

18th April www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Inspired by The Bottle Imp, a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, this brand-new opera echoes his most famous tale The Strange Case Of Doctor Jekyll And Mr Hyde. Two friends stumble upon a bottle that will

Menopause the Musical @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry 21st – 23rd April www.belgrade.co.uk

Breakfast at Tiffany’s @ The New Alexander Theatre

Learn How to Create Wedding flowers @ The Warwick Art Centre

Rehearsal for a Murder @ The New Alexander Theatre

Bill Kenwright presents a new production of one of stage and screen’s all-time classic thrillers, from the pen of the legendary award-winning writing team

change their lives, a bottle that can grant any wish. But there’s a catch and the bottle demands a payment…. Will the pair find their happy-ever-after or will the bottle be their undoing?

20th &23rd April www.CBSO.co.uk Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…” But whether we’re talking Montagues and Capulets or Nureyev and Fonteyn, medieval Verona or New York gangland, one thing’s for sure: Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers have inspired some truly glorious music. Tchaikovsky’s impassioned overture, Bernstein’s explosive dances and Prokofiev’s bittersweet ballet: guest conductor Lahav Shani will commit to each of them, body and soul.

This hilarious musical parody staged to classic tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles. See what millions of women worldwide have been laughing about for 14 years!

Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences @ Herbert Gallery Coventry

22nd April -July www.theherbert.org.uk The Vanity of Small Differences is a series of six large-scale tapestries by the Turner-Prize winning artist Grayson Perry, which explore the British fascination with taste and class. Inspired by the 18th century painter William Hogarth’s moral tale, A Rake’s Progress, Perry’s tapestries follow the life of a fictional character called Tim Rakewell, as he develops from infancy through his teenage and middle years, to his untimely death in a bloody car accident.

Tell Me on a Sunday @ The New Alexander Theatre

24th April www.atgtickets.com Following her acclaimed performance in the Watermill’s 2014 production of Calamity Jane, Jodie Prenger now steps into Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s classic musical, Tell Me On A Sunday.

Flare Path @ The Rep

25th- 30th April www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

EVENT lovebrum charity Fashion Show at hyatt Birmingham style lovers were treated to an evening of high tea and fashion at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the 11th February in aid of LoveBrum. Styled by personal stylist Libby Walton at Styling You, models, including dluxe’s own Kevin Urquhart, wore outfits provided by Thanks to Steel and Jelly menswear, Coast ladies wear, TerryTerry jewellery, and Sharper Millinery. Hair and make up were proviced by Puro Hair and Make Up Central respectively. Guest were welcomed into the hotel’s Symphony Ballroom with a glass of Scavi & Ray Prosecco before being served a luxurious High Tea before the Fashion Show began. Images by Andrew Llewellyn

AGE 14+

THEATR NA NÓG PRESENTS A TNN PRODUCTION

THE JUDY GARLAND STORY TUE 24 - SAT 28 MAY

★★★★ ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE WED 1 - SAT 4 JUN

FROM THE PRODUCERS OF PUTTING ON THE RITZ TUE 19 - SAT 23 JUL AGE REC 14+

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GROUPS 10+ 0844 871 3031 www.atgtickets.com/birmingham (bkg fee)

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A NEW DAWN AT RYBROOK

Powerful drama based on Rattigan’s experiences as a tail gunner during World War II, Flare Path paints an evocative portrait of life in wartime Britain for the RAF bomber crews, their wives and sweethearts, who were left awaiting their return. Set in 1942, the story of former actress Patricia, the wife of RAF pilot Teddy, as their marriage is tested to the limits by the surprise arrival of Patricia’s ex-lover and Hollywood idol, Peter Kyle.

true and heart stopping account of how he saved Dame Joan Collins’ life, and don’t start him on the perils of his DIY electrical home enema kit.

UB40 @ The Barclay Card Arena Birmingham

1st May www.barclaycardarena.co.uk

Round and Round the Garden @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry 26th- 30th April www.belgrade.co.uk

UB40 are making a triumphant return back to Brum, bringing their 2016 tour to the Barclaycard Arena on 1st May. Since reforming in 2013, the trio of Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey have remained at the top of their game, with highlights including their 2014 World tour, a huge show in Las Vegas, and critical acclaim for their new material in 2014’s ‘Silhouette’.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Birmingham invited guests to preview the new RollsRoyce Dawn in advance of the first car arriving on British roads. Combining the latest technologies with timeless automotive engineering, Dawn is the summation of everything Rolls-Royce Motor Cars stands for. Four spacious seats and a meticulously hand-crafted interior, mean Dawn is a car meant to be shared with those nearest and dearest. Attendees were invited to examine every element of the vehicle, including the bold interior which featured bespoke orange hide.

Starring Emmerdale’s Natasha Gray and Kevin Pallister Assistant librarian Norman is intent on making all the women in his life happy simultaneously attempting to seduce his sisterin-law Annie, charm his brother’s wife Sarah and still keep his own wife, Ruth, happy. Oblivious to the repercussions of his actions, Norman leaves a trail of havoc, misunderstandings and comedy consequences.

Julian Clary: The Joy of Mincing @ The New Alexander Theatre 27th April www.atgtickets.com

Bad Jews @ The New Alexander Theatre

2nd – 7th May www.atgtickets.com This ‘blistering funny play’ (Independent) then transferred to London’s St James Theatre where it became the best-selling play in the theatre’s history, followed by an extended run at the West End’s Arts Theatre where the packed houses and rave reviews continued.

The father @ The Rep

3rd-7th May www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Now eighty years old, Andre was once a tap dancer. He lives with his daughter Anne and her husband Antoine. Or was he an engineer whose daughter Anne lives in London with her new lover, Pierre? The thing is, he is still wearing his pyjamas and he can’t find his watch. He is starting to wonder if he’s losing control…

Johnny and the Baptists: The End is Nigh @ The Mac Birmingham

The Joy of Mincing is Julian Clary’s celebration of 30 years as a camp comedian. There is so much to tell you; the ups and downs of his sordid love life, the 64 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

4th May www.macbirmingham.co.uk Last year, Jonny accidentally told his four-year-old niece climate change would end the world. To stop her crying, he and Paddy promised to fix it. They really tried very hard...A new show about family, friendship and environmental disaster from the five-time award-nominated musical comedy stars of Radio 4’s The Now Show.

The award winning Henry Wong of Harborne kicked off the year of the Monkey in style with a very special (and super exclusive) dinner party that showcased some of the highlights of the new menu, specially prepared by Executive Chef, Ricky Wu, for some of Birminghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prolific entertainers and business elite. Esteemed guests were able to sample delicacies such as pan fried chicken dumplings paired with a dry Riesling, lobster with chilli and garlic alongside a Sauvignon blanc and a sumptuous steamed seabass with lemon and ginger spring onion served with an organic Shiraz. The list of invitees included Rebecca Simkiss from SimkissGuy Recruitment; Nicola Fleet Milne of Fleet Milne Propert; Stacey Barnfield from Downtown In Business; Saqib Bhatti, President of Asian Business Chamber Of Commerce; Sukkhy Niijar of Sipsey Lingerie; Paul Fairfield of Brewin Dolphin; Kamran Saleem of WA Chauffeurs; Laura Davis of Malmaison and Peter Murtha who was recently crowned as Businessman of the Year at the recent Birmingham Awards. The new menu is released to the general public in March. Henry Wong of Harborne is at 283 High Street, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9QH. Tel 0121 427 9799. www. henrywongharborne.co.uk

images by Jas Sansi

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The Dishonoured @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry 4th- 7th May www.belgrade.co.uk

inspired by the real life story of Khudadad Khan, the first South Asian soldier to be awarded a Victoria Cross.

The Baby Show @ The NEC Birmingham

Surrounded by lies and deceit how do you work out who is telling the truth? Set against a backdrop of espionage and secret agents, The Dishonoured is a compelling political thriller about surviving in a world of deceit and violence.

13th-15th May www.thenec.co.uk The UK’s leading pregnancy and parenting event returns. Whether you are expecting of have recently had a baby you will find everything you need at the show. With all the leading retailers and brands under one roof, you will be able to try, compare and buy the right product for you at the best possible price. Alongside this, on The Baby Show Stage with MadeForMums there will be a host of experts offering free advice on topics such as sleeping, breastfeeding, weaning and baby first aid.

Lailia: The Musical @ The Warwick Art Centre

14th & 15th May www.warwickartcentre.co.uk

God of Carnage @ The Crescent Theatre

12th- 21st May www.belgrade.co.uk

October 1914 Belgium. The British forces, bolstered by huge numbers of volunteer soldiers from across the Empire have suffered huge casualties in one of the first bloody battles of The Great War. 66 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Whitney-Queen of the Night @Belgrade Theatre Coventry

Tom: Tom Jones the Musical @ The New Alexander Theatre

19th May www.belgrade.co.uk

WHITNEY QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

A stunning celebration of the music and life, of one of the greatest singers of our time. This award winning production features a stellar line-up with rising West End star Rebecca Freckleton , Rebecca delivers a breath-taking performance. The performance includes the classic hit’s that, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, One Moment In Time, I’m Every Woman and many more!

Josh Groban @Birmingham Town Hall

7th-14th May www.crescent-theatre.co.uk Dubbed “a comedy of manners... without the manners”, this darkly funny play tells the story of the aftermath of a playground fight between two 11 year olds. Their parents meet to discuss the situation over drinks. What should be a calm and rational debate between adults quickly descends into a hysterical evening of tantrums, namecalling and tears before bedtime

Wipers @ Belgrade Theatre Coventry

passing week brought another Rock ‘n’ Roll classic.

21st May www.thsh.co.uk

1st – 4th June www.atgtickets.com Step back in time to the dance halls, working men’s clubs and recording studios of the ‘60s where the legend of Tom Jones was born: a Valleys boy with a heart-stopping voice who dreamed of making the big time, no matter what it took.

Beverley Knight @Birmingham Town Hall

2nd June www.thsh.co.uk 2015 saw Beverley celebrate 20 years since the release of her debut album the B- Funk and her new tour, featuring many of her hits from down the years, as well as songs she has performed in her critically acclaimed West End shows and material from the forthcoming album, more details of which will be announced shortly.

Katherine Jenkins @ Birmingham Town Hall

From the creators of the awardwinning Britain’s Got Bhangra, comes a new contemporary musical, retelling the greatest love story from the east. Laila takes shelter from a raging storm in an old bookshop, where she chances upon a book with her name on it. She is compelled to open the book and is consumed by the story – Laila finds herself in an old story and on a new journey…

Josh Groban is an internationally renowned singer, songwriter, and actor whose baritone voice is instantly recognisable and unparalleled among his peers. He has sold more than 30 million albums and DVD’s worldwide, electrifying live performances, and comedic film and television appearances. Groban is the only artist who has had two albums land on Billboard’s list of 20 bestsellers of the last 10 years.

Save the Last Dance for Me @ The New Alexander Theatre

Jackie the Musical @ The New Alexander Theatre

16th- 21st May www.atgtickets.com From the team that brought you the huge success that is Dreamboats and Petticoats, Save the Last Dance for Me will take you back through the ‘music and magic’ of the early 60’s, a time when each

24th -28th May www.atgtickets.com In Jackie the Musical we revisit days with no mobiles, no online dating and no Facebook, and tell the story of a recent divorcée who seeks advice once more from the pages of her old Jackie annuals.

15th June www.thsh.co.uk Join Katherine Jenkins as she performs her very own tribute celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th Birthday with a sensational programme of glorious music in the sublime setting of the Symphony Hall.

End of the Rainbow @ The New Alexander Theatre

21st-25th June www.atgtickets.com Join Judy as she makes her explosive London come back at the height of the swinging sixties. Filled with Garland’s legendary tenacity, razor-sharp wit and once-in-a-generation voice.

CITY SHINES AT INAUGURAL BIRMINGHAM AWARDS

The Birmingham Awards co-founders were honoured to host Sir Douglas ‘Doug’ Ellis OBE at the inaugural awards ceremony, where the entrepreneur was humbled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The eclectic audience was left transfixed by the anecdotal stories, by which he shared some touching and personal insights into his long life. 2015 was a fantastic year for Brum and the inaugural Birmingham Awards was a fitting way to celebrate another year of success for the second city. The prestigious black tie event, which took place at the Edgbaston Stadium, was the first awards ceremony of its kind to encompass a plethora of different categories celebrating everything from the best bars, restaurant and club to small businesses, the best individual business man and woman of the year, best independent retailer and best blogger, to name a few. Judges included Genelle Aldred, Tim Andrews, Sacha Brooks and dluxe magazine’s own Lilith Hunt-Sheppard. Winners included included Selfridges who took the award for ‘Retailer of the Year.’ Eloquent Praise Dance Academy who won the ‘Art & Culture’ award, Grand Central, who took home ‘Excellence in Architectural Design,’ Sabai Sabai who took home ‘Restaurant of the Year’ and Spearhead Compliance Training who won ‘Business of the Year.’

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DLUXE PLEASURE MEETS BUSINESS IN THE SECOND CITY

Time to clear out your wardrobe and your workplace What am I going to wear today? When you work in the world of finance the choice is pretty easy, a suit with the only real question left to answer being what tie should you wear. And that’s where many of us begin to struggle – what tie? The problem is most of us hoard things like ties so something that should be a straight forward choice when starting your day can become a real dilemma. The instinct to hoard is in our biology, and I’m convinced that this hoarding mentality is even harder for business owners to overcome due to their need to plan and adapt for every eventuality; I mean, who knows when something could come in handy, right? In the world of behavioural finance we call this holding on a Sunk Cost Bias. This means that we are afraid to get rid of anything just “in case” we ever need it again in the future. If we go back to our wardrobe and look inside I’m sure you’ll find it’s not just your tie rail that’s groaning under the strain of items that will never again be useful: how about that old Depeche Mode T shirt that must have shrunk in the wash or those red trousers which seemed like a good idea at the time… In order to evaluate the true value of our wardrobes and indeed all of our assets we need to give each of them a score based on the amount of times we have worn them and then a score based on the amount of times we plan to use them in the future. When looking at our businesses and preparing them for sale or transferring them onto someone else we need to employ the same strategy; measure the parts of the business including plant, machinery, staff, contracts, customers, and intellectual property to name a few to build the enterprise value. Just like your closet you need to take a step back and say if someone else who is my size and went through my closet what would they keep. These are the items in your business that enhance and spend the time growing and cultivating. You’re trying to make sure that you maximise the things that will be a good addition to someone else or another company and reduce the things that will be of little use – that Bugs Bunny tie from the mid-nineties for one. In business the checklist of items that business owners think of as high value but business buyers actually see as detracting from the value of the business are: 68 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Big contracts with major players that create great turn over but carry no profit or huge financial or production risk. Employees that have been with the company since the beginning. While people are essential there are a number that have been left because no one had the heart to move them along or they became outdated. Products that got the company to this point but may take it no further. Yes the Beta Max player may have made someone famous but where are they now? NOT having contracts in place for employees or providers. Having too many locations because you created a sprawling company to reach more clients or it was too expensive to move the machines or shut down the offices. Telling the buying company that they need to do... such as keep the name, retain specific employees or anything else they have to do; remember they are buying or taking control. Selling your business, just like clearing out your wardrobe can be an emotional thing evoking memories of the things that have gone before. The easiest way that I tell my clients to approach a business sale is to approach it by working through one section at a time and make sure that you can live with your decisions. Start with the ties, move on to the jumpers and then tackle the trousers. Yes there’ll be some things that you really do need to throw away but you may come across a few others that you can breathe new life into. Make a simple plan to look at your business and clean up one of the main sections. Legal- Contracts and agreements Employees- Look at roles and responsibilities Customers- Review the profitability versus Turn Over problem.

Enjoy your Spring Clean and have fun. Bart Dalton II, Founding Director Gullane & Co www.gullaneandco.com

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BYPY 2016 COMMITTEE REVEALED AHEAD OF THIS YEAR’S AWARDS

CRITICAL ILLNESS CRISIS BPS Birmingham Future’s flagship event, Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) Awards, has unveiled a hot shot team of young professionals to lead the 16th annual event. This year, the event will take place at the ICC, Birmingham on Thursday 12 May. Building on the success of previous events, Bina Ganatra, Business Development Director at Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking, returns as Chair. “I am so excited to be back at the helm of my favourite event!” said Bina. A strong committee of professionals, who work across the region’s BPS sector, join Bina to organise and manage this year’s event. Deputy Chair Mike Colledge, from digital marketing agency Denfield, based in Leamington Spa, brings his six years’ experience of running largescale events at the ICC to BYPY16. Pia Pearson, Marketing Manager at the Innovation Birmingham Campus, works with some of the city’s best technology firms and start-ups, and will also provide event management experience. Mike Bandar leads on a diverse business portfolio, as a founding partner of Turn Partners; a start-up studio focused on the acquisition, turnaround and creation of online businesses. He will work closely with Pia on developing the technology category, which was introduced in 2014. This year’s finance man is Sameera Amarasiri, a manager within Business Assurance at BDO LLP., who has been with the firm for seven years whilst also training for the ACA. Natalie Barnes, a Banking & Finance Lawyer at Irwin Mitchell LLP, also joins the committee. Committee member Laura Gallagher has first-hand experience of the BYPY process, having been a finalist in the Property & Construction category in 2014. Laura is trained and qualified as a Project Quantity Surveyor and project-managed the Mailbox Redevelopment. Heading up communications for this year’s event is Birmingham Future Deputy Chair, Tara Tomes, who owns her own PR agency, EAST VILLAGE. Working alongside Tara is David Kuczora, whose previous experience includes heading up regional media for the Conservative Party. Eleanor Cuthbert-Edkins, a final year Media and Communications (Public Relations) BA Hons student at Birmingham City University, is working with the duo to increase her skills and experience.

A new survey has revealed how one in three don’t know how they’d cope if they suffered a critical illness such as cancer, a heart attack or a stroke. Naturally such illnesses can be hugely stressful for both the person diagnosed and their families, but worries over how to continue paying the bills adds to the pressure, according to research from Nationwide Protection with around fifty percent of those asked stating that they would rely on savings to get by on despite the average savings pot being just £7,700 of those surveyed. While some people continue to receive all or part of their salary while off work, others are only entitled to statutory sick pay of just £88.45, posing a potential challenge to household budgets. However, just 14% of people currently have critical illness cover, according to the Nationwide survey. This is despite nearly three in five (57%) people having had an experience of critical illness – either themselves or through family and close friends. The research highlighted that only those over 55 years old were really in a position to rely on their savings with more than a quarter (28%) feeling they had ample money to cover themselves, compared to just four per cent of 1824, six per cent of 25-34 and eight per cent of 34-44 year olds.

STUDENTS TAKE OVER SELFRIDGES

Retail stars of the future from Birmingham City University given a helping hand by Selfridges Birmingham.

Completing this year’s BYPY committee is Sophie Taylor, an Associate Solicitor specialising in Planning (Real Estate) at Squire Patton Boggs. Sophie acts for a variety of developers nationally, with a particular expertise in residential development.

Talented fashion students from Birmingham City University have ‘taken over’ Selfridges Birmingham for a term as they learn about retail design with students given the unique opportunity to work with the creative and management team at the iconic Birmingham store to complete their module on Visual Communication and Retail Design.

BYPY will, again, recognise and reward the most talented individuals within Birmingham’s business professional services community, at the ICC, Birmingham on Thursday 12 May. Nominations are now open for the six BYPY categories: Finance; HR, Recruitment & Training; Legal; Marketing & Communications; Property & Construction and Technology. Nominees must be 35 or under and can nominate themselves or can be nominated by a colleague. To download a nominations form, book tickets for the event, or find out more about BYPY16 please visit bpsbirmingham.co.uk/bypy.

The students were tasked with creating and presenting a Visual Merchandising strategy based on an innovative concept for Selfridges, and to tap into new ideas and cultural behaviours. They were encouraged to not only put together a development document, but also develop a visualisation of the retail space before pitching to the General Manager of Selfridges Birmingham Adam Hockney, Visual Merchandising Manager Matt Lightfoot and also their course tutor Beth White. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 69

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Don’t lose YOUR end-of-year tax allowances

THE END OF THE TAX YEAR IS LOOMING AND IT’S HIGH TIME TO START SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU CAN MAKE THE MOST OF THE ALLOWANCES YOU ARE ENTITLED TO CLAIM. THESE GENEROUS RELIEFS CAN KNOCK THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OFF YOUR TAX BILL IF YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM BEFORE THE 5 APRIL FISCAL YEAR-END. WHILE SOME ARE SIMPLE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS ARE COMPLEX AND TAKE TIME TO GET IN PLACE. BY GETTING ADVICE AND TAKING ACTION NOW YOU CAN ENSURE YOU BENEFIT FROM AS MANY OF THESE ALLOWANCES AS POSSIBLE. BOOST YOUR PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS

For higher earners this could be a critical time as their ability to claim tax relief is under threat. In April, the Annual Allowance of £40,000 will be tapered for those with an income of over £150,000. The allowance will drop to £10,000 for income levels of £210,000 or more. The result being that the amount of tax relief available on pension contributions will be restricted. The Government is considering even more drastic reforms, including scrapping tax relief altogether or further limitations on the amount higher earners can claim. It will not be clear what the Government plans until the spring Budget, but if you want to maximise your pension contributions it makes sense to pump money into your pension before then just in case tax relief goes. A quirk in the rules means that some people can double up on this year’s allowance, increasing their maximum Annual Allowance to £80,000, but this will be based on an individual’s specific situation and the rules are quite complex so you should seek advice soon if you do not want to lose out. Also, it is possible to ‘carry forward’ any unused annual allowance from the previous three years. Last year, the maximum annual contribution was £40,000, while in 2013-14 and 2012-13 it was £50,000. Working out how much you can pay into a pension and benefit from tax relief is not as simple as you might have thought. Richard Harwood, Divisional Director for Financial Planning at Brewin Dolphin, says: “You can claim the lesser of your annual earned income or your annual allowance. Earned income is your salary and bonus plus ben70 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

efits in kind or, in simple terms, what appears on your P60 and P11d. It does not include dividend or rental income. So if you have earned income of £30,000 this year, that is the most you can contribute and get tax relief. “Self-employed people in particular need to do their homework before putting more money into their pensions as they often do not establish their profits until the end of the tax year so an accurate prediction is essential. With the forthcoming limits to Annual Allowance, this becomes even more important. But take care: the Lifetime Allowance, the maximum amount you can hold in your pension pot over your entire lifetime, will be reduced to £1m from £1.25m in April. This means that you need to consider your existing benefits before making contributions. Protection will be available which could limit future contributions so, for some, the next two months provide the final opportunity to make a large contribution and retain the existing Lifetime Allowance.

USE YOUR ISA ALLOWANCE

You can put up to £15,240 this tax year into an individual savings account or ISA and pay no Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax as your nest egg grows. Couples can jointly invest up to £30,480 and you can also put £4,080 in a Junior ISA meaning a family of four could use an ISA wrapper to shelter a substantial £38,640 from tax. Our investment managers can make sure that any new ISA funds are a suitable addition to your existing portfolio.

REJIGGLE YOUR DIVIDENDS

On 6 April a new allowance will be introduced that will mean you will not pay tax on the first £5,000 of your dividend income. Above £5,000 the tax on dividends is rising to 7.5% for basic-rate taxpayers, 32.5% at the higher rate and 38.1% for top-rate payers. Harwood says: “Husbands and wives and civil partners will each have their own individual dividend allowance so it may be worth re-distributing how you own dividend-paying assets. The previous principle where all shares are often owned by the individual paying the lowest tax will no longer necessarily apply.”

VCTs and EISs

The government provides tax breaks to investors willing to chance their money backing small and growing unquoted businesses.

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You can put up to £200,000 a year into a venture capital trust (or VCT). In return you get a 30% tax refund on the money you invest, provided you have paid at least that much Income Tax in the year you invest. In addition, there is no tax on dividends and no Capital GAINS TAX TO PAY. However, investing in fledgling businesses is high risk and the availability of tax reliefs depends on the companies the VCT invests in maintaining their VCT qualifying status. Smaller companies have a higher failure rate than most established businesses, such as those that have their shares quoted on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. They may also be harder to sell and investors should always consider a VCT as a long-term investment. Enterprise Investment Schemes, or EISs for short, are another way of investing in small unquoted companies. You can invest up to £1m a year with upfront Income Tax relief of 30%. There is no Capital Gains Tax on the sale of your holding provided you hold if for a minimum of three years. If capital gains on another asset are realised tax can be deferred if the gains are reinvested in an EIS. Like VCTs, EIS products are high risk, and you should seek professional financial advice before making any investment decisions. HM Revenue & Customs may change the rules on VCT and EIS tax relief in the future. Harwood says: “The way EISs work is that you buy your shares and HMRC issues you with a certificate that you can use to claim tax relief using a self-assessment return. The Revenue is not the fastest at issuing these certificates. If you invest now the chance of getting your certificate by next January is quite slim. If you wait until March there is almost no chance.”

USE YOUR CAPITAL GAINS TAX EXEMPTION

If you are selling investments such as shares or property (other than your main home) CGT is levied at a rate of 18% or 28%, depending on whether you are a basic rate or higher rate taxpayer. You are allowed to make gains of £11,100 this year before CGT becomes payable.

DO NOT IGNORE INHERITANCE TAX GIFTS

Gifting during your lifetime is one of the easiest ways of reducing an IHT bill. Each year you can give away £3,000 and that gift will not be subject to IHT when you die. You can also give £250 to any number of people each year. Parents can give £5,000 to each of their children as a wedding gift. Grandparents can give £2,500 and anyone else £1,000. In fact there are a surprising number of gifts that qualify as IHT exempt. Gifts of any size to charities or political parties, for example, are tax free.

Brewin Dolphin, 9 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2BJ Tel. 0121 710 3500 www.brewin.co.uk

The value of investments and any income from them can fall and you may get back less than you invested. Any tax allowances or thresholds mentioned are based on personal circumstances and current legislation which are subject to change.

Is it time for you and your Business to Spring Forward? OH IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE APPROACHING A NEW SEASON AND TO BE ALMOST WAVING GOODBYE TO WINTER FOR ANOTHER YEAR WRITES BUSINESS COACH AND MENTOR JACKIE CUMMINS.

For: entrepreneurs, directors and senior managers there are many beneficial areas to explore including:

In my experience many people find it quite challenging during the Winter months to get motivated and really evaluate the current situation of their career or growth strategy of their business and where to go next for increasing client footfall.

Using your own employees as internal experts for further team development

It’s amazing how the lighter nights and a new financial year bring with them a whole new and fresh perspective. There are new budgets ready to support projects and potential opportunities. This is also a great time of year to consider working with a professional coach and mentor to help you achieve your goals. So why work with a business coach and success mentor?

Reducing turnover costs. Improving productivity

Re-energising your brand concept and social media platforms Communication development and change management awareness Interpersonal relationships Leadership skills Developing a sharper focus is a great starting point for your own personal development and that of your business. Are you ready to embrace greater success and outcomes?

Well that all depends on what your current situation looks like. When you really start to consider your options and a way forward for the new financial year - it’s always a good idea to reflect on what your successes have been and where there are gaps and improvements that need to be made.

My clients are currently achieving super results and invest in regular coaching & mentoring programmes, as they understand the real value of having a professional sounding board on a weekly basis and are held accountable for their actions.

It could be that personal development skills that are needed by you or one of your team members. Confidence building workshops for an unmotivated team are instrumental for getting the team ready and prepared to embrace new challenges and innovation.

If this is something you would like to explore contact Jackie on 07940 838103 or email jackiejcd@gmail.com or visit www.j21coaching.com dluxe-magazine.co.uk 71

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HOW TO N AI L TH E PERFECT INTERVIEW THE NUMBER OF JOB INTERVIEWS RISES AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR HIGHLIGHTING THAT NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE LOOKING TO GIVE THEIR WARDROBES A SPRING CLEAN BUT ALSO THEIR CAREERS AS WELL! AFTER TAKING THE PLUNGE TO SEARCH FOR A NEW OPPORTUNITY THE NEXT BIG HURDLE IS THE DREADED INTERVIEW AND IN THIS COMPETITIVE CLIMATE IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT MANY APPLICANTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD. NEVER FEAR, WE SAT DOWN WITH REBECCA SIMKISS, CO-FOUNDER AND JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BIRMINGHAM-BASED SIMKISSGUY RECRUITMENT FOR HER TOP TIPS ON HOW TO NAIL THAT PERFECT INTERVIEW. PREPARATION IS KEY: First impressions are imperative but many people forget that the steps to achieving that great first impression begin long before you start your interview. First and foremost, making sure you’ve fully researched the company beforehand will ensure you stand out for all the right reasons. It might sound obvious but is often overlooked so allow enough time to research not only the company but also the job role, interviewer and their competitors before you attend. Ben Evans, Managing Director at FleetMilne Property agrees, pointing out that unless a candidate has done their research it can feel like “they are there just because it’s an interview, not because it’s a role they really want, in a firm they think they can add value to.” Secondly, never overestimate the importance of good planning. Double check the date, time and place of your interview in advance and ensure you’ve carefully planned your route taking into consideration the impact the time of day may have on traffic. “I would expect a candidate to arrive on time” agrees Joanna Sanders, Senior Business Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP. “Whilst I recognise that sometimes this isn’t possible for unforeseeable reasons, I believe a candidate that really wants a role will make every effort to ensure they are on time and even arrive early!”

ARRIVE IN STYLE: You may not have sat down yet but your interview begins the second you enter the organisation. Here are my top three tips for helping create a great first impression from the minute you arrive: 1. Dress to impress. Even if you think the company you’re hoping to work for has a casual dress policy, it shows you’ve made an effort and you’d be surprised at the confidence boost you’ll get knowing you look professional. 2. Turn off your mobile phone! 3. Have confidence in yourself. Remember they’ve invited you to this interview so you’re obviously doing something right. Greet your interviewer with good eye contact, a warm smile and a firm handshake.

THE INTERVIEW ITSELF: Firstly, don’t forget that one of the most important things to do in an interview is listen. “Interviewers want to see that candidates are engaged” agrees Danielle Owens, Head of 72 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Recruitment at Shoosmiths. “When you’re nervous, you can concentrate so much on what you want to tell us that you actually forget to listen to what the interviewer is telling you.” Make sure you fully understand what you are being asked and remember it’s perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification on anything you’re unsure about. Remember communication is key. Make sure you know your CV and the job role inside out so you can give articulate responses to any questions. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to squeeze every great thing about yourself into your answers. Practice with a friend or colleague who can provide candid feedback allowing you to refine your answers accordingly. Finally, make sure you’ve got some questions on-hand - such as how you could help the company achieve its goals and what to expect from your first month in the role. Danielle Owens agrees, pointing out that “many candidates are so focussed on selling themselves that they overlook the fact that the interviewer will also be selling the role and company to them.” Interviewers understand candidates may meet with multiple firms which is why questions form a critical part of the process. Joanna Sanders agrees, looking for “candidates to challenge with questions”, whilst Danielle Owens believes it’s important for “candidates to feel at ease asking questions so they can come away wanting to work with us as an organisation.”

THINGS TO AVOID: So you’ve done your research, arrived on time and are ready to impress with your insightful questions. Make sure you don’t undermine your hard work by committing an interview faux pas such as: • Not being yourself and saying what you think the interviewer wants to hear instead of letting your personality shine through. “A good team fit is vital”, states Jennie Dale, Associate Director at FleetMilne Property. “We look for people who will join the existing staff seamlessly and complement the characters we already have”. • Avoid asking about salary unless absolutely necessary. “I want to see a candidate aspire to join our firm for development” concurs Joanna Sanders. “If they only ask questions about rewards, this can appear to be their sole driver.”

Firms in Birmingham losing £93m to procurement fraud

WHAT THESE TOP BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS LOOK FOR: “Good moral fibre, sound articulation of ideas, a willingness to participate and good humour. High academic grades are all very well but not as important as the skills a person possesses. I want a person who is able to apply more than a ‘text book approach’ to a problem – think for yourself!” Nicola Fleet-Milne, Business and PRS Development and Founder at FleetMilne Property “A passion for the role and evidence of background homework. Detail around further development and ‘recent’ learning/ further reading: an article or a book that sparked interest perhaps – something that shows a real desire to learn, develop and grow – this is what our firm is all about!” Joanna Sanders, Senior Business Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP A candidate with strong experience obviously stands out but beyond this we’re looking for people whose culture and values match our own. At Shoosmiths we believe our values guide our behaviour and our behaviour defines our culture so look for candidates who represent attributes such as innovative problem solving and being able to pull together as a team.” Danielle Owens, Head of Recruitment at Shoosmiths

Figures reveal scale of money lost by companies and public sector Companies in Birmingham are unnecessarily losing £93m a year according to new research on how they do business by procurement and efficiency experts blur Group. Figures released today by blur Group from analysis of data used by the Government’s Annual Fraud Indicator reveal that £93m a year is estimated to have been lost to procurement fraud by businesses in Birmingham and a further £15m by the public sector in the county.* It is recognised that some 20%** of all spend by organisations is unmanaged and often uncontracted, and so at risk to procurement fraud, the second most frequently reported form of economic crime. The impact of practices such as deliberate bid rigging and rogue spending includes increased and unnecessary costs, reduced profits and ultimately higher prices and bills passed on to consumers and taxpayers. blur Group, whose cloud software and managed services platform helps companies and councils eliminate waste and inefficiency in their procurement processes, examined data for all areas of England. blur Group CEO Philip Letts says whilst organisations have got to grips with direct spend in recent years, there is still a huge problem with controlling non-direct spend, including areas like hiring professional services and consultants. It means businesses are at risk of losing out to competitors already tackling the problem and councils face added cost pressures and accusations of inefficiency at a time of tough financial settlements from central Government. He said: “The figures are shocking but

Birmingham is not alone on this issue. As well as private sector companies wasting millions of pounds of their own potential profit and operating under a tighter financial burden, a major aspect of procurement fraud falls within the public sector which means taxpayers’ money is being wasted too. This part of an organisation’s spend is largely unmanaged, meaning many are not even aware that the issue is so prevalent. At a time when councils are seeking greater financial responsibility through devolution, it is imperative this is addressed. “What I do find encouraging is that the problem is starting to be recognised and there is huge potential for organisations to do something about it. Some companies and councils are now beginning to tackle the issue, looking in detail at the cost and impact it has, improving processes to become more efficient and moving quickly to address inefficiencies to prevent failures to get the best price and mitigate the risks from rogue spenders and deliberate fraud.” Across the region, Dudley has lost £10m (£9m by companies, £1m in local government), Solihull £12.8m (£11m by companies, £1.8m in local government), Walsall £9.8m (£8m by companies, £1m in local government), Sandwell £12.6m (£10.8m by companies, £1.8m in local government) and Wolverhampton £10m (£8.9m by companies, £1.5m in local government) through procurement fraud, according to the data. Jon Hogg, Chief Marketing Officer of blur Group added: “In tough markets, companies need to do all they can to remain competitive and councils must ensure best value for taxpayers’ money. Organisations will be looking at their budgets for next year and it is absolutely vital that they should be proficient at eliminating waste in the services that they buy and the suppliers they use.” Find out more at www.blurgroup.com dluxe-magazine.co.uk 73

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to receive a Victorian Cross and played an important role in the success of World War One. The British Army were not prepared for the might of the Germany army. Having suffered incredible losses Britain was running out of men, but where were they going to find men from? Recognising that there was an active army in Indian, and with India being part of the British Empire, it was decided to make use of South Asian troops and transport them to the front lines. “The problem was no one had taken into consideration that these men were from a completely different culture and even climate – not one of them had experienced weather like this or possessed the right type of uniforms let alone had any experience of mechanised warfare and the horror that were tanks.” says Ishi. What’s more the British army had a total different set up to what they Asian soldiers were used to; there was no understanding of customs or of the lifestyle they lived. Areas such as the different types of religions within the army were not taken into consideration.

Inspired by a true story of the First Battle of Ypres, Wipers tells the story of a group of Asian and British soldiers who seek refuge in an abandoned barn whilst a lone Indian soldier holds off advancing enemy troops. Coming to Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from May 12th, Wipers examines how over the course of a single night, this group of men must confront their fears and find a way to come together if they are to survive. dluxe caught up with the play’s writer Ishy Din to hear more about the inspiration behind Wipers and to find out how a part time cab driver become an award winning playwright and professional writer. “School teachers said that I could have done better, but was I brought up in a town full of manufacturing and service industries and there were not many job opportunities” Ishy tells us as he stirs his latte. After he got married and had children cab driving became his only way of providing for his family, so how do you go from unsuccessful entrepreneur to award winning playwright? “I bought my daughter our first very own computer, but it just use to sit there, and it use to irk me that I’d spent so much money and I wasn’t getting any use out of the machine” he says. “I was in the cab one day and I heard an advert on radio five. The BBC was looking for short radio plays and I just thought ooh, I’ve got a computer that just sits there, and I’ve always been interested in stories and characters, Im going to write a play!” And write he did. His first play, about two young Pakistani kids off to their first football match was shortlisted by the BBC for broadcast. “When I sent it I didn’t tell a soul. I thought somebody in the BBC is going to read this and think what an idiot and put it straight in the bin” But unexpectedly eight weeks later Ishy was told his play would be produced and he got paid for it. And that was the ‘lightbulb’ moment; the point when he thought “What if I can actually do this? So I decided best way to 74 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

One thing the British Army did understand though was the fearsome reputation and code of honour of the South Asian soldiers; they would never leave an injured man or a dead body behind on the battle field. Khuddadad Khan was an Indian Solider who was fighting on the frontline, one night the German army unleashed themselves on his particular line. Many men’s lives were lost, “Khuddadad kept fighting, even though he was injured, he carried on fighting and firing his gun” Ishy tells us “for ten hours he managed to keep the Germanys at bay until, finally, the French reinforcements arrived and were able stop the Germans from advancing.” Khuddadad Khan survived and crawled back to the regiment during the night where then he was taken to hospital to recover, if it wasn’t for his bravery and his continuous fight the Germans could have advanced to the channel, England would have been invaded and the war would have been over.

Ishy’s research took him to Pakistan and the town that Khuddadad Khan came from. Here he came across statues, his medals and saw how honoured this heroic man was. But this is where Ishy started to struggle with his story, “how was I going to create an “if it wasn’t interesting story with this character? To for his bravery make a dramatic character he couldn’t just be a really nice guy he needed and his continuous shades of light and dark and there was no way I was going to make him into fight the something he wasn’t just for my story. Germans So that’s when I came up with the idea could have of the play taking place during the ten advanced to hours of Khuddadad Khan’s solitary the channel, stance.”

find out was to write another short piece and before I knew it BBC drama were asking for me to write more.

Ishy took part in writing courses and workshops across the country, it was during a course in London that he developed his first successful play Snookered. “I would spend my days on the course writing and my nights in the bar of the hostel; and I would watch a bunch of boys playing pool. I took my ideas into the writing class and got good feedback from my tutors so I developed the play and produced a script. The success of his script was a England surreal experience for him “suddenly I was a professional writer and my career would have had taken a dramatic shift. Snookered been invaded became a huge thing, got fantastic and the war reviews and opened up a lot of doors would have for me.”

The play starts with us joining a group of South Asian and British soldiers seek refuge in an abandoned barn. In the background we can hear the sound of Germany onslaught and Khuddadad Khan’s struggle. Over the course of been over.” his struggle this group of men must One of these opened doors belonged confront their fears and find a way to to producer Suba Das, who was looking come together if they are to survive to commission some new work around the the night, let alone the war. “All throughout involvement of South Asian troops in World the research and the writing process of Wipers War I. “I have always been fascinated with the there have been these moments of sheer First World War and I knew very little had been beauty that really do just take your breath away written about how the South Asian army were and make you go wow, where did that come drafted in to help out the British army.” The from. I can’t wait to see these moments come fact that little was written about this meant that to life on stage.” Ishy had to do a lot of research to bring the play to life and it was during his research that Wipers By Ishy Din is at The Belgrade he came across a solider called Khuddadad Theatre from 12-21 May. Khan. “I thought wow, here is my story!” Khuddadad was the first non-British person

For tickets visit www.belgrade.co.uk

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