Birmingham Living 155 2026

It’sJune,it’ssummer…andthatcanonlymeanonething.Newballsplease–it’stime fortennis!Thisisthemonthwhenfansofthegame,especiallyofthelawnvariety,can indulgethemselveslikechildreninasweetshop.NomoresittingupinfrontoftheTV inthemiddleofthenighttocatchAlcarazorSinner,SabalenkaorGauffplayinginAustraliaorthe US.TennisishereatlastingoodoldBlighty.

Astheson-in-lawtotwototallyaddictedtennisfollowers,IcanconfidentlypredictthatI’llbeluckyto seemuchofthemoverthecomingweeks.ItallstartsonthegrassattheLexusBirminghamOpenat EdgbastonPrioryClub,whereBritishstarslikeHarrietDartandJacobFearnleyfeaturealongsidea hostoftopinternationalplayers.HarrietwillbelookingtobuildonbeingpartofBritain’srecentBillie JeanKingCupvictoryoverAustraliainMelbourne.

Hostingtheeventisthismonth’scoverstar,TVandradiopresenterQasaAlom.TheBrummie broadcasterandtennislovertellsuswhatmakesthetournamentsospecial,whyhethinksthe BirminghamcrowdsarethebestandhismemoriesofthesummerholidaysinBrum,packingapicnic andheadingtotheLickeyHillsorCannonHillPark.Whilehestilllivesinthecity,Qasadoesn’tget thechancetoactuallyworkinBirminghamthatoften,andsaysitisarealprivilegetobepartofthe excitingBirminghamOpenexperience.

Inafewweeks’time,QasawillbeofftopresentBBCTV’snightlyround-upprogrammefromthe ‘other’tennischampionships.Youknow…theonewithallthestrawberriesandcream!

DavidJohns

Coverimage: HOLDINGCOURT: Tennispresenterandproud Brummie,QasaAlom

EDITOR: DavidJohns david@brumliving.co.uk

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living

06 10 14 18 26 30

News

Bringingyouthebrighteststories fromacrossthecitythismonth

QasaAlom

Thebroadcasteronhisloveof tennisandtheLexusBirminghamOpen

ForceForGood Craftspacecelebrates40years ofchampioninglocalartists

Food&Drink

Admir‘Miri’CelaofGreekAura restaurant,news,recipes&wine

Health

Thefive-minutehomefitnessregime,plus beatingthestigmaofdiabetes

Style

It’ssandalseason–andwe’vepicked summer’shottesttootsie-charmers

BestoftheRest

40 50 54 57 64 66

Homes

Takingtheplungeonanewbathroom? Tapintoourdos-and-don’t’sguidefirst

Young,GiftedandBrummie TalentedmotocrossstarHollyWilliams revsuptojointhesport’sbigleague

CompanytoWatch Deliveringstunningartworkwith thekingofcolour,StaceyBarnfield

BusinessNews

Allthelatestnews,views,comingsand goingsfromthecommercialcommunity

What’sOn Bestofthecity’stopshowsandgigs inourround-upofmust-seeevents

UpClose

PunchRecords’headofmarketing andcommunications,BradMorrison

INTHEDRIVE-INSEAT

Adrive-incinemawitha differenceissettohitthebig screenthissummer.TheMorgan ExperienceCentreishosting open-airmoviesatMorgan’s PickersleighRoadfactoryin Malvernovertheweekendof4 and5July.Alargeoutdoor screenwillfeatureevening showingsofGreaseonSaturday andBacktotheFutureon Sunday,withfamily-friendly TurboplayingonSunday afternoon.Front-rowVIPseating willbeinaselectionofMorgan carsfromtheMorgan Experiencefleet.

BRINGINGYOUTHEBRIGHTEST ANDMOSTCOLOURFUL STORIESFROMACROSSTHE REGIONEACHMONTH

PhotographybyDaveFennell Wells/@davefw_photography

DANCEONTHEMENU FLORALPRIZE

ofBreakingBarres,anewinitiativetoimproveaccessandrepresentationwithin ballet.Theblack-tieeventwillfeatureaperformancefromElmhurst’syoungdancers intheschool’sStudioTheatre,followedbyfinediningcuratedbyCylla,whichis knownforitsvibrantMediterraneanflavours

BirminghamfloristAshleyEdwardsof AshTreeFloralDesignsiscelebrating beingawardedaGoldMedalatRHS MalvernSpringFestivalforherfloral tablescapeexhibit,AttheThreshold: TheGardenComestotheTable.The displayexploredthetransitionfrom springintoearlysummer,combining livingplantsandseasonalcutflowers. Ashley,whocreatesweddingandevent flowers,said:“Itwashonestlysucha hugesurpriseandsomethingI’m incrediblyproudof.”

ATHLETICSFIRST

BirminghamCityUniversity(BCU)hasbeennamedastheOfficial UniversityPartnerofthe2026EuropeanAthleticsChampionships atAlexanderStadium.Thechampionshipswilltakeplaceforthe firsttimeintheUKfrom10to16August.Studentsandstafffrom BCUwillbeinvolvedinvolunteeringroles,paidpositionsand areassuchasmediaanddesign.BCUwillalsohosttheEuropean AthleticsChampionships’FutureLeadersForum,providing conversationsaroundleadership,innovationandsustainability.

ROYALOPENING

ThePrinceofWalesofficiallyopenedanewmen’ssuicidepreventioncentre inBirmingham.James’Placeoffersfree,life-savingandquicktoaccess therapytosuicidalmenintheWestMidlands.Thecharityalreadyruns centresinLondon,LiverpoolandNewcastleandhashelpedmorethan 5,100mentodate.Birminghamisthecharity’sfourthcentreandislocated inEdgbastonnearFiveWays.Ateamoftherapistsexpectstoseeupto500 meninsuicidalcrisisatthecentreeachyear.

Dustofftheshoulderpads,teasethehair,and digoutthoseoldWhamT-shirts–DiscoFor GrownUpsiscomingtoBrum!Legendary80’s DJandhostofBBCRadio2’sSoundsofthe80’s show,GaryDavies,willplayfloor-shaking anthemsfromthedecadethatdefinedpop cultureattheO2InstituteonFriday12June. There’llbedancers,confettishowers,lights, lasers,mirrorballsandclassicsfromWham, Erasure,ABBA,Queen,DepecheMode,Duran Duran,Madonna,Eurythmics,andmanymore...

WELLNESSFESTIVAL

Birmingham’sfirstindependentwellnessfestivalissettotake overoneofthecity’smosticonicVictorianvenues. OneRetreatWellnesswilltransformHighburyHallonSaturday 6June.Theeventbringstogethermorethan40oftheregion’s brightestwellnesspractitioners,andincludesyogaandpilates, breathworkandsoundbaths,saunas,icebathsandcontrast therapies,TaiChiandcalisthenics,anddance,fitnessandrun clubs.Plus,treatmentroomsandholistictherapies,healthfood tradersandholisticmarkets.

PADEL POWER

AstonUniversityisbringingoneoftheworld’sfastest-growingsportstothe heartofBirmingham.PadelLoftAstonboaststhreebrand-newcourtsonthe university’scampus,givingstudents,staffandthepublicaccesstopadel tennis,justa10-minutewalkfromNewStreetStation.Thefacilityisbeing runbythePadelLoftcompany.UniversitychiefoperatingofficerRichard Billinghamsaid:“Withitsaccessibleandsocialnature,thefacilitywill becomeapopulardestinationforbothouruniversitycommunityandthe widerBirminghampublic.”

FOURFOR ABOY

Best-sellinglocalauthorDG Torrens,whofeaturedin BirminghamLivinginOctober 2025,hasunveiledherlatest novel.FourForABoyisa powerfulstorybasedaroundthe WestMidlandswhichshinesa lightonmen’smentalhealth andhomelessness.Thebookis dueforreleaseinJulywith50 percentofthenetroyalties goingtocharity.DGsaid:“Men’s mentalhealthishuge,beingthe biggestkillerinmenunder45.I amtryingtoshinealighton bothmen'smentalhealthand homelessness.”Thebookis availabletopre-orderon Amazon.

SUMMERTREATS

Birminghamaudiencesareinforatreatwithaspectacularsummer line-upbringingtwomuchlovedmusicalfavouritestothestage.In July,theRoyalShakespeareCompany’ssmash-hitproductionof MatildaTheMusical,basedonRoaldDahl’sbook,burstsontothe scene,featuringoriginalsongsbyTimMinchin.InAugust,everyone’s favouriteScottishnannywillbepackinguphersuitcaseandheading toBirminghamHippodromeforthetouringpremiereofMrsDoubtfire.

IT’SOINK-TASTICFUN

Averyspecialthumbsupwasneededbeforethe PeppaPigSpaceAdventurecouldopenattheNEC. Peppaherselfvisitedthenewexperience,whichgives youngstersthechancetoplay,discoverandclimb aboardGeorge’srockettoexploreasparklinglunar landscape.Peppametkeypeoplebehindthe attraction,includingbuilders,theeventteamand SarahHarvey,deputyCEOattheNEC.Peppa’sSpace AdventurerunsuntilearlyNovember.

BirminghamRumFestival isturninguptheheatwith atropicalthrowbackas 90’slegendApacheIndian landsinMoseley.Thecity’s rumpartyistakingover theCubanEmbassyon Saturday27June,and promisestobebiggerthan ever.ApacheIndian–the manbehindthehitBoom Shack-A-Lak–soldmore than11millionrecords andbecameoneofthe UK’smostrecognisable crossoverstars.He’llbe offeringatasteofhis signatureBoomShack-ALakIndianRum–ablend inspiredbyhisIndianand Caribbeanroots.

AFUTURELANDO?

Ayoungracingdriverisontracktoemulatehis F1heroLandoNorrisafterwinninga sponsorshipdealwithaMidlandsaccountancy firm.Six-year-oldAidanCastleman,from Wolvey,overcameolderdriversandbiggerbudgetteamstofinishsixthinhisfirstseason intheSuperOneSeriesgo-karting championshipwhichshapedthecareersofsix currentF1drivers.Aidanishopingtomoveup thegridthisyearafterhisfamily-runteam joinedforceswithHB&Owhichhasofficesin Coventry,LeamingtonandBirmingham.

SPORTINGBRIEF

JohnnyBradfordspenthoursasayoung boydrawingfootballkitsduringthe1994 WorldCup.Nowheisdesigningkitsfor football,rugbyandevenfrisbeeand mountainclimbingclubsatCoventry University–theplacewherehelearned andhonedhisartisticskills–afterYour Students’Uniontookovertherunningof SportCoventry,rebrandedasYourSport. TheUnionoverseestheuniversity’ssports clubsandsocieties,aswellasmanaging andrunninggymandsportsfacilitieson campusandatWestwoodHeath.

GOTANYNEWS? Emailyournewsand picturestoeditor@brumliving.co.uk

SPECIALSEASON: CBSOmusicdirectorKazukiYamada,CEOEmmaStenning, anddirectorofartisticplanningCathArlidge

THEMUSICMAKERS

Musicforall–that’sthepromisefromtheCityofBirminghamSymphonyOrchestra (CBSO)asitrevealedanewseasonof‘ambition,civicprideandmusicalbreadth’.New commissions,internationaltouringandlandmarkmomentssuchastheCBSOChorus’s 1,000thperformancefeatureinaprogrammethatembracesfilm,popularmusicand crossgenrecollaborations.CEOEmmaStenningsaid:“Wehavelistenedtothepeople ofBirminghamthroughresearch,audiencefeedbackandtheworkofourCommunity Board,andthathasshapedaseasondesignedtooffersomethingforeveryone.”

TICKETTO£3K

MidlandsAirAmbulanceisofferingthechancetowina£3,000topprizein itsSummerRaffleasthecharitymarks35yearsoflife-savingservice.Every £1ticketsoldwillkeepthecharity’s helicoptersintheskyandcriticalcarecars ontheroad,providingaround-the-clock pre-hospitalemergencycareacrossthe WestMidlands.Sinceitslaunchin1991, thecharityhasbecomeoneoftheUK’s busiestandmostadvancedairambulanceserviceswith morethan80,000life-savingmissions.Ticketsavailableat: www.midlandsairambulance.com/summerraffle.

BritishtennisstarsHarrietDartandJacob Fearnleyareamongtopplayerstaking partinthismonth’sLexusBirmingham OpenatEdgbastonPrioryClub.Harriet, whoisenjoyingastandout2026season andplayedakeyroleintheBillieJean KingCupteam’svictoryoverAustraliain MelbourneinApril,iscompeting alongside16oftheworld’stop100 players,includingAlexandraEalaand reigningHSBCChampionshipswinner TatjanaMaria.JacobwontheLexus NottinghamOpentitlein2024,reaching thetop100forthefirsttime.

MASTER STROKE

TVBROADCASTERANDPROUDBRUMMIE,QASAALOM,TALKSABOUTHISLOVEOF TENNIS,PRESENTINGATTHISMONTH’SLEXUSBIRMINGHAMOPENCHAMPIONSHIP, ANDWHYGETTINGTOWORKINHISHOME-TOWNISASUCHPRIVILEGE

Despiteabroadcastingcareerthathas featuredahugerangeofhighlights,from presentingworld-classsportto championingtheenvironmentandexposingsex traffickinggangs,QasaAlomsaysheisespecially lookingforwardtoworkinginhishome-townthis monthwhenhewillonceagainbethehostandMC fortheLexusBirminghamOpentennis championshipatEdgbastonPriory.Ahugefanof tennisandnomeanplayerhimself,wecaughtupwith thetalentedjournalistjustbeforethetournament featuringtopBritishandinternationalstarsgot underway.

Qasaexplained:“Idon’tgettoworkin Birminghammuchsoit’sarealprivilege.There’s nowherelikehomeandtheBirminghamOpenisa top-classeventwithanamazingatmosphereand traditionalpristinelawns.Andbecauseit’sin Birminghamyougetadiverseaudience.Somany Brummiescomefromsomewhereelseintheworld andtheycomeuptomeandsaytheyloveseeingme workingonthetennis.”

FEASTOFTENNIS

AfewweeksafterhisstintatEdgbastonPriory, Qasawillbeswitchinghisattentiontothat‘other’ greatfeastoftenniswhenhepresentstheBBC’s iconicTodayatWimbledonprogramme.Hesays:“I

ampassionateabouttennis.It’sabrilliantsport.One ofthosesportsthatyoulearnalotaboutyourself.If you’relosingorsomething’snotworking,youhave tofigureitout.It’smentalaswellasphysical.”

Headds:“MyjobinBirminghamistoensure peopleenjoytheday.Theworkingdayislong.Idoa quickworkoutfirstthing.HeadtothePrioryat9am toresearchandmakenotes.Matchesarefrom11am, andatabout10.30Iheadoutandgetamongthe crowds.Ithinkwhenpeoplepaytogotoanevent there’sanexcitement,achild-likeenergy.Iliketo shareinthatandmixwithpeople.DuringmatchesI introduceplayerslettingthepeopleinthecrowd knowwhat’sgoingon.Thenaftertheactionthere’s theamazingcourtsideinterviews.”

LexusBirminghamOpentakesplace30Mayto7JuneatEdgbastonPriory Club,SirHarrysRoad,Birmingham,B152UZ.edgbastonpriory.com

QasaisBritish-Bangladeshifromthecity’s innercentre.HewenttoKingEdwardVI GrammarSchoolandsayshehasalwaysbeen obsessedwithTVandradio,firstworkingwith theBBCwhenhewasjust15-years-old.He helpedwriteandstarinashortfilmcalled Obsessionwhichhethenreportedaboutonfor BBCNewsround.Hebeganafull-timecareerin localradioandmadeaseriesonStoke-on-Trent’s illegalsextradewhichearnedhimtheprestigious GillardAwardfororiginaljournalismandradio reporteroftheyearattheMidlandsMedia Awards.

QasahasbeenaregularTVnewsreaderon MidlandsToday’sbreakfastandlunchtime programmesandpresentedadebuthalf-hour documentaryforBBC1calledTheBooksthat BuiltBritain:FactoriestoMiddleEarthin2016. Hefollowedthatupwithadirectingdebutabout Muslimwomenininner-cityBirminghamin2017 calledCrossingBirmingham’sInvisibleBorders.

MUM’SSPECIALCURRY

Insport,Qasaiscomfortablebroadcastingonboth TVandradio,regularlyappearingonBBCFinal Scoreforfootball,aswellaspresentingIPLCricket programmesandhostingatTwickenhamrugby.But tennisremainshisfirstlove.Hesays:“Thebeauty abouttennisisthereareloadsofgreatplayers–some copewiththeconditionsorsurfacesbetter.Some copewithwind,someenjoygrass.Thismeansthat theBirminghamOpenshouldbereallyexcitingand reallydifficulttopredict.”

It’snotallworkforQasathough.Hestilllivesin Birminghamandcanoftenbefoundonatennis courtorcricketfield–andwhenhegetsthechance heneversaysnotohismum’s‘special’chicken curry!OfBirminghamhesays:“I’vealwayslovedits parks.Ihavememoriesofthesummerholidays, packingapicnicandheadingtotheLickeyHillsor CannonHill.AndwhenIgotolder,goingforlong bikerides.ThetrianglearoundEdgbaston–Priory, Edgbastonstadium,CannonHillisfantastic.And thefoodsceneisbrilliant,too.IloveChinatown.I headthereforramenorsushi.Justthebest!” ■

FORCE FOR GOOD

MIDLANDS-BASEDCHARITY,CRAFTSPACEISCELEBRATINGITS40-YEAR ANNIVERSARYINTHEONLYWAYITKNOWSHOW–BYCHAMPIONINGTALENTED LOCALARTISTSANDCOMMISSIONINGENGAGINGINCLUSIVEWORK

TheMidlandsisbrimmingwithartistictalentandifyou wereluckyenoughtoseeCraftspace’sMadeinthe Middleexhibition,youdon’tneedustotellyou.A worldclasscollectionofartistsofvaryingmediafilledthe upstairsexhibitionspaceatMACwowingvisitors.

Overthepast40years,Craftspacehascuratedand commissionedworkby2,500artistsinmorethan500exhibitions viewedbyastaggering2.8millionpeople,plusit’screditedwith encouraging265,000peopletogetmaking.

Theaimoftheorganisationistocreateopportunitiestosee andmakeextraordinarycontemporarycraft.Building relationshipsbetweenartists,peopleandorganisations,the charityencouragesthesharingofideas,skillsandknowledge andit’sthiscollaborativeapproachthatspawnssuchafeelgood, supportivenetwork.

FOURDECADES

DeirdreFigueiredoMBE,directorofCraftspacewhojoined theorganisationin1996,says:“Craftandmakingisa foundationalskillpractisedbyhumansandremainsasvitaland progressivenowasithasforcenturies.Whenpeoplearemaking, theyareproblem-solving,productive,mindfulandresourceful. Makingthingsfromeverydayandnaturalmaterialscanbea unifyingforceforgood,ameansofself-expressionandaformof resistanceandresilienceinchallengingtimes.Itisthisforcefor

ARTIST: NilupaYasminwhowaspartofthe CraftspaceMadeintheMiddleexhibition.Picture byDavidRowan

goodapproachwe’vechannelledoverthelast40 years.”

AswellastheMadeintheMiddleexhibition,to markthe40-yearanniversary,Craftspace commissionedartistStewartFrancisEastontocreate atextilemuralcelebratingobjectsfromthe organisation’sfourdecadestitled,40Objectsfor40 Years.Theartistsaid:“IfeelthatIampartof Craftspace’sstoryaftersuccessfullyworkingwith themonseveralprojects.ThefirstbeingMaking MovesandsecondGathering.Craftspacehas supportedmefromthebeginningofmycareer throughtothemidstage.Ihavegarneredawealthof experiencesincetheearlydaysofMakingMovesand havesuccessfullyworkedonprojectsbothnationally andinternationally.Craftspacewasoneofthefirst

organisationstosupportmeandithelpedpropelme forward,Iwouldlikethisopportunitytogive somethingback.”

Themuralismadeupoffourquiltedwall hangingswhichhaveillustrationsofeachobject.The artworkwillpopupinandaroundBirminghamand theregionwithaninvitationtolistentowhatpeople havetosayaboutwhycraftmatterstothemandhow theirviewsandinterestsmightshapeCraftspace’s futureprogramme.

JOYFULENCOUNTERS

AlongsideDeidreFigueiredo,thecharityismade upofavoluntaryboardandskilledteamensuring theorganisationisviableandprogressivebenefitting artistsandcommunitiesatalllevelswhichisan

CELEBRATION: TheCraftspaceteamholdoneofthe40Objectsfeaturedinthe40Objectsfor40yearsartwork

importantfeature.Deidredescribessomeofher highlights:“Alltheprojectswherewehavetaken highqualitycraftobjectsandartiststowherepeople areinpublicspaces,fromCuriousAboutCraft,an interactiveexhibitiononavehiclewhichtouredto 40wardsofBirmingham,andMakingMoveswhich touredtheregion:acarshowroom,hospitalfoyer, pubandleisurecentreto10yearsofIn:SiteFestival inBirminghamCathedralSquarewherepassers-by couldtryahugevarietyofcrafttechniques.All providedmomentsofunexpectedandjoyful encounterswithcreativitywhichsparked imaginationandmemories.”

Oneofthemostimpressiveprojectswasthelarge scale,4,600Giftswhichwasdeliveredforthe CommonwealthGamesin2022.Craftspaceinvited thepeopleofBirminghamtomakeanindividual handmadegiftforeverycompetingathlete.Overthe courseof100-plusworkshopsacrossthecity, thousandsofstrangerssatsidebysidetomake, converseandconnect,workingtowardsashared purposewhichwasatriumph.

MatthewRhodes,chairoftheCraftspaceboard added:“For40yearsCraftspacehasrepresentedso muchthatisuniqueandwonderfulaboutthe Midlands–ourdiversityandopenness,thewaythis

regionsupportscraftskillsthatarehuman-scaleand accessibletoall–yetwithpotentialforglobalimpact andworld-classquality;andthepowerofindividual imagination.”

Headded:“I’venevermetanyonewho’scome intocontactwithCraftspacewhohasn’tbeen impressedwithourimpactandcontributionto individualsandthisregion,frompoliticiansto schoolchildren.We’refortunatetohavesuchan organisationbasedinBirmingham.”

FORTYMORE

Thenext40yearslooksecure.Thecharityhas movedtoanewhomeintheJewelleryQuarterof whichDeidresays:“Itisanopportunitytoinvite communitiesofinteresttoactivatethespacefor collectiveandexpansiveactions,thinkingandideas aboutcraft,makingandmaterials.

“Togetherwithoursupporterswewillgenerate muchneededincometoproduceaninclusiveand aspirationalartisticandengagementprogramme.We havemadeourreputationonsupportingartiststo experimentandpushattheboundariesofcraft practicewhilealsochampioningcraftasaforcefor goodwiththepowertochangelivesand communities.”

THEHELLOBEAUTIFULCOLLECTION:

ADMIR‘MIRI’CELA

IFYOU’REWORRIEDABOUTGETTINGTOTHEMEDTHISYEAR BECAUSEOFTHEFUELCRISIS,YOUCOULDALWAYSHEADTO MOSELEYFORAHITOFHELLENICHEAVENATTHEGREEKAURA RESTAURANT.WECAUGHTUPITSOWNERANDHEADCHEF

Tellusaboutyourcooking

MycookingstyleistraditionalGreekwitha moderntouch.Ilovesimple,freshingredientsand recipesthatbringpeopletogetheraroundthetable. Whatexcitesmemostissharingtherealtasteof Greecewithpeoplethroughhomemadefood,warm hospitalityandatmosphere.Forme,quality, freshnessandauthenticityarethemostimportant things.

Howdidyoubecomeachef?

IwasborninasmallvillagenearAthensandfood wasalwaysaveryimportantpartoffamilylife.I beganmycareerinRhodesisland,workinginhotels andlearningtraditionalGreekandMediterranean cuisinefromexperiencedchefs.Mybiggestinfluence wasmyfamily,especiallythehomecookingIgrewup with.Thosetraditionalrecipesandtechniquesare stillpartofmycookingtoday.Wehavealsobrought mymother,Mozaintothekitchentohelprecreatethe authenticfamilyrecipesthathavebeenpasseddown throughgenerations.

Whatdoyoueatathome?

Weeatexactlythesametraditionaldishesthatwe serveinourrestaurant.WelovehomemadeGreek foodsuchasmoussaka,stifado,lambkleftikoand pastitsio.Thesearethedisheswegrewupwith,and theyarepartofoureverydayfamilylifeandculture.

Whatwasyourfavouritefoodasakid?

Myfavouritefoodasachildwashomemade moussakaandfreshpitabreadstraightfromtheoven.

Who’sthebestchefintheworld,andthebestin Brum?

Therearemanyamazingchefsintheworld,butI admirechefswhostaytruetotheircultureand traditionswhilestillbeingcreative.InBirmingham,I respectallchefswhoworkhardtobringauthentic flavoursandexperiencestothecity.

Foodheavenandfoodhell?

FoodheavenisfreshseafoodbytheseainGreece withfamilyandfriends.Foodhellisfoodwithout flavourorpassion.

What’sthemostunusualthingyou’veeaten?

OneofthemostunusualthingsI’vetriedwassea urchinfreshlypreparedbylocalfishermeninGreece.

Shareacookingtip

Usesimplefreshingredientsanddon’trushthe cooking.Greekfoodisallaboutbalance,patienceand goodoliveoil.

Ifyouweren’tachefwhatwouldyoube?

Probablysomethingconnectedtohospitalityor tourismbecauseIenjoymeetingpeopleandcreating experiencesforthem.

Giveusaniceeasyrecipeforourreaderstomake athome

AsimpleGreeksalad:tomatoes,cucumber,red onion,olivesandfetacheesewitholiveoil,oregano andalittlesalt.Fresh,healthyandveryeasytomake athome. ■

GreekAuraRestaurant,112AlcesterRoad,Moseley, B138EF.greekaura.com

INGREDIENTS

■ 4Asparagusspears

■ 100gRicotta

■ Juiceof½lemon

■ 2Springonions

■ 1tbspChoppedfreshmintleaves

■ 1Smallgreenchilli,chopped

■ Oliveoil

■ 1tbspHoney

■ Saltandpepper

AMAZING ASPARAGUS

Britishisbest–butyou’llneedtogetyour skatesontoenjoywhatisashortseason

We’veenjoyedsomeincredibleasparagusalreadythisyear,butthe BritishseasonisaprettyshortoneandonlyavailablefromMayto July,sodon’tdelay.Aswellasbeingatastesensation,thismighty vegetableisalsojam-packedwithhighlevelsofvitaminsAandC,potassium, ironandcalcium.Whencooking,wereckonsimplicityisthekeysowhynottreat yourselftothischeekylittlerecipe. ■

METHOD

Mixthericottawiththelemonjuiceandapinchofsalt andblackpepper.Setaside.

Cutthepreparedasparagusintoquartersandaddtoa largepanofboiling,saltedwater.Blanchfor2minutes untiljusttender.

Inabowl,tosstheasparaguswithspringonions,mint, chillianddrizzleofoliveoil.

Spreadthericottaontoadish,drizzleoverthehoney andspoonoverthevegetables.

Serveandenjoy!

SHORTS NI BBLESand

THELOCALHOSPITALITYSECTORCONTINUESTOBEABUSY,ACTION-PACKEDSCENE. HERE’SOURMONTHLYROUND-UPOFTHELATESTNEWS,LAUNCHESANDHAPPENINGS

CHEF’STABLECELEBRATION

IndependentrestaurantManekiRamenismarkingitsfirstanniversaryintheJewelleryQuarter withthelaunchofanintimateChef’sTabletastingexperienceblendingtwotraditionalJapanese styles–Kaiseki,whichfocusesonseasonalityandrefinedpresentation,andOmakase,which translatesas‘Ileaveituptoyou’andcentresonamenuofthechef’schoice.Thetablefeaturesa nine-coursemenuthatreflectschefPeteDovaston’sexperienceworkinginJapanandhisdeep respectfortraditionaltechniques.

DUO’SBURGERLAUNCH

TwoBirminghamburgerbrandshavelaunchedanew streetfoodconcept.YardbirdsandPietanichave joinedforcestocreateBostinBurgersatSociety BirminghaminColmoreSquare.Founded byAlexSmithandJayJones,BostinBurgersis focusingonastrippedbackmenufeaturing30-day dry-aged,bestBritishbeef.Withmorethan15years’ experienceinthehospitalityindustry,AlexandJay havebuiltaloyalfollowingoffriedchickenandpie fansfromhumblebeginningsatDigbethDiningClub topopupsatGlastonburyandinRome.

RESORTS WORLDFIRST

AnIndianrestaurantchainhaslaunchedaflagship venueatResortsWorldBirmingham.TheIndian Streateryisafamily-operatedbusinesswithtwoother restaurantsatBennett’sHillandtheBullring.The companywasfoundedin2012byMeenaSharma, whorunsanall-femalekitchen.Shesaid:“Weare thrilledtobethefirstIndianfoodofferingatthe iconicResortsWorld.”Tomarktheopening, TheStreateryhostedacharitynight onlaunchday.

BLACKDRAGONBRUNCH

ContemporaryChineserestaurantTattuhaslauncheda newweekenddiningconcept,theBlackDragonBrunch. HostedeverySaturdayfrom12to4pmtheexperience bringstogethermodernAsiancuisinewithentertainment. Themenuisservedinsignature‘waves’,includinga selectionofsmallplates,Tattufavouritesandastand-out finale,theBlackDragonEggdessert–amilkchocolate shellwithacoconut,passionfruitandmangocentre.The brunchissoundtrackedbyresidentDJs.

UNI’SMASTERCHEFJUDGE

ROOKERYOPENING

Anewcommunitycafehas openedinaBirminghampark, offeringgoodvaluefoodand drink.HiveintheParkisrunby BirminghamHospiceatRookery HouseinRookeryPark,Erdington. Itisopensevendaysaweek, servingbreakfasts,lunches,sweet treats,children’sfoodand beveragesaswellasprovidinga warmandfriendlyspaceforlocal people.Thecafehascreated40 volunteeringopportunities,which willhelplocalpeopledevelopskills andgivebacktothecommunity.

NEWJQCAFEBAR

NOODLEBARISBACK!

Chopstixnoodlebarhasreopeneditsrefurbished storeatBullStreet,Birmingham,joiningthechain’s 140locationsnationwide.Tocelebratethelaunch, thebargaveawayfreemediumboxestothefirst 100customers,alongwith1,000portionsofspring rolls.ChopstixhasquicklybecomeoneoftheUK’s mostpopularquickservicerestaurantswithitsfocus onAsianflavour.GarethBrannigan,headofnew storeopenings,said:“It’sanexcitingtimeforthe brandaswecontinuetogrowandevolve.”

Anewcafebarandcommunity spacehasopenedattheMuseum oftheJewelleryQuarter.Craft& Culture,onthegroundfloorinVyse Streethasbeendesignedtoevolve fromacafebydaytoanevening bar.Duringthedayitserves specialitycoffeeinasocialand work-friendlyenvironment,whilea curatedwinelistandcraftbeer selectionareonofferintheevening. Customerscanalsoorderinfood fromtheirfavouritelocalrestaurants toenjoyalongsidedrinks.

TheUniversityofWolverhamptoniscelebratingtheglobalsuccessofalumnuschefTolulope‘Eros’Erogbogbo’sappointmentasahostandjudge onMasterChefNigeria.Erosgraduatedin2009withaBA(Hons)InternationalBusinessManagementandhasbuiltaninternationally-recognised careerofculinaryinnovationandculturalstorytelling.Hesaid:“BecomingajudgeonMasterChefNigeriaismorethanapersonalmilestone,it’san opportunitytohelpshapehowAfricancuisineisseen,understood,andrespectedonaglobalstage.”

COMEJOINOURTEAPARTY

ThoughttobebornintheUSAprohibition era,thisversionoftheLongIslandTennessee IcedTeahasbeengivenadaringnewtwist

Sothestorygoes,theoriginalinventionofLongIsland TennesseeIcedTeahaditsrootsinAmerica’sprohibition era.Theaimwastocreateadrinkthathiditsalcoholic contentfromtheauthorities–andwhatlookedtobeinnocenticed teafittedthebillperfectly.Theversionhereisadaring,delicious twistonthetimelesscocktailbythemixologistsatMarcoPierre WhiteSteakhouseattheCube.Pleaseenjoyresponsibly. ■

INGREDIENTS:

■ 12.5mlVodka ■ 12.5mlGin

■ 12.5mlJackDaniel’s ■ 12.5mlRum

■ 12.5mlCointreau ■ 12.5mlSugarsyrup

■ 12.5mlLemonjuice ■ 100mlLemonade

■ Lemonslicegarnish

METHOD:

Addallingredientsexceptthelemonadetoacocktailshakerfilled withice.Shakeharduntiltheshakerbecomesicecoldandfrosty. Strainintoachilledtallglassfilledwithfreshice,atopthelemonade. Finallygarnishwithafreshlemonslice.

MarcoPierreWhiteSteakhouse&Grill, theCube,200WharfsideStreet, Birmingham,B11PR. mpwrestaurants.co.uk

REGINA’S

WehadsomecrackingnightsinGingers onNewhallStreetsowereabitsad whenitclosed.It’stakenusayearto visitrelativenewbieonthesamesite,Regina’sbut nowwehave,we’renotlookingback.Forastart,the staffgreeteduslikeoldfriendsandmanagedtobe justtherightkindofattentive.Theyrecommended somegreatwine,aheadydessertandgenerallymade usfeelabitspecial,whichnaturallywerelished.

TheMediterraneanmenu’sinteresting.It’s nothingmind-blowinglydifferentbutit’ssolidand thedisheswetastedweredelicious.Chickenlivers wereperfectlycookedandpackedwithflavour, heightenedbytheadditionofsweetgrapesanda mustardyredwinesauce.Itreallysang,andadecent glassofmalbecsealedthedeal.

Aranciniwerecrunchyontheoutside,oozing withgooeymozzarellaandrichraguinthemiddle

11NewhallStreet,Birmingham,B33NY. Tel:01213922955reginas.co.uk

servedatopasurprisinglyfierytomatosauce.Pasta withchickenandmushroomsinacreamysauce couldhavebeendullbutwasfarfromit.Richand moreish,itwascomfortfoodatitsbest.

Wewantedtotrytheslowcookedbeefshortrib butitwasonlyanhourintoafour-hourstintinthe oven,sowe’veearmarkeditfornexttime–perhaps bearthatinmindifyou’regoingforlunch.Instead asalmonfilletwiththekindofcrispskinyoucan neverachieveathomeservedwithatastypotato croquette,spinachandajugofcitrussywhite winesaucewasgreat.Arogueblobofbeetroot pureeseemedoutofplacebutwe’llletthatslide. Ourwaiterrecommendedtheinspiredcombination oftiramisuandaglassofsauternetofinishwhich wasaspleasingasitsounds.Wehighlyrecommend twospoonsunlessyou’rewearingelasticated trousers! ■

THERISEOF

ENGLISH WINE

First,alittlehistoricalbackground… VineshavebeenplantedinEngland sinceRomantimesandthe DomesdayBookrecordsaround40vineyards by1086,mostlylocatedintheSouth. MonasteriesintheMiddleAgescultivated grapesforsacramentaluse,howeverbetween the14thand17thcenturies,alittleice-agehit whichmadegrowingvinesmorechallenging andtosomeextentviticulturedeclined.

Despitesomepatchyattemptsatrevival inthe18thand19thcenturies,itwasn’t until1952whenMajor-GeneralSirGuy Salisbury-Jonesplantedavineyardat HambledoninHampshirethatthebirth ofmodernEnglishwinereallybegan. EarlyvineyardsusedGermanhybrids whichhadgreatertolerancetothecold climate,andproducedsomeacceptable, butnotoutstandinglightandacidicwhite andsparklingwines.Fromtheearly90’s, partlyduetoglobalwarmingandthe plantingofmoretraditionalChampagne varieties,qualitybegantorapidlyimprove. Bythe2010’svineyardswerebeing plantedatamuchmoreprolificrate, especiallyintheSouthEast,resultingin

closeto1,000vineyardsinthepresentday.By2015, Englishsparklingwineswereconsistentlywinning internationalblindtastingsagainstChampagne.

Winestoexpect

Translatingthistothewinesyoucanexpect,asacold climateregion,weexcelinmakingpremiumsparkling wines,andincreasinglysomeverygoodwhitewines. WhilethereareafewveryelegantPinotNoirs,you’ll stillbehard-pressedtofindafull-bodied,richredinthe UKthatisofanyquality.

Thequality

Despitetheratherroughwinesofthe60’sand70’s, therearenowsomegreatEnglishwines.Forexample,in 2025theNyetimberBlancdeBlancs2016wonthebest sparklingwineawardintheInternationalWine Challenge,beatingcontendersfromChampagneand otherluxurysparklingproducers.Notbadforaproducer thatmakesonlyaroundamillionbottlesayear.Thetop Champagnehousestypicallyproducebetweenfiveand sixtimesasmany.

AndspeakingofChampagne,bothTaittingerand PommerynowhavevineyardsintheSouthofEngland andproducewinesunderthelabelsDomaineEvermond andLouisPommeryEnglandrespectively.Other fantasticEnglishbrandsincludeChapelDown, Gusbourne,Hattingley,RidgeviewandWistonEstate. Buttherearealsosomeexcellentsmallproducerswho aremakingwinesofsuperbquality.

Visitingavineyard

Winemakinginanyregionisnoteasy.Thechallenges ofmakingwineinEnglandareevengreater.Ifwewant toencouragethegrowthofEnglishwine,therearetwo verytangiblethingswecando.Firstly,wecanbuybottles andsecondlywecanvisitthevineyards.Vineyardtours oftenrepresentasignificantsourceofincomewithout whichalotofwinerieswouldreallystruggle.Andwhat bettertimetovisitthanthesummermonths,whenyou can(usually!)expectbetterweatherforwalkingaround vineyardsandsittingoutsideforatasting.

Whilemanyofthetopproducerscanbefoundinthe SouthofEngland,itisactuallypossibletovisitanumber ofgreatproducersmuchclosertoBirmingham.Buzzards ValleynearTamworth,HalfpennyGreeninStaffordshire, BlabersHallnearCoventry,WelcombeHillsnear

DAVID’SRECOMMENDATIONSFORJUNE

Somethingsparkling:

ChateauDereszlaTokajiBrutWine–£9.99,Lidl Citrus,appleandsomedriedfruitnotes,withbrightacidity,some herbalnotesfromtheHárslevelgrapeandanaggressivemousse.

SomethingFreshandFruity:

HawkesBaySpecialReleaseSauvignonBlanc–£19.99, Laithwaites

AtrulyremarkableSauvignonBlancfromNewZealand.Expect searingacidity,grapefruit,tropicalnotesandlemon,butwitha pleasantmineralityandcomplexitynotseeninotherSauvignons.

SomethingBigandBold:

Kourney’sEnd–TheBluegumMerlot,2024–£13,Sainsbury’s Blackfruit,cedar,vanilla,spice,chocolateandtobaccoleafcombine beautifullyforacomplexandroundedsmoothdrinkingexperience.

SomethingClassic: ZuccardiApelaciónMalbec2023–£18.99,tauruswines.co.uk Darkripefruitsandspice,well-roundedandfull-bodied.Somenice complexityandalongfinish.

SomethingEnglish: Nyetimber,BlancdeBlancs,2017–£58,Nyetimber.com Creamylemoncurdandpastrynoteswithsomegooseberry,anda slightlysavourysalinity.Complexandbeautifullymade.

SomethingDifferent: Journey’sEndSpekboomMalbec–£10.50,Sainsbury’s AgreatBBQMalbec.Goodacidityandtannin,redplum,blueberry andchocolate.

StratfordandAstleyvineyardinWorcestershireareall withinaneasydrive(obviouslywithadesignateddriverif someofthepartyaredrinking).

BuyingabottleorvisitinganEnglishvineyardplaysa majorpartinsupportingareallyimportantand developingindustry.UnlikeinotherEuropean countries,Englishvineyardsreceivefarlessdirect subsidythanmanyoftheirContinentalcounterparts, andforthemtokeepproducingevergreaterwinesthe investmentmakesahugedifference.

Sowhynotplanavisitthissummer?Youmayfind yournewfavourite.Andwhateveryoudrink,pleasedoit responsibly. ■

DavidCarneisaWine&SpiritEducationTrust(WSET)qualifiedwineexpert, wineeducator,aluminiofBirminghamWineSchoolandauthorofthe alottowineabout.comwebsitewhereyoucanfindmorearticlesonwine.Find outmoreaboutfun,informalwinetastingeventsandWSETcoursesonline, andinBirminghamandWarwickfromindependentwineeducationcompany BirminghamWineSchoolatwww.birminghamwineschool.com

FITINFIVE

Herearefiveeasyexerciseswhichyoucando athomeinonlyfiveminutes.Doeach exerciseforuptooneminutethenasyou improveturnthisintoacircuitbyrepeatingthe sequencetwice,thenthreetimessoittakes15minutes.

1Stairclimbing

Runupanddownstairsatafastpacenon-stopfor oneminute–itwillboostyourheartrateandasit’s weight-bearingitwillloadyourbonestoo.Ifyoufind iteasy,thentrycarryingsomethingheavy(evenly loadedcarrierbagsfullofbookswilldofine).

2Squats

Unlesswedosomestrengtheningexercises,we losemuscleandthatmeanswehavelesscalorieburningdensetissuewhichleadstoareductionin yourmetabolicrate.Stronger,densermusclesburn morecaloriesevenwhenyou’reatrest.

Standwithyourfeetshoulder-widthapart(or slightlywider)andpushyourhipsbackasifyou’re sittingintoanimaginarychair.Lowerdownsoyour thighsareasparalleltotheflooraspossible,with yourkneesoveryourankles.Pressyourweightinto yourheelsthenpushuptobringyourselfbacktothe startingposition.Workupgraduallytosquatfor30 secondsthenbuildituptooneminute.

3Ropelessskipping

Imagineholdingaskippingropethenrotatethe ‘rope’forwardasifyou’reskipping.Addinthe footwork,youcanhopfromonefoottotheotheror jumpliftingbothfeetsimultaneously.Rememberto keepthearmsturning–youcanalternatecircling forwardandbackward–andkeepgoingforuptoone minute.

4Theplank

Theplankworks100percentofyourabdominal musclescomparedto64percentforsit-ups.You’re alsolesslikelytostrainyourneck,whichiscommon whendoingsit-ups.

Onthefloor,getintoapush-uppositionthenbend yourelbowsat90-degreesandrestyourweighton

HOWTOKEEPYOURFITNESS REGIMEONTRACK

SETASIDETIMEFOREXERCISE

Developastructureandpatterntoyourexercise. Builditintoyourdailyroutinebyaddingintoyour diaryorblockingitoutinyourworkcalendarasyou wouldaworkmeeting.

FOCUSONYOURGOALS

Setsmall,short-termachievablegoalsthatyoucan meet,suchas‘I’lldofivesessionsthisweek’or‘I’ll usetheheavierweightsforthenextsession’.

EATWELL

It’sreallyimportanttolookafteryournutrition–maintainregularmealtimesandtrytoavoidsnacking, especiallyintheevening.

SLEEPWELL

Makesureyouwakeupreasonablyearlyandgoto bedreasonablyearly.Sleepisimportantforour mentalwell-being.

HAVEFUN!

Bekindtoyourself.Ifyourbodyneedsarestfromits newexerciseroutine,takeit.Fitnessshouldbefun.

yourforearms.Yourelbowsshouldbedirectly beneathyourshouldersandyourbodyshouldforma straightlinefromyourheadtoyourfeet.Holdthe positionforaslongasyoucanuptooneminute(and remembernottoholdyourbreath).

5Lateralraises

Standwithfeethip-widthapart,armsbyyour sidesholdingweightsineachhand.Youcouldstart withbottlesofwaterortinsofsoupthenbuildupto usinghandweights.Raiseyourarmsupandoutto thesidetoshoulderlevelthenslowlylowerthem backdownandrepeat.Don’tbetemptedtoletyour armsdropsuddenly,trytoresistgravity.Keepgoing foruptooneminute. ■

BEATTHE STIGMA

Morethan4.3millionBritssufferfrom diabetesaccordingtoofficialfigures. Theactualnumbercouldbemuchhigher withanestimated1.3millionlivingwithanundiagnosed conditionandafurther6.3millionwhoareeither prediabeticoratahighriskofbecomingdiabetic.

ThismonthseesDiabetesWeekwhichaimsto changethenegativityaroundthedisease,whichall toooftenseespeopleblamingandshamingthose livingwithdiabetes.Expertssaythatattitudewon’t helpbeatwhatisacomplicatedcondition,urging moreopennessaboutwhatcanbedonetohelp.

WHATISIT

Diabetesisalife-longconditionthatcausesa person’sbloodsugarleveltobecometoohigh.Itcan happenwhenyourbodydoesn’tproduceenough insulinortheinsulinitproducesisn’teffective.More peoplethaneverhavediabetes,withgreaternumbers atriskoftype2diabetes.

Thereare2maintypesofdiabetes:

■ Type1diabetes –wherethebody’simmune systemattacksanddestroysthecellsthatproduce insulin.

■ Type2diabetes –wherethebodydoesnot produceenoughinsulin,orthebody’scellsdonot reacttoinsulin.

Type2diabetesisfarmorecommonthantype1.In theUK,around90percentofalladultswithdiabetes havetype2.

CAUSES

Theamountofsugarinthebloodiscontrolledby ahormonecalledinsulinwhichisproducedbythe pancreas,aglandbehindthestomach.Whenfoodis digestedandentersyourbloodstream,insulinmoves glucoseoutofthebloodandintocellswhereitis brokendowntoproduceenergy.Ifyouhavediabetes, yourbodyisunabletobreakdownglucoseinto energy.Thisisbecausethere’seithernotenough insulintomovetheglucoseortheinsulinproduced doesnotworkproperly.

Therearenolifestylechangesyoucanmaketo loweryourriskoftype1diabetesandtheconditionis mainlymanagedbymedication.Youcanhelp managetype2diabetesthroughhealthyeating, regularexerciseandachievingahealthybodyweight.

SYMPTOMS

Type1diabetescandevelopquicklyoverweeksor evendays,whilemanypeoplehavetype2diabetes foryearswithoutrealisingbecausetheearly symptomstendtobegeneral.

VisityourGPassoonaspossibleifyou experiencethemainsymptomsofdiabetes, whichinclude:

■ Feelingverythirsty

■ Peeingmorefrequentlythanusual,particularly atnight

■ Feelingverytired

■ Weightlossandlossofmusclebulk

■ Itchingaroundthepenisorvagina,orfrequent episodesofthrush

■ Cutsorwoundsthathealslowly

■ Blurredvision

RISKREDUCTION

There’slittlewecandotopreventtype1diabetes butthereissomethingthatyoucandotohelp preventtype2.Morethan12millionpeopleinthe UKareatriskofdevelopingtype2diabetes.And type2diabetesisserious.Inaroundthreeinfive cases,type2diabetescanbepreventedordelayed bymaintainingahealthyweight,eatingwelland beingactive.

YoucanreduceyourriskofdevelopingType2 diabetesby:

■ Eatingwell

■ Movingmore

■ Losingweightifyou’reoverweight

DiabetesWeekrunsfrom8to14June.Foradviceand supportaboutdiabetesvisitdiabetes.org.uk

TOOTSIES READY!

FROMMATALANTOMANOLO,IT’SSANDALSEASON, SOBOOKYOURPEDIANDGETREADYTOSLINK AROUNDTOWNINTHISSEASON’SHOTTESTLOOKS

BUCKLE UP

Sandal£16,Matalan

TAN TASTIC

Sloaneleatherstrap

sandal£49.50,M&S

TOP FLAT

Lynsandal

£89,Dune

ATTENTION

TODETAIL

Metaldetailsandal

£39,Monsoon

We’reasuckerforasimplepairofneutral Havaianasandforroughly70percentof Britishsummertimewe’rehappytoswish aroundinthebarely-thereclassic.However,thereare occasions–justaboutany–whenrockingupina rubberflipflopisn’tacceptable.There’salsothewell documentedthreatofplantarfasciitis,butthat’s anotherstory…

FLIPFLOPFOLLY

Thankfullytheflipflophashadamakeover resultinginaperfectlyappropriateoptionformany socialsituations.JimmyChoohaselevateditbeyond allrecognitionwithaversionmadefromgoldleather

BLACK ISBACK

Launasandal

£89,Dune

withachickittenheelthat’smoreGlyndebournethan Gyllyngvasebeach(pictured.)M&Shasasimpleblack versionatasnipofthepricethat’llgowitheverything, whileDieselhasjoinedforceswithMelissatocreatea greenPVCflipflop(pictured)thatlooksmuchcooler thanitsounds.

PLATFORMPOWER

Aplatformsandalisagamechanger–relatively comfortableyetstylishgivingyouabitofheightand injectingaswaggertoyourwalk.Esskaarethequeens ofachievingcomfortandstylewitharetrotwist(see theyellowversionpictured),whileGabriellaHearst’s Sardisraffiaplatformisoff-the-chartchicandwill

elevateanyoutfitfromordinarytoshowstopping.Ontheotherhand,RiverIsland’s metallicdiscoplatformsarelesschic,more uniqueandalotoffunforsummerparty nights(pictured).Thechunkyfisherman sandalishavingamomentwithplatform versionsliftingtheeverydayshoetonew fashionheights.SeethePradaexample pictured.

FLATSAMORE

Aflatsandalisathingofbeautyachieving effortlessstyle.AtanversionliketheDune Londonsuedeexamplewithgolddetail (pictured)orametallicversioncanbecomea reliablego-tothatwillworkwithmostof yourwardrobe.CheckoutJoeBrown’scute Azuregoldsandalwithabuckle(pictured) andtheSloanetansandalatM&Sforcool versatilitywithanaffordablepricetag.Never underestimatetheunassumingstylepointsof atrustyBirkenstockandifyouhaven’t consideredUGG’scollectionofsandals, you’remissingout.We’vetwogorgeouspairs thatareatleastfiveyearsoldandstillgoing strong–andthissummer’scollectionlooks betterthanever.

FANCYFOOTWEAR

Therearetimeswhensomethingabit moresleekisrequired.StepupGianvito Rossi’sstunningManhattanheels (pictured)thatwillworkforyourmost exclusiveinvitationswhileJude’snavycroc embossedmules(pictured)aretheepitome ofsummerstylethankstotheshapeofthe heelthatsetsitapartfromtherestofthe pack.Thenthere’stheriseofthejellyshoe lastseenonbeachescirca1987.Chloe’sjelly heeledsandal(pictured)iscoolasyoulike andoozesconfidence.Wecan’tdecideifthe returnofthejellyshoewillturnouttobe short-livedmakingthepricetagabitofa stinger.Youdecide.

We’vepulledtogetheracollectionof sandalstoinspire,rangingfrom£16toover £1,000. ■

MAGIC MULE

Rosegoldbutterfly sandal£49, RiverIsland

OLD SCHOOL

Azuregold sandals£50, JoeBrowns

Redsandal £24.99,TKMaxx

CRIMSON CRACKER

TWINKLE TOES

Manhattan95metallicleather

sandal£750,GianvitoRossi

DISCO DIVA

Metallicplatform £59,RiverIsland

COOL MULE

JudeHaze85croc embossedleather

sandal£390, HarveyNichols

KITTEN HEEL

Greensandal £19.99,TKMaxx

JELLIED HEEL

Chloejellysandal£540,Selfridges

FLIP FLOP

Sandals£60,M&S

STYLEAND COMFORT

Pradafishermansuede platform£910,Selfridges

SQUARE TOE

Suedefishermansandal £75,OliverBonas OLD FRIEND

BirkenstockArizona £135,OliverBonas SIMPLE STYLE Sandals£60, M&S

TWINKLETOES

AAH,FEETGLORIOUSFEET.THISTIMELASTYEARWE STARTEDUSINGAPRODUCTTHATPROMISEDTO ELIMINATETHENEEDFORANYOTHERSKIN SMOOTHINGFOOTPRODUCT.WEWROTEABOUTITIN THESEPAGESAFTERJUSTFIVEDAYSOFUSESOIT WASABITEARLYTOCORROBORATETHATCLAIM.A YEARON,WHAT’STHEVERDICT?

1.FOOTMENDERALLINONE,£20.99,FOOTMENDER.CO.UK

Lookingbackatournotes,we’veusedthisreligiouslyaftereveryshower forayear.We’vereboughtitroughlyfivetimesandnothada professionalpedicureinthattime.Thisistheproductaboveallothers we’remostpleasedwith.Wegetcrossbythecrazyclaimsofthebeauty industry,butthisisasolid‘doeswhatitsaysonthetin’product.The packagingisn’tgoingtowinanyawards,buttheproductshould.The massaginginofthecreamfeelsimportantsowe’vefollowedthebrand’s oneminuteperfootguidanceandfollowedupwithapairofcotton sockswhichisn’tpartoftheproductadvicebutfeelsright.Ifyoubuyone footproduct,makeitthis.

2.MANUCURISTACTIVEGLOWPOLISH,£16,CULTBEAUTY

ActiveGlowPolishhasbecomeabitofaclassic.Easytoapplyand packedwithnourishinggoodiesitgivesyournailsasubtlepinkglowand ahighshinethatlookshealthyandnaturalwhichiswhatwe’reafter.If you’reagelpedicurekindofgal,thiswillgiveyournailsawell-earned breakwhilestilllookingpolished.

3.MARGARETDABBSCRYSTALNAILFILE,£16,SPACENK

Thisfeelsmuchmoregentleonnailsthanatraditionalfile.It’sfinerand lessabrasivesoitminimisessplittingandbreakagesandhelpstosealthe nailtipsreducingtheriskofinfection.

4.TWEEZERMANPEDICURERASPCALLOUSREMOVER, £18,CULTBEAUTY

Ifyourfeetareinatrulyterriblestateandhaven’tseenadollopof footcreamallwinter,thisbasicraspmightbeworthusing beforeyouapplytheFootMenderorwhichevercreamyou choose.Uselightstrokesandrepeatifnecessary.

HIGHQUALITYCAREINEDGBASTON

AtEdgbastonManorandMetchleyManorinEdgbaston,ourhighlytrainedteamsareexpertsin providinghighqualitycarefromresidential,dementiacare,toshorttermcare.WhilstEdgbaston ManoralsoprovidesNursingcare.Ourbeautifulhomesofferluxuriousfacilities,includinga coffeeshop,hairsalon,loungeareasandoutdoorspacesincludingbeautifulterraceswitha passionatewellbeingteamthatmeansyourlovedone’sdaywillneverbethesame.

Alifestyletailoredtoyou

Atour‘good’CQCratedhomeOakfieldCroftand ‘Outstanding’CQCratedhomeHalecroftGrange ourteamsarepassionateaboutsupportingyouto enjoyafulfillinglife.We’lllearnallaboutyour interestsandpreferencessowecancreateafully personalisedlifestyleplanthatyou’llenjoy;whether it’sgardening,quizeveningsorplayingchess.

Luxuryliving

Ourbeautifulhomesofferluxuriousfacilities, includingacoffeeshop,hairsalon,loungeareasand outdoorspacesincludingbeautifulterraces.

Ourchef-ledkitchenteamsarepassionateabout providinghigh-qualityfoodandthere’salwaysa choiceofnutritiousanddeliciousdishesatevery meal.AtMetchleyManortheyalsohaveanawardwinningHeadChef,Scott.

Hearwhatrelativeshavetosay

Werecognizetheimportanceoffriendsandfamily stayinginvolvedintheirlovedone’scareandlifestyle planandourregularrelativemeetingsarepopular.

Inourrecentrelativesurvey,94%offamiliesat EdgbastonManorwereimpressedthatthehome appearstobebasedongoodvaluesandprinciples^ and93%werehappywiththehygiene,groomingand personalpresentationoftheirrelative.

WhilstatMetchleyManor94%offamilieswhere happythattherunningofthehomeappearstobe basedongoodvaluesandprinciples,and89%of familieswerehappywiththemealtimeexperience.

Trustustocare

EdgbastonManorandMetchleyManorin EdgbastonarepartofCareUK,thecountry’smost awardedlargecareprovider.We’vebeendelivering high-quality,person-centredcareforover40years. ■

TofindoutmoreaboutEdgbastonManorandMetchley Manor,call03300295109

EdgbastonManor,SpeedwellRoad,EdgbastonWest MidlandsB57PR

MetchleyManor,5ChurchRoad,Edgbaston-Birmingham WestMidlandsB153SHCareuk.com/edgbaston

SANDAL SEASON

WEIRDWORLDOFMEN’SSANDALS

Let’sgetreal.Thechoiceofmen’s sandalsremainsfairlylimitedveering fromthesafetyoftaupe,tanandblack totheotherendofthespectrumoccupiedby toxictangerine,boldneonandmoulded platformsoles.We’refocusingonthesafer, classicendofthemarket–ifyoufancya three-inchturquoiserubberflatformyou’llseek oneout!

Firstupistheoldschoolfishermansandal. Notcompletelyopentoe,itgivesyouabitmore coverageshouldyouwantitaswellaslooking cool.Duetothestructure,it’salsosuitablefor moreoccasionsthanafullyopentoe.The Grensonversion(pictured)istimeless,well madeandcomfortablethankstoamoulded footbed.

Next,theiconicBirkenstockArizona.Superchilled,thisclassicisgoingnowhere.Theonly dilemmaiswhichcolourtogofor.Thenavy (pictured)offersabitofrespitefromtaupe. Suchistheappealandsimplicityof Birkenstocks,manysandalsareinspiredbythe brand’sshapeandvibebutthere’snothingquite liketheoriginal.Theyalsolastadecadeand beyondifyoulookafterthem.

Simpleleatherslideswillseeyouthrough summerlookingchicandDunehascomeup withacoupleofcrackingexamples–aclassic tanthat’llgowitheverythingandablackpair withcriss-crossstraps(pictured.)SteveMadden andM&SarealsoworthalookasisTKMaxxif youcanbearthejumblesalevibe.Ifyou’rein themarketforachunkiersturdiersandalbut withastylishedge,checkoutMartineRose’s snakeeffectcollaborationwithClarks(pictured) that’sanintriguingmixofpracticalandflashy. Abarely-thereflipflopstyleliketheDries VanNotensandal(pictured)requiresaserious pedicure,butisabsolutelyleadinginthestyle stakes.Itlookseffortless,butthestitchingdetail andtop-notchmaterialelevateitfromyour averagetansandaltohighstyle.Expensivebut worthit. ■

CLASSICTAN

Insightsandal £89,Dune

FUSSFREE

Bakerflatleathersandal £149,KurtGeiger

INTHENAVY

BirkenstockArizona£85, Selfridges

CHUNKYSOLE

MartineRoseXClarks

leathersandal£240, Selfridges

MANUMAN

SuedeManusandal£120, SteveMadden

HALFWAYHOUSE

GrensonQuintonleather shoe£195,HarveyNichols

MINIMUMFUSS Isaacssandal£79, Dune

BARELYTHERE

DriesVanNoten suedeand leathersandal £565,Harvey Nichols

DUPELOOP

Greensandal£18.99, TKMaxx

HOMESliving

DREAM BATHROOM

CREATINGASPA-LIKESANCTUARYATHOMECANSEEMLIKEAMAMMOTH TASKBUTWITHABITOFHANDHOLDINGANDVISIONITCANBEONEOF THEMOSTTRANSFORMATIVEANDREWARDINGROOMSTOTACKLE

AccessoriesfromJohnLewis

Afullbathroomrenovationrequiresalotof planning,expenseandmessandallfeelsa bitdaunting.Itcanbebamboozlingand difficulttoknowwheretostartsoifyourbudget stretchestoabathroomdesignerthatwouldbe ideal.Anexperienceddesignerwillseecreativeand practicalsolutionsthatyoumightnot.They’llhave contactswithtradespeople,aproperunderstanding oftimingsandthelatestmaterialsandtrends.Meet afewdesignerstoensureyoufindagoodfitand you’reonthesamepage.

HOMESPA

BathroombyScavolini

MUTEDPALETTE

GOINGITALONE…SORTOF

Werenovatedabathroomlastyearwithouta designerasweweren’tmovinganyplumbingaround soitdidn’tfeellikeahugejob.Wedidhowevershop aroundandgetrecommendationsforexperienced tradespeople,largelyaplumberspecialisingin kitchensandbathroomswhodidagreatjob.Wordto thewise,ifyourhouseisoldexpectcurveballs, delaysanddeeppockets.Ourtwo-weekjobturned intothreebecauseofdodgyworkbyapreviousowner andanancientrottingfloor–thingsthatwecouldn’t haveforeseen.

Ifyou’regoingitalone,don’tgetcarriedawaywith theprettystuffwithoutsortingthecrucialfunctional bits.Youneedtheroomtoworkeffectivelyaswellas lookgorgeousorelseitwillbeincrediblyfrustrating.

Followourchecklistofthingstoconsiderwhile you’replanningthatshouldmakelifesimpler.

BathroombyKucheandBagno

RENOVATIONCHECKLIST

Whattoconsiderbeforeyoutaketheplunge:

■ Watersystems (combi,pressurised,gravityfed)

■ Wall/floorinsulation

■ Accesspanelsformaintenance

■ Radiator/underfloorheating

■ Odourextraction/flushplate

■ Lighting

■ Extraction

■ Groutchoice(typeaswellascolour)

■ Tiletrimfinish

■ Storage

■ Paint

■ Accessories

DESIGNERSTYLE

BathroombyKuche&Bagno

PAREDBACKSTYLE

AccessoriesfromCultFurniture

LIGHTUP

Skinnyribbed

swanneckwall light£285, FritzFryer

LIFELONG

Lobsterbathrug£12.99,HomeSense

PRECIOUS STORAGE

Bramfordtall cabinet£89, Very

TOUCHES FINISHING

BOBBINBEAUTY

Lightbluebobbinmirror £325,OrianaB

HANGING SPACE

Muutodot metalhooks £85,Nest

IFYOU’REGIVINGYOURBATHROOMAREFRESHRATHERTHANAN OVERALL,THEREARESOMEGORGEOUSACCESSORIESTHAT’LL DELIVERANEWLEASEOFLIFEWITHOUTTHEMESSANDEXPENSE. HERE’SAFEWIDEASTOGETYOUSTARTED

MIRROR MIRROR

Trinitywallmirror£129, CultFurniture

HOLDON

Reactiveglazedouble toothbrushholder £7,Dunelm

PASTELPOWER

BASKETCASE

Crombiesquare basket£15, Neptune

Bathmat£29.50,OliverBonas

SCALLOPED EDGE

Bathroom storage£35, Very

FromthePottingBench withAdam

JUNEISAMAGNIFICENTMONTHINTHEGARDEN,WITH BORDERSINBLOOMANDVEGREADYTOSTARTPICKING.BUT WHILEYOUCANSITBACKANDENJOYTHEVIEW,THERE’SSTILL PLENTYOFKEYJOBSBECKONING,SAYSADAMKIRTLAND

Thisisthemonthwhenthegardenhitsitsstride andbeginstofeelgloriouslyabundant.Borders arebrimming,vegetablesareracingaheadand thereisasensethateverythingisgrowingwhileyou watch,oftenfasterthanexpectedandoccasionallyin directionsyoudidnotentirelyplan!

Thelongestdaysoftheyearbringwiththemmoretime toenjoythegarden,butalsoasteadyrhythmofcareto keepthingslookingtheirbest.Junegardeningisabout keepingpacewithgrowthwhiletakingeveryopportunity

toenjoyit,becausethisisthemonthwherethegarden reallystartsgivingback.Herearefivewell-timedJunejobs tohelpyourgardenflourishassummersettlesin.

KeepWateringConsistent

Withwarmertemperaturesandlongerdays,plants begintorelymoreheavilyonregularwateringtostay healthyandproductive.Aimtowaterdeeplyratherthan littleandoften,encouragingrootstogrowdownwards andbecomemoreresilient.Earlymorningoreveningis

ideal,givingmoisturetimetosoakinbeforethe heatoftheday.Containersinparticularwillneed closeattention,astheydryoutfarmorequickly thanborders.

FeedforStrongGrowth

Juneisahungrymonthinthegarden,withplants puttingonrapidgrowthandmanybeginningto flowerorsetfruit.Continuefeedingregularlywitha balancedfertiliser,switchingtoahigherpotashfeed

forfloweringplantsandcropssuchastomatoes. Well-fedplantsarenotonlymoreproductive,butalso betterequippedtocopewiththeoccasionaldryspell orunexpectedchangeinweather.

StayonTopofWeeding

Weedswillstillbemakingthemostofthewarm conditions,soregularattentioniskeytokeepingthem undercontrol.Aquickhoeonadrydayisoftenallit takestopreventthemfromgettingestablished,saving youfrommoretime-consumingworklater.Keeping bedstidyalsoallowsyourchosenplantstoshine, ratherthancompetingforspaceandnutrients.

TieInandSupport

Climbersandtall-growingplantswillnowbe stretchingenthusiastically,oftenwithamindoftheir own.Continuetyinginnewgrowth,checking supportsandguidingstemswhereneededtoprevent tanglesanddamage.Thisisparticularlyimportantfor cropssuchastomatoes,beansandsweetpeas,which benefitfromsteady,consistentsupportastheyclimb.

HarvestLittleandOften

Junebeginstorewardyoureffortswithan increasingnumberofharvests,fromsaladsandherbs toearlyvegetablesandsoftfruit.Pickregularlyto encouragecontinuedproductionandtoenjoy everythingatitsfreshest.Thereissomethingdeeply satisfyingaboutsteppingoutsideandgathering ingredientsstraightfromthegarden,asimple pleasurethatneverquitelosesitscharm.

Juneisvibrant,generousandfulloflife,inviting youtospendasmuchtimeoutdoorsaspossible.By keepingupwithwatering,feedingandthosesmallbut importanttasks,youallowyourgardentocontinue thrivingwithoutbecomingoverwhelming.Thisisthe monthwhereeffortandenjoymentmeetinperfect balance,andwhereeveryvisittothegardenoffers somethingnewtonoticeandappreciate. ■

YoucanfollowAdamonInstagram @viewfromthepottingbenchorlistentohispodcast TalesFromthePottingBenchformoregardening inspiration.YoucanalsoreadAdam’sblogat viewfromthepottingbench.com

HOLLYWILLIAMS

MostA-Levelstudentshaveenoughontheir platewithrevisionandexams,butnot HollyWilliams.She’sembarkingonthe mostchallengingandexcitingstageofhermotocross careersofarassheprogressesfroma125cctothemore powerful250ccHonda.Herupgradedbikeadorned withsponsorlogosincludingherschool,Moreton Hall,representsamovetothebigleague.

Hollyexplains:“Thisyearwillbemyrookieseason ontheHonda250F.Iamalreadyfeelingreallyhappy withthebikeandwearemakingimprovementstothe set-upeachtimewegotothetrack.”Thisseason HollywillbecompetingintheACUBritishWomen’s Championship,AMCABritishChampionship,FXR AreaChampionshipagainstmaleriders,andselected EMXEuropeanrounds,aswellashavingsome excitingplanstowardstheendoftheseason.

ROCKYSTART

LastyearwasoutstandingforHolly.Shewas crownedViceACUBritishChampion,ViceAMCA BritishChampionandViceScottishCupChampion andshe’ssethersightsevenhigherforthisseason, allwhilestudyingforherexams.Hollysaysher teachershavebeenreallysupportiveandwhileshe hadwhatshedescribesasarockystarttoA-Levels, shegotbackontrack.Ratherthandroppingtotwo A-Levels,theteacherscameupwithaplanthat meantshecouldmanagethestandardthree alongsideriding.Holly’sstudyingPE,Businessand Photographyandhasfoundhergroovesuccessfully

balancingacademicswiththesportsheloves.

AsasmallchildHollygotinvolvedwithhermum’s passionforhorsesbutwhenherponydied,itwasher motocrossracingdadwhosuggestedgettingabike. HollyenjoyeditstraightawayandduringCovid foundatracktorideonregularly.Thecourageand resiliencetosucceedatthislevelisincredible.When Hollycompetesagainstmen,whichshedoesquite regularlyintheFXRchampionship,itcanbequite comical.Shesays:“InsomeracesIlineupwith44 menandattheendoftheraceItakeoffmyhelmet andtheyrealisethey’vebeenbeatenbyagirl!”

GREATTEAM

Holly’sphilosophicalaboutthisseasonandher exams.Shesays:“Thenextfewmonthsarelooking extremelybusyformewiththestartofallthree championshipsaswellasthecountdowntomyALevelexams,butIamconfidentthatIwillbeableto reachmyfullpotential.Moretonhasprovidedme withateamofpeoplewhogoaboveandbeyondto ensureIamabletoreachmygoals.”

PostA-Levels,Hollywon’tbefollowingthe standarduniversitypathortakingagapyear.Her dadhasgivenherayeartofocusonridingandnot worryaboutneedingaproperjobsoHollycansee wherethesporttakesher.Shehasfoundherselfsome workexperiencetodoalongsideriding,butshe’sable tofocuslargelyonthesport.We’llbefollowing Holly’sprogresscloselyandarewishingherwell bothonthetrackandintheclassroom. ■

GROWINGPLACES

STELLARSTUDENTNURSES

TwoCoventryUniversitynursingstudentshavebeen recognisedwithanationalawardfortheirworkhelping someoftheregion’smostvulnerablepeopleaccess vitalhealthcareservices.LeahKirkwoodandFlorence JackPetterwontheStudentInnovationinPractice awardattheStudentNursingTimesAwardsfora communityoutreachprojectsupportingpeople experiencinghomelessnessandaddictiontoaccess primarycare.Thepairbecameinvolvedintheproject whiletrainingasNursingAssociateswithCoventry UniversityandLeamingtonSpaPrimaryCareNetwork (PCN),workingacrossGPpracticesinthearea.

POWERINGBIRMINGHAM

BirminghamCityUniversity(BCU)isplayingavitalrole inpoweringthecity’sworkforce,withnewresearch revealingthatnearlyaquarterofBirmingham’s graduate-levelprofessionalsstudiedattheinstitution. TheanalysisconductedbyJiscdigitalanddataagency forhighereducation,showsthat22percentofthecity’s graduateworkforceareBCUalumni,makingthe universitythesinglelargestcontributorofskilledtalentin Birmingham.Itsimpactisparticularlysignificantin healthcareintheWestMidlands,with43percentof newlyqualifiednursesand30percentofmidwives beingBCUgraduates.

SCHOOL REPORT

DIGITALTRAININGBOOST

POETRYINMOTION

BirminghamMetropolitanCollegeistobenefitfroma nationwide£175milliontrainingboostthankstoa Governmentskillsinitiativetargetinggrowthindustries. Underthescheme65,000learnersacrossthecountrywillhave accesstotrainingforhigh-demandjobsinBritain’sfastestgrowingindustries,astheGovernmentrollsoutthenextwave ofTechnicalExcellenceColleges.BirminghamMetropolitan CollegewillbeallocatedfundsundertheDigitaland Technologiespartoftheprogramme.PatCarvalho,CEOand principalofBMet,said:“ThroughtheDTEC,wewill strengthenourregion’sdigitaltalentpipeline,ensuringevery learnergainstheadvancedskillsandopportunitiesneededto thriveinarapidlyevolvingdigitaleconomy.”

StudentsatRockwoodAcademytookpartinaseriesofpoetryworkshops deliveredinpartnershipwithEmpowerPoetry.Thesessions,organisedby theacademy’sLearningResourceCentreandEnglishDepartment,were ledbypoetandfounderRyanDreSinclair,whoworkstosupportand promotethespokenwordcommunityacrossBirminghamandtheWest Midlands.Studentsfromyears7to10tookpartinworkshopsfocusedon themesofdiversityandcreativity,withmanyinspiredtowriteand performtheirownpoetry.

CoventryandWarwickshireTrainingHub/BartKerswellPhotography

WORLDOFWORKDAY

TWYCROSSTREAT

ChildrenfromJosephLeckie Academy,Birminghamgota tasteofworkwhenthey visitedanofficeofoneof thecountry’sleading accountancyandadvisory businesses.Theyoungsters fromYears7and8were invitedtoAzetsaspartof theKing’sTrustWorldof Workinitiative.Staff designedinteractivesessionsforthe11to13-year-olds.Azets,oneofthetoptenUK accountancyandadvisoryfirms,isacharitypartnerofthetrustandwaskeentotakepart intheWorldofWorkinitiativetointroduceyoungpeopletoaccountancy.

BALLETSTARONBOARD

WorldrenownedballeteducatorandformerprimaballerinaViviana DurantehasjoinedatrailblazingartseducationgroupintheWest Midlandstoleadoneofthemostground-breakingballeteducation programmesinthecountry.Birmingham-basedTransformation PartnershipannouncedtheappointmentofVivianaasitsnewballet artisticdirector,alandmarkmomentinthePartnership’smissionto deliverworld-classculturaleducationtochildrenandyoungpeople indisadvantagedcommunities.VivianajoinsthePartnership followingheracclaimedleadershipasartisticdirectoroftheEnglish NationalBalletSchool.Inhernewrole,Vivianawilloverseethe deliveryofweeklyballetlessonstomorethan850children, shapingcurriculumandperformanceopportunities.

PegasusPrimarySchooltook itsReceptionclassto TwycrossZoo.Thevery youngestlearnershavebeen exploringtheVeryHungry Caterpillarbookandthe wholeclassgottovisitthe zoo’sbutterflyhouseaspart oftheirtrip.Pegasushouses itsowncaterpillarsatschool, andlearnerswerefascinated tofindoutmoreaboutthe insects,theirlifecyclefrom eggtopupae,caterpillarand butterfly.Duringtheirvisit,a fewofthebutterflieslanded onthechildren,whichthey saidwas‘magical’.

KINGOFCOLOUR

Youmightthinkyoudon’tknowtheColourPalette Company,butthechancesare,youdo.Ifyou’ve walkedthroughGrandCentral,Touchwood,the KingfisherCentre,anynumberofBirmingham’s museumsorevenNewYork’sCorningMuseumofGlass lately,thestrikingartworkisunmistakable.

TheCompany’sfounderandartististhelong-term formereditoroftheBirminghamPost,StaceyBarnfield. Staceyhasalwayshadaninterestincolourandtypography havingstudiedgraphicdesignasayoungster.Hisoriginal Birminghamcolourpalettewascreatedbyplayingaround withdesignandtypeandwhenStaceyuploadeditto Twitteritwasobvioustherewassignificantinterest.

Hesays:“Itwentcrazy.Loadsofpeoplegotin touchaskingiftheycouldbuyitasaprintoramug andsomewereaskingifIcouldcreateacolour palettefortheirarea.”SomefromasfarafieldasNew Zealandweremakingrequests.

Staceysayshestumbledintothebusinesscreatinga

localknowledgeandnostalgiawhichStacey wholeheartedlyunderstoodhavinggrownuphere. Expandingtootherareashasmeantdoingresearch andfindingwhat’suniquethere.Forinstance,when StaceyworkedwithYorkMuseumandArtGalleryhe gotundertheskinofthecityandfoundoutwhat’s specialtoYork.AndwhenLiverpoolMuseumsasked forwheeliebinpurple,Staceylistened.

MREGGYELLOW

Themuseumnowsellsminiaturepurplewheelie binsinitsshop.It’sthatlocalknowledgethatmakesit work.Buy-inatalocalleveliscrucialtothesuccessof apaletteandStaceyrecognisesthat.Hesays:“MrEgg yellowisveryrandomifyoudon’tknow Birmingham.”Thefacttheartworktranslates anywheremakestheprospectofgrowthexciting.

websitefirstthenbringingsomeoneonboardtohelp withthefinancialsideofthings.Therearenow70 differentcolourpalettes.Theoriginalideahasmorphed intolotsofdifferentmediums,soinitiallysmallgiftsand prints–essentiallythingsthebusinesscouldmanage–easilygrowingintolargescalepublicart,suchasthe Leamingtonversioninstalledinthewalkwayunderthe stationandamassivepieceinTouchwoodSolihull.

HUGESCALE

OftheTouchwoodwork,Staceysays:“Itmustbe25 or30metres.Iloveit.Toseethatgofromlaptopto screentofinishedlargescalepieceisamazing.Iwent toSolihullCollegetostudygraphicssoit’safullcircle momentfromapersonalperspective.”Headds:“Ilove seeingthehugescale.GrandCentralwasthefirst largescaleformat.IwalkthroughGrandCentralto gettoworksometimesandit’samazing.”

TheBirminghampaletteworkedthankstothe

Forexample,theCorningMuseumofGlassinNew Yorkspottedthepalettesonsocialmediaandcontacted Stacey.Herecalls:“Ithoughtitwasjustaspeculative enquirybecauseofthegeographicallocation.Thenthey wentforit.”Staceyworkedwithcuratorstocomeup withapalettethattiedinwithanexhibitionaboutthe waycolourfeelsthroughglass.Hecreatedpostcards, mementosandarangeofmugsforthegiftshop.

SIDEHUSTLE

EventuallyStaceywouldliketoemploysomeoneto dotheresearchidentifyingandcontactingpotential clientstoboostgrowth.Asidefromareas,thereare themedpalettesavailabletoo,sothere’sagardener’s paletteaswellasonefortealovers,amongothers.

Staceyalsosketchesandpaints,recreatingsomeof hisfavouritepartsofBirmingham.Spawnedby lockdown,DrawMyCitystartedasahobbywhichhe nowdescribesasasidehustlefromwhichhedonates someoftheproceedstocharity.

Hesays:“IstarteddrawingplacesIusedtopasson mywaytowork,soBirminghamCathedralandthe Rotundaamongothers.Ipostedonsocialsandpeople askediftheycouldbuythem.It’sraisedafew thousandforSifaFireside,thecharitythatsupports homelesspeopleinBirmingham.” ■

SUPPORTLOCAL

CheckoutStacey’sdesignsatthecolourpalettecompany.com

BBC’STEAHOME

PropertydeveloperStofordhascompleted thefirststageoftheTyphooWharf developmentwiththetransformationof theTeaFactoryintothenewhomeofthe BBCinBirmingham.TheBBCandits contractorswillnowcompleteaninternal fitoutofthebuilding,whichisdueto openin2027.Thehistoricbuildingin BordesleyStreet,Digbethwillhouse severalBBCeditorialteams,includingThe Archers,BBCAsianNetwork,BBC Newsbeat,BBC1Xtra,BBCRadioWMand MidlandsToday.

YOUTHJOBSBOOST

BUSINESS

AWestMidlandscharitythat helpsdisadvantagedyoung peoplegainemployment, educationandtraininghas receiveda£5,000donationfrom businessinvestmentspecialist UKSEtorunanemployability skillsworkshop.Youngpeople agedbetween18and29will havetheopportunitytotakepart inSport4Lifecharity’sthree-day workshoptogainskillstoprogressintoemployment,educationortraining.In2025, Sport4Lifesupported3,875youngpeople,with301gainingemploymentasadirect resultofitsNEET(NotinEducation,EmploymentorTraining)programmes.

DOUBLETEAM

Twoformerresidentialdevelopmentpartners atKnightFrankhavelaunchedPriestleyWish, anewindependentagencyfocused exclusivelyonsales,residentialdevelopment landandnewhomes.BasedinStratford-uponAvon,theagencyisstructuredaroundtwo complementaryareasofexpertise–New Homes&ResidentialSales,ledbyChris Priestley,andLand&Development,ledby JonnyWish.Thenewfirmcombinesmore than40years’experienceadvising landowners,developersandinvestorsacross centralEnglandandbeyond.

CARL’SBIGPLANS

Planning,designanddevelopment consultancyMarronshasappointedCarl Braceasassociatedirector.Withmore than20years’experienceinlocal planningauthorities,CarljoinsMarrons fromWychavonDistrictCouncil.He bringsavaluableinsightintotherealities ofplanningdecision-makingatatime whenthesystemisunderincreasing pressuretobalancegrowth,policy reformanddelivery.Carlsaid:“Myfocus hasalwaysbeenonfindingaroute forward–unlockingdevelopmentina waythatdeliverspolicy-compliant, commerciallyviableandgenuinely beneficialoutcomes.”

CHAMBERCHANGES

AsianBusinessChamberofCommercehasappointed twonewvice-presidents–chefDakshaParekh, operationsdirectoratMahirsExperience,and immigrationsolicitorSunilKumarMahay,founderof VasuLegal.DakshaParekh,picturedthirdright,said: “Myworkhasalwaysbeenrootedingivingback, whetherthrougheducation,wellbeingorcreatingmore consciousapproacheswithinthehospitalityindustry.I’m lookingforwardtobringingthatperspectiveintothis role.”SunilKumarMahay,picturedthirdleft,added:“I’m excitedtocontributetobuildinganevenstronger,more inclusiveanddynamicbusinesscommunity.”

AfeelingofextraluxuryissettotakeoffatBirminghamAirportthissummer.Aspire PreFlightHospitality–SwissportInternational’sairporthospitalitybrand–isopening anewLuxebyAspireandSuitebyAspireoffering.LuxebyAspirewillprovideprivate facilitiesforbusinessandupscalingleisuretravellers,whileSuitebyAspirewillmirror first-classairtravelincludingàlacartemenusandpersonaltable-sideservice.Airport commercialdirectorRichardGillsaid:“Theseloungesformpartofourwider commercialconcoursedevelopmentofferingmorechoiceforpassengers.”

TOURISMAWARD

ShakespeareBirthplaceTrusthasbeenawardedaSilverGreenTourismAward aftercompletingtheorganisation’sfirstGreenChecksubmission.GreenTourism assessedtheTrustasawholealongsidesitesubmissionsforAnneHathaway’s Cottage,Shakespeare’sBirthplaceandShakespeare’sNewPlace,witheach submissionachievingsilverstatus.AndrewAnderson,theTrust’senvironmental healthandsafetyofficer,said:“TheassessorshighlightedourGreenActionPlan, CarbonLiteracytrainingandcompliance,ourcommitmenttoHealthandWell Beingandourapproachtousingchemicals.”

TOPFLIGHTLOUNGES SUCCESSSTORY

ThebossofaPRagencywhichgrewoutofan ideaatthekitchentablehasbeennamed CompanyLeaderattheWestMidlands LeadershipAwards.Withinweeksoflaunching STORYnearly12yearsago,AmandaLowe securedamajorcontractwithJohnLewis.Since thenSTORYhasgrownintoanindependent multi-award-winningUKagency,collectingmore than30industryaccolades,includingthe prestigiousPRCAUKMediumConsultancyofthe Year.WestMidlandsLeadershipAwardsjudges praisedAmanda’sentrepreneurialdriveand sustainedleadershipimpact.

AstonUniversityhasnamedProfessorColinGrantasitsnextvice-chancellorand chiefexecutiveofficer.ProfGrant’scareerincludesresearch-intensiveinstitutionsin theUKandAustraliaandmorethan20yearsinuniversityexecutiveleadership, includingleadingmajoroverseascampusventuresinscience,engineering, managementandthehumanities.HejoinsAstonfromtheUniversityofNewSouth Wales,aworldtop20universityandpartoftheprestigiousAustralian‘Groupof Eight’universities,whereheservedasdeputyvice-chancellorglobal.

ALLEYESONTONY

Birmingham-basedmedtechcompanyEyotohasappointedanew interimCEOasthebusinessbuildsonitssuccessasapioneerinthe teleoptometrysector.TonyVeverkahasservedasaboardadvisorforEyotosince2025.Hehasheld seniorleadershiprolesacrossboththeUKandUS,startinghiscareeratBupabeforegoingontolead lasereyesurgeryspecialist,UltralaseEyeClinics,asCEO.Eyoto,foundedasaspin-outfromAston University’sSchoolofOptometryin2013,hasgrownintoaleaderinopticalinnovation.

BUSINESS BITES

HIGHERACHIEVER

LegalfirmHCRLawhaswelcomedintellectualpropertyand interactiveentertainmentlawyerDanielGoodalltoits TechnologyandInnovationteamatitsLeamingtonSpaoffice. Daniel,picturedleft,hasmovedtoHCRLawafterworkinginhouseasgeneralcounselforaUK-basedmobile,PCand consolegamespublisher.LeamingtonSpahasgaineda growingreputationinthegamingindustryashometooneof theUK’slargestclustersofvideogamedevelopmentstudios –earningthetownthenickname‘SiliconSpa’.

JOININGVILLATEAM

Amarket-leadingUK-widespecialistintheremovalandremediation ofAsbestosContainingMaterials(ACM),hasbecomeamemberof theAstonVillaFoundationCommunityPartnership.EnvirocallLtdMD, MickTynan,pictured,said:“JoiningthePartnershipenablesusto createapowerfullinkbetweenourbusinessgrowthandmeaningful CorporateSocialResponsibility.”Thepartnershipprovidessmalland medium-sizedbusinesseswithauniqueopportunitytoraisetheirbrandpresenceatVillaPark, whilesupportingtheFoundation’scharitableworkinBirminghamandacrosstheregion.

SPEC-TACULARREVAMP

BrittainOpticiansinHarbornesetitssightsonrevitalisingitsstreet-facingpresence whenitteamedupwithBirmingham-baseddesignstudioDualWorks.Andits visionofsuccesshasworkedafterreportingabigupliftincustomerengagement. DualWorks’conceptwasinspiredbythetraditionaleyetestwithaninstallation incorporatingmagneticletteringallowingstafftoupdatemessagingquicklyand creatively.BrittainownerMattRose,pictured,said:“We’veseenmorepeople stopping,lookingandcominginside.It’shadatangibleimpactonthebusiness.”

GemmaWhitchurch,apartnerintheFamily LawteamofBirminghamandSolihulllegal firmSydneyMitchell,hasachievedtheHigher RightsofAudience(HRA)Civilqualification, andcannowrepresentclientsinthehigher courts,includingtheHighCourt,Courtof Appeal,andSupremeCourt.Sheisthefirst lawyerinSydneyMitchell’s260-yearhistory tobecomeaSolicitor-Advocate.

PLANETPRIZE

BMetCollegehasbeennamedthetop regionalwinnerforsustainabilityinthe Midlandsafterplacing10thnationallyinthe PlanetEarthGames.Theannualcompetition bringstogetherorganisationsfromacrossthe UKtotesttheirknowledgeandcommitment tosustainabilitythroughactivitiesdesigned toreduceenvironmentalimpactandpromote greenerwaysofworking.

GROWINGPLACES

PearcelegalSolicitorshasexpandedits officesinSolihulltowncentre.Established in1981,thefirmbasedinChurchHill Roadhastakenanadditional800sqftof officespacepreviouslyoccupiedbyJohn ShepherdEstateAgents.

CRICKETWORLDFIRST

Visuallyimpairedcricketfansareexperiencingthe actionatEdgbastonStadiumlikeneverbeforeasthe venuebecomesthefirstcricketgroundintheworldto offerGiveVisionheadsetsateverymatchday.The headsetenhancestheuser’sremainingvisionby stimulatingthephotoreceptorcellsoftheeye.Realtimebroadcastfeedsarestreameddirectlyintothe devicewithuser-controlledvisualadjustmentstailored toindividualsightloss.Therolloutmarksanotherstep inEdgbaston’scommitmenttomakingthelivematch experienceaccessibletomorefans.

Backstagetourswitcheson brilliantnewLEDinstallation 3 2 4 5 6 7 8

Guestswereinvitedtocelebratetheirsupport ofBirminghamHippodromeandbefore ‘shakingtheirgroovethang’ataspectacular performanceofPriscillaQueenoftheDessert,were treatedtoapresentationofnewLEDlighting installedinthePatrickStudioandashortbackstage tourofthesetofTalesfromAcornWood.Theevent andthepurchaseofthenewLEDlightingwasmade possiblethroughagrantawardfromtheUKShared ProsperityFund. ■

PhotographybyVivBaileyPhotography

KirstyDavies-Chinnock,JonGilchrist,LauraDavies.

DaleandAlexParmenter.

TammyandReeceArnold.

MichelleWard,EmmaCosgrove.

YetundeDania,HarjMillington. 6 CatherineMallyon. 7 DeirdreO'Halloran. 8 JeanPowell,JamieDeSouza,SarahPearce,YetundeDania.

CHAMBERCELEBRATES SIKHHARVESTFESTIVAL

AnnualVaisakhiBusinessNetworking reflectsongratitudeandrenewal

AsianBusinessChamberofCommerce hostedtheannualVaisakhiBusiness NetworkingattheNationalConference CentrecelebratingtheSikhharvestfestivalthat providesatimetoreflectongratitude, communityandthespiritofrenewal.Guest speakersincludedaccountantBallyArk,wealth managementpartnerKiraSehmbiand restaurateur,ChamkorSingh. ■

4 5 6 3 2 1

7 8 9

1 DakshaParekh,AnnPowell. 2 BallyArk. 3 HarvirSahota,MonicaGhai,NinderJohal 4 SatnamChumber. 5 SunilMahay. 6 JonCottrell,HenryWilkinson. 7 AulfatBi,KiraSehmbi. 8 ChamkorSingh. 9 TrinaTiernan PhotographybyJasSansi

Communitylunchgatheringwith men’ssuicidepreventioncharity 3 2 4 5 6 7

CALTHORPEBUSINESS MEETSJAMES’PLACE

CalthorpeBusinessCommunitygatheredat BluePianorestaurantforaluncheonattended bymorethan70guests.Theeventfeatureda SoutheastAsian-inspiredmenuwithtalksfromthe CalthorpeEstatesteamandnewcustomerJames’ Place,themen’ssuicidepreventioncharity.■

PhotographybyVivBaileyPhotography

1 RalphMinott,HaydnCooper,CiaranBrady,RichardSuart. 2 BethMousikou,JoshCooper,LeonThomas. 3 PaulGilott,BelindaMorgan, PhilPowell. 4 DanBrice,RosWilson,FelicityTodd. 5 MariaMartin-Ruiz,NatashaBeard,EllaMcFadzean. 6 TomFoley,AlexTross,Simon Robinson. 7 BilllieFrain,BelindaMorgan,DanAtchison,MitchellBall.

RECRUITMENTFIRM LAUNCHESREBRAND

Growthandinvestmentplans arerevealedatspecialevent

Morethan100guestsattendedaspecialevent attheOysterClubtocelebrateSimkissGuy Recruitment’srebrandasSimkiss RecruitmentSolutions.Theaward-winningspecialist recruitmentbusinessalsoannouncedambitious regionalgrowthplanssupportedbysignificantnew investment.FounderandmanagingdirectorRebecca Simkisssaid:“Overthepast13yearswe’vebuiltour businessonrelationships,trustandtruly understandingtheorganisationswesupport.This evolutionreflectshowourclients’needsarechanging andhowwe’readaptingalongsidethem.” ■

6 7

WHAT’SON

WHAT: ThePiano:TheFinalConcert

WHEN: 9June

WHERE: SymphonyHall,bmusic.co.uk

ThefinalconcertofthehitTVseriescomes toBrumasacelebrationofthenation’s favouriteinstrument.Hostedby ClaudiaWinklemanandfeaturing performancesfromMika andsurpriseguestartists.

WHAT: TheStreets WHEN: 17July

WHERE: O2Academy Birmingham, academymusicgroup.com

Thistourmarksthefirsttime

TheStreetswillperformtheir hitalbum,AGrandDon’t

ComeForFreeinitsentirety,givingfansachanceto experiencethefullstoryexactlyasitwasintended.

WHAT: GameofThrones:TheMadKing

WHEN: 20Julyto5September

WHERE: RSCTheatre,rsc.org.uk

Thissweepingnewstageepicfromtheworldof GeorgeR.R.Martin,writtenbyDuncanMacmillan, spansthefinalyearsbeforetheeventsofthe novels,revealingalegendarychapterofWesterosi history.

WHAT: PaulineEyre:AnyoneforTennis? WHEN: 17June

WHERE: MACBirmingham, macbirmingham.co.uk

AWimbledonlinejudgefor20years, comedianPaulineEyreisreadytospillthe Pimmsontennisgossipfromthefragrant royalboxtothemustylockerroom, andwhylinejudgesareOUT!

WHAT: TheGoodFoodShowSummer

WHEN: 18to21June

WHERE: NECBirmingham, goodfoodshow.com/summer ThestellarshowreturnsalongsideBBC Gardeners’WorldLive!Anunmissableeventfor foodiesthat’spackedfullofchefsandexperts–includingHairyBiker,SiKing,pictured–sharing theirculinaryskillsandcookingliveonstage.

WHAT: BirminghamRoyalBallet –SirPeterWrightCentenary WHEN: 18June

WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome, birminghamhippodrome.com

CelebratetheworkofSirPeterinhis 100thyearwithhighlightsfromhis manybrilliantclassicalproductions. FeaturesCarlosAcostatakingtothe stageasDeathinTheGreenTable forthefirsttimeever.

WHAT: NikitaKuzmin: Supernova

WHEN: 2and3July

WHERE: BelgradeTheatre, belgrade.co.uk

TheStrictlyComeDancingfinalist andfanfavouritetakescentre stageinthisexplosivenew dancespectacular.

WHAT: MatildaTheMusical

WHEN: 1Julyto1August

WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome, birminghamhippodrome.com

Thisglobalphenomenonfromthe RoyalShakespeareCompany returnswiththestoryofone extraordinarygirl,withone extraordinarymind.

WHAT: EdgbastonArtisanMarket

WHEN: 13June

WHERE: GreenfieldCrescent,Edgbaston, calthorpe.co.uk

Birmingham’slargestartisanmarketreturns featuringindependentbusinessesfromacross theMidlandsshowcasingthefinestrangeof artisanfoodanddrink,alongsidehandmadearts andcraftsandfarmers’marketproduce.

WHAT: FrankieGoestoBollywood

WHEN: 10to13June

WHERE: BirminghamRep, birmingham-rep.co.uk

BurstingwithBollywoodglamour, thisdazzlingmusicalcomedy-drama divesdeepintotheglitzy,highpressureworldofIndiancinema, wheredreamsaremass-produced, identitiesarereshaped,and womenareexpectedtosmile andplaybythescript writtenforthem.

WHAT: AnEveningwithSusieWolff:Driven

WHEN: 1July

WHERE: TownHall,bmusic.co.uk

Fromthedriver’sseattotheboardroom,jointhe formerracingdriverandmanagingdirectorofF1 Academyassheliftsthebonnetonherincredible journeytothetopofmotorsport.

WHAT: TheSpyWhoCameinfrom TheCold

WHEN: 30Juneto4July

WHERE: TheAlexandra,atgtickets.com

TheawesomenovelbyJohnleCarrésetin thefog-shroudedterrainofColdWar espionageisbroughttolifeinathrilling stageadaptation,starringRalfLittle.

WHAT: LilyAllen

WHEN: 26June

WHERE: BPPulselive,bppulselive.co.uk

LilyAllenPerformsWestEndGirlwillseethe singer/songwriterplayherhighly-acclaimed albuminitsentiretyinaseriesofshows thatwillmarkherbiggestheadlinetourof hercareer.

WHAT: AngeladelaCruz:Upright WHEN: Nowuntil6September

WHERE: IkonGallery, ikon-gallery.org

Awonderfulopportunitytoenjoythe rarelyseenworksbythisleadingfigure incontemporarysculptureasshe marksherfirstsoloexhibitioninthe UKoutsideLondon.

CLOSEWITHÁ

BRADMORRISON

SUPPORTINGYOUNGCREATIVES,WORKINGFORBIRMINGHAMSWIFTS LGBTQ+RUNNINGCLUB,CREATINGAGRIMELEGACYWITHTHECBSO–ANDBEINGTHEBIGGESTLITTLEMIXFANTHEREIS!LIFE’SNEVERDULLFOR THEHEADOFMARKETINGANDCOMMUNICATIONSATPUNCHRECORDS

BEENTHERE,DONETHAT

WhenIwasyoung,mymumsaidthattheatrewas asafespace,andIrealisedthestressesoflifemelted away.Thatwasthebeginningofmyloveofcreative arts.IjoinedPunchRecordsin2020justbefore Covidhit,andeventhoughtheworldshutdown digitalnativessteppedupandtherewasaradical changeonline.BeforePunch,Iwasheadof storytellingatBeatfreeksandhaveworkedon projectswiththelikesoftheCBSOandRSC.Iwas alsomediasecretaryfortheLGBTQ+runningclub, BirminghamSwifts.Ispentayearonthecommittee, revampedthebrandandbroughtonboarda commercialpartner,VitaCoco.Ithenjoinedthe boardoftrusteesattheRep.Iwantedtogivebackto BirminghamandtheRephasenabledthat.

IT’SWHATIDO

ThePunchprogrammeofeventshasyoung creativesatitsheartaswellasmarginalisedand neurodiversecommunities.Myjobistoconnect people,supportyoungtalent,buildrelationshipsand collaborate.Someyoungpeoplethinktheyknow everythingthankstoTikTok,butitdoesn’tallow themtoworkthingsoutandduetothelackofyouth centrestherearen’topportunitiestolearn,soour programmesfillthatvoid.OurCommunityRoutes programmeoffers50spacesforyoungcreativesto developtheirskills,beginningwitharesidency followedbyashowcaseatShambalaFestival.A highlightatPunchhasbeenworkingwiththeCBSO onLegacywhichcreatedamassivegrimeorchestra andfeatured15localgrimeandrapartists.

WHATI’DLIKETOSEE

I’dlovetoconnectthedotsandhelpcreatives championtheirwork.Artiststhinktheyknowwhotheir audiencesare,butatPunchwepushpeople’sthought patternsandexplorehowwecandeveloptheircareers.

BIGGESTSUCCESS

LeadingthecampaignforLegacy.Tohavesoldout intwocitiesisspecial.I’dcountmakingmymum proudabigsuccesstoo.Shelaunchedacafeand clothingstorecalledSuzie’sRenaissancelastyear andI’vebeenhelpinghermarketherbrand.

BIGGESTLESSONLEARNED

TobelieveIamimportant.Asanintrovertitcan taketimetowarmupandyoucangetswallowedup inrooms.Iforcedmyselfnottoshrink,tohavestar power.ThepeopleofBirminghamoftenshrink themselves,butweneedtorealisenoonehas everythingfiguredout.

WHATILIKEABOUTBRUM

Weseemtobeacityofunderdogs.We’resohumble whichsomemightseeasafaultbutthere’spowerin that.There’slessego,meaningwecanbetterconnect.

DOWNTIME

IamthebiggestLittleMixfanwhichgotmeinto fanculture.Ialsogotoalotofgigsandtheatreshows. I’mintorunningandthegym–IgotoDepot Birmingham.Thereareloadsoffamilies,abigLGBT community,women’snightsandit’sjustaplacewhere peoplecanfeelcomfortableandconnect. ■

Our Secret Garden’s themed bottomless brunches are back, and better than ever!

SPICE GIRLS BRUNCH

Calling all 90s babies & Wannabies! Enjoy the ultimate Spice Girls themed bottomless brunch!

R&B BRUNCH

90 minutes of unlimited, top tier brunch dishes & a DJ playing all of your favourite R&B classics!

COUNTRY BRUNCH

Boots & Bubbles: A Country bottomless brunch bash. 90 minutes of fab food, great drinks, and endless country charm!

BIEBER FEVER BRUNCH

Sing, Sip and Dance to Your Fave Justin Bieber Hits. 90 mins of Great Food, Bottomless Drinks & Beliebers’ Vibes

GIRL BAND VS BOY BAND BRUNCH

Girl band vs Boy band bottomless brunch & all the sing-alongs! 90 minutes of delicious food & great drinks - Let’s party!

IBIZA CLASSICS

THE BIG BANK HOLIDAY BASH

90 Minutes of Great Food, Cocktails & Beats (including Saxophonist)...Pure Ibiza Vibes!