August issue (issue 47)

Birmingham g n i liv

AUGCOVER:Layout 1

27/7/16

12:33

Page 1

MIDLANDS MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

August 2016

100+ SHADES OF AUTUMN

TRICKS AND TREATS

BEN HANLIN PRINTS CHARMING

GOLD MEDAL

FOOD & DRINK

IN PERSPECTIVE PATRICK HUGHES THE BATTLE OF WOUNDED KNEE

PUNCH RECORDS

BHAM_ (Page 02):Layout 1

24/7/16

20:59

Page 02

BHAM_ (Page 03) edsletter:Layout 1

“

22/7/16

13:41

Page 03

EDITOR’S VIEW Business here remains positive and optimistic post-Brexit, as perfectly shown by HSBC’s renewed commitment to make Arena Central its new UK headquarters from 2017

he three B’s have been on my mind in the weeks following the EU referendum – Brexit, Birmingham and Business. What does Brexit mean for our city, prosperity and jobs?

With most leading businessmen being firmly on the ‘Remain’ side during the lead up to the historic vote, are we really now doomed to tougher times ahead after the decision to ‘Leave’? Are jobs and investment really under threat?

The early signs are that business here is remaining positive and optimistic – perfectly highlighted by a statement of intent from HSBC. The bank already employs 2,500 people in its Birmingham offices and is aiming to add a further 1,200 jobs under plans to make Brum its UK national headquarters.

Speaking at a briefing for Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, HSBC’s head of UK Nigel Hinshelwood reaffirmed in the strongest possible terms the bank’s commitment to the move to its new HQ at Arena Central in 2017.

In the weeks and months leading up to the referendum, the national press was full of stories claiming that an exit from the EU would see HSBC shift thousands of jobs out of the UK to Paris. But not a bit of it! Mr Hinshelwood told the city’s top business people at the Chambers event: “Does the decision to leave Europe change our strategy within HSBC UK? Absolutely not. We see Birmingham as the centre of a £110billion regional economy. It has the largest concentration of businesses outside of London, is home to 37,000 companies and it really gives us an opportunity to contribute to regional growth.”

A resounding endorsement as our city looks to push on with all its exciting redevelopment and investment projects, post-Brexit.

T

David Johns

”

Editor: David Johns david@brumliving.co.uk

Features editor: Shelley Carter shelley@brumliving.co.uk Designer: Tracy Duffy

Contributors: Rob Price, Sue Cooke, Lisa Melvin, Rose Gallagher

Account manager: Jane Morris jane@brumliving.co.uk Photography: David Morphew, Andrew Llewellyn Publishing director: Jonathan Carter

Rock Hopper Media Limited Burleigh House, 23 Tagwell Road, Droitwich WR9 7BN tel 01905 771110 © Rock Hopper Media Ltd. Birmingham Living is published monthly by Rock Hopper Media Ltd and printed by Buxton Press. Views and opinions expressed by authors and services and products offered by advertisers are not specifically endorsed by Rock Hopper Media Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part of the contents of Birmingham Living without written permission is strictly prohibited.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: The subscription rate (post paid) is £24 for one year (12 issues).

Subscriptions 01905 771110 ISSN 2051-8560

Cover image: Ben Hanlin

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

august 2016

/bhamliving

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

birmingham living 03

g n i liv

BHAM_ (Page 04) contents:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:41

Page 04

INSIDE

Highlights

12 16 20 30 42 60

Ben Hanlin Star of TV’s Tricked on getting married, moving house and starring at the Edinburgh Fringe

Patrick Hughes The influential Birmingham contemporary artist reveals the inspiration of his success Food and Drink Andrea Tragaj of Amantia on classics with a modern twist… and avoiding ready-meals at all costs!

Style Velvet’s back! No, really it is… See what all the crush is about in our AW16 fashion preview Homes It’s all about prints this season as the top interior designers ditch subtle and go for bold Up Close With…

James McLaughlin on his career journey from Southampton FC to CEO of Cure Leukaemia

16

30 04 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 04) contents:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:42

Page 05

CONTENTS

12

Best of the Rest

25 38 56 62 65 70 78 august 2016

Restaurant Reviews Carluccio’s Grand Central and Cau Brindleyplace, plus our gold medal-winning wines Health & Beauty Winning the battle of the wounded knee, plus Rose Gallagher’s top beauty buys Young, Gifted and Brummie Anton Douglas, former DJ who’s become a fashion designer, mentor and equality champion Company To Watch Punch Records – award-winning music and creative development business inspiring young people Spotlight on Business Our pick of the latest news and views making the headlines in the business community Social Scene The pages that picture who’s been out and about networking in Birmingham this month Shows, Arts, Gigs and More What’s on, where and when – all you need to know about the festive entertainment scene

birmingham living 05

BHAM_ (Page 06):Layout 1

24/7/16

20:52

Page 06

BHAM_ (Page 07) news:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:08

Page 07

NEWS

LEWIS GIVES IT SOME BRRRUM!

g n i v liTODAY Lewis Hamilton, Mo Farrah or last year’s winner Andy Murray? The eyes of millions of sports fans will be on Birmingham when the city hosts the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. The event will broadcast live from the Genting Arena on Sunday 18 December. Brum last hosted the show six years ago and director of BBC Birmingham Joe Godwin said: “We’re honoured to be rolling out the red carpet again.”

Bringing you the brightest and most colourful stories from across the city each month

YEAR OF THE ENGLISH GARDEN Green-fingered fans from community allotments to private gardens and civic parks across the Midlands are being encouraged to celebrate the Year of the English Garden as part of Heritage Open Days this September. The festival is joining in with the 300th anniversary of Capability Brown by showcasing some of the best public and private gardens in England, including Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

TUFFERS SPEAKS UP Former England cricket ace Phil Tufnell is raising funds for a Birmingham charity which supports bereaved children and families. The Question of Sport star lost his mum when he was 16 and is now backing Edgbaston-based Edward’s Trust. Phil is speaking at a special evening for the charity at the Belfry Hotel on 3 August.

august 2016

FUN IN THE PARK ParkLives is back in Birmingham for a third year with an exciting new line-up of free and fun outdoor activities. Hundreds of sessions are being held in more than 60 parks and green spaces in the city. The programme is run by Coca-Cola Great Britain in partnership with Active Parks Birmingham, part of the Birmingham Wellbeing Service. New sessions including laughter yoga, alongside returning favourites such as Zumba, Tai Chi and Nordic Walking.

birmingham living 07

BHAM_ (Page 07) news:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:08

Page 08

NEWS

CITY GETS WORLD CLASS MARATHON The first Birmingham International Marathon has been unveiled – with a pledge to make it as big as the London Marathon. TV athletics commentator Brendan Foster, chairman of the organisers, said: “Our ambition for the Birmingham Marathon is to do in the autumn what the London Marathon does in spring – to provide a world-class opportunity for top athletes through to people who just want to participate.” The inaugural race on Sunday 15 October 2017 starts at Alexander Stadium.

SISTER ACT COOKS UP A TREAT They’ve become favourite cooks on TV, so it’s no wonder everyone wanted to see food-loving sisters, Hemsley + Hemsley when they came to Lucky Onion’s No.38 The Park.

Jasmine and Melissa joined Brummie owners Sam and Georgie Pearman and guests, to give demonstrations and sign their new cookbook Good + Simple.

TV GARDENS MEMORIAL UNVEILED A special memorial has been unveiled in the former TV gardens in Kings Heath Park, Birmingham, now looked after by the disability charity Thrive. The bench is in memory of garden-loving grandad Nick McGrath whose family heard about the work of Thrive in a BBC Lifeline appeal by former pop star-turned gardener Kim Wilde. A collection at Nick’s funeral raised £900 which the family donated to the charity.

SAM SINGS FOR HER SUPPER X Factor winner Sam Bailey is joining Yummy Brummie Glynn Purnell at his Friday Night Kitchen live cooking event at Villa Park’s Holte Suite on 7 October. Sam will be one of the celebrity friends helping the Michelin-starred chef prepare four courses for the 400-plus guests, before performing two of her hits – all in aid of blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia.

08 birmingham living

CHERRY IS A BEACON OF CARE Inspirational carer Cherry Harvey has won a top award for her work with young adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs across Birmingham. She was named Exceptional Newcomer at the Birmingham Care Awards, which celebrate excellence in care delivery across the region. Cherry works in the support team at Precious Homes’ Arthur House and Chamberlain Road residential and supported living services.

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 07) news:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:09

Page 09

NEWS

BANDAGE BONKERS! More than 30,000 people from across the Midlands went bonkers in bandages in support of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s fourth annual fund-raiser, the Big Bandage.

Celebrities including Connie Talbot, UB40 and the cast of Doctors joined businesses, schools, community groups, patients and staff by putting on a bandage and making a donation.

IN BRIEF

BORN TO THE BOARD ROOM Drayton Manor Park held its first board meeting for its new directors – and they’re all aged between five and nineyears-old! Dressed in their best formal attire, the new recruits – led by Birmingham foursome Haydar Aslanturk, George Hayward and Reeyahs Daania, aged six, and Jesse Douglas, nine – started off with a brain-storming session with existing company director George Bryan.

TOP AWARD

SEA CENTRE’S BIRTHDAY BASH Birmingham’s National Sea Life Centre marked its 20th anniversary with the launch of its #IGrewUpWithSeaLife campaign.

The campaign asks visitors to share their memories of visiting the attraction over the last 20 years with photos uploaded to a special page on the attraction’s website: http://bit.ly/IGrewUpWithSeaLife

John Taylor Hospice is one of six social enterprises to be a national finalist in the UK Private Business Awards. The hospice, which left the NHS five years ago, was chosen by the awards voting panel after regional finals across the country.

CITY LAUNCH Coventry’s bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021 was given its public launch at the Coventry Godiva Festival More than 10,000 people visited the #ThisisCoventry Tent.” A successful bid could be worth up to £80million a year to the city.

ANYONE SEEN TOTO?

AGE BOOST

Guests from Birmingham’s business community joined Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion and travelled down the Yellow Brick Road to the launch of the Rep’s Christmas party offering for 2016, The Emerald Ball. As well as enjoying emerald green cocktails and sampling some tasty food, guests tried to help find Dorothy’s companion Toto...

Ageing Better in Birmingham, a Big Lottery Fund investment project designed to support isolated people over 50 across the city, has been officially launched. It has been given £6million to deliver the sixyear programme.

august 2016

birmingham living 09

BHAM_ (Page 07) news:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:09

Page 10

NEWS

GETTING SHIRTY FOR CHARITY Blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Centre for Clinical Haematology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital by attempting a world record for the most names included in the design of a running shirt. The charity’s Donate Your Name campaign asks for £20 to have a name included in the design of the commemorative garment. Details at www.donateyourname.co.uk

BIKEFEST SADDLES UP The world’s only pop-up StreetVelodrome wheeled into Birmingham to help launch Bikefest 2016. England footballer Danielle Carter tried out the track along with hundreds of schoolchildren from the Heartlands Academy and Swanhurst Girls School. HSBC UK was also announced as title sponsor for BikeFest – the free cycling event aimed at encouraging people to get riding – on Sunday, 18 September.

FESTIVAL IS A RECORD-BREAKER It makes for quite a sight! A record-breaking 88,000 Muslims gathered in Birmingham to celebrate the end of Ramadan in Europe’s largest festival of Eid. They attended morning prayer at Small Heath Park. Organised by Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre, Celebrate Eid has grown from 12,000 people at the first event in 2012.

EGGS AND CHIPS? ME? NO WAY! IT’S WAR… WATER WAR! Hatton Adventure World is launching an exciting new water-based interactive game for the summer holidays. Water Wars will see friends and family catapulting giant water balloons at each other during the (hopefully) hot summer months. The Warwickshire-based centre is the only attraction in the West Midlands to offer the game.

We all tell the odd white lie about what we eat… after all, junk food just tastes sooo good! If you’re a food fibber you’re not alone. One in four adults in Birmingham confesses to lying about their dinner choices. A new study for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board entitled More Than a Bit on the Side also reports two-thirds of Brummies said they aren’t confident enough to cook for other people.

GOT ANY NEWS? Email your news and pictures to editor@brumliving.co.uk 10 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 02):Layout 1

19/1/15

23:12

Page 02

BHAM_ (Page 12) ben:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:42

Page 12

COVER STORY

FRINGE BENEFITS Award-winning magician Ben Hanlin is appearing in his first-ever one-man show at this month’s Edinburgh Fringe. The star of TV’s Tricked spoke to David Johns ahead of the first night lot has happened in Ben Hanlin’s life since we last interviewed him more than two-and-a-half years ago.

For starters, he’s got married and moved house. He’s completed a further three series of his hit ITV show Tricked and picked up a clutch of awards for his mind-blowing illusioncreating along the way. And he’s also appeared in Live At The Palladium and in The Illusionists in the West End. This month sees a new exciting challenge for the 29-yearold Brummie as he launches his first-ever one-man show at the famous Edinburgh Fringe. Billed as ‘fresh and playful’ and cheekily-entitled Trickhead, it promises to make audiences ‘laugh out loud’ and leave ‘their minds totally boggled’.

Sounds impressive!

“It’s exactly the way you would do stand-up comedy. You start with a completely blank sheet of paper and begin writing ideas,” explained Ben. “I’ve had some warm-up gigs where I’ve been able to try some things out and work on them from there.

I’ve spent the last six months getting everything ready and now I’m really excited to get going.”

It might sound surprising that this is Ben’s first one-man show, afterall his career started out when he became an overnight sensation debuting his incredible tricks on YouTube. But so far his work has been mainly around Tricked, the prime-time hidden camera show where he has captured audiences with his – occasionally shocking – magic and boy next-door character.

A

MAGICAL MOMENTS Known for his unique pranks, Ben’s mischievous magic persuaded famous personalities to believe he had invented a time machine, convinced an actress to believe that she had seen a ghost and prompted a UK boy band to watch as one of their members fell off a cliff- top from a moving trailer. A ratings winner, Tricked was also named Best Entertainment Programme at the renowned Broadcast Digital Awards.

12 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 12) ben:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:42

Page 13

COVER STORY

“I love doing Tricked but the one-man show is something completely different and fresh,” said former Warwick School boy Ben. “I’ve had the opportunity to do Edinburgh Fringe a couple of times in the past but have had to pull out because I just couldn’t fit everything in. I want people to come to the show and see and experience some really magical moments but also to have a laugh at the same time too.”

The fusion of magic and comedy has always been what makes Ben the performer so different and successful. He’s able to produce astounding large-scale illusions or highly detailed close-up magic, all with his unique sense of humour. His oneman show bears all those traits – and even includes one trick based around a four-foot phone!

“

I’m still very much a Birmingham boy. All my family are still there and I present a radio show on Capital Birmingham every Saturday

august 2016

”

birmingham living 13

BHAM_ (Page 36):Layout 1

17/2/16

14:34

Page 36

BHAM_ (Page 12) ben:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:43

Page 15

“

COVER STORY

”

I want people to come to the show and experience magical moments but also to have a laugh too

If Trickhead proves to be a hit at the Fringe, it could be seen by wider audiences across the UK. “We’ll see how well it goes,” said Ben. “We could end up taking it around the UK or using bits of it towards something else, in some other way.”

Ben’s love of magic started young when as a shy lad he used tricks as a way of approaching girls he liked at his school. When he left school however, he took up a career as a chartered surveyor before deciding to risk all and try his hand as a full-time magician. He played a host of local venues including Hampton Manor, Wroxhall Abbey and Nailcote Hall before bursting onto the national scene with Tricked, which he cowrites as well as stars in.

RADIO SHOW “I spend a lot of time in London, and since getting married have moved there, but I’m still very much a Birmingham boy – I will never lose that,” said Ben. “All my family are still there and I present my Saturday afternoon radio show each week on Capital Birmingham.”

After his one-man shows Ben says he has “something else in the pipeline which will be very exciting”. Like all great illusionists, he’s keeping the exact details of how, what and when close to his chest for now. But he promises all will be revealed soon… I Trickhead is at the Edinburgh Fringe from 3 to 28 August.

More details and tickets www.livenation.co.uk

august 2016

birmingham living 15

BHAM_ (Page 16) patrick:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:43

Page 16

FEATURE

INFINITY RULES Regarded as one of the most influential painters of contemporary British art, Patrick Hughes mixes sculpture with pop art, surrealism and geometry. His inspiration? Hiding from the Germans in WWII irmingham born artist Patrick Hughes has blown many a mind with his 3-D ‘reverspective’ paintings that challenge the most logical of grey matter. The sculpted pieces inspired by optics, perspective and illusion have become his signature work since his first foray into reverse perspective in the Sixties with his seminal works aptly named Infinity and Sticking Out Room. He’s since exhibited all over the world building a large following and consistently selling out exhibitions.

Born in Brum in 1939, Hughes now works in London with a handful of assistants in his studio, creating large scale works that each take around six months to complete. Highly coveted, Patrick’s pieces typically start at a few thousand pounds with one recently selling for more than £100,000.

B

NEAR AND FAR The artist began his exploration into reverse perspective as an art student. He made a 3-D model of a room putting what the brain would ordinarily view as the furthest away i.e. the smallest bit, closest. There was nothing special about it when lying flat on the desk, but when Patrick hung it on a wall, the brain reversed the perspective correcting it if you like. This spawned the idea for the larger pieces although he didn’t fully commit to reverspectives until much later in his career and it wasn’t until the 1990s that Patrick began to make a proper living. In fact he lived in a squat for much of his mid-forties making a bit of money from the gallery, sales from postcards and prints, but nowhere near enough until the reverspectives took off.

16 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 16) patrick:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:43

Page 17

FEATURE

august 2016

birmingham living 17

BHAM_ (Page 16) patrick:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:44

Page 18

FEATURE

“

You’ll find a gaggle of people

”

surrounding his work, moving slowly around the piece in a state of awe, trying to work it out…

Apparently Patrick’s inspiration came from his experience of sheltering from German bombs under the stairs. The rather sad, but intriguing story goes, “when the Germans were trying to kill me, I used to hide with my mother under the stairs. The wooden stairs were shaped like my work in reverse. They were stairs that only a fly could climb. You couldn’t walk up these stairs.

And that’s what my work is like.”

He adds: “Similarly, at my grandmother’s house where we were hiding, there was a mirror on the wall in a tiny room and another opposite. And so one went to infinity. In a way, all this perspective leads to infinity, so between infinity and a reverse perspective, it’s from my childhood that I’ve been stimulated to make this work.”

Featured on BBC1’s The One Show in May, Patrick’s work had Phil Tufnell in a state of awe

18 birmingham living

which is a typical response. Superduperperspective which hangs at BMAG is often surrounded by a gaggle of people and not necessarily art lovers, but visitors to the museum of all ages moving slowly around the piece trying to work it out. It’s difficult to walk away.

TWIN TOWERS The subjects are varied. Landscapes, rooms and books tend to be central themes although for private commissions, Patrick’s led by the client, so anything’s possible. There’s a Beatles inspired work that’s particularly special, a depiction of Venice and a Twin Towers piece that was completed just four days before 9/11 which the artist thought would never be shown because it seemed ghoulish somehow. It was bought by one of the employees of Cantor Fitzgerald a couple of weeks after the attack where hundreds of his colleagues had died. It’s now in a private collection.

It’s impossible to appreciate the full impact of Patrick’s work from the images and words on these pages, but if you pop into BMAG in your lunch hour and take a look at Superduperperspective it’ll all become clear. Well, sort of… I

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 49):Layout 1

22/6/16

11:05

Page 49

il ving

BHAM_ (Page 20) chefscorner:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:44

Page 20

FOOD & DRINK

ANDREA TRAGAJ

The head chef and co-owner of Amantia on serving classics with a modern twist, his love of Iberian steak and pork, and hatred of the ready-meal aisle in supermarkets!

Tell us about your cooking My cooking style is classic but with a modern twist. I love the adrenaline rush of a busy shift and seeing the whole team coming together. What’s most important is translating all that hard work and passion that goes into creating the food across to our customers, so they feel what we do is great value for the money they are paying us.

How did you become a chef?

When I was 18, I got a job as a kitchen porter in a family-run Italian restaurant in Wolverhampton. The chef owner trained me as a chef and I realised I was good at it. I progressed pretty quickly and by the age of 21 I was head chef at a 90-cover restaurant in Birmingham city centre.

20 birmingham living

What do you eat when at home?

I enjoy simple, homemade comfort food such as roasts and stews.

Who’s the best chef in the world and why? And who’s the best in Brum?

There are too many great chefs in the world to narrow it down to just one, but among my favourites would have to be Juan Mari Arzak – the Basque owner of the three Michelin-starred restaurant bearing his name in San Sebastian. He’s great not just because of his unquestionable skill and success but also his personality. The best in Brum for me would have to be Adam Stokes. What he has achieved in Birmingham

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 20) chefscorner:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:45

Page 21

CHEF’S CORNER

For the recipe to make Andrea’s delicious Spanish Tortilla visit our website www.brumliving.co.uk

What was your favourite food as a kid?

I was born in Albania towards the end of the communist regime. After the fall of communism my parents were able to start growing their own vegetables and breed some farm animals.

Our diet was always seasonal, fresh and very Mediterranean.

Growing up, my mom’s lamb and butter bean stew was my favourite and in the summer I couldn’t get enough of our homegrown watermelons with home-made goat’s cheese.

Food heaven and food hell?

My heaven comes from a road trip across the north of Spain: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Pais Vasco. Rare steak with vegetables and a massive bowl of tomato and onion salad. Hell is anything served on a buffet, or the ready-meal aisle in the supermarket. Not keen on livers either!

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve eaten?

Alligator meat – interesting, but I found it tough and rubbery. in such a short period of time deserves a lot of praise and respect and having tried his food myself I can say it is spectacular.

Is the customer always right?

Haha, well of course they are always right! Either way we prefer to focus on the solution rather than the problem and make sure every customer leaves satisfied.

Share a cooking tip Cook chorizo in red wine, adding a pinch of sugar to take away the sharpness of the wine, for a simple yet delicious tapas dish.

august 2016

If you weren’t a chef, what would you be?

I would have joined the army. I have always been passionate about the military world and the sense of pride and satisfaction of doing something for your country.

What do you recommend from this evening’s menu?

One of my favourites… grilled Iberian pork shoulder with some roasted potatoes and vegetables. This meat, from specially bred Pata Negra pigs from Extremadura in Spain, is renowned worldwide for its luxurious flavour and it is usually cooked medium rare, something you wouldn’t do with traditional pork. I Amantia, 9-10 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, B2 5RS. Tel: 0121 643 3647 www.amantiarestaurant.co.uk

birmingham living 21

BHAM_ (Page 22) wine:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:46

Page 22

WINE

TASTE

OF CHAMPIONS

With the Olympics in full swing, Rob Price chooses his gold medal-winning wines n case you missed all the hoo-hah, the Olympic Games start in Rio on 5 August. More than 10,000 athletes will compete in the first Games held in South America. Spread over 19 days, 42 Olympic sports will provide an opportunity for 306 medals to be won. Winning a bronze, silver or gold medal is an amazing achievement and I can only imagine the sacrifice, hard work and dedication that goes in to claim one of these most coveted pieces of shiny metal.

It got me thinking about wine competitions. How hard does a wine need to ‘work’ to win a medal? In the UK we hold three of the biggest ‘International’ wine completions. While each wine producing country will run its own, normally regional awards, the UK goes large! Decanter, the IWC (International Wine Challenge) and the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Challenge) compete to deliver the most prestigious global wine competition.

I

HIGHER, STRONGER Bronze, silver and gold medals are awarded, but in the wine comps there’s an additional category – it’s called the commended wine. Now this I find interesting. What is a commended wine? Well it’s the vast majority of wines that didn’t win a bronze, silver or gold medal. I think it’s like in primary school where everyone wins a prize because they don’t want little Jonny going home sad.

Last year in just one of the three competitions 9,694 wines won an award. That’s a staggering 70 per cent of all wines entered. Tesco entered 112 own label wines and 98 per cent won an award. Now I am a fan of Tesco wines, but really! How does it help anyone when most wines win an award? I believe wines that win a gold or even silver medal will be good wines, but don’t forget that it’s still only someone’s opinion.

22 birmingham living

I’m not sure the Olympic motto of Citius, Altius, Fortius, which is Latin for Faster, Higher, Stronger, applies. But at least we know our wines are “clean” no added substances – or do we. Perhaps more of that in a future article...

We won’t mention that each wine competition charges about £100 per bottle to enter. Also every ‘winner’ has the opportunity to put a sticker on its wine, shouting about the success achieved. These stickers also cost money and it all adds up to several million pounds being earned by the awarding body. Good luck to them I say, but as with most things in life you need to sift through the dross to get to the good stuff.

So in this month’s Rob’s Four To Try, I’ve picked my own quartet of gold medal wines. One for each category.

White, red, sparkling and sweet. Now of course, these wines are just my opinion so why not pick your own gold medal wines. And then let me know and I’ll look to feature in my future tasting events. Just e-mail me at info@birminghamwineschool.com. My favourite suggestion will win a couple of places on one of my wine tasting evenings. I

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 22) wine:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:46

Page 23

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

ROB’S FOUR TO T RY New Zealand Sauvignon My first gold medal is awarded to Tesco Finest Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. This really is one the best New Zealand Sauvignons I have tasted. It has gorgeous tropical fruits in what is a very New World style, but wow it delivers. Priced at £8.99.

Argentinian Malbec This champion red is a long-time favourite of mine, Ben Marco 2013, an Argentinian Malbec. Wonderful complexity with subtle use of oak lends vanilla and coffee intertwined with its ripe black and red fruits. Majestic at around £13.

THE PARKTINI This twist on the classic Breakfast Martini is sweet and perfectly balanced he classic Breakfast Martini was created by Italian bartender Salvatore Calabrese in 2000 and is a gin martini with marmalade, orange liqueur and lemon juice.

The cocktail mixers at Park Regis Birmingham have produced their twist on the original with their signature Parktini which is sweet and perfectly balanced.

T

Ingredients:

Sparkling Franciacorta My sparkling wine gold medal goes to Italy – but not a Prosecco. The winner is a sparkling Franciacorta, NV. Stylish and sophisticated, it’s made the same way as Champagne and is vibrant fizz full of apples and pears. Marks & Spencer, £19.

Terrific Tokaji Aszú Top of the podium for dessert wine is Hungary’s Tokaji Aszú.

This sweet pudding wine has the most amazing aromas and tasting it delivers an experience that lingers on and on. Go for Royal Tokaji Blue Label 5 Puttonyos Aszú. Quite pricey at £12.29 for just a 25cl bottle. From Waitrose.

I 20ml Chambord I 20ml Blue Curacao I 20ml Beefeater gin I 25ml cranberry juice I 1 tblsp blackcurrant jam I 4 blueberries I 3 raspberries I Slice of lemon I Wedge of lime

Method: Muddle the fresh fruit and blackcurrant jam, add the spirits and cranberry juice and shake well with the lemon and lime. Double strain in the martini glass.

Park Regis Birmingham, 160 Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1DT. Tel: 0121 369 5555 www.parkregisbirmingham.co.uk

Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine education company offering fun, informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses, in Birmingham, Warwick and Milton Keynes. For more information, contact Rob Price on 0121 270 7359 or visit www.birminghamwineschool.com

august 2016

birmingham living 23

BHAM_ (Page 24):Layout 1

24 birmingham living

25/7/16

23:16

Page 24

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 25) restrev:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:48

Page 25

RESTAURANT REVIEW

CAU

3 Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2JB.

Tel: 0121 632 6001 www.caurestaurants.com e gave CAU (Carne Argentina Unica) a few months to bed in before we sampled the delights of Buenos Aires via Brindleyplace. The décor didn’t immediately scream Argentina. It’s pretty cool with an industrial vibe, so lots of metal and matte black juxtaposed with cute cloud shaped lighting and walls adorned with grass prints – a reminder of the grass-fed beasts straight from the pampas we’re about to tuck into. We found it pleasing in a kooky sort of way.

I liked the menu a lot. The trend for small plates either ordered as starters or in a tapas style is showing no sign of waning and was evident here. We both went traditional and chose a small plate followed by a large plate. I don’t like doing meat then more meat, so I munched my way through crunchy salt and pepper squid with a fiery little chipotle sauce that had a fair whack of heat and bags of black pepper. I loved it.

W

LET’S TALK CAUSLAW The other half didn’t give a stuff about eating too much meat. When in Rome was his view. Belly of pork tempura was a gem of a dish. It was a bit fatty, but once you’d got your head round its calorific might it was blooming lovely served with CAUchup – do you see what they did there?

A play on words is something the people behind CAU enjoy, for instance CAUslaw. We like coleslaw, but CAUslaw is in a different league altogether. We

august 2016

sampled it served with a perfectly cooked rib eye and it was so good it almost overshadowed the meat. There was nothing wrong with the steak – it was superb, but the CAUslaw was dreamy. Apparently the secret is condensed milk and chilli! Don’t think about it too much. Just trust us and give it a whirl although a word to the wise, one portion is more than enough for two.

Thin chips were crisp and fluffy and all the other things a top drawer chip should be.

I found yerba mate rump of lamb overpoweringly smoky for my taste. The highlight was a scrumptious side of coal roasted cauliflower and accompanying polenta mash. The waitress urged us to try the cornflake sundae which is apparently delicious, but the Pina CAUlada was winking at us. All the flavours of a pina colada on a plate, but so much better – roasted pineapple, rum, lime and coconut cream sorbet. It was a brilliantly zingy end to the meal. All in all we had a great time. It’s definitely more Brindleyplace than Buenos Aires and there’s nothing wrong with that. I

birmingham living 25

BHAM_ (Page 26) nibbles:Layout 1

FOOD & DRINK

22/7/16

13:49

Page 26

NIBBLES and

SHORTS

Birmingham has a lively and buzzing bar and restaurant scene. Here, we present our insider guide to what’s going on in your city’s eateries and drinking dens BRAZILIAN BLEND GROWING PLACES Birmingham’s premier Brazilian restaurant is set to launch a new dining concept. The continued success of Rodizio Rico in The Cube has prompted the business to expand its food offering. The reconfigured restaurant sees the neighbouring Bun and Bowl restaurant making way for a new fixed-price casual dining experience alongside the existing Brazilian churrascaria.

NEW ZEN METRO LAUNCHES Colmore Business District has always been the hub for great bars and restaurants in Birmingham and now it’s got even better with the launch of Zen Metro on Cornwall Street. Based on the site of the old Metro Bar and Grill, the new sophisticated restaurant and bar features a menu serving great Thai food.

TOP CHEF ADAM MAKES A MOVE Great news that Adam Brown has been appointed executive chef at Mallory Court Hotel, Leamington Spa, renowned for its awardwinning cuisine. Adam took up his post on 1 August after leaving Brockencote Hall Hotel in Worcestershire – also part of the Eden Hotel Collection. The new head chef at Brockencote is the hotel’s former sous chef, Tim Jenkins.

PROOF: GREENS ARE GOOD FOR YOU Opus at Cornwall Street has won the Best Greener and Healthier Lifestyles (Food) Scheme award at the Making Birmingham Greener and Healthier Awards – an accolade from Birmingham’s Green Commissions to celebrate businesses undertaking groundbreaking work with the environment. Opus was praised for its passion for sustainability with 90 per cent of its produce sourced in Britain, much of it around the Midlands.

BARDOLINO EXPRESSES ITSELF Marco Pierre White’s latest Birmingham venture, Bardolino Pizzeria, Bellini and Espresso Bar, is pulling in the punters we hear since opening a couple of weeks ago. The ‘ultra-casual’ dining concept serves up an all-day express menu of authentic Italian food, coffees and Bellinis from its canalside location in The Cube.

INDIA’S FINEST TAKES THE CROWN Itihaas Restaurant has been named Most Authentic Indian Dining Establishment – Birmingham at this year’s LUX Hospitality Awards.

The awards celebrate the best in the business, from restaurants and hotels to tourist attractions and entertainment venues. Itihaas, which has a restaurant on Fleet Street and Brasserie in Selfridges, was named the judges’ choice for its authentic Indian cuisine.

26 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 27):Layout 1

august 2016

25/7/16

23:21

Page 27

birmingham living 27

BHAM_ (Page 28):Layout 1

28 birmingham living

25/7/16

23:19

Page 28

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 29) lunchspot:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:55

Page 29

LUNCH SPOT

CARLUCCIO’S GRAND CENTRAL Stephenson St, Grand Central, Birmingham B2 4DH. Tel: 0121 643 0009 www.carluccios.com hadn’t eaten at Carluccio’s since being a yummy-ish mummy in Richmond in 2007. My overriding memory is of juggling a new-born while trying to eat a bowl of pasta, hold an adult conversation and praying that other diners wouldn’t mind a spot of discreet breast feeding or notice my top was on inside out. And breathe.

This time round was a much more relaxed affair sans babies. Not exactly in a prime spot in Grand Central, the restaurant is tucked round a corner away from the hubbub which was no bad thing actually. The décor was stylish and comfortable with well-spaced tables and the staff were warm. The menu was much more reasonable than I remembered although the ludicrous wealth of Richmond probably explains that. Full of summery Mediterranean dishes, the set daytime menu at £11.99 for two courses looked like a steal.

A zingy Summer Garden mocktail with elderflower, cucumber and limonata hit the spot and wasn’t too sweet – the downfall of most mocktails I’ve tried – while the friend enjoyed a glass of Sicilian white while telling me for the fourth time he’d interviewed Antonio Carluccio in the flesh and what a lovely fella he was.

The set menu ticked all of my boxes so I stuck with that and devoured a tasty bruschetta to start. Fresh basil, garlic, flavoursome tomatoes, good quality olive oil. The friend ordered from the main menu to sample one of his

I

august 2016

favourites, arancini. Two varieties of the rice balls were served, one with gorgonzola and courgette and the other ‘nduja (spicy Italian pork sausage) and mozzarella. Both packed a punch in terms of flavour, but could have done with being a tad crisper.

Then I was treated to a wonderfully simple and delicious spinach and ricotta ravioli with melted butter and sage. It was a pleasing bright yellow and utterly scrumptious and fitted the theme of the menu which is ‘minimum of fuss, maximum of flavour’. The friend went for chicken Milanese – flattened chicken breast encased in breadcrumbs. It was crisp, succulent and tasty. A side of crunchy, rosemary, roast potatoes were moreish. I may have nabbed a few.

Fantastic coffee followed as you’d expect. The lunchtime crowd was a mixed bunch and included shoppers taking the weight off, professionals on their lunch break and yummy mummies looking way more relaxed and yummy than I ever did. I

birmingham living 29

ing livSTYLE

BHAM_ (Page 30) style:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:57

Page 30

AWESOME AUTUMN Not wanting to wish the summer away, we’re looking ahead to our favourite season. Boots, coats, knits, rich colours – what’s not to like?

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL Coat £40, jumper £10, dress £18 and shoes £14, Primark, The Fort

30 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 30) style:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:57

Page 31

STYLE

t’s easier to look chic in a lustworthy pair of boots and a dropdead gorgeous coat than teetering on the brink of Ab Fab territory in a kaftan and sliders. So, we’re welcoming AW16 with open arms and a wellstocked wallet to take advantage of a season packed full of wearable trends we’ll be opting into.

Not least velvet. Crushed, coloured, head-to-toe or subtle, velvet does the comforting yet chic thing with glamorous aplomb. Bottega Veneta’s quilted lilac bag from Selfridges is top of the accessory tree while we predict Debenhams will have a sell-out on their hands of their military-style cropped velvet jacket complete with gold embroidered detailing.

Monsoon has some cracking wide leg trousers made from the stroke-able stuff while over at Hobbs we’re looking forward to swishing around in the full-length Mayella turtle neck dress. Carvela has created the ultimate velvet pump pictured in navy. Not sure how they’ll cope with a Great British downpour, but worth a look.

I

BOUNCING BACK Checks are back on the high street big time – did they ever leave? Cute checked minis like the Debenhams version enhanced by a glossy leather waistband are perfect with a pair of opaque tights and killer boots. Next and River Island both have reasonably priced checked coats that punch way above their price tag.

Sportsluxe can be a tricky look to pull off. This season we’re seeing slouchy hoodies and anoraks teamed with full skirts and statement jewellery or leather skinnies for ultimate cool.

Topshop has choice in spades and we particularly like its metallic jacket with blue furry collar and striped trim and it’s wearable even if you’re more Kirsty Allsopp than Kate Moss.

august 2016

DOWN TIME Available from House of Fraser, Corporation St

KILLER HEEL Deneuve leopard print heel £75, BIBA at House of Fraser, Corporation St

THINK PINK Velvet dress £45, Debenhams, Bullring

Puffa jackets come round every autumn and this season we’re seeing posh versions popping up too. Stella McCartney, DKNY and Balenciaga all have luxury items while the high street is awash with masses of colour variations and cuts.

Animal prints are always a winner when done well. Calvin Klein, Givenchy and Dolce and Gabbana led the way on the AW16 catwalks and this has filtered down to some fantastic examples on the high street. Go head-to-toe with House of Fraser’s jumpsuit or check out the Lockdown boot from Office for a more subtle way to wear the look. I

SMART SET Checked coat, River Island, The Fort

birmingham living 31

BHAM_ (Page 30) style:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:57

Page 32

STYLE

ECLECTIC MIX Per Una coat £149, M&S Collection dress £49.50, tights £9.50 and shoes £29.50, M&S

RED ALERT Checked mini £35, Debenhams, Bullring

BOOTS MADE FOR WALKING Lockdown boots £95, Office, Bullring

CRIMSON SPIED Red velvet suit jacket £60, Wallis, New Street

RIGHT STRIPES

RICH RED

Velvet bomber, River Island, The Fort

Mayella dress in burgundy £349, Hobbs, Grand Central

INVESTMENT PIECE Saint Laurent monogram velvet shoulder bag £1,220, Selfridges, Bullring

CHECK MATE Coat £28, Next, The Fort

32 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 30) style:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:57

Page 33

STYLE WILD THING

TWINKLE TOES

Available from House of Fraser, Corporation St

Lazer glitter-panel velvet trainers £110, Carvela at Selfridges, Bullring

HEAVY METAL Available from Topshop, The Fort

ARM CANDY Bottega Veneta Olimpia velvet quilted shoulder bag £1,055, Selfridges, BullringFort

GRRREAT BOOTS Otto boot £115, Dune, Bullring

august 2016

birmingham living 33

BHAM_ (Page 30) style:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:58

Page 34

STYLE TRUE BLUE Amorel Mary Jane £75, Dune, Bullring

MILITARY VIBE ANIMAL MAGIC

Available from House of Fraser, Corporation St

Pimlico cross body bag £160, Hobbs, Grand Central

CHANGE YOUR SPOTS Coat £95, Debenhams, Bullring

TWO IN ONE Velvet puffa, Topshop, Bullring

GROWN UP CHIC Available from Monsoon, Bullring

TOP-TO-TOE GLAMOUR USE YOUR HEAD Velvet cap £9.99, New Look, The Fort

34 birmingham living

Available from House of Fraser, Corporation St

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 35):Layout 1

august 2016

26/7/16

22:06

Page 35

birmingham living 35

BHAM_ (Page 36) menstyle:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:58

Page 36

STYLE FOR MEN

THE

F-WORD AW16 is coming people and it’s all about function… deep pockets, earthy tones and bodywarmers!

PICK POCKETS Jacket £19, jumper £10, jeans £10 and boots £19, Primark, Bullring

36 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 36) menstyle:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:58

Page 37

STYLE FOR MEN

KHAKI DREAM Shacket £32, Next, Bullring

OH THIS OLD THING Cashmere blend Fisherman ribbed jumper £119, Jigsaw, Cannon St

HOOD WINKED Anorak £90, Next, Bullring

ranted, there’s always an element of utility chic happening, so there’s nothing new there, but this season function is even more of a buzzword than ever before. The clever sticks at Belstaff are leading the charge with cool well-crafted pieces that are a doddle to pull off.

Subtle layering is key as are pockets particularly of the chest variety and autumnal earthy tones. Bodywarmers are having a moment and thankfully, their new incarnation is less point-to-point and more Digbeth Dining Club. Check out Astrid Anderson’s heavy cropped version or Gieves and Hawkes for a more traditional look.

The only rule is that a utility vibe is an off duty FULL PADDED JACKET understated look that should never ever look like Reversible nylon shirt jacket £125, Jaeger, Mailbox you’ve tried too hard. No camo please.

G

PACK UP Backpack £17.99, New Look, The Fort MADE FOR WORKING Belstaff Trialmaster buckle leather boots £425, Selfridges, Bullring

TOO HOT Burnt orange collared jacket £29.99, New Look, The Fort

august 2016

SO OVER IT Italian wool cotton overshirt £98, Jigsaw, Cannon St

birmingham living 37

BHAM_ (Page 38) health:Layout 1

22/7/16

13:59

Page 38

HEALTH

BATTLE OF

WOUNDED KNEE More than two million working days are lost each year in the UK due to knee injuries – but new treatments being pioneered locally aim to cut the number nobbly, hairy, or waxed and smooth as silk.

Knees come in all shapes, sizes and ‘finishes’.

But whichever best describes yours, knees all have one thing in common. They’re the largest and most complicated joint in the human body and, with the possible exception of our hands, they have the toughest job.

When you walk, your knee bears a force that’s up to five times your body weight with every step. So, even if you’re a featherweight 120lbs, that’s a force of getting on for 600lbs. No wonder our knees get sore and damaged so easily. To prove the point, 2.4 million work days are lost in the UK every year because of lower limb disorders (HSE) and damage to the knee is among the most common injuries, especially in those playing sports.

K

EASILY OVERLOOKED “We see a lot of knee injuries in sport but more serious joint injuries can be overlooked and treated as ligament sprains,” said Ashvin Pimpalnerkar, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Spire Hospital Little Aston. He has a wealth of experience treating sports injuries both in the UK and abroad, working as club surgeon at Birmingham and Walsall Football Clubs and with the Calgary Flames ice hockey team in Canada.

“The knee joint is particularly vulnerable to damage and pain because it takes the full weight of your body and any extra force when you run or jump,” he explained.

“You’re more likely to experience knee pain as you get older, and people who are overweight or do lots of sports have a higher risk of damaging their knees. Some sports that involve a lot of turning, such as football, netball and skiing, carry a particularly high risk of injury. My advice

38 birmingham living

with knee injuries is always to get them accurately diagnosed and treated as soon as possible because any delay can cause serious changes to the joint.”

The good news is that a host of new techniques are being used by specialists to improve knee injury treatment and rehabilitation. We asked Mr Pimpalnerkar about some of the latest developments in knee surgery and how patients with knee pain can expect to make a faster recovery than ever before.

NEW TREATMENTS Surgery of the knee and ligaments now uses advanced robotic devices combined with complex imaging technology to allow procedures to be carried out through small incisions. This can result in less pain, blood loss and faster recovery for patients. “Computer-assisted surgery is a technique that uses 3D imaging and real-time monitoring in surgery,” said Mr Pimpalnerkar. “This has distinct advantages over conventional techniques and allows for better visualisation and improves the accuracy and precision of the surgical procedures.”

Cartilage injuries cause pain, swelling and reduced movement of the knee and are the result of general wear and tear or through a specific injury. The latest techniques to treat these injuries involve harvesting cartilage cells through keyhole surgery and culturing and multiplying them in the laboratory. They are then re-injected into the knee at a later stage.

“We are now able to preserve the life of the knee joint in some patients using techniques such as a cartilage transplant. This enables the patient to extend the life of their knee, minimise future damage and continue their active lifestyle for longer,” said Mr Pimpalnerkar. I

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 38) health:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:00

Page 39

HEALTH

>> KNOW YOUR KNEES There are four major bones in the knee – the femur, tibia, fibula and patella – and three joints.

The knee has 14 ligaments – seven intracapsular ligaments, including the anterior cruciate (ACL) and posterior cruciate (PCL), and seven extracapsular ligaments, including the medial collateral (MCL) and the lateral collateral (LCL).

More than 100,000 people a year undergo knee surgery in the UK alone.

97% of knee replacements are carried out due to arthritis.

Spire Hospital in Little Aston treated more than 300 knee patients in 2015.

Mr Ashvin Pimpalnerkar is consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Spire Hospital Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, B74 3UP. Tel: 0121 580 7119 www.spirelittleaston.com

august 2016

birmingham living 39

BHAM_ (Page 40) beauty:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:00

Page 40

BEAUTY

BEAUTY

AND BRAINS

With so many innovative new formulas to browse, beauty has taken a turn for the smarter says expert Rose Gallagher. Here are some clever new additions she can’t get enough of…

Lancome Grandiose Liner, £23 from John Lewis Always gracing a pristine, feline flick, I was so excited to see Lisa Eldridge’s stamp on the new liquid liner from Lancome. The nib can be locked to tilt to the left or to the right, making it easy to achieve a perfect liner flick on each eye. Left-handed girls are going to love this.

Nannette de Gaspe Restorative Techstile Face Mask, £85 from Selfridges One of the only downsides to a relaxing sheet mask is how sloppy they can be, which is why I was amazed to discover Nanette de Gaspe’s creations were completely dry. The ingredients in the sheet are activated by gentle massage, meaning neat and tidy results.

Rodial Instaglam Compact Deluxe Banana Powder, £52 from Harvey Nichols For those who like to bake their foundation (a technique involving setting your concealer with an excess of powder to achieve a flawless finish), the Rodial Banana Powder is a must-have. The creamy yellow hue also works well to neutralise redness in the skin.

40 birmingham living

Jo Malone Intense Creme, £60 from Jo Malone Boutique To add an instant and lasting depth to your favourite fragrance, try layering the new Jo Malone Intense Body Crème underneath it. Four of the best-loved Intense colognes have been reworked into a nourishing, creamy formula.

Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Nightly Refining Micro-Peel, £40 from Selfridges For me, the new Kiehl’s peel has worked like a magic wand against my pores. Work this into your existing regime to gently resurface the skin, unveiling fresh, plump skin by morning.

Erborian CC Creme, £17 from Selfridges Famed in the beauty industry for creating the very first BB cream, Erborian’s next step, the CC Creme, is a single step to an even complexion. One pump works to colour correct any uneven pigment in the skin, tackling a multitude of skin concerns in one fell swoop.

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 41):Layout 1

27/7/16

12:15

Page 41

ng il viHOMES

BHAM_ (Page 42) homes:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:02

Page 42

PERFECT

PRINTS We’re ditching cream and plunging headlong into

heavenly prints this season. See you on the other side.

RICH PICKINGS Matthew Williamson’s Duresta sofa available from Cookes, Erdington

42 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 42) homes:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:02

Page 43

HOMES

PATCHWORK BLUE Cushion £30. Debenhams

COPPER TOP Tom Dixon Etch tea light holder £40, Selfridges

CLEAN LINES Furniture and accessories available from Home Sense

e’re all for a clean, minimalist space or pared back Scandi vibe, but this season’s penchant for prints has won us over.

None more so than Matthew Williamson’s swirling Duresta collection (pictured). If a whole sofa in the rich, ornate print is too much for your taste try a few scatter cushions on a plain sofa for a more subtle look. Personally we’d go the whole hog.

Florals are always around in various forms and this season is no different with big, bold blooms and delicate ditsy prints putting in an appearance. Mix the two for a striking but casual effect. Missoni’s Sorrento pouf (pictured) is our favourite floral.

W

MATCH & PATCH Patchwork is having a moment too. If you’ve ever frequented the Belfry think about the sumptuous patchwork chair on the way in to the Ryder Grill.

This is the look we’re after. An oversized wing

august 2016

birmingham living 43

BHAM_ (Page 42) homes:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:02

Page 44

HOMES

DISPLAY AWAY Peacock feather cushion £25, Debenhams

FRESH COLOURS Furniture and accessories (dog not included) available from Oliver Bonas

TRADITIONAL CHARM Dalby sofa in landscape toile £1,499, M&S

backed chair covered in the hotch-potch print or a footstool adorned with the colourful fabric would work well. Debenhams has a great patchwork cushion for the less committed.

Geometrics are never out of favour and this season rugs are a highlight. Check out Heal’s, Oliver Bonas and Lee Longlands for some stand out examples. A country house vibe is still on trend with woodland prints adorning cushions and sofas in muted traditional tones. Peacocks and butterflies all feature heavily. See the M&S examples pictured. I

44 birmingham living

RUG’S LIFE Geometric rug and accessories available from House of Fraser

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 42) homes:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:03

Page 45

HOMES

MONO MADNESS Day Birger et Mikkelsen mono urg £379, Amara

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS Missoni Home Suomi cushion £226, Amara

TRUE BLUE Kilim blue grid rug £175, Oliver Bonas FLOWER POWER Missoni Home Sorrento pouf £292, Amara

august 2016

birmingham living 45

BHAM_ (Page 42) homes:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:03

Page 46

HOMES

WILD THING Furniture and accessories available from Primark BUTTERFLY EFFECT Harper footstool in papillon green £279, M&S HOTCH POTCH Furniture and accessories available from Home Sense

FEATHER WEATHER Cake plate £6, M&S WATCH THE BIRDIE Bird print cushion £30, House of Fraser

46 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 24):Layout 1

23/5/16

23:43

Page 24

BHAM_ (Page 48) auction:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:05

Page 48

AUCTIONS

CRATE EXPECTATIONS Reuse, remodel, recycle – the trend of upcycling encompasses everything from scaffold poles to discarded pallets rom cutesy teacup candles to tables made from industrial scaffolding poles, the trend of upcycling can be seen around the home and beyond. Where recycling is the process of converting materials into a different product, upcycling is sometimes known as ‘creative reuse’.

It means that unwanted or waste products can be made into something new and beautiful. Where an object or item that has been lost, forgotten or becomes useless it is given a new lease of life – an ugly factory wall lamp becomes a stylist desk lamp or an old tired pallet becomes a coffee table.

While it may be tempting to buy the perfectly distressed finished product from a stylish interior design boutique, half the fun is in the task itself. Upcycling your pieces is a practical money saving exercise, as well as a great project.

As well as being financially beneficial it can also be hugely practical because something like old furniture is generally very well made and durable. And there’s always the pleasure of knowing you’re helping to conserve existing resources and helping reduce waste as well as meaning that you’ll be creating an original bespoke piece.

F

48 birmingham living

As an example of being financially beneficial take a simple dining table and chairs. A whitewashed dining table can cost anything from £300 for a small one, on top of which you still have to buy the chairs which will most likely set you back £100 apiece. If, however, you are willing to do a little gentle searching you can pick up a full set for £100 at auction. All you need is a little imagination, a bit of time and an experimental attitude. And if you’re not happy with the initial results don’t be afraid of doing it again.

Customising and upcycling furniture is probably easier than you might think so unleash the style guru inside and if you are new to the world of auctions you may well find it a fun, exciting way to be a savvy shopper. You can view the pieces before the sale starts and take advantage of the knowledgeable experts on staff. They are the best people to advise on how to repair, remodel and reuse – they have seen it all before. I For more information contact Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham www.fellows.co.uk

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 19):Layout 1

22/6/16

11:04

Page 19

BHAM_ (Page 50) hot property:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:09

Page 50

HOMES

Hot Properties This month’s pick of the homes for sale includes the UK’s most energy-efficient house as well as country living and a city centre penthouse

MEET THE GREEN KING The Autonomous House, Pershore Guide price: £580,000 Agent: Fine and Country, tel: 01926 455950 Offering loads of space and gorgeous views, this unique and impressive home has been described as the UK’s most energyefficient private house. Includes four-double bedrooms, a large open-plan lounge/dining area with vaulted ceiling and a twostorey conservatory with balcony and sun terrace.

50 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 50) hot property:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:09

Page 51

HOMES

COUNTRY CRACKER Broad Lane, Tanworth-in-Arden Guide price: £1.295million Agent: Hunters, tel: 01564 770707 A lovely five-bedroom detached country home set in nearly an acre of established gardens. There’s also a roof terrace which overlooks the rear garden, three large reception rooms and a cracking open plan dining/living breakfast kitchen.

august 2016

birmingham living 51

BHAM_ (Page 50) hot property:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:09

Page 52

HOMES

BRICKS&BITS

PROPERTY STAR’S MOVE One of the area’s best-known residential property experts has joined the Birmingham office of Cushman & Wakefield. Previously a director at CBRE, Eleanor Deeley has been appointed head of residential and is tasked with building on a client base that includes Countryside, Redrow, National Grid and Birmingham City Council.

SALE BEATS BREXIT BLUES SDL Bigwood’s latest auction achieved the second best-ever set of results despite fears of a post-Brexit slump in property prices. Held in the Holte Suite at Villa Park, 106 of 129 lots were sold raising more than £15million. Head of auctions Jonnie Hackett said: “We sold all the lots for Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Sandwell councils and other categories were not far behind.”

PARADISE IS COMING Carillon, the company that led the development of the Library of Birmingham, has won the contract to build One Chamberlain Square, the first phase of the Paradise Circus redevelopment and the new home of PwC’s headquarters. The financial organisation will occupy four-and-half floors of the seven-storey building from early 2019.

From the industry’s movers and shakers to the latest groundbreaking developments… email your property news and pictures to shelley@brumliving.co.uk

52 birmingham living

PENTHOUSE VIEWS Mason Way, Birmingham Guide price: £350,000 Agent: Maguire Jackson, tel 0121 634 1520 This stylish, luxury two-bedroom penthouse apartment in the Park Central development boasts an open plan living area, two double bedrooms, including an en suite bathroom, and a large terrace overlooking the city centre.

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 50) hot property:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:09

Page 53

HOMES

PARKLAND SETTING Rowney Green Lane, Alvechurch Guide price: £1.5million Agent: Fine and Country, tel: 0121 746 6400

A wonderful and historic eight-bedroom property that’s full of charm and set within ancient parkland and an estate that extends to more than 15 acres. The property also includes two separate residential annexes.

MODERNISED COTTAGE Birmingham Road, Stoneleigh Guide price: £775,000 Agent: Fine and Country, tel: 01926 455950 Beautifully presented, this five-bedroom period cottage has been modernised throughout and boasts three further receptions, a substantial outbuilding and detached summerhouse with a large south-facing garden.

Don’t miss Property of the Week on our Facebook page every Thursday www.facebook.com/bhamliving

august 2016

birmingham living 53

BHAM_ (Page 54) motors:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:11

Page 54

MOTORING

MILESTONE FOR

LONGBRIDGE Sue Cooke gets to grips with MG’s impressive all-new GS SUV he iconic MG is back, celebrating a milestone with its first all-new SUV designed and engineered by staff based at Longbridge in collaboration with Chinese designers and engineers. MG promotes the new GS model as a global product, but the key thing is that it’s creating British jobs.

Before the launch in June, Brummies even helped to put forward suggestions for trim level names.

Nearly 2,000 names were suggested for the trim, which depicts the grades of a model and differentiates the features and equipment available. MG expects Explore, the entry level model starting at £14,995, will sell around 10 per cent, while Excite is expected to notch up 40 per cent of purchases, with the top of the range Exclusive accounting for 50 per cent.

T

54 birmingham living

Equipment specification is high with the entry level offering cruise control, automatic headlamps and air-conditioning. Excite adds DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and rear parking sensors while Exclusive has leather sports seats that are electrically adjustable and an iGO navigation system as well as a choice of transmission.

Introducing its first-ever seven-speed automatic gearbox, the model with Dual Clutch Transmission will cost £20,995 and has a seamless transmission with paddleshift technology.

I really like the stylish exterior design while the cabin in this family car is spacious. Rear seats recline in three different positions and fold completely flat to the floor, so it’s excellent for carrying large loads.

Upfront, a large screen shows all the necessary

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 54) motors:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:11

Page 55

MOTORING

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Model: MG GS Explore Price: £14,995 otr Engine: 1.5-litre Performance: 0-60mph in 9.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 118mph CO2 emissions: 139 g/km Combined fuel consumption: 46.3 mpg

information using state of the art technology. A commanding driving position gives good all-round vision, apart from the rear windscreen which is narrow as the design of the roof sits low, but it doesn’t hamper the all-round view.

The two-wheel drive SUV has a competitive towing mass of 1,750kg, making it suitable for pulling a large family caravan. MG says that 70 per cent of sales in this market sector are two-wheel drive models so there are no plans to sell the fourwheel drive in the UK, although that option is currently available in China.

MG also says that there is no diesel engine because most buyers of the GS will be retail customers who prefer petrol. The torquey fourcylinder, 1.5-litre turbo Gasoline Central Direct Injection powerplant is a lightweight, all-aluminium unit and is developed in partnership with GM

august 2016

Motors. Useful stop-start technology cuts CO2 emission levels to 139g/km.

Richard Batho, vehicle chief engineer of UK Programmes at Longbridge told me that while there is no diesel engine planned for the UK currently, there may be a hybrid or electric model on the horizon. The 150 engineers are working globally on a number of advanced engineering projects which is exciting news for job creation in Birmingham.

The GS adds to the two cars that are currently coming off the Longbridge assembly lines, the MG6 and the MG3 – all British sporting vehicles with British style and sold at a competitive price. What MG is offering on the GS which the company says demonstrates its confidence in its products is a fiveyear warranty.

So right up your street, designed and engineered with British and Chinese collaboration, the MG GS is the third British model which promises an exciting future for the brand as it looks at opportunities to continue to expand its model range. I

SHOWROOM: MG Sales Centre, Lowhill Lane, Longbridge, Birmingham B31 2BQ. Tel: 0121 251 6533 www.birmingham.mg.co.uk

birmingham living 55

BHAM_ (Page 56) young, gifted:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:13

Page 56

YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

ANTON DOUGLAS The former DJ, fashion designer, mentor, equality champion and all-round nice guy tells us how a brief brush with banking left him craving creativity and control efore Anton launched fashion label Sneaker Club he was heavily involved in the DJ scene in the UK and across Europe for seven successful years. Rather than working solo as many DJs do, Anton was part of a collective… well two actually. First came Logistics which was a large bunch and then Sneaker Club consisting of three DJs and a live band which was pretty unusual.

The idea for the label was born out of his experience with the group hence the name. Anton explains: “We met this guy who told us to make the most of what we had. He thought we could do really well from merchandising. So we started buying in blank apparels and customising them and it worked pretty well.”

B

SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM Reluctantly, the collective disbanded when some members felt demotivated by low record sales and Anton found himself looking for a ‘normal’ job. He ended up working in finance where the only flash of

56 birmingham living

creativity was deciding which tie to wear with which suit. He recalls: “It was a shock to the system. I stuck it out for a year then I had to call it quits.”

When Anton decided to give fashion a try, Sneaker Club was the obvious name and he set about designing. His clothes are genderless which is important. Anton says: “I like to challenge society’s ideals. Why should boys wear blue and girls pink?

The minute a child is born they’re put in a box. It’s not equal.” He adds: “Girls have been buying from men’s departments for years and I used to work with this serious rock dude who wanted extra skinny jeans so he’d buy girl’s. That’s quite common now.” The lines are blurred.

The idea behind the label whose designs ooze urban simplicity is anything you might wear with sneakers, so there are plenty of cool tees as well as

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 56) young, gifted:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:13

Page 57

YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

jackets and accessories plus a bespoke service. Anton’s keen to ensure that the label is inclusive from a cost point of view as well as gender, so items range from £5 to £300. He has an advantage over some designers in that he’s versatile, so he’s in control. “I can design, pack and cut, sew and finish, so that’s given me a bit of a leg up.” The clothing is stocked in concept store Bene Culture in the Custard Factory as well as online, plus Anton has his movable concept store in the form of his very cool matt black van which makes going to trade shows easy and effective.

JUGGLING ACT A studio in the Custard Factory seemed the natural fit, so a year ago that’s where Anton set up. Surrounded by other creatives and independents it’s the ideal hub.

The last two years have been a juggling act between

august 2016

studying fashion and developing the label with 2am finishes and 8am starts a frequent happening.

Post-graduation Anton is enjoying focusing on the label and catching up on development. Having said that, he’s finding time to give back a bit too. After being invited to speak at BCU earlier in the year, he receives and answers e-mails from students regularly asking for advice or wanting to come and see him in the studio. “It’s fascinating to me that people are remotely interested in what I do. I didn’t intend to make clothes. I just loved the idea of doing something for myself and championing my own ideas.” I

SNEAK PEEK Check out Sneaker Club at sneakerclubclothing.co.uk or pop into Bene Culture on Gibb Street

birmingham living 57

BHAM_ (Page 58) school report:Layout 1

25/7/16

23:30

Page 58

GROWING PLACES

LIFE-SAVING FUND DELIVERS The local Charlie Ramsey Research Fund children’s charity has provided a lifesaving defibrillator at Sutton Coldfield School for Girls. The charity, set up to research why children are born with only half a functioning heart, is hoping more schools across the UK will be equipped with the machine. Trustee Natal Chapman said: “I am delighted the charity is able to help this school. The number of lives a defibrillator can save is phenomenal.”

HAND OVER: Head teacher Maggie Shackleton with Debbie Lynch, Natal Chapman, Sandra, Jill Lewis, Sue Falconer and Hilary Cannan

SCHOOL REPORT

Birmingham Living is co mmitted to highlighting the best of our schools and colleges. Here’s ou r round-up of the latest stand-out news and ev ents

WINNER: Daniel Hipgrave with host and best-selling author and educator, Prof Gervase Phinn

TOP TEACHING CELEBRATED Four teachers from the Black Country have been recognised at the Academy Transformation Trust’s first Teaching Awards. Teachers were nominated by principals, governors and pupils. Languages teacher Daniel Hipgrave from Bristnall Academy received the international/languages award while Karen Coldicott from Jubilee Academy Mossley picked up the teaching assistant prize. From Pool Hayes Academy Abbi Williams, head of technologies won the Excellence in Arts and Creativity award and Tom Harris, head of communication, took the Innovation in Learning and Teaching award.

58 birmingham living

AQUATHLON TEAM MAKES A SPLASH Bromsgrove School’s aquathlon team placed first overall at an invitational meet at Malvern College’s annual event. A combined boys and girls Prep School team competed in the event that consisted of a 100m swim and 800m run with all the positions for each school then combined to create an overall score. Bromsgrove had two individually placed athletes, Louise Osborne who won the U11 category and second-placed William Brown.

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 58) school report:Layout 1

25/7/16

23:30

Page 59

GROWING PLACES

WORLD CLASS RESULTS FOR KES King Edward’s School has once again produced world class IB Diploma results. Out of a group of 111 pupils, 50 per cent achieved 40 points or more (higher than 4A* at A-Level) with three boys scoring the top mark of 45 points – a result only achieved by 146 pupils out of 150,000 IB students worldwide. Twenty-three Oxbridge places are confirmed.

TOP TRIO: Joshua Kimblin, Alex Fung and Sam Shah

PRIMARY WATERCOLOURS Hallfield School welcomed St Peter’s CE Primary School, Harborne Junior School and St George’s CE Primary School to its first Primary Art Exhibition. The Upper School Hall was converted into an art gallery and there was real enthusiasm as children, staff and parents made their way around the show. The work impressed special guest and judge, local illustrator Megan Walker.

WELL DONE: The team collect their award from top chef Anton Mossimann

SUPER COOKS TASTE SUCCESS University College Birmingham has scooped the prestigious Nestle Professional Toque D’Or – the nation’s top student culinary awards. UCB’s winning trio of Mega Lyke, Katie Lewis and Jack Gameson saw off tough competition from 156 teams, wowing the judges in a series of challenges including serving a threecourse fine dining menu to 48 VIPs.

GROW YOUR OWN CHAMPIONS Oval Primary School has been crowned champions of the nationwide Alpro and WWF UK recipe competition Plant2Plate.

The school’s winning cottage pie included many ingredients grown on their own allotment. CBBC TV presenter Cel Spellman presented the pupils with their prize, pictured, which they will spend on creating an orchard and a new shed. Cel said: “It was a privilege to crown them as the very worthy winners.”

august 2016

birmingham living 59

BHAM_ (Page 60) upclose:Layout 1

22/7/16

14:26

Page 60

PERSON TO PERSON

CLOSE WITH… JAMES McLAUGHLIN Cure Leukaemia’s chief executive reflects on his transfer from professional sport to an equally competitive sector as he celebrates his tenth anniversary as an adopted Brummie

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I come from a sports business background and spent four years as head of retail at Southampton FC. After an 18-month spell in Holland as Nike’s product manager for football equipment, I enjoyed two years as commercial manager at Watford, overseeing Sir Elton John’s first concert at Vicarage Road for more than 30 years. I moved to Birmingham in July 2006 after being appointed commercial director at Edgbaston Stadium. During my six years at Warwickshire CCC, I was invited onto Cure Leukaemia’s board of trustees.

BIGGEST SUCCESSES We’re only a small team of five, so taking on two big fundraising cycling events last year – London 2 Paris and Le Tour – One Day Ahead – was a huge achievement. Becoming Brindleyplace’s official charity was also huge for us as it has helped introduce Cure Leukaemia to many new businesses across the region. We’ve seen incredible growth in recent years and our fund-raising income was £1.5million in 2015. There are opportunities for that figure to increase substantially.

IT’S WHAT I DO I joined Cure Leukaemia as CEO in April 2012. Some people thought I’d retired when they heard I’d moved into the charity sector!

It’s actually as competitive as the sports world because there are so many great causes operating in the city. I joined Cure Leukaemia as I believed my skillset was transferrable. Our focus has been on making the charity nimble and creative to ensure our story resonates with potential supporters and fund-raisers. Cure Leukaemia funds a Midlands-wide network of specialist research nurses who deliver potentially lifesaving treatments to blood cancer patients who have exhausted standard treatment options.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED Not to ride a bike for 300 miles without any training! My aching limbs aside, being one of more than 200 cyclists arriving in Paris, raising more than £300,000 in the process, was very special.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE The building of a new £3million haematology centre at the QE – our current fund-raising focus – that further establishes the city’s reputation as a world-leader in life sciences. Led by Professor Charlie Craddock CBE and his team, Birmingham is leading the fight, internationally, against blood cancer and the new centre would give more patients access to world first clinical trials. Generally, Birmingham needs to shout about itself more. The ongoing transformation of the city while I’ve lived here has been breathtaking.

60 birmingham living

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM The people. From the moment I moved to Birmingham, I’ve been made to feel very welcome. The business community is also fantastic. It’s a great network to be involved in.

DOWNTIME I enjoy going back down to Edgbaston as a supporter and spending time with family and friends. At the age of 42, I try to combat the occasional Guinness and visit to the city’s curry houses by running along the canals and attending the gym.

FINALLY… Cure Leukaemia is hosting a special event Glynn Purnell & Friends’ Friday Night Kitchen at Villa Park’s Holte Suite on 7 October. For more details visit www.gpfnk.co.uk I

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 61):Layout 1

august 2016

25/7/16

23:23

Page 61

birmingham living 61

ing livBUSINESS

BHAM_ (Page 62) companytowatch:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:07

Page 62

PUNCH RECORDS The award-winning music and creative development business inspiring our young people ransforming lives through music – that’s the mantra of Punch Records. Founded as a small urban record store in Perry Bar selling hard-to-find vinyl for the black music scene, the company has grown into a leading creative music and community business, totally tuned in to the youth culture of Birmingham and beyond.

Now based in the Custard Factory, the business creates festivals and experiences, produces, backs and tours international acts and emerging artists, stages music events such as the annual BASS black music festival and reaches out to educate young people through programmes in schools and youth groups.

T

62 birmingham living

“We are heavily influenced by what is going on around us,” said the company’s founder and CEO, Ammo Talwar. “The market dictates what we do. It’s all about the market’s cultural voice – and we know exactly what that is. We’ve gained that knowledge over a long period of time.”

BIG BRANDS Ammo’s vision has built the company into an award-winning music development agency, working with private and public sector investors. Clients include big brands such as Coca-Cola, Barclaycard, Selfridges, the Arts Council, BBC and the Mayor of London.

It’s all a far cry from the way the business started

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 62) companytowatch:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:07

Page 63

COMPANY TO WATCH

when the then 24-year-old Ammo set up his shop in Perry Bar. He admits: “I had no intention at the time of working in music. I studied civil engineering and my job was designing doors for prisons and boring stuff like that. My brother was in music, managing an artist and travelling the world which I thought sounded exciting. So I decided to try something in music and opened up the record store with no business knowledge at all and just muddled through for a couple of years.”

That period was key in the DNA of Punch Records as Ammo discovered that an ever-growing number of kids were coming into the shop not for the records but to enjoy the live underground DJ shows. “The place became a real community rather than just a shop and we started doing workshops and stuff with the kids.

“I saw a massive gap in the market and went round to schools, talked to teachers and got them interested in what they called cross-curricular work. It was basically doing

august 2016

hip-hop education. The teachers got it, the kids got it and I built the business around working with young people.”

His ability to identify and tap in to youth culture laid the groundwork for all the success that has followed.

Punch began to host development events for young people as part of what would grow into the company’s extensive outreach programme. From this, Birmingham City Council became involved and now regularly programme events through Punch.

The original shop was shut in 2004 and Punch moved to the Custard Factory to work with emerging artists such as RoxXxan, Lady Leshurr (who featured on the cover of our January issue), Decypher, RT and DJ Jezta. The business also toured groundbreaking projects like The Art of Afrobeat, Fight The Power and Soho Road to the Punjab – a landmark exhibition on the history of Bhangra music which has toured the UK and US for more than a decade. In 2006, Punch launched BASS, the UK’s leading festival of urban music. Held over two weeks in October in Birmingham and the Midlands, BASS is a platform championing black culture, arts and music. Nearly 200 performers entertain more than 15,000 people.

Punch delivers cutting edge outreach and education programmes such as Music Potential and Desi Moves.

Creative training courses emphasise entrepreneurship and resilience, ensuring aspiring emerging musicians and artists quickly become self-reliant and start productive careers. Over a five-year period Punch ran workshops in nearly 90 schools and 25 youth centres and each year over 30 young people are certified on UK Arts Awards.

GALLERY 37 And while we’re talking about awards, Ammo and his business has been racking up quite a few, including national and regional honours for its innovative and engaging pop-up radio station, BASS FM. Ammo has received an MBE for his contribution to music and young people and is a board member of Birmingham’s performing arts academy BOA and a governor of Park View Academy.

In June, he received an Institute of Directors commendation for leadership in corporate social responsibility at the Director of the Year awards. Punch is also working with the council to deliver the city’s Gallery 37 youth arts training programme, running throughout this summer. I

birmingham living 63

BHAM_ (Page 66):Layout 1

16/2/16

16:56

Page 66

BHAM_ (Page 65) business news:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:06

Page 65

BUSINESS

JQ BARBER SHOP WINS INDUSTRY ‘OSCAR’ Birmingham’s Barberology barbershop was named Barbershop of the Year at the UK’s Premier Annual Barber Awards. Barber Connect is the biggest barbering convention in the UK and a Barber Award the most sought-after accolade in the industry.

Based in the Jewellery Quarter, the shop offers bespoke services from haircuts and shaves to brow tidies and body waxing.

BUSINESS

NEWS

LION RUNNERS READY TO ROAR A Birmingham business is aiming to be in the frame for a fine finish at this year’s Great Birmingham Run. Lion Picture Framing Supplies has a team of 12 runners taking part in the city’s annual half marathon on 16 October to raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The Lion runners will be competing in the Business Challenge, which invites companies from across the Midlands to enter teams for fastest-time trophies.

VERY WELLA DONE, BEVERLEY! Talented Brummie hairstylist Beverley Perrott was crowned the winner at the regional finals of Wella TrendVision, beating hundreds of other hopefuls.

Beverley will represent the West Midlands in the national finals in London in October.

Beverley is based at Hair@1618 in Great Western Arcade and has worked in the city for more than 10 years. august 2016

FASHION BLOOMS AT BOTANICAL GARDENS The best of this summer’s fashions and beauty essentials were showcased at Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ second seasonal style event. More than 170 guests also helped raise £5,000 for the Gardens’ Glasshouse Appeal and children’s playground. Stylist Beth Goodrham shared her essentials at the ladies fashion show as models wore outfits supplied by John Lewis Grand Central. The event was also supported by &Beauty at John Lewis and PRO Bobbi Brown Cosmetics artist Amy Conway. birmingham living 65

BHAM_ (Page 65) business news:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:06

Page 66

BUSINESS

CAMERA COUPLE SNAP UP STUDIO

TIM’S MONSTER AWARD Birmingham businessman Tim Andrews has been crowned West Midlands Director of the Year at the annual IoD Director of the Year Awards. With over three decades of experience at the helm of printing and signage giant Hollywood Monster, Tim has been recognised for his ‘incredible contribution’ to both business and the community in the region. “To say that I’m honoured to win this award is a complete understatement,” said Tim.

CITY FIRST FOR FEI LIU Having just marked his 10th anniversary as a jewellery designer Fei Liu has another momentous occasion to celebrate. Liu, who featured in our January Company To Watch pages, is the first designer based in Birmingham to win a UK Jewellery Award. A delighted Liu was presented with the Jewellery Design of the Year accolade which acknowledges design, craftsmanship and style.

66 birmingham living

A local couple have turned their hobby into a business with the launch of a new photographic studio. Stuart Smith and Joanne Sears have set up Flash Photography at 4A Worcester Road, Bromsgrove with help from Redditch property agents John Truslove. The duo is targeting family photographs, weddings and product shots.

The studio is also available for hire to other photographers.

BRUM DEBUT FOR CYCLE CHAIN Cycle Republic, which sells premium brand bikes, parts, accessories and clothing, has opened its first outlet in Birmingham at The Grand, on Colmore Row. The specialist bike shop has agreed a 10-year lease with Hortons’ Estate.

Launched 18 months ago, Cycle Republic has 11 stores across the UK. Hortons’ Estate has invested £14million in the restoration of The Grand to date.

WALL TO FLOOR SUCCESS STORY Solus Ceramics has cemented its position as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of innovative and inspiring architectural wall and floor tiles after reporting 27 per cent growth in the last 12 months – a record year for the company in its 21-year history. The business, established in 1995, now employs more than 90 people at its Birmingham headquarters and its flagship showroom in London – The Creative Centre.

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 65) business news:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:06

Page 67

BUSINESS

AGENCY BEARS NEW LOOK Creative agency One Black Bear has relaunched with a refreshed proposition and a new management team following new business opportunities with clients including National Express. Owned by Jon Harrison and Richard Elwell, One Black Bear has integrated its sister social media agency Shadow Giants to rebrand under one name. The new-look One Black Bear agency at Fazeley Studios, Digbeth boasts a 24-strong team.

MEDICAL HUB GETS GREEN LIGHT Edgbaston’s thriving healthcare community will be boosted by the construction of a new £8million medical hub after Calthorpe Estates’ proposal for a 30,000 sq ft building at 30 Highfield Road was approved by Birmingham Council. Designed by Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects, it will create a contemporary medical centre in the heart of Edgbaston Village and Edgbaston Medical Quarter behind the former Birmingham Medical Institute HQ.

WORTH THE FREIGHT? The potential future of freight deliveries has been spotted on the streets of Colmore Business District after Danish company Trefor unveiled its TRIPL Urban Cargo bike to city businesses. Colmore Business District’s Accessible and Connected Working Group welcomed Trefor to the district to demonstrate their bike, which is powered by an 8kWh lithium ion battery and can travel up to 100km on a single charge. Re-charging can take as little as 4.5 hours.

august 2016

WING YIP TRIBUTE UNVEILED Southside Business Improvement District marked the support and investment of one of the city’s most prominent Chinese businessman and family at a plaque unveiling. The Wing Yip family, owners of the UK’s leading Oriental food grocer and stores, unveiled the plaque on the Chinese Pagoda at Holloway Circus. The unveiling follows years of investment in Southside by the family who gifted the pagoda to Birmingham in 1998.

birmingham living 67

BHAM_ (Page 65) business news:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:06

Page 68

BUSINESS

AERIAL SHOTS LAND IN BRUM Birmingham city centre has come alive as it hosts a prestigious street photography exhibition. Britain from the Air features 100 giant aerial photographs displayed along New Street, Corporation Street, High Street, Temple Row, Centenary Square and New Street station. The exhibition, which is free and open 24 hours a day until the end of the month, showcases breath-taking and thought-provoking landscapes – including three aerial shots of Birmingham – and explores the forces that shaped them.

JOINT VENTURE CREATES NEW JOBS A facilities management and engineering maintenance business is set to bring up to 120 jobs to Redditch. Arcus FM, a joint venture between Arcus Solutions and Sainsbury’s, has outgrown its base at Hartlebury and is to move to Oakenshaw House, Clews Road, recently purchased by Loxton Developments in a deal brokered by property agents John Truslove. Call centre operations and a technical performance engineering hub will transfer across.

HSBC CONFIRMS CITY MOVE Global banking giant HSBC has reaffirmed its plans to bring its new UK head office to Birmingham, together with hundreds of new jobs. Speaking at a briefing for Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce following the EU Brexit vote, Nigel Hinshelwood, HSBC’s head of UK, said: “Birmingham is the centre of a £110billion regional economy and our move really gives us an opportunity to contribute to regional growth.” The relocation in 2017 will bring 1,200 new jobs into Birmingham.

68 birmingham living

MARRIOTT JOINS OLYMPIC RIDERS It's 9,282 kilometres from Birmingham to Rio de Janeiro, host of this month’s Olympic Games – and energetic guests, leisure club members and staff at the city's Marriott Hotel have just completed the first 180 of them to aid The Prince’s Trust. They joined other Marriotts across the UK in static bike rides in their foyers to help complete the marathon, raising £450 for the Trust.

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 69):Layout 1

25/7/16

23:13

Page 69

BHAM_ (Page 70) social:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:03

Page 70

SOCIAL SCENE

2

1

3

ANNIVERSARY PARTY HITS CASH JACKPOT Celebration raises amazing £158,000 for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

4

5

6

idlands Air Ambulance Charity hosted its AIR25 Celebration Party, Recognition Awards and Charity Ball at Edgbaston Stadium and raised a staggering £158,000 which will fund 63 lifesaving air ambulance missions. In association with corporate partner Concept Resourcing, the evening which was attended by supporters from across the Midlands, acknowledged and celebrated the people that have played a vital part in the charity’s 25 years of operation. Chris Short, managing director of Concept Resourcing said: “We’re thrilled to have been part of such an important fund-raiser for the air ambulance charity.” I

M

7

1 The Air25 award winners. 2 Capt Mark Dennis, Karen Baker. 3 Jem Clayton, Hanna Shaw, Becky Simms. 4 Matt and Adele Flint, Chloe Garner, Adam Sapic. 5 Phil Hurst, Mike Hancox, Sam Perry, Paul Strachan. 6 M6 Toll guests. 7 Concept Resourcing guests.

70 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 71) social:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:03

Page 71

SOCIAL SCENE

1

2

3

FUND-RAISER BOOSTS CENTRE FOR HEROES Henry Wong helps hospital’s unit for injured military and their families arborne-based Cantonese restaurant Henry Wong welcomed more than 70 guests to an event in support of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity’s Fisher House. Diners enjoyed a selection of the restaurant’s finest cuisine with each course partnered with an accompaniment from Laurent-Perrier. The event raised £8,500 for the restaurant’s chosen charity which is a ‘home away from home’ for injured military personnel based at the hospital. Since opening in 2013 more than 2,000 people have used Fisher House, providing the equivalent of 11,000 nights of free accommodation to military patients and their families. I

4

5

H

6

7

8

9

1 Girija Sadalage, Korina Li, Elizabeth Hammond. 2 David Ritchie, Joan Gibbons, Mike Hammond. 3 Parm Rai, Ricky and Marianne Wu, David Green, Mike Hammond. 4 Peter and Rosie Mayer. 5 Tahmineh Safdari, Adam Hayes. 6 Liam Gough, Laura Power, Sian Averill, Julie Cowley. 7 Jorge and Susanne Mascaro, Gurbaksh Purewal, Moninder Bhabra. 8 Kal and Susan Natarajan, Margaret O’Hara, Stuart Green.

9 Janet Tomlinson, Dale Lyons, Anita and David Tippin, Angey Prophet.

Photography by Jas Sansi

august 2016

birmingham living 71

BHAM_ (Page 72) social:Layout 1

22/7/16

17:02

Page 72

SOCIAL SCENE

2

1

3

SPARKLING EVENING OF FINE CHAMPAGNE Laurent-Perrier provides Leading Ladies with taste of vintage luxury

4

5

6

eading Ladies at Birmingham Hippodrome met for The Vintages, an exclusive evening of fine dining and tutored tasting led by Tony Carter, national account manager from Laurent-Perrier Champagne. He introduced guests to luxury vintage Champagnes from the LaurentPerrier Chateau. Hippodrome chef Steven Christopher created a four-course meal to complement the vintages served at a table styled with a floral canopy by AVA Events Styling.

After a summer break, Leading Ladies will resume its varied calendar in the autumn. I

L

7

1 Tony Carter, Elaine Shoesmith, Claire O'Connor, Beth Phelan. 2 Kerry Volante, Clare Knapton. 3 Claire O'Connor, Beth Phelan, Faith Walker. 4 Helen Benussi. 5 Dorothy Hobson. 6 Jilly Cosgrove, Katie French. 7 Jane Jones, Elaine Shoesmith, Elaine Elkington, Jane Spence.

Photography by Vivienne Bailey

72 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 73) social:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:54

Page 73

SOCIAL SCENE

1

2

3

STRICTLY STAR ANTON LEADS MERRY DANCE Top couple quick-step their way to title as barristers raise £15k for child charity trictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke compered an evening of dance and fund-raising hosted by No5 Barristers’ Chambers at the Town Hall. More than 300 guests saw solicitor Claire Crawford of Shakespeare Martineau and professional dance partner Paul Cammack lift the Strictly 9 to 5 trophy.

Judges were ex-Strictly professional Darren Bennett, local lawyer and ex-British amateur ballroom and Latin dancer Jamie De Souza, Birmingham Royal Ballet principal artist Elisha Willis and dancer and teacher Kerry Alebon. More than £15,000 was raised for the Child Brain Injury Trust. I

4

5

S

6

7

8

9

1 Hayley McCormack, Louise Spalding. 2 Carys Vaughan, Simon Penny. 3 Mark Anderson, Claire Crawford, Paul Cammack, Lisa Turan, Anton Du Beke. 4 Sam Mchugo, Fiona Debney. 5 Richard Adams, Alice Hall. 6 Satinder Hunjan, Alison Hampshire, Ryan Lewis, Peter Rhodes.

7 Matthew Bartlett, Sarah Brunning, Laura Smallbone, Gareth Compton. 8 Serena and Henry Pitchers, Paul Evans, Robert McDonald, Rachel Thomas. 9 Stephanie Moustache, David Evison, Michelle Wooding.

Photography by Jas Sansi

august 2016

birmingham living 73

BHAM_ (Page 74) social:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:54

Page 74

SOCIAL SCENE

2

1

3

OLD BOYS ON COURSE FOR ANNUAL MATCH 4

OHS takes the honours in golf tournament at Edgbaston club he annual golf tournament between Old Hallfieldian Society and West House Old Boys Association took place at Edgbaston Golf Club with OHS once again coming out on top. This year’s victory also included a hole in one by OHS’s Allan Fatah. The golfers were joined for lunch by Roger Outwin-Flinders, headmaster of Hallfield School, Richard Harper, chairman of OHS, and Celia Hooper, OHS executive officer. They also welcomed former West House headmaster Kim Duce, Jean Pratt and Clive Smith, chairman of WHOBA. I

T 5

6

7

8

1 John Austin, Bob Hale, Richard Baller, Peter Heath. 2 Tim Venner receives the silver salver from Michael Matthews. 3 Peter Wall, Richard Harper. 4 David Jackson, James Barwell, William Winstone, Julian Francis. 5 Harry Bowler, Nick Davies, Jonathan Carter, James Gittins.

6 Paul Platnauer, Ted Rogers, Jeremy Thornton, Mark Adams. 7 Peter Lugsdin, Chris Williams, Rob Bulpitt, Nick Jones. 8 Allan Fatah, Robert Hall, James Harman Sherwood, Tom Handley

74 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 75) social:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:51

Page 75

SOCIAL SCENE

1

2

3

TEAMS BATTLE IT OUT TO WIN QUIZ TROPHY Business professionals with all the answers give charities cash boost harities and good causes were given a cash boost when business professionals from across the West Midlands put their thinking caps on. Wright Hassall’s hotly contested charity quiz saw 43 teams made up of staff and intermediary contacts put their brains to the test in aid of the Leamington-based law firm’s charitable trust. A team from Barker Brettell took home the Wright Hassall Shield as the 14th annual quiz night made £4,748.

The charitable trust supports charities and good causes in the local area. I

C

4

5

6

7

1 Martin Crossley, Colin Pilot. 2 Matthew Payne, Richard Smith. 3 Becky Knott, Carole Drury, David Harris, Nicole Cordy.

4 Michael Scott, Katie Carr. 5 Brian Coleman, Dan Smith, Eugene Vichare. 6 Becca Barnett, Hayley Cherry, Henry Lees, Steve Cooper.

7 Richard Lane, Sarah Perry, Robert Lee. Photography by Jas Sansi

august 2016

birmingham living 75

BHAM_ (Page 76) social:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:51

Page 76

SOCIAL SCENE

2

1

3

FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOAST MR NAILCOTE 4

5

Rick Cressman celebrates 25 years at Nailcote Hall with anniversary party wner Rick Cressman celebrated 25 years at the helm of Nailcote Hall in style with a special evening of glitz and glamour. Together with wife Sue, the local entrepreneur was joined by family, friends and regulars for a night of great food and entertainment that included singer Amelia Whiteman, saxophonist Julian Smith and party band Jarzino. I

O

6

7

8

9

1 Maxine Larcombe, Sue Pearson, Betty Smith, Sue Cressman, Angela Worth, Joanne Bayliss. 2 Graham Harper table. 3 Interfruit table.

4 Rick and Barbara Cressman, Chris Sulway. 5 Betty Smith, Harry Wiggins, Brian and Beverley Tustain, Judith Waterhouse. 6 Rice Media table.

7 Tony Finch table. 8 Rick Cressman table. 9 Rick and Sue Cressman.

Photography by Peter Blanchflower

76 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 77) social:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:50

Page 77

SOCIAL SCENE

1

2

3

GLITTERING EVENING FOR PROM STUDENTS It’s time to let their hair down and celebrate the end of a great year tudents donned their glad rags and took to the dance floor at Grace Academy Darlaston’s end of year prom. The glamorous gala evening at the WS10 Banqueting Suite saw prom king and queen Zak Waters and Georgia Davis mingle with teachers and other guests to celebrate the end of their GCSEs. Zoe Watkins, head of Year 11, said: “The prom is a great way for students to let off steam after all their hard work during GCSEs in what has been a fabulous year.” I

S

4

5

6

7

8

1 Sam Johnston, Kassi Hancock. 2 Scott Butler. 3 Owen Southall, Aaron Gangar, Declan Cook, Ryan Allmark. 4 Lauren O’Grady. 5 Insah Mahmood. 6 Amanjot Singh, Danveer Benning. 7 Amanda Mafundu, Ayanda Kachasu, Ropafadzo Ponjole, Ewa Solarczyk. 8 Prom king and queen Zak Waters and Georgia Davis.

august 2016

birmingham living 77

ing ON il vWHAT’S

BHAM_ (Page 78) whatson:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:49

Page 78

WHAT: Back To The Who Tour 2016

WHAT: Bridget Christie and

WHEN: 5 September

Andy Hamilton

WHERE: Genting Arena, tel 0844 338 8000

WHEN: 18 September

www.theticketfactory.com

WHERE: RSC’s Royal

One of rock’s most legendary and defining bands returns to Birmingham with a tour that celebrates their entire career to date.

Shakespeare Theatre

WHAT: Sprinkle of Glitter Presents LouiseLIVE! WHEN: 2 September WHERE: The Old Rep Theatre, tel 0121 605 5116 www.oldreptheatre.org.uk Following last year’s huge success Louise Pentland, aka Sprinkle of Glitter, is back with a shiny and glittery new show with tales of life as an Internet sensation, mother and friend.

78 birmingham living

A comedy double bill featuring Andy Hamilton (creator of Outnumbered) and Bridget Christie, a cracking comedienne who refuses to wear her feminism lightly, more like a suit of armour.

WHAT: The Dreamboys WHEN: 1 September WHERE: New Alexandra Theatre, tel 0844 8713011 www.atgtickets.com/birmingham The boys are back in town! And they’re hotter than ever with a brand new UK Tour that features Gaz Beadle from Geordie Shore fame.

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 78) whatson:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:49

Page 79

WHAT’S ON

WHAT: Bikefest WHEN: 18 September WHERE: Victoria Square

WHAT: Stick Man

This free, family-friendly event celebrates all things cycling and aims to inspire everyone to get riding. Bound to thrill with some awesome bike stunts on show.

WHEN: 10 September WHERE: Town Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk Scamp Theatre’s delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s hugely popular children’s book comes to Birmingham. Lovely family entertainment.

WHAT: The Ultimate ‘Boy Bands’ Spectacular with Ultimate Boy Bands WHEN: 13 August WHERE: Nailcote Hall, tel 02476 466174

WHAT: The British Showjumping National Championships

www.nailcotehall.co.uk

WHEN: 9 to 14 august

A spectacular show that delivers the hits and choreography from the most memorable boy vocal groups, including Take That, Westlife, JLS, Blue and Backstreet Boys.

WHERE: NAEC Stoneleigh Park, tel 02476 858 205 www.bsnationalchampionships.co.uk Free entry for what promises to be a great family event with competitive top class showjumping, impressive showing classes and super shopping. This year includes the school teams championships which should thrill pony-mad children.

WHAT: Welcoming Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla WHEN: 26 August WHERE: Symphony Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 WHAT: Kan Xuan WHEN: Until 11 September WHERE: Ikon Gallery, tel 0121 248 0708 www.ikon-gallery.org The first UK exhibition by renowned Chinese artist Kan Xuan.

Refreshingly unpretentious and economical in style, this selection of single screen video pieces is well worth a vist.

august 2016

www.thsh.co.uk A new era in Birmingham music with Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla at the helm of the CBSO is ushered in with the overture to Mozart's joyous fable of hope and renewal.

birmingham living 79

BHAM_ (Page 78) whatson:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:49

Page 80

WHAT’S ON

WHAT: A Midsummer Night's Dream WHEN: 6 August WHERE: Packwood House, tel 01564 782024 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/packwood-house WHAT: LANY WHEN: 2 September WHERE: O2 Academy Birmingham, tel 0121 622 8250

Presented by the Chapterhouse Theatre Company. Allow yourself to be whisked away as Shakespeare's best-loved romantic comedy takes you on a thrilling journey to the most magical of forests.

www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk

WHAT: The Flyover Show

The American indie three-piece match eclectic grooves to indelible hooks in their unique spin on blissful dream pop.

WHEN: 20 August WHERE: Hockley Flyover (underneath!)

WHAT: Kissing Frogs WHEN: 12 and 13 August WHERE: Mac Birmingham, tel 0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk A journey of love, loss and self-discovery, full of laughter and set to a backdrop of classic hits from the 80s. Written and performed by Sophie Osborne 18+

www.uprize-cic.com/theflyovershow The city’s most dynamic urban arts event will once again transform ‘the grey space beneath the Hockley Flyover into an oasis of cultural expression’, as Soweto Kinch’s one-day festival of music, art and dance is back on Birmingham’s event calendar.

WHAT: The Importance Of Being Earnest WHEN: 9 to 24 September WHERE: Birmingham Rep, tel 0121 245 2024 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Regarded as one of his finest comedies, Oscar Wilde’s play explodes with his trademark razor-sharp wit and is a brilliant exploration of societies’ hypocrisies. A stylish contemporary spin on a classic.

WHAT: The Color Run Birmingham WHEN: 20 August WHERE: NEC www.thecolorrun.co.uk/birmingham The craziest, most colourful 5k you’ll ever take part in! All standards and ages welcome… just make sure you have a white shirt on!

80 birmingham living

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 78) whatson:Layout 1

22/7/16

16:49

Page 81

WHAT’S ON

WHAT: Leamington Food Festival WHEN: 10 and 11 September WHERE: Royal Pump Gardens, tel 01926 470634 www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk More than 150 stalls will showcase the very best in local food and drink with an action-packed programme across two days. Includes demonstrations, masterclasses and loads of free entertainment.

WHAT: The Wizard of Oz WHEN: 16 August WHERE: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, tel 0121 454 7835 wwww.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk The theatre season of awesome open-air shows closes with a brand new adaptation of The Wizard of Oz performed by a stellar cast of West End regulars. Bring a picnic and enjoy first class entertainment performed in the garden’s 15 acres of beautiful surroundings

WHAT: Mamma Mia! WHEN: Now to 3 September WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome, tel 0844 338 5000 www.birminghamhippodrome.com Join the ultimate feel-good party with the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical. Set on a Greek island paradise this is an unforgettable story of love, friendship and ABBA!

WHAT: Justin Bieber WHEN: 17 and 18 October WHERE: Barclaycard Arena, tel 0844 338 8000 www.theticketfactory.com Teenage heaven as one of the world’s biggest pop sensations brings his Purpose World Tour to Birmingham.

august 2016

birmingham living 81

BHAM_ (Page 82) inthecity:Layout 1

“

22/7/16

16:47

Page 82

IN THE CITY What’s going on around the Custard Factory and Fazeley Studios is little short of remarkable but we must make sure the area doesn’t lose its raw, urban charm

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I am Stacey Barnfield, the co-director of PR and publishing agency Edwin Ellis Creative Media, a business my journalist wife Catherine and I launched in the summer of 2015. For more than 22 years I worked at the Birmingham Post & Mail in a newspaper career culminating in the editorship of the Post – a title I held with enormous pride for three years. I’m also chairman of influence, lobbying and events group Downtown in Business.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN? My time is an even split between our home office and the city centre. I’ve managed to carve a decent travel routine as I’m no longer bound by rush-hour commuting and I’ll try to drive postschool-run. Rather reluctantly (see below) I’ll be in the car unless I’m ‘relaxing’ at an evening work-type bash, for which the numbers 50 or 35 bus or the closest Uber will be called upon.

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY? I love being in Digbeth and the city’s medieval and industrial heartlands. It’s an area of Birmingham that fascinates me and one that requires sensitive management as new industries replace old. What’s going on around the Custard Factory and Fazeley Studios is little short of remarkable and as much as I support the change, I’d hate for the area to become sanitised and lose its raw, urban charm.

AFTERWORK PINT? I wish I had time! I’m usually heading home to spend a couple of hours with my two boys who, come early evening, will have littered the house with Lego and other kid-related clutter for me to tip-toe through. I love this time of day and being able to spend evenings with the two of them was one of the reasons I chose to shake up the whole work/life balance thing.

PR publishing agency boss, and Digbeth fan, Stacey Barnfield

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN? I guess I can only speak for my media and PR-related dealings but the answer is an unequivocal yes. All I ask for is a comfy seat, fresh coffee and decent wi-fi and I’m in my element.

COFFEE BREAK? If I’m in Kings Heath it’s Maison Mayci on Poplar Road. If I’m in the city centre it’s an arm-wrestle between neighbours Home Deli or Urban Coffee on Church Street. Love ’em both.

The new-look Yorks Café on Stephenson Street is also worth a mention. I think it’s great what they’ve done with the space next door and underneath. Actually, this applies to the everexpanding Faculty in Great Western Arcade, too. Can you tell I like coffee?

KEEPING FIT? I’m a bit of a runner and fortunate to live a couple of hundred yards away from a glorious stretch of canal that

82 birmingham living

”

connects the city centre and Stratford-upon-Avon. It gives me a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Birmingham life. The slightest suggestion of a downpour, however, and you’ll find me in the warmth of EasyGym on Kings Heath High Street.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER? Public transport in the city needs a rocket (not literally). It feels disjointed, unappealing and quite often a last resort. I would love to see rail routes serving Moseley and Kings Heath which, in turn, would take cars off the congested High Street and have such a positive impact on south Birmingham. The city centre Metro tram extension has come under fire but thinking of the bigger picture, only when it winds its way to Edgbaston, Digbeth and beyond, will we start to see its true benefits. I

august 2016

BHAM_ (Page 83):Layout 1

24/7/16

21:01

Page 83

BHAM_ (Page 84):Layout 1

24/7/16

20:58

Page 84