January issue 2017 (issue 52)

Birmingham g n i liv

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January 2017

VERITY MILLIGAN FOCUS ON BRUM

AMY CAMPBELL

Gold medal tumbler

CLEVER TYKES

NEW YEAR NEW YOU

TOYAH PRINCESS OF PUNK STILL WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE

T H E H E A LT H I S S U E

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EDITOR’S VIEW Now I know the fitness facts, I’ll be donning shorts and sweatbands picking up the racket and going for it!

Are you with me Birmingham?

ow y’all feeling? Fighting fit for the New Year?

No me neither. But like all resolution-makers, I’m planning to change that… and this year I intend to get in shape, and stick to it. I swear!

I’ve been inspired by a couple of good things in this month’s pages. I’m no gym physical jerk, so pounding a treadmill, exercise bike or lifting weights really turns me off. But our Health pages deliver some pretty encouraging, and surprising news, from researchers at Oxford University no less. Racket sports, that’s the real way to get healthy and have fun.

According to the words of the wise, their study found that picking up a tennis or badminton racket halves your chances of dying and promotes longer life. Now that I like, because show me a tennis or badminton court and I’m in heaven. Mind you, so far it’s mostly been sitting and watching the likes of Andy Murray and Johanna Konta at Edgbaston or Wimbledon. But now I know the fitness facts, I’ll be donning the shorts and sweatbands and going for it.

And if (only if, mind) I find that all a bit exhausting, I’ve been inspired by photographer Verity Milligan to get out there and walk beautiful Birmingham. So much of our lovely city is passed by with hardly a glance as we tear around in our cars or catch the bus or train to work. Verity’s an outdoor girl, and her breathtaking images taken while exploring in and around Brum show just what we’re missing.

There’s plenty else in this month’s issue to help you get healthier – from choosing the right kit to eating the right food. So… are you with me Birmingham?

H

David Johns

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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: Toyah Willcox by Gary Clutterbuck

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

january 2017

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When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

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INSIDE

Highlights

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Toyah Willcox From Punk Princess to I’m a Celebrity… the original wild child is still full of surprises…

Verity Milligan The talented photographer billed as ‘changing the national perception of Birmingham’ Yes Chef!

Portuguese head chef Pedro Miranda, creating Japanese heaven on a plate at Rofuto Wow Wines of 2107 Wine expert Rob Price picks his New Year winners – it’s all about quality, not quantity Fit ‘n’ Fashion Our Style edit of the latest fitness gear that’ll get your 2017 off on the right foot New Year, New You Want to be healthier in 2017? Make your resolution to pick up a racket – and smash it!

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CONTENTS

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Best of the Rest

23 56 59 61 64 70 78 january 2017

Food & Drink Our critics sample Missoula in the Arcadian, plus news of foodie openings and offerings Motoring From Formula E to the streets of Brum… Sue Cooke tries the new DS5 Performance Line Up Close With Behind the lens with photographer, family man and Brum champion Jas Sansi Young, Gifted and Brummie Gold medal-winning teen tumbler Amy Campbell talks flips, tricks and future plans Spotlight on Business Company to Watch – Clever Tykes, plus news and views from 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 January entertainment scene

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NEWS

g n i v liTODAY

LIGHTING UP TIME FOR BULLY He’s one of Birmingham’s most famous landmarks, but not as you’ve seen him before!

The Bullring’s bull was among the shining lights at the Magical Lantern Festival at the Botanical Gardens. A visual Chinese spectacular never before seen in the city, visitors were treated to a host of magical displays from a giant peacock to a lantern scene featuring penguins and snowmen.

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

SARAH’S THE BEE’S KNEES A university student is causing a buzz after her designs were chosen to feature on the label of local honey made by bees kept on the roof of Birmingham’s Custard Factory. Sarah Martin-Allon, from Birmingham City University, was named the winner of a competition to create a brand for company Bee9 – believed to be the only urban beekeepers in Birmingham city centre.

IT’S THE MINI MORGAN They don’t make ‘em like that anymore… well at least not in bronze!

The statuette by leading UK sculptor Leslie Johnson shows the founder of Midlands sports carmaker Morgan, H F S Morgan, and his son Peter with a 1958 Morgan 4/4. It was presented to the British Motor Museum by the

MICHELLE’S A CUT ABOVE Michelle Thompson is celebrating after taking home the title of Northern Stylist of the Year at the Black Beauty Sensationnel Hair Awards.

Michelle, the resident afro expert at Birmingham’s Francesco Group, collected her trophy at a ceremony at the London Hilton. The awards recognise the talent and skill of those within the Afro Caribbean hair sector.

Morgan Statue Foundation.

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NEWS

BALLET GOOD SHOW Ballerinas from Birmingham Royal Ballet found a new platform to show off their talent – at Grand Central Station.

Ten dancers were part of a flashmob which also included a 50-strong choir. Hosted by the Pandora store, the ballerinas gave performances from The Nutcracker on the centre’s escalators. Now that’s what you call nifty footwork…

ALIEN INVASION Monsters, aliens and horrific mutation invaded Birmingham’s Aston Conference Centre. The gruesome sights were part of the Prosthetics Event, a gathering of make-up and prosthetics industry experts to inspire the artists of the future. Organised by leading special effects artist Neill Gorton, the event gave visitors the chance to see the top names in the industry at work.

MERRY HILL’S NEW GEM Iconic Danish jewellery brand Trollbeads has opened a new concession at Merry Hill shopping centre. Situated on the Lower Mall, it is the first Trollbeads outlet in the UK to be located in a shopping centre rather than a town centre. The store’s layout includes a play table where customers can get creative and hands on with the jewellery.

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HE’S ONE HAPPY GUY Delighted Guy Walker is celebrating a free year’s travel on the M6 Toll after becoming the road’s 200 millionth customer. A toll booth attendant surprised Guy, from Coventry, with the news at the northbound plaza at junction T4 as he was on his way to work. “When they stopped me at first I thought ‘Am I in trouble?” he said.

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ANYONE FOR A PENGUIN? All the way from Denmark, we give you the Gentoo penguins! Nine of these little chaps have settled in to Birmingham’s National Sea Life Centre after being brought more than 800 miles to their new home from the town of Billund. It is hoped that they will breed successfully this spring and continue to grow the centre’s penguin colony.

KIDS’ ROOM OF HOPE A hospice has launched a new children’s counselling room to help youngsters who are suffering with grief after the death of a loved one.

The Roots and Wings Room at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice provides an interactive space to enable children to express their thoughts and feelings. It was funded by an £18,000 donation from Mazars Charitable Trust in memory of employee Bal Allen.

LISA’S ROYAL REWARD

IN BRIEF

Lisa Case, pictured right, was named IHN Insurance Rising Star at the Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Celebrate Success Awards. She was one of three Birmingham winners and was joined by Leanne Quinney and Daniel Caddick at the ceremony held at Aston Villa. The awards recognise the achievements of young people across the West Midlands who have succeeded against the odds.

GROW UP!

LAURA TURNS TO SHAKESPEARE Birmingham singer-songwriting sensation Laura Mvula is turning her considerable talents to Shakespeare. Laura is writing the music for the RSC’s production of Antony & Cleopatra which runs from 11 March to 7 September as part of the spring/summer theatre season. It is the first time the multi-award-winning soul artist has composed for a professional theatre production.

DUKE OPENS HOTEL Royalty visited one of the city’s newest hotels when the Duke of Gloucester formally opened Birmingham Park Regis.

The Duke unveiled a commemorative plaque and toured the £50million hotel which opened its doors to guests last March. Live music was provided by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

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Young people in Birmingham do not consider themselves an adult until they reach the age of 33, according to a new survey by Tangerine Confectionery. The poll revealed 73 per cent struggle with the idea of becoming an adult.

HIT MUSIC Midlands property professionals mixed food and live music to raise £3,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital at leading office fit-out specialist Overbury’s annual music night at the Chameleon bar, Birmingham.

SAIL AWARD Birmingham couple Mike and June Anslow received the RYA Lifetime Commitment Award for their contribution to grassroots sailing from Princess Anne at the RYA Volunteer Awards in London.

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FOGGY IS BACK! Former World Superbike champion and racing legend Carl Fogarty is returning to the Midlands to join more than 6,000 bikers on the ultimate charity ride. Foggy will lead Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival 2017 on Sunday 30 April. Bike4Life has become one of the country’s most popular biker events.

SUITS YOU SIR!

He was 46 before he got his first degree – through the Open University. Now Sir Lenny Henry has made it all the way to the very top of academia by being installed as the new Chancellor of his home Birmingham City University. The Dudley legend was installed at a ceremony at Birmingham Town Hall and used his inaugural address to emphasise that “education is a right, not an accident of birth”.

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BRUM BACKS CULTURE BID Birmingham is backing Coventry’s bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021. The bid won the support of the business, civic and arts community at an event sponsored by Birmingham Airport at the Hippodrome. If Coventry is successful it could bring more than £100 million of economic benefits to the region.

JOHN LEWIS HOMES IN ON STUDIOS Nationwide creative workspace developer and operator, TCN, has unveiled its first building in Birmingham. Its Grade II listed Assay Studios, formerly the Assay Building, is to become home to a host of high profile companies, including the John Lewis Partnership, which has chosen it as the base for its new innovation hub. TCN purchased the Jewellery Quarter building in 2014 to regenerate it into 30,000 sq ft of creative office space.

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NEWS

ART GREAT AT MAILBOX The Mailbox hosted an exhibition of the latest works by internationally renowned contemporary artist Lorenzo Quinn. The display, which took over the entire ground floor, marked a significant step for the city’s thriving art scene as it was Quinn’s first exhibition outside London for more than 15 years. The exclusive event was organised by Castle Fine Art.

MILLENNIUM MILESTONE CELEBRATING: Millennium Point’s Mark Swallow, Simon Topman, and Judith Armstrong with HS2’s Donovan Bailey

More than 150 guests celebrated the 15th anniversary of Millennium Point.

Friends of Millennium Point, staff and partners heard speeches from chairman Simon Topman and chief executive Judith Armstrong. Donovan Bailey, senior interface manager at HS2, also updated guests on the exciting developments taking shape. A 3D sculpture titled FIFTEEN created by architectural designers Space Play was unveiled.

FESTIVAL FIRST Leading authors and musicians will take part in Wolverhampton’s first literary festival later this month.

Wolverhampton Original Literature Festival features talks, workshops, art and children’s events from 27 to 29 January. Authors include award-winning Sathnam Sanghera, a former Wolverhampton Grammar School student, whose first book – The Boy With The Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton – is being adapted for BBC TV.

EASY DOES IT: Chart-topping Ned’s Atomic Dustbin singer Jonn Penney will appear at the festival

GARDEN HELP FOR HOMELESS People at risk of homelessness in Birmingham are enjoying the benefits of a new gardening project.

Housing and training group Ashley Community Housing has received a grant from health and wellbeing provider Benenden to organise the project which aims to increase the building of social networks and reduce isolation and depression through eco-therapy activity

SUPER SONIC AT 25 He’s a global phenomenon, super fast and super cool and star of more than 350 million video games sold or downloaded worldwide. Now Sonic the Hedgehog has come to Birmingham to celebrate his 25th birthday. An anniversary collection of limited edition artworks featured at Castle Fine Art at the ICC. The images were a collaboration with Castle, publisher Washington Green, contemporary artists and Sonic’s creator SEGA Europe.

GOT ANY NEWS? Email your news and pictures to editor@brumliving.co.uk january 2017

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COVER STORY

IT’S A MYSTERY

Toyah Willcox’s colourful career has taken her from punk princess to Splash, Teletubbies and I’m a Celebrity. She never ceases to surprise... here is something very endearing about Toyah Willcox. She is one in a long tradition of creative, sometimes downright cussed, free spirits who mellow into a kind of national treasure with the passing years. Say what you like about Toyah, you could never pigeon-hole her. The original wild-child punk princess is credited with starting the Goth movement, has voiced the Teletubbies, champions the National Trust and survived the Celebrity Jungle. And this multi-talented ball of energy has now been officially honoured by her home city with a star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars.

Being Toyah, she challenges the word mellow. “I don’t think I’m mellowing,” she says, “though I do find things that freaked me out in the past don’t bother me anymore.

And I’m working harder than ever.” No kidding! This is a one-woman phenomenon with a record company, six movies on the go and a touring band. A typical day starts at 6am, involves driving across the country, gigging, presenting and writing before final getting into bed at 4. Not that she’d change a thing.

“That’s the routine, but of course I enjoy it. I want a creative life. I have a new audience every year,” she says.

“It’s very interesting because 80s music is brand new to these people. They don’t know the politics; they don’t know Margaret Thatcher; they don’t know mobile phones were the size of shoe boxes – they just like the music and they’re hearing it with new ears. Their opinions are so refreshing because they’re hearing it without history. I find it very intriguing.”

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Born in Kings Heath, Toyah has had her ups and downs right from the start. Her Wikipedia entry states, rather brutally, that she was ‘born with a twisted spine, clawed feet, a clubbed right foot, one leg two inches shorter than the other and no hip sockets’ although she shrugs this off. “Like with many children these things grow out. My mother did physio with me every day to build up muscle strength. I still do physio twice a day – you can come on leaps and bounds with the right exercise.”

She was the original angry teenager – “I was the child from hell” – and battled with dyslexia. Her father had three joinery factories and Toyah once told an interviewer: “We used to drive a new Rolls-Royce every year. When I was seven my father was hit by a slump in the Stock Market and he lost everything. Our standard of living dropped dramatically but he managed to keep the house and me in private school which was a big achievement.”

I LIED ABOUT MY AGE Before she was 14, the irrepressible Toyah had seen Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Mott the Hoople, Black Sabbath and Hawkwind play – “admittedly I lied about my age everywhere I went” – and these artists inspired her to become a musician. “The arts in Birmingham are still leading the way with a creative community keeping it firmly on the map of creative innovation.”

She went to the Old Rep Drama School after which she got her first lead role with the BBC. “My career began at BBC Pebble Mill, a place where dreams came true for me,” she says. She has gone on to pack a great deal into a

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COVER STORY

“

I don’t think I’m

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mellowing, though I do find things that freaked me out in the past don’t bother me anymore

Photography by Dean Stockings

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The arts in Birmingham are still leading

the way with a creative community keeping it firmly on the map of creative innovation

career that boasts 13 top 40 singles, 23 studio albums, more than 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, including Quadrophenia and last year’s Aaaaaaaah! (for which she appeared in a Q&A with director Steve Oram at the Electric Cinema.) Not to mention the Shakespeare (The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s dream), the musicals (Calamity Jane, Rocky Horror) and a slew of celebrity programmes from Masterchef and Splash through to I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’.

She has even acted alongside Sir Laurence Olivier and Katharine Hepburn (who was so delighted with Toyah’s screaming orange hair she couldn’t stop running her fingers through it!). The sheer mix of work is dizzying and last month this huge talent and thirst for a workload that would break most people was recognised by the city she loves so much. Toyah was honoured together with comedian Don Maclean with a star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars in Broad Street, a cracking scheme that has recognised more than 30 fine celebrities and achievers from the region including Ozzy Osbourne, Jasper Carrott, Noddy Holder, Lenny Henry and Ellie Simmonds, DAD’S ANTIQUE SHOP “I was thrilled to receive a star. Having spent my childhood and teenage years here I developed my love of music and theatre thanks to all the great venues and theatres available within the city. My father’s antique shop stood on Broad Street, just at the corner of the Hyatt Hotel so I’m happy and incredibly proud.

My only wish was that my parents could have been with me.”

So as she reflects back on her career and her youth in Birmingham, how does she feel about the city? “The transition Birmingham has been through is awe-inspiring. Walkable cities are the best. That way you discover things about a place. I love the Jewellery Quarter and adore Centenary Square. Some of the productions at the REP are mind-blowing. When friends come over from the US I always send them to Brindleyplace to explore the city from there. I love the depth of heritage here.” I

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FEATURE

THE BEAUTY OF

BIRMINGHAM Talented Verity Milligan’s amazing images of Brum attracted national attention and have made her into a much-in-demand photographer e travel into it every day, we walk around it, we even eat and sleep in it… but how many of us actually take notice of how beautiful this great city of ours is? Life’s too hectic, time’s too short to stand, stare and admire. But not for talented local photographer Verity Milligan.

As the images over the next four pages reveal, Verity sees that which we don’t, and she’s in no doubt that Birmingham and its surroundings are breathtaking especially when viewed through the lens of her camera.

Brilliantly creative and simply stunning, her images of the city architecture and landscapes have not just attracted local attention and acclaim. Two

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years ago a national newspaper spotted Verity’s work and ran an article about ‘the photographer who is changing the perception of Birmingham’. Verity says: “From that moment on the whole thing has gone crazy. The Daily Mail article talked about how my pictures showed the changing face of Birmingham, and as a result I had so many people contact me wanting me to do work and commissions for them – not just locally but across the country.”

IT JUST CLICKED What’s all the more amazing is that Verity didn’t pick up a camera until she was 25. The Leicester University student had always been artistic growing

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FEATURE

up but had her mind set on being a painter. “But I struggled with paint,” she says. “When I picked up a camera and started clicking away I realised that just like paint it allowed me to show the world as I wanted. I’ve not looked back since.”

Living with her partner in Acocks Green, Verity has many strands to her photography career. She divides her time between working on commissions, shooting on her own time and selling prints of her amazing landscapes of Birmingham and Britain as a whole, producing calendars, lecturing on photography and film-making at Leicester University and even still keeping her hand in on the occasional wedding.

“They are all different pieces of the puzzle to make photography a commercial success,” she says.

Verity is also looking to move into fashion

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FEATURE

“

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Verity is billed as the

photographer who changed the perception of Brum

photography – “but fashion in the landscape”. She adds: “This could be urban landscape or up a hill somewhere. One thing I am not is a studio photographer. For me it is all about being outdoors somewhere.”

Social media plays a big role in getting Verity’s talent out there. Her website is packed with gorgeous pictures she has taken in Birmingham and elsewhere. Her Brum portfolio includes stunning views of the canals, Lickey Hill at sunrise, the Jewellery Quarter, misty Fox Hollies Park and spectacular mono and colour images of the commercial centre at day and night.

DREAM SHOOT If you prefer to widen you horizon, Verity has also shot around the country, including in the Lake District, the Peak District, the West Country and

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Isle of Skye. Her ultimate dream shoot would be to follow in the footsteps of famous American photographer, the late Ansel Adams whose remarkable black and white landscapes of the US West, such as Yosemite National Park, have been widely reproduced in books and on posters and calendars. “That would be amazing to go and shoot all the major national parks in the US and Canada.

The scenery is breathtaking,” she says.

As you can tell, Verity loves everything to do with photography. “Some people relax by sitting and watching a good film or TV but I relax by doing some picture or film editing,” she says. “I never sit down, I’m always on the go.”

Currently, this talented camera lady – whose past commissions include work for Visit Engalnd, Visit Britain and picturing the hills and dales for a Yorkshire Tea campaign – is collaborating with Marketing Birmingham and their projects for 2017.

Verity is also working on a couple of other exciting Birmingham-based ideas, but she says: “I can’t talk about those just yet!” We can’t wait to see what she’s got in store… I

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To see and buy Verity’s work, including her lovely The Beauty of Birmingham 2017 calendar, visit veritymilliganphotography.com

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FOOD & DRINK

PEDRO MIRANDA The head chef at Rofuto started out as a bar manager and part-time graphic designer in his native Portugal before working with a seven Michelin-star legend Tell us about your cooking I have been a Japanese cuisine chef for 10 years, at first in Portugal where I’m from and then in London, Manchester and Birmingham. In London, I worked alongside seven Michelinstarred chef Yoshihiro Murata and his head chef Hideki Hiwatashi, who is famed for his Japanese haute cuisine (Kaiseki). I like to mix traditional cooking techniques with a modern style.

How did you become a chef?

I was originally a bar manager at home in Portugal and then trained for three years in Porto to become a chef. I have always been influenced by Japanese cooking as well as European cuisine from restaurants like Noma in Copenhagen or Mugaritz in Spain. In Portugal people cook at home almost every day and develop cooking skills as they grow up. My

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mother and grandparents cooked every day and were a big influence in my becoming a chef.

What do you eat when at home?

I find cooking at home completely different to at work – at home it’s much more relaxing. I cook all sorts of dishes from Portuguese and Spanish to Italian and experimenting with Asian flavours but not so much Japanese food. It requires a lot of ingredients and preparation so I save that for my work kitchen.

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

In the world it would have to be Ferran Adrià, known as the father of modern gastronomy. All of the fine food we know now and the techniques we use

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CHEF’S CORNER

PEDRO’S CRISPY CHICKEN, KIMCHI SAUCE & LIME Ingredients:

I 200g crispy chicken I 20ml Kimchi no Moto I 3 lime wedges I 2g red amaranth

Crispy Chicken Mix

I 250ml dark soy I 250ml Mirin I 40g garlic, chopped

I 40g ginger, chopped I Tempura flour, enough to bind

Method: Blend all ingredients. Mix the chicken with this sauce and add tempura flour until it gets very sticky. Marinate overnight.

To Serve: Deep fry the chicken mix at 160C until crispy. Plate up in a bowl, drizzle with Kimchi sauce and garnish with red amaranth cress and the lime wedges.

have come from him. In Birmingham it is Adam Stokes. His work is meticulous and his techniques and food are fantastic.

Is the customer always right?

just don’t understand what all the fuss and hype is about. It’s not something I ever want on my plate.

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

In Portugal there’s a national dish called Cabidela, Most of the time, yes. Not always, but most of the time. which is made of poultry or rabbit cooked with rice in its own blood and vinegar. It might sound gross, Share a cooking tip but it’s in fact really good. Something similar to Sharpen your knives well. In Japanese cooking, black pudding in a way. sharp knives are an essential. Also learn how to sharpen If you weren’t a chef, what would you be? them properly. It’s almost a science to get right.

I’d likely be a graphic designer. It’s something that What was your favourite food as a kid?

I was doing while I was a bar manager in Portugal.

One of my favourites was a traditional Portuguese What do you recommend from this evening’s menu? dish called Acorda. It’s a bread soup that is simple to Saffron miso black cod, served with razor clams and make but delicious. pancetta. It’s one of my signature dishes and one that Food heaven and food hell?

I’m really proud of. I Heaven is sushi, specifically nigiri if done properly.

Rofuto, 160 Broad St, Birmingham B15 1DT. Tel: 0121 369888 www.rofuto.co.uk My food hell would have to be some types of insect. I

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

MISSOULA The Arcadian, 70 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TD ww.missoulabirmingham.co.uk

o, shopping’s a thing, just not my thing. I find it flabbergastingly dull and worse than that I panic in a crowd. When a friend forcefully suggested shopping the sales and put forward an impressive argument that tugged at the heart strings, I agreed to the not so jaunty day out.

Two hours in and I wanted to make a grand exit and contemplated chucking myself off the shiny curved roof of Grand Central. Clearly I didn’t, but only because lunch was hastily suggested to calm the situation. Dragging many bags – not one of them mine – we headed to Missoula in the Arcadian, a safe distance from retail spaces, but close enough to go back for more after lunch.

I was a Missoula virgin, but the friend regaled tales of a couple of stonking nights that included numerous inventive drinks. A new menu sounded appealing and I reckoned two for one cocktails would improve the day no end. More importantly if you’re a shopaholic the high sofa style seating was perfect for housing multiple bulging bags.

S

HITTING THE SPOT Two for one cocktails meant two of the same cocktail, so unless you want the same drink as your friend or you fancy lining them up and tying one on, you’re screwed. The Long Island Iced Tea hit the spot nicely and mocktail Ginger Snap was refreshing and light with a bit of heat.

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Tapas style starters were part of the new guard, so we gave a couple of those a whirl. The quesadillas were fiery little numbers with a welcome cooling sour cream dip and Iberico ham croquetas were delicious, crisp little treats.

The friend’s mission to find the perfect burger which almost always ends in disappointment was in full swing. She ordered a cheese and bacon burger.

Fresh, juicy and packed with flavour the patty was pretty much spot on and the bun – a simple sesame seed version was the perfect vehicle. The chips didn’t live up to the burger, but were ok.

A New York style focaccia with salt beef, mustard and gherkins looked offputtingly huge, but tasted great with sweet potato fries that were crisp and moreish.

Fuelled by what was our veritable carbfest we trotted off for more retail therapy (really?) which was surprisingly more palatable after a good lunch and a spot of alcohol. I could be coming round to the idea. I

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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 BROAD STREET BIERKELLER How do you like your beer? You’ll be spoiled for choice at the newly-opened £2million Bierkeller on Broad Street. The entertainment complex houses three bars under one roof – Around the World Bar & Lounge, a traditional Bavarian Bierkeller and Shooters Sports Bar. The new venue is run by Burning Night Group.

CURRY OSCAR FOR ASHA’S Asha’s in Newhall Street is celebrating being named the best spice restaurant in the Midlands by the British Curry Awards. It is the second major honour this year for the Indian restaurant and cocktail bar – it was previously named winner of the Restaurant Award in the Asian Business Awards Midlands.

BOTTLES OPENS AT MAILBOX The French wine region of Bordeaux is, we are told, the inspiration behind Bottles Birmingham, a new venue in the Mailbox bringing more than 300 wines, ports and champagnes to the canalside. Served by the bottle or glass, there’s also state-of-the-art wine dispensing machines offering a unique wine-tasting experience. Food focuses on casual, social dining, like tapas and sharing plates.

LET’S FEED BRUM A new campaign is urging Birmingham’s restaurants to help the homeless. Let’s Feed Brum challenges eateries to put their money – or rather food – where their mouths are and head onto the streets. The first restaurant to pledge its support is Indian restaurant Itihaas which is taking its kitchen on the road to provide hot food for those who need it most.

AVAST THERE ME HEARTIES… We’ve learned of plans for a new pirate-themed bar in Birmingham. New World Trading Company, the pub group behind The Botanist, is planning to renovate the former James Brindley pub in Bridge Street. Our sources tell us the pub will be called Smugglers Cove and come decked out with barrels and models of ships. It will open in October.

STREET FOOD OF INDIA Food served as small, tapas-style plates – just as you would get on the streets of India. That’s the promise from the new Zindiya restaurant which is opening in Moseley later this month. The most expensive dish on the menu is only £8. Shivani Kenth, one of the owners, said: “It was our dream to bring a bit of the Indian colour, vibrancy and value to Moseley.”

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SEASON'S EATINGS

SUPER SPROUTS They're not just for Christmas... this recipe turns sprouts into a tasty, different new year treat hristmas is over for another year and the baubles, tinsel and unwanted gifts are all stacked away till next December. But one thing we shouldn’t forget about till next year is the mighty sprout. These glorious buds are exceptionally high in vitamins and minerals, rich in protein, dietary fibre and antioxidants so why save them just for Christmas?? Try this delicious one-pot roast for paprika chicken thighs with sprouts and have a tasty and healthy start to 2017.

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PAPRIKA CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SPROUTS Ingredients

I 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (or quartered if large) I 4 small shallots, quartered I 1 lemon, sliced I 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided I 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided I 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, divided I 2 cloves garlic, minced I 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, sweet or hot I 1 teaspoon dried thyme I 4 large or 8 small bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds), skin removed

Method Combine Brussels sprouts, shallots and lemon with 2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper on a large rimmed baking sheet.

Mash garlic and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt with the side of a chef's knife to form a paste. Combine the garlic paste with paprika, thyme and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the paste all over chicken.

Nestle the chicken into the Brussels sprouts.

Place on the lower rack of an oven preheated to 450°F for 20 to 25 minutes until the Brussels sprouts are tender and chicken is fully cooked.

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FOOD & DRINK

WOW WINES

OF 2017

It’s all about quality not quantity as Rob Price picks his New Year winners

fter the merry clinking of wine glasses over Christmas and the New Year, many people opt to go ‘dry’ in January. But in my book that’s really a step too far. Instead why not drink less, and up the quality?

It doesn’t always mean more expensive, as you’ll see from my four top picks. I would also recommend learning more about wine – of course I would say that! But having a better appreciation of wine, how to taste properly, understanding why you like some varieties and not others, really does add to the fun of tasting/drinking wine. Being confident in choosing the right wine with food will enhance your restaurant experiences.

There are many excellent places in Birmingham to taste wine. Loki in Great Western Arcade has state-of-the-art preservation machines

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FOOD & DRINK

ROB’S

4 TO TRY

MARQUÉS DE CARANÓ, GRAN RESERVA, 2008 VINTAGE

This Gran Reserva is nine-years-old, mellow, soft, earthy and savoury but still with enough fruit to carry it off. A blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes, not only will the taste wow you but also the price. Only £5 per bottle – even less when of offer – from Tesco.

PICCINI MEMORO I first tasted this wine five years ago and raved about its richness and power. I’ve tried it every year since and was always a tad disappointed. But now It’s back to its best. Made in an Amarone style, raisins, coffee, tobacco, it’s a full bodied and robust. Non-Vintage and a blend from across Italy. Only £8 from Morrisons or Tesco.

THE SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2014 I tried this at the Love Wine Festival in Birmingham – what a super event – and fell in love. This is a creamy and rich, but with a lightness and freshness, so perfectly balanced. Lovely peach and apricot, with hints of vanilla, you must try this. I’ve since bought a case. Available from the Wine Society, £18.

MONTE DEL FRA ITALIAN RIPASSO Both a Classico and Superiore, a blend consisting of 80 per cent Corvina and 20 percent Rodinella from the Veneto region in north-east Italy. The vineyard is in a Classico zone, considered the best for growing these grapes. Cherries, plums and liquorice; spices such as pepper and cinnamon. Beautiful and full bodied, but with a freshness that many New World big wines fail to have. £13.95 from Devine Fine Wines.

that keep the wine fresh and allow you to taste several premium varieties in one go and find out which you like. Other wine merchants like Connolly’s and Majestic have bottles you can taste in their shop before you buy, and all three hold regular tastings that show off the many wines they have on offer.

COLD COMFORT Of course, Birmingham Wine School also offers many tasting events from the informal ‘intro to wine’ evenings to some very expensive and exclusive Bordeaux events, and everything in between. And if you want a wine qualification, BWS offers Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses. WSET qualifications are globally recognised as the international standard in wine knowledge. They are designed for those who are just starting out in their careers as well as established professionals and the many enthusiasts who have a passion for wine. You can start at Level 1 or Level 2 depending on your wine knowledge and move onto Level 3 and 4. Another reason for not going ‘dry’ in January is that wine is

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good for you. Red wine especially has been shown to provide health benefits. Their black grape skins have certain properties, such as resveratrol, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight off the common cold and has anti-ageing properties. It was shown in a recent study of more than 4,000 people that those drinking a couple of small glasses of wine a day had 40 per cent fewer colds than people not partaking.

Other substances found in red grape skins such as proteins and polyphenols helps kill off cancer cells and keep our arteries cleaner. It is grapes with thicker skins that provide the most benefits, so wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon improve these benefits further. Of course, less is more, so drink you wine in moderation. As I said at the beginning, drink less but better quality. My top four for January are excellent choices… I Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine education company offering fun, informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Warwick and Milton Keynes.

For more information, contact Rob Price 0121 270 7359 www.birminghamwineschool.com.

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

NEW YEAR FIZZER

Can it be true… something that’s healthy and naughty all in the same glass?

ealthy doesn’t have to be dull and boring. It can be naughty and nice – just like this New Year kickstarter of a cocktail from those pound-shavers at Weightwatchers. They gave us this totally sexy little number in a glass which is perfect after all the indulgence over the festive period… and only 109 calories per cocktail. Magic!

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CRANBERRY GIN & TONIC Ingredients:

I 75g frozen cranberries I 35g granulated sugar I Orange peel I 125ml water I 3 thyme sprigs I 100ml gin I 200ml slimline tonic water

Method: Put the cranberries, sugar and orange peel in a small pan set over a low heat. Cover with the water and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes then add the thyme sprigs and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, cover and set aside for 20 minutes to infuse. Strain through a sieve and leave to cool completely.

To serve, add the gin and tonic to the syrup and divide four chilled coupe glasses. Add ice cubes, stir and serve garnished with a sprig of fresh thyme.

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FIGHT OR FLIGHT Clothing by Betty Design, www.bettydesigns.com

NO PAIN JUSTGAIN Nail those New Year resolutions by sporting fitness gear that’ll get 2017 off on the right foot. Here’s our pick

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STYLE

FLOWER POWER Sapopa floral stretch leggings £220, Harvey Nichols

FRESH FOAM New Balance women's Fresh Foam 1080 £115, New Balance www.newbalance.co.uk

he number one New Year resolution across the globe is to lose weight and get fit and we’ve worked out we’re more likely to stick to our fitness goals if we look the part. Twothirds of Brits will join the gym in January and by February a third of those will have made the sheepish call to cancel their membership. Don’t let that be you.

Invest in some gym gear that’s so cool you’ll want to wear it. And if you’re never likely to be a gym buddy why put yourself through it? Do something different just do something. We’ve become slightly obsessed with tennis, thanks to British success on the courts, and once we’ve found the perfect skort, life will be complete. I

ON THE RUN Clothing from HPE, hpeclothing.com

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RACER LACE Sapopa stretch jersey bra strap £125, Harvey Nichols

WRAP UP Glitter Hoody, £40, available from Lipsy, The Fort Shopping Park

PLAY LIST GREY DAY Nike light grey juvenate trainers £72, Schuh, The Fort Shopping Park

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KEF M400 aluminium headphones £155, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

LIGHT UP Beamie Hat LED Light Beanie £11.99, The Present Finder, www.thepresentfinder.co.uk

ALL THE MOVES Clothing from Primark, The Fort Shopping Park

TRACK PROGRESS Suunto £599, www.watchshop.com

SMALL BUT MIGHTY Fitbit Alta small fitness band £99.99, Selfridges, Bullring

BASE CAMP Panelled zip up £35, Red Herring Active at Debenhams, The Fort Shopping Park

ANIMAL SIDE Printed Leggings £28, Nine by Savannah Miller at Debenhams, The Fort Shopping Park

PURPLE PATCH Athletic Propulsion Labs knitted trainers £130, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

SHORT SHORTS Clothing and bag available from La Redoute www.laredoute.co.uk

GO FASTER Leggings £22, Topshop, Bullring

AZTEC VIBE Palaitina bra £44, Roxy www.roxy-uk.co.uk

ROYAL WORKOUT T-shirt £14, Red Herring Active at Debenhams, The Fort Shopping Park

ALL IN THE NAME Adidas Ultra Boost prime knit trainers £130, Harvey Nichols

WARM UP LNDR stretch jersey jacket £130, Harvey Nichols

AND WHY NOT Pink bag £24.99, Getting Personal www.gettingpersonal .co.uk

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STYLE

BREAK THE RULES Cropped Sweatshirt, £12.99, available from H&M, The Fort Shopping Park

TRAIN SMART Garmin Forerunner 35 £169.99, www.garmin.co.uk

CENTRAL HEATING Women’s heat tight £50, New Balance www.newbalance.co.uk

COLOUR POP Speed Instinct £100, HOKA ONE ONE

BRA-VO

GOODIE HOODIE

Sports bra Boudavida, www.boudavida.com

Clothing available from Lipsy London, The Fort Shopping Park

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BEAUTY

SMALL CHANGES,

BIG DIFFERENCE Keep it simple and revamp your beauty routine, says Rose Gallagher very January we see the same sentiments everywhere we look. It’s all about a new year and new you, but what if we simply used the same products and adopting new techniques to create a different result? Here’s how you can revolutionise your routine using things you already have in your home.

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Wash your make-up brushes weekly

As well as helping you to create a more flawless, even make-up finish, clean brushes will encourage glowing skin.

Why? The longer you leave it to wash them, the more potential there is for bacteria to spread and grow, only to be reapplied by you every day through unclean brushes. Take some Fairy Liquid (£1.50 from Tesco) and make the effort to wash them every week.

Take your moisturiser down to your collarbones

You may be scrupulous about looking after your face, but do you remember to give the same attention to your chest? Taking your moisturiser down to your collarbones will hydrate and plump some of the finest, most delicate skin on your body, giving you a youthful and rested appearance. My current favourite is the Sunday Riley Tidal moisturiser, £60 from Space NK.

Get an extra hour of sleep

One of my favourite things about This Works is that whenever they add lines to their sleep range they ask you to get an extra hour of sleep each night for a week to see the difference. Believe me, it’s a simple step but it works. Even if you do this one night a week, you’ll see the benefits in your under eye bags and entire face.

Send yourself off with their Hair Elixir £25 from Harvey Nichols. For me it’s the one thing from the range that I can still smell through the night.

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Massage your skin as you cleanse

We tend to massage the scalp as part of the natural process of hair washing, but have you ever done the same to your skin? Massaging as you cleanse will not only ensure that all make-up is thoroughly removed it will also do wonders to increase blood flow which has a brightening effect on skin. Use something rich like the Origins Gentle Cleansing Oil, £24.50 from Selfridges, and the nourishing formula will allow for an easy massage motion.

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STYLE FOR MEN

LAID BACK Clothing from River Island

GET YOUR KIT ON If like the rest of the planet you’re planning to get lean this year, give your sportswear an overhaul first and see what a difference it makes

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STYLE FOR MEN TOUGH AS YOU LIKE Garmin Fenix Chronos £949.99, watchshop.com

HUG A HOODIE Grey hoodie £64.99, Superdry

hether you’re launching into a serious training regime or starting from scratch, we’ve pulled together a handful of pieces to get you going. If you’re more of a posturing than squatting type, the Philip Plein panelled joggers teamed with Adidas hi-tops will be right up your straza.

But if you’re planning to work up a serous sweat take a look at New Balance for both trainers and clothing engineered just for this purpose. Top of our lust list is the Garmin Fenix Chronos watch which, as well as looking the bomb, is tough as you like and features tools like wrist heart rate monitor, various sports apps and advanced performance metrics for endurance exercise. I

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GIVES YOU THE EDGE Garmin Edge 820 £329.99, Garmin www.garmin.co.uk

WHAT BREEZE? Windcheater jacket £50, New Balance www.newbalance.co.uk

RUN WITH IT New Balance Mens Fresh Foam Boracay v3 £100, New Balance www.newbalance.co.uk

CONSULT THE PANEL Philipp Plein panelled jogging trousers £475, Harvey Nichols

GET ZIPPY Y-3 Sport shell jacket £375, Harvey Nichols

HI TOP Adidas Originals hi-top trainers £100, Harvey Nichols

RICH BURGUNDY Nike burgundy Air Max Tavas trainers, £92, available from Nike, Schuh, The Fort Shopping Park

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HEALTH

NET BENEFITS Want to be healthier in 2017? Make your New Year resolution to pick up a racket and you’ll live longer, according to the latest research ouldn’t it just be great to be an Andy Murray or Johanna Konta? Britain’s world number one men’s tennis star and the UK’s top ranked women’s player. OK, so it’s an unlikely scenario but, hey, we can all dream. And anyway, there’s plenty of other reasons to get out there on the courts in 2017.

According to a recent study by Oxford University and researchers in Finland and Australia, playing racket sports regularly helps you live longer and could halve your chance of dying young. The researchers say the difference may lie in the social aspect which goes alongside sports like tennis and

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squash, which often involve clubs and organised activities outside of the game. It means that people often have larger social networks and tend to keep up activities into later life, both of which are proven to be good for health.

Clubs, up and down the country are doing their bit to inspire their local communities to take up racket sports.

Here in Birmingham for instance, Edgbaston Priory Club operates a community tennis scheme which has introduced more than 2,000 schoolchildren to tennis and now coaches over 420 players locally at its centres in Cannon Hill Park, Lordswood School and the Circle, Harborne.

>> WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS I Racket sports, badminton and tennis, are most protective to health, while football and running are bottom of the table.

I Racket sports reduce the overall risk of death by 47 per cent, compared to 28 per cent for swimming, 27 per cent for aerobic exercise and only 15 per cent for cycling.

I Racket sports reduce the risk of death from heart disease by 56 per cent, compared to 41 per cent for swimming and 36 per cent for aerobic exercise.

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HEALTH

HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THERE ARE SIX KEY REASONS TO TAKE UP A RACKET SPORT: 1. IT'S A GREAT CALORIE BURNER

4. IT EXERCISES THE GREY MATTER

One hour on court burns around 600 calories and because you are having so much fun you hardly notice.

Tennis keeps your mind agile because you need to stay focused on the ball, judge which balls to return or leave and decide, in a split second, which shot to make.

2. IT'S A WHOLE-BODY WORKOUT

5. IT WILL KEEP YOU HEALTHIER FOR LONGER

All that running, stopping, starting, jumping and crouching gives the lower body a good workout.

Then add in all that hitting which keeps your trunk, shoulders and upper back toned.

Taking part in a course or joining a club will open up a whole new social network to play doubles with.

These friendships will last a lifetime and ensure you keep active well into old age.

3. IT LOWERS THE RISK OF DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE

6. FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES

Playing racket sport regularly improves your heart and lung health and reduces your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

Juniors, adults and seniors can all enjoy a session on the court. And you don’t need to be super-star status.

Racket sports deliver for everyone from knock-about amateurs to serious professionals.

Edgbaston Priory runs a range of courses for all ages and all levels, from beginners to those who used to play but have lapsed.

For juniors this includes Judy Murray’s Miss-Hits programme devised specially to encourage young girls to play tennis. More details call 0121 440 2492 or visit www.edgbastonpriory.com

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HEALTH

LEAP INTO A

NEW YEAR Had a cracking Christmas but over-indulged?

Here’s our quick-start, get-fit guide t’s that time… to blow away the cobwebs and the calories of the festive season with a pledge to make 2017 your healthiest year ever. Here’s a quick guide to starting every day with some cracking exercises that aren’t too complicated or time-consuming – meaning more chance that you’ll stay committed and maybe, just maybe, keep that resolution alive into February…

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JUMPING JACKS: Otherwise known as a star jump, this is a great way to warm up gently taking your body from asleep to awake. Make sure you clap at the top and slap your thighs at the bottom to ensure a full range of motion. Try and do 50.

T-ROTATIONS: While in the press-up position reach under your body as far as you can then up to the sky looking at the hand at the top. This warms up the shoulder, engages the core and stretches the chest. Do 40 (20 per arm).

SPRINTERS: Staying in the press-up position, bring one knee to the opposite elbow then change, building up the pace to a ‘sprint’, twisting at your hips and doing your best to touch each elbow. Go for 30 (both knees equals one rep).

BURPEES: Bring your knees to your elbows and bum to your heels before driving up to the sky. Straightening your body in the air, as soon as your feet touch the ground, allow gravity to pull your bum back to your heels then shoot your feet back out engaging your core while landing in a strong press-up position. Go for 10.

PRESS-UPS: Keep your core engaged the whole time, make sure your hands are not in front of the shoulders. Aim for full range of motion, your chest touching the floor and arms fully extended at the top. See if you can do 20.

KEEP IT GOING: It’s important to complete all exercises in quick succession to start your day right. If you do this programme three times a week for four weeks you will start to feel and see the real benefits. Try timing how long it takes to complete so you can measure your progress. I

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ng il viHOMES

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TREND ON TAP Award-winning bathroom designer Lisa Melvin gives the low down on what’s hot for 2017

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HOMES

INTELLIGENT SHOWER Shower designed by Lisa Melvin www.lisamelvindesign.co.uk

his year will see the bathroom industry’s international ISH trade fair in Frankfurt. It’s the world’s biggest showcase for innovative bathroom design, energy efficient heating and airconditioning technology and renewable energies.

Looking ahead here are my predictions for trends and new technologies over the next 12 months.

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MINIMUM FUSS Murali bathroom by Ripples www.ripplesbathrooms.com

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HEALING HYDROTHERAPY Our increasing quest for a healthy way of life has put the spotlight on the natural healing power of water.

Not a new concept, hydrotherapy has been used for centuries to treat chronic pain, local inflammation and to improve the circulation as well as reducing stress.

While a warm bath is the ultimate stress-buster, this year we’ll see showers of all types raising their relaxation game – rain, fountain, massage and steam – transforming the bathroom to a 24-hour spa while boosting metabolism and stimulating the immune system along the way.

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HOMES

RUSTIC CHARM Accessories from Amara www.amara.com

MIRROR MIRROR Bathroom by Lisa Melvin www.lisamelvindesign.co.uk

PERSONAL TOUCH Bathroom manufacturers are now providing a 360 degree service that offers customers a bespoke way to finish a room to exact specifications including furniture, mirrors and even brassware. You can choose from length of console furniture, tops and mirrors and you can even personalise brassware with your name, initials or a family crest. Cabinets can be cleverly concealed within bathroom walls giving the impression of a mirror only.

DIGITAL TECH Smart Water technology enables the exact temperature and volume of water coming out of taps to be controlled at the touch of a button. In addition, there are Apps to provide entertainment and information in the bathroom. Mirror Apps project news items, images and emails onto the bathroom mirror.

PITCH PERFECT Pitch range by Ripples www.ripplesbathrooms.com

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HOMES

MIXED MATERIALS Bathroom by Classic Interiors www.classicinteriors.co.uk

SET IN STONE Bathroom by Leekes www.leekes.co.uk

NO SCRATCH Smooth, non-porous materials that hardly attract the dirt can be a winning way to achieving minimal cleaning effort. Enamelled steel is particularly resistant to abrasion, scratching and impact as well as being resistant to cosmetic and bath additives. Stainless steel is also hard wearing and sealed glass is hygienic and scratchproof. A special glaze for ceramic creates a smooth, non-porous surface that’s smooth and easy to clean. I

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HOMES CREATURE FROM THE DEEP

SO SQUARE

Octopus candle holder £40,

Trinket box £24,

Debenhams

Oliver Bonas

FINISHING

TOUCHES

ART DECO

Triple geo mirror £149, M&S VINTAGE VIBE

Glass jar £60, Next

Adorn your bathroom with these goodies for a polished look THE FUTURE

Wireworks Fuji 4 tray caddy £171, Houseology

MARBLE & METAL

Brush holder £24, Oliver Bonas

MAGNIFY ME

Robert Welch Burford extending mirror £140, Houseology

METALLIC MARVEL

Curling sun mirror £129, M&S

GOLD RUSH

Tall Afia vase £39.50, M&S

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From only £25

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HOMES

Hot Properties This month’s round-up of homes includes Severn Valley views, our favourite square, loft-style living and a characterful cottage

VALLEY VIEWS Hays View, Arley Guide price: ÂŁ795,000 Agent: Knight Frank, tel: 01905 723438 An attractive period barn conversion with landscaped gardens and great views across the Severn Valley towards the River Severn.

The property includes four bedrooms, a lovely spacious kitchen-diner with exposed beams, cottage style doors and high ceilings.

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HOMES

SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT Reddings Road, Birmingham Guide price: ÂŁ700,000 Agent: Fine and Country, tel: 0121 272 6800 A charming, detached sixbedroomed home in a really desirable location with some cracking local schools. Set over three versatile floors, there are also three bathrooms, a fabulous open plan family room and an expansive, private back garden.

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HOMES

BRICKS&BITS SIMON SAYS The Peach Pub Company, the award-winning company which runs The High Field and The High Field Town House, has appointed experienced Property Director, Simon Bishop to help reach their goal of becoming a 22 strong, £35 million a year pub business. With a remit to source and acquire new properties, Simon said: "I'm on the hunt for properties we can develop into more fantastic Peach pubs and keen to look at any fitting the bill."

PROPERTY PARTY Property professionals from across the region partied the night away and raised £3,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital at Overbury’s annual music night.

Hosted at The Chameleon bar, 200 guests enjoyed live performances with some familiar faces from the city’s property scene in action including Overbury’s operations director, Gordon Wakeling on drums.

Overbury MD, Julian Lebray said: “The night was a fantastic success showcasing the fantastic musical talent in our industry.”

SQUARE ROOTS St Paul’s House, St Paul’s Square Guide price: £625,000 Agent: Maguire Jackson, tel 0121 634 1520 An awesome two-bedroom penthouse apartment overlooking one of our favourite squares. This cool pad benefits from a large open plan kitchen-living area, two double bedrooms and two bathrooms. Includes an allocated secure parking space.

STRONG INVESTMENT Birmingham based property group, Real Estate Investors plc (REI) has sold two non-core retail properties in Crawley and Norwich for £2.725 million. CEO Paul Bassi said the company was experiencing strong investment across all sectors.

REI’s portfolio now comprises 1,410,881 sq ft and during 2016 they have spent approximately £40 million on new acquisitions with a further £50 million in place to fund further acquisitions this year.

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

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ANYONE FOR TEA? Tea Cottage, Harborne Guide price: £290,000 Agent: James Laurence, tel: 0121 604 4060

A beautiful, quaint Grade II listed two-bedroom cottage with a huge amount of character features. As well as two reception rooms and a breakfast kitchen room there’s plenty of off-road parking and a lovely, intimate garden.

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HOMES

BRILLIANT LOCATION Queensway House, Birmingham Guide price: From £275,000 Agent: Maguire Jackson, tel: 0121 634 1520 How very convenient! Only a stone’s throw from Snow Hill Station, Birmingham’s business district and the Jewellery Quarter, Queensway House is home to six beautifully designed, loft-style city centre apartments.

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

january 2017

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MOTORING

HOT NEWS Born out of the FIA’s Formula E Championship, the new DS5 Performance Line has the style and speed to turn heads, says Sue Cooke ’m at my desk in my home office shivering, partly with the cold which comes from sitting inert for hours in front of the computer, but partly with excitement. The thought of venturing out in a car on this frosty January morning may be daunting but sitting on my drive is the new DS5 Performance Line. And I can’t wait to put the last full stop on this article and get onto Birmingham streets and drive it!

DS Automobiles is the premium luxury brand of Citroen and was inaugurated in 2014. The company

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recently launched the DS Performance Line, which is synonymous with the FIA Formula E Championship. A DS3 Performance and DS3 Cabrio Performance were introduced in 2016 and now the brand’s engineers and designers, along with the DS Performance motor sport division, has created the DS5 Performance Line trim.

BLACK AND RED The GT-inspired styling is easily recognisable.

Each body style is specified with a contrasting black

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MOTORING

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Model: DS5 Performance Line Price: £33,290 otr Engine: Blue HDi diesel 180hp S&S EAT6 Auto Performance: 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 137mph CO2 emissions: 117g/km Combined fuel consumption: 62.8mpg

of leather trim. Special stitching adorns most surfaces and the comfortable front seats are embroidered with a DS Performance Line emblem.

The expected technology includes a 7-inch full colour, very clear, reversing camera. The screen is designed to include new Mirror Link technology, a function that duplicates Android or iOS smartphone content to the in-car screen so it’s all easy to use. And the unexpected technology is Apple Car Play which will enable users to use voice control to make calls or ask for directions. Just plug in your iPhone and go!

HIGHLAND FLING

roof, combined with a specific palette of body colours – unsurprisingly, there are five for the DS5. Large gloss black alloy wheels feature the DS logo set against a Carmine red background on the centre caps. The signature colours of DS Performance – Carmine red, white and gold are featured on the door mirrors and the rear spoiler. In addition, the front doors and bonnet are adorned with special new DS Performance Line badges.

Anyway, that’s enough slobbering over the looks.

Isn’t DS Performance all about how it performs!

Well yes, and keen drivers will find outstanding torque, but for the more eco aware there are ultralow CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. And all petrol and diesel engines feature Stop & Start technology including the most powerful engine, the Blue HDi 180.

Venture into the aviation-inspired cockpit and the luxurious interior shows off a new style of upholstery with black Dinamica cloth or a choice of two grades

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For dark January nights what I found most useful are the DS LED Vision headlamps which have 84 LEDs at the front of the car projecting a very powerful light beam. And there are more than 10 driving aids for safety and comfort in bad weather.

And then there is Intelligent Traction Control, a driving aid that optimises anti-skid control for the front wheels on surfaces with little grip. It also improves ‘start-up’ performance, particularly on snow-covered surfaces. So no excuse for staying closeted inside.

In fact I was only thinking that it is such a pity that I don’t get chance to visit my Scottish relatives much and I really must visit them this year. Which of course is the perfect excuse for driving the DS5 Performance Line Grand Tourer, with comfort, style and sheer driving pleasure? Now where did I put that de-icer! I

SHOWROOM: Robins & Day Birmingham, 100 Small Heath Highway, Birmingham B10 0BT. Tel: 0121 222 8669 www.robinsanddaybirmingham.citroen.co.uk

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PERSON TO PERSON

CLOSE WITH…

JAS SANSI A familiar face at hundreds of events across the city, photographer Jas is one of the most passionate champions of modern Birmingham and everything it stands for

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I’m a freelance photographer here in Brum, specialising in shooting conferences, award ceremonies and corporate events. I’m often surprised to find myself in front of prime ministers, royalty and heads of state. I mostly work with the region’s business community with whom I have built a very close relationship. I’ve also worked across Europe, which was why I campaigned for us to Remain.

IT’S WHAT I DO I capture events but more importantly I syndicate the images across traditional media – magazines and papers – as well as social media, which is a phenomenal way of getting immediate exposure. My Flickr account is marching towards 10 million views. I’m a big fan of Twitter and Facebook. The client benefit to this approach is their events and conversations continue online after the venue has emptied.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE I’ve always aligned my ambitions with those of Greater Birmingham and the Midlands. To showcase our part of the world to attract inward investment, retain graduates and build strong communities and generate pride for what is the best place in the world to live. If we can achieve this, our personal ambitions and the aspirations we all share for quality of life, our families and friends, and our communities will follow.

BIGGEST SUCCESSES I went to a terrible school. It wasn’t the teachers, most of them were doing everything you would expect and more. It was just the chronic underfunding and social deprivation.

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My biggest success has been along with my wife Anji getting our children into good schools to give them the best possible start in life.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED I’ve made every mistake in the book, I wish I’d learnt from the mistakes of others rather than my own. I didn’t know what a Russell Group University was as a student. If I’d known, I think I would have worked harder to get into one.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM It’s always been the people. That’s what makes the place.

I feel we deserve to enjoy more swagger in our success but we’re too modest. From manufacturing to research, creatives to finance, our green spaces and trees, the best food imaginable, the arts and networks, the factory floor to the presidential suites, everyone has a place in this city. I’ve definitely witnessed the pendulum of opinion swing from a city which is challenging to one we can all fall in love with.

DOWNTIME I’m a trustee of LoveBrum which shines a spotlight on and raises funds for ‘under the radar’ projects in the region.

We simply want to make Brum greater than it already is.

We’re on Twitter @LoveBrumUK FINALLY… Brexit has split the country in half. I hope 2017 sees the jigsaw put back together including the continental pieces.

We have rejected the EU model but we haven’t turned our back on our European partners. It will take time to repair the relationship but that shouldn’t stop us trying. I

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

AMY

CAMPBELL The gold medal-winning teen talks flips, tricks and tumbling plans for the future my Campbell spends a lot of her time in a spin and since taking up gymnastics aged just four and then specialising in tumbling from the age of seven, she hasn’t stopped. A member of the GB tumbling squad, Amy recently scooped a gold medal in the Loule Cup in Portugal which was her third international assignment.

The Loule Cup is a an annual trampoline and tumbling competition that attracts teams from around the world including Russia, Greece, Sweden, France, Germany and Japan among others. A win was a massive achievement for the tumbling teen and a personal best score in her final tumbling pass was the icing on the cake.

Now in Year 9 at Edgbaston High School for Girls, Amy found out about her GB call up aged 11. Training four days a week at Revolution Gymnastics in Harborne as well as working on fitness at home for at least an hour a day, Amy’s schedule is jam-packed.

Naturally there are sacrifices Amy makes, like not being able to celebrate friend’s birthdays on occasion, but she takes it in her stride.

With World Championships every year apart from Olympic years, Amy has much to work towards in the sporting arena as well as approaching a more intense time at school. There’s also a campaign to make tumbling an Olympic sport which she’s hopeful about too. Ambitions are high and Amy would love to follow in the footsteps of her hero, the ‘incredible’ American artistic gymnast Simone Biles who wowed in Rio. Lucky enough not to have suffered any injuries other than requiring a bit of strapping to an ankle, Amy’s in good shape. We’ll be following her progress closely and willing her on to more golden glory. I

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GROWING PLACES

STATE-OF-THE-ART PLAY

A new £155,000 playground and state-ofthe-art library are set to enrich the lives of pupils at special educational needs Calthorpe Academy in Highgate. Birmingham mayor Cllr Carl Rice and West Midlands’ Conservative mayoral candidate Andy Street cut the ribbon.

Designed to expand learning potential for pupils at the specialist academy, the woodland-themed library has hundreds of books, a sensory story section and literacy intervention suite. The play area has more than 20 pieces of equipment.

OPENING TIME: Academy principal Richard Chapman, mayor and mayoress Carl and Deed Rice and Andy Street

SCHOOL REPOR T

Birmingham Livin g is committed to highlighting the best of our sc hools and college s. Here’s our round-up of the la test stand-out ne ws and events

FRESH START Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader and West Bromwich East MP, was guest of honour at the opening of a new school in Sandwell which aims to support those who’ve missed out on educational opportunities. Sandwell Valley School is supported by the Bond Wolfe Charitable Trust and other local businesses.

The school accepts offers bespoke programmes including eight GCSEs linked to individuals’ needs whether that be emotional/social or any other barrier impeding achievement.

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JOLLY GOOD SPORTS A remarkable 22 young athletes from Winterfold House School in Chaddesley Corbett have been selected to play at county level. The pupils have demonstrated the skills and dedication required in sports which include hockey, netball, cricket and rugby. Director of sport Julia Humfress said: “It is a fantastic achievement for a small school to have so many pupils representing the county in their respective sports. We are very proud of them.”

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GROWING PLACES

TRIUMPHANT A-TEAM Moreton Hall students showcased their public speaking abilities by winning the Business and Professional Women’s Public Speaking competition and qualifying for next month’s regional finals. Head of spoken English, Merriel Halsall-Williams said: “It was a very high standard of competition and we are delighted with the result. The A team’s topic was ‘How lucky we are to be alive now’ and the B team spoke on ‘Antibiotic resistance.’

COUNTY CHAMPS

TAKING CARED: Service with a smile as Karen, left, celebrates her award

Bromsgrove School’s U13 girls’ hockey team saw off stiff competition to be crowned county champions. Strong opposition came from The Chase and Malvern St James in the group stage and RGS Worcester and King’s Worcester in the semi-final and final respectively. The team is now training for the forthcoming regional round.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

DEBT-FREE DEGREE Local youngsters looking to begin an undergraduate course this September have the chance to win a debt-free degree – thanks to Millennium Point’s Young Innovator Prize. The prize encourages young people to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics with the winner gaining a sponsored undergraduate degree worth more than £27,000 at BCU. To enter applicants or their teachers should visit Millennium Point’s Young Innovator Prize website.

INSPIRED: Abigail Lavercombe, winner of the Young Innovator Prize 2015

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SUPREMO Karen Chapman from St Alphege Schools, Solihull was cock-a-hoop when she won the Best Customer Service Award at Solihull BID’s annual awards. The judges were impressed by the primary school’s committed team of customer service-driven individuals. Karen said: “While providing an outstanding education will always be our core delivery, it is wonderful to be recognised for understanding that a school, like a business, has to provide an inclusive service to all customers (pupils and parents) which transcends the classroom.”

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CLEVER TYKES: Founders Ben and Jodie Cook

CLEVER TYKES

When I grow up I want to be… a businessman! That’s the aim of children’s storybooks conceived in Brum that will go into 23,000 UK primary schools this month e all know that kids want to grow up to be fire fighters, pilots, engine drivers, doctors or even astronauts. But what about if they aspired to be entrepreneurs instead?

This month a big step is being taken to do just that and encourage children to think of business as their dream job when 23,000 primary schools the length and breadth of the country are introduced to Clever Tykes.

Clever Tykes was devised by Birmingham entrepreneurs Ben and Jodie Cook following evidence that there are too few positive business role models for kids to identify with. Their series of Clever Tykes children’s books shows fun characters that all kids love to read about, but in each case they inspire resourceful, innovative and enterprising behaviour through brilliant story-telling. The books

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– so far there are three with a fourth due this spring/summer – have already proved a big hit with parents who understand the business ethos. The first in the series is entitled Walk-it Willow, followed by Code-it Cody and Change-it Cho. ARABIC This month’s deal, sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group, will open up huge opportunities as every UK primary school gets a set of the books, meaning that Clever Tykes will be read by millions of seven to nine-year-olds. Schools will also have access to an innovative digital portal with online teaching materials. Clever Tykes has also gained its first foreign language version with a deal which has seen the books translated into Arabic.

Ben says they are hoping to seal more syndication

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COMPANY TO WATCH

licences in the likes of the US, Canada and Australia as well as also looking into taking the business into secondary schools. At the other end of the age spectrum, Clever Tykes has been approached for ideas that would work with the younger three to six-year-old age group.

“The Clever Tykes stories follow three separate protagonists as they each realise that there is something they are especially good at or passionate about, and they set about making this into their own venture,” explained Ben. “The stories are fantastic reading books in their own right and incorporate the target literacy and numeracy skills for the specific age range. The entrepreneurial messages are subtle while important characteristics such as innovation, independence, goal-setting, hard work and resourcefulness are promoted.”

At the beginning of the venture into children’s books, Ben says that Birmingham University supplied some significant research findings into the relationship of entrepreneurs to parents. “We discovered that if a child has an entrepreneurial parent he or she is 80 per cent more likely to go on to have their own business. So, we talked

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about how other children come into contact with traditional role models like policemen and firemen.

“We couldn’t find any business role models other than the obvious ones like Lord Sugar of The Apprentice or Dragon’s Den. Typically entrepreneurs are portrayed as ruthless and cut-throat, like Mr Burns in The Simpsons or Scrooge. Even the evil antagonist in the Lego movie is called Lord Business. Yet most of the entrepreneurs we know aren’t like that at all. They are all just trying to solve a problem and make things better. We thought we should try to inspire entrepreneurs at a younger age.”

SUCCESSFUL Jodie and Ben are excellent examples themselves of what kids can aspire to. Jodie set up her successful business JC Social Media in August 2012, the day after finishing her graduate scheme. Ben, who has known Jodie since they were at secondary school, had no entrepreneurial background until he teamed up with her in business. Ben, a first class economics graduate, previously did some personal training and modeling work. I

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BUSINESS

CUE A FRESH START A leading local events and media management company has celebrated its 15th anniversary with a major rebrand.

Aston-based Cue Media which runs events throughout the UK and across Europe for the likes of the Lawn Tennis Association’s Give It Your Max campaign says the relaunch is a kickstart for a period of rapid expansion in 2017.

BUSINESS NEWS

MP SAJID’S GOT SOME SAUCE! Marketing agency Gough Bailey Wright welcomed Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid to its offices to help celebrate the company’s 80th birthday. The award-winning firm’s celebrations saw a fish and chip van arrive at St Johns House for a surprise lunch.

Founded as advertising agency Tom C Gough and Partners in 1936, GBW is the oldest independently-owned agency in the West Midlands.

TERRY TAKES OVER

MEET BRUM’S RISING STAR Sunil Johal, project director at Argent in Birmingham, was named Rising Star for the Midlands at the British Council for Offices (BCO) NextGen Awards, recognising the best of the next generation of business professionals and industry leaders. As project director for the 172,000 sq ft One Chamberlain Square office scheme – the first building being delivered at Paradise Birmingham – Sunil is involved in one of the biggest development schemes in Birmingham for a generation.

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Investec Wealth & Investment has appointed Terry Michael as an investment director in its Birmingham office. He joins a seven-strong team. As well as managing private client portfolios, he will look to expand the company’s intermediary and financial adviser discretionary fund management business across the Midlands region – a section of the market in which the firm sees strong opportunities for growth. Previously he spent seven years as an investment manager at Quilter Cheviot.

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BUSINESS

TOWERING TALENT FIRM’S SQUARE DEAL Edgbaston chartered surveyors and estate agents Robert Powell has opened an office at 30 St Paul’s Square to support residential sales and lettings across the city centre and Jewellery Quarter. The new office will focus on city centre activity previously managed through its Edgbaston office and provide bespoke, hands-on property marketing.

As Birmingham experiences more start-up growth than anywhere in the UK, the delivery of a first-of-its-kind co-working space is set to galvanise the city’s pool of entrepreneurial talent. Property company CEG has invested £1million in the 14,000 sq ft Alpha Works in the Alpha Birmingham targeted at smaller businesses and start-ups. Set to launch in March, the space will provide a creative and collaborative working environment.

PIONEER ANITA HONOURED Anita Bhalla, who has enjoyed a 26-year career with the BBC, received the President’s Award at the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce dinner at the ICC. Anita’s achievements include setting up the BBC Asian Network in the Midlands and being head of BBC political and community affairs. A former chair of the Midland Arts Centre, she now heads Performances Birmingham which manages Town Hall and Symphony Hall.

THRILLED WITH FABULOUS AWARD Touchwood jewellery retailer Fabulous has been crowned Best Independent Business at the Solihull BID Excellence Awards that recognises some of the finest businesses from the region.

Owner Jo Stroud accepted the award, accompanied by Sinade Prosser who works closely with Jo on buying and own-brand development. “We were honoured to win such a prestigious award, especially up against so many outstanding independent businesses in this wonderful town,” commented Jo.

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FURNITURE GROUP DOUBLES UP A Midlands furniture group is expanding. Whartons, which has stores in Shirley and Leamington Spa, has acquired a 7,014 sq ft unit at Palmers Road, Redditch as a warehouse and despatch depot. Representing a six-figure investment, it is nearly double the size of the family firm’s former base in Olton. The move will also allow new ventures, including a clearance furniture facility and the possible launch of an online sales operation.

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BUSINESS

ENTERPRISING NEW BOSS Ian Borley has been appointed KPMG’s head of Enterprise for the Midlands. He takes over from Stephen Craik who is retiring. Enterprise, which is KPMG’s offering for privately-owned businesses, has grown significantly since its launch in 2014. Alongside his existing responsibilities as senior partner for the East Midlands, Ian will build on KPMG’s presence in the region to work with privately-owned and private equitybacked businesses.

TAX BREAK FOR TRAINEES Accountancy and tax specialists Mazars has appointed 13 trainees to their Birmingham office.

The company was recently recognised as an outstanding employer for trainees, ranked second in a list of best accounting and professional services firms for school and college leavers. The trainees will be working across a range of service lines including audit, tax, outsourcing, financial planning and employee benefits.

HEALTHY REWARD Digital health business, Kaido, has been crowned one of seven winners at the EIT Health UK-Ireland Headstart/Proof-of-Concept Awards. The Kaido Insights platform uses big data and professional health expertise from the clinical and sports science space to empower individuals and businesses to better understand their health. The awards programme is an EIT Health Accelerator activity to provide one-off funding of up to €50,000 for emerging companies and small and mediumsized enterprises to develop new products and services.

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GOOD ON YER MATES! Less than a year after opening its first international office in Brisbane, Australia, Bromsgrove-based communications agency Superdream has won a national industry award Down Under. It was awarded best Integrated Marketing and Communications Strategy for its Can I Foster? campaign in the PRIA national Golden Target Awards.

Superdream’s campaign successfully raised awareness of the need for more foster carers in Australia.

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Theresa May is guest of honour as focus turns to mayoral elections rime Minister Theresa May was the guest of honour at the Edgbaston Conservative Association’s dinner at Opus Restaurant. The dinner, which was also open to the wider Birmingham and West Midlands Conservative membership, focused on the forthcoming mayoral elections and welcomed the Party’s candidate for West Midlands mayor, Andy Street. Both the Prime Minister and Andy Street gave speeches before mingling and chatting with guests. I

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4 James and Anna Morris.

3 Jason Wouhra, Lord Whitby, Ann Tonks.

5 Denis and Miriam Hennigan. 6 Saqib Bhatti, John Hughes, Dr David Hughes, Aftab Chughtai. 7 Irene Allan,

Tim Clarke, Natalie Robinson. 8 Jill Best, Rosemary-Ann Horwitch- Smith, Pattie Parkes, Linda Watson. 9 Michael and Joy Nield, Naomi Shastri-Hurst, Margaret and Chris Owen.

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Photography by Jas Sansi

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WINE LOVERS TOAST OLDEST MERCHANT Connolly’s stage special tasting for 250 guests to celebrate 40 years in the city irmingham’s oldest wine merchant celebrated its 40th anniversary with a wine tasting attended by 250 guests. Connolly’s, which has been trading in the city since 1976, showcased more then 100 of its most recent discoveries, many of them exclusive to the Livery Street-based importer. Surprise hits of the night came from Turkey and Uruguay.

Managing director Chris Connolly said: “I’m not sure what my father would have made of such an eclectic range but I’m pretty confident he would have been excited by the quality.” I

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1 Cat Orchard, Damon Scott, Linda Orchard. 2 Mike Wiseman, Lizzie Brown, Keith Matthews. 3 Keith Price, Jayne Surman, Chris, Abigail and Tania Connolly. 4 Anne Pipe, Helen Powell. 5 Vicky Osgood, Amy Seton. 6 Michele, Alison, Lyn and Malcolm Buchanan. 7 Laurie Morley, Molly Lawrence, Sue Silk, Noula Knight. 8 Daniel Stones, Hollie Downes, Vicky Edwards, Andy Williams. 9 Wendy Noble, Geoff Beak, Sarah Dowler.

Photography by Dale Martin

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Henry Wong serves up charity treat to raise cash for QE’s Fisher House arborne-based Cantonese restaurant Henry Wong welcomed more than 80 guests for an evening of wine and port tasting in support of QEHB Charity’s Fisher House. It was the second event the restaurant has held for its chosen charity, bringing the total money raised to £15,000. Diners enjoyed a selection of the restaurant’s finest cuisine with each course partnered with a wine or port from Portuguese winery Cálem. Fisher House is a ‘home away from home’ based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for the families of injured military personnel. I

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1 Nicola Ryder, Claire Lynch, Mike Hamond, Sarah Freeth, Abbey Turner. 2 Marianne Liu, Ricky Wu. 3 Rob Kennedy, Veronica Kumeta, Shelly Fraser. 4 Franziska Flechtner, Daisy Nyamie. 5 Adam Andrew Hayes, Parm Rai. 6 Anita Tippin, Angela Hastwell, Janet Tomlinson. 7 Sukhwinder and Harvinder Nandra, Mark and Clare Cuff. 8 Alex Down, Rebecca Williams, Joao Tamagnini Belo.

9 Sam Slingsby, Alex Hutchinson, James Taylor, Adam Maguire, Sian Averil.

Photography by Jas Sansi

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HISTORIC CINEMA’S SEAFOOD PREMIERE Lobster Peninsula goes Back to the Future to give picture house new life ollowing a £900,000 revamp and renovation, a new seafood restaurant has opened at Birmingham’s Futurist Cinema. The cinema, dating back to the early 1900s, is one of the oldest picture houses in the country. After laying derelict since the 1990s, the owners of the new Lobster Peninsula restaurant have kept the historic features of the building’s architecture while breathing new life into the space. There’s a bar area that can hold 60 and the main 88-cover restaurant. The top floor boasts a state-of-the-art nightclub which is open on Friday and Saturdays until 3am. I

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1 Paulette Gyles-Reed, Katie Newbon, Lorraine Olley, Garry Newbon. 2 James Taylor, Emma Hogan, Matthew Breen, Hannah James.

3 Dave Bansal, Aaron Kundi, Ravi Chandarana, Ruby Bansal. 4 Anita Champaneri, Nuno Peres. 5 Alev Dervish, Kavita Parmar.

6 Navneet Mangat, Dina Morar. 7 Stefan Mirea, Mailo Tablizo-Batocabe. 8 Nate Humphries, Chiara Glorioso, Genelle Aldred, Dan Kelly.

9 Rob and Anita Yang.

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Professionals attend Birmingham’s busiest LGBT networker at Rofuto ore than 90 professionals came together at Out of Office, the professional networking organisation for LGBT people in the city. Celebrating the thirtieth event since the organisation’s inception, it was the largest turnout for the networking group which runs regular events at different venues across Birmingham. Out of Office 30, hosted at Japanese restaurant Rofuto, saw guests enjoy a selection of sushi dishes while taking in the scenic views from the venue’s 16th floor sky bar. Out of Office was launched in 2010 by Clive Reeves Public Relations and Irwin Mitchell solicitors. I

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1 Peter Bond, Ben Morgan, Alastair Cowen, Karolina Stein, Matthew Hagan. 2 Alastair Cowen, Clive Reeves, Lewis Mowatt.

3 Andy Davis, Felipe Moreno, Dean Asker. 4 Harriet Giles, Terry Goodwin. 5 Philip Ellis, David Massey. 6 Matt Walker, Laur Beech, Bradley Meersand. 7 Said Khan Adam Hussain, Bryan Manley-Green. 8 Gregg Nicholson, Bradley Meersand, Daniel Matchett, Miles Tilley. 9 Alan Sharman, Matt Walker, David Shine, Anthony Carty.

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GOLFERS GET IN THE SWING FOR CHARITY Property firm SDL Bigwood tees up golf tournament at Edgbaston club inancial planners Hayburn Rock were the winners of the SDL Bigwood annual charity golf day held for the 15th year at Edgbaston Golf Club. Traditionally, the winning team – which included Richard Chapman, Daryl Chance, Stephen Perks and Brian Flint – is asked to nominate the charity that benefits from the day’s fund raising. This year they chose Mary Stevens Hospice. At the presentation dinner that followed guests were welcomed by SDL Bigwood chief executive officer Rory Daly. I

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1 Colin Gregg, Jack Sharp, Julie Ward, Tom Nash. 2 Ian Weatherall, John Meehan, Grahame Watson, John Whitfield. 3 Ian McPhillips, Rory Daly, Graham Carter, Cyrille Regis. 4 Jon Ratledge, Marcus Daly, David Cappendell, Paul Fendick. 5 Mike Bailey, Gavin Whitehouse, Nigel Wood, Paul Curry. 6 Rod Butcher, Liam Pawlowski, Paul Blackham, Rob Pawlowski. 7 Peter Stuffins, Geoff Kettle, Susheel Gupta, Simon Lycett.

8 Tony Atherton, Mike Hollyer, Simon Madden, Peter Hart. 9 Richard Hales, Rob Day, Andy Skinner, Jon Westwood.

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From talented apprentices to innovative management, BID hails Solihull’s best utstanding employees and creative companies were honoured at this year’s Solihull BID Excellence Awards. From dedicated and talented young apprentices to businesses showing smart management and innovative thinking, the awards celebrated all that’s great about the town centre. The redcarpet event, compered by TV newsreader Sameena AliKhan, was held at St Johns Hotel and sponsored by Touchwood, Mell Square, National Grid and Solihull College & University Centre. I

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1 Lucie Orme, Emily McLeod, Sinade Prosser, Jo Stroud. 2 Sameena Ali-Khan, Best Apprentice Megan Troth, John Callaghan.

3 Amy Hubbard, Dawn Kavanagh, Lucy Linnell. 4 Neales Yard Solihull.

5 Sameena Ali-Khan, Best Trainee Anna Hobbs, Eileen Schofield.

6 The award judges: Paul Brown, David H Bradnock, Eileen Schofield, John Callaghan. 7 Emma Pickering, Zara Qureshi, Sasha Parmar, Aren Grewal. 8 Andy Peck, Shohaib Shafiq, John Timms. 9 Mayor Mike Robinson, Mel Palmer, Cllr Bob Sleigh.

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Photography by Jas Sansi

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SOCIAL SCENE

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AGENCY GAINS EDGE WITH INDIA’S FINEST Guests raise glasses to Indian wines at Edge Creative’s networking event

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IPs enjoyed a taste of India when creative agency Edge Creative hosted one of its highly regarded networking events at Birmingham’s Hotel du Vin. As the guests mingled they were served with fine Indian wines supplied by local merchants Soul Tree Wines. I

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1 Bryan Manley-Green, Nigel Coghill, Hannah Campbell. 2 James Kelly, Alok Mahur, Clive Read. 3 Kira Edwards, Julie Oseland, Nick Howard, Fionnuala Bourke. 4 Lou Panayides, Peter Morris. 5 Lisa Cook, Henrik Court. 6 Charlie Wright, Mark Panayides, Andrew Green. 7 Thor Shilliday, Peter Westbrook, Natalie Cooper, David Edmonds. 8 Neil Walker, Richard Carry, Robert Ball.

9 Ann Houghton, Sarah Huntsbach, Zara Harvey, Cathie Kelly. 10 Jonathan Ratcliff, Andrew Griffin, Darren Riley.

Photography by Darren Shipman

january 2017

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ing ON il vWHAT’S

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WHAT: Historic Rally Car Register WHEN: 14 January

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WHAT: Perfect Brides Wedding Fayre WHEN: 5 February

WHERE: British Motor Museum,

WHERE: Nailcote Hall,

www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk The official launch of the Historic Rally Car Register is open to all makes and models of classic cars manufactured before January 1986. A great chance to see some awesome cars covering every facet of historic rallying.

tel 02476 466174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk Congratulations! He finally popped the question on Christmas Day and now the real planning can begin. This is an ideal opportunity to meet a large number of suppliers to help make your special day run as smoothly as possible. Includes a stunning fashion show.

WHAT: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show WHEN: 30 and 31 January

WHAT: Strictly Come Dancing Live

WHERE: New Alexandra Theatre,

WHEN: 20 to 22 January 2017

tel 0844 8713011

WHERE: Barclaycard Arena, tel 0844 338 8000

www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

www.theticketfactory.com

The timeless classic makes its way off the page and onto the stage. Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, this critically acclaimed production features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting some of Eric Carle’s best-loved stories.

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Celebrating its tenth anniversary the Strictly Tour is back with judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Anita Rani in tow!

Experience everything that you love about the TV show live on stage.

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: Robbie Glenn tribute to Olly Murs and Bruno Mars WHEN: 28 January WHERE: The Lake at Barston, tel 01675 444890 www.thelakeatbarston.co.uk WHAT: Motionhouse: Scattered

Bruno and Ollie collide in this special performance from one of the UK’s finest tribute artists. And there may just be a sprinkle of Beiber and Timberlake too!

WHEN: 31 January to 3 February WHERE: The Old Rep Theatre, tel 0121 359 9444 www.oldreptheatre.co.uk A combination of Motionhouse’s highly physical trademark dance combined with entrancing digital imagery in a breath-taking interaction between film and live performance.

WHAT: Made in the Middle WHEN: Until 19 February WHERE: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, tel 024 7623 7521 www.theherbert.org This fabulous touring exhibition highlights some of the best contemporary craft and applied art from the Midlands.

Featuring both recent graduates and makers with established reputations, there is a wealth of innovative creativity on display.

WHAT: Home Free WHEN: 26 January WHERE: O2 Academy Birmingham, tel 0121 622 8250 www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk The five-piece a cappella country stars have amassed more than 100 million YouTube views, and sold over 250,000 albums worldwide. Come and see what the fuss is all about as they pop into Brum for one of only two very special UK shows.

WHAT: Compact Cameras WHEN: 14 January WHERE: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, tel 0121 212 3383 www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk WHAT: Beth Rowley WHEN: 18 January WHERE: Glee Club Birmingham, tel 0871 472 0400 www.glee.co.uk Known for her rich soulful voice and love of Blues and Gospel, the Brit Award nominee returns with new material following her extensive tour with Jools Holland.

january 2017

Kick-start that New Year’s resolution to learn a new skill with this excellent, largely practical beginner’s course on digital photography. A great opportunity to learn all the basics you’ll need to take quality photographs.

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: The Snowman WHEN: 11 to 15 January WHERE: Birmingham Rep, tel 0121 245 2024 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk WHAT: Seven Acts of Mercy WHEN: Until 10 February WHERE: Swan Theatre RSC, tel 01789 403493 www.rsc.org.uk Anders Lustgarten’s visceral new play confronts the dangerous necessity of compassion in a world where it is in short supply.

Please note, includes violence and scenes of a sexual nature

Based on Raymond Briggs’s much-loved book and featuring Howard Blake’s classic song Walking In The Air, this enchanting live show has thrilled audiences throughout the world since first appearing on stage more than 20 years ago. Be a part of the magic.

WHAT: Witness For The Prosecution

WHAT: John Shuttleworth

WHEN: 25 February to 4 March

WHEN: 12 February

WHERE: Crescent Theatre, tel 0121 643 5858

WHERE: Town Hall, tel box office

www.crescent-theatre.co.uk

0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk

Agatha Christie’s most-celebrated courtroom drama. In this 1953 classic, Leonard Vole stands trial for the murder of his wealthy, elderly benefactress. His innocence seems clear – until his wife takes the stand.

Following the second series of Radio 4’s John Shuttleworth’s Lounge Music, the comedy genius embarks on his farewell tour with his trusty Yamaha and a set of hilarious new songs.

WHAT: Susan Calman: The Calman Before The Storm WHEN: 17 and 18 February WHERE: Mac Birmingham, tel 0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk The star of QI and Mock the Week is back with a brand new show.

Ninety minutes of comedy that you will enjoy if you’re over 16, like what she does and won’t be so drunk that she has to throw you out.

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WHAT: Anton & Erin: Swing Time WHEN: 28 January WHERE: Symphony Hall, tel box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk Join the nation’s favourite ballroom couple when they return with an exciting new show for 2017. Featuring dazzling choreography, sparkling costumes and a sensational show band performing timeless music.

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: Dick Whittington WHEN: Until 29 January WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome, tel 0844 338 5000 www.birminghamhippodrome.com Get your festivities off to a flying start with a fantastic panto that boasts a start-studded cast including John Barrowman, Jodie Prenger and soap star Steve McFadden.

WHAT: Arenacross WHEN: 21 January WHERE: Genting Arena, tel 0844 338 8000 www.theticketfactory.com Fast and furious family entertainment with indoor Motocross racing and high-octane FMX action at its very best. A stunning show includes lights, lasers, pyro and a pumping soundtrack.

WHAT: Asian Bride Live WHEN: 21 to 22 January WHERE: The NEC, tel 0844 338 0338 www.asianbridelive.com One of the biggest bridal shows with nearly 200 exhibitors to inspire you for your big day. Includes a fabulous catwalk featuring the latest South Asian fashion with collections from leading designers and boutiques.

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WHAT: Ruby Wax – FRAZZLED WHEN: 26 January WHERE: Redditch Palace Theatre, tel 01527 65203 www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk The much-loved US born comedian, actor and writer hits the road with a funny and insightful show discussing her new best-selling book, A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled.

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IN THE CITY The schedule for panto is pretty full-on and the Hippodrome is fantastic, as is the city. A hot tub in the dressing room would be nice though!

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I’m Matt Slack, comedian/actor and appearing as Idle Jack in the pantomime Dick Whittington at Birmingham Hippodrome.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN? I walk to Birmingham Hippodrome and sometimes ride my Brompton fold-up bike. The flat I rent for the panto period is only five minutes away… just enough time to wake up before the madness of a twoshow day!

LUNCHTIME?

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The Green Room at the theatre provides food daily but it is nice to get out and about once in a while. The Chinese Restaurant Ken Ho at the bottom of Hurst Street is a favourite of mine. I keep meaning to pay a visit to Glynn Purnell’s bistro but it’s normally closed on my day off. He’s a big fan of panto and I’m sure I’ll be a fan of his food.

POWERWALKING? I power sleep!

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY?

I love the canalside and Brindleyplace.

That’s where I like to walk and unwind I commute in from London so on my day off. The contrast between the usually the train and it's perfect. Its ultra-modern designer stores in the Matt Slack is Idle Jack super-quick to New Street station.

Mailbox leading to the canal sums up The improvements with Grand Central are absolutely Brum for me. Plus I’m a huge Peaky Blinders fan so it’s a stunning really special atmosphere!

HOW’S THE COMMUTE?

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN?

AFTERWORK PINT?

It’s a thriving city with a lovely vibe. It has all the elements of old and new. Whether it be shopping or dining out, there’s something for everyone.

I’ll often go for a pint in the pub opposite the theatre.

However, my favourite place is a little pub and I mean tiny, right on the canal. It’s called the Canalside Café and I sometimes pop in on my day off.

COFFEE BREAK? The schedule for panto is very intense so not a great deal of time for breaks. From the rehearsal period to the technical rehearsals and finally show time it’s pretty full on. With two shows a day it’s nice to have such great facilities within the theatre itself so all your needs are catered for. However, a hot tub in the dressing room would be nice! Too much to ask?

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HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER? I honestly can’t answer that one but what does make it a great city in my opinion is the people that live here! I’ve never felt more welcome than when I’m in Brum! I Matt is appearing in Dick Whittington at Birmingham Hippodrome until Sunday 29 January. For tickets, call 0844 338 5000 or visit birminghamhippodrome.com

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