Dluxe Birmingham & Solihull Issue 21 Autumn 26

autumn 2016

FOR BUSINESS & LEISURE

HIDDEN

JASON DONOVAN

HARBORNE

& MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

GBBO’s Nadiya hussain

DISCOVER

SOUTH AMERICA INSIDE THE

BIRMINGHAM AWARDS

YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY

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Letter Editor from the

What a difference a year makes...

It was the great unknown back then. A lifetime ago wrapped up in twelve short months. This time last year we were speculating about what Birmingham might look like with the relaunch of the Mailbox and the flagship Harvey Nichols and debating how Grand Central and the new-look New Street Station might improve the image of the city and the inward customer journey. We were yet to unveil the wholly refurbished Malmaison and their spectacular suites, or welcome the first UK Park Regis hotel to the Second City. Paradise was not yet lost and the inaugural Birmingham Awards, which celebrates all that is good in the city, had yet to pop its cork.

Today, it’s a very different story. The confidence in the city is palpable. We are beginning to own our Second City moniker for the first time. We are beginning to believe in Birmingham.

Here, in this special 5th Anniversary edition of dluxe BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL – can you believe it’s five years? – we celebrate the Best of Brum: we salute the winners from the second Birmingham Awards, which took place recently at Resorts World’s The Vox; we interview one of the city’s most powerful and formidable figures in fashion, Richard Vickery of Harvey Nichols as he celebrates the first anniversary of the award-winning store; bring you the low-down on Grand Central’s anniversary weekend and special discounts, as well as bring an edited selection of the hottest trends for autumn, be that for him, her or your home.

If that’s not enough, your social calendar has never been so well looked after. The past year has not only been the most exciting with an embarrassment of edible riches, but artistically the cultural scene of the city is cooking on gas, too. Highlights we’re particularly excited about include Million Dollar Quartet with Jason Donovan at the Hippodrome (who we interview exclusively), the annual Clothes Show Live at the NEC and, as we, like the weather, have a darker side, The Exorcist on stage at The REP. All that’s left for me to do is wish you a very happy Autumn. If you get chance, ‘like’ us on Facebook or ‘follow us’ on Twitter as you may not realise that we update both every day with the hottest content from across the region. It means we can add one more (you) to our existing 79,000 monthly impressions.

Jonathan Fraser Group Editor In Chief

COVER STAR: IMAGE FROM DIVINE BOUTIQUE AUTUMN 2016

We can’t wait for...

1.

Birmingham Comedy Festival is back for its 15th running between 7th -16th October.

2.

3.

Call us creepy but we love American Horror Story and season six starts on FX this September.

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FOLLOW US: @dluxemag on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

5.

On the 14th October the Curry King of Birmingham will bring together some of Birmingham’s hottest chefs to battle it out for the crown at the ICC. We can’t help it ; we love a bit of Jilly Cooper so huzzah for Mount!

4.

Grand Designs Live returns to the NEC from the 19th to the 23rd October.

THE MAILBOX SHOPPING CENTRE

A SPECI AL COLLEC T ION BY GIGI HADID

#TOMMYXGIGI TOMMY.COM

CONTENTS...

08 THE EDIT What’s on the top of our shopping lists and ringed in our diaries this season.

16 SPOTLIGHT Jason Donovan on

the night when four legends from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame got together and jammed.

24 SPOTLIGHT Harvey Nichols’ General Manager, Richard Vickery, talks about the landmark store’s first year in its new home.

30 FOR HER When autumn leaves start falling... Legand has it that every leaf you catch gives you a day of happiness. Make sure you’re dressed the part.

36 FOR HIM The name’s Bond... well admit it you’d like it to be wouldn’t you?

Steal the great man’s style and the perfect roll neck.

40 LIVING The days may be getting darker but that doesn’t mean your house need be - we inject some colour into the kitchen.

44 TRAVEL We revisit the capital of old Bohemia, Prague and unleash our Latin side in South America.

48 MOTORS Performance and practicality? Maserati think that you can have the best of both worlds with their all new SUV. 50 DINING Comfort food, cocktails and some fabulous new restaurant openings perfect!

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

68 PAPERWORK Pensions, investments, careers and West Midlands business in focus.

74 PEOPLE We talk to artist Graeme

GET IN TOUCH

Baxter about his work for Nailcote Hall.

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

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Jennifer Johnson Jennifer@fu-media.co.uk 07587 056969

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

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

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

COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE Ben Walker Ben@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

Rise & Shine Introducing PowerView™ Motorisation from Luxaflex® A remarkable new system that moves your shades throughout the day, so you don’t have to. Create personalised settings with your smart phone or tablet, or use our uniquely designed Pebble™ remote control to activate your favourite pre-set program.

Beautifully stylish, brilliantly innovative - smart shades that simplify your life.

See PowerView™ in motion at luxaflex.co.uk LUXAFLEX® SHOWROOM: Solihull Blinds Ltd Solihull 0121 7331001

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MORGAN LAUNCH ALL ELECTRIC CAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SELFRIDGES In celebration of a common heritage and shared values, Morgan has teamed up with Selfridges to celebrate the launch of the car manufacturer’s first zero emission, all-electric car; the stunning EV3.

To make this collaboration truly unique, Selfridges and Morgan are creating a limited edition of the EV3, called UK 1909 Edition, blending Morgan’s legendary engineering know-how and iconic design with Selfridges’ famous flair for fashion. The result is a car that is a collector’s item as desirable and beautiful as a piece of art and as practical, comfortable and fast as a 21st century car with carbon neutral credentials should be. A triumph of style and function that honours Morgan’s celebrated craftsmanship, the UK 1909 Edition will only ever be made in a limited edition run of 19 – a number that is a nod to the year during which both Selfridges and Morgan were founded.

The gorgeous, retro-futuristic three-wheeled electric vehicle, which was given an exclusive preview in Birmingham in September ahead of the official launch in London at the end of November, has an expected autonomy of between 120-150 miles depending on drive cycle and a top speed of around 90 miles an hour. It boasts a beautiful bullet-bodied, face and exposed wheel design style which takes inspiration from 1930’s aero engine race cars, classic motorcycles and 1950’s fantasy automatons. Brass conductive cooling fins encase the batteries and four large round headlights add to the overall boldness of the design which for the UK 1909 Edition limited edition comes in a luxurious yet understated black with Selfridges bronze detailing – reminiscent of the Oxford Street store’s iconic bronze name plaque.

As part of the unique collaboration, Selfridges has enlisted nine British brands to produce a driving kit with sustainable accessories for the contemporary recreational motorsports man and woman.

The kit is priced separately but can only be ordered with the car and features brands such as Alexander McQueen, Belstaff and Globe Trotter.

The UK 1909 Edition is priced £52,500, will be manufactured at the beginning of 2017 and will be delivered to each customer within 6 months. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 9

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LUXURY HOSPITALITY WITH AMPLIFY @ THE NEC

Amplify is the NEC Group’s premium hospitality business, providing VIP hospitality experiences for concerts, entertainment and sports events at the Barclaycard Arena and Genting Arena, Birmingham.

Amplify offers companies and individuals the chance to experience live events in a totally new way; delivering a first-class service and an exquisite dining experience with food courtesy of the multi award winning caterer Amadeus. You are able to take up an annual membership which gives exclusive access to premium tickets and hospitality or book personal or corporate hospitality on a show by show basis.

Courtesy of the £26 million Barclaycard Arena redevelopment in 2014, The Foundry restaurant offers exquisite dining facilities in the Barclaycard Arena, decorated with stunning copper to reflect Birmingham’s history in the industrial revolution. The Quartz restaurant is also impeccably styled with shimmering crystal furnishings inspired by the Jewellery Quarter.

The Barclaycard Arena also has two exclusive seating areas- ShowDeck and ShowLounge, plus ten exclusive and luxurious ShowCubes- the perfect way to entertain up to 14 clients, colleagues or friends. Each ShowCube includes a private bar and offers balcony seating, not to mention uninterrupted panoramic views of the arena. Delicious pre-show dining can be arranged when required.

Sister venue the Genting Arena also provides an illustrious offer; Tower Deck overlooks the pre-show area of Forum Live and is the first of three private dining areas available at the venue. It is also home to the Lakeside Restaurant and the Air Restaurant; the Lakeside Restaurant offers waterside views and the Air Restaurant is reserved for the exclusive use of Air members with four course contemporary dining as standard. Both have private, direct access to the premium hospitality ShowDeck in the Genting Arena bowl meaning your guests will really feel like VIPs. Sally Walder, Amplify General Manager said: “Our packages cover a wide variety of events, with Adele, Ellie Goulding, Years & Years and Bastille amongst some of this year’s examples.

Whether you are entertaining clients over the festive period or visiting for a family special occasion, booking with Amplify is simple and reliable.”

For membership information and a hospitality events list, contact the team on 0844 338 0333 or visit www.amplify.co.uk

BYE BYE BABY BATHTIME BLUES Cuddledry, makers of the multi-award winning hands free baby towel, are on hand to help parents out during baby’s bath time.

The original Cuddledry hands free towel, which has been a firm favourite with parents for nearly ten years, stops you getting splashed and leaves you hands free to wash 10 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

and lift your babe without any fuss.

The towel is made of a silk soft blend of natural cotton and bamboo, allowing the baby wrapped up in a soft and fluffy cocoon.

The Cuddledry towel is available to buy for £29.99 from Mothercare, John Lewis, Boots and www.cuddledry.com

christmas at gas street social After the success of last year’s extravagant Aspen themed Christmas, Gas Street Social at The Mailbox will be bringing it all back for 2016.

The popular cocktail bar and restaurant will once again be transformed in to a decadent winter wonderland, where the Swiss Alps meet Oktoberfest!

Think ski chalets, fir trees, antlers and hundreds of twinkling lights, and you’ll get an idea of what the GSS team have in store.

The Gas Street Social Christmas menu ticks all of the boxes, with a traditional Roast Turkey dinner on offer alongside individual Beef Wellington, and we’ve heard the Mince Pie Cheesecake is to die for!

For those wanting to take full advantage of the award winning cocktail menu, a Christmas bar platter menu will also be available to soak up that Mulled Cider!

With Christmas menu packages starting from just £17.95, you’d be advised to book early!

Drop an email to book@gasstreetsocial.co.uk or visit www.gasstreetsocial.co.uk

Styled by

THE FACES OF THE FORT

READ OUR STORIES AT WWW.THEFORT.CO.UK

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WORLD CLASS interior DESIGN arrives at mailbox World class design has arrived at Birmingham’s premier lifestyle and shopping destination, with the opening of a ground-breaking new flagship SieMatic kitchen studio at the Mailbox. Thought to be the first time in the UK that a luxury kitchen company has opened in a high-end shopping mall, and featuring a number of ‘firsts’, the new showroom is being brought to the Mailbox by Kitchen Gallery, which already has award-winning showrooms in Shirley and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Currently available in over 52 countries on five continents, SieMatic is recognised as one of the leading international brands in bespoke kitchen design, catering for residential projects and luxury yachts.

The studio, which has been created through collaboration between Kitchen Gallery and SieMatic’s team of designers, features SieMatic’s first private, apartment-style VIP Design Room, where customers, architects and designers can relax while they discuss designs, while listening to music and enjoying refreshments.

new SieMatic showrooms, and creates a unity between all flagship studios across the world. We have used the Mailbox to push this concept further, and have incorporated many unique elements that have never been seen in a SieMatic showroom. The kitchens have been designed especially for the showroom, with unique combinations and elements that you will not find on display anywhere else in the world. There are also new ways of displaying the exceptional interiors of the kitchens, including the innovative, flexible Multi-Matic storage system.”

Bernard Otulakowski, managing director of SieMatic UK, says: “The Mailbox offers a unique opportunity to present our kitchen lifestyle collections to customers with the highest demands of style, quality and service. Our longstanding retail partner, Kitchen Gallery, understands the needs of these customers and will offer a personal design and project management service. There will also be the opportunity for architects and designers to work with Kitchen Gallery to create bespoke kitchens for their clients. Our designers have created a truly inspirational studio and we are thrilled to be at the Mailbox.”

It showcases SieMatic’s three lifestyle collections: Urban, Pure and Classic, with fully functioning kitchens and smart technology for appliances, lighting and entertainment throughout. The kitchens are shown as part of luxurious lifestyle settings and feature luxury appliance brands, including Siemens and Gaggenau. The studio is also the first showroom outside London to not only feature Gaggenau’s new ‘sous-vide’ vacuum cooking in which food is sealed in a special bag but is also the first to display furniture from world-renowned designer, Walter Knoll, amongst other leading designers.

The studio has also been designed as an entertainment space, and will host regular events, such as celebrity chef demonstrations, wine tastings and collaborations with other luxury goods, such as watch and jewelry brands.

Tahir Mahmood, managing director of Kitchen Gallery said : “We are proud that we will be setting new standards for kitchen design studios.

The Mailbox is a premium destination that is perfectly aligned with the SieMatic brand and, with the space and facilities available, we hope the showroom will become a focal point for architects, developers, designers and individual clients.”

SieMatic designer and architect, Marc Sporer, who worked with Kitchen Gallery on the design of the new showroom commented: “Our design philosophy for the Mailbox runs in line with the holistic approach for 12 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

David Pardoe, Mailbox head of marketing, retail and tenant engagement, adds: “An increasing number of luxury brands are choosing the Mailbox as a destination to open their flagship stores. The arrival of Kitchen Gallery is further testament to our reputation as Birmingham’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination and the showroom will be an exciting addition to the Mailbox’s already impressive portfolio of premium lifestyle brands.”

Kitchen Gallery is at the Mailbox, Birmingham and is open between the hours 10am – 6pm Monday to Saturday, and Sunday opening for appointments only. www.kitchengallery.co.uk

VIP HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCES amplify.co.uk / 0844 338 0333

The Watch Sale Tuesday 27th September Tuesday 25th October Tuesday 29th November View full auction catalogues online & sign up to bid www.fellows.co.uk For enquiries about buying and selling email conrad@fellows.co.uk

Jewellery Quarter Saleroom | 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham, B18 6JA | 0121 212 2131

previous sold for £12,200 + premium

NOW OPEN AT THE MAILBOX, BIRMINGHAM

Solihull

Stratford-upon-Avon

Mailbox Birmingham

Welcome Home Birmingham From the heart of the city to the heart of your home. Visit our beautiful new, ground breaking flagship showroom and discover a world of bespoke,

contemporary kitchens.

Open now at the Mailbox, Birmingham www.kitchengallery.co.uk

Premium Partners:

Million Dollar Donovan Australian actor, singer and teenage crush of many a dluxe reader, Jason Donovan, is returning to theatre in the touring production of Million Dollar Quartet coming to Birmingham Hippodrome this Autumn. The Tony Award Winning show which has been on Broadway and The West End is based on one day in music history where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Joey Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins come together. dluxe Birmingham & Solihull’s Kevin Fraser-Urquhart caught up with Jason Donovan to discuss the production, his music inspiration and who would play him in a musical adaptation.

So Jason, what is the story behind the Million Dollar Quartet?

The story is about one day in music history where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Joey Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins come together as a result of the record company that they were signed to, Sun Records. The record company was responsible for a lot of the cross over music that was seen as very politically incorrect in the fifties which was sort of that white rock n roll Elvis. The mums and dads thought he was evil, congress passed laws against it, the church locked down on it.

So who do you play in the production, tell us about him.

I play Sam Philips who is really the producer/businessman/entrepreneur behind these characters and I narrate their story. Sam is a southern American character; an entrepreneur, a survivor. When you refer to him he’s a bit like a sort of a Pete Waterman/ Simon Cowell of his time but of a very different time.

I think he cares passionately about songs and music though, but he understands business.

So, do we get a chance to hear you sing?

No, it’s pure acting on this one! This is very, very story driven, in fact to the point where I’m sweating because I have to really drive a lot of that. It’s a story of business, passion, egos and of the music industry. I think it’s going to be good entertainment as the script is solid.

Who do you think the particular production is going to appeal to most?

Hopefully it will appeal to a broad audience, though the music is very much of the fifties era. It’s a great story and that’s what good musicals are about, it is also underscored by some great songs. Hopefully we make the cross over to many generations, but it will certainly appeal to those people who were around; that’s the easy target audience.

How does it feel to follow in the footsteps of the greats like Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins?

I’m not really following in their footsteps as I don’t really go into that domain.

It’s great because there is an all-round sort of mix to the production from singers, actors and guitar players. The only thing we don’t really do is dance.

As you’ve mentioned, your character in the show is a music producer. Has it ever been a dream for you to produce artists yourself?

I tried to get involved in the business aspect of music, but I just don’t seem to get the grips or the passion or the follow through, but yeah I’ve sort of had moments where I thought it could happen. I think I could make a good producer as I’ve had enough experience behind the camera/stage to understand 16 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Music has obviously been a big part of your career, who did you grow up listening to?

Oh, everything from The Beatles to Kiss, to ABBA to New Order to David Bowie, to Aussie bands, the list goes on.

Do you think that one day there will be a musical celebrating the music of yours?

With the greatest of respect, I very much doubt it. I think there’s a possibility of Stock Aitken Waterman in that 80’s period, that someone will define that in a musical. But no, I think my catalogue unfortunately is not prolific enough.

If it did come about who would you get to play you do you think?

Ah I don’t know. As a musical theatre performer I really don’t know.

Chesney Hawkes? Nah I’m joking.

Which song out there do you wish that you had written?

There’s so many but the one that comes through is a song called Waiting for a Star to Fall by Boy Meets Girl.

When you are taking time off, when you’re not performing in something like this, what kind of things do you listen to?

I listen to what the kids listen to; I listen to the radio, I don’t really buy records so much anymore. I saw Coldplay at Wembley in June. I’m the type of person that listens to a lot of stuff, I don’t discriminate my music what so ever. But I don’t buy physical records anymore and I don’t necessarily download stuff anymore.

Were you tempted with Glastonbury this year?

I watched it on TV! I thought, you know I love listening to music and TV and could I be bothered to go to Glastonbury? No. Not in that weather. Coachella in LA could probably be quite fun as it is a bit more my speed.

If there was one artist dead or alive that you could perform with, who would it be and why?

I get inspired by U2 who have a message with their music, David Bowie, Brian Eno. I like the spirit of music as well, I think it’s one thing to have great pop songs, it’s another thing to be a great live performer, which is a very different thing. I went to see Rihanna and it just didn’t do it for me. When I saw U2 at their height, they sell you a concept, they sell you a religion almost and that’s when I get excited.

There’s a spirit that carries through it, that’s when music is exciting to me.

When you’re not performing, how do you spend your time? What’s it like being Jason Donovan?

It’s pretty good! I’m very lucky. I’ve had a good life; I have a great family a great partner and wife, and good friends. What do I do? I spend a lot of time trying to relax! I’ve got three kids and it’s quite stressful at the moment. What relaxes me is going out to the country, sitting on a lawnmower, drinking wine, having long lunches, and fiddling around the house. I also love to collect flowers.

In addition to Million Dollar Quartet, what other projects are you currently working on?

This is really the major project but I’ve got a few festival dates. I come back and do my Ten Reasons tour I think the closest to you is Nottingham, that’s at Christmas time. After that I’m not sure yet.

You can see Jason Donovan in The Million Dollar Quartet from the 24th to 29th October at the Birmingham Hippodrome. For tickets visit www. birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000.

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it. I also think I understand business, because effectively I’ve already produced my own show and done tours over the years and had to put those together. It’s very different bringing one of those shows to an audience than spending a million pounds of someone else’s money because producers are gamblers and I don’t like to gamble.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

COUNTRY PILE PERFUME

English Heritage by Woods of Windsor have launched their stylish new home fragrance collection, inspired by three of English Heritage’s historic landmarks, Kenilworth Castle’s Elizabethan Gardens, Osborne House and Eltham Palace.

The beautiful home fragrance collection includes luxury Scented Candles, Room Fragrances, Diffusers, Drawer Liners and Wardrobe Sachets. Each range is available in three fragrances, all beautifully decorated with designs reminiscent of the monumental sites.

The three fragrances include Tudor Rose, Citrus and Basil and Sea Spay & Freesia. The Tudor rose scene is inspired by Kenilworth’s Elizabethan Gardens with lush, green leafy top notes combined with a classic blend of Tudor rose, lily, iris, peony and violet.

The Citrus & Basil scent draws on the Art Deco period combining aromatic citrus, grapefruit, lime and orange top notes combined with zingy basil.

The third Fragrance Sea Spray & Freesia is reminiscent of the coastal gardens of Osbourne House creating a fresh fragrance with top notes of sea spray and citrus fruits.

Ranging from £4.99 to £19.99 the collection is available at the houses themselves as well as online at www.english-heritageshop.org.uk.

JENNY PACKHAM JEWELLERY British fashion designer Jenny Packham, globally renowned for her bridal collections, has designed an exquisite bridal jewellery collection exclusive to Goldsmiths, launching this autumn in Birmingham.

The Jenny Packham collection includes three stunning bridal suites designed around a beautiful and unique engagement ring with complementing earrings and necklace pendant; Gloria, Aurora and Étoile. From the golden ages of cinema to the natural wonder of the Aurora Borealis, stars have provided a rich source of inspiration for the Jenny Packham collection. The collection sets a wonderful celestial scene, played out in classic cut diamonds and fine delicate details, giving a magical allure resulting in truly stunning pieces.

The Gloria Collection is inspired by Gloria Swanson, the epitome of old Hollywood glamour and leading lady of the golden age of cinema. The Aurora Collection takes inspiration from the brightest cluster of stars, whilst the Étoile Collection, meaning ‘star’ in French, pays homage to stars in their purest form, and encapsulates the signature Jenny Packham style; romantic, feminine and intricate in detail.

The Jenny Packham collection, exclusive to Goldsmiths is available from 26th September at Goldsmiths Bullring Birmingham, B5 4BF and online at www.goldsmiths.co.uk

NO MORE MORCHEEBA? HELLO SKYE|ROSS Skye Edwards and Ross Godfrey have been playing across the globe for over a dozen years as Morcheeba however after enjoying their set at the Australian Gold Coast music festival without band mate Paul the duo asked themsleves “Why don’t we make our records feel more live?”

The result of this revelation is SKYE | ROSS, an album that pursues its own musical path while returning to the roots of the sound that made Morcheeba a household name back in the late 1990s. It is, Ross explains, “what Skye and I do naturally when you ask us to make music together, and yet not necessarily a continuation of what we’d been doing with Morcheeba. It therefore felt only right to give it a new identity.”

Coinciding with their new album, SKYE | ROSS will play a series of UK concerts starting at 30th October in Birmingham at the Elgar Concert Hall. Ultimately, SKYE | ROSS doesn’t signify the end of Morcheeba, but rather a purge of sorts, an opportunity for the two musicians who have represented the public face of their band to exploit the musical relationship that has developed between them outside of the studio on stages around the world. “Our intentions are really aligned,” Ross states, “and once you have that synchronicity with someone everything falls into place.”

For tickets visit stereoboard.com/skye-and-ross-tickets 18 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE

COOLSCULPTING COMES TO THE CUBE Air Aesthetics, the award-winning Cosmetic Clinic has announced its first-ever city clinic in Birmingham, bringing its revolutionary fat-loss, body-contouring and age-reduction treatments to the Second City.

Founded by Dr Claire Oliver (BDS), Air Aesthetics has operated from its state of the art clinic in Henley in Arden for the past four years, winning multiple awards in the process and working at the leading edge of nonsurgical cosmetic solutions. It is a formula that has not only made Air Aesthetics one of the most respected and highest treating clinics outside of the capital, but has taken Dr Oliver onto TV screens for expert commentary, too. She is also the secret goto for the A-list and glitterati.

The new venture is her first-ever city clinic and has been skilfully created at the Club & Spa healthclub at The Cube, which is a luxury, canalside residential/commercial scheme and counts Marco Pierre White as one of its most stylish neighbours. This new base is also less than a minute’s walk from The Mailbox and Harvey Nichols – home to the city’s finest fashion stores.

Dr Claire Oliver comments; “This is a very exciting chapter in the evolution of the Air Aesthetics brand. Birmingham is booming and our new home allows us to reach out to a broader range of professional women and men, offering them a number of treatments exclusive in the region such as CoolSculpting, Exilis Elite and Ultherapy. We have applied all the learnings and experience from our first clinic to provide the best service and array of treatments at our city base”.

She continues; “Our clinics provide non-surgical, FDAcleared solutions to meet the needs and concerns of our clients. We specialise, and are recognised in Central England, for skincare expertise in injectables, rejuvenation, tightening and lifting, in addition to body contouring/ fat reduction. We also lead the way with the ZO range of Skincare and are proud to be a designated Obagi Ambassador Clinic”.

For example, those wishing to embark on a fatloss treatment, CoolSculpting is an FDA cleared non-surgical fat reduction treatment.

“CoolSculpting is the most innovative and safest way to sculpt and define body shape, minimising unwanted fatty deposits. With my experience I am frequently able to achieve up to 40% reduction in fat for my clients”, says Dr Oliver.

“With a rapidly growing client base and a reputation as industry leaders, we are rightly proud that our customer retention stands at a very impressive 97% while our biggest source of new customers is personal recommendation, very much driven by our innovative ambassador referral programme. It may well sound a little clichéd, but at Air Aesthetics we firmly stand by our maxim “Quality not quantity” creating a centre of excellence that offers bespoke service in an often confusing and unregulated industry”.

For more information on Air Aesthetics visit www.airaesthetics.co.uk or call 0845 519 5377.

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BROADWAY COMES TO BIRMINGHAM’s fiveways

Birmingham’s City Centre has gained yet another high profile residential development, in the form of the Broadway Residences, a brand new scheme from award winning developer, Seven Capital.

Situated at Five Ways, the development has been refurbished from John Madin’s “Broadway” building, opposite the recently opened Park Regis Hotel and consists of 214 luxurious, fully furnished, one and two bedroom apartments. The development has been created as the first Purpose Built Rental Scheme (PRS) in the entire region, with the apartments offering a lifestyle that reflects hotel living in a residential environment. Residents benefit from a host of additional amenities provided for them, including a fully equipped gym, a 24-hour concierge service, a dry cleaning, laundry and apartment cleaning service, as well as secure parking and the introduction of an Enterprise Car Club scheme.

Phil Carlin, Managing Director of Seven Capital said, “The Broadway Residences really is unique in the Birmingham property market, being the first scheme of its kind outside of London. The emphasis was to provide not only a residential development but also a lifestyle to its occupants, where comfort and style are paramount.”

The Five Ways area has seen a vast amount of redevelopment in recent years, driven in main by developer, Seven Capital. The company renovated and launched the iconic No.1 Hagley Road development early in 2016, accompanied weeks later by the launch of the luxury Park Regis hotel, offering 253 rooms, a chic urban spa and the skyline ROFUTO restaurant, which displays spectacular views across the city. This new development is yet another step towards a complete regeneration of the area that forms a gateway to the heart of Birmingham.

Andy Butts, Group Sales & Lettings Director at Centrick Property commented, “We’re finding that the rental market in Birmingham City Centre is incredibly buoyant with increasing demand and the developments with additional offerings are consistently the most popular. PRS and the Broadway Residences offer a completely new style of city living to tenants and interest has been incredibly high.”

These uniquely impressive apartments are available to rent exclusively through Centrick Property. For more information or to arrange a viewing, call the team on 0121 347 6995 (option 1), email broadway@centrickproperty. co.uk or visit www.broadwayresidences.co.uk 20 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Sumptuous Sanctuary

at Leekes

Bathrooms are available in all shapes and sizes, so whatever your requirements, the experts at Leekes can make your beautiful bathroom a reality.

From a sumptuous sanctuary to a functional family bathroom, a compact cloakroom or an elegant en-suite, discover the perfect suite to suit your space from leading brands including Laura Ashley, Utopia and Heritage.

Leekes Coventry, Junction 3 M6, W. Mids. CV6 6PA Tel: 0333 222 4120 | Online: leekes.co.uk

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MISS SAIGON LEADS NEW SEASON AT HIPPODROME Birmingham Hippodrome have announced a new season of spectacular live shows that offers audiences a fantastic choice of world-class entertainment including the biggest names in West End musicals, the best in international opera and ballet, a world premiere ballet - plus the world’s biggest pantomime with an all-star cast and amazing 3D effects.

reputation for the productions it is able to attract from West End musicals through to the best in international ballet and opera and, of course, the UK’s biggest panto. Building on this, our new season offers audiences of all ages another varied programme of world-class entertainment combining the best in UK touring productions with an enticing international repertoire.”

New productions on sale include a major new UK tour of Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s legendary musical Miss Saigon; a first time visit from original high-school musical Grease; direct from a recordbreaking West End run, sparkling rags-to-riches musical Funny Girl; and an all-new production of The Addams Family – a kooky musical comedy from the writers of multi award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, produced by Music & Lyrics in association with The Festival Theatre Edinburgh.

Other highlights include the return of Cape Town Opera and Bill Kenwright’s much-loved production of Blood Brothers starring Lyn Paul as Mrs Johnstone, the popular UK touring production of Simon Beaufoy’s The Full Monty starring Gary Lucy, world-wide hit musical Million Dollar Quartet starring Jason Donovan as revolutionary record producer Sam Phillips, ( see our interview on p16) and the much-anticipated return of the National Theatre’s internationallyacclaimed production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.

Fiona Allan, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome said: “Birmingham Hippodrome has an enviable

Vist www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000

MISTRY AND PURNELL at Friday Night Kitchen, VILLA PARK The East is East, Coronation Street and EastEnders star is the latest addition to the celebrity line-up for ‘Glynn Purnell & Friends’ Friday Night Kitchen’ event at Villa Park on Oct 7.

Jimi will help Michelin-starred chef Glynn prepare a mouthwatering main course, with X-Factor champion Sam Bailey on starter duty before singing two of her hits later on in the evening.

And pastry chef and chocolatier Will Torrent will provide delicious petit fours.

The event is in aid of raising money for the Birmingham-based blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia. Glynn’s Friday Night Kitchen has raised £100,000 for Cure Leukaemia over the past two years. With Birmingham Airport returning as headline sponsor for the second year running, Glynn is hoping proceeds will be boiling over the £150,000 mark come October. Guests will be entertained until 2am by The Jamhouse’s resident live covers band, The Subterraneans, and Heart FM DJ Russ Morris.

The carving knives will be out for actor Jimi Mistry when he showcases his freshly-honed culinary skills by joining pal Glynn Purnell on stage for the ultimate live cooking experience.

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The night’s one and only raffle prize is a money-can’t-buyexperience – a meal for up to six people cooked at the winner’s home by Glynn.

For further information visit gpfnk.co.uk

dluxe spotlight

HARVEY NICHOLS

AS HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY IN ITS NEW MAILBOX HOME, GENERAL MANAGER, RICHARD VICKERY, TELLS LISA PIDDINGTON HOW THE LUXURY STORE HAS RAISED THE BAR WHEN IT COMES TO SHOPPING IN THE CITY. When Harvey Nichols opened the digital doors of its shiny new store in Birmingham last summer, it changed the way we shopped in the city. Gone were the till points and traditional department design and in their place were 360 degree mirrors, quirky vintage fittings and a fluid layout that made retail therapy just that little bit more therapeutic.

Seamlessly blending the eccentric and the eclectic, the store had been designed to respond to the modern customer’s expectations – from the 1,956 grey bricks that formed the background wall of the Menswear department to the 2,350 LED lights that created the digital entrance. It set out to offer the best edit of fashion, beauty and accessories while at the same time providing the most contemporary and luxurious of shopping experiences. And 12 months on, it’s hard to argue that it hasn’t achieved just that.

“When we first opened our doors I would stand at our entrance and watch customers walk in, ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ at this amazing space we had created,” says General Manager Richard Vickery. “It’s fair to say, they’d never seen anything quite like it.

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“A year after opening and we still have that wow-factor; I get compliments every day from people who are coming in for the first time, there is nothing else in the city that can match us.”

“Since launch, we have been able to offer a beautifully edited selection of some of the most sought-after labels, many of them available in the city for the first time.”

Today the design continues to look just as innovative and it will come as no surprise that Harvey Nichols has already picked up a handful of awards for the flagship store, most recently taking top honours in the prestigious Retail Excellence at the Global

Retail & Leisure International Awards.

The veined white marble and contrasting concrete fixtures set off the new season collections perfectly, creating a statement backdrop for the likes of Valentino, Balmain, Givenchy and Victoria Beckham. “Before we opened our new store, a lot of customers were travelling to London to buy the latest releases from Valentino, Alexander McQueen or Stella McCartney,” explains Richard.

“Since launch, we have been able to offer a beautifully edited selection of some of the most sought-after labels, many of them available in the city for the first time. Our customers have certainly embraced what we now offer and a host of world-class brands have seen us as the perfect place to showcase their collections.”

But Harvey Nichols is renowned for much more than just the latest designer musthaves. Alongside the impressive digital facilities, carefully selected music playlists and exclusive brands, the store maintains the feel of an elegant boutique, offering the kind of service customers have come to expect... and then some.

“At Harvey Nichols we love working one to one with our customers and we certainly do

S: ONE YEAR ON not take a ‘cookie cutter’ approach to style”, says Richard. “Our new space has meant we have upped our game when it comes to retail experience and we now offer an unrivalled level of service. Shoppers are greeted by our Style Concierge team and are guided throughout the store by our highly-trained Style Advisors, who are there to share their expertise on product size and fit, as well as styling tips and trend inspiration. Whether it’s our digital innovations or going that extra mile to meet our customers’ needs, we have definitely redefined luxury shopping, setting the industry standard for ourselves and our competitors.”

The new store – complete with a stylish Restaurant and Bar – introduced the concept of “destination shopping” to the city, providing more than just a place to shop. “A trip to Harvey Nichols is not simply about buying the latest bag or hi-tops,” says Richard. “A lot of our customers will meet their friends for brunch in the restaurant; discuss the latest skincare innovations with our beauty team; catch up on the catwalk trends in our fashion departments; leave their purchases with our Style Concierge while enjoying a spa treatment; and finish off with cocktails in our bar.”

The launch of the luxurious Harvey Nichols also heralded a new era for retail across the city. Following its opening at the end of July 2015, it has been swiftly joined by new bars, restaurants and shops at The Mailbox as well as the opening of its neighbour, Grand Central.

“Whether it’s our digital innovations or going that extra mile to meet our customers’ needs, we have definitely redefined luxury shopping, setting the industry standard for ourselves and our competitors.”

Richard Vickery General Manager

“Look back over the last 15 years and retail in Birmingham has undergone the most tremendous transformation since we first opened our doors in The Mailbox in 2001.

Over the last 12 months we have seen yet another transformation as more big name retailers have joined the mix. The diversity now on offer – from high street to high end – shows continued confidence in Birmingham and its future.”

And what are the store’s plans for the next 12 months? “We are now firmly on the region’s retail map, and our Restaurant and Bar are fast developing a reputation as some of the most stylish places in the city to wine and dine. With more and more businesses seeing us as a great place for corporate networking, we are now really starting to build on our private hire and events side.

“Of course, we continue to grow our fashion and beauty collections, and are proud to offer the best designer ranges in the region.

For Autumn/Winter16, we are introducing even more fabulous lines that we know Birmingham shoppers will just love,” he adds.

HARVEY NICHOLS IS AT THE MAILBOX, BIRMINGHAM. TEL. 0121 616 6000 dluxe-magazine.co.uk 25

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Tommy Hilfiger announce NEW Nautical Luxe collection with Gigi Hadid Designed with Tommy Hilfiger, Hadid’s first ever collaborative capsule will launch for Fall 2016 and feature nautically-inspired apparel, footwear, accessories and fragrance.

This autumn marks Tommy Hilfiger’s first collaborative capsule collection with global brand ambassador Gigi Hadid. The model has been working with Hilfiger to create a nautical luxe collection with feminine silhouettes and sporty-chic details, which is in store now, at Mailbox, Birmingham.

The California girl puts a West Coast stamp on Hilfiger’s signature East Coast classics as marine, utility and maritime influences fuse with feminine silhouettes and sporty-chic details.

The look is nautical luxe with Gigi’s own twist: effortless, youthful and cool.

“Gigi Hadid is one of the world’s top models and most-followed fashion influencers, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Tommy family,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “Our collaborative collection is a new take on nautical with a playful, romantic edge. It has been a true partnership – Gigi and I worked closely together on each and every element; she was completely honest throughout the process and the results are a reflection of her passion and creativity.”

“This is the first collection I’ve ever co-designed and it was an amazing experience,” said Gigi. “I’m so proud of the designs and I love how they are an honest reflection of my own style and Tommy’s iconic signature twist.

The collection will always be really special to me, and I can’t wait to wear all the pieces. It’s young and fun, very Tommy, and very me!”

The Tommy X Gigi collaborative collection includes women’s sportswear, footwear and accessories including watches and sunglasses. Heritage favorites and seafaring staples are reimagined with clean cuts, embellishments, feminine prints and sailor stripes.

The collection is further complemented by THE GIRL by Tommy Hilfiger, a new eau de parfum inspired by Hadid’s optimistic attitude, confidence and effortlessly cool style.

Hadid’s ambassadorship reflects the Tommy Hilfiger brand’s vision and the fresh new design vision for Tommy Hilfiger womenswear. Dubbed a “social supermodel,” Hadid has been credited with reshaping the world of modeling in the 21st century, and reinventing the role of the supermodel in millennial culture.

Tommy Hilfiger has a longstanding affinity for collaboration in his design studio and Gigi joins actress Zooey Deschanel, and “it girls” Alexa Chung and Olivia Palermo both of whom were guest editors of his Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 collections, respectively.

The autumn’16 Hilfiger Collection and Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collections, including Hadid’s capsule and fragrance, are available at Tommy Hilfiger Mailbox, Birmingham and online at www.tommy.com To join the conversations on social media use the hashtag #TommyXGigi and the handles @ TommyHilfiger and @GigiHadid 26 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

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DISCOVER:harborne

Situated South-West of Birmingham, Harborne has a thriving High Street with some of Birmingham’s best shops, bars and restaurants. We sent Carey York and Lilith Hunt Sheppard from Dluxe out of the office for the day to explore what Harborne has to offer.

Coupled with amazing food and super friendly staff, The Plough is perfect for Sunday lunch or night time drinks. 21 High Street, B17 9NT. theploughharborne.co.uk.

Forty One Tea At Forty one Tea they make everything by hand and on the premises using fresh, organic, home-grown and locally sourced ingredients from delicious handmade cakes to light lunches, everything has a twist of the eastern influence.

With their tea, it’s all about quality by using the best loose leaf teas for a superior and more enjoyable cuppa. 41 High Street, B17 9NT fortyonetea.co.uk

Kings Barbers Kings Barbers was established to bring the great barber shop tradition back to Birmingham.

They offer the Badger brush, lather, cut throat shave, manno et manno conversation, hot towels and the barbershop banter. 95 High Street, B17 9NR kingsbarberclub.co.uk

Fallen Angel

The Plough

Opened in 2003 it has been extended twice within this time, making it a beautiful maze with a private function room and garden areas. It is a favorite with families and professionals alike, stocking unusual branded gin, rum and over 120 whiskeys.

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Their mission is simple: to provide the highest quality bakery experience using the finest ingredients. Yes, they sell American-style cupcakes & cakes in classic Red Velvet, Chocolate and Vanilla flavours and they do them very well! But they definitely are more than your average cupcake. 77 High Street, B17 9NS fallenangelbakery.co.uk

RESONATE MENSWEAR

Established in 2009, it is a treasure trove of stones and crystals that all have specific powers or meanings which is great for spiritualist believers who can indulge in their passions, especially regarding natural healing remedies.

The remedies range from Hopi ear candles to essential oils to massage books and more. 47 High Street, B17 9NT

Established in 2011, Resonate offers the very latest designer menswear styles for business and pleasure from some of the world’s leading brands including Peter Werth, John Smedley and the super exclusive Strellson. The owners, Dean & Nick, are passionate about the style that’s right for you, your personality and your budget. They pride themselves on personal service and spending time with every customer. www.resonatemenswear.com

RUMOURS

CHERRY TREE INTERIORS

Open for 35 years, their goal is to provide clients with a salon service that is second to none with prices to match. Within the salon, they only use and stock the best range of hair and beauty products and these are available for customers to purchase for use at home. They have a dedicated barber for gent’s cuts and beauty treatments are available for both men and women.

Rumours also offer some surgical procedures such as Botox, lip fillers and semi-permanent make up. rumoursofharborne.co.uk 51 High Street, B17 9NT

BRITTAIN OPTICIANS After buying Brittain’s in 2008, Matt Rose decided to create an opticians that combined thorough and professional eye care with innovative and exclusive merchandise.

Since then they have been constantly evolving and now have a store to be really proud of. More importantly they have amazing expert staff who really care about giving you the best eye care advice. 97 High Street,B17 9NR brittainopticians.co.uk

LOLA’S CLOSET Sam Ward opened the door to Lola’s Closet two years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Packed with gorgeous ladies wear including ‘Dancing Leopard’ which is the latest cool look for the beach and Ibiza parties, the shop really does have something for everyone.

45 High Street, B17 9NT lolasclosetltd.com

Cherry Tree has been a firm favourite for four years in Harborne after moving from Bearwood. They have been trading for 15 years with a strong repeat customer base.

They offer a bespoke, personal service with vast experience within interior design but without the huge cost. cherrytreeinteriors. com

CAFE BOUTIQUE AND CAKE SHOP They pride themselves on being independent and with take inspiration from the street cafés of days gone by.

With a small bistro style menu and a great selection of cakes and pastries as well as some delicious Turkish coffee.

26 High Street, B17 9NJ

AMELIE Amelie is one of the most prominent home, gift and card shops on the High Street and the only one in Harborne to stock Equilibrium and Espree jewellery.

They also stock a variety of handmade products including bags and headbands as well as some incredible homeware.

170 High St, B17 9PP

GEMBOX Open last September, Gembox is a family owned business that was established over 30 years ago in Hallgreen. They pride themselves on their personal service. They are the only jewellers that have a watch maker and jeweller on site that are able to either simply fix an item or create a bespoke piece. 196 High Street, B17 9PP

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LOVE AND LIGHT PRESENCE

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BIG BLOSSOM Bold prints are always on trend, but one that has caught our eye this autumn is blossom, especially vintage blooms.

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Eighties power dressing is back but this time it’s looking better than ever. From shoulder pads to chic tailoring, sharpen up your style with slick separates and covetable co-ords. With a nod to this season’s masculine trend, this essential selection from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM will ensure you rule the boardroom.

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ALL ITEMS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM. 1. Anokhi Arden print dress £129 East. 2. Billie & Blossom Orange Floral Kimono Top £26. 3. Alice & Olivia Tina floral-print satin maxi skirt £515. 4. Floral Jacquard Jacket, NEXT, £65. 5. Beaut floral clutch, Dune, £65. 6. Coast Athens Oversized Floral Skirt, Hot Pink £79. 7. Floral Flats, Dune, £85. 8. Floral dress, Debenhams, £250. 9. Shumacer First Part floral-print silk top at Harvey Nichols £200.

1: Armani Collezioni twisted cady dress, £450. 2: Balmain double breasted dress, £2,115. 3: DKNY pinstripe trousers, £430. 4: Diane Von Furstenberg silk shirt dress, £375. 5: Kate Moss for Equipment silk shirt, £375. 6: Roland Mouret pencil skirt, £495.

7: Loewe leather tote, £1,375. 8: Olivia Burton watch, £115. 9: Stella McCartney mini faux suede tote, £450. 10: Valentino Rockstud 100 patent pumps, £620.

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SHEARLING COATS:

BUYING at Auction AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE

With their wool interior and collar, shearling jackets are a stylish and warm addition to your autumn wardrobe.

Here are some of our favourites...

Auctions are exciting and, for many, a novel experience. If you are venturing into the world of auctions for the first time, Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham have complied some helpful hints to ensure you get what you want and enjoy your experience whether you are looking to buy jewellery, watches or even a handbag.

Do your research If you were buying a car, you would look into comparable models.

This is also good practice for buying at auctions. You can access previous sale results in the Fellows Auctioneers archive, letting you see what similar items have achieved previously. You can also ask an expert - the friendly team at Fellows are always happy to help. Many people will speak to specialists to help them find exactly what they are looking for.

Viewing Make sure you get a good look at the lot you are looking to purchase.

There are high-resolution images on the website and many items will be photographed using 360 degree technology. Viewing in person is also a good idea many sales will be on view for a couple of weeks before the auction so head to Augusta Street in the Jewellery Quarter to try on the lots.

Plan your bid The traditional image of a scarily silent auction room is steadily changing. Nowadays people are more likely to bid online, leave absentee bids or bid over the phone than attend an auction in person.

These options make auctions far more accessible to the public. You can now keep track of the auction while going about your day to day life.

If at first you don’t success, try, try and try again.

Buying at auction isn’t an exact science and sometimes you won’t be successful. Don’t be deterred! Fellows embraces new technologies - you can sign up to get email alerts when new catalogues become available and see what is coming up by following @FellowsAuctions on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Main Image: White Stuff Snow Catcher Coat £89.Clockwise L to R: Balmain Double-breasted shearling biker jacket £2,755, Shearling River island jacket, £85.00, M&S Reverse Shearling Coat £89, Shearling jacket, Lipsy £68, Grey Camel Faux Shearling Jacket £150 www.purecollection.com, Shearling Trimmed Military Coat, Wallis, £95, Miss Selfridge Shearlign wrap coat £89.

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Above all else, enjoy the experience! Auctions are a fun, social way to buy – why not bring a friend to the viewing or sale and make a day of it?

To view up and coming Fellows’ auctions: www.fellows.co.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE

N E W S E A S O N B E A U T Y S AV I O U R S Capturing the latest industry advancements, our beauty edit brings you the innovative formulas that everyone is talking about. Ensure your daily regime is up to date with these new season must-haves, handpicked by Harvey Nichols Beauty Manager HELEN GOUGH. 1: Packed with with 97% natural ingredients, Gallinée La Culture Face Mask & Scrub (£18) provides the skin with an instant radiance boost by delicately exfoliating and stimulating microcirculation.

5: The ingenious Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops (£36) enables you to add a highlighting or bronzing effect to your favourite beauty products or, when used alone, create a look of striking radiance that’s sun-kissed and sumptuous.

2: Estée Lauder Genuine Glow Priming Moisture Eye Balm (£30) is an innovative water fusion balm that perfects, primes and weightlessly hydrates. The smoothing texture reveals a more rested look as it refreshes the delicate area around your eyes with a light cooling feel.

6: Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer (£36) instantly absorbs into the skin imparting a natural glow without feeling wet or greasy.

Light-correcting pigments act as a filter to brighten and soften light while blurring imperfections and smoothing skin’s texture for effortless makeup application.

3: A weightless texture mist for effortlessly undone hair, Ouai Wave Spray (£22) is infused with rice protein for extra hold.

Mist damp or dry hair from root to tip for easy, undone texture and enhanced natural waves. Or, just hit the roots for extra volume.

7: A one-step formula to leave skin refreshed, replenished and beautifully balanced.

ESPA Purifying Micellar Cleanser (£24) has soothing chamomile, toning witch hazel and hydrating hyaluronic acid to cleanse, condition and revitalise in the sweep of a cotton pad.

4: New in, Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation (£60) provides adjustable coverage thanks to light-reflective circular pigments that ease the appearance of flaws. An innovative formula for flawless coverage.

8: A powerhouse of hydration, Lancôme Energie de Vie Liquid Moisturiser (£28) is ultra hydrating and anti-fatigue. It is enriched with goji berry extract and lemon balm oil, to leave skin looking energised, healthier, and hydrated.

All products featured are available from the Beauty Hall at Harvey Nichols Birmingham or online at harveynichols.com

GRAND CENTRAL celebrations ahead September 2016 marks one year since the launch of Grand Central and to celebrate the first birthday, shoppers are in for a treat as shops and restaurants will be offering a weekend full of special discounts, offers and giveaways from Saturday 24, September through to Sunday 25, September.

Since opening, Grand Central has surpassed expectations with customers being able to enjoy such a diverse range of brands, in a unique shopping centre which sits proudly above the magnificent New Street station.

Jonathan Cheetham, General Manager for Grand Central, said: “I still can’t believe that we’ve been trading for one year already. The feedback has been incredible with the people of Birmingham, still to this day, really feeling a sense of pride about Grand Central. As we approach our first birthday, it’s a very special time and our shops and restaurants want to mark such an occasion by treating customers with a range of offers and giveaways making this an exciting weekend for all of our shoppers.”

Dubbed as ‘the venue that changed the face of Birmingham', Grand Central has positively impacted Birmingham over the last 12 months, not only through the thousands of jobs created in the centre and the economic growth the project has generated for the region, but also by creating a location in the city that can be enjoyed and shared by everyone.

Many of the shops and restaurants in Grand Central are offering special discounts, gifts, prizes and giveaways for the birthday weekend. Visit www.grandcentralbirmingham.com/shop/ offers to see some of the exciting offers which will be available. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 33

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SPECIAL FEATURE

SAYING GOODBYE TO SUMMER IS NOT ALL BAD; AS WE SWAP AL FRESCO SUMMER EVENINGS FOR WRAPPING UP WARM INDOORS, AND START PACKING AWAY OUR SUMMER WARDROBES IN FAVOUR OF LAYERS AND KNITWEAR, THE NEW SEASON BRINGS A HOST OF NEW EXPERIENCES AT THE MAILBOX. WITH A SPECIALLY CURATED PROGRAMME OF ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS, PLUS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED OPENINGS, EXPLORE EVERYTHING THE MAILBOX HAS TO OFFER THIS AUTUMN.

Shop in style Starting the new season in style, the Mailbox will welcome another big name in fashion this September, with the opening of Paul Smith Birmingham. Home to collections for men and women, alongside an expertly curated selection of shoes, accessories, artwork and curiosities, the brand new store will sit within the luxurious Urban Room space.

Featuring flashes of colour throughout the store to echo its confident use across all Paul Smith collections, the new store joins some of the biggest names in luxury retail at the Mailbox.

From new stores to new collections, the collaboration between Tommy Hilfiger and Gigi Hadid is one of the biggest fashion stories this year. Combining nautical and military inspiration, with its own supermodel edge, the TommyXGigi range is fresh from its debut at New York Fashion Week. Available to shop instore at the Mailbox now, the collection features some of the most stylish autumn essentials, including wool coats, capes, sweaters and accessories.

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Mailbox Eat It’s not just fashion and beauty that enjoy a seasonal shift, with restaurants launching their tempting autumn and winter menus. Light and colourful dishes suited to al fresco dining make way for all your heart-warming favourites, providing the perfect pick me up. With cuisines including British, Italian, Spanish and more, you’ll be spoilt for choice at the Mailbox.

Plus, with the Mailbox being the first city centre car park to introduce a contactless payment system, including Apple Pay, there’s never been a better time to shop or socialise at the Mailbox.

Lights, camera, action As the colder weather and darker nights draw in, there’s no better time to catch a film at Everyman Cinema. Take your date night indoors and cosy up on the luxurious sofas, whilst enjoying a mix of the latest releases, old favourites and special events in a cinema setting like no other.

Devour a classic Spielburger, or ask about the monthly special, making sure you save room for a host of gourmet cinema snacks including retro candy and chilli bites. Teamed with a choice of wines, beers, cocktails and soft drinks, there’s even a menu of hot drinks to beat the cold weather blues.

hair following the summer sun with a trim and a treatment, or dare to brave one of the new season trends that is sure to turn heads. From getting inspiration from the 80s, to a flattering pixie crop, the expert stylists are on hand to recommend styles to suit you and recreate your favourite looks.

Time for change Complement your new-season wardrobe with a brand new cut or colour, by paying a visit to Toni & Guy Essensuals. Repair and restore your

Add the finishing touches to your new look with a visit to the beauty department at Harvey Nichols.

Put your best face forward with a luxurious skincare treatment, or let your hands do the talking with a manicure and pedicure in the latest autumnal colours. You can also shop from some of the most sought-after make-up brands, whether it’s picking up a sultry new lip shade or catwalk colour palette, and choose your new season scent from the perfumery department. With experts on hand to help complete your top-to-toe transformation, your new look is in safe hands at the Mailbox.

To keep up to date 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 dluxe-magazine.co.uk 35

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HONOUR ROLL Rolled up or down keep protected from the cold in style this autumn in a selection of key roll and turtle neck jumpers.

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Ditch those joggers with the baggy knees, throw out the overworn T-shirt and instead elevate your weekend essentials with modern silhouettes. Think smart knits and on-trend jersey to add a slick new dimension to your style. JAMES BURKE, Menswear Manager at Harvey Nichols Birmingham, selects his favourite laidback separates for a stylish yet casual look.

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ALL ITEMS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM 1. Jacket £90, Turtle neck sweater £32, Jeans £30 Next. 2. Hammond & Co. Roll Neck, Debenhams, £50. 3. New Look Burnt orange turtle neck top £14.99. 4. Next Turtle Neck Sweater £45. 5. Acne Studios Kalle roll-neck ribbed wool jumper Harvey Nichols £275. 6. William Lockie Oxton Cashmere Rollneck Sweater Mr Porter £325. 7. Lanvin Striped roll-neck merino wool jumper Harvey Nichols £445. 8. Topman TMD Multilets Riot AOP Roll Neck £150. 9. River Island Purple roll neck jumper £25.

1: Gucci monogrammed backpack, £850. 2: Buscemi leather hi-top trainers, £565. 3: John Smedley fine knit jumper, £170. 4: Larsson & Jennings watch, £315. 5: McQ Alexander McQueen felt cap, £45. 6: True Religion distressed slim-leg jeans, £200. 7: Vince thermal-knit jogging trousers, £190. 8: Moncler quilted shell gilet, £540 9: J Lindeberg ribbed cotton blend jumper, £100. 10: Whistles shirt, £110.

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THE best BOND BUYS What man doesn’t want to be James Bond.?

Well now you can with this selection of 10 luxury brands that 007 himself would approve of.

1- THE PERFECT CAR.

6. The perfect suit.

Aston Martin is still the Bond car par excellence and the new DB11 boasts great looks and the performance to match. Price around £155k www. db11.astonmartin.com

Dege & Skinner has been going since 1865 and is one of two family-run bespoke tailoring houses to remain in Savile Row and the only one to have a permanent shirt-cutting service based in the shop.

The Skinner family has been dressing royalty, businessmen, professionals and the military for over a century and a half. Suit prices start at £950 dege-skinner.co.uk

2-THE PERFECT YACHT. The Hunton XRS43 Yacht is the most exclusive luxury high performance yacht made in England .There is simply no other British boat builder creating yachts with this performance, stability and quality.

XRS43 prices start at £470k www.hunton.co.uk

3-The perfect plane.

At a starting price of $22 million, the Cessna Citation X is the world’s fastest super midsize business jet. With an upgraded Rolls Royce AE3007C2 turbofan engine this is the ideal luxury private jet for anyone looking to ride in style. Price starts at $23 million. www. cessna.txtav.com/en/citation/x

4. The perfect watch.

The Red Robin watch by Robert Loomes is completely handmade in Stamford by Robert Loomes and his craftsman, with painstaking attention to detail. The case is made from a solid 18ct gold casting and fitted with its sapphire. www.robertloomes.com

5.The perfect helicopter.

The AW609 Tilt Rotor plane/helicopter combines the vertical take-off of a helicopter with the comfort, speed and range of a private jet. Flying at speeds of up to 275 K, the AW609 is capable of performing long-range missions with up to nine passengers and two crew with a full fuel load.

Around $8.5 million. leonardocompany.com

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7. The perfect swim shorts.

James Bond has always looked good whilst strolling along Piccadilly but he also needed to look good walking out of the sea on to a Caribbean island. So to accompany the suit, add a pair of Marané swim shorts, luxury designed shorts that look smart by the pool, water skiing or at the bar. Manantiales swim shorts, price £155. www.marane.uy

8.The perfect motorbike.

The Triumph Thruxton R. A stunning modern classic that is a delight to ride and delivers the thrilling sound of a British racing twin. Thruxton R price starts at £11,700 www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk

9. The perfect luggage.

Globe Trotter Luggage. With all this travelling you are going to need cases and they may well be the first to arrive and therefore your initial calling card for style. Globe Trotter is the classic modern luxury English case, hand crafted in Hertfordshire since 1932.

Prices start around £1200. www.globe-trotter.com

10- The perfect submarine.

The Deepflight Super Falcon Mark II submarine, designed

by British engineer Graham Hawkes. DeepFlight’s personal submarines are just so cool.

Fundamentally new type of craft that enable passengers to experience the unique feeling of flying underwater. Price around $1.6m www.deepflight.com

SPECIAL FEATURE

From ultra hold and ultra matte formulas to beard oil and performance shampoo, choose the right products for a great-looking style. We asked JOHN PAUL MCGUIRK, Private Shopping Manager at Harvey Nichols Birmingham, to share his hair care secrets.

1: Hanz de Fuko hybridised wax (£16) is made for those edgy hair experiments. Whether you’re aiming for a smooth or heavily textured style, this product goes on clean without residue.

WINTER WEDDINGS No doubt you’ve splashed out on the perfect venue, the fantastic honeymoon and the bride’s beautiful dress, so now it’s your turn to splash out on the most important suit you will ever own! Choosing a tailor that can evaluate your whole wedding theme can really help your outfit come alive and create an enviable style for your wedding day.

A winter wedding is a great time to pull out the classic winter suit options and experiment with different ideas to complement your wedding. Traditional fabrics and colours with subtle modern factors to keep a contemporary look will create the perfect attire for your special day.

A classic winter choice is the Tweed three-piece suit. Although known for its rural setting and informal cloth, Tweed is now often seen as a chic, stylish and authentically British choice. A men’s three-piece tweed suit is a good traditional suit, but a tailored three-piece tweed suit is perfection! With many fabric designs available, a modern Tweed suit can fit comfortably in with your wedding theme.

100% wool or wool/cashmere blend suits are great winter fabrics that can offer many colour varieties. There is so much you can do in terms of decor and styling for a winter wedding – rich deep berry tones, greys and icy blues, all of these colours can be incorporated into the suit itself or your suit accessories. A grey tailored three-piece suit with deep red accessories can complement your theme perfectly. Your accessories could include a different colour design on your waistcoat, your cravat or your pocket square and even your button holes. Slight differences in the accessories can make sure the groom stands out from the groomsmen.

A slim-fit, single-breasted two-piece is a slick and contemporary choice for the groom who wants to keep things simple, but still look exceptionally sharp. However, classic-fitting doublebreasted or three-piece suits are also timeless classics that make a statement.

There are many factors that need to be considered when choosing your wedding suit and the groomsmen outfits. Your bride’s dress, the colour and theme, the destination and your surroundings – all of these will contribute to you making your decision. A good tailor will liaise with members of the wedding party to make sure your suit is the ideal fit not only for you, but for the style of the occasion.

For many years you will look back at your wedding photos and remember how good you felt in your wedding suit – nobody wants to look back and think ‘What was I wearing?’ so opting for a perfectly tailored suit that complements your bride and the wedding theme will make sure you never have any regrets!

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

2: Revitalise and invigorate roots with Apivita men’s tonic shampoo for thinning hair (£15). It works to tone and nourish thanks to key ingredients; rosemary, ginseng, equisetum, vitamins and honey.

3: Acqua di Parma Collezione Barbiere beard serum (£30) tames, smoothes and protects. It is enriched with sweet almond oil and grape seed oil, known for their emollient properties to help detangle, nourish and soften hairs.

4: The original formulation Lock, Stock & Barrel wax (£12) gives styling control and pliability. Create long-lasting hold for both and contemporary hair styling or use as a finisher for adding more shine.

5: Keep your pride and joy tamed with Captain Fawcett beard balm (£15). With five base creams and exotic waxes along with cedarwood, black pepper, patchouli and palmarosa essential oils it will nourish and condition while you shape and style.

6: Packed with a host of hard-working natural ingredients is Bamford shampoo (£35). There’s keratin and barley protein to cleanse and refresh hair; while Swiss cress extract activates the scalp’s detox system.

ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM dluxe-magazine.co.uk 39

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HANDSOME HAIRCARE

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Midlands’ decorative glass designer, Emma Britton, creates fabulous splashbacks for kitchens and bathrooms, works on a large number of bespoke commissions but has also created an ‘off the shelf’ range of bright and colourful splashbacks.

Emma also offers a Bespoke Design Service where clients can ask her to design something exclusive for their space.

Find out more at www.emmabritton.net

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In an irresistible meeting of two iconic Italian brands, Dolce&Gabbana has partnered with Smeg to unveil an exquisite collection of 100 uniquely conceived and individually hand painted refrigerators.

Smeg’s instantly recognisable FAB28 fridge has been reimagined as a canvas for authentic Sicilian artists to compose works of emotive provincial symbols such as lemons, the trinacria flag, cart wheels, medieval knights and battle scenes.

All distinctive elements of the poetic marionette theatre, as well as important aspects of the aesthetic of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, each refrigerator is an expression of creativity skilfully combining different eras, specialties and sensibilities.

Artists include Salvatore Sapienza, who has been restoring and decorating Sicilian carts since the age of 13, and mother and daughter pairing Adriana Zambonelli and Tiziana Nicosia whose volcanic creations in their Catanian artisan workshop have been exhibited across the globe.

Finished with embellished floral motifs, the 100 individually designed refrigerators combine innovation with a meticulous eye for detail in one-of-a-kind products bearing all the hallmarks of Smeg quality and craftsmanship with Dolce&Gabbana’s masterful artisan workmanship.

With a price ticket of £30,000 each, they’re sure to make a statement.

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RADIATE COLOUR Bisque, the UK designer radiator brand, Bisque have launched the Lissett; a subtle, elegant design that beautifully complements contemporary interiors.

With its slim profile and graceful curves, the Lissett’s elliptical sections, topped by chrome caps, create a play of light across the radiator surface and its discreet brackets allow for minimal projection from the wall.

What’s more Bisque offer a range of over 50 colours and finishes including textured and metallic options so you’re sure to find a bright to suit your style!

The Wesco XL Spaceboy bin adds some colour and fun to your kitchen. design features include a stainless steel push flap, stainless steel handles on each side and a galvanized steel inner bucket and provides 35 litres of capacity. The top section of the Spaceboy ‘lifts off’ (if you’ll pardon the pun) to access the inner bucket and for liner changing. £199 www.binopolis.com

Along with a number of existing Bisque models, both the Lissett and Lissett Towel radiator benefit from eco-friendly technology. Crafted from recycled aluminium, it heats up faster and is more energy efficient than traditional designs – particularly useful in rooms where temperatures fluctuate quickly and often, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

The Lissett is available in six sizes – four horizontal and two vertical with prices starting from £439 excluding VAT. Find out more at bisque.co.uk

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DESIGNER COOL

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Ignite your creativity at Grand Designs Live

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Ever envious of other people’s homes you see on TV, and think I wish I lived there? Well this October Grand Designs Live will be returning to NEC in Birmingham to ignite your imagination and celebrate the spirit of design.

Once again, Kevin McCloud, design guru and presenter of the Channel 4 TV series, will be hosting the five-day run of the design exhibition. Bringing his well renowned expertise and distinctive style and approach to the show, Grand Designs is set to be as entertaining as it is informative.

The event promises to break down conventional limitations to home building and offers visitors a chance to view the latest trends and unseen products in self-build, from kitchens to gardens and everything in-between.

1. British Colour Standard Mugs, £12 each www.

Designedincolour.com, 2. Customise the colour of the body, handle, lid and flame guard in a selection of on-trend colours from Pyrex. From £20 pyrexuk.com 3. Wesco kitchen clock with timer in Lime Green, £74.95 wesco-shop.co.uk 4. Spring Colours Long Drink Glass Set £40.99 wayfair.co.uk 5. Espresso Pump Machine, Azure Blue, De’Longhi RRP £189.98.

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With 500 exhibitors making their way to the NEC, there is something for everyone across the six different sectors on show covering build, kitchens, bathrooms, technology, gardens and interiors.

The Show will be running from the 19th to the 23rd October at the NEC in Birmingham. For tickets visit. granddesignslive.com

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Plan[t] ahead for gorgeous gardens A senior horticultural supervisor at Birmingham Botanical Gardens goes over the important gardening tasks for Autumn.

The trick to a beautiful garden next spring is to start planning now - think ahead to a colourful display and start planting crocuses and daffodils. Don’t worry about planting tulips just yet - it’s fine to leave them until later in the year.

In order to keep your garden looking gorgeous, continue to dead head and feed your baskets and pots to keep the flowers going as long as possible!

Plan next year’s summer floral displays by taking cuttings of your favourite tender plants, such as pelargoniums (geraniums), fuchsias, plectranthus (coleus) and salvia – none of which will survive British winters if left outside. For the best results, take cuttings from healthy and non-flowering stems. They should be about 10cm long and cut just below a node, which is the part of the stem from which one or more leaves emerge, often forming a slight swelling.

Once this has been done, remove the lower leaves to prevent them from rotting and pot into a free draining compost mix.

We recommend 75% multipurpose compost and 25% sand, grit or perlite. Water when the compost is dry and place in a warm shady place.

While the soil is still warm and moist, plant new shrubs and evergreens. Conditions for both are ideal at present – give them

a chance to settle in before winter arrives.

Your lawns won’t need much cutting by now, and the height of the cut can be raised. Take this time to reseed or turf those patchy areas – now’s also a good time to scarify, aerate and top-dress to get a really good sward of grass next year.

In the vegetable garden, it’s time to think about planting out onions sets, setting out spring cabbages and lifting main crop potatoes. Be sure to store them in a cool, dark place to keep them fresh for as long as possible. Now is also a good time to cut out spent raspberry canes from your summer fruiting raspberries and tie in some new strong shoots to the supporting framework.

Greenhouses should have their shading removed at the end of the month, just after the autumn equinox, to give plants all the light possible during the winter. A good clean with soapy water now will do this and reduce overwintering pests and diseases.

If you have a garden pond, try placing a net over the top to stop falling leaves from clogging it up.

Feeling motivated?

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

SPECIAL FEATURE

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A flavour of Latin America

THE MUSIC, THE FOOD, THE LANGUAGE – SPANISH CULTURE HAS FASCINATED PEOPLE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. SPAIN’S CITIES, LIKE MADRID, ARE AMAZING HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS, BUT IF YOU WANT YOUR SPANISH A BIT CLOSER TO THE EQUATOR, YOU NEED TO GET TO LATIN AMERICA. Luckily, it’s closer than you think. Iberia has regular flights from Birmingham to many Latin American cities via Madrid. With only one stop and great connection times, you can reach your Latin paradise in no time.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (15 HOURS, 30 MINUTES)0

parrilla or steakhouse to indulge your inner carnivore with every cut imaginable. Visit old standbys like Don Julio’s or La Brigada, or try a newcomer like the popular La Carniceria.

Bring on the night: Porteños know how to party. Nights out start with dinner no earlier than 10pm; clubs close as the sun rises. Popular spots include Frank’s, where you’ll need a password to get in, and Florería Atlántico, hidden under a flower shop.

Learn to tango: Buenos Aires is the birthplace of tango. Its popularity has dwindled with younger generations, but older locals still frequent milongas or tango clubs. La Milonga de los Consagrados is a great place to watch them dance. For professional shows, classic venues like El Viejo Almacén and La Ventana won’t disappoint. If you want to join in, you can take classes at La Catedral.

Nicknamed the “Paris of South America”, Buenos Aires exudes charm and sophistication. Grand tree-lined avenues, glamorous nightlife, a world-class opera house, and packed football stadiums all contribute to this eclectic and elegant city.

Beef it up: Steak-lovers – rejoice. Argentina produces some of the world’s best beef, and Buenos Aires is the place to try it. Head to a 44 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

SANTIAGO, CHILE (18 HOURS, 30 MINUTES) Home to more than a third of Chile’s population, Santiago is a bustling metropolis. With a steady economy and two decades of political stability, the city has blossomed into one of Latin America’s best places to live.

Drink a bottle or two: Chile’s unique geography and mild climate

Appreciate the architecture: Havana Vieja, or Old Havana, is the best place to see the city’s architectural riches. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, this neighbourhood has hundreds of historic buildings, many of which have been carefully restored. Baroque, Neoclassical, Art Deco – they’re all here. Capitolio Nacional, Edificio Bacardí, and Palacio Cueto are all highlights.

See change underway: Havana is changing fast. Its faded beauty remains – car buffs will marvel at the old models still in use, mass development has yet to begin – but perhaps not for long. As Cuba opens up, it’s the perfect place to see entrepreneurship at work. Dine at a paladar or private restaurant, stay at a casa particular or bed and breakfast, visit one of the latest shops or galleries; their owners are charting new territory.

MIAMI, FLORIDA (13 HOURS) Geographically, Miami might not be Latin American, but it is culturally.

Hispanic immigration has shaped this energetic city, from waves of

make it a vinicultural paradise. Just south of Santiago is the Maipo Valley, Chile’s oldest wine region. Here, you can find large wineries like Concha y Toro, as well as smaller producers like the acclaimed Antiyal vineyard.

This region is most famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere wines.

Get crafty: Artisanal crafts from throughout Chile can be found in Santiago’s markets. The Santa Lucía craft market is great for cheap, mass-produced souvenirs. For top quality crafts, visit Los Dominicos in the wealthy Las Condes district or the Patio Bellavista in the artsy Bellavista neighbourhood. Seek out alpaca wool garments and deep blue lapis lazuli jewellery.

Discover history: The darkest period of Chile’s recent history was the almost 20-year military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Santiago’s Museum of Memory and Human Rights honours the stories and legacies of those tortured. For a lighter side to Chilean history, visit Pablo Neruda’s house in Santiago to learn more about the country’s most famous poet.

HAVANA, CUBA (13 HOURS, 15 MINUTES) Colourful, musical and historical, Havana is a capital city caught between the old guard and the modern world. Havana now is already vastly different than Havana two years ago, before the U.S. eased restrictions on its citizens travelling and spending money there. Go now to experience it before it changes completely.

Feel the beat: From son to salsa, from rumba to reggaeton, from timba

Cubans in the 1960s to more recent immigration from countries like Colombia, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic.

Hit the beach: No trip to Miami would be complete without a day or two at the beach. Miami’s easily accessible beaches are great for swimming, sunbathing, kite surfing, jet skiing, paddle boarding, people watching and more. South Beach is famous, Bal Harbour is glitzy, and residential spots like Surfside offer a family vibe. Slightly further afield are the beautiful beaches of Key Biscayne.

Fun for the whole family: Children will love Miami. They can play on the beach all day, roller blade down the boardwalk, go biking and canoeing in Oleta River State Park, and catch starfish at Biscayne Nature Center. At night, mum and dad can go out on the town. Check out live music at the legendary club Hoy Como Ayer, or have a cocktail at a bar in one of South Beach’s iconic Art Deco buildings.

Eat, eat, eat: Dining in Miami is like a culinary tour of Latin America. You can sample Peruvian ceviche, visit a Brazillian churrascaria for all-youcan-eat meat, or taste test both Colombian and Venezuelan arepas. For Cuban classics, head to Little Havana – breakfast at the historic Versailles bakery, a Cuban sandwich for lunch, and seafood at El Cristo for dinner.

GETTING THERE Iberia Express operates flights from Birmingham Airport to Madrid thrice weekly during the winter season. From here you can connect onwards to destinations across Latin America with great transfer times. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 45

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to jazz to EDM – Havana pulses with music. Spanish, Caribbean and African influences merge to create a distinctly Cuban sound.

The beachfront Jardines del 1830 is the place for live salsa, and you can catch top jazz acts at the intimate La Zorra y el Cuervo club.

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shorter two hour trip rather than the dining experience- get back earlier and enjoy a long dinner in the city!

Wherever you go in Prague, skeletons, devils and witches abound - everything is slightly gothic and ‘dark’, but when mentioning this to our guide from Eating Prague, who organise amazing food and drink trips around the city, any sinister interpretations of this nightmare figures were dispelled; “No, no, the witches are all for good luck. We have them in our kitchens to keep the bad spirits out.” Ok. Why bad spirits would lurk in a kitchen I’m not sure perhaps from the traditional Christmas Day Carp, kept in the bathtub during advent, killed on Christmas Eve and eaten on the big day itself.

czech mate THE CAPITAL OF BOHEMIA PRAGUE Prague, the capital of The Czech Republic, has gone from the back packers’ Best Kept Secret to the stag and hen capital of the old eastern block. Or so we were lead to believe.

With Czech Airlines now flying direct from Birmingham Airport dluxe Magazine’s Jonathan Fraser decided to see if there was truth in the rumour that the stags had finally rutted off from the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia…

People think I can be a little weird. Take Christmas a few years back for example. I was presented with a dream gift: a vintage and (admittedly) sinister ventriloquist’s dummy (since called Uncle David, don’t ask). He now sits in the corner of the living room, unnerving the more sensitive visitors to my home. It’s fair to say my tastes are left of centre, shall we say.

So, killing time on the (actually very quick: 1hr 40mins!) flight from Birmingham to Prague I was thrilled to discover, when leafing through the guide book, a coach trip to a church made entirely from skulls and bones. Just my bag and from that point forward, I knew that Prague and I were going to get on.

Like most major European cities, Prague is built either side of a large river, the Vltava, and the name of Prague actually originates from the Czech word for ford or river crossing. Settlements here date back to the 9th Century AD with many of the city’s most spectacular architecture still standing from the 14th Century and reign of Charles IV. It’s this monarch that the main bridge connecting the two halves of the city is named after. The 46 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Charles Bridge deserves more than a passing comment: not only is it probably the most important and easiest-to-find tourist landmark in the city and with its myriad of craft stalls, beatnik musicians and gothic statues, it’s a must-see.

Stroll across the Bridge to the North side and up the hill to the beautiful Prague Castle and gothic Saint Vitus Cathedral, which look menacingly over into the main old town on the opposite bank. Beware: it’s a steep walk, although well worth doing if you can, as the view is quite breathtaking (in both senses of the word).

If all that sounds like too much legwork, stay on the South side and follow the bustling crowds through winding streets filled with tiny theatres, marionette shops (they’re obsessed), restaurants and quirky coffee houses and bars which invariably lead you towards the main Old Town square and the medieval Astronomical clock whose moving sculptures perform the ‘Walk of The Apostles’ with each hour chime performed by a statue of the grim reaper himself, pulling on the bell pull. Touristy but fabulous!

Another way to see the city is by boat. The evening river cruise by Prague Boats offers spectacular views but we’d recommend the

Speaking of food (and we always are as my other half is food-obsessed), Cuisine and The Czech Republic go surprisingly hand in hand with a vast selection of restaurants for all budgets and tastes. We heartily recommend the Eating Prague tour – mentioned above- as a great way to sample menus, try traditional dishes and discover some great restaurants to visit later in your trip.

Back on the streets and with daylight dimming, the gothic architecture of the city comes into its own: with cobbled streets lit by dim gas lamps and brooding statues. It’s all very the Brothers Grimm but not in the least foreboding. Add to this the pools of light spilling from the doorways and windows of the (many) small and quirky bars and you’ll be under its spell yet further. We were enchanted, that’s for sure.

The Czech Republic has a fine reputation for the quality of its beers and you’ll find plenty to choose from in the city’s bars, some of which have their own micro breweries within. Beer is incredibly cheap to buy – the average per capita beer consumption is about 160 litres per year, meaning that Czechs drink more beer than anyone on the planet. If beer’s not your thing then why not try a little of ‘la fee verte’ or Absinthe, which is still made in the Czech Republic - perfect before a moonlit stroll amongst the streets, although it might make the statues come to life if you have too much!

FACT BOX: You can fly from Birmingham Airport to Prague with Czech Airlines up to 5 times weekly. Operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays on an Airbus A319 with a total of 144 seats – 12 business and 126 economy. Book flights at www. czechairlines.com We stayed at the ParkHotel Praha, a few minutes tram ride from the centre of Prague and designed with a distinctly sixties feel.

Rates vary depending on season – visit www. parkhotel-praha.cz to find out more www.eatingpraguetours.com www.prague-boats.cz www.prague.eu

TRAVEL NEWS NORWEGIAN AND NO1 LOUNGES ENTER INTO NEW PARTNERSHIP Low-cost airline Norwegian has entered into a new partnership with No1 Lounges, giving the airline’s loyalty scheme members an enhanced travel experience at greater value from Birmingham Airport.

From now on, all Norwegian Reward members flying from Birmingham Airport will receive an exclusive discount for No1 Lounge access which includes complimentary Premium Security lane access.

Extensive Refurbishment Complete at World Duty Free World Duty Free (WDF), a Dufry company, has completed an extensive refurbishment of its tax and duty free store at Birmingham Airport.

The refresh of the store has given WDF the opportunity to introduce several new and exciting products across all its categories. The beauty area has seen the addition of several iconic brands including Jo Malone London, Urban Decay and Bobbi Brown.

A wider range of products have also been introduced in the liquor category with an increased focus on premium gin, vodka and wines. Whisky, in particular, is strongly showcased with the installation of a new World of Whiskies ‘shop in shop’ concept.

Key luxury brands such as Pandora, Skagen and Armani and new watch brands - such as the Swiss brand Mondaine – have introduced an extended range. As Birmingham is the home of Cadbury’s, the confectionery space now features a ‘Best of British’ area to give special emphasis to this celebrated, 200 year old British brand.

Richard Gill, Head of Commercial for Birmingham Airport, said, “WDF’s presence at Birmingham Airport has enabled us to give our customers a world class retail experience which has helped us to attract new and exciting brands and grow our business. Always forward looking and willing to test new boundaries, WDF has attracted many luxury global brands to Birmingham and we are delighted that more are being showcased here with the opening of the refurbished tax and duty free store.”

Other recent additions to our retail offering includes the introduction of luxury handbag brands Furla and Tumi, new trendy juice bar, Joe & the Juice, and new currency exchange provider ICE.

JET2.COM AND JET2HOLIDAYS LAND AT BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT Leading leisure airline and package holiday company, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, are launching flights and holidays from Birmingham in 2017.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ arrival in Birmingham means significant investment for the region. More than 200 new jobs will be created with roles available including flight and cabin crew, engineers and ground operations staff.

Paul Kehoe, CEO Birmingham Airport, said: “It’s great news that we welcome Jet2.com and Jet2holidays as partners of Birmingham Airport. This new addition to the family here at Birmingham Airport means new jobs in our

The No1 Lounge in Birmingham has a fully tended bar, open plan bistro and lounge areas, alongside the exclusive living herb wall and mezzanine level – perfectly suited to business and leisure passengers.

To book discounted No1 lounge access using Norwegian Reward, please visit: no1lounges. com/norwegian

MONARCH LAUNCHES SUMMER 2017 SCHEDULE Monarch has announced its summer 2017 schedule with 22 routes to popular destinations now on sale from Birmingham Airport.

Holiday packages all include hand-picked accommodation and flights including 20kgs of baggage. There’s a wide range of family friendly and elite products featuring luxurious hotels with a selection of adult only hotels.

The summer schedule includes some of the airline’s most popular city breaks like Venice, Madrid and Lisbon as well as favourite summer destinations including the Algarve, Majorca, Malaga and the Canary Islands.

Fifteen fantastic sun destinations are now on sale for summer 2017 – Alicante, Crete (Heraklion), Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona (Costa Brava), Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Majorca, Malaga, Menorca, Paphos, Reus, Rhodes and Tenerife – giving local holidaymakers even more choice and even better value when it comes to their sunshine breaks next year.

A total of 57 weekly flights will operate to these destinations. 590,000 seats will be available for summer 2017 and the flights will operate on brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

The new partnership also offers Norwegian Reward members 25 CashPoints when purchasing airport lounge access with No1, which can be used to reduce the cost of future flight bookings, seat reservation and checked baggage.

To book, please visit www.monarch.co.uk

FLYBE ANNOUNCES A NEW ROUTE TO TOULOUSE

region and even more choice for travellers, with 15 routes to popular and affordable sun destinations. This friendly leisure airline is in response to customer demand offering great value deals to some of the most popular sunshine routes on a fleet of brand new 737800 aircraft.”

Jet2.com offers friendly low fares, award winning customer service, great flight times and a generous 22kg baggage allowance booked with 0% credit card fees*.

For further information and to book visit www. jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com

Flybe has announced a brand new route between Birmingham and Toulouse-Blagnac airports, with daily flights starting on 30th October, providing the only direct service between the two destinations.

The new route will enhance the airline’s Winter schedule to regional France. In total, Flybe will operate 22 routes from Birmingham for Winter 2016 offering a choice of up to 424 flights a week.

Tickets are available for booking now at www. flybe.com with one way fares from £29.99 including taxes and charges.

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The Maserati of SUVs WITH THE LEVANTE A NEW WIND IS BLOWING THROUGH THE SUV SEGMENT, GUARANTEEING THE PASSION, THE FLAIR AND THE EXCLUSIVITY THAT COMES WITH THE DISTINGUISHED MASERATI NAME. The Maserati Levante is a turning point in the brand’s history enabling the illustrious Trident access to the largest luxury segment in the world taking on the likes of Range Rover, the Jaguar F Pace and Porsche Cayenne. The name Levante was inspired by a warm, Mediterranean wind that can change from mild to gale force in an instant, mirroring the character of the first Maserati SUV. Although the Levante is based on the current Maserati saloon platform the chassis has been specifically developed around three main pillars: Design, Exclusivity and Performance and the Levante’s design is certainly distinctive whilst still being attractive; it actually achieves the best aerodynamic efficiency in its segment with a Cx coefficient of just 0.31.

The Maserati DNA is clearly visible everywhere you look, ensuring that 48 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

the Levante stands out among its competitors. The Levante is immediately recognisable as a Maserati, even from a distance. The muscular shape of the rear haunches gives it a distinctive and attractive Italian style whilst the imposing grille pays homage to historical Maserati models like the Tipo 60 Birdcage. The silhouette of the Levante moves from its feline-inspired headlights along the side of the car to the characteristic Maserati rear pillar, resulting in a coupé look that is enhanced by the frameless doors, a feature of every modern Maserati.

the twin-turbo petrol engine and the economical turbodiesel are globally acclaimed for their unique Maserati signature sound and for their exceptional performance.

The thoroughbred on-road handling typical of all Maserati cars has not been compromised thanks to features like the extensive use of lightweight materials, ideal 50-50% weight distribution and its lowest in class centre of gravity.

The Levante is also available with a common-rail, direct injection turbodiesel V6 with reduced dwell time injectors. The 3-litre engine is capable of 275 hp and delivers 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and a 230 km/h maximum speed while keeping the fuel economy as low as 7.2 litres/100 km under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

Engine-wise, the Levante is equipped with the latest evolution of the Maserati 3-litre V6 engines. The two versions of

The petrol Maserati V6 engine with latest GDI and twin-turbo is available in two versions: the top of the range 430 hp and the exciting 350 hp. The most powerful Levante makes it to 100 km/h in 5.2” and has a top speed of 264 km/h, while the figures for the 350 hp version are 6.0” and 251 km/h respectively.

The aluminium “double wishbone - five link” suspension layout is comprised of standard Air Springs and electronically controlled Skyhook shock absorbers.

In conjunction with the intelligent Q4 All-Wheel-Drive system and the newly introduced Torque Vectoring system which deliver GT on-road behaviour and surprising - for a Maserati - off-road capabilities: the Levante is designed to deliver best in class comfort on rough roads and handling on snow and ice.

The Levante has entered the SUV segment with a marked advantage in terms of new content. The innovative features of the car include: Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Forward Collision Warning and Brake Assist System, Lane Departure Warning, Surround View camera, capacitive 8.4” Touch Screen display with brand new rotary control, plus the AHA function, an addition to the Maserati Touch Control Plus which extends the AM, FM and DAB digital radio with a network connection option: the AHA function dialogues with the user’s network-connected mobile device to give access to on-line services (radio stations, programmes, etc.) while on the move.

Inside the Levante has been designed to feel like a first class lounge and, in line with a long Maserati tradition, customers can personalise the interior according to their individual taste. A total of 28 interior colour combinations are available at launch. The dashboard features an 8.4” Touch Screen and the classic Maserati analogue clock is retained and located in the centre of the dashboard.

Standard equipment, also includes leather upholstery, Maserati 8.4” Touch Screen, Base Audio System with 8 speakers, cruise control, Hill Descent Control, dual zone climate system, wipers with rain sensor, keyless entry (front doors) and power lift tailgate and buyers can specify between Sport and Luxury packs to create their perfect environment.

The Levante is an intriguing and alternative addition to the luxury SUV market with prices starting from £54,355 for the diesel model with first deliveries due to take place from November. The V6 petrol model is due to follow as will a hybrid version.

To find out more visit www.maserati.co.uk

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Both petrol and diesel versions of the Maserati Levante use the eight-speed automatic ZF gearbox that provides seamless comfort and fast gear shifting, depending on the selected drive mode.

The Levante driver can choose between four drive modes, “Normal” I.C.E., “Sport” and “Off-road”. Each one constitutes distinct characteristics intelligently altering engine, transmission, suspension and electronics features.

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HONEY AND SOY GLAZED ROASTED SHALLOTS AND SAUSAGES Sweet, savoury, sticky and totally irresistible, this quick to make supper dish is a great midweek staple.

Serves: 4 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30-40 minutes You’ll need 8 good quality pork sausages 16 shallots, peeled 1 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsps runny honey 3 tbsps soy sauce 2 tbsps flaked almonds (optional) 200g cherry tomatoes on the vine 1 bag of watercress for serving What to do Pre heat oven 200c /180c fan /gas 4. Place the sausages and shallots in a roasting tin, add the oil and turn until lightly coated.

Cook in the oven for 10 minutes, drain away any excess fat, turn the sausages and shallots, drizzle over the soy sauce and honey.

Continue to cook for another 10 minutes, turn the sausages and shallots in the sauce then sprinkle over the almonds and add the cherry tomatoes, cook for another 10 minutes, or slightly longer until the sauce is sticky and the almonds lightly golden.

SMOKED HAM AND BEETROOT PASTA BAKE A delicious, quick and warming workday dish that’s sure to satisfy the whole family . Best served with a green salad and crusty bread on rainy nights.

Serves: 4 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes YOU’LL NEED 375g dried pasta shapes, e.g. conchiglie, fusilli or penne 1 onion, finely chopped 50g unsalted butter 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 tbsp plain flour 450ml milk 150ml double cream (or use extra milk for a less rich option) 150g gruyere or mature cheddar, grated 200g piece smoked ham, torn into shreds small bunch chives, snipped salt & freshly ground black pepper 500g cooked beetroot (2 packs), diced.

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WHAT TO DO Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cook pasta according to packet instructions.

Drain and reserve. Set a heavy based saucepan over a low heat, sweat the onion in the butter for 10-15 minutes until it starts to soften. Add the garlic and fry for a further minute before stirring through the flour.

Pour in milk and cream, and bring up to the boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Simmer steadily for 2-3 minutes to cook the flour.

Turn out the heat, stir through half the cheese, the ham and chives. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Stir through the cooked pasta and beetroot and spoon into a baking dish. Scatter over the rest of the cheese and bake for about 20 minutes golden brown and bubbling. www.lovebeetroot.co.uk

Scatter with watercress and serve with creamy mashed potato. www.ukshallot.com

SPECIAL FEATURE

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COCKTAIL EDIT: MIX IT UP! Channel your inner Tom Cruise (are we showing our age here?) and create the perfect mixers.

From cherry blossom tonic and cocktails in a can to alcoholic sweeties and pineapple1 shaped glasses, KATIE SAYERS, Foodmarket Manager at Harvey Nichols, shares her favourite drinks party essentials.

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WINE TASTING

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WITH SIOFRA O’BRIEN Like all fashionistas eagerly awaiting the arrival of the AW16 collections, the Harvey Nichols hospitality team has been very excited to welcome some great new arrivals to the Wine Shop this season.

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At our regular Wine Wednesday tasting sessions, these two little charmers have already worked their magic with our customers.

First up is a real stunner from the Alto Adige region of Italy – Erste & Neur Pinot Grigio 2015 (£14).

Graced with a lovely purity, a wonderful warmth that radiates through the wine even though this is a fresh mineraldriven style of Pinot Grigio. It’s great as an aperitif but it comes into its own when served with fish dishes, especially mussels or oysters.

The second wine that wowed is Quint Milu 2014 from Ribera de Duero in Spain (£12.75), created

by German Blanco, a young maker who is championing a fresher style of Tinto del Pais, the local name for Tempranillo. Working with old vines planted at more than 900 meters above sea level gives this delicious red just a hint of rusticity and great freshness. This worked a treat with our cheese plate on the night.

Siofra O’Brien is the Wine Specialist at Harvey Nichols Birmingham.

Join her in store every Wednesday to enjoy complimentary taster sessions from 7pm-8pm. To book call 0121 616 6024’.

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1: Aske-Stephenson peanut butter and jam cocktail, £35. 2: Smith & Sinclair vodka selection cocktail pastilles, £9.50. 3: Tails espresso martini single serve cocktail, £4.75. 4: The Handmade Cocktail Co vintage gin martini, £39.50/ 5: The Pineapple Co tumbler, £34.95. 6: Thomas Henry cherry blossom tonic, £1.25. 7: Tipplesworth dark chocolate martini mini cocktail kit, £19.95.

Learn the art of cocktail making at Harvey Nichols master classes every Friday and Saturday at the Birmingham store. Starting at 1pm, the sessions cost £30 per person or £45 including a three course meal from a set menu. For bookings and more information, email reservations.birmingham@harveynichols.com.

WINTER WARMERS There’s nothing better or as easy to make as a Hot Toddy or punch on a cold night- perfect for Bonfire season!

HOT GINGER TODDY 50ml gin 6 dashes of Orange Angostura bitters Premium ginger beer - warmed.

Garnish with orange wedge, Star Anise and a stick of cinnamon. Serve in a glass mug.

HOT APPLE PUNCH 50ml Gin 25ml lemon juice Warmed apple juice (to suit your taste) Stir gin and lemon juice in a glass mug and add warmed apple juice. Garnish with a stick of cinnamon.

TOM’S KITCHEN TO OPEN AT THE MAILBOX Founded by one of the UK’s most acclaimed and inspirational awardwinning chefs, Tom Aikens’ ‘Tom’s Kitchen Birmingham’ will open as a restaurant, bar and deli at the Mailbox this December.

As the first UK Tom’s Kitchen venture outside of London, Tom’s Kitchen Birmingham will offer all-day dining, seven days a week, and will serve British favourites and comfort food classics in a relaxed and informal setting. There will also be a range of private and semi-private spaces, perfect for parties and events.

“Birmingham is a vibrant and bustling city with a thriving food scene.

There is already a wonderful array of restaurants in the city, and I believe that Tom’s Kitchen will offer an exciting new option for diners in the Mailbox development” said Tom. The arrival of Tom’s Kitchen is a welcome addition to the Mailbox’s already bustling and wide ranging portfolio of restaurant and lifestyle brands. www.mailboxlife.com www.tomskitchen.co.uk dluxe-magazine.co.uk 51

BIRMINGHAM COOK BOOK Released this Autumn, The Birmingham Cook Book boasts the very best of the independent food scene from the city and surrounding Warwickshire county; from Michelin-starred restaurants to cafés, pubs, farm shops and suppliers.

Glynn Purnell, who gained Birmingham its very first Michelin Star back in 2003, has written the foreword and is keen for people to see just how far the city’s independent food scene has come along: “Who would have thought that Birmingham would be the UK’s hotspot for food? I have been running independent restaurants for 15 years now and both the city and the region are getting stronger, from the coffee shops to the delis and the amazing restaurants.”

The Birmingham Cook Book strives to promote the city’s diverse approach to catering, with each chapter focusing on unique approaches to great food and the stories behind each dish. For example, you’ll find entries from the lads at Original Patty Men – winners of the British Street Food award for Best Burger, sharing their cheeseburger with chorizo jam and garlic mayo recipe. Not forgetting Birmingham’s original organic butchers, Rossiters, who come recommended by BBC Good Food.

Native Birmingham foodie and television personality Alison Hammond also features in the book and is one of many excitedly awaiting the books release: “I’m absolutely delighted to be involved in this cook book. After appearing on Celebrity MasterChef I have been dying to get some of my favourite recipes out there for everyone to enjoy. I just love Brum and we have the most Michelin star restaurants outside of London... now that’s something to be proud of,” she says.

With amazing recipes, dedicated suppliers and an abundance of passionate cooks, chefs and bakers, it’s clear Brummies really have something to brag about.

The Birmingham Cook Book retails at just £14.95 and is available in all of the businesses featured in the book as well as select local gift and bookshops.

ADAM’S URGE DINERS TO ‘LOVE FOOD GIVE FOOD’ IN AID OF ACTION AGAINST HUNGER hunger. The appeal will also mark a significant moment for the humanitarian organisation as it celebrates 18 years of partnership with the UK food industry.

By adding on a voluntary £1 donation to their customers’ bills, restaurants were able to raise £330,000 for Action Against Hunger last year.

Diners can make a huge difference by eating out at Adam’s where customers will be given the opportunity to add a small donation to their bill. By treating yourself at Adam’s you will be providing vulnerable communities with access to safe water and helping families in some of the world’s poorest countries to feed themselves and their children for generations to come.

Adam Stokes from the eponymous Michelin starred restaurant said, “Helping this cause is very important to me, I love food and through food you can bring happiness and joy. By this small donation on each bill we can very quickly raise money to help people who are less fortunate and hopefully bring to them a little bit of that happiness and joy.”

Adam’s on Waterloo Street has joined forces with the UK food industry to support Action Against Hunger’s Love Food Give Food appeal, calling on food lovers across the nation to eat out and help raise crucial funds towards the fight against child hunger.

Menus and venues across the country will be supporting Love Food Give Food this year as hundreds of restaurants nationwide unite to collect funds and support Action Against Hunger’s vision of a world without 52 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

If you really love food, why not show it by sharing? Head to Adam’s and turn that culinary passion into action against hunger. For more information on what’s going on during the campaign, and how you can get involved, visit actionagainsthunger.org.uk

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

HAVE A SOCIAL

CHRISTMAS

We hate ou rselves f or sa y ing this , b ut y ou k now Chr ist m a s i s j u s t a ro u n d t h e c o r n e r, r i g h t ? L a s t y e a r, we we re o n e o f t h e m ost po pu lar places in t he c ity to hos t a Chr is tma s ga t h e r i n g . We ’ re a m o de s t bu n c h , b u t wi t h o u r d e c a d e n t As p en l o dg es, h andcra fted f estive roast a nd multi- a w a rd w inning c ock t a i l s , i t ’s n o t d i ff i c u l t t o s e e wh y.

We’ve o pen ed ou r reserva tion b ook f or Chr is tma s 201 6 a n d a v a i l a bi l i t y i s g o i n g f a s t ! Bo o k n o w t o a v o i d d i s appo int ment .

gas street social 166-168 wharfside street, the mailbox, birmingham. b1 1rl

0121 643 0362 | book@gasstreetsocial.co.uk

#IAMSOCIAL #IAMCHRISTMAS

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d i n e a n i ta SABAI SABAI FOR STRATFORD

BISTROT PIERRE COMES TO BIRMINGHAM I wouldn’t class myself as a Francophile but I’m drawn to the French way of drinking and dining. I love Hotel du Vin, Cote Brasserie and Thierry Henri. Oh I digress.

Everyone needs a bit of joie de vivre to brighten up a dull day and the new Pierre Bistrot does just that. French restaurants brands have come a long way since Café Rouge and we have emerged from the ashes of stereotypical French décor to create some really lovely places.

The new kid on the block has set up home in a fantastic spot along the Gas Street canal down from the Mailbox. They have cleverly and respectfully converted a gorgeous 19th century Grade II building that was once the headquarters of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal Company.

It’s an impressive doubled-fronted building with an entrance from the canal and one on Gas Steet. It’s spread over three floors, with several rooms seemingly emerging from every corner.

The roof-top terrace looks out over the canals of the Gas Street Basin and there’s a small enclosed courtyard that extends from the bi-folding doors of the ground floor restaurant. The light and space creates a very relaxed ambience.

They have got their Anglo-French dishes spot on with classic bistrot favourites feature across our menus alongside seasonal dishes. We dined on a perfectly sunny Bank Holiday Monday with the family. I kicked off with Belvoir Raspberry Lemonade- it was that kind of day!

To start we had a little platter of thinly sliced saucisson from the Beaujolais region, with cornichons and French bread. My starter of Ravioli au crabe arrived in a shellfish, tomato and white wine sauce with asparagus, petits pois and tarragon which looked perfect. Tasted great.

Hubby had the a starter of duck meatballs which we have never seen on a menu and they tasted exquisite. For mains I had the poulet printanier (£13.50) soft tender chicken breast in a creamy sauce with a side of Roasted field mushrooms with garlic served on a mini skillet pan.

Hubby was impressed with his seared salmon nicoise, a plentiful dish full of colour from the poached egg, French beans, roasted peppers, capers, olives, croûton with a side of garlic roasted new potatoes.

Our wine choice was the Cuvée 94, Rich with ripe fruit character and a hint of peppery spice.

My eldest had the macaroni cheese whilst the youngest had strips of chicken breast with pomme frites. but the accompanying small salad had unfortunately dried out. I thought the portions were quite small for my growing lads and would probably be suitable if you were under 8.

It was one of the loveliest lunches in one of the loveliest restaurant in the city – on one of the loveliest days. I’ll be back bien sur.

The couple already run two highly successful restaurants in Birmingham, opening their first in Moseley twelve years ago, soon followed by another in Harborne in 2011.

The new venue on Wood Street, is right in the centre of Stratford, just a stone’s throw from Shakespeare’s former home on Henley Street. The process of finding the right location, as well as developing the look and style inside the Grade-II listed building, took about 12 months with famed designers, Tibbatts Abel creating the sumptuous, contemporary interiors for the new 90-cover restaurant.

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Bistrot Pierre is at Waterside House, 46 Gas St, Birmingham B1 2JT, Tel 0121 616 0730

The magic of The Alchemist arrives IN the city The wait is nearly over with two exciting new openings in the historic Grand Hotel on Colmore Row. The Alchemist , the new cocktail bar and restaurant chain from Living Ventures arrives with European cafe chain Gusto hot on its heels.

The Alchemist is about celebrating molecular mixology and alchemy of cocktails as well as being a celebration of the ‘unconventional, dark and controversial’. The entrance has been described as a copper cased wonderland”. Sounds both intriguing and wonderful and bound to be a big hit with the townies.

Renovation work at The Grand - which first opened in 1879 and closed in 2002 - has been estimated at £25 million and is hoped to be completed in time for the hotel to open in 2018.

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Torquil and Juree Chidwick, the awardwinning husband and wife team behind the Sabai Sabai brand, have opened its third Midlands restaurant, expanding their unique brand of Thai cuisine beyond Britain’s second city, into Stratford-uponAvon.

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

Last year Nadiya Hussain was crowned the winner of The Great British Bake Off. Since then she has release d a cookbook and a documentary, The Chronicles of Nadiya. Ahead of her appearance at the BBC Good Food Show, Nadiya discusses her favourite dishes and what she is most looking forward to at the show.

What is your favourite dish to cook? I love one pot dishes.

So a chicken tagine, with preserved lemons and dates. Served with lemon couscous.

What is your top tip for festive cooking? Try and do as much in advance. I like to pre prep anything that can be done and then par cook anything that can be finished off last minute.

I always par cook/blanch my roasties and then freeze them and cook again in fat to get them really crispy.

What is your most treasured item in the kitchen?

My favourite thing in the kitchen has to be my micro plane!! I can’t believe how well those things grate the zest of any fruit. I’m always mesmerised.

But my treasured item would have to be my oven without it I’m quite literally half a person. Recently moving house I hadn’t used an oven for 9 days, it’s the longest I have been without baking and it was pretty tough.

What are you most looking forward to about the BBC Good Food Shows?

I have attended the BBC Good Food Show but this year it will be interesting to come back since so much has changed. Very excited to be a part of it all.

What new ingredient or ingredients are you inspired by right now? I am loving yellow ras -el- hanout. It works so well as a coating on fish but even better with slow cooked lamb.

Nadiya Hussain will be cooking live at the BBC Good Food Show Winter, Birmingham – NEC, 24-27 November. Visit bbcgoodfoodshowwinter.com for tickets and further information.

C O U L D T H E S E 5 ‘ H E A LT H Y ’ F O O D S B E S T O P P I N G Y O U FROM SHEDDING THOSE EXTRA POUNDS? 1. SUSHI The amount of protein and vegetables you actually get in sushi is often very tiny (if not minuscule) in comparison to the amount of white rice in each serving. Some outlets do have brown rice sushi which would be better, but that is still a higher serving of starchy carbohydrates to vegetables and protein.

2. HONEY Although this is a natural sugar, you

should only use it sparingly. Honey is a simple sugar, made up primarily of glucose and fructose, and so is absorbed into your blood stream quickly hence, it’s not ideal for controlling your blood sugar, or trying to lose weight.

of natural oestrogen in the body, but women who are still of menstruating age often do not need extra oestrogen. Eating soya products in moderation is preferable, for example once or twice per week.

5. BUTTER SPREADS Butter spreads often combine a smaller amount of butter with buttermilk or other oils, which may seem healthier due to the bad reputation of saturated fats. Those with buttermilk and without vegetable oils may not be a bad option. However, spreads that do contain a higher content of vegetable oils may not be a good choice.

3. RICE MILK Plant milks are not only a helpful

In order to make vegetable oils into a solid substance, they may be partially ‘hydrogenated’. This process changes the structure of the fat molecules in the oil, and they can turn into an unhealthy form of fat called a ‘trans’ fat.

4. TOFU BURGERS Soya products such as tofu burgers are often

This type of fat is not found naturally in foods or in our body. When we consume these type of fats, they may be incorporated into our cell walls and replace the natural fats that should be there; and when consumed in large quantities, they may be linked to negative effects on our health, for example, for heart health and hormonal balance. Real butter may be high in saturated fat, but At least this is a ‘natural’ fat. When consumed in moderation as part of a healthy diet, it should not be a cause for concern for most people.

alternative for those who genuinely cannot tolerate animal milks, but many people drink them because of the trend to consume less dairy.

Rice milk unfortunately is made from white rice which is quite sugary and release its sugar more quickly than brown rice. Instead look for a brown rice brand. touted as being ‘healthier’ than eating meat and commonly used to fulfil protein requirements by vegetarians and vegans. However, soya contains small amounts of plant oestrogens. These may be helpful for women who have menopaused and therefore have a diminished supply

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N a d i ya H u s s a i n S TA R s A T T H I S Year’s BBC Good Food Show

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WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE TO BE in the west midlands THIS autumn

The Clothes Show in association with Alcatel @The NEC 2 – 6th December www.thenec.co.uk

The one stop destination for all fashion lovers, Clothes Show Live is your chance to discover all things fashion and beauty from fashion experts. See the models wearing the latest trends strut down the catwalk and get your hands on this season’s hot new clothing ranges. With unique live performances, Clothes Show Live is an event to behold. With tickets giving you all day access to 350+ pop-up fashion & beauty boutiques, inside trend reports, exclusive style advice & non-stop runway shows, there’s something for all fashion lovers to do.

www.birminghamhippodrome.com 20 – 21st September A tribute to the iconic life of Nelson Mandela is finally coming to Birmingham’s Hippodrome! See the musical brought to the stage by Cape Town Opera in operatic style.

The show will employ a unique fusion of traditional xhosa songs with jazz tunes and modern music in honour of one of the world’s greatest, and most inspiring, statesmen.

barber.org.uk 400 years after the death of William Shakespeare The Barber Institute has put on an exhibition that focuses on the poet’s rivals, associates and more. In collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery and co-curated by Masters Students from the University of Birmingham, this exhibition holds a lot of promise to be a wonderful day out.

This major project features paintings, sculptures, miniatures and prints dating from 1590 to 1620, including portraits of Anne of Denmark, the Earls of Essex and Derby, Ben Jonson, John Fletcher and Shakespeare himself, as well as a rare first Folio and other beautiful books from the time.

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Mandela Trilogy @The Birmingham Hippodrome

Rhythms Del Toro Duo @The Cuban Embassy (Bulls Head)

Rolling Back The Years @ The Core Theatre 21st September www.thecubanembassymoseley. co.uk Live music from around the world will be on show, performed by resident Latin musicians Edwin and Camilo.

Cocktails, Latin inspired food, drinks and some good music are a must not miss with this evening of Latin music. Get down to The Cuban Embassy for a night of good food and even better music.

26 – 27 September thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk From the producers of ‘Memory Lane’, ‘All our Yesterdays’, and ‘Memories are made of This’ comes the ultimate feel good show ‘Rolling Back The Years’!

Take a musical journey through the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s with one of the biggest shows of its kind in the UK. Rolling back the years will feature songs

by Buddy Holly, Cliff Richard, Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Abba and many more.

Dial M for Murder @The Blue Orange Theatre

Ronan Keating @ Symphony Hall

All The World’s A Stage @ The Barber Institute Until 25th September

27th September www.thsh.co.uk

Touring his tenth studio album named Time of my Life, Keating is all about the album of his life. He’s dug deep and created songs that were made for live performing, and is unafraid to

Images by Jas Sansi.

22 September – 1 October www.blueorangetheatre.co.uk The story of murder and affairs, Tony Wendice is planning the perfect murder of his wife Margot. He hopes to inherit a substantial fortune after her death, and so recruits an old friend to carry out the deed.

Mysteriously, the murderer ends up dead himself… can Margot prove her innocence in this detective nail biting show?

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BPS Birmingham Future

wear his heart (and his tunes) on his sleeve. After rejuvenating his partnership with a new record label Decca, Keating is now coming to Symphony Hall with his first songs off his new album.

Laura Van Her Heijden and ‘Mercurial’ Haydn @ Symphony Hall

The BPS Birmingham Future Handover welcomed Tara Tomes as the new chair for the young professionals networking organization.

Held at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham and sponsored by Gowling WLG, The Handover welcomed 70 professionals from across the city’s business and professional services sector. At the event, new Chair Tara Tomes (EAST VILLAGE.) and Immediate Past Chair, Rebecca Simkiss (SimkissGuy Recruitment) discussed the importance of attracting, nurturing and retaining the best talent in the city. They announced plans for a new Leadership Development Programme, in partnership with Aston Business School, as well as a Reverse Mentoring Scheme with Colmore BID and a new focus on ‘emerging leaders’.

To find out more about BPS Birmingham Future, visit bpsbirmingham.co.uk/future.

28th September www.thsh.co.uk See the fantastic Laura, winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2012, live in concert as she plays the technically demanding cello concert. Keep an eye on her thumb position, double stopping and octave passages that could challenge even the most virtuoso of cellist!

Come along to the Symphony Hall to be amazed by Laura’s cello skills.

Diana Vickers as Janet, Ben Freeman as Brad, Richard Meek as Eddie Dr Scott and Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff, get ready to be doing the time warp with other diehard fans in costume. Get your fish nets on, wrap a feather boa around your shoulders, and enjoy a night of amazing music!

Blood Brothers @ Birmingham Hippodrome

10 – 22nd October www.birminghamhippodrome.com Blood Brother’s is a multiaward winning show written by Willy Russell. It tells a story of two boys who were separated at birth and grew up in two completely different homes.

With one growing up in a poor family and the other growing up with a rich family, the two become blood brothers and eventually fall in love with the same girl. This mutual love has grave consequences…

Jason Byrne - Propped Up @ Birmingham Town Hall

Clare Maguire @The Glee

3rd October www.glee.co.uk Returning with ‘Elizabeth Taylor’, a single from her ‘Strange Things Have Happened’ album, Clare Maguire is performing at The Glee for a night of fantastic music. Specialising in, pop, soul, jazz, blues and electropop, there will surely be something for everyone in an evening of relaxing tunes and good drinks.

Rocky Horror @New Alexandra Theatre

16th October www.thsh.co.uktown-hall Described in one review as ‘full-on, doubled-up, gaspingfor-oxygen hilarious’, Jason Byrne has the claim to fame of having been the biggest-selling comedian at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival. His inspired brand of high-energy intelligent lunacy has won him an army of fans and a mantelpiece of gongs. TV appeances include stints on Live At The Apollo (BBC1), The Comedy Annual (ITV1), Dave’s One Night Stand (Dave), The Channel 4 Comedy Gala (Channel 4), and Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford (ITV1).

Oktoberfest @Cannon Hill Park

10 – 15th October www.atgtickets.com After a successful tour around the UK, Rocky Horror has set its thigh high heels firmly on the soils of Birmingham! Staring 58 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

12 – 16th October www.birmingham-oktoberfest.co.uk Having started in Munich 200 years ago, Oktoberfest is a celebration of the gathering of the harvest. With traditional Munich clothing, come along to the Oktoberfest tent which is filled with long tables that will hold specially made, delicious giant beers. With a good drink

launch

ZEN METRO launches in city business district

The Colmore Business District was buzzing with the launch of Cornwall Street’s Zen Metro with professionals from the area came out in force to support BrandAsia’s newest venture; the sister restaurant to the award winning Asha’s.

This sophisticated new Thai restaurant boasts an extensive menu, chic interior and a party atmosphere to match.

Guests enjoyed Zen Metro’s elegance and charm and devoured a fabulous selection of traditional Thai bites and curries such as skewered grilled prawns with mango; raw papaya salad; coupes of duck salad; mini bowls of massaman curry and green chicken curry.

Ages 13+

Manager Jaimon George said, “we were thrilled that #GetTheZenVibe was trending on twitter and we really appreciate the support of our customers who created that buzzing ambience. We know they will return to us to enjoy some great Thai food.”

TUE 6 - SAT 10 DEC

MON 12 - SAT 31 DEC

MON 6 - SAT 11 FEB

BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS

RODDY DOYLE’S

BROADWAY’S SMASH-HIT

COMES TO THE UK

MON 13 - SAT 18 FEB

THE HIT WEST END MUSICAL

MON 20 - SAT 25 FEB

0844 871 3011

MON 13 - SAT 18 MAR

(bkg fee)

GROUPS 10+ 0844 871 3031 www.atgtickets.com/birmingham (bkg fee) Calls cost up to 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

newalexandratheatre newalextheatre newalextheatre

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CHRISTMAS AT MALMAISON

in hand and some lively music to sing along to, Oktoberfest is guaranteed to be a good night out.

Brian Cox @Symphony Hall

We’ve made our list. We’ve checked it twice and we’re delighted to say that Malmaison Birmingham has put together its best Christmas yet. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate the season, their brasseries and private dining spaces are everything you could ask for, with a delicious menu of food and wines that belong firmly on the naughty list.

Get together with your work family or your friends and family at Malmaison and feast your senses on their celebrations menu, either in the stylish surrounds of their brasserie or in one of our exclusive private dining rooms. Plus, if you book your private party with them before 30th September for any Sunday to Wednesday from 22 November to 21 December, not only will you get the best price but they’ll give you 10% of the value of your booking on a Malmaison gift card. The drinks are chilling nicely. The Malmaison sommelier has sourced some very cheeky wines and the head chef has created a mouthwatering celebrations menu. All that’s needed now is you.

For more of a leisurely festive Lunch, there’s really nothing like spending the day at Malmaison Birmingham. Enjoy a delicious two or three courses from the Festive Lunch menu, and to add that little bit of extra Christmas spirit, they’ll give you a complimentary arrival drink if the meal is pre-booked and pre-payed in advance.

The party doesn’t stop when the big days are over; keep the festive spirit alive with a truly decadent Boxing day and New Year’s brunch. Enjoy a complimentary glass of Prosecco and a selection of unlimited hors d’oeuvres from the famous Malmaison chef’s table, then dive into classic brunch dishes such as eggs Benedict, the Big Brunch Breakfast or a prime rib Sunday Roast, followed by a choice of the most indulgent of desserts.

And For those of you who have to work in December, why not party with them in January. Enjoy all the trimmings with the celebrations menu, great offers and entertainment available, whether you’d like a simple group celebration or a proper Christmas party with the whole shebang. Malmaison will make your Christmas dream come true.

Find out more at www.malmaison.com or call 01217943004 The Mailbox, 1 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 2JR 60 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

20th October www.thsh.co.uk Professor Brian Cox, the most anticipated scientific tour of 2016, is coming to Symphony Hall this October for all your science needs. The show will take you on an incredible journey through time and space from the earth to the very edges of the known cosmos.

Pushing the boundaries, Brian Cox is taking science to a new dimension in his new stage show that gets up close and personal with him in the form of an interview hosted by The Infinite Monkey Cage co-host Robin Ince.

Making highly complex topics seem entertaining and easy to take in has made Brian Cox the man he is today. Take an educational trip to Symphony Hall this autumn and learn something new you never thought you would!

decorated pens they are judged and will eventually picked to win best in show. This year’s theme is Science fiction, so watch out for the decorated pens that may just win a price!

There’s something for every cat lover here, from breeder talks to ‘meet the cats’, the Supreme Cast Show has everything to offer!

Wellcome Image Awards Exhibition @Thinktank at Millennium Point

Until the 23rd October www.birminghammuseums.org. ukthinktank Wellcome to an exhibition displaying the winning work of Wellcome Image Awards!

Stop by the Thinktank museum and have a look at the fantastic works of art on display while you still can.

Birdy @ O2 Institute Birmingham

Bear Grylls presents Endeavour @ Genting Arena 22nd October www.gentingarena.co.uk Adventure is waiting with the new live action and adventure show that will take you on a hair raising, theatrical and immersive expedition of the world! Using state of the art video mapping and stunning visual effects, follow Bear Grylls around the globe on an adventure without any of the danger of eating grubs.

GCCF 40th Supreme Cat Show @The NEC

23rd October www.academymusicgroup.com Famous for her cover of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love, Birdy has become a much loved by the nation. Now having released three albums, Birdy is performing at the O2 Institute Birmingham after touring worldwide. See her in concert while tickets are still available!

Million Dollar Quartet @Birmingham Hippodrome 22nd October www.thenec.co.uk All cat lovers will adore this kitty version of Crufts, with the most prestige event of the feline calendar. While the beautiful cats relax in their purrfectly

24 – 29th October www.birminghamhippodrome.com After a successful UK tour the Million Dollar Quartet is finally stopping Birmingham!

Following the whirlwind careers of the rock ‘n’ roll icons icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash,

Nozomi Introduce Fine Japanese Cuisine to city Nozomi, famous throughout the world for its’ exquisite contemporary Japanese dining and popularity with A list celebrities, has officially launched in Birmingham with a starstudded party.

A host of familiar faces and city socialites descended on the new restaurant in Fleet Street for the launch recently.

The arrival of Nozomi is already seen as a real compliment to the city’s fast growing reputation as a foodie capital and the restaurant has already been attracting critical acclaim with its’ award winning menu and classy signature cocktails As well as seating for 108 covers, it boasts a private dining room and a beautiful terrace perfect for alfresco drinks and informal dining. The stylish interior oozes luxury and the bar becomes the place to be and be seen in the evenings as highly skilled bar tenders whip up cocktails from all over the world.

Diners at Nozomi Birmingham will enjoy the brand’s unique fusion of entertainment and food and can sample izakayastyle cuisine with tempting treats including the signature Black Cod, Nozomi Tarabagani and succulent Duck Maki Roll.

For further information visit nozomi-birmingham.com

BOOK ONLINE to save money

Macbeth

Director’s Cut

‘Like seeing Tarantino on stage’

PARADISE OF THE

Whats On

ASSASSINS HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO FOR LOVE?

13 – 15 Oct

from £14.50*

21 & 22 Oct

from £22.50*

1 – 4 Nov

from £12.50*

* Ticket prices include a £1 booking fee. No booking fee applies if booked online.

BOOK NOW

024 7655 3055

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Eclectic Programme Takes Centre Stage at the Belgrade Theatre

The Belgrade Theatre presents an eclectic programme of world-class productions on its stages and this autumn is no exception. From feel-good music concerts, to West End musicals and award-winning dramas, there’s something to suit all tastes.

Running from Thurs 13 – Sat 15 Oct, Paradise of the Assassins is a thought-provoking and chillingly resonant new drama from Theatre Accord produced in association with Tara Arts, one of the leading commissioners of multi-cultural theatre in the UK. Written a century ago by the famous Lucknow polymath and Communist, Abdul Halim Sharar, this hardhitting and startlingly contemporary tale of the price humans pay for Utopia has been adapted for the stage by awardwinning director Anthony Clark and is told through dynamic theatricality as this engaging and unpredictable story shifts from the humorous to the terrifying.

After wowing audiences and receiving rave reviews earlier this year in Liverpool, a stage production about Beatles legend John Lennon will return for a UK tour, stopping off at the 62 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Belgrade on Fri 21 & Sat 22 Oct. The smash hit, Off-Broadway show, Lennon: Through A Glass Onion, celebrates the genius, music and phenomenon of John Lennon. With actor Daniel Taylor in the title role, this sensational show is part-concert and part-biography and features 31 of Lennon’s greatest hits.

This will be followed by Volcano Theatre Company who have revived their radically different take on Shakespeare in Macbeth – Directors’ Cut, playing at the Belgrade from Tues 1 – Fri 4 Nov. Directed by Paul Davies and performed by just two actors on stage, this production evokes the tawdry domestic world of contemporary serial killers in an erotic and violent theatrical assault on the senses. Delivering a dark and stylish variation has been compared to “seeing Tarantino on stage” and is not for the faint-hearted.

Tickets for all of these shows and more are available by calling the friendly Box Office team on 024 7655 3055 or visit www.belgrade.co.uk for even cheaper tickets. For their full what’s on listings, go online or pick up their brand new brochure which is out now

Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, the show will express just what happened in the recording session on December 4th 1956 between four brilliant musicians. Million Dollar Quartet features a score of rock hits including Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, That’s All Right, Sixteen Tons, Great Balls of Fire, Walk the Line, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Who Do You Love?, Matchbox, Folsom Prison Blues, Hound Dog and many more.

Steve Backshall’s Wild World @Birmingham Town Hall

29th October www.thsh.co.uk Wildlife TV presenter Steve Backshall is one for all who love animals and all things nature.

Take a trip to Birmingham Town Hall and see the wild world packed into one wild show. Steve will take you on an 21482 DELUXE his Christmas adventure thatMAL inspired latest

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2nd November www.barclaycardarena.co.uk Scottish comedian, musician and actor, Billy Connolly has a way with words like no other. Take a trip to the Barclaycard Arena and have a good laugh with some of your friends, all in the perfect lilt of Connolly’s Scottish accent. Grab your tickets while you have the chance to see an amazing comedian live on stage.

4 – 6 November www.thenec.co.uk World famous Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing Festival is set to return to the NEC this November in a three day festival that will set your entire being at ease.

Are you into yoga? Meditation?

Join the people at this festival to indulge yourself in life changing workshops like nothing the NEC has seen before. Featuring inspirational and motivational speakers, artists and musicians from across the globe, the Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing Festival is definitely a festival to mark down on the calendar.

The festival also features live music, the popular Wellbeing Studio, a Pop Up temple, the Mantra Lounge, the Love Dome and a creative art exhibition.

Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing Festival @The NEC

WNO – Macbeth @ Birmingham Hippodrome

books ‘The Falcon Chronicles’ and ‘Shark Seas’, as well as the fantastic illustrations. The talk is suitable for all ages and will hold an extended Q and A session with the wild man himself.

Billy Connolly @ Barclaycard Arena

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9th November www.birminghamhippodrome.com Macbeth is one of the most famous Shakespeare plays ever to grace literature, and is now being performed in collaboration with the Welsh National Orchestra at the Birmingham Hippodrome!

Macbeth is now a king with an uneasy crown resting on his head, but he still has blood on his hands… With a number of breath taking choruses by the WNO the show has promise of being one not to miss this year.

Festive Gift Fair @ NEC

10 – 13th November www.thenec.co.uk Can’t figure out what to get your dad for Christmas? Got a tricky cousin who doesn’t really mind what they get? Why not take a trip to the famous Festive Gift Fair where Hall 12 at the NEC is turned into a mass of potential gifts. With stalls containing thousands of unusual gifts as well as food and drink, the Gift

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Fair is all about celebrating the festivities while getting better gifts than another pair of socks.

And if shopping doesn’t get you excited, there is also life entertainment on throughout the day with bands, singers and choirs performing around the NEC.

The Full Monty @Birmingham Hippodrome

14 - 19 November www.birminghamhippodrome.com Based on the smash-hit film, The Full Monty was adapted for the stage by Oscar winning writer Simon Beaufoy in a hilarious and heartfelt production. Starring Gary Lucy, Joe Absolom, Andrew Dunn, Louis Emerick, Chris Fountain, Kai Owen, the six Sheffield steelworkers have nothing to lose in this fantastic performance. Voted the best touring production by the UK Theatre Awards, The Full Monty promises a brilliant night of comedy.

event

BIRTHDAY TAPAS AT El Borracho

El Borracho celebrated their 1st Anniversary with a fabulous fiesta for World Tapas Day. The spirit of Spain was very much alive and well at the much loved El Borracho on Harborne Road, Five Ways who celebrated a year in business this month.

Owner Emma Yufera -Ruiz and her kitchen team led by Head Chef Ignacio Castells, entertained over 100 regular customers who enjoyed a fabulous feast of their finest tapas and Rioja.

The restaurant’s Mediterranean style décor certainly lent itself to a party atmosphere as guests danced to the sounds of live Latin band, Los Bandidos.

The Nutcracker – BRB @ Birmingham Hippodrome

BUSINESS GAMES HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK 25th November – 13th December www.birminghamhippodrome.com The Nutcracker is a tireless Christmas treat for all the family, and a typical Christmas tradition for many. With festive energy all about, take a trip to the Birmingham Hippodrome theatre for a night of Christmas spirit. The Nutcracker has enjoyed mammoth popularity since the 1960s, and is now performed by countless ballet companies around the world!

Night in the Museum @Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

26 Nov - 12 Feb 2017 www.birminghammuseums.org.uk Ryan Gander, a leading British artist, has selected works from this world class national collection of modern and contemporary British art, as part of the celebrations for the Arts Council Collection’s 70th anniversary. Gander has selected artworks which will challenge traditional methods of selection, prompting us to rethink the role of the curator, the art object and the spectator.

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Braving the rain in the name of sport, Brum’s businessmen and women swapped their ties for their trainers for the annual Birmingham Business Games.

Over 200 of the city’s professionals battled it out in their teams of 10 to be crowned the ultimate champion.

The final scores were close after the corporates-turnedcompetitors had tried their hands (and in some cases feet) at softball, volleyball, bowls, tug of war, and athletics.

However, when the points were counted and verified, it was the aptly-named ‘All Stars’ – a mixed team of individuals from a number of organisations - that emerged victorious. Joint second were JMP Consultants and ‘Where There’s Oak, There’s Fire’ from

event Oaks Consultancy, with local charity Sport 4 Life coming in a respectable fourth.

However, while the day was all fun and games, at the event’s core was the very important task of raising money for charity, namely local charity LoveBrum. As well as having sport masseuses on hand to soothe aches and pains in exchange for donations, there was also a charity raffle held on the night, where entrants had the chance to win prizes such as 2 tickets to a Birmingham City Football game in the hospitality box, a free treatment Session/ Sports Massage from Achieve Physio or a 1 month free membership with 2 Personal Training sessions from Nuffield Health and overall the evening amassed £1500 for LoveBrum.

B R I N G Y O U R PA R T Y T O O U R PA R T Y !

in

& at Nailcote Hall Hotel

NOVEMBER 2016 Sat 12th Fri 18th Sat 26th

THE POPPY BALL AT THE HALL with BROTHERS OF SOUL 70’s & 80’s PARTY NIGHT with ‘BORDERLINE THE MEGA SOUL PARTY with THE SOUL SURVIVOURS & MEL DAY

£49.50 £35.00 £39.50

DECEMBER 2016 Fri 2nd Fri 2nd Sat 3rd Sat 3rd Fri 9th Fri 9th Sat 10th Fri 16th Fri 16th Sat 17th Sat 17th Mon 19th Tue 20th Wed 21st Thu 22nd Fri 23rd Sat 24th Sat 31st

BACK TO THE 60’S PARTY with REVOLVER THE ‘TAKE THAT’ SPECTACULAR with ‘TAKE@THAT’ THE ULTIMATE ‘PARTY ANIMALS’ NIGHT with RANG A TANG CHRISTMAS ‘MOTOWN’ PARTY with THE BROTHERS OF SOUL THE XMAS ‘MAMMA MIA’ PARTY with BOOTLEG ABBA THE ULTIMATE SOUL PARTY with THE BOOZE BROTHERS HITS OF THE DECADES PARTY with JARZINO THE ULTIMATE ‘BOY BANDS’ SPECTACULAR with ULTIMATE BOY BANDS THE XMAS Soul and Funk Party with ‘MARKS BROTHERS’ SWINGING 60’s & MOTOWN PARTY with THE KRYSTALETTES CHRISTMAS ‘BACK TO THE 80’s’ PARTY with 80’s EXPERIENCE ‘HEART & SOUL’ PARTY with HARRY CAMBRIDGE OLLY MURS & BRUNO MARS PARTY with ROBBIE GLENN ‘LENNON AND McCARTNEY’ with THE LENNON AND McCARTNEY EXPERIENCE THE No.1 ROD STEWART TRIBUTE with GARRY PEASE THE ‘WHITNEY HOUSTON’ DISCO DIVA PARTY with NYA KING DINNER IN THE OAK ROOM RESTAURANT with MIKE SULLIVAN NEW YEARS EVE BACK TO THE 80’S PARTY with 80’s EXPERIENCE & SUZI WOODS

£35.00 £39.50 £37.50 £42.50 £39.50 £42.50 £37.50 £37.50 £42.50 £35.00 £42.50 £32.50 £35.00 £32.50 £32.50 £32.50 £39.50 £75.00

TICKET PRICES INCLUDE 3 COURSE MEAL - WE WILL CATER FOR ANY SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE FULL DETAILS FOR CHRISTMAS

www.nailcotehall.co.uk

BOOKING HOTLINE CALL: 02476 466174 info@nailcotehall.co.uk Nailcote Lane, Berkswell, Warwickshire CV7 7DE

dluxe diary

event THE Birmingham AWARDS SHINE AT RESORTS WORLD Each year the Birmingham Awards aim to bring the pride of Birmingham together to recognise the excellence and passion for the city, with awards ranging from Best Restaurant to Brummie of the Year.

2016 was no different with the prestigious event being held at the Vox Arena at Birmingham’s Resorts World and with dluxe BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL as official Meddia Partners.

Attendees of the event were welcomed to a drinks reception at the Highline bar, before entering the vibrantly decorated Vox Arena.

Kitted out in the corporate colours, red and blue, the arena was transformed for the evening’s celebrations, with attendees greeted by feather girls.

The evening was hosted by Raaj Shamji and Harold Davies who kept the room energized from start to finish with their fantastic chemistry and wit. A live band from Birmingham was on hand to provide musical entertainment of the evening, showcasing the best of Birmingham made music.

Award highlights from the evening included, Steven Knight, writer and producer of hit show Peaky Blinders, who was crowned Brummie of the Year for his passion and commitment to Birmingham, along with Midlands Today’s very own Nick Owen who was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year the awards were sponsored by Birmingham City University and were partnered with charity LoveBrum, to raise money for charity. Overall £600 was raised for the LoveBrum charity.

After the success of this year’s awards they will be carried on to next year, so keep your eyes peeled for information on next year’s awards. www.birminghamawards.co.uk

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THIS YEARS WINNERS INCLUDED: Restaurant of the Year: El Borracho de Oro Bar/Pub of the Year: The Farm (Solihull) National Retailer of the Year: John Lewis Independent Retailer of the Year: Isaac Charles Bridal House Arts & Culture Award: Ikon Gallery Business of the Year: Trowers & Hamlins Businessman of the Year: James Wong Businesswoman of the Year: ( Joint) Jackie Cummins ( J21 Coaching) Leigh Perry (DMS) Charity /Volunteer of the Year: Mosaic (West Midlands) Sporting Initiative of the Year: Aspire Sports Excellence in Media Award: Sameena Ali-Khan Young Achiever of the Year: Neelam Heera Small Business of the Year: JE Consulting LTD Venue of the Year: The REP Social Enterprise of the Year: The School for Social Entrepreneurs Blogger of the Year: Dave Massey, Brum Hour.

Contribution to Education Award: Dr. Melanie Brown Excellence in Technology Award: LHM Media Brummie of the Year: Steven Knight Lifetime Achievement Award: Nick Owen

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dluxe ork w r e p a p Sometimes I feel I’ve got to run away...

Dluxe Birmingham & Solihull’s Business Editor Bart Dalton on Marc Almond and your Tainted Diary…

Who are the types of clients you are looking for?

What would be an ideal outcome of our meeting?

Have you ever been invited to a coffee that you knew was going to end up with you buying something, volunteering for a committee, joining a cult or even worse loaning someone money that you know you’ll never get back?

Is there anything you need to know about me or my service before we meet?

Our lives are all built around the relationships that gestate slowly over time. There are very few that become love at first site or BFFs at first text. I know many of us claim to be workaholics, but at the end of the day we are working so that we can have experiences. That means that all of the time we spend working is taking time away from the things we really want to be doing.

If you are building a people business selling, providing a service or working on big contracts you probably have attended more coffee meetings than Hadrian had bricks for building walls. How many of those were fruitful? How many were a dreadful bore?

They are a necessary evil, just like first dates. So why don’t we apply the same filters that dating sites do to our business dates?

How would working with Taurus Wealth or in conjunction with us add benefit to your or our clients?

The love we share seems to go no where...

In the New English dictionary according to Microsoft, Meetnapping is a word that is defined loosely as, the tendency to kidnap a colleague by inviting them to a useless meeting. It is time for you to take back control of your diary and spend time with people you know want to make things happen for you.

Here are four tools that can make it so that you can buy back two weeks of your year if you use them regularly.

Create a nice standardised email that asks a few simple questions to make sure you are prepared for the meeting. Your questions will vary but here are a couple of ones that I use: 68 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Are there any people in my linked in contacts you would like to know more about and why?

Bring an agenda that you send through ahead of time. Keep it simple and focused and start the meeting at an odd time like 10:20 or 9:50. Keep the meeting scheduled for 45 minutes or less. You can always extend but you cannot cut it short without seeming rude.

You will know if you feel the meeting has been successful. If it has been, set your next meeting. At that meeting you will be setting plans in place to work together. There are too many times that we leave things too obtuse. Set specific and measurable goals in your world.

Using these tactics will save you at least two hours a week if you have 8 meetings which works out to be two weeks of time saved over the year and your meetings will be more successful. Now I have given you all a boy could give you. If you were a kid of the 80’s you should have just heard a clap clap in your head. No? Oh well…

Bart (B.D.) Dalton Director of Taurus Wealth Management and Author of True Gravity. Passion for helping people maximise wealth. Wealth is the ability to live life in a manner that makes you feel successful and fulfilled. www.tauruswealth.co.uk

The additional 3% stamp duty land tax (‘SDLT’) applying to second properties has dominated discussion amongst residential buy-to-let landlords, but from April next year restrictions to tax relief for residential landlords will restrict the amount of interest a buyto-let residential landlord can deduct to calculate their income tax liability.

The restriction comes into effect from April 2017, and is being phased in over 4 years (interest is restricted by 25% in each year) until it takes full effect in April 2020.

When the announcement was made at the Summer Budget, the measure was described as restricting interest relief at the 20% basic rate. However, the actual mechanism of how the restriction works has wider impact as, at present, buy-to-let landlords can deduct all their interest cost to calculate rental profits.

When the new measure takes full effect, the interest cost will be completely disallowed in computing rental profits and instead a tax credit equal to 20% of the interest will be given against the person’s income tax liability.

Whilst this may sound like what the Government intended the measure to achieve, the fact the interest is completely disallowed means the individual will have higher overall taxable income.

This could push an individual into a higher rate of income tax (40%/45%), start to reduce their personal allowance (if their income now starts to exceed £100,000), affect their entitlement to child benefit and restrict the amount on which they can claim tax relief for pensions.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) at Ansty Park, alongside Coventry City Council and technology communications agency React Communications, have announced the launch of Nucleus Expo West Midlands – a new science, technology and engineering themed event comprising thought-provoking presentations, participative networking opportunities and exhibitor showcases.

Set to take place on Tuesday 22nd November during Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nucleus Expo West Midlands will highlight the region’s talent for leadership when it comes to engineering and manufacturing excellence, whilst showcasing how it is attracting companies in a variety of other innovative fields. Participation at all levels from start-ups and university spin-outs to multinationals is encouraged.

Clive Hickman, CEO of the MTC, said: “Our role is to inspire great British manufacturing on the global stage, developing innovative processes and technologies in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions. That’s why we are perfectly positioned to host the first ever Nucleus Expo for our region and look forward to welcoming all to MTC.” Layla Stacy, Managing Director of event organiser React Communications commented: “We know that bringing together like-minded people from across the industrial and academic spectrums helps to fuel innovation and economic advances. We fully expect that Nucleus Expo West Midlands 2016 will play a big part in creating vital connections and cementing the region’s networks for future success.”

Registration for the event is now open at bit.ly/nucleusWM. Attendance is free.

Sponsorship opportunities and exhibition spaces are available for some of the Midlands’ most innovative companies. Quite unusually, exhibitor space is free but will be allocated via an application process. Interested companies should email info@nucleusexpo.co.uk and explain in up to 500 words why their product or service should be showcased.

To find out more about Nucleus Expo Midlands 2016 as an attendee, sponsor or exhibitor, visit wmnucleus.co.uk or call 02380 016199.

HOLLYWOOD MONSTER APPOINTS NEW MD

Ambitious growth plans and high profile clients wins have sparked changes at the top at signage giant Hollywood Monster, as Simon McKenzie takes up the role as Managing Director. This comes following the signage experts’ recent announcements, which include a new London office and a multimillion-pound contract with McDonald’s.

After 16 years at the company, which is headquartered in Birmingham, Simon McKenzie has been promoted to Managing Director to drive forward the organisation’s on-going expansion.

Speaking about his appointment, Simon said:

“The past three years have seen big growth for Hollywood Monster, with the business boasting £7 million turnover and employing over 75 people. We have continued adding to our client base, with work across the UK and Europe, proving that we’re a major player in the signage market. Added to this, we’ve invested heavily in our technology, with over £1 million new equipment, as well as developed our factory facility to allow us to cope with customer demand.”

Simon takes over the role of Managing Director from Tim Andrews, one of the Midlands’ most high profile entrepreneurs. Having recently won West Midlands Director of the Year at the annual IoD Director of the Year Awards, Tim Andrews has decided to hand over

the Hollywood Monster baton and concentrate on a number of growing projects.

Simon McKenzie’s appointment follows a number of expansion announcements from the graphics giant, including the recent recruitment of Kerry Price as Sales Customer Relationship Manager and a new office base launched in London.

This comes in addition to a new contract win for Hollywood Monster, which is now one of the primary contractors for graphics, as part of a multimillion pound deal that will see over 1,000 McDonald’s UK restaurants undergo refurbishment. As well as on going contracts with retail and property giants Westfield and Prologis, and event and exhibition venues ExCel London and the NEC Group.

To find out more about Hollywood Monster, visit hollywoodmonster.co.uk.

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Landlords tax Coventry Innovation Showcase rule changes

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Business Woman of The Year @ Birmingham Awards 2016

Post Brexit Business Now that some of the dust has settled from the Brexit referendum, what’s next for your Business? asks Jackie Cummins at J21 Coaching & Training: Well, you may be rather surprised at my answer! There are huge implications as we move forward as a country into the future, but there are also some great opportunities ahead. Jackie looks at some of these opportunities and highlights some actions you can take to improve your business prospects.

Regardless of the political motives and aspirations of a government whether they be European or otherwise, it’s important to remember that both we as individuals working on our business and the country as a whole need to remain competitive. Let’s look at some actions you can take to remain competitive and improve your business: -

Relationships – Take time to build relationships, understand both your supplier’s problems and customer needs, so that when challenges arise they can be dealt with more swiftly. Understanding “customer needs” enables you to tailor your service towards their needs and add value. It’s not just about having procedures in place for refunding the customer or dealing with a complaint Collaboration – Consider establishing a closer rapport with your

suppliers/customers, look at these as your “business partners”. Is there a product or service that could be re-engineered as to reduce costs and or be enhanced, so as to add value to the market place?

Innovation – Many businesses are so consumed in the day-to-day

operations that they fail to take time to plan and innovate for the future. We all need to be more flexible so that we can quickly adapt to market conditions. Do you have a product or service that has suddenly become more competitive due to the change in the value of sterling?

Start looking at the UKTI; www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ uk-trade-investment/about/about-our-services 70 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Work on the Business NOT in it! – Entrepreneurs and business owners can become so engrossed in what they do, they fail to take a more holistic view of the market place. Growing and developing your business will require you to leverage your time or expertise.

Seeking assistance from an outside source such as a Business Coach can help you greatly within this area because it allows for an external perspective and also for you to be held accountable for your actions.

Developing Your Sales Pipeline – Often the steps you are taking now will not show-up in terms of results for months. Even when sales are good you should be thinking about the future and developing your sales pipeline so your business is more robust and not subject to a few big contracts that could be dropped. Much of “Business Success” is made up of small consistent steps – Avoid the temptation to work on that “big life changing deal” at the expense of everything else Plan to use the Business Plan – Where is your business plan?

In a filing cupboard only brought out at the end of the year? Your business should be considered as a living, breathing being just like you; a lack of cash-flow and the business will be in trouble, just like you. Failure to invest in yourself or your workforce will limit the growth and expansion prospects of the business and you! J21 Coaching and Training can help you create and implement a 90-Day Plan so that you have a clear strategy of where you are going. I would advocate that it is much better to have a 2 page Business plan that sits on the desk rather than a nicely typed up 100 page report that sits in a drawer somewhere!

Regardless of our evolving relationship with Europe and the uncertain economic forecasts we will all need to look at the ways we do business so as to improve our productivity to better prepare ourselves for the future.

Jackie has a broad range of expertise with clients based in the UK & USA and she can assist; Start-ups, SME’s and individuals from the Corporate Sector.

For further help with your business contact Jackie Cummins, Founder and Business Success Coach at J21Coaching; W:J21coaching.com E:jackie@j21coaching.com T:0121 2411331 M:07940 838103

DAW N A striking, seductive encounter The new Dawn has arrived – a Rolls-Royce like no other.

A striking true four-seater, it captures the exhilaration of open-top driving with an interior crafted in anticipation of unforgettable moments between friends.

Anything is possible. Contact us to start your journey.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Birmingham 2635 Stratford Road, Hockley Heath, Solihull, West Midlands B94 5NH Tel: +44 (0) 1564 787170 www.rolls-roycemotorcars-birmingham.co.uk Official fuel economy figures for the Rolls-Royce Dawn: Urban 13.2mpg (21.4l/100km). Extra Urban 28.5mpg (9.9l/100km).

Combined 20.0mpg (14.1l/100km). CO2 emissions 330g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. Š Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited 2016. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.

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BREAKING BACK INTO BUSINESS Over recent years we’ve seen more and more successful business professionals are opting to take a mid-career break for many reasons such as family, study and travel. However, just how difficult is it to get back on that career ladder once you’ve stepped away? Although not without its challenges it’s not as daunting as you may think, says recruitment specialist Rebecca Simkiss. As Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director of Birmingham and Solihull-based SimkissGuy Recruitment, she regularly helps people get back to business after a career break, redundancy or complete change of direction. Sounds like you? Good news we’ve grabbed Rebecca for her advice about what you should do next…

WHERE TO START FOLLOWING A CAREER BREAK… So you’ve taken time out but are now looking to re-start your career and don’t know where to begin, you’re not alone. Getting back into work after any type of career break, even if it has been voluntary, can be tough but the biggest challenge can often be building up the confidence to start re-applying for jobs. For instance, a staggering 70% of women returning from maternity leave admitted to worrying about the impact the break has had on their careers. It’s important to believe in yourself and think positively. Kath Jenkins, Group Finance Director at Hills Numberplates Ltd agrees, pointing out that you should ‘never be frightened to apply for that dream job because employers are always looking Kath Jenkins, Hills Numberplates Ltd for that dream candidate.’

DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT CV GAP Many people feel nervous about returning to the job market with a gap on their CV’s for fear it may put off potential employers. The good news is this isn’t necessarily the case as many employers are becoming more savvy to the benefits of a mid-career break. “Travellers may have wanderlust but they bring with them a wealth of outside experience” states Peter Adkins, Director of Regulatory Services at Emms Gilmore Liberson Solicitors. Maximised correctly, any type of career 72 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

break could help you develop new skills that may result in a better job than the one you left. Kath Jenkins agrees, pointing out that ‘it demonstrates a candidate is capable of adapting to uncertain situations and using their own initiative.’

Samantha Murray, Trust and Estate Practitioner at Reid & Co points out Peter Adkins, Emms Gilmore Liberson however, that whilst an existing CV gap ‘may not put us off a candidate, we would always want them to expand on future plans’. Ensure you’re upfront and honest about your plans as employers such as Reid & Co can be open to ‘accommodating further breaks in the future’ depending on the individual or situation.

BREAKING INTO A WHOLE NEW INDUSTRY Stuck in a career you hate and wondering whether to take the plunge and switch to a completely new industry that’s more suited to your skills and interests? The good news is that it is possible but first ask yourself these three key questions; 1.

Why do I want to change and am I prepared to start in an entry level role?

2.

What are my strengths and which of these skills do I want to continue using?

3.

Will I regret it if I don’t?

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Once you’ve established what you actually want to do it’s important not to undervalue yourself just because you may not have any prior sector experience. Kath Jenkins concurs believing that ‘a candidate with no industry experience is not always a hindrance when recruiting’.

Most candidates have a wealth of transferable skills which they Samantha Murray, Reid & Co bring with them. Being able to explain how your previous employment experience will benefit you in your new role is also vital.

Whilst it’s important to aim high it’s also imperative to remain realistic about your new career aspirations. As a solicitor, Peter Adkins concedes that it’s ‘difficult for anyone without direct experience to break into law.’ If you do remain determined to work within a particular sector however you may need to be flexible about your specific role. ‘Many of the roles in our support structure are mirrored in other professions’ continues Peter Adkins whilst Samantha Murray specifies ‘someone hard working, adaptable and proactive’ is almost as important for these roles as industry experience.

Finally, before you commit make sure you’re 100% confident that the move is the right one for you. ‘Employers don’t react well to employees wanting to “try out” a new career’ stresses Peter Adkins. Make sure you’re moving for the right reasons not just because you think it sounds like fun or you have a friend that’s doing it. If you’re still unsure taking part in work experience placements can be a great way of testing the waters.

HOW TO BOUNCE BACK FROM REDUNDANCY… You’ve been employed for months or years but now you’ve been told that’s coming to an end and you immediately begin to panic. Stop. Breathe. It’s not as bad as you think. ‘The employment world is a very different place than it was ten years ago’ points out Samantha Murray. ‘It’s quite usual to see a previous redundancy on someone’s CV,’ she continues ‘but what’s important is the individual’s attitude.’ If you’ve recently found yourself in this situation and don’t know what to do next here are my top three tips to help you plan your next move.

1.

Don’t waste your time or energy looking back or getting angry – now is the time to begin focussing on your future.

2.

Don’t panic and make rash decisions. Use this opportunity to reflect on what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing.

3.

Give your CV an overhaul. This doesn’t need to be

scary. Orientate it towards your future and highlight

what the relevant skills and knowledge you’ve

developed over the last decade would bring to the new role.

Finally, remember that we’re currently in a tough economic climate so don’t automatically assume you’ve been made redundant because you lack the skills and experience for the job. Have confidence in yourself and use this as ‘an opportunity to reassess what you want to be doing, even if the outcome is staying in the same profession’, concludes Samantha Murray.

FINALLY You may need to ease yourself back into employment through other types of work so don’t immediately write off the benefits of short-term work placements, skilled volunteering or freelance work to get a foot back in the door. This is relevant whether you’ve enjoyed a career break, found yourself redundant or are simply looking for a new challenge in a different direction.

For more information about SimkissGuy Recruitment please visit www.simkissguy.com

Five Ways- A Sense of Community Smita Jalaf who has recently started working in the Five Ways area of Birmingham discusses how it is vastly expanding and gaining a great sense of community.

Hundreds of people are already moving into the Five Ways area to live in the newly created high-rise apartments and with this brings that word again – ‘community’.

Development in this part of the city has been strong and with an air of the premium; the luxury Park Regis Birmingham hotel has been attracting international visitors and local businesses for ‘paint and wine’ events, cocktail evenings, yoga classes and afternoon teas whilst the acclaimed Japanese restaurant ROFUTO has been touted as a heaven for Birmingham foodies. There is also a cool new rooftop terrace at 1565 (named after the island) where you can stop and see all that’s going on. With good quality gyms, established independent coffee shops on Islington Row as well as the prerequisite Starbucks and a fresh new supermarket, all linked with decent cycle paths, there is much to attract young urbanites to the area and you can see this new ‘community’, walking the streets and offering a real and tangible feel of change to this area.

Five Ways is as close to the idyllic suburbs of Edgbaston as it is to the bustling city centre. High profile attractions like The Botanical Gardens and Edgbaston Cricket Ground are a stone’s throw away– as is the Birmingham University. It is this eclectic mix of families, young professionals, students and university staff that makes Five Ways more than just the new trendy place to visit.

Five Ways Island is no longer ‘one to watch’. It is happening now. Because ‘a rising tide raises all ships’, Seven Capital’s 2013 multi-million pound investment spree has now bore fruit in 2016. There is a renewed focus - all centred around the neat and substantial island. This will inevitably have a positive impact on this age-old junction.

With this sense of community, in my view Five Ways will become a real destination. It’s no longer a place to simply ‘walk through’ and is already becoming a place to visit, to stop and chat over a coffee - so whilst Five Ways may have been created 451 years ago – it’s re-birth is here, now, alive and well. In addition, as a young professional working in the area – it’s great to see.

Smita Jalaf – is a blogger and recently started working in the Five Ways area. Follow @FiveWaysLive and FiveWaysLive.com for a non-for profit blog on updates regarding this upcoming community. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 73

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Graeme Baxter is acknowledged as one of the world’s most highly acclaimed painters of golfing landscapes. He became the official artist for the Open Championship in 1988, a commission that ran until just last year, and the official artist for the Ryder Cup in 1991, which will finish in 2018. He has also been artist for the PGA Tour, the World Golf Championship, the European Tour and the Solheim Cup and has painted course landscapes in 32 countries, as well as doing several portraits of the world’s top players.

In a special commission for The Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship, which ran from 26-29 July, Graeme has painted the 7th hole of the Cromwell course by special request from Nailcote Hall owner Rick Cressman. The painting was unveiled at a special event on the eve of the 2016 Championship and attended by tournament host Tony Jacklin CBE, Nigel Mansell CBE and many other famous faces.

Edinburgh Art Schools then I was a fine art dealer for several years and would paint the odd landscape, wild animals and birds. Occasionally I would visit my sister who was a teacher at St Andrew’s in Scotland and I would paint the Old Course there. I painted the 17th green in 1986 and my dad took the painting to the Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews who loved it, he said it was the best landscape of a golf course that he’d ever seen. We did some prints of the painting and took them to a gallery in Glasgow and they sold out. No-one else was doing this kind of golf art at the time, I was the first to do it.

What is the favourite painting that you’ve done?

I did a 7ft x 11ft painting for the Open at St Andrew’s in 1995 that took six months to paint. It was unveiled by Peter Thompson (five times Open Champion) and it sold for six figures, which was a record at the time for a living artist. It now hangs in the main foyer at the Old Course Hotel at St Andrew’s so I’m really proud of that.

Graeme, how did this painting come about?

Last year I had a painting unveiled by Jack Nicklaus and that was pretty special, a high point for me. At the unveiling it was said that I’d done paintings for many golfers, including Lee Janzen, Mark Brooks, Steve Elkington, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington and Jack said “And now me” which was pretty cool. I also got to do a special unveiling with Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill for the 30th anniversary of a painting I did of Bob Hope who had passed away by then. I’ve painted around the world, including Dubai, Japan, China, Indonesia.

I met Rick Cressman about 25 years ago at the Open Championship and since then I’d meet him at the Open or the PGA Championship or the Ryder Cup and he’d tell me about this wonderful course at Nailcote Hall.

So we were friends before he even talked about doing a painting but this year he said I should do something because it’s the 20th anniversary, the celebrity field is amazing and the pros get better every year.

I’ve had my paintings unveiled by Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and I did my first Royal portrait commission two years ago of Prince Charles and his polo horse. That was a big honour for me. I also spent two days once with Gary Player as VIPs doing a presentation and we signed prints of my paintings together for charity. That was a great moment too.

When I came out I was stunned at how beautiful the place was, he’d done such a great job and the glorious course is beautifully manicured.

It’s a real honour to do this painting with all the celebrities and tremendous players that are here, it’s something that I wanted to do and it’s a very special moment for me.

If there’s one golfer who you would love to paint, who would it be?

Going back to the beginning, how did it all start for you as a painter?

My father had a gallery so I was surrounded by art and when I was 12 years old I won a Kellogg’s ‘Paint A Village’ competition and that’s when I realised that I loved painting. I got accepted for both Glasgow and 74 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

I’ve had special commissions from Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and I’ve met all the top golfers in the world but I’ve never met Tiger Woods.

I’ve always admired Tiger and would be honoured to do his painting.

www.graemebaxter.com Nailcote Hall, Nailcote Ln, Berkswell CV7 7DE Tel. 24 7646 6174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk

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