LU E D X WEST MIDLANDS EDITION
SUMMER ‘19
INSIDE
YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY
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SHAKESPEARS SISTER NEW ASTON MARTIN DBS SUMMER STYLE SPECIAL PERFECT PENANG GORDON WARNECKE’ S BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERTTE THE COLOR PURPLE CORDLESS GARDENING SUMMER DINING
CHASE COCKTAIL AFTERNOON TEA £32 per person, £22 without the cocktail Monday - Saturday, 1pm - 4pm Sundays, 3pm - 5pm From 3rd June until the end of August
CHASE GIN DINNER To celebrate our collaboration with Chase Distillery, we are hosting an intimate dinner, pairing five courses with five Chase gins in our Private Dining Room
Friday 26 th July, 7pm £65 per person
CHASE MASTERCLASS Join our wine specialist, Siofra O’Brien, on a journey through Chase Distillery’s spirits, from its first, the award-winning Chase vodka, through to its latest creation. Enjoy two cocktails and four samples along with olives and a cheeseboard
Saturday 8 th June, Saturday 13 th July and Saturday 17 th August at 1pm, 3pm & 5pm £20 per person To book any of the events please contact the Brasserie Email reservations.birmingham@harveynichols.com or call 0121 616 6028
IN THIS ISSUE
TALK TO US MANAGING DIRECTOR Kevin Urquhart Kevin@fu-media.co.uk 07713 740 272
GROUP EDITOR IN CHIEF Jonathan Fraser Jon@fu-media.co.uk 0772 580 9654
PRINT & DIGITAL ADVERTISING Lilith Hunt-Sheppard lilith@fu-media.co.uk 07975 970711
ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATION Carey Cooper carey@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445 DIGITAL CONTENT EXECUTIVE Francesca Arculeo Francesca@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445 The Habitat, Penang Hill. read about our visit on page 48
08 AGENDA
44 TRAVEL
Our personal picks of our favourite features, stories and products from around the West Midlands.
Eighty years of Birmingham Airport; we explore Penang and we look at some last minute summer getaway locations.
22 SPOTLIGHT
50 DINING
The dluxe office gets starstruck yet again chatting with more childhood idols, this time the legendary Shakespears Sister.
Our resident pattisiere will have you salivating; Afternoon tea at Wing Wah and Aria at the Hyatt Regency reviewed; rose wines at Harvey Nichols and Anita Champaneri is back with her roundup of restaurant news.
DLUXE WEST MIDLANDS
56 DIARY
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26 SUMMER STYLE Summer Style special edition with our guide to capsule packing, airport outfits, what to pack and where to wear it.
36 MOTORS On day’s like these... summer’s the perfect time for a road trip so what’s the perfect car? An Aston Martin of course.
38 LIVING Our guide to the best barbeques and we look at cordless garden tech- is it worth the extra expense?
We talk to actor Gordon Warnecke ahead of his reappearance in MyBeautiful Launderette plus what is happening and what’s happened in and around Brum this season.
66 HOROSCOPES National treasure, sensational star gazer Russell Grant on what the future holds for us all.
Disclaimer: Copyright 69 & dluxe BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publishers. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy in compiling this publication, the Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, omissions, breach of copyright or otherwise since compilation. The Publisher cannot be held responsible for any material submitted to the publication, not excluding advertisements. The views expressed within this title are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply recommendation by the Publisher. © 69 Magazine Ltd 2019
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THE INDIVIDUAL SIEMATIC KITCHEN DESIGN Each person is different; each SieMatic is, too. D i s c o ve r a n e w s c o p e f o r a l l y o u r i d e a s . W i t h t he e x c e p t i o n a l options offered by SieMatic, you can design your kitchen to your personal taste: purist, urban or classic.
MAILBOX BIRMINGHAM
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STRATFORD UPON AVON
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IN THIS ISSUE. Oh for simpler times! Remember when politics and the news were boring? If only we could turn back the clock yet, no matter what, we seem to be on a path to becoming an even more divided country than we already are. It doesn’t matter what side of Brexit you stand on, I’m sure you’re as sick of it all as I am. What way forward? Don’t ask me, after all, only half of you would like my answer just like I’d only like half of your responses! Now if we were having this conversation on social media, Twitter or Facebook , if you didn’t like my answer you could just block me. Simply cleanse your online world of my unpalatable views and continue liking and sharing everything else that you agree with. And I would do exactly the same. And this I think is part of the problem, rather than engage in debate; find out about someone’s point of view, their experiences and their reasoning we just block them. We don’t even agree to disagree we just get rid. All that unpleasantness dismissed at the click of a mouse- I’ve done it myself and I bet you have too. The problem is by screening out objections and surrounding ourselves with only those people we agree with we become more and more divided, more outraged and more confused as to why some people can feel so wildly differently to how we do, to how people like us feel. So how do we make things better? I’m not sure we can. A recent survey reported that
we’re already spending the equivalent of 33 days a year accessing mobile date on our smart phones and that figure is only going up. Many of us are trying to have a digital cleanse; leaving the smart phone at home, turning it off when visiting a restaurant or holidaying where there is, horror upon horror, no wifi.
excuse not to ditch your smartphones, switch off the news and go have some fun! Until September,
Even though we do contribute to the online world with our website and social media channels, we hope that with this, the print version of our magazine, that we’re doing our bit to help distract you from the world. This summer issue is jam packed with distractions! We talk to both Marcella and Siobhan from Shakespears Sister about falling out and making up; director Tinuke Craig about bringing The Color Purple to the UK stage and actor Gordon Warnecke who became an icon of 80’s England in the film My Beautiful Launderette and is coming full circle as the film becomes a theatre piece.
Jonathan Fraser Group Editor In Chief
We also fly away to explore Penang, enjoy a long weekend in Ireland and look at some last-minute holiday locations that are easy to access from Birmingham Airport who are, incidentally, celebrating 80 years as an airport. We’ve also sampled a scrumptious new afternoon tea with an eastern edge at Wing Wah, dinner at the Aria restaurant at the city’s Hyatt Regency Hotel and you have the chance to win an amazing wine dinner for eight at Harvey Nichols. If that’s not enough we’ve got our guide to what’s happening and where in the West Midlands this summer, so there’s really no
WE CAN’T WAIT FOR...
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD Anytime a new Tarantino movie is announced then you know you have to see it opening week. But a Tarantino movie starring DiCaprio, Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt warrants an opening night expedition – although I’ll still be sneaking in my own popcorn. Set in 1969 Los Angeles, television actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry. Featuring a large ensemble cast, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood weaves “multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age. Sad fact fans it’s also the last film to feature the late Luke Perry. 6 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
PINCH OF NOM
Need to get beach body ready quick? This journal from food blog Pinch of Nom gives you everything you need to chart progress, plan weekly meals and reach your goals. Set out in a simple format with diet diary-style pages that are easily adaptable to your personal slimming guidelines, Pinch of Nom is beautifully designed and designed to help you stay organised and motivated.
THE MISTER
Running at Birmingham Hippodrome from 16 – 20 July, the Tony AwardWinning Musical tells the unforgettable story of courageous heroine Celie, as she journeys through joy, despair, anguish and hope in her own personal awakening to discover her unique voice in the world. With a score drawing inspiration from jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this moving family chronicle celebrates life, love and the strength.
STRANGER THINGS The Netflix phenomenon will be returning to our screens on 4th July – Independence Day - and, based upon the trailer, the kids of Hawkins are experiencing growing pains as they drop Dungeons and Dragons for malt shops and malls in gloriously neon eightiesness. The Duffer brothers had apparenty delayed this season to create something much bigger and bolder in scale and we can’t wait.
Burger Tuesday. 2 4 1 Burgers. @pintshopbrum
38 Bennnetts Hill, Birmingham B2 5SN
PARTY NIGHT FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST £32.95 PER PERSON The Belfry Hotel & Resort is one of the best destinations in the UK for a night of live entertainment. The legendary party nights are guaranteed to be an evening of dancing and fun, perfect for celebrating or just a night out with friends.
LIVE MUSIC | 3 COURSE MEAL PRIZE FOR BEST DRESSED
www.TheBelfry.com 01675 238 600 | sales@thebelfry.com ENGLAND’S LEADING RESORT | WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2018
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AGENDA.
CATH KIdston & COTTON In her second collaboration with UK lifestyle superbrand Cath Kidston, presenter and style tastemaker Fearne Cotton has taken inspiration from her varied lifestyle whilst delving into the Cath Kidston archive to create a range that’s sure to brighten up any day of the week. Designed in creative collaboration, Fearne delved into Cath Kidston’s archives and chose motifs that would create a novelty scenic print that was full of whimsical charm and had a dream-like feel. The hero print from the range, ‘Dream Forest’, beautifully depicts a woodland scene featuring painterly petals and bold blooms; you’ll find animals from archive Cath Kidston prints such as leopards, swans and butterflies taking centre stage on this fanciful design. Complementing ‘Dream Forest’ is a stylish 70s inspired ditsy print, ‘Welham Flowers’, that adorns key fashion and accessories from the range. Fearne’s own wardrobe and day-today life has been a major source of inspiration for the range. As a result, the collection features a whole host of unexpected new shapes and styles including a standout Playsuit, brand new Beach Totes and a selection of bohochic Dresses. With a focus on finding joy in the details, this collection showcases original trims and techniques including raised embroidery, iridescent stitching and metallic embossing for accessories. Designed to be playful yet practical, why not discover happiness in the day-today with this spirited collection that is guaranteed to make you smile? Available in store now and online at www.cathkidston.co.uk Products featured: Welham Flowers Bluetooth Headphones, £40 Dream Forest Mac, £85, Dream Forest Birdcage Umbrella, £30, DreamForest Wellington Boots, £35
8 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
MMM... Marmalade
This summer, Marmalade @ The REP will be revitalised following the introduction of a brand new outdoor terrace, a live events programme and a sumptuous new menu for you to tuck into. The summer menu is environmentally conscious and has been lovingly created with local partners, providing something for everyone. Small plates include Calamari with a Saffron Aioli & Braised Purple Artichokes with Lemongrass Rocket & Parmesan Shavings; main plates include Blade of Beef with Wilted Spinach, Potato Rosti & Peppercorn Sauce, and Pumpkin & Sage Ravioli with a Spicy Butter & Cashew Crust. To finish, desserts include Chocolate & Coffee Mousse with Chantilly Cream & Pecan Praline, and Rosewater Meringue with Macerated English Strawberries & Whipped Cream. A new local coffee provider, local craft beer and a bespoke Martini cocktail are now also on the menu at Marmalade, making it a must-visit destination in Birmingham whether you’re catching up with a friend over a cuppa or dining before a big night out. Visit Marmalade at Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EP, call them on 0121 245 2080 or check out the new menu at www. marmaladebirmingham.co.uk dluxe-magazine.co.uk 9
AGENDA.
THE 80’S ARE BACK
The 80’s Invasion Tour is coming back to Birmingham with a bang this Autumn with seven of the decade’s most popular acts coming together on one stage. Sister Sledge, Jason Donovan, The Fizz, Five Star, Martika, Hue & Cry and Living In A Box featuring Kenny Thomas will be at the Birmingham Arena on the 31st October – Halloween for all you scream queens! Sister Sledge had multiple chart anthems including ‘Lost In Music’, ‘We Are Family’, ‘Thinking Of You’, ‘He’s The Greatest Dancer’ and the No.1 ‘Frankie’ that remained at the top of the UK charts for 4 weeks. Everyone’s eighties crush, Jason Donovan’s many hits include ‘Nothing Can Divide Us’, ‘Too Many Broken Heart’s’, Sealed With A Kiss’ and ‘Everyday I Love You More’. US pop singer/ songwriter Martika had hits with 1989’s ‘Toy Soldiers’, ‘I Feel The Earth Move’, ‘More Than You Know’ and ‘Love Thy Will Be Done’ written by Prince. The amazing family group Five Star had a string of soul-pop hit singles and were infamous for their self-designed costumes and choreographed dance routines. Hits include ‘System Addict’, ‘Can’t Wait Another Minute’, ‘Rain Or Shine’ and our personal guilty pop pleasure ‘The Slightest Touch’. The Fizz, including members from Bucks Fizz, became household names thanks to no1s such as ‘Land Of Make Believe’ and ‘My Camera Never Lies’; Brothers Hue & Cry will bring their hit singles ‘Labour of Love’ and ‘Ordinary Angel’ and Sheffield band Living In A Box Featuring Kenny Thomas had hit singles including ‘Living In A Box’ and ‘Love is the Art’. Get your tickets at www.arenabham.co.uk or call 0844 33 88222 10 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
VANITY (PHONE) CASE Let’s face it, our mobile phone has become the one thing you take everywhere so it has to look and feel as good as you do. Which is why we love the colour palette from luxury phone case company Greenwich Design. The new Maia collection brings a striking colour palette with matching refined stitching and Alcantara lining for a strong yet soft elegance. Available in beautiful seasonal hues such as Canary Yellow, Scarlet Red, Tahiti Blue, Blake Blossom Pink, Pale Gravel Grey or Beach House Blue using a full grain nappa bull leather that’s used by Bentley Motors for its interiors, the cases are soft and durable, with an impeccable aesthetic. They’re tough too. Concealed in the cover is a carbon fibre panel that provides a shield so strong it will stop a shotgun blast, yet so light as to be barely noticeable. There’s a precision engineered shell to hold the phone in place and provide further protection against damage and gunmetal edging provides bumper like edge protection. Cases from the Maia collection start from £129 at www.greenwich.design
UNLOCKING
LUXURY ACROSS THE WEST MIDLANDS
LIVING
Find us at WELFORD-ON-AVON | TANWORTH-IN-ARDEN
AWARD-WINNING HOUSE BUILDER Duchy Homes is a multi-award-winning house builder and has been honoured with many prestigious awards year-on-year. Using superior materials, fixtures and fittings, we deliver dream homes of which you can be proud.
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AGENDA.
AMPLIFY OPEN NEW PREMIUM HOSPITALITY LOUNGE AT ARENA BIRMINGHAM
A brand new premium hospitality lounge, Premier Lounge, has opened at Arena Birmingham. Brought to you by the Arena’s VIP hospitality arm, Amplify, the new exclusive contemporary lounge offers panoramic views across Arena Birmingham from luxury balcony seating. Premier Lounge also has its very own bar, from which in-house caterers Amadeus serve up an exclusive range of drinks (including a selection of cocktails), alongside a range of deli-style platters designed by their awardwinning chefs. Drinks can even be ordered right to your seat with Amadeus’ bespoke Qjacker app created for the venue - so you won’t miss a moment of the show. Premier Lounge brings with it a new debenture-style of membership, similar to a football or rugby season ticket, where each membership purchases access to 1 seat for 20 performances. This makes it the perfect choice for relaxed corporate hospitality in a premium setting, or the live event lover who finds themselves becoming a regular at the Arena. Members also receive a welcome drink at every performance, access to Amplify member events, exclusive discounts for future shows and will soon have access to their own online portal to purchase tickets. For the ultimate way to personalise your event in style, members will also receive the unique opportunity to put their name, or company name, on their very own seats.
Arena Birmingham is one of the busiest indoor entertainment venues in the world, so members won’t be short of shows to choose from. Whether it’s music, sport, comedy or family entertainment you’re looking for, there’s a choice of more than a hundred world-class events a year in which to use a Premier Lounge membership. Sally Walder, General Manager of Amplify, said of the new space: “We are thrilled to be able to extend our hospitality offering at Arena Birmingham with the new Premier Lounge. “Over the past year Amplify has been in incredibly high demand, and ever more people are coming to us looking an exciting alternative to the traditional corporate hospitality that just isn’t suiting their diverse client base. Premier Lounge still offers the premium experience that you’d expect with Amplify, but is perfect for those looking for something a little more relaxed than a sit down meal. Sally’s team recently won the prestigious accolade of “Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Business of the Year” at this year’s awards ceremony. The six-strong team were praised for their “mindset of continuous improvement” and the award judges were impressed by their growing performance from modest beginnings. Amplify offers a portfolio of hospitality packages at the two NEC Group Arenas in Birmingham: Resorts World Arena and Arena Birmingham. Packages range in levels from Freestyle single event packages to their most premium annual membership, Air.
Prices for Premier Lounge membership start at £2500+VAT. To find out more about the Premier Lounge please visit www. arenabham.co.uk/premier, or to receive a tour of the space from the Amplify team, please give them a call on 0844 338 0333. 12 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
HERE’S WHAT MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE AMPLIFY EXPERIENCE:
“
The reason we became members of Amplify in the first place was due to what can only be described as firstclass experiences when we were lucky enough to be invited to a few events previously. Solomon (Amplify Sales Manager) almost feels like part of our team as he recognises the importance of providing first class service when we need to entertain guests. His willingness to think outside the box and go the extra mile is something to be very proud of. Keep doing what you are best at – which is providing first class hospitality.
”
Alison Clements, Director at Regal Me
“
Amplify exceeds my expectations when it comes to entertainment, customer service and an experience that can only be described as pure class. We have been a member of Amplify for many years now as it gives us the opportunity to entertain our ever growing and changing customer portfolio with a varied and diverse selection of acts and shows. Sally and her team ensure we all have an amazing time and everyone is treated like a VIP. From the welcome drink to the act’s finale, every minute spent with Amplify is a pleasure.
”
Jo Purvis, Blueprint Gaming
DISNEY ON ICE CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF MAGIC!
ELTON JOHN WESTLIFE LITTLE MIX ROD STEWARD CHER
JACK WHITEHALL BE PART OF SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL Hospitality packages and memberships for those who live for live entertainment MEMBER BENEFITS
GUARANTEED TICKETS
PRIVATE BOOKING SERVICE
ACCESS TO PRIVATE LOUNGES
THE HOTTEST SEATS IN TOWN
EXCLUSIVE ENTRANCES
Call 0844 338 0333 and Quote ‘AMPDLUXE’ to receive £40.00 OFF your booking
AGENDA.
HALLFIELD EXPAND CO-EDUCATION TO 13 YEARS STEM curriculum, Hallfield is well-placed to deliver a unique Prep School education within Birmingham. There’s a new laptop, an outward bound education and leadership opportunities available to all Year 7 and Year 8 pupils to help them prepare for their next stage of education and life beyond. Roles will include Head Boy and Head Girl, sports leaders and prefects.
Launching in September 2020, Hallfield School is creating HallfieldSeniors to educate pupils 11-13 years of age in preparation for entry into regional independent schools and national boarding schools. Hallfield School has a distinguished history of educating pupils for entry at 13+ and they believe, as they celebrate
their 140th year as one of Birmingham’s most distinguished Prep Schools, the time is right to expand their offering to both their current parents and the wider Birmingham community to become the only Birmingham Prep School offering co-educational education to 13 years. With excellent facilities, extensive grounds, specialist teachers and new
In addition, Hallfield’s Enrichment Programme will run in parallel to the curriculum and help pupils develop life-long skills to foster independence, resilience, teamwork, entrepreneurship, citizenship and social responsibility. If you feel that your son or daughter would benefit from a HallfieldSeniors Education, please contact admissions@ hallfieldschool.co.uk or call 0121 454 1496.
Put the Tip into Tipple
Classic WALL COVERING In association with Bridgeman Images, made-to-measure wallpaper mural specialists, Wallsauce, has access to an abundance of classic art images. From the ‘Sistine Chapel Ceiling’ by Michelangelo Buonarroti to ‘The Kiss’ by Gustav Klimt you can now adorn your entire walls with your favourite art. Simply select your desired art from the fine art collection at Wallsauce.com, enter your dimensions and choose from a range of wallpaper materials including paste-the-wall wallpapers and a selfadhesive wallpaper for a contemporary take on the feature wall. Prices start from £32/m2 from www.wallsauce.com/bridgemanwall-mural-art-wallpaper 14 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Asparagus Gin is the latest creation to bring to life the Vale of Evesham's venerable veg. Launched to celebrate this year's British Asparagus Festival, which was in full force in Worcestershire until the end of June, the distillers, Hussingtree Gin, are amongst the first to successfully use asparagus as a botanical. They're certainly the first Worcestershirebased maker to use world famous Vale of Evesham asparagus. Numerous distillers have attempted to incorporate asparagus into their gins, but with varied success. The team at Hussingtree Gin spent over six months experimenting with the distilling processes and botanical blends to unlock the vegetable's unique flavour. One question that everyone has been asking is whether asparagus gin has the same effect on the human body as the vegetable itself and the answer is apparently not. The process used to make it seems to knock back those chemicals responsible which will make the hangover more bearable. www.hussingtreegin.co.uk
WIN! A LUXURY FOUR-COURSE WINE DINNER FOR EIGHT AT HARVEY NICHOLS, BIRMINGHAM
Here at dluxe magazine, we’re huge fans of Harvey Nichols. We’re lucky enough to eat out in many of the city’s premier restaurants on a regular basis, but there’s always something extra special about Harvey Nichols’ Brasserie, to us, which is why we want you to experience it too. We’ve teamed up with Harvey Nichols to offer you and seven friends/family/ colleagues a sumptuous dining experience at the Mailbox-based brasserie.
Enjoy a wine dinner, with four courses and four paired wines for eight guests, hosted by Head Chef Stewart Mackie, and Wine Specialist Siofra O’Brien in the Private Dining Room at Harvey Nichols Birmingham Brasserie.
WIN!
To be in with a chance of winning, simply log onto www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk and click on the competitions tab. Closing date is 31 August, 2019. T&Cs apply.
£60,000 raised for NICE by local CYCLists 35 dedicated cyclists cycled 126 miles from Birmingham to Westminster Bridge in Central London in 48 hours, to raise money for local Birmingham charity, NICE – Centre for Movement Disorders. The group of cyclists were inspired by a member of their own family who has been benefiting from the charity’s services for 3 years. Orlaith Quinn, now nearly 4 years of age, was born with a condition affecting all of the muscles in her body. This has made achieving normal patterns of movement more difficult and as a result she is significantly
delayed in her physical development, making typical childhood milestones such as crawling and walking more difficult to achieve. The Orlaith The Way To London team have raised over £60,000 so far, which could fund over a year of services and running costs in Red Boots Nursery for numerous groups of children like Orlaith. If you would like to donate to the cycle you may do so by using this link: http:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ orlaiththewaytolondon
dluxe-magazine.co.uk 15
AGENDA.
SIMPLY SiEMATIC Kitchen Gallery, established in 1987, have been working in partnership with SieMatic to deliver bespoke, elegant and brilliant kitchens across the Midlands in the most affluent, prosperous and luxurious addresses.
The goal of Kitchen Gallery is to strive for consistent perfection, attained through the hard work and dedication of each of their Senior Designers. The knowledge, expertise and professionalism of each designer stems from their own personal passion and desire to hone and perfect their art, to put out in to the world their interpretation of what a SieMatic kitchen represents. Located in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Solihull & the Mailbox, Kitchen Gallery have encapsulated the design principle of SieMatic’s lifestyle ranges: CLASSIC, URBAN and the PURE collection. The CLASSIC range captures the timeless elegance of kitchen and room planning concepts, characterised by minimalistic restraint and opulence. The URBAN lifestyle collection allowed SieMatic to put forward an unconventional, intuitive juxtaposition of carefully selected objects and contrasting themes which effortlessly blended together. Exciting yet peaceful. Strange although familiar. Modest and ostentatious. All in all, a stylish elegance of function and emotion. Making it easier to keep check of your brood on the beach this summer is the super cute range of father / son matching swimwear from Tom & Teddy. Available in sizes to suit toddlers and teenagers, dads to grandads, all generations of the family can coordinate in any of the range’s simple yet stylish colourful prints. With a relaxed cut that’s designed to be not too baggy, not too short and not too long, they’re perfect for a day on the beach, a barbie or a session at the swimming pool. Prices start at £34.95 for a boys short at www.tomandteddy.co.uk
WIN!
We’ve got a father son set of chalky elephant print shorts to give away. That’s one pair for dad and one for the son. For your chance to win visit www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk 16 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Finally, the PURE line, a new geometry for the kitchen. The PURE line formulates new contours and a unique character upon purist design. Over the past 30 years, Kitchen Gallery have meticulously chosen a repertoire of appliances supplied by the leading, global frontrunners. Playing host to excellent brands such as Gaggenau, Sub-Zero & Wolf, Miele, BORA and Siemens opens the pantry doors for their Designers to suggest the most appropriate configuration which complements the overall design and direction of your anticipated kitchen. To truly comprehend the complete nuances of the appliances, the Kitchen Gallery designers have engaged in the necessary training to remain fully informed and competent to provide
counsel on the latest brands, fresh concepts and technological advancements in the world of bespoke living, all fulfilled with a polite, professional and friendly demeanour. Kitchen Gallery also offer a seamless contracts division, providing a comprehensive B2B kitchen experience. Starting with the initial consultation, stretching to full installation and project management. With an unique and dedicated contract team, constant attention to detail and thorough analysis guarantee client fulfilment. Exclusive partnerships with brands such as Italian furnishing company Jesse and BORA, ensures clients are pleased with the interior design service. Visit the showroom at Mailbox Birmingham. Tel. 0121 272 7880 www.kitchengallery.co.uk
CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH
The Colmore Food Festival is back
The annual Colmore Food Festival, sponsored by law firm DWF, attracts more than 30,000 visitors each year. This year’s event takes place on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6, in Victoria Square. Arranged by Colmore BID, the Festival showcases the brilliant food, drink and hospitality venues in the area. All food is capped at £4 and drinks at £5 at the Festival, ensuring visitors can enjoy a bite to eat or drink without breaking the bank. The event is free to attend and has a variety of live music acts and wandering performers, making the Festival the perfect weekend outing for all the family.
Colmore Food Festival is continuing its ambition to become one of the most sustainable events in Birmingham with a mission to achieve zero waste to landfill and a total ban on plastic drinking straws. Recycling experts First Mile will be at the Festival to offer advice on business sustainability and the latest recycling initiatives. In addition to recycling stations, specialist sustainability schemes will include coffee recycling, where all coffee grounds will be recycled into pellets to use in wood-burners and stoves; plus food waste will be taken to a state-ofthe-art plant where it can be recycled into renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser.
There are around 30 venues participating in this year’s Festival, including two Michelin starred restaurants, Adam’s and Purnell’s. There are also three new participating venues: Pint Shop who will be serving their Dirty Burger, Chicken Tikka Flat bread and Halloumi Flat Bread, Dirty Martini who will be bringing a selection of cocktails from their summer menu and Hookway’s with Halloumi Fries and a selection of salad scoops! Of course Festival favourites such as Chung Ying Central and OPUS will be back! Follow Colmore BID on social media for the latest announcements for this year’s Colmore Food Festival.
Colmore Food Festival 2019 Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July 2019 11am - 7pm Victoria Square, Birmingham
Free Entry! All Food under £4! Live Music! Featuring 30 local venues!
@ColmoreFoodFestival @ColmoreBID @ColmoreBusinessDistrict @ColmoreBID #ColmoreFoodFest19
AGENDA.
TAKE A SHOT Vitamin injections
Bianca Estelle
TINUKE CRAIG: THE COLOR PURPLE With a profoundly evocative score drawing inspiration from jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this moving family chronicle set in racially divided southern America, celebrates life, love and the strength to stand up for who you are and what you believe in. We caught up with the show’s Director Tinuke Craig to find out more. The Color Purple is a book or a film that people tend to hold very close to their heart. How faithful is the musical version of the story? The musical production is very faithful to the film and the same in lots of ways. The book is very specific, told through letters and so as a two-hour stage version the story is presented quite differently. The musical feels more alive and in present tense - whenever anything is put onto a stage it is elevated to an almost fantastical version. The musical is a kind of blown-up fantasia of the film plus live singing and live acting – which makes it pretty incredible! The show is set over almost all of Celie’s life, is that challenging to represent on stage? Yes it is and it’s a particularly big challenge for T’Shan, 18 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
who’s playing Celie. We’ll do it largely through costumes, acting and the music to make sure the audience know where we are at any given time. There are some deeply upsetting moments in Celie’s story – violence, rape, mental abuse – but there are also moments of extreme happiness and selfdiscovery. How do you strike the balance? I think you have to be very clear with the story and not shy away from that trauma: you need to comprehend that abuse and violence to feel the impact of the show. The balance is struck by the musical theatre elements which offset some of that darkness. Songs are often used in musicals to form a release moment from a pressure valve and that’s what we’ll be doing here. Are there enough shows like The Color Purple? I think that we could always do with more representation of the experiences of people who don’t get their voices heard that much - women, people of colour, people living through particular periods of history we could learn from. At the moment there aren’t enough stories that do that in theatre but I also hope that we can move beyond the starting point for these stories always being pain. I hope that in the future we’ll see more stories of
people of colour, women and others who aren’t recognised as often as they should be without trauma always being a key feature. Despite being a period piece, does Celie’s story resonate with the world we live in now? Yes, I think it does because all through time and culture there are people who are silenced or erased, voices not heard, not valued, opinions deemed not worthy by society. We need to focus in on those voices and who those people are, letting them be heard in our world. There are Celies everywhere, in every generation and every culture – this story helps to remind us all to take notice and listen. What can audience members expect from the score? Audiences can expect something quite varied, rooted in the sounds of the black American south with gospel, blues and jazz, caught up in American and musical tradition. There are big, onthe-money vocal numbers which our cast will raise the roof with and emotional, evocative numbers. It’s a very powerful score and I’m excited to hear it come to life with this production. The Color Purple runs from 16th – 20th July at Birmingham Hippodrome.
For many of us leading busy lives, finding time to look after ourselves can sometimes come at the bottom of a very long list. And while we may remember to take our vitamin tablets and think we are eating healthily, tiredness and lethargy still overcomes us and has worryingly become ‘the norm’ for many writes Claire Fry. But this doesn’t need to be the case - the answer could lie in a quick hour appointment at a new clinic in the centre of Birmingham, run by an industry leader in her field for vitamin injections. Following a medical questionnaire and history, I met with Bianca Estelle, Medical Aesthetician and Founder of Vitamin Injections in the Great Western Arcade in Birmingham. Bianca explained how vitamin tablets were not as effective as many people believe, as just around 8% was absorbed into the body. This is compared to 99.9% of vitamin drips (known as IV therapy), a concept which is relatively unknown but quickly growing in popularity. We talked through my health concerns, how I had a low immune system and worked long hours, and after answering all my questions she suggested I had the Myers Cocktail IV- a great all-rounder for boosting the immune system. The Myers Cocktail originally came from Baltimore physician John Myers in drip form* and contains B Vitamins, Magnesium, Calcium and Vitamin C. The treatment was surprisingly quick and pain free and I was back at my desk just over an hour later with no side effects that would put me off having it again. In the days following I did notice I had more energy in my day, and drive at the gym which was refreshing. Alongside this, and to help me with my immunity and continue helping my body cope with tiredness, I was also given a course of Vitamin B12, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin D3 and Glutathione patches to wear on the skin and have been easy to use and apply. For details, prices and dates of the next clinic visit www.vitamininjections.co.uk/iv-therapybirmingham
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AGENDA.
Sing your heart out at Brindley this summer smashes such as A Star is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody, to Disney favourites The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins Returns, there really is something for everyone. This year’s Film Festival is being held in partnership with charity Sense, who will be fundraising throughout the week long event, hosting various activities across the estate. Sense supports children and adults who are deafblind or have complex disabilities. Its Touchbase Centre in Birmingham brings health and social care services together with wider community, arts, sports and wellbeing activities - and helps deafblind people to access employment, volunteering and training opportunities.
The biggest musical blockbusters will be on the big screen at this year’s Brindley Film Festival, as voting is now officially open for the pitch perfect shortlist.
Square from Monday 15th to Sunday 21st July. Voting is now live so it’s up to the public to choose which of their favourite music-themed movies they want to see.
Now in its 8th year, the popular outdoor Film Festival will take place in Central
From classics like Singing in the Rain and West Side Story, recent big screen
Visit www.brindleyplace.com/event/ film-festival for listings and showing times.
LITTLE GREENE: LITTLE GEM After restoring and renovating three period homes you get to know a little bit about paint and we have to say that there is no other paint we’d recommend than the stunning rage of intelligent paints from Little Greene.
Made in the UK using the highest quality ingredients, clever formulations and complex colour recipes, the combination of lasting durability and rich, beautiful colour is epitomised by the family of ‘Intelligent Paints’– a range of finishes designed especially for busy people and lively homes. They are longlasting, environmentally-friendly, completely washable and available in all Little Greene shades. Plus being water-based, Intelligent Paints are quick-drying and virtually odourless. They are also high in opacity, making them efficient, economical and easy to apply with minimal disruption. Varying from matt to high gloss, Little Greene paints are up to 15 times stronger than ordinary household paints, stain and mark resistant, they are also completely washable- perfect for a busy home. Get your perfect colour mixed at Brewers Decorator centres or order online at www.littlegreene.com 20 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Ooty Station at Selfridges Ooty Station at Selfridges Birmingham, promises to transport customer’s taste buds through a culinary journey, with a menu of exquisite cocktails accompanied by nibbles and signature street food all with an Indian twist. The menu features delicacies from various regions of South India and offers a creative selection of dishes and sensational aromas and flavours will provide an authentic experience of South Indian cuisine. Enjoy dishes such as Lime Leaf Kheema, Chettinad Chicken and Traditional Masala Dosa’s all paired perfectly with conventional Sambar and coconut chutney. Main courses will highlight curries including Kasoori Murgh - an Ooty twist on one of India’s most popular dishes, Matka Lamb - a tender lamb stew flavored with chilli & tellicherry peppers alongside Coconut Lime Prawn – lime and lemongrass scented prawns with coconut and tomato. We can’t wait to try it in store!
FRESHLY PICKED VINS YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE Austrian grape variety creates a wine that is completely unique. It is full of flavour, brimming with fruit on both the nose and the palate, whilst balancing ripe apple and juicy plum notes with fresh zesty sharpness. The result is a blend that is light, dry, and refreshing: perfect for an afternoon soaking up the sunshine. On Stefan’s recommendation, we sipped this crisp tipple with Hotel du Vin’s superfood salad: brimming with grains, greens, and goodness, the freshness of the wine complemented the dish wonderfully.
It’s official: the evenings are brighter; the weather is warmer; our favourite season is here! The time has come to enjoy the English summertime and in what better fashion than with a splash of the very best summer wine. We went on a quest to find the tipples that are a must-try this summer and paid a visit to the wine experts at Hotel du Vin Birmingham. After chatting all things vin with Head Sommelier, Stefan, it’s safe to say these serves are going to see us through to the end of the season (and beyond…)!
The wine cellar at Hotel du Vin is a sight to behold: tucked beneath the Bubble Lounge, the room boasts floor-to-ceiling brick shelves of the best wines from across the globe. Whether it’s fizz that takes your fancy, a 34-year-old blend or an award-winning St Andrea Egri Bikaver, HdV has you covered. We asked Stefan to choose his two favourite wines for the summer, and the first he suggested was the Soellner Roter Veltliner von Gösing. This little known
BE BOWLED OVER AT THIS ASHES CRICKET DINNER
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Following the rst day’s play at Edgbaston, cricket legend Sir Ian Botham will be hosting a dinner at HdV Birmingham, with epic wine, four fantastic courses and canapés, and unmissable tales from the game.
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THURSDAY, 1ST AUGUST 2019 7.30PM TO 11PM £75 per ticket Book your tickets here: bit.ly/AshesDinner
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Stefan then opened our eyes to the dark side in the form of an Italian red… on ice! He presented us with a bottle of Azienda Agricola Cos Frappato Terre Siciliane, which had been chilled to a cool 14°C before pouring, as it enhances the light flavours hidden in the wine. Sweet, floral and lively on the palate, this wine finishes off a cheese board with finesse: the ideal close to a summer evening meal. Our two new favourite wines are available to enjoy the whole summer through at Hotel du Vin Birmingham. Whether you’re enjoying dinner in the Bistro, drinking al fresco in the courtyard, or soaking up the summer feeling in the Bubble Lounge, a glass of these summer staples should never be too far away.
YOUR HISTORY SPOTLIGHT.
They say good things come to those that wait. 26 years ago, Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit acrimoniously slammed the door on one of the most successful female duos of all time following a succession of stand-out hits that still define the era in which they were released. They even headlined Glastonbury before going their separate ways but as Fahey breathily concluded in their 1993 song ‘My 16th Apology’, ‘To err is human, to forgive is divine’. Kevin Urquhart caught up with both of Shakespears Sister to talk forgiveness, making new music, going back on the road and what they got up to last night….
SF: We’re pretty knackered to be honest; we did Graham Norton last night and that’s being broadcast tonight. I can’t wait to see it. They record it live the day before. It’s typical that our very first performance together after 27 years is live on television in front of five million people. It was a little bit nerve-wracking, but I think we pulled it off. It was quite emotional actually
I can imagine. 27 years is a long time. Did you feel like you slotted back into your roles? MD: It’s just kind of happening naturally. We found this newfound respect and appreciation and acceptance of each other and it’s all just falling into place like every day. It’s evolving into this thing and it’s so much more fun and enjoyable now. SF: Yeah, we can really enjoy it and be grateful for it now and savour the journey. Plus, we’re on a creative high, we’ve just written 6 new songs together, we’re halfway through a 5 track EP. All the tracks are amazing, I love them. I’m so excited to release our new material. Our social media lit up last night when we said we were talking to you; so much excitement! Everyone wants to know if there will be new material so I’m going to get straight to the point. Will there be new material? SF: Yes! The new single was called ‘All the Kings Horses’ and it’s the first song we’d written together for 27 years so it was a hole in one. As soon as we wrote that song I was like ‘Game On, this is magical’; it’s been a long time coming! SF: It has been a long time coming! Brewing. It’s been a long pregnancy. We’ve got an amazing new video to accompany it by Sophie Muller who did all our previous videos. She was very much like our third member visually; very much an architect of the videos which is a big part of it. She was greatly inspired by the difficulties we were having between us. MD: What difficulties?! SF: So, it’s a revisiting and an updating of the ballad of Siob and Marcie. It’s very funny the video. MD: It’s heart-warming and it just covers a gambit of emotions SF: It actually made me cry the first few times I saw it. We’re getting more sentimental in our old age.
Has it surprised you about how much interest there has been in the 22 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
reunion? SF: Yeah well, we sold over a million records in 1992 so that means there’s got to be about a million people who are going to be very excited to hear about it.
You’d hope so. SF: I never wanted us just to be a retro band, I mean I’m incredibly excited about the new material and judging by the journalists, some of who are younger than my children, who have heard it, my hope is that we get a whole new audience with the new stuff.
I saw the Bananarama Reunion tour a couple of years ago and I tell you what, I see a lot of gigs and it was one of the most fun gigs I had been to in decades. I loved it. SF: Fantastic. It was very joyful. The Bananarama tour was a wonderful celebration of what we had been as a trio of young women forming a band when we were very young and learning on our feet on how to write and make records and actually making quite a few records that really touched people. I wanted us to make new music, but Sara and Keren weren’t so into that idea. I was just desperate to make new music so after that tour I was like I’ve got to make another record myself and then when I met up with Marcie and we’d put our differences to one side finally. All of sudden that became a possibility and something that I definitely wanted to explore between us. We’d always had a symbiotic relationship as songwriters and artists, it was always easy flow creatively.
So, about the split… SF: It was a gradual thing. There were many components of it which neither of us were aware of the whole picture until we sat down and actually talked. I come from this culture where we don’t really tend to air our grievances, we brush everything under the carpet and have a stiff upper lip. I just wouldn’t talk about stuff that was bothering me, Marcie had no idea. Whenever she tried to talk to me about things, and being American she just wanted to confront things, whereas I took it as an attack. I never gave her or myself the opportunity to clear the air. I’m so glad I finally got there as a human. That’s the benefit of wisdom, sometimes stepping out of a situation is the most positive thing you can do so you can salvage any form of future relationship and be at peace with yourself.
“
I knew that I needed to do it, but I was so cowardly about it. I hate confrontation
�
SPOTLIGHT. quite a loaded and extraordinary relationship. MD: Kind of like a marriage.
Do you think the industry has changed? I know you’ve been active in the scene but as a duo are you expecting the scene to be different now? MD: I think the most important thing is to hope for the best and expect not too much. Because the way the music business has changed over the years it’s still kind of fractured. It’s not like this identifiable machine that it was. I’ve heard people like Quincy Jones and will.i.am saying three or four years ago that the music business is dead as we knew it back then but, anybody can make a record now and the market is flooded with new artists every day. We all have the common hurdle of ‘how do we get this heard? How do we get our art out there?’ Everybody has that hurdle, but we have been so lucky that we have a label behind us now and everything has been magically aligned.
SF: Absolutely, it’s primarily to do with that. You don’t want to take that to your grave. That was the primary objective for me in sitting down and having a coffee with Marcie. That day everything was healed. MD: Pretty much, yeah. Clear up any misconceptions, that was much needed and appreciated. SF: We both learned about the situation that we perhaps weren’t aware of back in the day. What I didn’t know was the incredible reward of the creativity was to follow from having the courage to do that.
Do you regret how it all ended back then or are you just chalking it down to different times., different people? SF: I think regret is a wasted emotion. MD: Likewise. It happened, we don’t have a time machine, we can’t go back and change things. It was so kind of circumstantial. Like Siobhan has said, there was a lot of divisiveness around us, people around us, miscommunication and we just kind of reacted to it in the best way we thought it was to react. Thankfully now we understand it more and we can move forward and appreciate each other more. SF: Yeah really appreciate the power of us two together
When you sat down for that coffee, who was that peacemaker? SF: I had been approached a couple of times over the years by Marcie and I hadn’t really 24 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
got there yet, and I wasn’t able to do it. It did actually have to wait until I was able to face it and I was being heavily encouraged by Peter who is managing us back together again. I knew that I needed to do it, but I was so cowardly about it. I hate confrontation.
SF: The stars have aligned for us in a crazy way. We’ve got a wonderful new record label who are excited about our new material to the point where we are now able to work with top producers and we can afford Sophie to make our videos again. We can work at the top of our abilities again with amazing talent, we’re working with amazing artists to help us realise our art. Both of us have struggled in obscurity for twenty years, you know making records in your garden with no budget.
SF: Or it is exploding into an ugly scene
MD: Yeah, in my bedroom on my iMac. It’s been a great experience doing it because you learn a lot along the way. I know I have about creating records and the process and learning how to do sound design and not being dependent on anybody else.
MD: In that first meeting I thought maybe I need to drink Vodka I wasn’t really sure what to do but we were no, we were brave, we just met up on our own, there were no mediators or anything.
SF: That was amazing There was just me and Marcie and a tiny amount of musical equipment and her instruments and we were able to create these beautiful and fully realised demos.
What do you think the past twenty years has taught you about yourself and each other? Can you see in a change when you look at one another?
Do you think as a listener? If I had my eyes closed would I still be able to hear Shakespears Sister as I knew them back then?
MD: It is scary, the fear of the rejection or failure or of what’s going to happen.
SF: That’s a very deep question for two sleep deprived women. I mean the answer is yeah, it feels very different between us now. In a sense we’re very much the same people but I think we’re both wiser and been through a lot of experiences through the years. Highs and Lows. It gives you a great perspective on life and its process.
There’s not one other person who can say they’ve had the same experience, I guess. Both: No SF: I think we both lead life on our own terms and outside of the normal choice of the way you might live your life. It’s difficult thing to relate to. Being in a band with somebody is
SF: We’re ploughing a different furrow of musical instruments on this new material. It’s much more organic and culled from Americana type influences. It still sounds like Shakespears Sister, everybody who hears it goes Oh My God you sound like Shakespears Sister, we can’t help it.
Shakespears Sister will release Singles Party on 19th July. Their tour will see them perform at The Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham on 31 October and at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 19 November.
Unforgettable performance, powered by you 0844 338 5000* birminghamhippodrome.com *Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge.
Tue 25 & Wed 26 Jun
Tue 16 Sat 20 Jul
Tue 2 Sat 13 Jul
Sat 13 & Sun 14 Jul
Wed 17 Jul
Tue 23 Jul Sun 11 Aug
National Youth Dance Company/Botis Seva
MADHEAD
Our first home-grown youth musical production
Tue 13 Sat 24 Aug
Thu 29 Sat 31 Aug
Tue 3 Sat 7 Sep
Thu 12 Sep
Wed 25 Sat 28 Sep
Mawaan Rizwan
Juice
Tue 10 Sat 14 Sep
STYLE. 1
PACKING HEAT Feel the pressure when it comes to packing for you summer holidays? Then fear not as the dluxe style team have some key casual looks for city breakers and long haulers alike.
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You’re out of your hotel from dusk til’ dawn so make sure you layer up and give yourself outfit options throughout the day. For guys a long sleeve cotton overshirt works great – roll up the sleeves or tie round your waist in the daytime and roll down the sleeves at night. For the girls a short jumpsuit is as comfortable as it is practical and can be smartened up at night with a bold hoop earring and statement belt. Make sure to pack an over the shoulder bag to beat the pickpockets- choose one with statement fringing to complete the look. Footwear needs to be comfortable and a pair of noise cancelling headphones cancel out the crash of traffic.
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1. Outfits By Next. 2. Tan British Millerain Fabric Rucksack £95. Next. 3. Dior Homme Blacktie 262S Aviator-Style Sunglasses £255 Harvey Nichols. 4. Khaki United Twill Easy Shorts, Olive Drab £80 John Lewis. 5. Autograph Knitted Polo £29.50 M&S. 6. Debenhams Racing Green Ls Geo Print Shirt Lt Blue £32. 7. Trainer £39.99 Zara. 8. Rosie Fortescue Gold Earrings £105 Harvey Nichols. 9. Linen Jumpsuit £35 Next. 11. Serenity Sandal £55 Office. 12.Accessorize Amalfi Lux Stretch Bracelet Pack £15.10.Yellow Suedette Fringe Cross Body Bag £19.50 New Look.
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HER STYLE.
HOLIDAY PACKING So it’s finally arrived, that wonderful moment of the year... HOLIDAY TIME! There’s just one slight obstacle you have to overcome first... packing! I think most women look at a suitcase and think everything-but-the-kitchen-sink. Men, of course, pack for the weather. Some people can get away with a couple of pairs of knickers, a toothbrush and some malaria tablets. That is certainly NOT me! We all want to look our best on holiday, without standing out as white limbed tourists. Believe it or not, having the correct clothes can really make or break a holiday. Photographs will be taken at unexpected times and from unwelcome angles. No wonder us girls have a collective clothes crisis whilst trying to enjoy our holiday! So where do you start? What do you pack? Well the previous pages of this issue should help you with that, but many people forget that turning up at the airport is the start of your holiday so you should still feel special and chic in that all important airport outfit. It goes without saying you should wear colours that won’t show up dirt and grime and wear fabrics that can be washed easily. Leave the dryclean garments only in the wardrobe at home. If you are going on say a city break and will need a jacket and a pair of stylish trainers, the trick is to wear these items on the flight. They will be bulky and heavy so wear them to the airport. Lots of people swear by taking certain items on the plane with them, such as a pillow, cashmere socks, a pashmina, vitamin or aromatherapy spray, eye drops, makeup wipes, earplugs... The list is endless but also weighty! The secret is to relax and feel at home. If this means brushing your teeth and popping your pyjama bottoms on then do this. The main thing is to drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated. So here are my top tips for a stress free, non clothes crisis journey into perfecting your packing! SUITCASE Due to the ever decreasing airline baggage allowances, your suitcase or holdall is the best place to start. When you are limited to so little weight, your case needs to weigh as little as possible. A hard case is always good to keep clothes flat and less creased on a long flight as well as protecting anything that is fragile. However they can weigh up to a third of your allowance so opt for a specialist lightweight case but still some of these cases can weigh 5-6kg, so always check the exact weight before you make a purchase. If you are nipping away for a long weekend then opt for a holdall as they tend to be a bit lighter and are equally as durable. TOILETRIES It is always the toiletries that tend to ruin the packing plans! They weigh more than anything else, invariably leak and are often left behind half full at the end of the holiday because you can’t be bothered to bring them home. Opt for miniatures or decant your favourite products into lightweight plastic containers. Fortunately supermarkets, chemists and beauty counters are all meeting the demand for travel sizes and you can pretty much get everything you need in miniature form! They are lighter, take up less room and avoid wastage. You can also pick up your sun cream and beach towel when you're abroad.
Dress by Joe Browns £35
Don’t forget that if you are taking your bag on as hand luggage you need to keep all liquid products below 100ml and store them in a clear bag. PACKING Small time packing is achievable for weekends away and five day breaks, especially in the summer as the light fabrics fold into nothing. The key is to keep things flat. I’m going to make it easy for you and break it down into the different sections of the case. Bottom – start by placing the items to want to keep flat, lay your jeans, skirts, dresses the length of the case with the excess fabric hanging over the side, to be folded in again at the end, over the clothes. If you want to be a complete packing goddess then line the case and each layer with a bit of tissue paper. This will keep the items pristine and stop say jean rivets rubbing against linen trousers. Centre – place all folded items such as tops, t-shirts and cardigans in the middle. Top – place the heavy items on top to keep everything in place, shoes should be popped into plastic bags followed by your toiletries bag. Many people put in their toiletries first, because they are heavy. But when you get to your hotel and want to freshen up, they're usually the things you need instantly to hand. After that the trouser legs and maxi dresses (the ones left hanging over the sides) can then be draped over the top, Underwear can be tucked into the pocket inside the lid of the case (or even stuffed into pointy toes to preserve them) Belts can be rolled, wrapped and placed in the remaining pockets of space around the clothing. If you are still really unsure of what to pack you can give me a call and I’d be more than happy to help! I’ll even try and fit in your suitcase so I can come on holiday with you and style you every day! Your Fairy Clothes Mother x
Working as a Buyer and Image Consultant for high street fashion chains as well as high end designers, including Amanda Wakeley, Cleo now runs her own personal styling and shopping service, helping real men and women to take control of their wardrobe. E: cleolacey@demi-couture.co.uk W: www.demi-couture.co.uk Facebook: Demi Couture Twitter: @cleolacey Instagram: DemiCoutureStylist 28 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
FINISHING TOUCHES From statement necklaces and bracelets to crystal-covered earrings and cocktail rings, gold jewellery adds a dash of sparkle to any outfit. Perfect for holidays in the sun, gold is the perfect choice whether you want to go ultra luxe for a night out or simply glam up your day. LISA PIDDINGTON shares her favourite pieces from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM
Soru Jewellery Elena necklace, £245
Baublebar layered necklace, £70
Baublebar Sardinia shellembellished hoop earrings, £55 Kenneth Jay Lane faux pearl-embellished strand necklace, £130
Missoma Interstellar necklace, £135
Jenny Bird Love hoop earrings, £40
Jenny Bird Sloane chain bracelet, £70 Soru Jewellery Luna moon and star drop earrings, £260
Missoma gold vermeil leaf bracelet, £80
Olivia Burton Rainbow Bee rose gold ring, £45
Soru Jewellery Loredana drop earrings, £245
Missoma thin crystal ring, £60
You can find a full range of jewellery at Harvey Nichols Birmingham, The Mailbox, or online at harveynichols.com
HOLIDAY STYLE.
BEACH STYLE You have to put a lot more thought into wearing so little. Boys choose a trunk that you’re as comfortable in on the sun lounger as you are the beach bar. Ditch the boardies and go rugby style to get the balance right and grab an oversized vest to cover up the sunburn. Girls keeps things casual. Bikini or one piece the choice is yours. Whichever way you go a cork wedge, wide brim hat and statement sunnies takes your look up a level.
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Las Salinas, Ibiza Semenyak, Bali
Fort Lauderdale Beach, Miami Brighton 30 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
LUXE LIFE If you’re turning left at boarding then you need to make sure you look the part. The key here is to keep things classic. Khaki and cream are your friends and go for a linen mix to keep things cool without the creases. Leave the brogues at home and choose a loafer that will work as well for dinner as a day exploring the old town and add a dash of old school panache with a hat. 12
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1. Ladder Side Swimsuit £35 Accessorize. 2. Lisa Marie Fernandez Swimsuit £360 Selfridges. 3. Macho Wedge £75 Office Shoes. 4. Downtown Naples Hat £15 Joe Browns. 5. John Lewis & Partners Organic Cotton Vests, Pack Of 2, White £15. 6. Beats By Dr Dre Studio 3 Wireless Headphones – Beats Skyline Collection, Shadow Gray £289. 7. Short In Multi Logo Print £29.99 Superdry. 8. Heritage Men's Black Rounded Sunglasses From £29 Visionexpress. 9. Gucci Pursuit Black Logo Sliders £215 Harvey Nichols. 10. Loafer £? Zara. 11. Navy Straw Trilby Hat £14 Burton. 12. Fendi Monogrammed Bag £980 Harvey Nichols. 13. Tiger Of Sweden Linen Slim Fit Suit Jacket, Light Ink £299, Trouser £179 John Lewis. 14. M&S Collection Polarised Round Sunglasses 19.50 Marks & Spencer. 15. Whistles Longline Shirt Dress, Khaki £119 John Lewis. 16. Jade Sand Straw Basket Bag £290 Harvey Nichols. 17. Paisley Scarf Hair Pony £10 Accessorize. 18. Chloe Crocodile-Effect Leather Mules £510 Harvey Nichols. 19. Marcolin Sunglasses £90 Guess X. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 31
HIS STYLE.
TRUE BLUE FOR THE SUMMER GET-AWAY Poolside sliders, chic shorts and the only sunglasses to be seen in ... make a break for it and head to sunnier climes in our edit of summery styles from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM. Perfect for the OOO wardrobe, here’s our sunshine must-haves for a stylish get-away.
Stone Island bucket hat, £130
Palm Angels zip-up sweatshirt, £325. Troubadour Adventure canvas holdall, £525
1 Stone Island cotton shorts, £295. Adidas x Raf Simons LA Adilette rubber sliders, £120
Givenchy logo swim shorts, £350
Dior Homme DiorFraction3 wayfarer-style sunglasses, £239
Les Deux stretchcotton shirt, £85
J.Lindeberg shirt, £80.
Dolce & Gabbana neoprene backpack, £875 Polo Ralph Lauren stretch-cotton shorts, £75
Summer must-haves available from Harvey Nichols Birmingham, The Mailbox, and online at harveynichols.com 32 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
HAIR TODAY
Laboratories can also fight the cause of hair loss – dihydrotestosterone (or DHT). I’ve heard people talk about hair systems – aren’t they just toupees? Yes – hair systems are essentially wigs. But, they’re now very discrete and natural-looking due to their delicate design. A good one is very difficult to detect, such as a very popular CNC 3D system produced in Italy that’s very popular with celebrity hair loss patients. Many people seem to be travelling overseas for hair transplants – is this a good idea? Be very, very careful. There are so many self-serving resources and unethical clinics around the world that will make boundless promises and, at best, waste a patient’s money. At worst, travelling overseas for a hair transplant could leave you permanently disfigured and inflict life-threatening physical or mental consequences.
GONE TOMORROW With a fifth of men experiencing significant hair loss by age of 20, 30 percent experiencing in their 30s and 40 percent in their 40s it is little wonder that there are so many tratements now available for male pattern baldness. We asked hair loss expert Spencer Stevenson of SpexHair.com, someone who himself underwent botched transplant surgery after starting to go bald aged just 21, about the best treatments on the market today. How big an issue is male pattern baldness? Male pattern baldness is an epidemic of biblical proportions – it’s incredibly and increasingly common. It’s also an ever growing issue in society because many men are more self-conscious of their image and feel the pressure to look good. There’s nowhere to hide on social media nowadays and the mainstream media is always interested in celebrity hair loss stories. Are more people looking for solutions than before? There’s been an explosion in the demand for solutions to male pattern baldness due to the immense pressure modern society places on people to always look ‘at your best’. Enquiries to SpexHair.com have tripled over the last two years. The range of hair loss treatments, services and providers is on the rise too and it’s
now a multi-billion pound, international industry. There’s a lot of sponsored and targeted online advertising campaigns, aiming to capitalise on the vulnerable and desperate but it’s vital men don’t rush into a supposed solution they don’t understand though, because only very few actually work. What options are available? Tying to battle baldness can be a minefield. For every good, honest and ethical doctor or clinic trying to help hair loss patients to the best of their ability, there’s a tech-driven chancer, a dodgy popup clinic or poorly trained practitioner trying to sell you a dream, that could actually make your life worse. Few treatments actually work, but the main weapons against male pattern baldness, which are approved by bodies such as the FDA in the USA and the NHS, are minoxidil – an antihypertensive vasodilator medication – and finasteride – a hormone medication. Shampoos such as Hair Restoration
Everybody would love a cheap, quick fix but naïve hair loss sufferers shouldn’t be drawn in by an offer that sounds too good to be true because it is. Some so-called experts out there aren’t at all concerned with keeping their skills up to date, investing in the latest equipment or providing proper patient care. But they are experts in shady sales tactics, smoke and mirrors – they’ve mastered social media and Google rankings. They don’t aim for big bucks sales. Dodgy clinics make their prices ridiculously affordable, attract volume and cut corners. The poor souls who fall for their charms are then often left with physical and mental scars they may never heal from. If you’re going to travel abroad to treat your hair loss, you absolutely must do thorough research. There’s only a handful of clinics I trust overseas and UK patients need to understand that you get what you pay for. Cost usually reflects quality, so be careful. There are great affordable options in, for example, India and Hungary with IAHRS.org surgeons, but travelling to Turkey for hair loss treatment can pose a much greater risk. Do you think we’re heading for a cure to male pattern baldness? No. A cure for hair loss always seems to be five years away. Things deemed more important than male pattern baldness will be cured first. Despite a multi-billion pound a year industry, it’s just been a hard nut to crack to date. I hope my son’s generation will have a cure for baldness but I don’t think it’s likely we’ll see anything in the near future. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 33
MOTORS.
On Day’s Like Th I first fell in love with Aston Martins on screen. As a small boy obsessed with adventure and attracted to glamour, James Bond’s gadget laden DB5 caught my eye and my imagination and I wept proper tears when Charlie Croker’s beautiful DB4, along with two Jaguar E types and a Lamborghini Muira were bulldozed by mobsters in the Italian Job. ‘Your car? Pretty car…’ says Mafia boss Altabani as the Aston tumbled down the cliffside. It still brings a lump to my throat admits Jonathan Fraser. And so an obsession began but, aside from the brutish good looks of the V8 Volante of the seventies and eighties, convertible Astons have looked a little anodyne in my view rather than devastating like the DB4. That is until now as Aston Martin delivers its fastest convertible model in the company’s history with the 211mph top speed DBS Superleggera Volante. 34 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Combining three iconic nameplates in one flagship model, the new DBS Superleggera Volante delivers all the evocative talent of the British marque’s critically-acclaimed Super GT flagship – the magnificent DBS Superleggera – and blends it with classleading convertible technology creating the perfect blend of supercar performance and drop top drama. Volante is a name that can only be attributed to convertible cars bearing the iconic Aston Martin wings badge. Designed in-house under the guidance of Executive Vice President & Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman, the aim was to create the most beautiful flagship Volante on the market whilst retaining the coupe’s powerful dynamics, aggressive poise and astonishing performance. With the DBS Superleggera producing a spectacular and relentless level of
performance, for the Volante, Aston Martin focussed on bringing that extra level of sensory overload that only an open-top Super GT can deliver inside the cabin. With the unique dynamics, beautiful yet brutish design and the unmistakable harmonics of Aston Martin’s 5.2-litre V12 engine, they have delivered a unique and unforgettable driving experience that is in line with the expectations of the Volante name. Powered by Aston Martin’s own 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, producing 715BHP 900Nm of torque, and with a top speed of 211mph, the DBS Superleggera Volante boasts ferocious acceleration covering 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds and 0-100mph in 6.7 seconds. Continuing the aerodynamic masterpiece of the coupe model, commanding and exploiting the surface airflow to maximum
Each dynamic driving mode brings its own level of noise too, feeding the level of emotional character and connection. In GT mode, the engine note simmers, but select Sport or Sport Plus and the acoustics become progressively more intense. Conversely, when you wish to be discreet, ‘quiet start’ offers a low-key alternative to DBS Superleggera Volante’s otherwise rousing flare of revs on start-up.
hese
effect, at the front of the Volante the car’s splitter and air dam work in unison, accelerating airflow underneath the front of the car to deliver true downforce and assist cooling by feeding air to the front brakes. The new deeper side strake draws more air from the front wheel arch to reduce lift and aid high-speed stability. Behind the front wheels, the ‘curlicue’ allows air to escape and flow smoothly along the car’s flanks, while the double diffuser at the rear allows air to exit cleanly and neutralise lift as efficiently as possible. A revised iteration - to accommodate the Volante’s clothed roofline - of the revolutionary Aeroblade ll system continues to deliver additional downforce at the car’s rear. At VMAX, DBS Superleggera Volante produces 177kg of downforce, just 3kg less than the coupe, an impressive feat when considering the car’s fundamental aerodynamic changes.
900Nm of torque is fed via a carbon-fibre prop shaft to a new ZF 8-speed automatic transmission mounted at the back of the car. Strengthened to cope with the V12’s massive torque output, this transmission also has a shorter final drive for increased responsiveness and in-gear acceleration. Specially developed adaptive software gauges the conditions the car is operating in, along with the driver’s demands, to ensure the car is in exactly the right gear at the right time. For the roof, an advanced fabric system allows for an innovative and beautiful formed flowing roof line. Incorporating eight layers of insulation materials and acoustically enhancing materials, the canopy greatly improves the comfort of the interior cabin for all occupants when up but allows a true orchestra of sound to pour into the cabin when retracted. The authentic soundtrack delivered by the car’s powertrain is a critical hallmark of the Volante experience and typically, the DBS Superleggera Volante has been tuned to provide an incredible sound quality synonymous with an Aston Martin Super GT. Equipped with a quad exhaust system DBS Superleggera Volante delivers a pure, harmonic and authentic voice, unmatched by its rivals.
package is achieved, while still delivering conflicting targets of styling and durability. With a class-leading stack height of 260mm for the car’s folded roof, DBS Superleggera Volante maintains a smooth seamless rear profile and maximised luggage capacity. Roof operation takes 14 seconds to open and 16 seconds to close and can be operated from inside or, for added convenience, from the remote key within a two-metre radius of the car. Exposed to conditions as extreme as the heat of Death Valley and the extremities of the Arctic Circle during development, the roof mechanism has been put through more than 100,000 cycles. Simulating 10 years of usage into a one-month test, the functional capability of the roof mechanism has been thoroughly tested although there’s been no word on whether they tested hitting it with a bulldozer in the Italian Alps. As you would expect of Aston Martin, personalisation and customisation is key with the Volante’s hood available in eight distinct colours for starters. Colours include Bordeaux Red, Atlantic Blue and Titan Grey and the hood can be further personalised on the inside, with a further six Rokona headliners. For the first time on an Aston Martin Volante model, the window screen surround is available with a 2x2 twill carbon fibre finish, with the option to continue that theme to the car’s tonneau cover and rear waterfall. Large pieces of finely-woven carbon fibre pieces replace what was once swathed in leather and for the most exclusive specifications, tinted carbon fibre is also available for a show stopping supercar finish. The price? Well you might have to pull off The Italian Job as the DBS Superleggera Volante is priced at an eye watering £247,500 before options so even Mr Bridger might bat an eyelid at that one. Find out more at www.astonmartin.com
Aston Martin’s engineers have worked hard to ensure the best possible roof and rear dluxe-magazine.co.uk 35
LIVING.
GRILL OUT! Summer is finally here and with it comes barbecue season but with so many barbecues to choose from, just how do you select the ideal barbecue for you and make your perfect barbecue match? Are you perhaps a barbecue purist where only traditional charcoal will do, or is the speed and efficiency of cooking on gas more your thing? How about a bit of both – charcoal and gas, or will it be an all singing and dancing model with multiple cooking surfaces? The options are endless!
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COOKING ON GAS If it’s instant, efficient and adjustable heat you’re after then cooking on gas is the fuel for you.
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Convenience is key with a gas barbecue and you’re more in charge as you can easily adjust the temperature.
BARBECUE CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU BUY ASK YOURSELF:
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1. How often will I use it? If you’re a barbecue guru, it’s worth investing in a top of the range model whereas a more basic instrument will be suitable for the occasional barbecue.
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2. How much space have I got? CHARCOAL FOR THE PURIST Charcoal is the fuel of choice for true barbecue aficionados who lean towards the purist approach when it comes to al fresco cooking. Integral to the barbecue ritual is lighting the coals, waiting for them to get white hot, and the distinctive smell. The authentic smoky flavour of chargrilled food is how all barbecued food should taste.
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GAS AND CHARCOAL THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
3. What will I be cooking? If you are aiming for a selection of burgers, sausages and kebabs then a standard grill, either gas or charcoal will suffice. However, if you’re more ambitious, then trading up to a barbecue with extra features such as a hood, griddle, side-burner, pizza stone or warming rack might be more appropriate for you.
4. Who will I be cooking for?
If you can’t make up your mind between gas and charcoal, how about enjoying the benefits of both? Or how about a fan assisted charcoal BBQ for rapid cooking?
If it’s for friends and family then a standard barbecue may be fine but it you like to entertain and love parties, your multifaceted grill might be a lovely talking point.
5. What’s the ease of assembly and quality of construction? Buy a reputable brand where you can understand the instructions and have money-back guarantees.
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HAVE BARBECUE, WILL TRAVEL
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You don’t want a barbecue to take up all your outdoor space and also think about storage. Where will the barbecue live when it’s not cooking up a gastronomic storm?
Take your BBQ on the road with one of these small but mighty meal machines!
6. Smoke control areas. Do you live in a smoke-controlled area? Ensure you read the government advice on using barbecues in these areas.
7. Safety is paramount. 11 10
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Ensure your barbecue is in good working order and for a full list of safe barbecue practice it’s worth reading the advice provided by the UK Fires Service.
1. Weber Spirit E-220 2-Burner Gas BBQ with Side Burner & Poultry Roaster £510.00 John Lewis. 2. Char-Broil X200 Grill2Go - Portable BBQ Grill, Aluminium £180 Argos. 3. Outback Apollo 4 Burner Gas BBQ - Red £349 Homebase 4. 4 Burner Gas BBQ £200 Wilko. 5. Outdoor Outlaw Charcoal BBQ with Smoker £395 Cuckooland 6. Kambla Charcoal BBQ £20 B&Q 7. Weber Smokey Joe Premium Kettle Charcoal BBQ £74.99 John Lewis. 8. Rockwell Charcoal Gas Hybrid BBQ £347 B&Q 9. Lotus Grill Charcoal Fan BBQ £145 Cuckooland 10. BBQ Bucket £10 Sainsburys Home 11. everdure by Heston Blumenthal CUBE Portable Charcoal BBQ, £134.10 John Lewis 12. Folding BBQ £85 Harvey Norman.
LIVING.
GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY A SUMMER IN THE GARDEN the Gardens, the Butterfly House, and the herbaceous border and herb garden. We’re also looking forward to a summer of exciting events, from outdoor plays to movie screenings to those fun summer holiday activities, just for our youngest visitors. We can’t think of a more stunning backdrop than the Gardens to enjoy these! We’ve no doubt that you’ll be making the most of the longer days to fill your garden with summer colour – from pots full of geraniums to borders bursting with bedding plants. There will be lots to do this summer to keep on top of things. Here are just some tasks you should do: Mow the lawn at least once a week Plant out your summer bedding now that the threat of frost is over It’s not just the burst of colourful bedding plants that reminds us summer is almost here – the opening of The Butterfly House – the only one in Birmingham – is also a welcome indication that those lovely, warm days are here advise the experts at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It will be open daily until Sunday, September 1, and you’ll be able to see hundreds of tropical butterflies from as far as the Philippines, Central America and tropical parts of Africa. Each week 100 new pupae are placed in the emerging case- we attach them to bamboo canes with glue – so that there are always new butterflies to enjoy. Like you, we’ll be out in the garden as much as possible over the next few months, making the most of those warm, sunny days and keeping on top of the pruning, weeding and
deadheading. The beauty of the Gardens is that there is always something new to see, week-in, weekout. If you love our cacti collection, head to the Terrace, where we will be landscaping our display of cacti and other succulents – some are incredibly heavy and spiky! The team will also be out in force to ensure all borders and display areas are filled with beautiful summer bedding, and checking the plants regularly to ensure the taller specimens are suitably supported. If you want to learn more about the Gardens, the horticultural team is leading guided tours. Have a look on our website to see when the next ones are – but these one-hour specials include the history and heritage of
Hoe borders regularly to keep the weeds at bay Check lilies for the scarlet lily beetle – remove by hand if you spot any Remove rose and tree suckers Start thinking about sowing your winter bedding plants, such as ornamental kale and winter pansies Add shading to your greenhouse to prevent soaring temperatures and open windows to increase ventilation. To find out more and for more tips, follow Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Twitter @ BhamBotanicalGd or visit www. birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
CREATE A LIVING GARDEN TABLE What you’ll need: • • • • • • • •
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1 x 1L Cuprinol Garden Shades in your chosen colour 1 x large, unpainted, wooden garden table Masking tape 1 x small roller 1 x small roller tray 1 x paint brush for dusting Sandpaper/flexible sanding pad 1 x treated but unpainted window box the same width as the table (2 if you wish to have one at each of the table) 3 x fixing brackets & screws per window box 1 x screwdriver Collection of fresh herbs for planting
Step 1: Mask off a strip down the centre of the garden table. Step 2: Paint in the central strip with a small paint roller and tray and a tin of your favourite Garden Shades colour. Step 3: Sand off any rough edges and paint the outside and top edge of a wooden window box in corresponding Cuprinol Garden Shades colour. Step 4: Attach brackets at equal distance apart onto one side of the window box. Step 5: Screw the window box to underside of table. Step 6: Add plants/herbs/flowers and enjoy your living garden table.
e r t a e h Tin the Gardens Join us and let your imagination run wild with our summer of spectacular theatre.
Treasure Island
10 July
Pride and Prejudice 17 July
A Midsummer Night’s Dream 24 July
Alice in Wonderland 25 July
Chapterhouse/Immersion Theatre Company returns this summer. Tickets start from just ÂŁ11 for concessions
Book tickets online:
www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/whatson For more information please contact reception birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk Find us on:
Your support keeps the Gardens growing
AN EDUCATIONAL CHARITY
LIVING
chairs and it brought them up a treat; the battery lasting for four changes of water at its strongest setting. Tough and compact, tools are neatly stored within the unit’s main body and the integrated hose can be neatly stored beneath the adjustable handle. The Fontus is unusual in that it answers a bit of a niche problem but for those that do it’s sure to become indispensable! Priced at £209.99
Cutting the Cord
How many times have you cut through the cable when trimming a bush or tidying up the lawn? If you’re anything like us then more than once! And what about getting to that part of the garden where the extension cable just won’t reach or when you’re down at the allotment where the fact that the only power cables are up in the sky doesn’t stop the need for everything to be cut back neat and tidy. Battery garden tools should solve these problems but are they powerful and long lasting enough to be a practical solution? We took to the garden to put them to the test!
GTECH HT20 HEDGE TRIMMER
The HT20 Hedge Trimmer makes light work of all sorts of hedges and conifers and its extendable reach means there’s no need to balance on a kitchen chair to get the last wisps off the top of your bush! Well balanced and easy to manoeuvre thanks to its lightweight of 2.3kg, the dual blades will cut through branches up to 15mm in thickness whilst the rotating head lets you decide how and where you cut and the lack of cord means you’re not constantly checking where you’re cutting. The 18v battery seems to go on and on whilst charge time is 4 hours. At £149.99 it’s good value too.
BOSCH FONTUS PORTABLE PRESSURE CLEANER With its own 15L water tank the Fontus Portable Pressure Cleaner from Bosch could be the
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GTECH LEAF BLOWER. *STAR BUY*
I didn’t have huge expectations when I read about this leaf blower to be honest thinking that there would be no way a battery powered motor would generate enough power to be effective – how wrong I was. The 36v battery combined with turbo fan makes short work of clearing leaves and debris blasting through every nook and cranny – we cleared some leaves which i’m convinced were primaeval! We cleared a gravel path strewn with a winter’s worth of ivy clippings and still had charge left to blow away a few stray leaves of the deck. The G Tech Leaf Blower isn’t cheap at £285.99 but by golly it’s good and the battery can be used in G Tech’s Cordless Lawnmower too.
OZITO POWER X CHANGE CORDLESS LAWN MOWER
answer to those of us that need to clean where access to water and power is compromised. Pop it in the car and take it anywhere, there’s a choice of 3 pressure modes to suit a wide range of outdoor cleaning tasks from washing the dog’s paws after a run in the woods to cleaning the down a muddy mountain bike before the long drive home and whilst the most powerful setting won’t cut through the grime of an old paving slab, the 18v battery’s power is perfect for all of these jobs as well as clearing guttering, washing cars, caravans and bikes. We set about cleaning up some old garden
This cordless lawnmower is the perfect choice for smaller lawns due to its 30cm cutting diameter and its lightweight construction makes it easy to manoeuvre. By using a brushless motor, less friction is created meaning a longer running time per charge from the 18v battery. Triple blade positioning and a 25L grass collector for clippings make it an efficient machine and leaves you with a neat and tidy finish. More suited to a regular trim than the first cut of the season, the Ozito Power X is good value at £115.
The The home home of of the the
HOUSE PROUD
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TRAVEL.
It’s not too late to bo summer
With the summer months upon us, if you haven’t yet booked your break, it’s high time you did. Check out these amazing destinations that you can easily reach from Birmingham Airport. Morocco, Naples, Split, and Budapest are all fascinating places worth exploring so get ready to immerse yourself in something completely new.
MOROCCO
Situated on the north west tip of the African continent, Morocco provides a country of spell bounding diversity, rugged mountains, ancient cities, sweeping deserts and the warmest of hospitality. Rise early to be one of the first to enter the Majorelle Gardens, a two and half acre 42dluxe-magazine.co.uk
botanical garden which was restored by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge after years of neglect. The striking plants and spectacular painted buildings are not to be missed. Don’t forget to make a stop at the gift shop where you can pick up some high-quality souvenirs. For lovers of gastronomy, the greatest way to discover Moroccan culinary is to
participate in a cooking class. Visitors to Morocco cannot help but be impressed by the country’s culinary scene, with delicious tagines and tasty couscous to name a few. La Maison Arab, a hotel in Marrakech offers cooking classes in an intimate world-renowned workshop setting, based in an organic kitchen garden.
SPECIAL FEATURE
ok that r break Fashionista’s make sure to leave plenty of room in your suitcase. Via Toledo started as a trade market in the early 16th century, and now it has the reputation of being the best place for shopping in Naples. Head to Toledo Metro Station to get there and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the design and the working status of the attractive metro station. You cannot visit Naples without spending some time appreciating the culinary delights! Classic Neapolitan pasta dishes include seafood spaghetti alle vongole and risotto alla pescatora. Visit the Sea Front Pasta Bar for exquisite food appropriately paired with fine wine that complements your choice of dish perfectly. Visit the store downstairs to pick up some pasta to take away to enjoy at home.
SPLIT
Rivalling Italy for pristine beaches and summer climate is Croatia. Bright, clean and welcoming, the ancient Dalmatian city of Split is a beautiful place to take a stroll around, observing the historic buildings, as well as the Roman ruins of Diocletian’s Palace and the Cathedral of St. Dominus. Make an early start to navigate through Diocletian’s Palace when it’s least crowded. Considered to be one of the most impressive Roman ruins, Diocletian’s palace is undoubtedly the main attraction of Split. Stroll the winding cobbled alleyways filled with shops and restaurants and head below ground to explore the city’s ancient walkways. After taking in all that history, head to Bacvice beach and the sophisticated bars of the Old Town to watch the city thrive.
NAPLES
Naples offers unique experiences. From the cultural city of Naples to the unspoiled Amalfi Coast and the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, there is no shortage of things to see and do.
Try original Dalmatian dishes prepared with a touch of modern cuisine at Zora Bila. Run by a husband and wife duo, you can indulge in mouth-watering meat or octopus dishes baked in traditional stone ovens paired with Croatian wine.
BUDAPEST
One of the oldest and most historical cities in Europe with lots to offer. From extravagant architecture to healing thermal waters means that it makes for the perfect break. In Buda, you can visit Castle Hill and the Fisherman’s Bastion offering a great view of the city. Not to mention, the architecture of the terrace which in itself is remarkable to see. From the Bastion’s terrace and its seven towers, you’ll be treated to an unobstructed view of the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Danube, the city of Pest, and Gellért Hill. The beating heart of the New York Palace hotel is the New York Café. A café that was once chosen as the most beautiful café in the world. Drop in for a coffee and find yourself in an authentic 19th-century experience. Previously, a popular place among writers and editors, the café has preserved all the authentic decoration and flair including gilded and marble surfaces ornamented with wood and crystal.
GETTING THERE
Fly direct from Birmingham Airport to these destinations with a variety of airlines. These destinations are perfect for a last minute, mini getaway with flight durations from as short as 2 hours and 30 minutes from Birmingham. For Naples, fly into Pisa Airport and take a short transfer to the city.
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TRAVEL
PERFECT PENANG Cross the bridge into Penang Island and you can immediately see why this stunning state of Malaysia is a UNESCO world heritage site writes Jonathan Fraser.
We were staying in George Town, named after George III, which features street after street of stunning Victorian and Edwardian buildings, many in disrepair but all, we are told, highly valued. Penang was shaped by British colonialism, beginning with the acquisition of Penang Island from the Sultanate of Kedah by the British East India Company in 1786. Penang ripples with history from the canon lined waterfront, the wooden stilt houses of the Clan Jetties and the many ornate ex government buildings with perfectly manicured cricket pitches that sit before them. You can fill days just wandering round George Town’s historic streets, bustling with rickshaws and Teh Tarik (a delicious sweet tea made with condensed milk) stands on every corner. We were lucky enough to stay within one of these historic buildings; The Hotel Areca has been created from a row of shops with each of the ground floor rooms still featuring the heavy oak shop 44 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
door and beautiful, coloured, pressed glass windows. High ceilings, ornate tiled floors, ceiling fans, dark wood furniture and long plumed palms adorn this beautifully calm hotel that’s perfectly positioned for those who want to explore the old town around them. Penang has an incredibly strong vintage vibe, shops, cafes, restaurants and bars all look back to their colonial roots and the huge amount of street art, many of which integrating 3D props like vintage bicycles for a retro ride; perfect for a selfie stop or two. You can continue the vintage feel by travelling up Penang Hill by traditional funicular, although the old wooden trolleys of the past have now been replaced by modern, ultra-fast carriages. Penang Hill was home to the British Army due to it being cooler in the clouds than in the town and many grand old residences still exist. Nowadays Penang Hill is a spectacular place to view the city from and home to every form of entertainment you could possibly imagine. From afternoon teas to snake handling lessons and earthquake simulators, Penang Hill has it and is sure to keep family visitors amused. We visited The Habitat, a jungle reserve area and eco visitor centre home to a vast array of exotic wildlife including giant black
ESCAPE TO
ASHFORD squirrels (sweet!) and tarantulas (less sweet). The centre point of the Habitat is a giant walkway above the treetops which offer amazing views across the city. If Penang Hill has given you a head for heights make sure you head back into George Town and the visit The Top at the KomTar tower. An entertainment resort which has an amazing glass floored walkway that overhangs the 86th floor for you to terrify yourself with. For those feeling even braver the GravityZ experience lets you walk and zip wire round the outside of the 86th floor of the building – weather permitting! Less Daredevil entertainment is available in the rest of The Top including some amazing ride on dinosauars that we all had our eye on but were sadly too old to play on! Best bring the kids to this one. The trend for Hidden bars continues in Penang with the George Town area offering a huge array of places to discover and enjoy. We particularly enjoyed 63 Magazine, a sumptuous space with live music, hidden away behind what appears to be an abandoned shop front; press the wooden panel on the left and a door will open… Other night time highlights include the incredibly friendly Bar Seventy Sevenwith live guitar accompanied open mic sessions – or karaoke when we got up to take part- and we’d also recommend dinner at Mews Café, a small informal eatery with excellent cocktails and deliciously spicy satay. Penang, and George Town itself, was the perfect place for us to end our Malaysian adventure. As a tourist destination it ticks every box and is suitable for backpackers, intrepid explorers, laid back couples and family adventurers thanks to the huge range of activities and experiences on offer. We’ve fallen for it, hard, and we think you will too. Get the cocktails in, we’ll see you at 63 Magazine…
USEFUL LINKS www.arecahotelpenang.com www.thetop.com.my www.georgetownheritage.com/mews-Cafe www.thehabitat.my www.mypenang.gov.my www.asianoverland.com www.tourism.gov.my www.britishairways.coma
Looking for a luxury break a little closer to home? Then the 800-year-old grandeur of Ireland’s Ashford Castle may be just the job! Set in 350 acres of woodland on the shores of Lough Corrib in County Mayo, the multi-award-winning property, lovingly restored and steeped in history is widely recognised as Ireland’s top castle experience. Venture through the grand stone gates and begin a royal adventure with exquisite interiors featuring unique artwork, Waterford crystal chandeliers, panelled oak walls, handcarved fireplaces, and sumptuous fabrics adorning each of the 83 individually designed rooms. During your stay watch hawks soar at Ireland’s first School of Falconry, enjoy a round of golf on a course designed by Eddie Hackett and restore inner peace and harmony at the state-ofthe-art spa. Guests can take a lake cruise to explore the stunning scenery and surrounding islands or try their hand at the ancient pastimes of archery and clay shooting. For foodies, extraordinary dining experiences await in the Dungeon, the George V Dining Room and in the wine cellars beneath the castle, with fine Irish cuisine made from fresh seasonal produce, homegrown ingredients from the estate and sourced locally from artisan suppliers. After dinner why not relax in the Billiards Room, watch a movie in the 32-seater cinema, or try one of the 60 Irish whiskies in The Prince of Wales Bar. Tailored packages start from around £800 for two, per night. Find out more at www.ashfordcastle.com Fly direct to Knock from Birmingham Airport from just £46. Find out more at www.flybe.com dluxe-magazine.co.uk 45
TRAVEL NEWS.
Birmingham Airport OVER THE LAST EIGHTY YEARS 1939 - services to Croydon (with connections to the continent), Glasgow, Liverpool, Ryde, Shoreham, Manchester and Southampton began. On July 8th the Airport, known as ‘Elmdon’ was officially opened by HRH the Duchess of Kent. Two months later the Second World War broke out, the Air Ministry requisitioned the airport and all civil flying ended.
Birmingham Airport celebrate their 80th Anniversary Birmingham Airport started its year of 80th anniversary celebrations with the launch of a new commemorative logo and a visit from the son of the very first Airport Manager. Leonard Faulkner was the original Airport Manager when it opened back in 1939 on the Elmdon site and was responsible for the day to day running of the airport and the terminal. Leonard’s son, John, now aged 90, and his two daughters were invited by the airport to have a behind the scenes tour of the current airport to celebrate and reminisce the former years with Nick Barton, CEO and Andy Holding, Corporate Responsibility Manager, for Birmingham Airport. The tour started by viewing the first ever flight logbook that Leonard would have used to record flights. Followed by a visit to the security area, departure lounge and International Pier – areas which have dramatically changed over the last eight decades. John Faulkner, who lives in Hereford said, “It was an honour and a privilege to be in invited to the airport to meet the management and have a tour of this wonderful facility. I remember the opening event like it was yesterday, and how proud my father was to be part of the development and opening of the city’s new airport. I’d like to thank the airport for hosting me and my family and wish them a very happy 80th Birthday.” Nick Barton, CEO of Birmingham Airport said: “Meeting John and his family to officially start our 80th anniversary celebrations was a real honour. To show John how the site has developed and expanded over the years certainly brought about feelings of nostalgia. “The heritage of the airport and the wider region it serves is important, and there will be many others like John who remember what aviation was like 80 years ago and how it’s changed. “To celebrate our milestone, we are planning a series of events throughout the year that the community can get involved with to help us celebrate our 80th anniversary, and we will announce these very soon.”
Birmingham Airport GET more KIDS DANCING Birmingham Royal Ballet is delighted to announce that Birmingham Airport will be its first ever Principal Partner.
The year long partnership will focus on two of BRB’s most long standing and impactful programmes; Dance Track and Freefall Dance Company. Every year 80 children who show a talent for dance are invited to join the Dance Track programme. The participants, who often wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity to 46 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
participate in dance, are given free weekly ballet lessons taught by Birmingham Royal Ballet staff. Throughout the year they are invited to Birmingham Royal Ballet to have a look behind the scenes, meet Company dancers and are offered tickets to see Birmingham Royal Ballet performances at Birmingham Hippodrome.
Through this new partnership Birmingham Airport will enable one new school in the North East area of Birmingham to join the Dance Track programme, giving more children in the city access to the world of dance.
During the Second World War, Elmdon was used as an Elementary Flying School for RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots. It was also used for flight testing and as a delivery base for Stirling and Lancaster bombers. During this time the Air Ministry built two hard surface runways (2469 ft and 4170 ft respectively) to replace the original grass strip. 1946 – July 8th, the Airport opened for civil flying exactly seven years after the official opening. 1949 – Scheduled services started with a British European Airways flight to Paris. 1955–1960 – Flights to the continent grew steadily including services to Zurich, Dusseldorf, Palma, Amsterdam and Barcelona. 1961 – The terminal extension was opened. 1967-1970 – The main runway was extended allowing turboprops and jets to use the airport. By the early 1970s over one million passengers a year were passing through a now congested Passenger Terminal. 1980 – First supersonic airliner touched down. Air France’s Concorde F-BTSC flew into the airport from Paris. 1981 – Construction of the new passenger terminal began – current location 1984 – Her Majesty The Queen opened the new facilities and operations were transferred to the new passenger terminal. The first year of the new operation saw record numbers of passengers. Today – The airport handles almost 13m passengers a year and flies to 490 direct or onestop global destinations. The Future – over the next 15 years, the airport will invest half a billion pounds to transform the current infrastructure and increase passenger numbers to 18m by 2033.
Here for your journey
DINING.
READY, STEADY, BAKE! Originally from Nottingham, Cameron Lamb is a Patissier who has always had a passion for baking! After graduating from college he started in the midlands as a pastry chef before before moving to London to pursue his dream of becoming a world class pâtissier. After attending worshops by master pâtissier Eric Lanlard he was approached to work at his Patisserie in London, Cake – Boy. For more of Cameron’s recipes, head over to his blog www.cameronolamb.com or follow him on Instagram @ cameronolamb.
FRESH MIXED BERRY TARTS An elegant sweet treat perfect for the summer months! For this recipe, I’ve used a mixture of berries, but if you don’t fancy a mixture of berries you can pick your favourite fruit instead! You can make the vanilla Creme Patissiere & pastry in advance but assemble the tarts last minute and decorate with the fruit to avoid them going soggy!
INGREDIENTS: For the Pastry: 250g plain flour 125g unsalted butter, cubed (plus extra for greasing) 50g icing sugar 1 egg, beaten 1/2 tbsp water For the Creme Patissiere: 4 egg yolks 75g golden caster sugar 20g cornflour 300g full-fat milk 10g unsalted butter 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
TO MAKE THE CRÈME PATISSIERE: • In a saucepan, combine the milk and vanilla and bring to the boil. Meanwhile in a bowl, mix together the egg yolks, sugar & cornflour. 48 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
• Once the milk has come to the boil, add to the yolk mixture, little by little, whisking as you do so. Don’t add the milk too quickly or the egg will cook into lumps! Once all the milk is added, place the mixture back into the saucepan over a medium heat, stirring all the time. Bring to the boil and continue to boil for 2 mins. • Pass the creme patisserie through a sieve into a bowl to remove any lumps. Put cling film across the mouth of the bowl and pop it in the fridge.
TO MAKE THE TARTS • For the pastry. Preheat your oven to 180 160 fan. Grease your tart rings and set them aside. • Combine together the flour, butter & icing sugar and, using your fingertips rub in, until the mix resembles fine breadcrumbs. • Once you have a breadcrumb texture make
a well in the centre and add the egg and water and, using your hand, mix to form a dough. Be careful not to over work this. Wrap the dough in cling film and place in the fridge for 30 mins to allow the pastry to rest. • Once rested, on a lightly floured surface roll the pastry out and line each tart ring, trim any excess from around the edge and prick the base with a fork. Place cling film over each tart ring and fill to the top with baking beans. (Yes, cling film! It works great for blind baking!) • Place the tarts in the fridge to rest for 15 mins, then into the oven for around 10 mins, until the edges around the top should just start to be golden. Then take the tarts from the oven and remove the baking beans and cling film, return to the oven for a further 5 mins or until the base has dried. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. • Once the tart cases have cooled to room temperature, turn out from the tart rings. Fill the cases right to the top with the creme patisserie. And arrange the fruit on the top.
THERE YOU HAVE IT!
REVIEWED: Wing Wah Afternoon Tea
After moving to its new location of Wrottesley Street in the heart of Birmingham’s China Town, Wing Wah has gone from strength to strength with its Dim Sum and à la carte menu receiving particluar recognition. Never ones to rest on their laurels, the experienced team have been busy crafting the newest addition to the menu, a unique take on the tradtional Afternoon Tea which comes complete with its own signature cocktail, Easterly Winds, created by Robert Wood. We were invited along to dine with company director Dorian Chan and be one of the first to give it a try. Any afternoon tea worth its salt needs to have a good selection of tea and Wing Wah have four delicious blends to choose from: Earl Grey, Jasmine, Chelsea Garden and Lemon & Ginger. We went for Lemon & Ginger whilst Dorian opted for the Chelsea Garden blend. Each tea is served in its own Chinese teapot and cup, adding to the whole experience. One sip and our
Easterly Winds cocktail arrived - they most know what we’re like! Subtle tones of Lychee, soft peaches and chrysanthemums, the Eastern Winds cocktail is beautifully soft and although very, very moreish cocktail, on this occasion, we stuck to just one as we’re supposed to be working after all! Next up, the food. The afternoon tea is huge and beautifully presented. First to try was the stunning steamed dumplings. Each one expertly created by their Dim Sum chef,. We sampled a selection of prawn and vegetarian Dim Sum, the vegetarian one a naturally deep reddish colour and finished in delicate gold leaf. Each dumpling tasting as beautiful as they look. Our Dim Sum starters sampled, next it was on to the Afternoon Tea: an ornate stand packed with a mixture of sweet and savoury Chinese food and a side of Seafood and Yuzu infused rice. On the stand is a minced prawn pastry, crispy salmon puff, a pork puff and egg custard tart and each item, again, is beautifully crafted. One of our
particular favourites was the Molten Salted Custard Bun that looks like a giant mushroom! This afternoon tea really is great value for money at just £24.99 per person and that includes an Easterly Winds cocktail or glass of prosecco if you prefer. Its just £18.99 per person if you just want to stick to the teas. You certainly leave feeling incredibly satisfied (we strongly recommend you go on an empty stomach) and the vegetarian options are delicious too. The craftsmanship that goes in to each dish is obvious on every bite and the excellent attentive and personable service adds to the experience to make it a true event. Afternoon tea is available every day except Wednesdays up until 5pm so perfect for a pretheatre treat. To book your table call 0121 622 5588 or visit them at 8 Wrottesley Street, Birmingham B5 4RT www.wingwah.net
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DINING.
dINING DIGEST It’s all going on in Birming-yum writes DLUXE Dining correspondent Anita Champaneri. Read more food news at dluxe-magazine co.uk and msdelicious.blogspot.co.uk
The second city has always taken pride in its eclectic mix of international restaurants with cuisines from far and wide showcasing menus to an eager public, and what’s more exciting is that most of these are independents!
From Peru to Japan we can head to the city for a taste of Hawaii at Kuula Poké. Inspired by Japan, poké started off in Hawaii before exploding in LA. Now, the Michelin Guide is tipping Pacific Rim flavours, in particular Poké as the next big thing.
Indian Brewery have opened their second site in Solihull town centre. This has all the hall marks of their first venue in Snow Hill, a riot of colour, Bollywood memorabilia and spicy Indian grills.
Luckily for us, Brummies, will be able to head to Kuula Poké in the Great Western Arcade to get ahead of the trend. House Bowls are the signature dish, with a choice of protein on top of a bed of rice and garnished with crispy shallots, spring onions and sesame seeds. It’s all about eating clean here!
Coming to Moseley this Summer is Chakana, bringing Peruvian cuisine to the suburbs. The restaurant will be offering Peruvian food, and will specialise in Pisco, (Peruvian brandy) alongside a range of wines and beers. Spearheaded by Peruvian born chef, Robert Ortiz, he has quite the pedigree, having previously worked at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone and the Four Seasons Canary Wharf before heading up Lima in London’s Fitzrovia. I’ve never had Peruvian food so we are looking forward to seeing it on the corner of Woodgate Road and Alcester Road. Ortiz received the ultimate culinary recognition in 2013 when Lima was awarded a Michelin star. Praised in the guide for his use of “punchy, invigorating flavours”, Lima was the first Peruvian restaurant in Europe to be recognised by the Guide. Setting up round the corner is Katsu Kitchen. Specialising in of course, Japanese favourite Katsu, the menu also features donburi, salad, burgers, dippers and maki rolls. Previously running a successful kitchen takeover at Bonehead, Katsu Kitchen will be moving into its permanent home in June. 50 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
If you swing through Grand Central, keep an eye out for Kabaji, which promises to bring the “authentic flavours of Beirut” to Birmingham. Kababji is a well-known name in the Middle East, with a branch in Wimbledon already. The “Artisan Lebanese Grill” will be offering wraps, the Beirut Box, Sharing Feasts and Middle Eastern classics such as Hummus and Tabboule. Hungry diners can expect food to be “healthy, honest, quick”. Down off the Mailbox canal look out for Noel’s. With a waterside location overlooking the canal by The Cube, diners can expect great Mediterranean food, carefully crafted cocktails paired with a decadent interior design. The restaurant will feature an open kitchen, real charcoal grill and a 22ft long Italian Picasso marble bar! And finally it’s not a proper summer unless you are at Food & Drink Festival. Foodies Festival has really made its name as the UK’s best food and drink festival and this year there will be a line-up of exceptionally
talented chefs in what’s set to be the best summer series of festivals yet. From our Brummie talent there will be the brilliant Glynn Purnell, Brad Carter of Carters of Moseley, Chef James Waters from Three Church Road and Jacques Van Der Merwe. The three-day events, is heading to Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham from the 21st June.
REVIEWED: ARIA @ Hyatt REGENCY
It’s been a while since we have visited its Aria restaurant and with the new Spring menu launch we were eager to try out the culinary delights from the Hyatt kitchen, writes Anita Champaneri. We love the Hyatt hotel, it feels elegant and special with a spectacular lobby that exudes a premium quality.
so I immediately chose the Scallop and Black Pudding starter which was sublime; juicy and plump and slightly charred, just how I like them, whilst the Black Pudding is presented like a soft crumbly soil to give a hint of flavour.
After starting with some relaxed drinks at the Aria bar we headed through to the atrium to the restaurant. Decked in foliage, and framed in natural light, it’s like a little oasis in the heart of the hotel.
My gluten-challenged companion was well looked after; she chose the Spiced Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup. A light but flavoursome dish that came with an individually wrapped gluten free roll.
The new menu is full of green, lighter dishes such as fish and desserts with an airy texture and there is much more vegan and gluten free choices. From the starters you can choose from spiced cauliflower and broccoli soup, ham hock terrine, salmon in a shallot and caper dressing or duck egg served with asparagus and oyster mushroom. The latter looked absolutely beautiful, with the yoke as golden as a ripened mango.
I’m a creature of habit and for the mains I picked the Spring Lamb which I could ravage all over again. Obviously the best time to try seasonal produce is when it’s in season, so I make no apologies for having lamb again! The presentation was sophisticated and the meat both tender and flavoursome. The robust vegetable line up included heritage carrots, cute Romanesco broccoli and a light watercress and spinach puree. Not forgetting the scallion mash.
I cannot resist a scallop dish on a menu,
My companion ordered the Goosnargh
Chicken, which looked ideal for a Sunday Lunch. Again, punching above its weight with flavour. Other choices included beef fillet, artichoke heart, hake fillet, and spinach and courgette orzotto. When it came to dessert, the delight from seeing the Chocolate Orange Sphere was palatable around the table. Like a polished sphere of chocolate, the intricate detailing made it look almost celestial! With the chocolate mousse and orange gel, this was by far the best way to end a meal. The Aria ticks all the boxes when it comes to a great experience – welcoming, great food and good service and an interesting wine list, created by a team that clearly cares about the guest experience. Put this on your must visit list, you won't want to leave. Hyatt Regency Birmingham. 2 Bridge St, Birmingham B1 2JZ T: 0121 643 1234 www.hyatt.com
BIRMINGHAM RUM FESTIVAL RETURNS The Birmingham Rum Festival is back this summer for its 4th year, offering the city another opportunity to discover new rums, as well as the people and stories behind each brand and bottle. The annual summer fiesta, held at The Cuban Embassy, on the 29th– 30th June also offers exotic street food brimming with the flavours of Latin America and the Caribbean islands which guests can enjoy as they sip on exclusive signature rum cocktails including their own complimentary ‘Tropical Rumbull’ made with spiced rum, ice, fresh lime and a full can of Red Bull Tropical. Creating the perfect summer festival atmosphere, live performers will be
providing a soundtrack of salsa, samba and reggae music so that visitors can enjoy tropical tunes whilst on their journey of rum discovery. As well as tasting the rums, guests can learn from rum experts for inside knowledge on the distillation process. There’s also the opportunity to browse the Rum shop and buy a special bottle of rum or two to enjoy back at home. So join the fun this summer for a celebration, chat to experts and discover new rums, sip cocktails, enjoy live music and feast on delicious street food. Tickets are from £15 and on sale now from birminghamrumfestival.com
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DINING. Naciente Pinot Noir Rosé 2018, £10.50: Pinot Noir may have earned its legendary status for red Burgundy, sparkling wines and Champagne but few winemakers turn this notoriously tricky, but naturally delicate grape variety into rosé. Step forward Naciente, a brand new and vegan-friendly Pinot Noir Rosé with notes of strawberry, raspberry, spring blossom, summer flowers and a pinch of spice.
THE NEW BREED OF ROSÉS Rosé wine is certainly having its moment, shrugging off its one-time negative reputation to become the drink of choice for the millennial generation. We asked the Wine Shop team at HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM to reveal their favourites bottles, each one guaranteed to go down well whatever the occasion. Chateau Minuty M de Minuty Limited Edition Ruby Taylor Rosé 2018, £18.50: With a bottle designed by artist Ruby Taylor, this special release is this season’s most fashionable rosé. Capturing the retro buzz and popping colour palette of Saint-Tropez, it’s bursting with notes of blood orange, wild strawberry, redcurrant and pink grapefruit. Unite with lashings of sunshine, Breton stripes and oversized sunglasses. Harvey Nichols Corbières Rosé 2018, £11.50: This own-label rosé is graced with subtle, engaging notes of dried flora, red fruit and mixed herbs, leading to understated flavours of raspberry ripple, strawberry shortcake and an assortment 52 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
of regional spices. A versatile accompaniment to lightly flavoured shellfish, poultry and pasta dishes. Château Léoube Love by Léoube Rosé 2018, £22: The Daylesford Organicowned winery makes this pretty pink wine; it’s an understated masterclass in Provence rosé, brimming with white peach, tangy raspberries and wild strawberries. Complement with poached salmon and buttered Jersey Royals or Caprese salad, seared tuna and asparagus.
La Calcinara Mun Rosé 2016, £19.50: A wonderfully textured Italian pink has a pinkyorange tone reminiscent of peaches, and delicate hints of strawberry Pavlova, rhubarb and custard boiled sweets, wild thyme and honey-drizzled apricots. It’s exquisitely food-friendly and perfect paired with favourite risotto, ceviche or gnocchi with Romesco sauce.
Alpha Estate Rosé 2017, £23.50: Receiving huge critical acclaim, this Provençal-style pink comes from Greece’s most high-tech and environmentally friendly estates. It’s a dry and elegant combination of strawberries and cream, rose petals, tangy raspberries and cranberries, sun-dried tomatoes, rhubarb, pepper, spice and just the gentlest hint of rose harissa. As delightful to sip in the sunshine as it is on a cold winter night.
For a full range of rosé wines, visit the Wine Shop at Harvey Nichols Birmingham.
A LA CARTE
DIM SUM
KARAOKE ROOM
BANQUET
PRIVATE DINING
Available until 5pm
DIM SUM Afternoon Tea Set Dine in STYLE with our fine selection of contemporary style Dim Sum
visit our site for more details
A choice of exotic drinks included : PRIVATE DINING & KARAOKE ROOMS AVAILABLE TO BOOK
NO ROOM HIRE FEE
Whittard of Chelsea Teas Flavours include: Earl Grey, Lemon & Ginger, ChelseaGarden & Jasmine
SUN-THURS (11:30AM -10:00PM) FRI - SAT (11:30AM -11:00PM) CLOSED EVERY WEDNESDAY
0121 3277879 WWW.WINGWAH.NET 8 WROTTESLEY ST, BIRMINGHAM B5 4RT BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE, CHINA TOWN
Easterly Winds Cocktail Designed by Robert Wood ( CLASS Bar Award 2018 Winner & Birmingham Post Power 250 List )
Prosecco DOC Treviso Brut Itynera
THE DIARY.
MY BEAUTIFUL feels “there like there could be a lovely synergy/ poetry in this
”
54 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
LAUNDERETTE This November, Hanif Kureishi’s iconic and Oscar-nominated screenplay My Beautiful Laundrette comes to the stage 35 years since its film debut. This bold new drama will be presented against a funky backdrop of 80’s music and culture and explores cultural conflict, gender equality, class and generational strife.
Set in London during the Thatcher years, My Beautiful Laundrette tells the story of young British Pakistani, Omar, who transforms his uncle’s run-down laundrette into a thriving business. After being confronted by a fascist gang, Omar recognises school-friend Johnny and uses their history to diffuse the situation. As they renovate the laundrette together, love blossoms between them. Dluxe caught up with the Gordon Warnecke, who originally played Omar in the film as he returns to the piece in the role of Papa. Is it a surreal feeling, playing the father of the character you played 35 years ago? It kind of is, yeah because as you said it was 35 years ago but I have a good feeling about it. Enough time has passed that I feel that I am able to approach it with fresh eyes. The film has become an iconic part of the eighties and alongside it your image. Were you ever aware of the films potential from the start? Well initially it was written for TV, scheduled to be the launch film for I think Channel 4’s Film4. So we thought it was going to be a made for TV project and it ended up being shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival. I was filming my first TV show at the time called Boon, in Birmingham, and word got down that Jeremy Isaacs really liked it and said it should get a cinematic release. It was never expected but I was pleasantly surprised that it did. The British Film Institute ranked the film as the 50th greatest British film of the 20th century. Which is amazing, all credit goes to Hanif’s writing and Stephen’s direction and the way it all unfolded. How did you get involved with the film initially, did you simply audition for it? Yeah, I did. I’d never done a film before. I was trained and had been doing a lot of theatre up and down the country. Rita Woolfe, who plays Tanya in the film, well I’d met her a few times and she suggested me to Hanif who she knew. So, Stephen and Hanif pulled me in to audition. I was very young and naïve about the whole film business. Am I right in thinking this is the first time it’s come to the stage? It has been done a couple of times in very small theatres, quite a few years ago. But this is the first major production of it.
Do you think the themes explored in the film are as relevant today? I think so. If you look at some of the strains in the film for example Thatcher’s Britain where people were out there to try and grab as much as they could. I wouldn’t say it’s quite the same now but there’s definitely a relevance. Also relationships within the Asian family, that still goes on, trying to marry spouses off, that’s all there. The eighties were a hotbed of political movement and although it’s a different political movement now, I think there is much more of a feeling amongst people again that change is coming and whether you thought Brexit was a good idea or not, people are making a stand towards that. Will the show be treated as a period piece? Having spoken to Nikolai Foster, the Director, I think it’s going to be firmly rooted in 1985 and without giving anything away the music and the set design from what I gather, we’ll be very much of that era. It’s funny a mate of mine actually yesterday was saying I can’t wait to hear what music as he knows the sound designer and he can’t wait to see what they’re going to do because through every genre there is always some great music. There was a lot of rubbish music in the eighties. I watched a video of the eighties on Youtube the other day for a bit of research and at first glance there was some awful stuff! There was a lot of big hair and bad music but then I started to dig a little and underneath it all there was also some very good music. What do you think audiences will be taking away from this? I think there will be people like yourself who know the film and will be very intrigued to come and see it. I think there will be a lot of students there because it’s still being studied in various courses either
at college or at school because it’s an iconic film and it’s quite a good history lesson of the eighties. There will be a lot of people intrigued to see it brought to life on stage. Do you think lost characters like Papa still exist within today’s society? I think so. When I initially met with Nikolai and Hanif I was telling them about my father who was a socialist and he kind of still held on to his beliefs despite the fact he could see Britain was changing and was moving away from the so-called Left wing. There’s still a lot of people who not only wish for the old days but don’t forget what their principles are. I can relate to Papa, very easily, because it was almost like my father, he wasn’t a big drinker although he did like a drink. I’ve still got his socialist books; I’ve got them on my desk in front of me now to go back and revisit those ideas that have washed away in the last ten or twenty years. Do you feel plating this role that it’s like completing a cycle? Nikolai sent me a beautiful email saying “there feels like there could be a lovely synergy/stroke poetry in this” and that kind of sold it to me because if you look at what he said, it’s true. It’s come full circle, it was an honour to have been offered it. My Beautiful Launderette is at Belgrade Theatre Coventry 29 Oct – 2 Nov and Birmingham Repertory Theatre 5 – 9 Nov. Tickets available at www.belgrade.co.uk and www.birmingham-rep.co.uk dluxe-magazine.co.uk 55
THE DIARY.
HARVEY NICHOLS AW19 SHOW
JUNE
devoted to the music that was born in and around Birmingham. Music that turned up the volume, down-tuned the guitars, and introduced a whole new meaning to the word ‘heavy’.
Collecting Birmingham: Who is Birmingham?
Birmingham’s best dressed were out in force at the Harvey Nichols SS19 Fashion Show. More than 350 guests enjoyed an evening of the very latest trends at the event, which was staged in the Mailbox car park. The unusual venue provided a striking backdrop to the most sought-after pieces from the likes of Saint Laurent, Off-White, Fendi, Christian Louboutin, Balmain and Valentino. Trends included nautical, 90s nostalgia, neutrals and glamour. The evening – in partnership with luxury car brand DS Automobiles – sold out in a matter of days and those lucky enough to get a ticket were treated to a Prosecco reception and car park catwalk before the chance to shop in store and enjoy an after-show party in the Harvey Nichols Bar & Brasserie “It is events like this that confirm us as the region’s fashion leaders,” said Richard Vickery, General Manager of Harvey Nichols Birmingham. “We opted for the unorthodox venue because we think it summed up exactly what we are about – we continue to push the boundaries, whether that’s introducing our customers to the very latest fashion talent or the cutting edge design of our store. “We were delighted to work so closely with DS Automobiles to make the evening such a success; as a brand that is recognised around the world for the sleek sophistication of its premium car range it was the most fitting partner.” Hair on the night was styled by the in-store James Bushell team, makeup was by Marc Jacobs Beauty and nails were by Heaven Skincare. 56 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Until 27th October at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Discover new collections that reflect the experiences of diverse Birmingham people – from working lives, to community activists and protest movements.
Birmingham Indian Film Festival
22nd June – 1st July Presented by the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival, together they are the UK and Europe’s largest South Asian film festival with an entertaining and thought provoking line-up of independent films.
Tan France
20th June at Town Hall Birmingham Join Queer Eye’s Tan France as he discusses his heartfelt, funny, touching memoir Naturally Tan as part of his exclusive UK book tour marking his first public appearances in the UK.
Foodies Festival
21st – 23rd June at Cannon Hill Park Foodies Festival, the UK’s biggest food festival returns to Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park 21, 22, 23 June. Join in the fun at Birmingham’s favourite food festival!
House of Metal presents Black Sabbath – 50 Years
22nd June – 29th September at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery A major exhibition exploring the legacy of Black Sabbath and their global fan base.A blockbuster exhibition
James Acaster
23rd & 24th June at Town Hall Birmingham One time I bought a lasagne from the supermarket, heated it up in the oven and ate a bit of it and it wasn’t very nice so I put it in the fridge because it felt wrong to dump a whole lasagne in the bin and then later on I ate a spoonful of the cold lasagne because I was drunk and it was absolutely delicious. It was 4am. I then changed the name of a WhatsApp I was a part of to COLD LASAGNE HATE MYSELF 1999 because I had been thinking a lot about how 1999 was the best year of my life and also about how much I hate myself sometimes. The next day I was asked to name my new show. Come along.
19 SEP5 OCT
AUTUMN & WINTER 2019 SEASON NOW ON SALE
REBEL MUSIC
A raucous celebration of the Midlands 70s music scene
Highlights Include:
6-21 SEP
15 OCT2 NOV
THE LOVELY BONES
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF)
The spectacular stage adaptation of Alice Sebold's unique coming-of-age tale
An all-female adaptation of Jane Austen’s literary classic
4-12 OCT
PRISM
30 NOV19 JAN
Featuring Robert Lindsay
PETER PAN
The story of the man who made Hollywood’s greatest divas beautiful
Join us on a magical, swashbuckling adventure
A feast of familiar favourites Box Office 0121 236 4455 | BIRMINGHAM-REP.CO.UK birminghamrep
@birminghamrep
@therepbirmingham
Registered in England 295910 Charity No.223660
THE DIARY. celebrating his 30 years on stage and screen with favourite songs and fabulous stories from his life and career.
JULY Gladys Knight
24th June at Symphony Hall The Empress of Soul - Gladys Knight is known for her collection of classic hits
BE Festival
family FUN at Birmingham Hippodrome This Summer, Birmingham Hippodrome will raise the curtain on a selection of fantastical entertainment guaranteed to delight the entire family. Perfect for young families, the popular children’s book The Gruffalo (25-26 Jun) is a monster stage show packed full of magic and music. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat bursts on to the stage for two weeks only (2-13 July) starring Union J’s Jaymi Hensley in the lead role. This upbeat, award-winning show, alive with kaleidoscope of colour and storytelling, is loved by young and old featuring hits songs such as Go, Go, Go Joseph and Any Dream Will Do.
Deadtown
27th – 29th June at Birmingham Repertory Theatre For the first time in the UK, the sons of Oscarwinning Milos Forman, bring a spectacular cast of 20 acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians to perform this spectacular Wild West tale. Using an extraordinary mixture of film, live action and magic they move from illusion to reality presenting the Old West in a completely new way.
The CBSO in Sutton Park
29th June The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is once again delighted to be headlining Sutton Coldfield’s Concerts in the Park.
2nd – 6th July at Birmingham Repertory Theatre Each year a daring and innovative programme of boundary pushing theatre, dance, comedy, circus, music, visual and performing arts takes place turning the theatre’s rarely seen backstages into a den of creativity, discovery and exchange where diverse cultures are celebrated.
Antiques Roadshow
2nd July at Compton Verney, Warwick Join Fiona Bruce and the Antiques Roadshow team when they film at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.
John Barrowman Direct from the West End, the classic family musical Annie (23 Jul-11 Aug) returns to Birmingham starring Jodie Prenger (winner of BBC’s I’d Do Anything, Olivier, Spamalot, Calamity Jane) as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. The production features colourful sets and costumes plus a catalogue of recognisable songs including It’s The Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and Tomorrow. For tickets visit birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000. 58 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
30th June at Symphony Hall This summer, entertainer extraordinaire John Barrowman will tour England, Scotland, and Wales
Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat
2nd – 13th July at Birmingham Hippodrome Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family musical is brought to life in a colourful explosion of joy.
That’s Entertainment! Classic drama reimagined at the Belgrade Theatre Meanwhile, from 17-21 September, Bill Kenwright and Robert Stigwood invite you to relive the hits of the disco era in a musical production of Saturday Night Live. Setting hot new choreography to one of the best selling movie soundtracks of all time, this new stage version retells the story of Tony Manero’s journey from the backstreets of Brooklyn to the bright lights of dancing fame with more music and more drama than ever before. Finally, from 15-19 October, Shane Richie, Diana Vickers and Sara Crowe star in a bold new production of The Entertainer, directed by Sean O’Connor. For the first time since its premiere in 1957, John Osborne’s acclaimed play is given a vibrant new setting, retold against the backdrop of the Falklands War in 1982.
Classic stories of the stage and screen will be reimagined at the Belgrade Theatre next season, as an eclectic mix of shows revisit unforgettable stories from across the decades.
Caulfield as the disappearing Miss Froy and the mysterious Dr Hartz. EastEnders’ Lorna Fitzgerald plays Iris, a socialite whose travelling companion suddenly vanishes en route to their destination.
Travel back to the interwar years when Bill Kenwright’s The Classic Thriller Theatre Company take on Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes. Showing in Coventry 24-28 September, this new production stars husband and wife Juliet Mills and Max
Bewildered to find her fellow passengers denying all knowledge of ever having seen her, Iris turns detective with the help of musician Max, as played by Downton Abbey’s Matt Barber.
Chosen by Guardian theatre critic Michael Billington as one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, The Entertainer tells the story of Archie Rice – a washed-up comic whose personal and professional lives collide with devastating consequences, as he struggles to find his place in a changing world. Tickets to all of these shows and more are available to book now by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055 or visiting www.belgrade.co.uk where prices are cheaper.
BOOK ONLINE to save money
The Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Selladoor Productions, Matthew Townsend Productions and Perth Theatre at Horsecross Arts present
A brand new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic tale of knowledge, nature and monstrosity
17 – 21 Sept
From £31.50*
BOOK NOW *Ticket
2 - 12 Oct
024 7655 3055
From £10*
15 – 19 Oct
www.belgrade.co.uk
prices include a £1.50 booking fee. No booking fee applies if booked online.
from £17.50*
THE DIARY.
CASTLE FINE ART NEW GALLERY
Colmore Food Festival
4th July The annual Colmore Food Festival has become a mustvisit event; each July it showcases the superb food and drink offering in Birmingham’s business quarter, Colmore Business District.
Birmingham Cocktail Weekend
11th – 14th July Birmingham Cocktail Weekend is a long weekend of sampling the best of Birmingham’s cocktail scene!
Bowie Experience Castle Fine Art unveiled its biggest gallery, a stunning 6,000 sq ft space at the Mailbox, Birmingham showcasing the best contemporary artists from around the world.
Godiva Festival
5th – 7th July at War Memorial Park, Coventry Based in the city’s historic War Memorial Park, the threeday event offers great live music, family entertainment, international food and drink, craft village and children’s fun fair! Busted are set to headline this year’s event.
Adding a splash of colour to the designer destination, the new-look Castle Fine Art is four times the size of the current Mailbox gallery and will be home to some of the biggest names in art; from Bob Dylan, Ronnie Wood and Lorenzo Quinn, to Marvel, Billy Connolly and pioneer of the Pop Art movement, James Francis Gill. Living by the business’ ethos of ‘Your World, Our Art®’, making art accessible to all, the brand new Mailbox gallery will play host to headline-grabbing collection launches and welcome worldwide names for personal appearances and events.
KISS
The new Castle Fine Art Birmingham gallery is now open in its new prominent location at the front of the Mailbox. To find out more and view its collection of contemporary artists, visit www.castlefineart.com.
9th July at Arena Birmingham After an epic and storied 45 year career that launched an era of rock n roll legends, KISS announced that they will launch their final tour ever in 2019, appropriately named End Of The Road.
e r t a e Tinhthe Gardens Join us and let your imagination run wild with our summer of spectacular theatre.
Treasure Island
10 July
Pride and Prejudice 60 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
17 July
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Treasure Island
10th July at Birmingham Botanical Gardens Join Chapterhouse Theatre Company for this brand-new adaptation of everyone’s favourite swashbuckling pirate adventure.
12th July at Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham The World’s number one celebration of David Bowie features songs including Space Oddity, Starman, Fashion, Life on Mars, China Girl, Rebel Rebel, Golden Years, Modern Love, All the Young Dudes, Lets Dance, Heroes.
Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival
12th – 14th July Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival is set in the truly beautiful and unique setting of Moseley Park, Birmingham. Every year, the park plays host to a weekend of blistering live music, attracting people from all over the world who gather to see International legends alongside the latest contemporary breakthrough artists from the world of Jazz, Funk & Soul.
Summer in Southside
13th & 14th July at Birmingham Hippodrome Celebrating 50 years since the first moon landings, the streets of Southside around the theatre will be transformed into a lunar landscape for a whole weekend packed with performances, installations and extra-terrestrial antics from a list of ‘out of this world’ acts.
N O W P L AY I N G
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Tickets from £16 rsc.org.uk
TICKETS FROM £16
rsc.org.uk
dluxe-magazine.co.uk 61
THE DIARY.
THIS AUTUMN / WINTER AT THE REP
Brindley Film Festival
15th – 21st July Open to everyone, the Film Festival showcases films suitable for family viewing, with the evening films screened at 6pm and two films shown on both Saturday and Sunday
Annie
The Color Purple
16th July – 20th July at Birmingham Hippodrome With a profoundly evocative score drawing inspiration from jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this moving family chronicle set in racially divided southern America, celebrates life, love and the strength to stand up for who you are and what you believe in.
23rd July – 11th August at Birmingham Hippodrome Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck soon changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family…
Pride and Prejudice Birmingham Repertory Theatre has announced a feast of familiar favourites for its Autumn and Winter Season and tickets are now on sale. The programme for September onwards is full of familiar titles including the uplifting adaptation of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones (6 – 21 September), the thrilling An Inspector Calls (12 – 16 November), plus the iconic My Beautiful Laundrette (5 – 9 November) and an adaptation like no other of Jane Austin’s rom-com Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) (15 October – 2 November). There’s also plenty that’s new to look forward too with Prism (4 – 12 October) featuring Robert Lindsay playing one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, Jack Cardiff, Rebel Music (19 September - 5 October) – a raucous celebration of people power set to a soundtrack of Punk, Reggae and 2 Tone, and the heart-warming, hilarious and insightful Barber Shop Chronicles that leaps from a barber shop in Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra over the course of a single day. An uplifting tale inspired by the true story of a young man with a debilitating stammer is told in a new play by Pravesh Kumar and British Asian rapper, Raxstar for Rifco Theatre Company. Mushy: Lyrically Speaking (26 – 28 September) tells the story of Musharaf Asghar who found himself at the centre of the television documentary, Educating Yorkshire in 2013. For Christmas The REP presents a fresh and spectacular, new staging of Peter Pan (30 November – 19 January). Filled with swashbuckling adventure the eternal classic Peter Pan is the perfect festive show for adventurous children and those still young at heart and is directed by Liam Steel following his highly-acclaimed production of The Wizard of Oz last year. To find out more about The REP’s Autumn and Winter 2019 Season and to book tickets head to birmingham-rep.co.uk 62 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
17th July at Birmingham Botanical Gardens Take a step back in time with Chapterhouse Theatre Company to meet Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Austen’s notorious heroine.
Here Comes The Boys
20th July at Symphony Hall, Birmingham Strictly stars Aljaž Škorjanec, Giovanni Pernice and Gorka Marquez, giants of the ballroom and Latin world battle it out on the dance floor.
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant
23rd & 24th July at The Core Theatre Solihull The Classic tale of Elmer the Elephant who didnt want to be grey is bought to live on stage in five family shows over two days.
MADHEAD
17th July @ Patrick Studio at Birmingham Hippodrome Thirty-eight of the UK’s best young dancers present a unique evening fusing contemporary dance, physical theatre and hip-hop. Botis Seva’s choreographic style combined with the young dancers’ energy and talent is set to produce an enthralling and energetic production.
K.D.Lang
27th July at Symphony Hall, Birmingham With her multi-platinum breakout album Ingénue, K.D. lang emerged as one of the most singular and expressive singers of her generation. Now, 25 years later, she returns to her roots – performing the album that shot her to stardom.
“There’s a kind of pressure cooker thriller vibe to it immediately”
PRASANNA PRESERVES Actor, writer and director (and former doctor!), Prasanna Puwanarajah, well known to TV audiences appearing alongside Suranne Jones in Season 2 of Doctor Foster, makes his Royal Shakespeare Company debut this year directing Thomas Otway’s political thriller Venice Preserved.
A dark masterpiece and breath-taking love story, this production will draw on inspirations including Anime, graphic novels and DC Comics. Chosen as one of the best 101 plays ever by The Guardian theatre critic, Michael Billington, the show runs in the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon until the 7 September. The cast features Les Dennis, making his RSC debut, and Natalie Dew, Michael Grady-Hall, John Hodgkinson and Jodie McNee. We caught up with Prasanna to ask him a few questions about the show. Could you give us a brief synopsis of the play? Venice is sinking. Under the shadow of darkness, an impoverished nobleman, Jaffeir, and senator’s daughter, Belvidera, marry in secret, and are disinherited by her oppressive father. Discontented and vulnerable, Jaffeir is enlisted by his dear friend Pierre, a decorated and famous Venetian soldier, to join an international revolution against the leaders of their failed city state. Jaffeir gives his wife Belvidera up as collateral for his honesty to the cause, a desperate and dangerous decision that tears their lives apart as the revolution founders and the Senate reasserts its totalitarian hold on the crumbling state. We believe the production will have a
1980s ‘Restoration Blade Runner’ feel. Is that right? I’m placing Venice Preserved in a contemporary setting – it’s kind of mid-1980s. The play has all the noir elements of the dystopian graphic novel or DC Comics. I’m a child of the 80s so these things aren’t really a reach for me, but rather they represent the space in which I grew up, so the play is reaching into that space in me as much as me seeing those things in the play. When I first started thinking about this play I was looking at it as a piece essentially of Restoration noir. By that I mean there is a sense when you read the play of being trapped underground. The entire thing seems to take place at night. There’s a kind of pressure cooker thriller vibe to it immediately.
What do you think Venice Preserved has to say to a 21st Century audience? At the moment the play has incisive things to say about dangerous and vindictive idiots in power, and about the ongoing and multifaceted pressures faced by women in the world. I think genuinely great plays will always have something to say to the audience of its day without the need for deliberate attempts. In fact what might be needed is clarification, or revealing, rather than anything on top that pushes the play away beneath an idea. For me that means placing the play in a context that feels recognisable and not abstract, so that the concerns of the people and the systems in the play are immediately articulating with those in the world outside the theatre. I’ve tried at every step to make the
play feel human and real, to pull away from anything grandiose, and push towards investigating who the people are and what they need to achieve. I want the production to be exciting and thrilling, and at the same time I want it to truly deliver people in a moment of devastation.
You’re a writer, director and actor, and appeared in an RSC production of Twelfth Night a few years ago. How do you juggle all these disciplines, and is there one of them you enjoy more than the others? I do feel genuinely busy at the moment which is always lovely and keeps the bills paid. On the whole for me it’s about the project and not the medium. With Venice Preserved, I felt it would be hard to pass up on the chance to do this play, a play about which I felt I knew a little bit, and which I loved and was curious about. What does it mean to you to be working in Stratford again? It’s a lovely town and I’ve spent many a happy evening here. I used to come to Stratford a lot when I was a junior doctor (on rare evenings off) and get standby tickets, and at that time it was something of a refuge. It’s great to be back, to see old colleagues from 10 years ago and meet new ones, and I’m looking forward to getting the show into The Swan. Venice Preserved runs in repertoire in the Swan Theatre until the 7 September 2019. www.rsc.org.uk, Tel. 01789 331111
dluxe-magazine.co.uk 63
HI SOCIETY.
After a bumper season of events and openings in th
Asha’s Solihull Opening
Asha’s Solihull Opening
TAG Network 5th Birthday Celebrations
Jools Holland At The Jam House
BPA Spring Lunch
The Burlington Hotel Refurb Launch
Harvey Nichols Fashion Show
BPA Spring Lunch
TAG Network 5th Birthday Celebrations
64 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Harvey Nichols Fashion Show
The Burlington Hotel Refurb Launch
Asha’s Solihull Opening
he West Midlands, have you been caught on camera?
TAG Network 5th Birthday Celebrations
The Burlington Hotel Refurb Launch
Jools Holland At The Jam House
Jools Holland At The Jam House
Asha’s Solihull Opening TAG Network 5th Birthday Celebrations
TAG Network 5th Birthday Celebrations
BPA Spring Lunch
TAG Network 5th Birthday Celebrations
BPA Spring Lunch
Asha’s Solihull Opening
dluxe-magazine.co.uk 65
HOROSCOPES.
Written in the Stars with CELEBRITY Astrologer Russell Grant To find out more or to arrange a personal reading, visit www.russellgrant.com ARIES (March21st-April20th) You’ll be indecisive at the beginning of June, due to a confusing New Moon on the 3rd. This is not a good time to sign a contract, submit official papers or enter into a verbal agreement. The other party is being intentionally vague as a means to throw you off balance. Big changes will occur on the home front at the beginning of July. The Solar Eclipse on the 2nd suggests you will move to accommodate someone’s career. Alternatively, you might relocate after a government agency takes over a piece of property. August gets off to a romantic start on the 1st, when the New Moon puts you on the path to love. If you’re single, you will meet someone special at a religious, cultural or educational event. TAURUS (April21st-May21st) On the 3rd June, the New Moon will attract a problematic moneymaking opportunity. Although you welcome the chance to improve your income, you won’t like your colleagues. You’re a highly practical person who prefers to keep busy to building castles in the air. A Lunar Eclipse on the 16th July brings the end to a legal matter. Once this decision has been rendered, you’ll be able to lead a more stable, organised life. Your career will require your attention on the 15th August, due to an anxious Full Moon. It’s possible your boss will quit unexpectedly, causing more responsibilities to be heaped onto your plate. You might have to skip a child’s game, recital or performance for the sake of work in mid-August. GEMINI (May22nd-June21st) Changing your image won’t improve your professional prospects during June. Assuming a false front will put even more distance between you and the job you want. Although your path to success is much longer than those who have a more conventional appearance, it will be rewarding. On the 16th July, the Lunar Eclipse brings an end to an intimate relationship. Someone who has been struggling with an addiction needs to undergo rehabilitation. Don’t let their obsessions drag you down. The opening days of August promise to be very busy, thanks to an active New Moon on the 1st. Take this opportunity to run errands, catch up on correspondence and reconnect with friends.
like some of the people you work with, others will rub you the wrong way. Don’t draw lines in the social sand just yet. You never know who will be in the position to help you, either personally or professionally. The Lunar Eclipse on the 16th July could find you reaping rewards for a job well done. You will receive a promotion or offer of employment that transforms your life. On the 15th August, the Full Moon will put great strain on a close relationship. You won’t be able to coax the people you love and like most into doing things your way. As a result, it may feel like you’re undermining each other’s dreams. Think carefully whether you want to continue this alliance. VIRGO (August24th-September23rd) The Full Moon on the 17th June brings a stressful domestic matter to a head. You’re no longer willing to tolerate a relative or roommate’s outrageous behaviour. Instead of continuing to subject yourself to this toxic situation, make a fresh start. You have more control over your destiny than you realise. The Solar Eclipse on the 2nd July will draw influential people into your social circle. A romantic partner or someone close won’t approve of your new friends. The opening days of August invite you to kick back and relax. That’s because a restful New Moon rises on the 1st. Take this opportunity to go on vacation or retreat to a tranquil place where you can hear yourself think. If you don’t have the funds to go away, a staycation can be satisfying. LIBRA (September24th-October23rd) The New Moon on the 3rd June forces you to learn complicated concepts in a short period of time. You’re fighting the clock; there is not much room for error. Studying with a quirky teacher will be daunting. An interesting career opportunity could come your way on the 2nd July, courtesy of a Solar Eclipse. Although you welcome the chance to get ahead, you are worried this job will take you far from home. It may be necessary to relocate to another part of the country. Joining a club, team or organisation is strongly advised at the beginning of August. That’s when the New Moon will put you in contact with some creative people. Working alongside fellow artists will fuel your own imagination.
CANCER (June22nd-July23rd) The New Moon on the 3rd June warns against disclosing sensitive information. If someone confides in you, maintain their privacy. It will be tempting to share this information with others, but that will undermine your reputation as a trustworthy person. The Solar Eclipse on the 2nd July helps you undergo a radical transformation. You could start your own business, have an image update or take on a new professional role. This shift will possibly put stress on a close relationship. A well paid position could come your way during the opening days of August, thanks to the enriching New Moon on the 1st. Any work involving luxury goods, entertainment or gambling will significantly raise your income.
SCORPIO (October24th-November22nd) The Full Moon on the 17th June brings disappointment in money. A payment will be far less than you expected. You failed to factor in the costs of this job before setting your price. Don’t let this happen again. The opportunity to expand your horizons will arrive on the 2nd July, thanks to a Solar Eclipse. Going on an overseas trip, taking a course of study or launching a new and exciting personal project are all possibilities. You will feel like a fish out of water throughout this journey. Being uncomfortable will help you grow and change. On the 15th August, the Full Moon will force you to come to terms with a painful family situation. Be ready to turn your back on a relative whose inconsiderate behaviour makes you feel used and abused.
LEO (July24th-August23rd) On the 3rd June, the New Moon will put you in some unusual company. Although you’ll
SAGITTARIUS (November23rd-December21st) The New Moon on the 3rd June will pave the way to a romantic or business alliance.
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This relationship will be quite rocky. Your emotional needs are quite different. While you are looking for a partner who is challenging and stimulating, your other half wants someone both reassuring and affectionate. A Lunar Eclipse on the 16th July will put an end to an ethical dilemma. Justice will be served to a bullying, oppressive personality who has been abusing their power. The New Moon on the 1st August urges you to venture off the beaten path. Being adventurous, enterprising, travelling overseas or enrolling in university are among the possibilities. The sky is the limit during the opening days of August. CAPRICORN (December22ndJanuary20th) Beware of undergoing a radical health regimen on the 3rd June, when a rebellious New Moon can lead to rash decisions. Your system might not be able to handle the shock of a total overhaul to your diet and exercise routine. A relationship will reach a turning point on the 2nd July, thanks to a powerful Solar Eclipse. Resist the temptation to maintain the status quo. Give away some of personal power to your best friend, romantic partner or business associate. A passionate romance will make the opening days of August a time to remember. If you’re single, you will meet someone special at a sporting or entertainment venue. Already in a relationship? It will feel like you’ve embarked on a second honeymoon with your amour. AQUARIUS (January21st-February19th) A group project will come to a close on the 17th June, due to a stressful Full Moon. You’ll discover that your values are radically different from the other members of the organisation. As a result, it will be impossible to coordinate your efforts. A new job is coming your way on the 2nd July, but it will throw you off balance. Normally, you’re confident about your professional abilities. This position will make you realise you lack essential skills. The opening days of August are ideal for getting engaged or married, thanks to the loving New Moon on the 1st. If you’re already in a serious relationship, take this opportunity to lavish your partner with affection. A beautiful gift, a thoughtful gesture or a personal sacrifice will be well-received. PISCES (February20th-March20th) Family matters are stressful in the early days of June. It’s important to face painful truths on the 3rd, when the New Moon requires you to make some changes to your household. The Lunar Eclipse on the 16th July brings an end to an abusive association. Although a friendship began as a positive influence, it has devolved into a power struggle. A fabulous job offer will arrive on or around the 1st August, thanks to a supportive New Moon. Working in a creative field will bring out the best in you. There’s a good chance this position will involve world travel, which perfectly suits you. If you want to improve your health, do so in the opening days of September. Your energy will soar after making a few simple adjustments to your diet and exercise routine.
To find out more or to arrange a personal reading, visit www.russellgrant.com
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