Dluxe Birmingham & Solihull Winter 2017 by Fraser Urquhart Media

LU E D X BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL

WINTER

INSIDE: PALOMA FAITH BEVERLEY KNIGHT WINTER SKI SPECIAL ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE PARTY STYLE OUR PICK OF 2018

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EDITOR’S LETTER. Umm, can someone please tell me how we are at the end of 2017? Last time I checked my google calendar, it was September. I don’t think I’m the only one, am I? I’m putting this crazy schedule down to too much of the ‘good stuff’, if there’s such a thing as too much. I was struck, just the other day, how buzzy Birmingham is: in the space of one evening, we popped to the launch of the city’s first-ever Swarovski lighting store and the gorgeous new Flint + Flint medi-clinic at Mailbox; then hot-footed it past the City Social market under the Malmaison underpass, and across the city to the launch of Tiffany at Selfridges with Alexa Chung. So much fun was had that we didn’t even have time to even pop into the relaunch of Clements & Church, or Curry King at the ICC. And all of this was just one night. The city has also welcomed the incredible EF MEDISPA since our last edition, Neptune Interiors has also popped up making Calthorpe Estates in Edgbaston one of the hottest new postcodes. Rofuto and the Edwardian Tea Rooms have both launched new events too. I could go on…but you’ll have to read the magazine for more of that.

We talk to Paloma Faith - P54

WE CAN’T WAIT FOR...

As we reflect on the year that’s just passed it’d be remiss of me not to bring you up to speed on one or two of the successes we’ve achieved: most notably, for us, was that we reached our 18th Anniversary. To do this in this day and age is a feat – and I’m not ashamed to say I’m proud to be, not only standing, but flourishing. We’ve also invested heavily in our print and digital platforms and now reach over 850,000 people each month. If you haven’t yet followed/liked our Facebook and Twitter page then please do- you’re missing out! For us, these online platforms really help us connect with you, our reader, and there’s an awful lot of content that only appears electronically so it really is a case of miss it and miss out. It’s with a huge amount of pride that we approach 2018. We are already excited about what lies in store, both for us as a business, but as a city. Let’s do it together with style, verve and ambition. See you in March,

Keep well,

peter rabbit

crossCUrrents

c r a i g d av i d

the bridge

JACKSON LAMB

We simply cannot wait to see the live action, animated comedy adaptation of Peter Rabbit, due out in Spring 2018. Peter’s feud with Mr. McGregor reaches new heights as both compete for the affections of a kind animal lover who lives next door. Who will win the battle of the heart and the cabbage patch?

The bi-annual festival that celebrates new and contemporary classical music returns to the University of Birmingham from the 16-24 Feb and brings together internationally acclaimed musicians and student performers, as well as some of the UK’s most respected composers for concerts, free performances, talks and workshops.

The comeback kid is back with album The Time is Now set to be released on the 26 Jan.

The Danish drama returns for one final season in 2018. Detective Saga Norén investigates a series of crimes including a woman being stoned to death and a machine gun rampage through Copenhagen and what of detective Henrik Sabroe’s missing family?

Described as the King of the Spy Thriller, Herron’s first Jackson Lamb novel, Slow Horses, was picked as one of the twenty best spy novels of all time’ by the Daily Telegraph and his follow on novels have met with similar critical and reader acclaim. The mucn anticipated fifth novel in the series is set to be released on 19 Feb.

4 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Featuring collaborations with Bastille, AJ Tracey and Kaytranada, amongst others, David himself has said that “These songs feel like they’ll stand the test of time.”

Jonathan Fraser Group Editor In Chief

All will be revealed.

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CONTENTS.

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

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF JO MALONE LONDON

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

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

ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATION Carey York carey@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445

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

08 AGENDA Our personal picks

42 TRAVEL Slide into winter and

DLUXE BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL HQ

head to the slopes from Birmingham Airport.

31 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1RE TEL: 0116 2533 445

20 GIFT GUIDE Our picks from online and on the High Street for the fussiest of females and problematic of men. Inspiration is here.

48 DINING Roast Turkey and Cranberry Meringue Roulade - time to get cooking! Also perfect party wine pairings, gifts for foodies and all the gossip with Anita Champaneri.

www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk

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

28 SPOTLIGHT We talk to the West End and recording superstar Beverley Knight talks to us ahead of her starring role in Cinderella.

30 FOR HER Catwalk trends, glitter glamour, the best boots for winter and Michelle Feeney on the sweet smell of success.

36 FOR HIM Angelic accesories, festive fragrances, party favours and the chance to win a year of free haircuts. 40 LIVING Sparkle and shine this christmas with our pick of the season’s decorating trends and make your guest room gorgeous again.

52 DIARY What’s happening and

what’s happened in and around Brum this Winter plus we go speak to Paloma Faith ahead of her new album release and tour.

info@fu-media.co.uk

dluxe.magazine

62 BUSINESS The latest thinking and topic led business advice from some of the city’s top business brains. 66 LAST WORD We chat to Sue

Jones, one of the founders of interior group OKA aboout the brand, it’s style and the gorgeous store in the heart of Edgbaston.

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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 2017

6 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

AGENDA.

MUTt HAVE Accesories The UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, has teamed up with iconic British brand, Radley to create a dedicated dog walking backpack and range of matching coin purses. The stylish backpack has an assortment of features and accessories, all of which make walking your four legged friend easier and more enjoyable, including straps to hold a towel for muddy paws, side pockets for their favourite toy and even a clip to hold a poo bag dispenser. The backpack is lined with Dogs Trust yellow and 15% of the sale price will go directly towards caring for stray, abandoned and unwanted dogs of Dogs Trust, including those from Dogs Trust Loughborough such as beautiful Bolt, a four-year-old Jack Russell who found himself without a home due to a change in family circumstances. Dogs Trust Kenilworth Rehoming Centre Manager, Emma Healey, said: “All of us at Dogs Trust have got our eye on this Radley bag. It’s super stylish and the handy features make walking a dog much easier. What’s especially fantastic about this bag is that proceeds go directly to Dogs Trust, and will help us care for the many dogs of all shapes and sizes looking for new, loving homes.” In addition to the dog walking backpack, Radley and Dogs Trust have, together, created four collectable leather coin purses. The accessories feature the iconic Radley Scottish Terrier and three new appliqué designs inspired by dogs cared for by Dogs Trust, including 17 year-old Crossbreed Scruffy, Golden Retriever Lollipop, and Jackie the Dachshund. 15% of the sale price, of both the backpack and the coin purse, will go directly to Dogs Trust to help the 15,000 stray, abandoned and unwanted dogs the UK’s largest dog welfare charity cares for every year. Available online and in-store, the backpack is priced at £99 and the coin purses are £32 each. Visit radley.co.uk to get your paws on one! dluxe-magazine.co.uk 9

SPECIAL FEATURE.

AGENDA.

Christmas is in the bag at Bullring and Grand Central

WIN A SERENE SPA DAY FOR TWO AT HOAR CROSS HALL Whether you’re a speedy shopper, a cyber-savvy shopper or ‘a love to browse’ shopper, when it comes to shopping for those special Christmas gifts, Bullring and Grand Central is the perfect destination for you. GIFT AND TREATS Explore the endless possibilities with over 240 stores with all your favourite beauty, fashion and lifestyle brands to choose from. Their store teams are on hand and happy to help you find that special something or if you want to make life that little bit easier why not book an appointment with their personal shopper gift service, available within their department stores and let them do the hard work for you– just have your gift list ready! GIFTS FOR KIDS From tech to the more traditional, toys are always top on the list for those seeking gifts for the little people in your life. Find all the top toys of the season thanks to The Entertainer, John Lewis, Build-A-Bear Workshop and the ever popular Disney Store. Whether your little one is set to become the next Jedi, superhero, prince or princess, you can be sure to find the perfect gift. Don’t forget Foyles, Paperchase and Smiggle to see their imagination in action too! FOOD FOR THOUGHT Mission accomplished, you’ve shopped, found everything you need, so now it’s time to relax and enjoy the international delights from over 60 eateries including Italian pasta and pizza, Spanish tapas, American burgers and hot dogs, Vietnamese and Japanese noodles, Indian street food and much, much more. There is plenty to treat your taste buds including tasty festive menus with a host of seasonal ingredients to get into the Christmas spirit without waiting for the big day. Products Featured: Selfridges Child Oppo Suits. Coach Color Link Nita Whirl Saddle Bag £175. John Lewis Pana GX800 Orange £429. Birmingham Gin Selfridges £44.99. The Connoisseur’s Hamper Selfridges £10,000

10 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Hoar Cross Hall, the luxury spa resort in Maker Lane, Burtonupon-Trent has laun Hoar Cross Hall, the luxury spa resort in Maker Lane, Burton-upon-Trent has launched its festive spa gift vouchers so you can give the gift of indulgence and relaxation this Christmas! Hoar Cross Hall’s range of gift vouchers allows you to give the most luxurious, thoughtful gift whilst hiding away from the frenzy of Christmas shopping. To celebrate the launch of these indulgent gifts, we’re giving one lucky reader and a guest the chance to win the Serene Spa Day gift voucher, usually £99 per guest. This immersive spa day is designed to unwind the body and mind, complete with a 55 minute Elemis treatment, a delicious three course lunch and two fitness and relaxation classes from the daily programme. Relax and enjoy the luxury spa facilities which include a salt water vitality pool, hydrotherapy pool, Nordic Heat and Ice suite with a sauna, steam room and ice temple. The perfect way to warm up on a cold day in the New Year! A haven of peace and tranquillity, Hoar Cross Hall Spa Hotel is set within a Grade II listed stately home in 50 acres of magnificent woodland in the heart of Staffordshire. Find out more about Hoar Cross Hall’s Christmas gift cards at www.hoarcross.co.uk For you chance to win simply visit www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk and click on competitions. Terms and Conditions apply - see website for details. Voucher to be used between 2 January and 31 March 2018, exclusions apply. Subject to availability.

See life in a new light New Pirouette® Shades from Luxaflex® The unique design of our Pirouette® Shades features soft fabric vanes which gently filter light and control privacy. And PowerView® Motorisation also lets you operate your shades with one tap of your smart phone, tablet or remote control.

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SPECIAL FEATURE.

AGENDA.

Take control of your curves with Courthouse Clinics Fat Freezing is the perfect, pain-free alternative to surgical liposuction – and it achieves visible results after just one session. (although it’s recommended that a course of at least two or three are taken for the best results). SAY GOODBYE TO CELLULITE Another popular body contouring treatment at Courthouse Clinics is Endermologie – and now is the ideal time to begin a course if your goal is to look slim, slinky and smooth in time for spring. Endermologie is scientifically proven to reduce the appearance of cellulite, boost circulation and improve skin tone. So it’s perfect if your priority is to banish the dreaded ‘orange peel’ skin. Endermologie is a quick in-clinic procedure that can be carried out in just 45 minutes. A special handheld massage device is rolled over problem areas, breaking down the fat, water and toxins that give skin that uneven, dimpled appearance. It’s not painful, and there’s no downtime. During the process, blood flow is increased, skin is exfoliated and fat metabolism is increased – resulting in a noticeably firmer, smoother, toned-looking body. The best results are achieved after a course of treatments – in most cases, six or more sessions are needed to produce visible changes – so the sooner you get started, the faster you transform! CALL TIME ON SAGGY AND BAGGY Another popular body contouring treatment at Courthouse Clinics is skin tightening. Weight fluctuations, the natural ageing process and even certain genetic factors can cause your skin to lose its elasticity over time. But help is at hand: their Soprano laser system can deliver firmer, youngerlooking skin, with no surgery or downtime.

Winter has well and truly arrived, and while bikini season might seem like a long way off, now is actually the perfect time to put in place your strategy to shape up, and look and feel your very best. Forward planning is most definitely your friend – so don’t leave it until the last minute if your goal is to shape up and slim down in the months ahead.

Soprano uses high-intensity infrared light to painlessly heat up the skin’s deeper layers, which stimulates the production of collagen. In turn, this new collagen prompts the skin to naturally rebuild itself, resulting in visibly improved surface tone and tautness. Best of all, Soprano can be used on almost any part of the body (or face), is suitable for both women and men, and is safe for all skin colours.

Whether your motivation involves a fancy frock, a special occasion, your next summer holiday or a long-term lifestyle makeover, Courthouse Clinics Birmingham can help – especially if lumps and bumps in all the wrong places are a key concern.

Whatever your aesthetic concerns, they understand that there are lots of different options available, and that so much choice can be confusing. Their expert, experienced team of doctors and aestheticians will be pleased to advise you, and recommend the treatments that are best for you and your individual needs. Call them today on 0121 516 5296 to book your consultation. The new, streamlined you is just a phone call away!

They offer a selection of advanced, effective body contouring treatments that can help you take control of your curves once and for all.

Courthouse Clinics Birmingham, 8 George Road, Edgbaston, B15 1NP Tel. 0121 452 5960 www.courthouseclinics.com

FREEZE YOUR FAT AWAY It might sound a little strange, but Fat Freezing is one of our most popular procedures. It offers a fast, effective, noninvasive way to permanently get rid of stubborn pockets of fat from all the usual problem areas such as thighs, tummy, bottom, back and arms. As the name suggests, this treatment works by freezing fat cells, using their specialist CoolTEch equipment. This causes fat cells to die off and be eliminated naturally through the body’s own lymphatic system – but doesn’t damage any other tissue. 12 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

New Year New You! Joanne lost

312st 8lb in

weeks

The FAST track way to a NEW you I have something to work towards now. Life is good. I am training hard… I am looking forward to what the future holds. Happiness is about feeling healthy for me…the scales show a number but you cannot measure how amazing this journey has made me feel. Courthouse Clinics 8 George Road | Edgbaston Birmingham | B15 1NP 0121 452 5969 courthouseclinics.com DOCTOR SUPERVISED

UP TO A STONE A MONTH

YOUR PLAN

BODY THE CONTOURING TRANSFORMATION

KEEP IT OFF

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WHAT’S ON? V I P H O S P I TA L I T Y E X P E R I E N C E S

STEREOPHONICS

SAM SMITH

STEPS

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 1 DEC 17

STRICTLY COME DANCING - THE LIVE TOUR

GENTING ARENA – 22 MAR 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 11-13 MAY 18

CHRIS ROCK

JASON DERULO

GENTING ARENA – 24 MAR 18

THE ORIGINAL HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

GORILLAZ

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 19 - 21 JAN 18

PHIL COLLINS

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 25 JAN 18

MICHAEL BALL & ALFIE BOE

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 31 JAN 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 2 DEC 17

GENTING ARENA – 3 DEC 17 GENTING ARENA – 5 DEC 17

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 8 - 9 DEC 17

LADY GAGA LADY GAGA

THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS

GENTING ARENA – 9 FEB 18

LIAM GALLAGHER

GENTING ARENA – 15 FEB 18

SAM SMITH

GENTING ARENA – 3 - 4 APR 18

THE SCRIPT

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 12 DEC 17

HARRY STYLES

GENTING ARENA – 7 APR 18

IMAGINE DRAGONS

GENTING ARENA – 24 FEB 18

UB40

GENTING ARENA – 15 DEC 17

THE X FACTOR LIVE TOUR GENTING ARENA – 25 FEB 18

I LOVE REGGAE

GENTING ARENA – 16 DEC 17

MORRISSEY

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT

GENTING ARENA – 27 FEB 18

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

GENTING ARENA - 1 MAR 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 16 DEC 17

JOE BONAMASSA

YONEX ALL ENGLAND OPEN BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

BLUE MAN GROUP

THE ICC – 28 DEC - 6 JAN 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 17-18 MAR 18

PARAMORE

GENTING ARENA – 14 JAN 18

PALOMA FAITH

SHANIA TWAIN

ARENA BIRMINGHAM - 24 SEP 18

JEFF LYNNE’S ELO

ARENA BIRMINGHAM - 10 OCT 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM - 15 NOV 18

NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS

NITRO CIRCUS

UNIBET PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS

40 YEARS OF DISCO

GENTING ARENA - 17 MAR 18

GENTING ARENA – 29 DEC 17

GENTING ARENA – 7 AUG 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 29 APR 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 1 MAY 18

GENTING ARENA – 16 MAR 18

LET’S HAVE A ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PARTY

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 20 JUL 18

THE AUSTRALIAN PINK THE KING IS BACK - BEN PORTSMOUTH IS ELVIS FLOYD SHOW

GENTING ARENA - 3 MAR 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 20 - 24 DEC 17

ROGER WATERS

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 7 JUL 18

ARCADE FIRE

GENTING ARENA – 15 APR 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 21 APR 18

ELBOW

PETER PAN - CHRISTMAS IN NEVERLAND

KATY PERRY

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 18 JUN 18

IRON MAIDEN

FAST AND FURIOUS LIVE

GENTING ARENA – 2 MAR 18

ANDRÉ RIEU

GENTING ARENA – 21 DEC 17

BILL BAILEY

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 2 JUN 18

JASON MANFORD

DUA LIPA

PAUL WELLER

GENTING ARENA – 25 MAY 18

ROY ORBISON IN DREAMS

GENTING ARENA – 9 APR 18

GENTING ARENA – 17 APR 18

STEREOPHONICS

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 17 DEC 17

GENTING ARENA – 28 MAR - 1 APR 18 ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 29 MAR 18

KENDRICK LAMAR

STEPS

GENTING ARENA – 9 DEC 17

GENTING ARENA – 18 MAY 18

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS WORLDS OF ENCHANTMENT BRYAN ADAMS

GENTING ARENA – 1 FEB 18

KASABIAN

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS MICHAEL MCINTYRE

GENTING ARENA – 21 MAR 18

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 3 MAY 18

THE VAMPS

ARENA BIRMINGHAM - 20 NOV 18

FREE RADIO LIVE

GENTING ARENA - 24 NOV 18

PROFESSOR BRIAN COX LIVE

ARENA BIRMINGHAM - 23 FEB 19

GENTING ARENA – 4 MAY 18

TEARS FOR FEARS

ARENA BIRMINGHAM – 5MAY 18

AMPLIFY YOUR EXPERIENCE HOTTEST TICKETS IN TOWN

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V I P H O S P I TA L I T Y E X P E R I E N C E S

JOIN THE CLUB Imagine knowing when the hottest tickets go on sale long before the masses, or being the first in line without ever having to queue; that’s the beauty of our annual Club membership. It gives you early access to all the fresh new acts, singing legends and sporting royalty performing at Arena Birmingham and the Genting Arena. Plus, members benefit from preferential rates on VIP hospitality packages and access to luxury hospitality suites. And that’s just for starters: You’ll have a personal account manager to look after all of your hospitality and ticketing requirements, and a host of periphery benefits including discount on hotel accommodation and unique special offers.

WHY JOIN THE CLUB? • BEST VIEWS IN THE HOUSE • EARLY SALE NOTIFICATIONS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX • SEVEN-DAY PRIORITY BOOKING PERIOD TO OVER 170 EVENTS PER ANNUM • ACCESS TO PREMIUM TICKETS • MEMBERS RATES ON HOSPITALITY PACKAGES £250 OFF VIP BOXES • PERSONABLE AND PROFFESIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

ANNUAL PRICE £500 + VAT - TO FIND OUT MORE CONTACT US ON 0844 338 0333* AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR TEAM

AGENDA.

KEY COLOURS FROM Farrow & Ball

If, like us, you’re planning on taking advantage of the festive break to make a few home improvements then you’ll be pleased to hear that the doyennes of good taste, paint and wallpaper experts Farrow & Ball have recommended their key shades for winter. There’s a continued interest for more dramatic, vivid hues within the home with understated, subtle tones of

deep reds and rich greens signalling a readiness to embrace colour within interiors. From the beautiful, vivacious tones of Radicchio, to the super dark rich of Studio Green; Farrow & Ball is seeing more confidence within decorating choices. All Farrow & Ball paints are made in the same way, using only the finest quality

ingredients and high levels of rich pigments. Available in a range of durable interior and exterior paint finishes, they offer exceptional performance and an unrivalled depth of colour. Farrow & Ball paints are available to purchase from showrooms and stockists and online at farrow-ball. com.

WINE WEEKEND

SET TO BE A CORKER A brand- new wine festival is coming to Birmingham from the people that brought you Birmingham Cocktail Weekend. Taking place from 23rd – 25th March 2018, Birmingham Wine Weekend will give oenophiles the chance to explore new wines for just £4 a glass, as well as attend special events across the city’s leading bars, hotels and restaurants. The three-day festival will showcase the best of the Birmingham bar scene, with hand-picked venues offering two specially selected wines that will give festival goers the chance to discover something new.

pod PERFECTion We now, in the UK, drink twice as much coffee as tea making our morning mochas, lattes, americanos and espressos the nation’s favourite beverage. It’s not just in the coffee shops that we demand a decent cuppa, with more and more of us investigating in pod style coffee makers to deliver a top-notch cup of joe. The new Belmio range of Belgium coffees the Belgians, as with their chocolate, know how to take coffee to the next level, offer eight exquisite blends all presented in premium aluminium capsules that protect against oxygen, light and moisture. The capsules are also Nespresso machine compatible. For the modern coffee drinker only the best is good enough, which is why 16 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Belmio selects only the best Arabica and Robusta beans for eight distinctive and rich coffees. Choose from Allegro, Origio, Largo, Risoluto and Intenso, and from the Belmio Lovers Range, Valentina, Seducio and Aphrodicia. The pods cost from £2.90 for 10 pods and are available in the UK from www. belmio-cafe.co.uk. A 50 capsule gift pack assortment is also available, priced £16.50.

Aimed at enthusiastic beginners through to connoisseurs, Birmingham Wine Weekend festival goers will be able to purchase a £10 wristband that gives them access to the £4 taster glasses on offer, as well as a host of events. Wine lovers will be able to collect their wristbands from the Birmingham Wine Weekend Hub, which will be taking up residence at Hotel Du Vin, before setting off to explore the city. To keep up to date with all the latest news, follow Birmingham Wine Weekend on Facebook and Twitter. To find out more information or to purchase a wristband, visit birminghamwineweekend.co.uk.

OPEN LATE DUE TO CHRISTMAS MAGIC Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas in the bag See bullring.co.uk for more details

AGENDA.

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas when the trees and glasshouses of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens are playfully lit and all aglow. On Wednesday 29 November, Christmas at the Botanical Gardens, an hour-long family friendly experience at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens will officially open to visitors. The first trail takes place at 7.40pm with the last walk leaving at 8.30pm. Visitors are advised to book their tickets in advance, as some nights are already sold out! There’s something for everyone at this festive time of year as a sparkling path winds its way through the Gardens in a magical after dark experience.

An easier life awaits in Edgbaston An exciting new development of age exclusive apartments from McCarthy and Stone has opened its doors. Ryland Place, located on Norfolk Road, Edgbaston is offering a selection of 57 beautiful apartments, designed exclusively for people aged 70 and over. With the show complex now open, it is your chance to take a tour and see first-hand the luxurious feel this development has and imagine how much easier your life or your parents could be with more time on your hands to spend doing the things you love. The stylishly designed coffee lounge will provide the perfect setting for a rich variety of social events, and the stunning landscaped gardens are an idyllic retreat to catch up over a glass of wine or cup of coffee and enjoy spending time outdoors. Other facilities include the table-service restaurant, where you can wine and dine daily, enjoying freshly prepared three course meals as well as a luxury guest suite for when homeowners have friends or family to stay. The Estate team at Ryland Place will be on-site 24 hours a day offering help and support as well as taking care of 18 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

the smooth-running of the development day-to-day. McCarthy and Stone can also help make moving to Ryland Place even easier with their selection of moving solutions, available whether you are trading up or down to a new apartment. Mr and Mrs Page are homeowners at a McCarthy and Stone Retirement Living PLUS development in Shrewsbury. Mr Page said: “Making the most of the support available has proved incredibly beneficial for us both. Having friendly, trained staff on hand 24/7 to help has enabled my wife to spend more time perusing her passions.” All local amenities are within easy reach of Ryland Place with a Tesco Express and Morrisons just half a mile away, and the direct bus service to Harborne departing from just 750ft away. Two main nearby train stations offer regular services across the local area and beyond. For more information, pop in Monday to Saturday, 10:30am-5:00pm and Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm, call 0800 201 4728 or visit mccarthyandstone.co.uk/rylandplace

Birmingham’s newest festive attraction follows a jewel-coloured trail amongst glowing hedgerows and under tree canopies drenched in Christmas colour as seasonal melodies hang on the air. Be welcomed by glittering trees dripping with giant crystals, gaze at the carol-singing cedar coppice rising high in to the night sky and pause for a moment of reflection at the flickering Fire Garden. Just ahead, wander through the twinkling Pealight Tunnel before stopping for a kiss at Mistletoe Moment. Framed by spectacular ribbons of brightly coloured light the Lawn Aviary Finale springs to life as it dances in time to much-loved Christmas classics. Visitors will be able to experience a beautiful interpretation of The Twelve Days of Christmas; walk inside a tunnel of lights and be immersed in the heady aromas of the scented fire garden. Complete your Christmas treat under the stars with spiced cider, mulled wine or hot chocolate whilst the aroma of roasting chestnuts fills the air. Gather to toast your own marshmallows and enjoy the Botanical Garden’s well stocked gift shop and other traditional fare. For the young ones, and the young at heart, ride the Victorian carousel*, the steamboat swing* or inside a giant bauble at the fabulous giant Christmas Tree* and don’t forget to look out for Santa and his elves along the way. Visit birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE.

Discover STUNNING new homewares AND indulgent treats at Mailbox

EDITOR’S PICK This stunning Swarovski suspension light in inspired by the ever changing clouds in the sky. Swarovski Selene 94cm Suspension Light. £6795 ENERGISE YOURSELF WITH FLINT + FLINT Just because it’s cold and dark outside, it doesn’t mean that you can’t feel fresh and uplifted. This season is all about celebrating brand new openings. In the last few weeks Homewares has launched at Mailbox which features some of the world’s most luxurious brands including the flagship stores, MADE.COM and Heal’s. Joined by Danish brand BoConcept, Italian design experts Calligaris, bespoke furniture brand Wesley Barrell and lighting designer, iLite - all located on Level One - the arrival of homewares to Mailbox follows the recent opening of The Wedding Club and high-end skincare brand Flint + Flint. To help you get to know the new arrivals a little better, we’ve picked out some of our favourite products from the current collections; all available at Mailbox. EDITOR’S PICKS

FEEL THE HYGGE This season is all about bringing soft textures and metallic accents into your home. Pair with deep hues and velvet accessories for a luxurious, modern feel. The influence of ‘hygge’ (the Danish concept of enjoying life’s simple pleasures) continues to be strong through 2017 / 2018, with a simple yet striking balance of cosy and contemporary. LITE IT UP With the biggest range of luxury lighting in the UK, iLite provides a unique array of lighting solutions, featuring designer brands such as Swarovski, Terzani and Foscarini. Whether you are looking for a statement chandelier or simply just updating your office lamp, iLite offers a stunning range of options with you in mind.

Following the success of its boutique in Manchester, the luxury skincare brand has landed at Mailbox. Featuring opulent interiors with luxurious leather panelled walls, distinctive lighting, pop-art-inspired furniture and quirky graphics, Flint + Flint describes itself as an ‘anti-spa’, positioning itself far from the usual cold ‘doctor’s surgery’ spa experience. Expect premium but affordable skin solutions for everyday use and expert in-store treatments such as facials, Cyro Fat Busting, Oxygen Skin Treatments, Fractional Lasers, Super Quick Hair Removal, Vampire Facials, and Doctor Led Injectables, all performed by fullyqualified and trained doctors, nurses and aestheticians. EDITOR’S PICK Grab this energizing, nourishing and repairing serum. Flint + Flint Serum, 50ml £49

Alana King Size Bed £449, Heal’s, Boconcept Hyacinth Rug £1,239, Alana Valet, Brushed Brass Mirror £299 Made.com Heal’s Balmoral Sofa From £3,299, Made.com Wall Clock Brass £60, Boconcept Velvet Cushion £62.

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HER GIFTS. 1

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1. Irregular Choice, All About Moi, £149.99. Irregular Choice Leicester, Birmingham and Sims Footwear. 2. Copper Cocktail Set, £10, Wilko’s, The Fort Shopping Park. 3. LANAIBLO.com 2400 Watt Hairdryer – Pink £97.55. 4. Zoella - Easy Doze It Cushion, £18.00 House of Fraser, Mell Square. 5. Happiness Candle Set £10 Next. 6. Starskin VIP Ultimate Facemask £12.50 at Harvey Nichols, Asos.com, Selfridges. 7. Braun Silk-épil 9 SkinSpa, available at Boots, Amazon and Argos. £89. 8. Selfridges Exclusive Advent Calendar £120. 9. Victoria Pink Gin Lane £22 Aldi, Selfridges. 10. Prosecco Scented Candle £4.50 Next. 11. White Leather Headphones £10 Flying Tiger @ Grand Central. 12. Christmas tree nail varnish set, £15, Debenhams at The Fort Shopping Park. 13. Notebooks from £4 Next 14. Burt’s Bees Trio Tin £9.99. 15. Jo Malone Christmas Cracker £34 Harvey Nichols.

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16. Croft Copper Fondue £85 John Lewis @ Grand Central. 17. Stetson Hatteras Tyrolean Loden Ear Flaps Navy Flat Cap, £109.Peter Forson, Great Western Arcade. 18. HMV, Mell Square, Gpo - Soho Black Turntable, £49.99. 19. New Balance 574S, £90, Schuh,The Fort Shopping Park. 20. Society Shave Kit, £10, Debenhams, The Fort Shopping Park. 21. Braun Multi Grooming Kit Mgk3080 Rrp £52.49. 22. Pana Gx800 Orange £429 John Lewis @ Grand Central. 23. Sevenoaks Sound And Vision, Mell Square, Bw-Px Soft Gold, £329. 24. Stormtrooper Decanter £17.99. Findmeagift.co.uk 25. Scribe Desk Accessory Gift Set £70 Www.robertwelch.com 26. Retro Tv Game Console With Over 200 Games - £12.99 Findmeagift.co.uk 27. Verve Cliquot Champagne Personalised Message - Selfridges - £54.99.

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CHILDREN’S GIFTS. 1

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19 1. Cozmo Real lIfe Robot £199. 2. CAT Machine Maker Junior Operator £9.99. 3. Dino T-Rex egg cup £8.99 Aspire Style, Mell Square. 4. Chip Mug, £12, Debenhams The Fort Shopping Park. 18 5. It’s Your Story Personalised storybooks £20. itsyourstory.com. 6. House of Fraser, Mell Square, Pie Face Game, £23.00. 7. Illumi-Mates night light £7.99 each. 8. Nikko Velocitrax Radio Control Vehicle £29.99. 9. Sheaffer Calligraphy Set £20 John Lewis. 10. Singing Rudolph, £20, Wilko’s. 11. Reindeer slippers, £9.99, H&M. 12. Wall Clock £24 Next. 13. Large Candle Christmas Cookie £23.99,Clintons,The Fort Shopping Park . 14. Gp Trav O Safe - Lithium Free Powerbank £24. 15. Newshound £26 Next. 16. Large Bear Cusion £16 Next. 17. Dremel 8220 Cordless Multitool £105. 18. Le Creuset, Mell Square, Petite Cafetiere 350ml, £35. 19. Gtech HT05 Plus Cordless Hedge Trimmer £99.99. 20. Wooden light up star, £15, Wilko’s,The Fort Shopping Park.

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SPOTLIGHT.

Oh No She Didn’t! BEVERLEY KNIGHT Midlands-born soul diva Beverley Knight will take up her first pantomime role as The Fairy Godmother in Birmingham Hippodrome’s Christmas production of Cinderella alongside Danny Mac, Matt Slack, Suzanne Shaw, The Grumbleweeds, Ceri Dupree and Phil Randal . The much-loved recording artist, radio presenter and musical theatre actress has been a mainstay of the UK music industry for over 20 years having released 8 studio albums and stormed worldwide charts with hits including Get Up!, Shoulda Woulda Coulda, Gold and Come as You Are. Dluxe Magazine’s Jonathan Fraser caught up with Beverley to find out more. Thanks for talking to us today, what am I interrupting you doing? I’m assuming rehearsals haven’t started just yet? No but I am on the way to see the show’s Musical Director. I’ve got a musical meeting with him to sort out a few things like what key for what song and all the stuff connected with panto world, so yes it’s getting started! You’re originally from the West Midlands and the accent is still there which is fabulous, are you looking forward to playing to a home crowd? I am- it’s a big part of why I said yes to doing panto because it would mean I would be very near home for the whole of the Christmas period. I just thought there was nothing better really. I’ll be able to spend Christmas Day and any other time off with the family and they can all come to me whenever they fancy as well. It couldn’t be more perfect. Christmas Eve I’ll come off stage and be sauntering along. Just 15 minutes, Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton and Mum’s house. Fabulous. Done. Does Mum do a good Christmas dinner? She smashes a Christmas dinner, she is so good! I have contemplated one year all going out somewhere, so Mum isn’t in the kitchen all day, but I’ve got to run it past her first because she might say ‘aw no I want you to come to my house.’ So, I suppose each performance is going to be like a family reunion- are they’re going to be queueing up at the dressing room

door afterwards? The short answer is yes. The various shows I did in the West End it was funny because there were so many members of friends and family who’d come to the stage door. It was always so busy, and they’d be paging me ‘Hey Babe the theatre’s got to close now can you get out your dressing room’ things like that. I imagine it’s going to be that to the power of 10 when I get to the Hippodrome, but it makes it all fun and fabulous, so I’m so excited. And of course, you’ve got Danny Mac in this show who has got a certain allure ... Have you worked with anybody in the cast before for this show? No, I’ve not worked with anyone yet. I know Suzanne Shaw so that’s lovely; she’s just the most gorgeous, lovely woman. I met Matt Slack at the show’s launch at the Villa ground and he is just a really funny guy, he’s just naturally fabulous. Danny wasn’t at the launch as he’s already in another production, he was doing something else but I’m really looking forward to seeing him. He was brilliant on Strictly. I’m in great hands. Everyone is more experienced than me in the world of Panto, so I’ll be the newbie. Your West End pedigree is fantastic. Was Panto always part of the plan for you? No not at all, although , like most people in Britain, I’d seen pantomime as a child. What happened was one half of the production company who do The Bodyguard also do all the very big Pantos in Britain. Unknown to me whilst I was in the Bodyguard, the producers were having little chats to my management saying we quite fancy Bev for our production this coming Christmas. When my management eventually told me about it I was like Yes! Count me in. It hadn’t occurred to me but when the idea was put in my lap I was like of course, yes. This means that I actually get a very Christmassy Christmas. And you can’t be any more Christmassy than playing the Fairy Godmother to be honest. It will be twinkles and fairy dust all over the place. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 25

SPOTLIGHT.

This is it, I’m hoping that there’s going to be lots of glitter, flying, a bit of magic? There will be. They’re working on my costume and I’ve seen some of the materials and I was like ‘oh yes, that’s gonna work.’ And there are some songs for me as well. I think some are original compositions which is nice because they’ll be different, and I have a feeling because it’s me, they’ll be a couple of things they will throw in which will be covers which everybody will know. I’m open, bring it on, let’s just do it and have a good time! You’re just about to release an album with Amber Riley and Cassidy Janson. How did that come about? Since all of the West End success my label had mentioned that they’d love me to do something with the West End scene in mind. I thought Bev does Musicals, hmmm, I’m not sure that’s the kind of album I want to do. So, I kinda parked the idea and then I saw CJ in Beautiful and I was just so drawn to her voice and thought she’d be someone great to sing with. Not long after that I saw Amber Riley on Graham Norton doing promo for Dreamgirls, obviously singing And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going and thought she’s fantastic, wouldn’t it be great if the three of us got together and something? It would be much stronger than me just doing some kind of musicals album on my own as it would be unprecedented and really exciting. So, I went back to label and said what do you think and they were all over it, which was great. So they did all the leg work in terms of getting me in front of these girls and seeing if they’d be up for it and Thank God, they were. What’s your favourite song on the album? For us to do all together it’s got to be Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow from Beautiful, the old Shirelles hit because we sing it from start to finish in three-part harmony. It’s that close warm harmony and we do it as a ballad with all the poignancy, all the feeling, all the heartbreak of the Jerry Goffin original. It’s there but stripped away. It’s brilliant and we’re all singing together which is the whole premise of the record. Are there any songs on there that have given you a thirst to perform more shows? Like I really want to do this one on stage? 26 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

To be honest, all the songs on the record I’m looking forward to one day, fingers crossed, being able to perform with Amber and with CJ. We’d love to go on a tour and if the record does really well, I’m pretty sure we’ll have that chance. I would 100% be buying tickets. What would be your dream musical role be? Probably Anita in West Side Story but I’d need to learn how to dance first. I can’t dance. I see both Amber and CJ are trained dancers and then there’s me. I can move, and I can dance, obviously I had to dance for Bodyguard and for Cats, but I’m not trained, and I have to work at it. It’s just one of the disciplines I never trained for, well I never trained for anything, I never trained vocally. But dance is a very specific skill and the kind of dancing required in West Side Story is top draw. It’s the top of the top of the top so I’d have my work cut out for me but, just as a fantasy, I’d love to be Anita. It’s my favourite musical of all time. What is it about West Side Story that captures your heart? It’s the story, the story of how destructive hate can be but how powerful love can be. It’s a story of innocence, it’s a story of a few hard lessons in life. It’s got this fabulous funny undercurrent but there’s a whole bunch of satire and biting truth all the way through it and I love that. And the song and the score oh my god. If I had one musical score to listen to for the rest of my days and that was the only thing I could listen to it would be West Side Story. What’s next for you? Well I’m hoping that the next thing I’m going to be able to say is that Leading Ladies is going on tour- that would be lovely. I will be of course working on a new record because that’s in my blood, it’s what I do. And who knows there might be a show somewhere on the horizon, we’ll see. At the moment, I don’t know, but ever since theatre came into my world my life has been so unpredictable! Things just seem to pop up. We’ll see. I’m ready and I’m open. See Beverley as The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at Birmingham Hippodrome from 19th December – 28th January. To book your tickets visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call the box office on 0844 338 5000

Find us in

BIRMINGHAM BRISTOL DERBY LEICESTER NOTTINGHAM & SOLIHULL

DLUXE STYLE. Winter â&#x20AC;&#x2122;17 @ JIGSAW

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DLUXE STYLE.

1. Cashmere Purser Button Cuff Jumper in Mustard, £165 2. Towelling Detail Sweater, £69, Hudsom Sjort Sleeve T Shirt £29 3. Silk Cotton Polo Neck Jumper, £90, Pressed Flannel Crop Trouser, £140, Storm Coat, £360, Neilson Point Heeled Boot, £199 4. Wool Cashmere Waffle Crew Neck, £125 5. Italian Blanket Check Chore Jacket, £350 5. Halo Finish Cashmere Nova Jumper in Deep Fuschia, £199, 6. Window Pane Check Scarf, £80 7. Italian Wool Boucle Bomber, £250, Italian Wool Cotton Twill Trouser, £110, Campbell Trainers, £98 8. Angled Rib Jumper, £150, Black Denim Dinner Trousers, £130 9. Unstructured Super 110s Italian Wool Jacket, £270, Unstructured Super 110s Italian Wool Trouser, £130, Campbell Trainers, £98 10. Lux Wool Round Lapel Coat, £360, Olsen Patented Ankle Boot, £175, 11. Fluff Mohair Coat, £450, Stepped Hem Trouser, £120, Neilson Point Heeled Boot, £199 12. Compact Wool Epsom Coat, £280, Cambell Trainers, £98 ALL @ JIGSAW 30 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

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HER STYLE. SPORT LUXE: Still a fashion winner for AW17, this trend remains one of the season’s biggest front-runners. From workout wear to stylish sweats, look out for sporty chic worthy of any catwalk. Victoria Victoria Beckham tie-side tabard, £345, Joie silk trouser, £180, Balenciaga tote, £645, Gucci glitter sneakers, £495

A W

CATWALK TRENDS 1

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Whether you adore a splash of colour, can’t resist some blinged-up sequins or want to snuggle up in faux fur, there’s plenty to delight this season. LISA PIDDINGTON, from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM, reports on the store’s top AW17 trends from its recent runway show.

BERRY BEAUTIFUL: Take your cue from the catwalk and opt for ontrend berry shades in tasty blueberry, plum, damson and cherry. Good enough to eat.

SHIMMER AND SHINE

Stella McCartney blazer, £1,075, Nicole Farhi leather trousers, £695, Saint Laurent Paris clutch, £825.

METALLICS AND SEQUINS AND GLITTER OH MY! 3

FRILL SEEKER: The return of the new romantic, ruffles are simply everywhere from flamboyant shirts to super chic dresses. Alice + Olivia ruffle pearl blouse, £435, Alice + Olivia flare trousers, £325, Manolo Blahnik satin mules, £745.

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GO FAUX: Fake it with faux furry favourites for AW17 and ensure you look hot as the temperatures cool. Stella McCartney faux fur coat, £1,295, Isabel Marant jumper, £550, Helmut Lang crop leather trousers, £1,100, Gucci heeled boots, £805.

VELVET UNDERGROUND:

Get crushing on elegant velvet dresses, playsuits and jackets as the new season captures Gothic nostalgia. Galvan velvet gown, £1,695, Gucci pearl necklace, £795.

COSMIC COOL: Outshine the competition with super shiny sequins. A key trend for the new season is embellished jumpsuits, guaranteed to create quite the stir at the office Christmas party! Free People sequinned jumpsuit, £310, Christian Louboutin velvet boots, £695.

1. Pink Sequin Midi Skirt £65 Miss Selfridge. 2. French Connection Desiree Disco Playsuit £190 John Lewis. 3. Bag £155 Lulu Guinness At House Of Fraser. 4. Party Sequin Bag Oasis £30. 5.Multicoloured Striped Sequin Dress £85 Miss Selfridge. 6. Sequin Slouch Boot £55 Next. 7. Xmas Gold Metallicdress £32 Miss Selfridge. 8. Osman Sequinned Jumpsuit £1995 Selfridges Exclusive. 9. Aquazzura Star Sandals £620 Harvey Nichols dluxe-magazine.co.uk 33

HER STYLE.

THE

opt for this in black leather or suede perfect for evening wear, alternatively you could introduce a pop of colour here or even better the failsafe bang on trend every season leopard print. The more delicate feminine nature of this boot style works perfectly for an evening look with jeans, leather pants or a slinky LBD.

MAGNIFICENT

BOOT STYLES EVERY WOMAN SHOULD OWN

For many women, putting on a good pair of boots is one of the main reasons to look forward to the transition into Autumn Winter. Some ladies’ wardrobes that I clear out have more pairs of boots than shoes purely because they love them so much!

I have decided to profess your love by revealing the different types and styles of boots that make up the most integral part of any woman’s winter wardrobe, when and how to wear them. As it turns out, with the myriad options of boots on the market, there are only really a few different styles you need to have at any given time. I’m talking classical, investment pieces, not throwaway, trendy boots that you will wear for a season then throw away. These are my top styles of boots most women would benefit from having in their wardrobe forever. From the classic riding boot to an über-feminine stiletto, I’ve got them all covered.

The Heeled Boot Every woman absolutely needs a pair of stacked heel boots in her wardrobe. Whether it’s black or brown, these are best in staple colours so you can wear them with just about any look. Make sure to invest in a pair with a solid, thick heel as they will be more comfortable. You want to be able to wear them out and about but still have that smart dressed up heel. Think Practical but still stylish. These look best teamed simply with skinny jeans.

The Chelsea Boot 2 These are one of my favourite types of flat practical ankle boots, pull on with stretch panels either side. I love mine with a slightly pointy toe which elongates your leg and makes you look slimmer. Again these look fabulous with skinny jeans. You could think about introducing suede here or a beautiful tan colour. Just remember to protect all leather and suede with a spray. 3

The Biker Boot For casual but still stylish everyday wear, nothing beats a good biker boot. These are perfect for walking around town when you have a ton of errands to run or in very cold weather when you need a chunky weather proof sole but still want to look edgy. Invest in a quality pair with good leather, a solid sole, and reliable hardware are important. Saint Laurent or Jimmy Choo do some gorgeous ones but if that’s breaking the bank take a look at Carvela or All Saints. These can be worn with jeans but alternatively look fabulous with a jumper dress or skirt and thick tights. The Stiletto Boot Another type of must-have boot is the sexy feminine stiletto heeled boot. Again I would

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The Shoe Boot The number one rule with a shoe boot is that the front of the boots needs to come down into some sort of V shape, thus elongating the 5 leg and not cutting off the ankle when wearing a skirt or dress. This is a far more flattering style as it draws your eye downwards to the point. I would also advise to go for a closed toe so you have the option of wearing tights with them if you wish. 6

The Riding Boot For this purpose, the Riding Boot can be defined as any boot that hits at the knee. With few exceptions, you probably don’t want these in your wardrobe to actually go and hop on a horse in, so the heel height is totally up to you. I personally like them with a small stacked heel (think more classic riding boot) so they are practical, perfect for shoving on over the top of your skinny jeans or with leggings or tights and dresses.

The Over the Knee Boot Ending with my favourite style of heeled boot, ultra sassy and stylish, these are best done in a stretch suede so you get a bit of ruching and are easy to pull on. I have them in black, grey and taupe and wear them either over my skinny jeans or with tights and a little jumper dress. Again the heel height is totally up to you and dependent upon your lifestyle. Although mine have a block heel so still really comfortable to wear when going shopping or out for lunch. Stuart Weitzman albeit pricey are the best. If you struggle with calf width take a look at Ted and Muffy. So they are my round up of my personal top 7 styles of Boots every women should have in her wardrobe. If you need some help in locating them, you know where to find me…

Your Fairy Clothes Mother x 1. M&S Collection Boot £45 2. Smart Chelsea Boot Whitestuff £120 3.Faye Biker Boot £248 All Saints 4. M&S Collection Leopard Boot £75 5. Mandco Burgundy Cut Out Shoe Boots £45 6. Jd Williams Sole Diva High Leg Riding Boots £85 7. Francesco Russo Over The Knee Boots £1290 Harvey Nichols. 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

Tell us about your new fragrance line? Floral Street is a modern collection of fragrances powered by flowers. It’s about breaking with tradition; it’s about bunches, not bouquets; ingredients, not notes. The range launches with eight individual scents created with Jérôme Epinette, one of the finest perfumers in the industry, and our totally recyclable and compostable packaging is a first in the premium fragrance industry. What was your inspiration for Floral Street? My original idea came as I was working in London’s Covent Garden. I looked up from my desk and noticed there was a street sign for ‘Floral Street’ and thought that would be a great name for a fragrance brand. I then took a break from the beauty industry – yes, I decided to have a gap year at 51 – and during that time I saw how my kids were seeing and experiencing the world and enjoying the amazing diversity that Britain has. Growing up in the Midlands we were always ‘mashed-up’ with people from other countries and cultures. Seeing how, 30 years later, this has seeped through to make a new British culture is so inspiring. Food, fashion and beauty are all much richer and individual today. Young adults are now confident and are connoisseurs of wine, food, exercise, makeup and hair, but there is a gap when it comes to fragrance. I decided to bring fine fragrance to a younger audience in a more interesting way and at a more accessible price point. Of your eight new fragrances, which is your favourite? I genuinely love them all and choose by my mood. If I am feeling sophisticated I tend to wear Chypre Sublime; and if I want to feel a bit ‘rock n roll’ I’ll wear Black Lotus. I designed the fragrances with one of the best ‘noses’ in the world and I wanted each one to be unique, not designed for me but for all women at any point in their day, week or life. You’ve worked with some of the biggest brands in the beauty business, what was your most valuable lesson? I have learned many lessons from each brand I have worked on but I think my 13 years in New York in global positions taught me to really understand how cultural differences play a vital role in how a consumer perceives a product. At MAC the mantra was “All Ages. All Sexes. All Races” showing how the brand embraced difference way before anyone else.

THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS Hagley-based business woman Michelle Feeney has spent her 30 year career heading up some of the world’s leading beauty brands. Now the former Solihull school girl has used her impressive insider experience to go it alone. She talks to LISA PIDDINGTON about her new venture Floral Street as it launches exclusively at Harvey Nichols. When it comes to insider knowledge of the beauty industry, few can claim to have more experience than Michelle Feeney. A visionary business leader, she worked with Tommy Hilfiger and his team on launching his first ever fragrance; transformed a then fledgling Crème de la Mer into an overnight success; helped grow MAC into the global brand it is today; and headed up fake tan company St Tropez, turning it from a small UK business into a worldwide phenomenon. It’s hardly surprising then that the driven mum-of-two has gained an enviable reputation on both sides of the Atlantic for her uncompromising determination and her natural talent for developing cult brands. But at the heart of her success is her core belief in the importance of corporate social responsibility. While working at MAC, Michelle took a leading role in promoting the MAC AIDS Fund, realising her conviction that a strong position in the commercial world brings with it the power to make significant improvements in the broader social context.

With more than 30 years experience, what’s been your career highlight? Launching Floral Street. Throughout my career I have worked on other peoples’ brands making them famous – Crème de la Mer, MAC, St Tropez – but this is something I have created from scratch. From the bottles, the packaging and the visuals I have engaged 35 different British companies, from independents to larger businesses, and that has been very exciting. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Leonard Lauder said: “Just when you have had enough of hearing about something, someone is hearing about it for the first time”. What must-have beauty products do you buy time and time again? MAC mascara, Aromatherapy Associates bath oils and Oribe shampoo ... and of course Chypre Sublime. For many, the beauty industry may seem rather flippant. Why do you think it is vital business? The beauty industry has provided an environment where women can work on their own terms and still get to the top. You can be a part-time home therapist or makeup artist, a scientist working on product development or an engineer designing packaging. It is a multi-billion pound global business that is important to an individual because it brings joy and can improve self-confidence. And ultimately it’s fun! What’s next for Floral Street? We open our stand-alone store in Covent Garden this month with our ‘Floristas’ and scent-school. I hope Floral Street will begin on its path to become a significant British global brand. The Floral Street Collection is available from Harvey Nichols Birmingham and includes eight fragrances – Wonderland Peony, Neon Rose, London Poppy, Wild Vanilla Orchid, Iris Goddess, Chypre Sublime, Black Lotus and Ylang-Ylang Espresso. They each cost £55 (50ml).

It’s an extremely impressive CV for the former Solihull Technical College student, who has still managed to find time to establish a family business – Hagley eatery Fig & Favour with her brother Ian – while launching her own perfume brand. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 35

HIS STYLE.

ANGELIC ACCESORIES If the devil is in the detail than the angelic is in the accessories. Here’s our pick of the season’s key accesories to take any outfit from sinner to winner.

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GROOMING: FESTIVE FRAGRANCES

Guarantee a queue under the mistletoe with the most stylish signature scents. We asked the team from HARVEY NICHOLS to select their favourite fragrances for the party season. RICHARD VICKERY, GENERAL MANAGER – Memo Irish Leather EDP, £195(75ml): Of the 7,000 Memo bottles we sold in Harvey Nichols last year, more than 2,600 of them were the bestselling Irish Leather. It contains a sensual blend of pink pepper, oil of clary sage, juniper berry, green maté absolute, oil of flouve, iris concrete, Tonka bean absolute, leather accord, oil of birch and amber accord for a captivating scent.

CONSTANTINE TZIAMBAZIS, SALES MANAGER – Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood EDP, £195 (70ml):

Inspired by delicate fabrics from the East, Oud Satin Mood literally cloaks your skin in a warm blend of natural oud from Laos, Patchouli, Bulgarian Rose and herbal Moroccan Blue Chamomile. Sweet accords of Violet and Vanilla lift this musky fragrance, giving it a dynamic, long-lasting finish that lasts and lasts. DARREN JACKSON, PRIVATE SHOPPING MANAGER - Creed Irish Tweed EDT, £220 (120ml): This best-selling blend of floral, green and woody notes has achieved cult status around the world. Verbena, violet leaves, Florentine iris, sandalwood and ambergris create a fragrance that is virile, elegant and irresistibly charming.

JAMES BURKE, MENSWEAR MANAGER – Tom Ford Tobacco Oud EDP, £155 (50ml): 9

1. Jacket £130, Waistcoat £60, Trousers £69, Shirt £22, Tie £22, Pocket Square £8 all Next. 2. Leather Holdall, £149.99, available from H&M 3. Pisa Slippers £95 Dune @ Bullring. 4. Vivienne Westwood Anthracite Scarf £90. 5. STETSON, Hatteras Nubuck Pigskin Cap, £109. Peter Forson, Great Western Arcade. 6. Michael Kors Watch £259 House of Fraser. 7. Leather Gloves, £28, Next. 8. Green velvet tie, £12, River Island. 9. Tan Brogues, £100 Debenhams. 10. Scarf £20. Next.

Regal, rich, and addictive, this private blend crafts precious oud wood resin, aromatic herbs and spicy tobacco for a fragrance that conjures up the mysterious East. The perfect winter scent.

ALL FRAGRANCES FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 37

HIS STYLE.

STYLIST’S CHOICE: PARTY FAVOURS

Dinner Suit For a slim and super smooth silhouette, make yours an all-black number with a satin shawl lapel. It’s a classic and its shape is flattering enough to shave a few pounds off your midsection. Go all-out and pair yours with some patent leather shoes, a proper self-tie bow tie and white winged or turndown collar shirt. £475 JOHN LEWIS

Velvet Blazer

Not only are they a statement making alternative to a sober dinner jacket – in a sharply tailored fit, they’re also surprisingly versatile. To strike a classic £135 HOUSE OF FRASER tone go for one in black, navy or burgundy. Wear yours as a straight swap for your tuxedo or dress down for a non-super strict dress code by pulling it over a roll neck and teaming with black denim. Dress Shoes It’s party season once again and while the next month is about easing off and letting your hair down, its worth being aware of the season’s potential sartorial pitfalls. Choosing the perfect outfit can be tricky and challenging, and with not all Christmas parties being created equal its best to spend some time going through your party wardrobe, so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice. Here are my top pieces to survive the season in style.

£575 SELFRIDGES

Roll Neck £100 HOUSE OF FRASER

They say rules are meant to be broken, but if an invite specifies ‘black tie’, it means it. Brush up and look sharp with a classic black dinner suit and white dress shirt and don’t skimp on the details: a folded pocket square adds that rakish touch, showing you know how to play the game. If your party is more fake mistletoe than real champagne, how about pulling off this ‘middle-ground’ look with a velvet evening jacket, worn with a roll neck jumper, rather than wearing a traditional satin lapel tux with a dinner shirt and bow tie. You can stand out from the crowd, making your individual mark, while still adhering to the party dress code so as not to offend. Now’s the time to showcase some sartorial prowess, gentlemen; it’s party season and the only way to go is headturningly sharp. So whether you’re headed to a strictly black tie ball or need to whip your smartwear into shape for a work do, these are the top pieces to survive the season in style. 38 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Traditionally speaking, a pair of patent leather lace-up dress shoes are the only footwear to consider for black and white tie events. Nowadays, there are fresher, more contemporary styles in patent that put a modern spin on the traditional dress shoe. Whichever style you plump for, pulling them off is all about the polish.

A minimal roll neck has generally been agreed as a modern evening alternative in place of collar and tie and if you’re after something along these lines; look for a lighter cotton. A simple grey or cream can work well with most colour shades of blazer and will keep you warm in the taxi home. Pocket Square

£139 JOHN LEWIS

£20 JOHN LEWIS

Whether it’s a suit, separate jacket or a tie or no tie occasion, a silk pocket square can make the outfit. Although it’s the season for something festive, no one wants to see a gaudy holly print. Instead, opt for a polka dot pattern or a block-colour style in a seasonal shade of deep green or wine. Patterned Trousers Injecting your look with little idiosyncrasies is what party season is all about, not to mention a simple way of asserting your status as the best dressed man in the room. These trouser styles can be swapped in as a lively alternative to your normal neutrals, injecting your festive season looks with some serious flair.

DARK KNIGHT: IT’S NOT JUST THE LADIES WHO CAN DRESS UP TO THE NINES FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. WITH A NOD TOWARDS THE SARTORIAL, THE LOOK IS VERY MUCH INSPIRED BY THE QUINTESSENTIAL ENGLISHMAN ... WITH A FEW QUIRKY TOUCHES. LISA PIDDINGTON, FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM, SELECTS A STYLISH EDIT OF BLACK AND GOLD TO ENSURE YOU’RE NEVER KNOWINGLY UNDERDRESSED THIS FESTIVE SEASON. 1

2 3

WIN! A YEAR OF FREE HAIRCUTS AT YOUR LOCAL EVERYMAN BARBERS!

5 7

It will have escaped only the most folically-challenged folk that Everyman Barbers has exploded into a town and city near us all in the past twelve months. You may have spotted their high-profile barbershops in Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Birmingham, bringing a new-take on the barbering experience. Long or short, straight or permed, coloured or natural, the expert-team at each Everyman Barbers deliver a range of superior services for men who know what they want, how they want to look, and how they want to feel. They’ve kept many elements of a traditional barber shop and modernised certain aspects to suit the needs of men today. A traditional mix of classic leather barbers chairs, dark wood furniture, and ceramic wash basins, this is a place where comfort is finally on par with convenience, sits alongside Everyman Media stations offering a combination of free wifi gaming stations and non stop rolling live sports. There’s even an Everycam which with a simple click you can check how busy the store is before you visit To celebrate Everyman Barbers becoming the Midlands’ biggest barbershop group, one lucky winner will look sharp for the next 12 months, with a year’s worth of free barbering at their nearest Everyman Barbers. Entry is simple; just head over to www.dluxe-magazine. co.uk and click on competitions. Closing date for entries is December 15, 2017.

9 10

1: Corneliani silk bow tie, £80. 2: Dolce & Gabbana wool pea coat, £2,230. 3: Larsson & Jennings watch, £245. 4: Versace Medusa belt, £340. 5: Gucci bee-embroidered loafers, £540. 6: Dolce & Gabbana embroidered shirt, £525. 7: Oscar Jacobson wool tuxedo jacket, £420. 8: Versace Medusa cufflinks, £385. 9: Neil Barrett slim-leg wool trousers, £390. 10: Paul Smith patent brogues, £205.

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

LIVING.

Velvet Lampshadesfrom ÂŁ36 abodeliving.co.uk

40 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

SPARKLE & SHINE THIS CHRISTMAS

It’s time to deck the halls but if a year in the attic has made your baubles go bad, your tinsel lacklustre and your fairy floppy then perhaps it’s time to invest in a new look for Christmas? But what to go for? There are a myriad of different schemes out there with themes from whimsical to winter wonderland – here’s the pick of some of our favourites!

1. Kitschmas Wishes by www.amara.com 2. Winter Wonderland by Marks & Spencer 3.Christmas Colour by JOhn Lewis 4.Copper & Gold by Homesense 5. Festive Charm by Dunelm 6. Traditional Toys by George @ Asda 7. Silver Stars by Laura Ashley 8. White and Red by Homebase

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 41

Have yourself a Merry OKA Christmas

However you like to celebrate Christmas, OKA is the luxury British homewares brand that has all you could possibly need to create your ideal home this festive season. Founded almost two decades ago by Annabel Astor, Lucinda Waterhouse and Sue Jones, OKA has gone from a small mail-order business to having 14 stores nationwide. Their newest and first store in the Midlands is in the premium retail and lifestyle destination, Edgbaston Village.

the company’s launch, OKA’s founders have travelled the globe and hand-picked pieces with a focus on fine craftsmanship and individuality. Should you need more guidance, the in-house interior design team can help with every element of home decorating.

At OKA’s store in Edgbaston, you’ll find highlights from the new Christmas Collection, alongside classicallydesigned furniture and decorative accessories. The collection is showcased in seasonally-styled room sets – a source of inspiration for home lovers and redecorators alike. Don’t forget to check out their fabulous range of incredibly realistic faux flowers and winter berries – choose from readymade bunches or have a bespoke bunch made up while you wait.

Whether you are hosting the whole family this year or just a select few, OKA’s wide range of furniture, accessories and gifts contains everything you need to create your perfect Christmas, including a vast array of wreaths, garlands and Christmas tree decorations – we particularly adore their hand-made Woodland Character Collection.

The brand’s ethos is that good design should be accessible to everyone. Since

42 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Don’t miss OKA’s special offer for Dluxe readers this issue - £25 off orders over £200. Visit the OKA store on Harborne Road or explore the full collection online at oka.com.

3 1 TINIO WREATH, SMALL £44, MEDIUM £76, LARGE £98 2 FAUX BERRY BUNCH £48 3 SHORT PILLAR LED CANDLE £12

Stores nationwide | oka.com | 03330 042 042

4 GRISEWOOD LAMP & SHADE £120 5 WINGLEFIELD EXTENDING DINING TABLE £2,586 6 MITHYMNA RANGE, SETS OF FOUR FROM £44 7 STAFFORD VELVET CHAIR £320 8 GIULLARE VELVET STRIPE CUSHION COVERS £44

Exclusive Reader Offer

£25

off

orders over £ 200

Valid until 20th December 2017, please quote DLUXENOV IN-STORE OKA, 20-22 Harborne Road, Edgbaston ONLINE oka.com | CALL 0121 454 4912

£25 off is valid on selected items on orders of £200 or more with code DLUXENOV. Exclusions apply. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with another promotion/discount and cannot be applied retrospectively. For full terms and conditions, visit oka.com/terms

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 43

LIVING.

MAKE YOUR GUEST ROOM GORGEOUS With a UK-wide consumer survey reporting that for a quarter of UK homeowners Christmas is the ONLY time that the guest room gets used, the weeks up to Christmas are a key time to spruce up neglected guest rooms, ahead of visitors. Dluxe sought the advice of interior experts for their top tips to transform a neglected guest room into a warm, inviting and ontrend space. LIVEN UP LINENS

Head of design for British bedding brand Appletree, Jackie McLoughlin advises: “For guest rooms, probably the easiest and most transformational way to update a space is to add a new bedding set. Dressing the bed is also important in creating a hometel look. We advise four 44 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

pillows to cater for everyone’s comfort preference, offering two synthetic and two natural fill (feather & down) pillows to give guests an option. “A throw isn’t just decorative, it can provide extra warmth for any guests that feel the cold. For an on trend look, casually drape a throw over the corner of the bed. Alternatively, a bedspread offers the same warmth flexibility as well as different looks for different guests.” TOP UP YOUR OLD MATTRESS The Fine Bedding Company knows a thing or two about hotel bed etiquette – with many of its popular ranges featuring in five star hotels across the UK. Helen Johnson from The Bedding Company says “Often guest room mattresses are ones that have been previously used in master bedrooms and passed on to the spare room – so a new mattress enhancer or topper is a great investment; much cheaper than replacing the entire mattress but highly effective in delivering a new bed feel. “Our innovative Dual Layer topper delivers an indulgent extra layer of support and sumptuousness. What’s more, the top layer unzips so it can be washed in a domestic machine at 60oC (the temperature that kills dustmites). Priced from £75 and available to buy at www.finebedding.co.uk WOW WITH WALLPAPER Adding a feature wall is an affordable and actually quite easy update, says Alex Whitecroft from www.iwantwallpaper. co.uk “Wallpapering a wall is often easier

than people think and there are lots of great videos online that provide step by step guides and top tips. “Because guest rooms need to make people feel welcome and appeal to varied tastes, choosing wallpapers that won’t overpower an overall design scheme is good advice. Metallics are a great option for guest rooms as it’s a look that goes with almost everything. RISE AND SHINE Interiors expert, Lorna McAleer from made to measure blinds brand Style Studio suggests that ensuring windows are well covered can make guests feel more welcome and cosy when tucked up. “If guests have had a late night enjoying your hospitality, they might need some extra shut-eye even when the sun has come up. Blackout Roller blinds offer excellent light control and are an affordable, easy update.

New Year’s Eve

New Year New You

PRICES START FROM £89 PER PERSON

MEMBERSHIPS START FROM £46 PER MONTH

Raise your glass to the New Year at The Belfry and celebrate in style with your friends and family!

From family-friendly events, to black tie balls, pick the perfect New Year’s Eve package to suit you. All New Year celebrations include entertainment, food and of course, fireworks! Residential and non-residential packages are available.

Get motivated at The Belfry Leisure Club in 2018 with one of the many membership options on offer!

WOODLANDS FAMILY BALL WARWICK BALL WISHAW BALL RYDER GRILL GOURMET CELEBRATIONS

BENEFITS INCLUDE: • 20% off food & beverage • 20% off Spa treatments • 20% off the best available room rate, based on 2 people sharing • FREE admission to Bel Air Nightclub on Thursdays and Fridays and 2 FOR 1 admission every Saturday • Plus, a variety of golf offers

TO BOOK CALL 01675 238 600 OR EMAIL ENQUIRIES@THEBELFRY.COM

TO DISCUSS MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES CALL 01675 238 600 OR VISIT WWW.THEBELFRY.COM

www.TheBelfry.com

Belfryhotel

TheBelfryHotel

the-belfry-golf-resort

CHRISTMAS

R FO AS M EW T N RIS 17 0 CH 2

Birmingham’s magical, illuminated trail

thebelfryhotelandresort

Botanical Gardens at the

After-dark festive fun for all the family Scented Fire Garden Tunnel of Light Mistletoe Moment Singing Trees Including Santa and his Elves Seasonal food and gifts

29 NOVEMBER – 30 DECEMBER birminghamchristmasgarden.co.uk 0844 873 7336 Calls cost 7ppm plus network access charge. Not open every day, check website for full details. A charge of £2 per transaction applies for print at home tickets, £2.50 for tickets sent by post.

AN EDUCATIONAL CHARITY

Raymond Gubbay

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 45

TRAVEL.

Slide into winter with fresh snow holidays With summer a distant memory, now is the time to turn your attention to planning your next ski break from Birmingham Airport. With breaks available in France, Austria and Slovenia to name just a few, pick your favourite resort and fly from your local airport this winter. Ski getaways can be enjoyed by all, so whether you’re going away with friends, family or just the two of you, there’s a holiday for everyone. Feel invigorated by the fresh mountain air as you sail down the side of beautiful mountains. Relax, let your hair down and get your body moving, it’s what skiing is all about.

FOR THE GROUPS OF FRIENDS The best times are often spent with friends, so why not arrange a group ski holiday for 2018? Enjoy the crisp mountain air and make memories that last a lifetime. Dine on the side of the mountain between runs, sharing cheese fondue and bottles of wine; and let your hair down in the evenings at the best après-ski parties. The resorts of Mayrhofen and Saalbach in Austria are renowned for not only their nightlife but also their incredible off-piste through the trees, so perfect for intermediate skiers. Saalbach also boasts a new lift and gondola system making it super easy to get up the mountain and between the areas of Leogang and Hinterglemm. The biggest challenge when booking a group holiday is accommodating friends who all have different skiing abilities. Luckily the larger resorts, like Morzine in France, have terrain to cater for every level of skier alongside a buzzing social scene and a variety of different activities on offer. Morzine has nursery slopes and beginner areas, but also off-piste black runs and ski cross areas. Spice up your holiday with a bit of tobogganing, snowmobiling or ice skating. Just be conscious that due to the low altitude here, it’s best to avoid the fringes of the season when booking a trip. 46dluxe-magazine.co.uk

FOR THE COUPLES If your other half is looking for more of an active holiday rather than a bit of winter sun, book into a boutique, chalet-style hotel and spend your evenings snuggled around an open fire. Pick one with spa and wellness facilities so you can book in for a couples massage after a long day out on the slopes. Zermatt is regarded as one of the most romantic and picturesque ski resorts. The chalets are full of character, dotted along narrow streets; and if you’re into music, we recommend visiting during April to enjoy the resort’s annual music festival – Zermatt Unplugged. To really impress your other half make it a romantic getaway by booking a hotel with a ski in, ski out location and a private balcony with a hot tub and breath-taking views. Hotel Julen in Zermatt has been open since 1937 and offers a cosy setting for a special romantic break. If you’re willing to splash out a little, the five-star Riffelalp Resort comes very highly recommended and offers the ultimate relaxing break to unwind and relax with panoramic views of the mountains.

FOR THE FAMILIES You can’t beat a family skiing holiday over the festive period, enjoying hearty meals and hot chocolate in a cosy chalet. Even

if the kids aren’t yet into skiing, family friendly resorts have a range of childcare options available so you don’t have to miss out on your time on the mountain. There are also ski classes available, divided by ability and age, and delivered by English speaking instructors. You’ll be going on family runs down the slopes before you know it. Meribel is the perfect resort for your first family ski holiday, located in the world’s biggest interlinked ski area, Three Valleys. The resort has a friendly, village atmosphere and Glaciers comes highly recommended as the best bakery to take the kids for some sweet treats. If you want to spend an evening out away from the kids, try the Meribel Nanny Service to give you a bit of respite. Taste some traditional, local cuisine at La Briz Olee, rated as one of the top five restaurants in Meribel on TripAdvisor. If you’re looking for non-ski activities suitable for children, how do bubble car rides, a cinema and a bowling alley sound? There are even hot air balloon rides on offer - the best way to see the spectacular views without too much effort!

Northern Lights can be seen dancing overhead. With unspoiled landscapes as far as the eye can see, explore the twinkling, snow tipped forests in a snowmobile or aboard a husky sled. There is still the option of trying some cross country skiing, but you can equally spend your afternoons in a hot tub beside your igloo or traditional log cabin if you want the ultimate relax. If you’re an animal lover, the chance to discover Lapland by husky is an incredible experience. You’ll be based in the beautiful village of Karesuando during your stay, but the journey itself to get there is just as breath-taking. Pass through forests and frozen lakes and whilst you’re there, even partake in some ice fishing or snowshoeing. To make your stay even more magical, spend a night in an igloo or at the Icehotel – both amazing memories that will last a lifetime. If you’ve got kids, excursions can be arranged to visit the reindeers, or even to see the man himself, Old St. Nick!

GETTING THERE... With Inghams, Crystal Ski, Esprit, Transun and Neilson all offering great ski holidays from Birmingham Airport, there is so much choice available. Book your winter getaway now to avoid disappointment and take advantage of the best breaks.

FOR THE NON SKIERS If you like the idea of skiing more than the reality, then enjoy a white winter without having to hit the slopes in Arctic Lapland. The landscape is blanketed by snow from November and the dluxe-magazine.co.uk 47

TRAVEL NEWS.

StreetDots Land in Birmingham Airport

StreetDots, the team that brings a variety of street food trucks, stalls and tuk tuks to local lunchtimes is launching at Birmingham Airport.

Primera Air Announces Direct Flights to Toronto

The food stalls are directly outside the terminal. Breakfast will be served from 07001000 and lunch from 1100-1500 seven days a week. Foodies can expect favourites such as brioche burgers, single estate coffee and slow cooked barbecue meats. The StreetDots app (on Apple and Android) tells you what’s cooking on each dot on any given day.

Primera Air has announced the opening of another North America destination from its new base in Birmingham. Toronto (YYZ) will be served three times per week on a yearround basis.

are available for all passengers on board. Services to Canada will commence in May 2018 flying on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Tickets starting from £149.00 (one way, all taxes included) can be booked at www.primeraair.com

The aircraft, with two classes of cabin on brand new Airbus321NEOs airplanes offers full-service Premium and low-fare Economy, Wi-Fi and charging facilities

StreetDots is looking for independent Daily flights to New York and four weekly flights to Boston to Birmingham traders in Birmingham and The Midlands. To get involved and for more information were announced earlier this summer. visit www.streetdots.co.uk

NEWS ROUND-UP. tower purple, completing its distinctive brand identity throughout the airport.

EMIRATES SECOND DAILY A380 SERVICE COMMENCES IN BIRMINGHAM

Emirates has launched its second daily A380 service out of Birmingham, less than two years after its inaugural A380 flight from the city. The introduction of the double-daily A380 service was driven by huge demand from passengers in Birmingham to travel on the iconic aircraft. Since the first A380 service from Dubai to Birmingham launched on 27th March 2016, nearly 500,000 passengers have flown on the aircraft between the two cities.

Flybe is the largest scheduled carrier by the number of daily movements at Birmingham and customers now have a consistent purple experience throughout their journey from check-in, through to the departure lounge and on arrival with the shining beacon at all times being the ATC tower.

FLYBE PURPLE REIGNS IN READINESS FOR WINTER LAUNCH

Flybe quite literally put the spotlight on Birmingham Airport as it turned the Air Traffic Control (ATC) 48 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

THOMAS COOK TAKES OFF TO MARSA ALAM Following a surge in demand for holidays to Hurghada in Egypt, Thomas Cook has introduced weekly Marsa Alam flights to offer customers even more choice for winter and summer sun.

Thomas Cook offers a choice of nine resortbased hotels along Marsa Alam’s long coastline, including the Nubian style SENTIDO Oriental Dream which has its own coral reef and private beach. The airline has also celebrated the launch of Birmingham to Cape Verde flights which started at the beginning of November. Another perfect winter sun destination, this weekly flight will run from November through to April from Birmingham. To book seats visit www.thomascook.com

NEW TWITTER FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE Keen Twitter users that

are travelling to and from Birmingham Airport can now receive real time flight updates to their account thanks to a new service called ‘FlightSmart’. Using the @FlyBHX handle, the new free service allows Tweeters to sign up to receive regular updates on their flight - from when the check-in opens to flight departure, plus immediate notifications of any cancellations or delays.

SKI IT TO BELIEVE IT JET2.COM LAUNCHES SKI PROGRAMME

Jet2.com has announced its first ever ski programme from Birmingham Airport this winter. This is the airline’s

biggest ever ski season for Winter 17/18. Seven weekly flights will operate to four top ski destinations from Birmingham Airport this winter: Geneva, Grenoble, Salzburg and Turin. See www.Jet2.com/ski for more.

SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES (SAS) ANNOUNCE NEW ROUTE STOCKHOLM

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has announced it will launch twice weekly flights to Stockholm from Birmingham Airport commencing on 30th March 2018. This currently unserved route will operate on Fridays and Sundays. The SAS route will be served by B737 aircraft with a 120 seat capacity. Fares will start from £82.00 one way including taxes and charges, to book visit www. flysas.co.uk

DINING. Roast Turkey Fillet with Fenland Celery, Walnut and Sausage Stuffing An elegant recipe that is surprisingly simple to prepare. Perfect for an informal meal with family and friends – or as a special celebratory dish throughout the festive period. British turkey fillets are stuffed with sausage meat, Fenland celery and walnut, before being wrapped with streaky bacon. Serve with all the trimmings. Serves: 6-8 Preparation time: 15 mins Cooking time: 60 mins Ingredients 1kg to 1.2kg British turkey fillet Butter, melted 12 to 16 rashers of dry-cure smoked, streaky bacon Salt and pepper to taste 450g sausage meat 6 shallots, peeled and finely diced 4 sticks Fenland celery, diced 75g walnuts, chopped 100g fresh breadcrumbs 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage leaves 1 free range egg, beaten Salt and pepper to taste

BerryWorld Cranberry Meringue Roulade with Cointreau Orange Cream

What to do Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas 5. Butter a large roasting tin.

A perfect winter party dessert, this cranberry roulade looks fabulous, festive and fun. Fresh and light, the tartness of the cranberries compliments the sweetness of the meringue beautifully.

Cut open the fillet and beat it with a wooden mallet until it is has increased in size by a third – be careful not to make any holes in the meat. Brush some of the melted butter over the turkey and season with salt and pepper.

Serves: 8 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes You’ll need:

to a sheet of baking parchment, allow to cool.

5 eggs whites 275g caster sugar 50g flaked almonds 250g fresh cranberries 100g caster sugar Grated zest and juice of half an orange 300ml double cream 3 tbsps Cointreau

To make the filling, place the cranberries in a saucepan with the sugar, orange juice and zest and simmer until softened and syrupy. Then take off the heat and allow to cool.

What to do: Preheat the oven to 200°C / Gas Mark 6. Line a 35cmx23cm Swiss roll tin with lightly greased baking parchment. Whisk the egg whites until very stiff, then gradually add the sugar. Spread the meringue into the prepared tin and sprinkle with the almonds. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes then reduce the heat to 160°C / Gas Mark 3 and continue to cook for a further 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn almond side down on 50 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

When ready to assemble whisk the cream and the Cointreau until the mixture stands in soft peaks. Spread the cool cranberry mixture evenly over the roulade then spread the cream over. Roll up from the long end fairly tightly, don’t worry if it cracks a little. Place on a serving plate and chill before serving. Cooks Tip: For that extra wow factor decorate with chocolate holly leaves and delicious crystallised fresh cranberries. For the holly leaves paint melted chocolate onto the back of clean holly or bay leaves, allow to set in the fridge, repeat with another layer of chocolate and set again. Carefully peel off. To make crystallised cranberries, soak fresh uncooked cranberries in a sugar syrup, roll in caster sugar and allow to dry for a few hours.

Mix all the stuffing ingredients together and season with salt and pepper. Make a long sausage shape with the stuffing mixture and place it in the middle of the turkey fillet, roll the turkey meat around to cover all the stuffing. Carefully wrap the streaky bacon around the rolled turkey fillet, tucking the ends underneath. With a spatula, lift it into the buttered roasting tin. Tuck any stray pieces of bacon underneath if necessary. Add 6 tablespoons of water and cover with tinfoil before roasting for 40 minutes per kilo plus 20 minutes, so a kilo will take one hour to cook. Remove the foil for the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking to allow the bacon to crisp up. Allow to stand, loosely covered in tinfoil, for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting into slices and serving with seasonal vegetables and potatoes. (The juices from the roasting tin can be made into gravy). www.fenlandcelery.com

WINE TASTING WITH SIOFRA O’BRIEN

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a few indulgent luxuries so give your feasts a luxe touch with the finest selection of merry-making food and drinks. From decadent chocolate and boozy baubles to the most stylish filled-to-the-brim hampers, HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM boasts the ultimate festive treats.

PERFECT PARTY PAIRINGS With the holiday season fast approaching, it's time to start planning those festive get-togethers with friends and family. This issue Harvey Nichols Wine Specialist SIOFRA O’BRIEN shares three classic bottles that were made for celebrating. Nothing works quite as well with the Christmas pud and mince pies as an aged port, and our Harvey Nichols Ten-Year-Old Tawny (£28.50) has a rich, nutty taste that works harmoniously with sweet, dried fruit. Mahogany hued, the nose is broad, with mouth-watering nuances of hazelnut, caramel and spiced orange. If you’re after something to complement your cheese board, try Harvey Nichols Sauternes (£16) with its aromas of acacia flowers, citrus and honey. This 2012 vintage expression boasts a refreshing and vibrant core characterised by further notes of citrus, apricot and candied fruit Finally, for that special something, crack open a bottle of Gosset Blanc De Noirs NV (£85). This beautifully-crafted Champagne is made from 100% Pinot Noir and has notes of red fruits and bruised red apples with a complex toasty brioche character. A limited edition with only 12,000 bottles, this will be sublime with salmon or duck, or a tasty truffle risotto.

6 4

Find everything you need to celebrate the most fashionable festive season at the Harvey Nichols Foodmarket and Wine Shop. Discover an impressive range of hampers, seasonal food and drink, and confectionary 1: The Snaffling Pig pigs in blankets pork crackling, £18.95. 2: Barú sea salt and caramel chocolate hippos, £8.95. 3: Drinks by the Dram Bourbon whiskey advent calendar, £155. 4: Harvey Nichols chocolate coins pouch, £4.95. 5: Pickering’s Christmas gin baubles gift pack, £35. 6: Laurent Perrier Rosé NV La Robe edition, £70. 7: Nieport The Senior tawny port, £26. 8: Harvey Nichols Christmas Morning hamper, £85. 9: Artisan Du Chocolat No1 milk salted caramels, £17.95. 10. Daffy’s Gin gift pack, £57.50.

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 51

DINING.

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

Anita

Bloggers from across Birmingham got to try their fierce and fruity flavours and gave them an absolutely roaring response. We also got a chance to try some amazing pizzas like the Green Machine, made of courgette, spinach and Berkwells cheese topped with rosemary and thyme roasted field mushrooms. Who knew veggie pizzas could be so good? There was also vegan pizza to go with the ODC vegan cider, the vegan cheese made with coconut oil was delicious.

Where is you favourite restaurant? That is the question I get asked above all others (apart from when my kids say I’m hungry, what’s for dinner?) Well, when you live in a city as fab as ours the opportunity for top class dining is endless. Personally, Fumo has long been the place I’ve always headed for. Chic and classy, it’s always oozed an achingly special kind of sophistication. So it makes sense for the San Carlo Group to open their second Fumo in the equally stylish Selfridges. They have taken over the old Searcy’s Champagne Bar and migrated the same interior style and it suits it perfectly. It has left people wondering why Fumo hadn’t gone there in the first place! Fumo pride themselves on Italian style and Italian service. The dishes are stand out tasty and the Italian staff are very attentive and helpful. It looks so cool, it did actually remind us of being in the First Dates restaurant! The launch night was a glittering pseudo-showbiz affair as you’d expect. The bar tenders were working like steam engines churning out the cocktails and everyone thought the mushroom risotto was sublime. It’s just a shame that kicking out time is 9pm to adhere to the Bullring shopping hours. Another old stalwart on the Birmingham scene is Chinatown favourite Chung Ying. The second restaurant and the most popular, Chung Ying Garden celebrated their 30th birthday with fireworks, dragon dancers and noodles and dim sum. The night also raised money for the elderly Chinese community of which James and his brother William always heavily support; and if you know proprietor James Wong, there’s always Karaoke to round off the night. Who knew pizza and cider were such a great combination? It was a match made in heaven when we went to the launch of ODC drinks at The Stable. ODC is a Birmingham based fruit cider company and they have produced two totally cool drinks, Mango Fandango and Pomegranate Panache. Their unique tiger and chimp branding really makes them stand out from the crowd and I’m sure they will be in bars up and down the country before too long. 52 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

You’d struggle to find an event as festive as Hotel Du Vin’s first Christmas Wine Dinner. GM Tony Elvin and sommelier Nico Anti have collated a variety of seasonal wines to perfectly match the sensational canapés they will be tempting guests with. Can’t wait for festive fun on Church Street. Hot off the press is that Aktar Islam had just announced that he will be stepping down as Chef director of the Lasan Group, Lasan re-opened in October after a brief break for a head turning re-vamp. The transformation has also seen the team rejuvenate the iconic menu, which is hugely exciting for all of us foodies. As one of the most talked about Indian restaurants in the city, we were so glad we were invited to be one of the first through the doors! If you are expecting an Indian themed décor then think again. It’s beautiful and elegant with an impressive u-shaped bar. It does look very different from before, I love the new logo and the décor is awash with bold teal and muted pastels colours. It has several dining areas which gives it a casual warmth to the place. Old favourites like the plump Sarson Ka Jhinga (king prawn) are on the menu as well as new ones like the venison samosa which was an explosion of strong favours. I had a fragrant bowl of lamb biriyani presented in a copper pot and a side dish of tangy aubergine masala. The wine list is impressive too. For dessert I had the picturesque Bombay Mess which was delightful. So be delighted these winter months. A sackful of culinary girfts are waiting to tantalise you.

The bistro at Hotel Du Vin, Birmingham The bistro is at the heart of Hotel du Vin Birmingham. Experience an elegant and informal setting for lunch and dinner - where guests can meet, celebrate or simply pass the time - at the classic, French-styled bistro. At the Bistro du Vin Birmingham they like to keep things classic and simple. Inspired by French home-style cooking with robust earthy dishes and slow-cooked foods, Bistro du Vin's menu has an undeniably French/British flavour combination. The Chef Director, Matt Powell, continually travels the country to source the selected artisan produce and working with his key suppliers he incorporates these fine ingredients into the menus. It's about serving up dishes that rejoice the fresh and seasonal produce. It's about enjoying fairly-priced à la carte dining in a warm and relaxing setting. Choose from a selection of new a la carte starters like chipirones and courgette flower fritos and Severn and Wye smoked salmon classic, the signature smoked salmon served with soft boiled quails eggs, shallots, capers and cornichons served under a whisky smoked cloche. Mains include the classic chateaubriand, best served between two, Devon crab cake served with a lemon butter sauce and ratatouille baked Burford brown eggs. What better way to finish off the perfect meal with a classic baked pumpkin cheesecake, or comforting baked chocolate and pear pudding served with a honey crème fraiche. All this is served by attentive and exceptionally knowledgeable waiting staff, happy to explain the dishes, the ingredients, and how the talented Chefs create them. Always on hand, the award winning Sommeliers are also ready to advise, guide, match or recommend the perfect wine. To book a table head to Hotelduvin.com or call us on 0121 794 3005. Hotel Du Vin Birmingham, Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2NR.

THE ALL NEW

MENU Á la carte dining

Visit our website for more details: HOTELDUVIN.com HOTEL DU VIN& BISTRO BIRMINGHAM 01217 943 005

THE DIARY.

HAVE FAITH Becoming a parent is just about the biggest event in anyone’s lives, bringing with it a raft of challenges and unforeseen scenarios that potentially pose the sternest of tests. For Paloma Faith, the experience of being a new mum may have left her wondering where her next night’s sleep might ever be coming from, yet it’s brought a renewed sense of purpose and focus to her music writes Neil Barston.

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“I’m trying to juggle being a mother and a singer. I have no idea how I am managing, but I am somehow,” she laughs, recounting her whirlwind existence recording her fourth studio album.

“Later, when I was studying, I got into R and B dancehall as well, and originally I wanted to be dancer. Then I did my musical theatre, and I think that music just chose me,” she explains of her formative years.

The 36-year old Londoner has already amassed an enviable career over the past decade that has seen her become the only female artist beyond Adele to have three double platinum recordings to her name.

Her first album Do You Want The Truth or Something Beautiful? blazed a trail into the top 10, and proceeded to lodge in the album charts for the next 100 weeks. But how does she look back on it now?

While it’s been a road requiring plenty of hard graft, her artfully soulful sound and quirky style have undoubtedly played their part in propelling the Hackney-born star to success.

“Well, that was nearly 10 years ago, and it was what it was. But I think it is great that I’ve managed to sustain a career as unfortunately not many people get to make more than one or two albums these days,” reflects the singer on what she feels is now an over-saturated market.

The singer’s latest offering, The Architect, follows boldly in its predecessors’ footsteps, showcasing her distinctive powerful vocals that have earned comparisons with everyone from 60’s icons such as Etta James and Billie Holiday, through to the late Amy Winehouse. It seems the singer is enjoying a comparatively settled phase of her life living with French boyfriend Leyman Lahcine, and it’s apparent that starting a family has directly influenced her music. “I do feel my approach to music has changed since I’ve become a parent - which does have an impact. With difficult things that are happening in the world, you feel protective and want to make things comfortable for your family. “I think things are changing in our history and maybe not for the better, which is something I’m concerned about. I feel there’s a sense of duty to talk about events.” Much like any other artist in the limelight, her rise has come with the perhaps inevitable burden of being followed around by the ever-hungry paparazzi. Everyone from Hello magazine through to the national red-top national papers has been waiting to secure pictures of her new youngster, whom she is keen to shield from un-necessary public attention. “I value my privacy more so than ever now, as it’s a real responsibility being a parent, and I want my child to know itself first rather than everyone else feeling that they know all about them.”

By her own admission, trying to sustain a fanbase and avoiding the trap of merely recreating a formula for previous hits has offered plenty of challenges. But as she enthuses, she is not one to rest on her laurels, and ‘likes to mix things up a bit’ which is certainly the case with her latest material. While her towering vocal abilities have continued to garner contrasts with the late Amy Winehouse, it’s something Paloma is entirely at ease with. “I’m flattered by comparisons to Amy. It’s not something I am offended by, though I am quite different. When she met me once, she asked if I played an instrument, but I said no, and she said that was a shame as she would really have liked someone like me in her group. I was a massive fan of hers, and after watching the documentary about her life, I actually wrote a song for her, Price of Fame, which is on the new album. Her death was such a tragedy,” adds the vocalist with a note of sadness. As for her own career, having been nominated several times for a Brit Award, persistence paid off two years ago as she claimed a longawaited win in the best female solo artist category. With a major award to her name, there has been plenty of hype surrounding her latest release, bolstered by notable additions including an appearance from Samuel L Jackson and a duet with singer songwriter John Legend in the mix.

Such determination to do things on her own terms has proved a consistent theme throughout her career, and something that has helped her stand out from the crowd.

Besides the album, fans will have to wait a little longer for her next UK tour, which kicks off next March. It’s destined to feature some of Paloma’s trademark self-designed sets to spark the tone for a hit-packed series of shows.

As she recalls of her childhood in East London, the half-Spanish artist says that she always had something of a creative streak. However, it was far from obvious that she was destined to become a singer, with her initial studies being at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

“The only reason I do what I’m doing is because I love touring – as when I’m out there I am excited and feel that I’m in the right place,” adds the engaging singer, who may well have a little more to think about with a young child in tow, yet it won’t stop her from enjoying every single moment.

“Growing up in Hackney, I was surrounded by lots of different types of music - from my mum, I remember listening to plenty of revolutionary music from the 60’s such as Bob Dylan, while my dad was really into jazz, which is where my interest in all that comes from.

Paloma will embark on a UK arena tour next year including Genting Arena, Birmingham on March 21st. Tickets for The Architect tour 2018 are on sale now via gigsandtours.com Paloma Faith will release her eagerlyanticipated new Album ‘The Architect’ on November 17 via RAC Records dluxe-magazine.co.uk 55

THE DIARY.

Hazel O’Connor

EF MEDISPA ARRIVES IN EDGBASTON!

2nd Dec at Town Hall Award-winning singer, writer and actress Hazel O’Connor has announced a thirteendate UK tour with the finale taking place at Town Hall on Saturday 2nd December.

The Nutcracker

Until 13th Dec at Birmingham Hippodrome Birmingham Royal Ballet’s evergreen production of The Nutcracker has been part of the City’s Christmas tradition for over 26 years and returns to Birmingham Hippodrome this November.

Visit Santa Sleigh Ride

Until 23th Dec at Coventry Transport Museum Journey to Lapland on this magical moving ride, pulled by two trusty reindeer. Meet Santa, tell him your Christmas wishes and receive a special gift. The beloved Coventry Co-op sleigh is now at the Transport Museum and families can once again enjoy the magic and tradition of a visit to Santa on this extraordinary vintage ride.

Birmingham is getting in on the celebrity skincare action with the opening of Edgbaston’s exclusive EF MEDISPA, one of the UK’s leading skin clinics providing cutting edge, innovative face and body treatments to celebrities and royalty alike. Launched back in 2006, EF MEDISPA, which also has clinics in Chelsea, Kensington, St John’s Wood and Bristol, boasts the latest technologies and innovations and offers a treatment menu packed full of unique therapies that fight fat, illuminate skin, and even combat the common cold and hangovers.

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3rd Dec at Genting Arena One of the greatest British musicians of all time is back performing, having just returned to the stage for his first live dates in 10 years.

Michael Ball & Alfie Boe

5th Dec at Genting Arena Following the stunning success of their Platinum selling album ‘Together’ and 29 sold out shows across the UK in 2016, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe announced that they will return in 2017.

Some of our favourites include one of Kim Kardashian’s favourites, Biologique Recherche Facials, Microneedling - a treatment loved by Angelina Jolie and Naomi Watts, that delivers a direct hit of intense vitamins and minerals to the lower layers of the skin, non-surgical body contouring technology for wiping out fat, Laser Hair removal and a dedicated Drip and Chill lounge, with intravenous drips made famous by Rita Ora, Cara Delevingne, and Rihanna, prescribing a bespoke blend of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in the form of an IV Drip Infusion. They can tackle everything from stress and depleted energy levels to the common cold and hangovers. EF MEDISPA’s repertoire of award-winning therapies cannot be found anywhere else in the region – bringing not just celebrity favourites but treatments that really do work!

Phil Collins

Queen + Adam Lambert

30 Nov & 16th Dec at Arena Birmingham Queen + Adam Lambert are returning to Arena Birmingham this Winter, showcasing a spectacular new stage production and set list, which the band hints will provide some surprises!

Sacred Things

Images by Jas Sansi

The new Edgbaston clinic is at 11 Greenfield Crescent. www. efmedispa.com/birminghamedgbaston

1 Dec 2017 – 11 Feb 2018 at Herbert Art Gallery & Museum Photographer and anthropologist Liz Hingley has collaborated with Syrian families to produce portraits that introduce them as individuals to the people of Coventry.

Faulty Towers The Christmas Dining Experience

8th-21st Dec at the Birmingham REP Chaos greets audiences as soon as they walk through the door. In this fully immersive experience, the audience become diners in the infamous ‘Faulty’ restaurant, served a 3-course meal by Basil, Sybil and Manuel. Expect lashings of laughter, bowls full of spontaneity and as much audience participation as individual audience members want. And with 70% of the show improvised, no two performances are ever the same.

22SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER––77OCTOBER OCTOBER 22

30 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2017 2017 -30 13 JANUARY JANUARY 2018 2018 13 BirminghamRepertory RepertoryTheatre Theatrepresents presents Birmingham

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@birminghamrep @birminghamrep

@therepbirmingham @therepbirmingham

THE DIARY.

BLAKES AT THE WestMEAd Hotel

The great and the good from Alvechurch and Barnt Green businesses came out in force to celebrate the official launch of Blakes restaurant, the newly revamped fine dining restaurant at the Westmead hotel. Special guests in attendance included former England International football player Cyrille Regis and fellow former Villa player Mark Walters as well as TV presenters Noreen Khan from the BBC and Suzanne Virdi from ITV. Guests were treated to a selection of canape sharing boards, rosebud shaped garlic dough balls, fried tempura prawns, pea and goat’s cheese tarts, and macarons for dessert made the rounds of the guests, and even some hot wings for those who dared!

Christmas with the Overtones

9th Dec at Symphony Hall The Overtones return to Symphony Hall at the most wonderful time of the year. With a stocking rammed full of Christmas crackers including White Christmas, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and Let It Snow, this is guaranteed to be the ultimate festive party.

Dreamworks Animation in Concert

10th Dec at Arena Birmingham A one night only special event, featuring music and iconic movie moments from DreamWorks Animation’s hit films including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and many more.

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Son of a Preacher Man Jools Holland and his 13th – 17th Feb at the Rhythm and Blues Orchestra Birmingham Rep 13-14th Dec at Symphony Hall Musical virtuoso Jools Holland and his well-renowned Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have announced dates and special guests for their upcoming 2017 Autumn/ Winter UK tour.

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19th Dec – 28th Jan at Birmingham Hippodrome Cinderella, produced by Olivier-nominated pantomime producer Qdos Entertainment, will feature all of the ingredients of the perfect Hippodrome pantomime: a fabulous cast and orchestra, laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery and special effects, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses.

Wed 31 Jan - Sat 3 Feb 2018 at Birmingham Hippodrome Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.

Plus mini soupcons of mushroom soup, and mini ham terrine and duck. The team showcased their new pizza oven covered in one pennies which was a massive hit, churning out the delicious home cooked pizzas. Light and tasty, there were even ones topped with chocolate and bananas. Blakes Birmingham Westmead Hotel, Redditch Road,

Cinderella

Directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, Son of a Preacher Man is the sparklingly funny and sweetly touching new musical featuring the greatest hits of Dusty Springfield.

Unforgettable performances, powered by you

0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Where applicable, a 5% transaction charge may apple (excluding cash sales in person).

The Patrick Centre at Birmingham Hippodrome

HHHHH The List

“The perfect Christmas Show”

Fri 24 Nov Wed 13 Dec From £19

The Stage

Thu 21 Dec Sun 7 Jan £12.50

Tue 19 Dec Sun 28 Jan From £15.50

Tue 6 Sat 10 Feb From £19.50

Don Giovanni Mozart

From £18

Tue 20 Sat 24 Mar From £15

Wed 4 Sun 29 Apr From £28

Tue 1 Sat 12 May From £19.50

Wed 7 Mar

Tue 27 Sat 31 Mar From £16.50

THE DIARY. 22 SEPTEMBER – 7 OCTOBER

30 NOVEMBER 2017 A hundred and one2018 reasons to visit The REP this Christmas! 13 JANUARY Children and adults alike will be gripped by this magical tale as it comes to life live on stage, complete with beautiful staging and mesmerising puppetry from Director Tessa Walker and Designer Jamie Vartan who collaborated for the record-breaking 2015 production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Dodie Smith’s delightful and much-loved tale, adapted for the stage by the Writer and Director of the hugely popular Nativity! Films and recent sell-out stage musical version too, Debbie Isitt, is sure to get tails wagging this Christmas.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre presents

Speaking of the upcoming production Tessa said; “The Hundred and One Dalmatians is a story every family knows and loves, that’s why it’s so exciting to be bringing it to life in a brand-new production at The REP this winter. Using a blend of exciting theatrical methods such as puppetry, a cast of 14 and a beautiful design partnered with Debbie Isitt’s brilliant adaptation, we want to introduce young and old to this classic tale in a new way sure to capture their imagination.”

By Dodie Smith Adapted for the stage by Debbie Isitt

Ages

Experience the magical story live on stage this Christmas Birmingham Repertory Theatre is set for a paw-some festive season as The Hundred And One Dalmatians life on stage from Thursday Box Officebursts toBook Online 30 November – Saturday 130121 January. Dalmatians Pongo and Missis enjoy 236 4455 BIRMINGHAM-REP.CO.UK an idyllic life with their humans, Mr and Mrs Dearly. Then one day, the birminghamrep Registered England 295910 with Charity No.223660 house isinfilled the patter of tiny paws@birminghamrep when Missis @therepbirmingham gives birth to a litter of adorable puppies. But just as the Dearlys get used to their new housemates, the puppies mysteriously vanish. With the help of the canine community and an Old English Sheepdog, Pongo and Missis set out on an adventure to find the missing puppies. Their quest leads them to the vicious Cruella de Vil. She hates dogs but loves fur coats and has set her sights on a certain black and white spotty pattern. Will the animals be able to get home safely in time for Christmas?

Gloria Onitiri plays Cruella de Vil, Jo Servi Horace de Vil, Nadi Kemp Sayfi Mrs Dearly and Morgan Philpott Mr Dearly. They will be joined by Oliver Wellington as Pongo, Emma Thornett as Missus, Lewis Griffin as Jasper Baddun and Patch, Luke Murphy as Saul Baddun and Lucky, Mei Mac as Persian Cat and Roly and Lakesha Cammock as Perdita. The band will be led by Musical Director and Composer James Frewer, featuring Lemuel Knights on Tuba/Sax, Sufia Manya on Sax/Clarinet, and Jack Chamberlain on drums. Once again, designer Jamie Vartan will be in charge of bringing this classic tale to The REP’s stage, crafting a visually exciting world for the story to unfold. Creating the movement of the menagerie of humans and animals is Movement Director Lucy Cullingford. Puppets will be Designed and Directed by Jimmy Grimes with Lighting Design by Simon Bond and Sound Design by Emma Laxton. As part of The REP’s commitment to making theatre accessible to everyone the entire run of The Hundred and One Dalmatians will be Audio Described and Captioned, meaning that audiences with visual or hearing impairments can enjoy these services on any performance. Don’t get spotted without a ticket! Visit birmingham-rep.co.uk or call our box office on 0121 236 4455 to book tickets now.

INAUGURAL AWARDS TO CELEBRATE CITY’s SOUNDS

talent and shout about our talent.”

Birmingham Music Awards has launched their inaugural annual ceremony. Designed to exclusively celebrate music achievement as a vehicle to bring together the best of Birmingham’s contributors to music. BMA Co-Founder Jo Jeffries said: “There are so many reasons to be excited about 60 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

being a musician in Birmingham right now; the whole creative landscape is changing, the urban scene is exploding, key music education providers such as BIMM and ACM have moved in.” “We want to add to the momentum and recognise the achievements and talents of so many. We want to retain our talent in our city, so we are here to support our

Birmingham Music Awards is calling for musicians and contributors to the Birmingham Music Scene to put their best work forward. Entrants can submit their work for several different categories including Best Song, Best Male, Best Female, Best Band, Best Live Venue, Best Urban Act, Best Newcomer, Best Radio Station, Best DJ. Judging will be carried out by a panel of music industry professionals, all with an impressive track record in the business. Shortlisted entries will be announced on Friday 30th March 2018. Entries are open now via www.birminghamusicawards.com

A SPECTACULAR SPRING SEASON AT THE BELGRADE THEATRE adaptation in the series of best-selling children’s books by David Walliams – Awful Auntie!

When Stella sets off to visit London with her parents, Lord and Lady Saxby, she has no idea her life is in danger! Waking up three months later, only her Aunt Alberta can tell Stella what has happened. But not everything Aunt Alberta tells her turns out to be true and Stella quickly discovers she’s in for the fight of her life against her very own awful Auntie! Featuring the soulful music of Dusty Springfield, Son of a Preacher Man is back out on tour with a brand new cast including Debra Stevenson (Bad Girls, Coronation Street) and Alice Barlow (Hollyoaks), and is directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood. Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre has announced several spectacular shows which are set to explode onto their Main Stage in February 2018, including smash-hit musicals and fun family adventures. Considered one of the greatest ever musicals, The Sound of Music tells the epic true story of the singing Von Trapp family set to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s magical score. This much-loved musical took the world by storm when it was adapted for the big

screen in 1965, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, and remains the fifth highest grossing film of all time. It features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on screen and stage, including Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, DoRe-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, So Long Farewell and of course, The Sound of Music. Following the sell-out success of Gangsta Granny, Birmingham Stage Company return to the Belgrade with the next stage

This sparklingly funny and sweetly touching new musical by internationally renowned writer Warner Brown will have you laughing, crying and singing your heart out to some of the greatest songs ever written including The Look of Love, I Only Want to be With You, Spooky and of course, the classic Son of a Preacher Man. Tickets for all of these shows are available now by calling the Belgrade Box Office on 024 7655 3055 or visit www.belgrade.co.uk where tickets are cheaper.

BOOK ONLINE to save money

6 – 10 Feb

from £33.75*

BOOK NOW

13 – 17 Feb

from £27.75*

024 7655 3055

20 – 24 Feb

kids from £16.25*

www.belgrade.co.uk

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

BUSINESS.

THREE essentials to HELP YOU beat the winter business blues. Brrrr it is cold outside and unless you are selling coats, skiing holidays or, even better, trips to a very hot, tropical paradise then you are in the throws of fighting your way through the X-mas and New Year's blues. DLUXE readers are usually very clued in on fashion and how to make themselves look amazing, now let’s do the same for your winter business wardrobe writes DLUXE Magazine's Business Editor Bart Dalton.

Just like a good pair of shoes or a nice belt this will be something that will serve your purposes for the year ahead but really powers up things today. Contact all your clients this month and not via email or a news letter... Thank them for their business. Ask them what their goals are for the year ahead.

Next ask them this “If there was one obstacle today, in the way of you reaching that goal, that I could help remove what would it be?” Get them a gift. Make it small but thoughtful. It might be a nice book mark, a simple book, a magazine or subscription. Make it show that you understand what they are all about. It is not about the cost it is about the thought. (One of the best presents I ever got for Michelle, I think, was a small diary that I had written a

62 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

thought a day that made me smile about her. I had done this daily for a year and gave it to her on her birthday.) That might be kind of creepy to do that to a client but the thought process is the important bit.

I know not all of you want to pontificate and tell the world what you think like I do, yet your clients hold you out as an expert in your field or at least the alternative they choose. So how do we capitalise on that so that they look to you as a resource?

You need to write short and punchy articles about your areas of expertise. People want to look smart so give them fodder. Tell them 3 secrets, 5 things to avoid, the only things you need to know to... Make short videos using your phone and make sure that your YouTube channel, yes you should have a channel to store your

video content so that you can link it into your website. Create a podcast that isn’t sales or specific product promotion for your company. The program I use is Spreaker. Check out an example www.spreaker.com/show/ grow-sell-retire

brumPRIDE AT BIRMINGHAM AWARDS

Get a relationship paid or free depending on what you can offer. This is PR or Advertorial, you need to be tricky here because today’s consumer is astute and they can spot too much cheese from miles away.

This is the power of True Gravity and where you need to get to. Having a board of directors hand picked at the same level as you are or even better, where you want to be.

Have a quarterly meeting with four people who will make sure that they give support and don't let you lie to yourself about business. Share marketing ideas and sales troubles. Then work together to create solutions to make it around the problems that they/you are all having so that you can create traction and practical applications. Example: if you are having problems getting into a specific client then you can either use each other to build a plan to get in or you all can create a set of tools to get into that specific client and the niche that they are in. Your board can also network together and go out Hunting In Packs which creates a true pull of new business and power partners. More in my book about this, True Gravity. I have been talking about Objectives, Strategies and Tactics for the past 5 years to my clients. The Objectives are your long term goals(Turn over, profits, number of clients in one, three, and five years) Strategies are the four focuses that you are implementing(New client engagement, New product, Referrals) and lastly you have Tactics which are the things that we do on a daily or monthly basis(Regular client contact, seminars, specific marketing, sales focuses.)

With over 450 people in attendance it’s fair to say that the 3rd annual Birmingham Awards was a resounding success! Held at Edgbaston Stadium, this year’s awards brought together some of the best individuals and organisations from the city. It was a night of honour, recognition and celebrating being proud and being Brum. Once again headline sponsored by Birmingham City University with DLUXE Magazine lentding our support as media partner. Flamboyant host Raaj Shamji and his eclectic band kept the guests entertained with their unique brand of wit, wonder and flair bringing a sense of cabaret, zest and fun to the night that kept everything up and lively. Live music was provided by the Walsall Wallaz and Beat Asylum, guests were also treated to a stunning performance from CircusMash. Drinks were in full flow courtesy of drinks sponsor NA Consulting and food was provided by Simply Mahirs.

Focus on delivering things from the three to a high standard and you will reach your goals.

Needless to say, when it came to the winners, the level of excitement and tension was palpable. Some of the most coveted awards and winners of the night included Brummie of the year which went to James Wong and Lifetime Achievement Award which was awarded to Tom Ross. The crowd moved to the after party after the awards was over, which saw yet more fun, laughs and partying.

If you are looking for any more tips to get you going come and see me at www.bartdaltonconsulting.com

Next year’s Birmingham awards is already in the diary - keep the 24th November 2018 free!

I love threes and I know that these three tools will make the year ahead easy. If implemented correctly they can fulfil your big goals for this year and beyond.

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 63

BUSINESS.

BEST Brum

BUSiness

SOLIHULL BUSINESS CELEBRATES TWENTY YEARS OF SUCCESS Add to this a prestigious collaboration with the London College of Music ( Junior Department) and the support of celebrity mums including Coleen Rooney; it’s little wonder Kathy’s brand has thrived for over two decades! Kathy and her team take great pride in delivering award-winning classes throughout the country. Each session is thoughtfully curated using music to facilitate early child development and to nurture a love of music and singing. Over the 21 years, Rhythm Time has had a truly exciting journey, introducing over 200,000 little ones since it first opened its doors!

Inspired musical entrepreneur and businesswoman Kathy Doolan from Solihull, is celebrating an incredible 21 years in business this year which, over the last two decades comprises an incredible 40 franchises, that between them capture the hearts of over 11,000 babies, toddlers & pre-schoolers across the UK and Ireland every week. Originally a music teacher, Kathy is a lifelong lover of music and in 1995 she founded the very first Rhythm Time class in Solihull. As well as building a national network of franchise owners, Kathy also has a fabulous team of six at the company’s head office in the Midlands. 64 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Kathy’s success continues to be recognised throughout the industry, with a number of accolades including a recent shortlisting in the Best Business Women Awards 2017 for her work introducing children to music. Commenting on the outstanding achievement of Rhythm Time, Founder Kathy Doolan said: ‘I am absolutely delighted with the success of Rhythm Time. What started as a dream has now become the passion of nearly 40 dedicated franchisees all over the country. I am so proud of our franchise family and have been overwhelmed by their support, enthusiasm and ongoing success. To nurture young children's musical development is an honour, and I hope that families in the UK continue to enjoy attending our classes for another 21 years to come!’ rhythmtime.net

400 business leaders packed into Edgbaston Stadium to celebrate the inaugural City of Birmingham Business Awards, hosted by Downtown Birmingham, and sponsored by the Partnership Lifestyle Club. The gala awards dinner, presented by Ed James, rewarded some of the best businesses and business leaders in the City Region. The big winners on the evening included Paul Cadman, Michele Wilby and Bart Dalton who won the Man of the Year, Woman of the Year and Business Personality of the Year respectively. The biggest prize on the evening went to Argent LLP who won the Business of the Year award. Frank McKenna CEO of Downtown in Business commented: “It has been fantastic to reward all of the amazing businesses in the Birmingham City Region." "The calibre of businesses in the city made a nomination for these awards an achievement in itself. I would like to congratulate all of the winners and wish all the nominees best of luck for next year when the COBBA’s will return.” Celebrations went on long into the night, with a terrific set from Happy Monday’s icon Rowetta, followed by an aftershow party at the Malmaison Hotel

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LAST WORD. What makes the brand, and the store, so different? We’ve been designing and travelling the world to create our collections for over 18 years. We are immensely proud of our collection of furniture and accessories that includes everything you need for your home. In store our seasonally-styled roomsets provide an ever changing source of inspiration for home lovers and redecorators alike. In OKA Edgbaston you can see two distinct ‘apartments’ in contrasting styles, which truly sets the feeling of being in a real home. We also have experienced interior designers based in-store, that can help you with one room or a whole house. Natasha Johnston is the dedicated Interior Design Consultant at OKA Edgbaston, and is on hand for projects both large and small. What is it you love about interiors and design?

OKA In 1999, Annabel Astor, Sue Jones and Lucinda Waterhouse launched OKA Direct, a mail order interiors company that specialised in hand-crafted rattan accessories and storage, inspired by ancient designs from the Far East that had been adapted for modern life in the West. Since then the OKA brand has evolved to offer everything needed to furnish your home. With 14 stores in some of the country’s prettiest market towns and most sophisticated city suburbs, the latest being Edgbaston, DLUXE caught up with one third of the founders, Sue Jones, to find out more. How did the OKA story begin? My sister in law, Annabel, was decorating a house in Florida and was struggling to find what she wanted in the UK market. In an effort to fill the ‘gap’, she and I, and our friend Lucinda Waterhouse, got together and came 66 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

up with the concept of OKA. We launched in 1999, with the aim of designing and sourcing furniture and accessories of exceptional quality at affordable prices. When the first container of rattan arrived in the UK for a small private sale to friends and family, we never dreamt that 18 years later we would have an established brand with an extensive collection of everything you could need to furnish your home from top to bottom. How did OKA get its name? The name came from ochre the colour, but visually we felt that the phonetic letters as O-K-A worked really well – it was as simple as that really. How would you sum up OKA’s style? A furniture and home accessories collection sourced with an eye for beauty, comfort and unique style. OKA puts a modern, worldly spin on classic British style by borrowing inspiration from around the globe, where many of the pieces originate from. What’s the concept behind the Edgbaston store? Our store in Edgbaston is the first to open in the Midlands, where we have an existing loyal and growing customer base, as part of the new premium lifestyle destination Edgbaston Village. Set in a restored three-storey, red-brick Edwardian property on the bustling Harborne road, this beautiful location allowed us to create our signature inspiration roomsets. Our roomsets bring the homes from our seasonal lookbooks to life, giving inspiration in a lifestyle setting rather than displaying products on shelves.

I love drama. Just by adding multiples of an accessory or including some statement cushions, you can create a whole new scheme that can be easily updated to follow the seasons. Linen in spring/summer and Velvets in winter. If I’m having a dinner party, I will often use a colour theme to create drama – this helps set the tone of the party and often puts the focus on the room and not the food, which is a relief! What do you think is the most challenging part of pulling a successful interior scheme together? Using a client's existing furniture and adding new pieces is both the challenge and the excitement of working on projects. I love mixing ‘old’ and ‘new’ to create a room that is both stylish, practical and comfortable. At OKA we have worked really hard to create a collection that works incredibly well with antiques as well as more contemporary pieces. What would you predict as the key interior trends for 2018? I advise you not to go for trends – they go in and out so fast – instead opt for unique and timeless. Looking ahead to 2018 we have an exciting new collection of hand-painted textiles including a unique range of card lampshades. We are also seeing a lot of greenery and pieces inspired by nature in the new collection. A particular favourite of mine are the new ceramics inspired by leaves and artichokes including tableware and candle holders. OKA is at 20 – 22 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. B15 3AA Tel. 0121 454 4912 or visit www.oka.com

RAYMOND GUBBAY presents

Monday 18 December 2.30pm

CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGALONG Sing your heart out as Jonathan Cohen leads you through a fun-filled jamboree of his most-loved carols and Christmas hits. The First Nowell Jingle Bells Frosty the Snowman Santa Claus is Coming to Town Merry Christmas Everyone O come, all ye faithful I Wish It Could be Christmas Everyday With very special guest Louise Dearman London Concert Chorus London Concert Orchestra Monday 18 December 7.30pm

CLASSIC CAROLS Joyous seasonal and traditional music perfectly capturing the true spirit of Christmas.

O Holy Night Sussex Carol Ave Maria Shepherd’s Pipe Carol Silent Night In the bleak midwinter and CAROLS FOR ALL With seasonal readings by Sir Tony Robinson. Nicky Spence tenor Crispian Steele Perkins trumpet Adrian Lucas conductor City of Birmingham Choir London Concert Orchestra Saturday 23 December 2.30 & 7.30pm

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR MUSIC DANCE LIGHTS FIREWORKS

Hosted by Alan Titchmarsh. Tchaikovsky Excerpts from The Nutcracker Adam O Holy Night Puccini Act 1 finale from La bohème Anderson A Christmas Festival SONGS and CAROLS FOR ALL including Jingle Bells Frosty the Snowman O come, all ye faithful plus high kicks from The Jingle Belles ® Laura Tebbutt guest singer John Rigby conductor Anna Patalong soprano Nico Darmanin tenor London Concert Orchestra Canzonetta choir

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Sunday 24 December 2.30pm

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

An exquisite concert of carols and seasonal classics staged in full 18th Century costume in an evocative candle-lit style setting. Handel Christmas sequence from Messiah Gruber Silent Night Cullen Joy to the World Mozart Alleluia from Exsultate jubilate Handel Zadok the Priest and CAROLS FOR ALL CANZONETTA choir MOZART FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA in full period costume Nika Gorič soprano Michael Bawtree conductor Wednesday 27 December 7.30pm

LAST NIGHT OF THE

CHRISTMAS PROMS

Rousing classics with a grand flag waving British finale! Rossini Thieving Magpie Overture Bizet The Pearl Fishers Duet Tchaikovsky Waltz from Swan Lake Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

And all your Proms favourites Rule, Britannia! Land of Hope & Glory Samuel Sakker tenor James Cleverton baritone Joo Yeon Sir violin John Pryce–Jones conductor London Concert Orchestra Thursday 28 December 7.30pm

MUSICALS IN CONCERT: LEADING LADIES

Four Leading Ladies bring to life iconic diva showstoppers from the very best of West End and Broadway including As Long as He Needs Me from Oliver! Defying Gravity from Wicked Big Spender from Sweet Charity What I did for Love from A Chorus Line All that Jazz from Chicago and many more LOUISE DEARMAN KERRY ELLIS LINZI HATELEY VICTORIA HAMILTON-BARRITT Richard Balcombe conductor London Concert Orchestra TICKETS

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After-dark festive e fun n for all the family Scented Fire Garden Tuunneel of Light Mistletoe Moment Singing Trrees Including Sa anta and his Elves Seasonal food and gifts

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