Birmingham Living March 2020 issue 90

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EDITOR’S VIEW

T

his month sees the official arrival of spring, a time when we’re all supposed to be looking forward with anticipation to the brighter days ahead. Unfortunately for many, the terrible floods which swamped huge swathes of the Midlands as a result of the recent Storms Ciara and Dennis have already made this spring one to forget as homes and businesses were washed away by rivers that burst their banks – again.

Many of the communities affected have been here before. Parts of Worcestershire, for example, have been flooded five times in the past year. My question is, what are the authorities and government doing about it beyond temporary and often inadequate flood barriers?

I caught the new Environment Minister George Eustice on the TV news coming out with the classic line that “we have to live with the fact” that flooding in some parts of the country is now the new norm.

Oh, very helpful George!

OK, so I realise it’s all about climate change, but the feeling of those affected – and I agree with them – is that hundreds of billions of pounds can be found for ‘high-profile’ projects such as HS2 but not for less glamorous projects – like protecting ordinary people’s homes.

And let me state clearly here, I’m not knocking HS2. Far from it, because despite the spiraling cost and huge disruption to areas of the countryside, HS2 is already bringing more new investment and prosperity to Birmingham and the West Midlands. All of which is great news for the region… but of little importance if you’re fighting a losing battle to literally keep your head above water!

s n h o J d Davi

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living Cover image:

/bhamliving

FINALIST

Reuben James

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, Hywel Davies 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

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INSIDE

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Highlights

Reuben James

The jazz genius on a life-changing encounter with Sam Smith and touring the world

Andy Street How the John Lewis boss and West Midlands mayor could have been a social worker

Food & Drink Flying Cows founder on what makes Britain’s best burger, plus recipes, reviews and wine

Style Put some zing into spring with our edit of the best new looks and trends as we say goodbye to winter

Health Girls, don’t go breaking your heart. It’s a fact more women die of heart disease than any other cause

Homes It’s time to give your pad a spring makeover with some serious decluttering and a fresh, new look

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CONTENTS

Best of the Rest

60 64 66 69 78 82 march 2020

Young, Gifted and Brummie

Raza Hamza on how his mum’s love of boxing has driven him to the verge of world title shot

Up Close With Stuart Birnie, the tuba player who’s bringing music into the lives of 38,000 children a week Ready To Rock Think you can’t sing? Think again, as we focus on the woman behind Birmingham’s Rock Choirs

Business News and views from the city’s commercial community, plus our Social Scene pages

What’s On Jo Whiley blossoms at Malvern, plus your events guide to Birmingham this month

In The City What makes Brum tick, with Jimi Shabir, CEO of award-winning digital agency Bootcamp Media

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NEWS

GOING FOR BOLD A bold new look has been unveiled at Resorts World with a makeover of the central atrium featuring a dramatic artistic installation. The design sits at the centre of the complex which houses outlet shopping, dining, leisure and entertainment experiences and a conference venue. The bold look sweeps across and around each floor, incorporating the central escalators. It was designed by Alexander Owen Architecture in partnership with

NEWS Midlands signage firm Bowden &

Dolphin and painting by Bagnalls.

BRINGING YOU THE BRIGHTEST AND MOST COLOURFUL STORIES FROM ACROSS THE CITY EACH MONTH

JOIN MARISHA ON STAGE

Youth choirs and musical theatre groups are being given the chance to perform with Broadway and West End leading lady Marisha Wallace when her debut UK tour comes to Birmingham Hippodrome on 14 March. Groups have applied for their chance to be on stage with the star of smash-hit show Dreamgirls, who said: “What better way to make my show special than to be joined on stage each night by a different local choir or musical theatre group?”

MUSICAL CHEERS A school’s new, dedicated music department was officially opened by Prof Julian Lloyd Webber, principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The department was unveiled at Hallfield School with a 20-minute concert from three pupils along with specially invited guests. Prof Lloyd Webber gave a thought-provoking speech arguing that music is a birthright and is a sustainable career for children to pursue.

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NEWS

BEVERLEY’S MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE Birmingham Living cover star and local singing legend Beverley Knight has teamed up in an exciting musical collaboration at Birmingham Hippodrome. She joins fellow singing icon Sting with vocals on the soundtrack of new dance theatre production, Message In A Bottle, which comes to the theatre on 8 and 9 April. Featuring 28 hits by Sting. Beverley performs lead vocals on new interpretations of Invisible Sun, If You Love Somebody Set Them Free, and Fields Of Gold.

KIDS POETRY CALL Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice is launching a schools poetry competition as part its 110th anniversary celebrations.

Winners and runners-up will see their work featured in a special month-long

DATE WITH KATE The Duchess of Cambridge dropped in to MiniBrum at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, to launch a new UK-wide survey which aims to spark the biggest-ever conversation on early childhood. Kate launched the 5 Big Questions on the Under-5s survey at the museum’s interactive mini-city gallery. The survey gives people across the UK an opportunity to provide their views on raising the next generation.

exhibition, plus be awarded book token prizes. The competition is open to children up to and including the age of 18 with a separate section for under-12s. John Taylor community fundraiser Isla Stroyan said: “We are asking young people to write a poem about being 110.” More details at www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk

SHOW-STOPPERS Birmingham Hippodrome is putting young people centre stage with two show-stopping musicals. Flower Cutters (17 and 18 April) will be performed by the Hippodrome’s Musicals Young Company and Groove on Down the Road (18 and 19 July) will feature ZooNation Young Company Birmingham. Musicals Young Company gives a platform for talented young performers to work with industry professionals, while ZooNation is made up of 18 of the most talented young Hip Hop dancers in the city.

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NEWS

DUCHESS AND DAHL The Duchess of Cornwall unveiled a

stunning stained-glass window installation at Birmingham Children’s Hospital featuring some of Roald Dahl’s most iconic characters. The windows were specially designed for the hospital by the worldfamous children’s illustrator Sir Quentin Blake and marked the launch of a new hospital-wide arts strategy, which highlights the benefits of bringing the arts into clinical environments to aid patients’ recovery. The Duchess met patients,

CHOIR OF THE YEAR

project donors and staff during her visit.

The search is on to find the inaugural

Midlands Choir of the Year. The winning vocal group will receive a cash prize and the chance to perform live at the 40th Lichfield Festival in 2021.Open to amateur adult singing groups, the festival is keen to hear from ensembles

RAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!

More than 40,000 people welcomed in the Year of the Rat at events to celebrate Chinese New Year in Birmingham. Highlights included free performances, crafts and family-friendly activities and a sold-out Chinese classical concert by the University of Birmingham at the Bramall. The events were sponsored by Birmingham Airport and the Galliard Apsley Partnership in association with Birmingham City Football Club, Southside BID and supported by the Arcadian and Bullring & Grand Central.

WALL TO WALL DIGBETH The vibrant nightlife of Digbeth has been

of all types and musical genres. Semi-

mapped out in a new street art work.

final and final rounds will be held live

The 16ft by 10ft work titled Digbeth

during this year’s Festival at Lichfield

Nightlife has been produced by

Cathedral with the winning group

renowned Midlands street artist Andrew

crowned on 12 July. More details at

‘Title’ Mills and was commissioned by

www.mcoty.org

Richard Hughes, owner of the Ruin bar. It features 37 venues offering live music and DJ sets, bars and pubs, eateries, games and entertainment.

LESLEY SINGS INTO SPRING The hills will be alive with the sound of music for the 35th anniversary celebration of the RHS Malvern Spring Festival.

Music at Malvern is a new element to the Spring Show that includes a series of evening concerts from 7 to 10 May at Three Counties Showground. A 54-piece orchestra, fronted by soprano Lesley Garrett, will perform a VE Day commemorative concert, while there will also be a spring celebration at a Gardeners’ Party with BBC Radio 2’s Jo Whiley. More at www.threecounties.co.uk/buy-tickets

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NEWS

CAITLIN MAKES A POINT Birmingham-born ballet student Caitlin Godfrey is the star of a new campaign celebrating diversity and individuality. Caitlin is the first of eight students to feature in the photographic campaign launched

by Elmhurst Ballet School, the vocational school in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet. Caitlin’s dramatic pose in the photograph Flourish – shot by dance photographer Johan Persson – aims to highlight how students who live, dance and learn at Elmhurst, can surpass their potential.

IN BRIEF SINGING CLOCK Twelve Tones – the sonic piece of artwork which is part of Birmingham Big Art Project’s Station Clock initiative – is calling on individuals and community groups to become one of the 1,092 voices from across the region featured by signing up at for a recording session on 9, 10 and 24 March.

Visit www.12tonesbooking

SPECIAL DELIVERY

ODD SOCKS A BIG DRAW

One of the most exciting, innovative and in-demand live music acts for children in the UK is coming to Brum. Andy and the Odd Socks – fronted by CBeebies star Andy Day – will appear at the Old Rep on 19 April. The five-piece band has played more than 100 shows including festivals such as Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, Victorious, Big Feastival and many more.

Six critically endangered Blackchin Guitarfish have been born at the National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham in the first breeding programme of its kind in the UK. Jonny Rudd, curator at the aquarium said: “This is fantastic news for the species which are notoriously slow breeders meaning they struggle to produce offspring. All six babies are living in a specially created nursery under the

FESTIVAL FIRST

watchful eye of our animal

A new food, drink and entertainment festival is being held on 19 to 21 June at Ragley Hall.

Warwickshire. Bigfoot will feature 60 music acts across five stages, 15 restaurants and more than 50 craft breweries, natural winemakers and artisanal spirit producers.

care team.” More details on how you can see the guitarfish at

DAN’S THE MAN

www.sealife.co.uk/birmingham

Burgers made in Birmingham have been named the best in Britain. Flying Cows, a regular at Digbeth

BIG MONTH Seven hundred young singers from across the region will take part in West Midlands Big Sing at Symphony Hall on 16 March – one of the Big Month of Music’s events produced by West Midlands Music, a collective of 14 Music Services providing music education for children.

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Dining Club, won the best street food title at the Food & Drinks Awards which recognise the industry’s high achievers. Owner Dan Batchelor, formerly a chef at Michelin-starred Simpsons, opened his mobile Flying Cows stall in 2013 which has since become the undisputed master of burger-making using only

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

highest quality locally sourced beef. See page 24.

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COVER STORY

ALL THAT JAZZ WE CAUGHT UP WITH REUBEN JAMES TO TALK SONG

WRITING, TOURING THE WORLD AND HIS HOME TOWN euben James cut his teeth at Brummie institutions the Yard Bird and the Jam Factory before progressing to Ronnie Scott’s in London where an encounter with Sam Smith changed his musical trajectory. As well as touring with the singer for six years, Reuben has collaborated with the star co-writing the title track from Sam Smith’s album The Thrill of it All as well as Him among many others.

He’s performed with Joni Mitchell, opened for Alicia Keys at the Dubai Jazz festival and collaborated with Disclosure, Honne, Callum Scott and Tom Misch to name just a few as well as selling out Birmingham’s Symphony Hall last November.

Lauded as Britain’s best young jazz pianist by the Times, Reuben is now carving out his own vibe with the launch of a new EP this spring on the back of the success of his first solo EP Adore last summer. Expect a heady mix of jazz, soul and RnB.

R

GRAMMYS & OSCARS Learning violin and piano from the age of four, Reuben knew he never wanted to do anything else. He attended Birmingham Conservatoire every Saturday morning and gained a scholarship to the prestigious Trinity College of Music in London. Reuben built a name for himself and became a regular at Ronnie Scott’s which is when he got the call from Sam Smith’s people. They toured the world together not once but three times and recorded Lay Me Down and Latch together. Reuben says: “It was surreal.

It happened so quickly. The Grammys, the Oscars, all of that.”

Happiest on stage performing, Reuben is now busy growing his own legend. Playing with and collaborating with big names has led to this point and Reuben feels he’s been moving through the stages of his musical career to discover his sound. The writing process is organic rather than structured and differs depending on whether Reuben’s writing for himself or for someone else.

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Inspired by everyday events, Reuben’s writing is very personal when writing for him, but not so much when writing for other artists. He says: “When I write for someone else, I’m more of a therapist.” Reuben describes his current work as ‘sonically groove based’ and an extension of what he’s been building through the years. For a period of time Reuben was writing either straight pop or straight jazz, but his current sound is an amalgam of the two genres with RnB thrown in for good measure.

LA BECKONS Reuben’s time is split between his home in Birmingham and LA where his girlfriend lives and ultimately where he can see himself laying down roots. Reuben moved back to Birmingham from London because he found the capital anxiety inducing whereas his home town is more relaxing. He never moved to London because he felt he needed to in order to make a breakthrough. He says: “London was about figuring out how to be an adult and learning life skills as much as anything else.” In Birmingham he’s enjoying spending time with family and friends and he’s excited to see the music scene

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doing so well. “I love Birmingham. It’s home.

The music scene is thriving. Jazz and RnB in the city is fantastic.”

It would be a natural progression to move to LA. Aside from his love interest, Reuben just loves the way of life. “It’s sunny every day. You have the best songwriters and producers in the world there. I do yoga, eat salad. I just love it.”

Reuben has worked with some amazing names and his list of collaborations is like a who’s who of music royalty, but I wonder if there’s anyone else on the wish list. He says: “Stevie Wonder, Brandy Carlisle, Aretha Franklin if she were still alive and Beyonce would be cool.” Preferring the quirky little venues to large sprawling stadia – although clearly he wouldn’t say no – he likes to be right next to the audience and ‘feel the people’.

The future is clearly bright and for now Reuben is just focusing on writing great music that as many people as possible get a chance to listen to. I

NEW RELEASE Reuben’s first single from his forthcoming EP Slow Down will be released on 20 March.

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FEATURE

STREET LIFE A job offer that never materialised changed the course of Andy Street’s life.

Instead of being a local social worker he became one of the UK’s most famous retailers and then West Midlands mayor – and he’s not finished yet!

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FEATURE

ate. It plays a part in all our lives, but none more so than that of West Midlands mayor Andy Street. For more than 20 years from his school days, Andy was involved in voluntary work running adventure camps to Wales for underprivileged Birmingham kids. After graduating from university at Oxford, a career in social work in his home city appeared a shoe-in. Only it was that simple.

He was interviewed and then offered a job as a social worker in Brum, but Andy was informed at the eleventh hour that the authority had run out of money – they didn’t have any budget left to hire him! Frustrated, he decided to direct his talents in the commercial sector instead – he studied economics and politics at uni.

He applied for a position at the biggest name in the high street, Marks and Spencer, but they turned him down. An interview with another retail biggie, John Lewis, proved more successful and he was hired. The rest is history!

F

GAMBLE Working his way up through department stores and head office, Andy became John Lewis’s managing director in 2007 and during his tenure oversaw a 50 per cent increase in sales to more than £4.4billion, a doubling in the number of stores and the growth of the company’s online sales presence. He became one of the highest profile retailers in the UK. Then after 10 years at the company, he opted to change direction completely, quitting the business for what he readily admits was a “huge gamble” running as a candidate to become the region’s firstever mayor. The risk paid off when he was elected by voters to lead Birmingham and the West Midlands in what is one of the most important periods of change in our modern history.

Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, Andy was just 10 months old when his parents decided to move back to Birmingham after the briefest of times away. Andy grew up in the family homes in Northfield and then Solihull and went to Green Meadow Infants School, Langley Junior School and King Edward’s School, Edgbaston.

“My great grandparents and grandparents came from Castle Bromwich and Northfield and were traders in the city, so I have generations of Brummie blood running through me,” said Andy.

“And now I live in the Cube, so I am well and truly right in the heart of the city, seeing and feeling everything that goes on.”

ALL-ACTION Being in the thick of the action is important to Andy not just because this is a particularly exciting time in the development of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands as a centre of world-

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class excellence in business, education, technology, the arts and more. Regardless of your personal political persuasion, it’s hard not to be won over by the man’s sheer enthusiasm and ‘can do’ attitude.

“This is such an exciting and vibrant time for the city and region,” he said, citing the ever-growing numbers of young people choosing to move from London to work here. “When I was 18 in the early eighties, I remember clearly how people wanted to leave Birmingham,” he explained. “Now we have completely turned that around, statistically with more young achievers moving from the capital to Brum than going the other way.” The same figures show that 16,000 more young Londoners choose to come to Birmingham than opt to go and work in Manchester.

Andy says this picture promises to get even better with major infrastructure projects such as HS2 which already directly employs more than 6,000 people. In his true ‘Mr Motivator’ style, he also argues that the West Midlands could get a boost from Brexit – even though he campaigned as a Remainer during the referendum campaign. “Remainers have to accept we lost the argument and now we move on and it’s all about securing the all-important trade deals,” he says.

CHALLENGES Andy says the biggest challenges facing decisionmakers will come as a result of the region’s success. A growing population will require more and better housing and transport. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in life is to be brave and bet big. There’s no doubt in my mind that Birmingham has got its mojo back and we have to set our horizons really high.

“For 40 years we went backwards and that has been reversed. I want to see Birmingham in the list of the top international cities and I am very optimistic we can achieve this. The feedback about the city, particularly in the US but around the world too, is very positive.”

When he’s not championing all-things Birmingham, Andy likes to get up early, relax and recharge with a run along the city’s canals. “It’s my favourite part of the city, not just the bits that we all get to see and are familiar with, but also the quiet, unloved parts of the canals. They are a part of the uniqueness of the place.” I

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FOOD & DRINK

DAN BATCHELOR The chef and founder of award-winning street food business Flying Cows tells us we’ve got his mum to thank for sparking the cooking bug and how he likes nothing more than tucking into veggies at home

Tell us about your cooking I like to do restaurant-style dishes in burger form, so classic big flavours in a burger.

How did you become a chef?

I started cooking in the local pub aged 15 and I just loved the atmosphere in the kitchen. I moved to London for a while and when I came back I worked at Simpsons in Kenilworth and then in Birmingham when it moved to Edgbaston under Luke Tipping. I left and did various things including opening my own restaurant but that didn’t go so well.

I started doing farmers’ markets before the street food scene really kicked off and when Digbeth Dining Club took off I got involved. I’ve a lot to thank founders Jack Brabant and James Swinburne for.

They gave me loads of help and support. Street food is completely different to being in a restaurant setting.

No two events are the same and you meet really nice people. There’s a freedom it gives you, too.

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CHEF’S CORNER What do you eat when at home?

Funnily enough a lot of vegetarian food - risotto, pasta, curries. Cooking meat for weeks on end means I’m ready for some veg at home.

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

It’s a tough one, but probably Gordon Ramsay.

There are loads of chefs I look up to, but Ramsay springs to mind. In Brum, I have to say Luke Tipping as he was my boss! Brad Carter’s pretty good though and I met Glynn Purnell last month and he’s pretty nice, so we’re spoilt for choice.

Is the customer always right?

Yes. My dad always said the customer is king and I agree with that.

Share a cooking tip Just season really well. A little salt can absolutely transform a dish.

What was your favourite food as a kid?

Cake! My mum is a very good cook and I used to love baking cakes with her as a child.

Food heaven and food hell?

Heaven would be wild mushrooms simply fried. I love them. Hell would be raisins.

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

Probably something like sheep’s intestines. I’m not keen on offal.

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

An astronaut!

What do you recommend from your menu?

I’d go for the burger that won the British Street Food award – the Truffle Boy. It’s a steak burger with smoked streaky bacon and black truffle mayo. I

FLYING HIGH Flying Cows was awarded Best Street Food at the Food & Drink Awards hosted by Stephen Fry last month and Britain’s best burger at the Street Food Awards in 2017 and 2019.

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

BARNT GREEN INN Kendal End Road, Birmingham, B45 8PZ. Tel: 0121 445 4949 barntgreeninn.co.uk

dmittedly we hadn’t been to the Barnt Green Inn for approximately 34 years, so comparing its recent transformation to what went before was a bit beyond us. However, having expected a country pub vibe on route, we were a bit blown away by the interiors. It’s clear from the first glance that somebody has very deep pockets and good taste. The lighting’s great, bar area’s cosy, the restaurant’s all grown-up and glamorous… and we liked!

The clever sticks running the relaunch welcomed us with a build-your-own gin and tonic station which was fun. Hicc! This was the media launch, so while it’s not a regular feature, the bar’s well stocked and wine list superb.

The menu was a bit of mash up of genres – quite a few Asian-inspired dishes alongside pub classics and Mediterranean vibes which bamboozled us slightly. We plumped for some Asian flavours to kick off. We liked the miso aubergine bao buns a lot which came with a hefty hit of red chilli and a mango and spring onion salsa on the side. Massaman chicken skewers were tasty and all the familiar spice and nutty notes were there, but we didn’t much care for the tzatziki on the side.

A sea bass fillet was delicious served with a tangy tomato and lemon aioli, new potatoes, samphire and spinach. The charred octopus tentacle balancing on top didn’t add much apart from a bit of smoke. Sticky glazed pork belly was probably our favourite dish – soft, unctuous, sweet meat

A

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with satisfyingly crisp crackling served with roasted butternut squash, cavolo nero, creamed corn, mash potatoes and a red wine jus.

A lemon meringue flamed Alaska was super sweet in a good way, but the portion was huge. There are mini versions of desserts served with coffee which a bit more modest. The mini crème brulee was perfect.

There was probably something on every dish we sampled that you could have removed which would have either improved the plate or we wouldn’t have noticed.

Less is more sometimes. Having said that, the food was on the whole great, the service was excellent despite being very new and we loved the vibe of the place. I

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FOOD & DRINK

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

MEALS DEAL

STEAK DATE

Birmingham-based restaurant, Holy Moly – home of the ‘Proper Mac’ – has teamed up with national charity FoodCycle to help support vulnerable people in the local community with hot meals. Holy Moly donated its first selection of its vegetarian cheesy ‘Proper Mac’ to the charity in January and is now providing much-needed meals every week. FoodCycle combines surplus food, spare kitchen spaces and volunteers to create three-course meals for people and families at risk.

The doors open this month on Michelin-star chef Aktar Islam’s new Argentinian steak restaurant Pulperia at Brindleyplace. The eatery is in the unit previously occupied by CAU which closed in 2018.

Pulperia boasts a unique Argentinian v-shaped, charcoal and wood-fired grill and serves food 'inspired by and adapted from some of the world’s finest Argentinian recipes', as well as a wide variety of fish, grilled chicken and vegetarian options.

BAKING IT VEGAN

TASTY TRIO OPENS Three new food and drink destinations – Vita, Green’s and Taste Collective – have opened in Solihull’s Mell Square shopping centre. Vita serves desserts and cakes from local independent bakeries, while Green’s offers innovative cocktails created by acclaimed mixologist Robert Wood.

Taste Collective is home to independent pop-up street food traders serving a variety of cuisines.

A new vegan bakery has set up in a factory unit in Alcester. Ridge Hill Bakery is the brainchild of John McGreal and Millie Slater, specialising in vegan cakes and breakfast delights such as sausages and hash browns. John explained: “We are making food for people like ourselves, not necessarily vegan but people who want to eat more ethically. At the same time it has got to taste great.”

SWEET IDEA Local restaurateur Alex Claridge of the Wilderness in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, has met with some of the city’s homeless as part of his work with the charity SIFA. The stories he heard will help inspire a collection of chocolates he is developing with proceeds going to help the homelessness charity. Alex is active in speaking out on the issue of the growing numbers of homeless people in the city.

FROM MUMBAI TO SHIRLEY A slice of Maharashtrian street food is on the menu in Shirley with the arrival of SKVP. Located next to Fiesta Del Asado in Stratford Road, the emphasis is on Mumbai’s popular street food, Vada Pav – a spicy potato filling sandwiched between buns and layers of spicy garlic and green chutney! Totally plant-based, the menu also includes Misal, Bhel Puri, Kachchi Dabeli and many other tasty vegetarian Indian dishes, all made to order.

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

SPRING IN A GLASS We’re all set to toast the new season with this zingy Lychee and Gingerbread Cocktail pparently, spring is coming… not sure we’re totally convinced just yet but, hey, why not welcome in some warmer weather with this cheeky little number from the talented mixologists at Sky By The Water. I

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ALL YOU NEED TO MIX IT UP BEAUTIFULLY INGREDIENTS:

I 50ml Lychee juice

I 25ml Pineapple juice

I 15ml Gingerbread syrup I 15ml Lime juice

I 10ml Brown sugar syrup

METHOD: Put all the ingredients in a shaker and shake without ice first.

Fill the shake with ice and shake it again (for maximum foam).

Double strain in a coupe glass. Garnish with a dehydrated pineapple semi-wheel. For an alcoholic version, our recommendation is to add 50ml of Kraken Spiced Rum.

Sky By The Water, Resorts World, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1PU resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk

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LUNCHSPOT

MILANO

Arcadian Centre, Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5 4TD. Tel: 0121 622 3999 milanorestaurant.co.uk f you only go to the Aracadian for pre-theatre drinks and nosh, you’re missing a trick. Italian restaurant Milano – opposite Glee – has had a facelift and feels very much a place we want to spend more time.

Two words – garlic bread. We’re just going to put this out there. The tomato garlic bread was the best we’ve ever eaten and while we didn’t sample the pizza, we are fairly confident based on this beauty it would be trippily good. Bags of garlic on a perfect blistered slightly charred base with tangy tomato sauce. Bliss. We could have stopped there, but we didn’t. Instead, we devoured our own body weight in food and booze beginning with the letter ‘L’. Think linguine, lobster, lamb, limoncello…

Aside from the garlic bread there were other highlights, like the lobster linguine which was generously loaded with meaty chunks of the shellfish, a tangy sauce and plenty of herbs. The plate was big enough to feed a family, but that aside it was good.

Lamb cutlets with a fruity redcurrant sauce raised a smile from the carnivore although the mash it was served with didn’t hit the mark. Less said the better. A bowl of mussels with a punchy tomato sauce to mop up with warm bread was a treat and got us wondering why we don’t eat them more often.

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A panacotta and a plate of sweet treats including chocolate truffles and gorgeous almondy biscuits were very good. By this point we were hankering after a peppermint tea, but then came the limoncello. It was a Monday after all.

We reckon the manager might be a feeder! He was so warm and generous in that typically Italian way that’s impossible to decline. Well, why would you want to? If you’re after warm friendly service with a hit of personality, stonkingly good pasta and pizza and a good wine list, Milano is the one. I

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ADVERTORIAL

SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE GREAT ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS BRING OUT THE THRILL-SEEKER IN US ALL, AND SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING DESTINATIONS CAN BE REACHED FROM BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT. SO, GO FOR IT – WE DARE YOU! f the thought of lying in the sun and reading a book for a week bores you to tears, then check out these actionpacked holidays in countries all over the world.

From skydiving in Australia to going on a safari in South Africa, discover the best adventure holidays on offer.

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Bungee Jump in Auckland If you’re going to bungee jump, there’s no better place in the world to be than New Zealand. Ever since the day A J Hackett and Henry van Asch set up New Zealand’s first commercial bungee operation in the 1980s, bungee jumping in New Zealand is almost a rite of passage.

Auckland, once the country’s capital city, holds the world’s first harbour bridge bungee jump. Not only that, it’s also the only place you can do an ocean touch bungee! Suspended over Waitemata Harbour, you’ll take in 360-degree views of the area before leaping from the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Take an exclusive bridge walk to the purpose-built bungee pod and feel the adrenaline as you plunge 40 metres towards turquoise waters. Visit Auckland’s Sky Tower for more exhilarating activities.

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How to get there from Birmingham Airport: Check out flights with Emirates or Qatar Airways and enjoy a stop-off to break up your journey.

Ride Roller Coasters in Orlando Orlando is famously the theme park capital of the world, so where better to get your adrenaline rushing than on some of the city’s best rollercoasters? From Disney World to Hollywood Studios, there is a plethora of pulse-racing coasters to choose from.

If you want to ride some of the best rollercoasters in the city, head to Universal Studios. Among our favourites there is the Incredible Hulk, where Hulk sends passengers soaring up its Gamma Force Accelerator tube.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, sends you up a 17-story vertical lift hill before being dropped at 65mph, and the Revenge of the Mummy ride, is a coaster in complete darkness.

How to get there from Birmingham Airport: Fly direct to Orlando with TUI or use Aer Lingus with a short stop-off in Ireland’s capital, Dublin.

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ADVERTORIAL

Skydive in Perth You can’t get much more adventurous than chucking yourself out of a plane, thousands of feet in the air. Skydiving is at the top of many people’s bucket lists and if you’re going to conquer your fear, you want to choose the best place for it.

So why Perth, Australia? Well, for the coastal views for one. Western Australia is blessed with stunning beach coastline and favourable weather which makes for a perfect skydive. As well as jumping in Perth’s CBD, you can skydive from Rockingham Beach or Jurien Bay, both offering stunning views for your jump.

Skydiving is a highly regulated activity in Australia and you can safely jump from up to 15,000ft in Perth which means over 65 seconds free fall time.

How to get there from Birmingham Airport: Book flights from Birmingham Airport to Perth.

Fly with Emirates and enjoy a quick stop in Dubai before the second leg of the journey or fly with Qatar Airways for a connection in Doha.

fly to Johannesburg, a city that offers many options for safari. From South Africa’s biggest city, you don’t need to travel far to get out into the bush.

There are plenty of safari parks and game reserves within a four-hour drive of the city. Day-trippers can head to reserves just an hour’s drive away, while those looking to spend a few days on safari can go further afield. All these areas are malaria free, so there’s no need for medication.

How to get there from Birmingham Airport: Pick from a range of airlines to Johannesburg with a convenient connection including Air France, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. I Hopefully, one of these adventurous holiday destinations gets your pulse racing. Birmingham Airport offers flights to locations all over the world.

Safari in Johannesburg A safari is one of the best adventure holidays you can go on and from Birmingham Airport you can

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FOOD & DRINK

RED OR WHITE?

THE TRADITIONAL CHOICES TO GO WITH MEAT OR FISH DON’T HAVE TO APPLY AS MODERN TASTES THROW UP MORE EXCITING COMBINATIONS, SAYS WINE EXPERT ROB PRICE

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FOOD & DRINK

he old adage of white with fish and red with meat, while not wrong, if followed without any flexibility will limit your choices and mean you’ll miss out on some very good food and wine combinations.

The main point is the increased emphasis being placed on the personal choice of each person. We all have very different tastes and react to smells and other sensory aspects in a wide variety of ways. Some people are very sensitive to acid, others sweetness, so it would be impossible to lay down any firm rules. If you like it, that’s good enough…

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SAVOURY PICKS The other main element we now take notice of is Umami, which is a savoury taste. Umami can make life

ROB’S

TO PAIR

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CHAMPAGNE WITH FISH AND CHIPS Yes, it really does work very, very well. The acidity in the Champagne off-setting the fatty nature of the fish and chips. I think every fish and chip shop should have a Champagne vending machine so everyone can appreciate the majesty of this combination!

PINOT NOIR WITH CRISPY DUCK Duck is quite a fatty meat and Pinot Noir is characteristically high in acidity and it’s this acidity again that helps counteract the fattiness in the duck. My must try is crispy duck with a Central Otago Pinot Noir from New Zealand.

PORK BELLY WITH OFF DRY GERMAN RIESLING Another example of a crisp acidic wine that complements the fat of the pork. Try a Kabinett-style Riesling which works even better if the pork comes with apple sauce and crackling.

TOKAJI ASZU WITH SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE TART

more difficult when matching wines with food high in acidity, such as dried mushrooms, tomatoes, dried meats, shellfish and oily fish. Umami in foods makes wines taste more bitter, drying and acidic and less sweet and fruity.

It can make tannic red wines taste extremely bitter, metallic and unpleasant. So, the best matches are wines with little or no tannins (white, rose, and light bodied reds). However, dishes with high levels of Umami can also be made more food friendly by adding a little salt or acid (lemons/tomatoes) to the meal.

You’ll be surprised just how well this works! It’s important to think more about the weight and intensity of flavours.

Delicately flavoured foods need delicate wines, while strongly flavoured foods need strongly flavoured wines.

SAUCY OPTIONS Also don’t forget the sauces – these are normally more important than the meat or fish they accompany. Again, match lightness of sauce with lightness of wine and the same with heavier sauces. The cooking method also is a significant factor.

Steamed foods need more delicate wine – light whites or reds. Stews, more medium-bodied reds, Sangiovese, Merlot perhaps, while roasts can stand fuller-bodied wines, like Barolo or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Here are some keys points to keep in mind: I Match the flavour intensity of the food with the flavour intensity of the wine.

I Match sweet wines with sweet foods.

I Match food and wines both high in acidity.

I Avoid savoury (Umami) foods with wines high in tannin.

I Pair fatty and oily food with high acid wines.

I Match weight and richness of the food with the body of the wine.

Wow, what a flavour combination! Tokaji Aszu is an intense

TEST YOUR TASTEBUDS

luscious sweet dessert wine, and when paired with an equally

If you want to learn more and test your tastebuds, Birmingham Wine

intense pudding it will make your taste buds tingle and be the

School is holding a food and wine pairing tasting evening on Saturday

most satisfying end to a meal any person could wish for.

20 June in Birmingham. For more information contact Rob Price on 0121 270 7359, or visit www.birminghamwineschool.com

As you can see, most of my favourite combos are acidic,

Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine education company

refreshing wines that cut through fatty food. But, go on,

that offers fun informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education

experiment and find your own favourites.

Trust (WSET) courses in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Warwick.

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ing livSTYLE

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RIGHT STRIPES

Clothing from Oliver Bonas

STYLE COUNSEL WINTER IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE PLAYFULNESS OF SPRING

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STYLE PRINTS CHARMING

Clothing from Dorothy Perkins

JACKET IN

Maisy floral jacket £70, Monsoon

MELLOW YELLOW

here’s a joyfulness to spring not least because we’re British and contemplating the improving weather, but also because our wardrobes become lighter, brighter and more playful.

Winter is about grown-up outerwear, fine knits and serious footwear which we love for a time, but now we’re ready for the fun stuff.

SS20 is packed with playful notes. Even the power-dressing trend that rocked catwalks at Proenza Schouler and JW Anderson is less Wall Street and more Digbeth Dining Club. Jazzy lapels, ribbons and embellishment create a vibe with personality rather than an eighties uniform.

We love a print and this season we are totally spoilt for choice. Whether you’re prepared to dive into psychedelic head-to-toe boldness or you’re after a

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FAN-TASTIC

Fan foil top £49.50, Oliver Bonas

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GREEN DREAM

Taffeta blouse £50, Monsoon

Daphne yellow tiered dress £99, Monsoon

FLOWER POWER

Clothing from River Island

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STYLE

COLOUR POP

Clothing from M&Co

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STYLE

HIGH NECK

GET DRESSED

Clothing from Miss Selfridge

Leopard print high neck top £45, Oliver Bonas

more subtle pattern, you’re covered. Supercharged poppy print in bright colours at Sandro is at the top of the wish list (see pictured). It’s worth checking out vintage for some original seventies vibes if that’s your bag.

Pastels are the epitome of spring and always raise a smile. Oliver Bonas is increasingly hitting the sweet pastel spot year-on-year. Check out cute sweaters and delicate blousey tops for an instant wardrobe update.

Jumpsuits are the ultimate transitional piece.

The neutral belted version from Sandro is wondrous as is the Balmain wool suit, pictured.

Soft denim versions rock the high street and result in effortless cool. I

POPPY PRINT

Abbie belt £59.50, Hobbs

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ANIMAL MAGIC

Red floral top £36, Oasis

Clothing from Wallis

TOP TREWS

Sandro poppies floral-print woven shirt £155, Selfridges

BELT UP

BLACK AND RED

M Missoni floral crepe trouser £275, Harvey Nichols

WINNING MIDI

Gestuz jacquard satin midi skirt £120, Harvey Nichols

ON SAFARI

Debra zebra patched midi dress £75, Oliver Bonas

CLASS ACT

Gestuz printed satin dress £140, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

DENIM DAYS

Clothing from M&Co

FEATURE LAPELS

Stella McCartney doublebreasted wool-blend blazer £1,025, Selfridges

TRANSITION PIECE

Sandro Uno belted cotton-linen-blend jumpsuit £369, Selfridges

NEUTRAL BAE

Balmain button-embellished wool jumpsuit £1,850, Harvey Nichols

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STYLE

MIX IT UP

Clothing from Hobbs

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BEAUTY DESK STYLE

This month it’s all going on. We’ve discovered a new budget brand that works a treat which is incredibly pleasing. Holland and Barrett has chosen Brum for its first clean and conscious beauty store and we’ve found a lavender scent

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that has converted us 1. HOLLAND AND BARRETT CLEAN AND CONSCIOUS BEAUTY STORE, BULLRING Expect much more than vitamins and gluten-free flap jacks from H&Bs first beauty concept store which opened last month. Hundreds of ‘clean’ brands like REN and This Works have been pulled together, plus there’ll be regular demonstrations from people like Urban Veda doing facials and hand massages and True Skincare holding mask-making workshops.

As the name suggests there’s a focus on natural ethical products and minimum impact on the environment. Well worth a look.

2. LAVENDER AND CORIANDER COLOGNE £50, JO MALONE LONDON The iconic brand is launching a limited edition collection this month called Lavenderland which includes numerous scents, a pillow spray and diffuser.

Beyond our beloved This Works pillow spray, we’re not generally keen on lavender, so were a bit sceptical. However, this version teamed with herby coriander is fresh, heady and lasts all day.

3. LOTIL FOOT CREAM £5.38, AND LIP BALM £1.64, WELDRICKS.CO.UK

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We had never heard of this brand before the current range landed on the beauty desk. The packaging is simple and not that inspiring, but the product completely defies its price tag. Highlights of the range include a rich foot cream that’s super softening. We’ve been using it every evening for three weeks and we’re flip-flop ready. Also, the lip balm with SPF30 works a treat and successfully saw us through a chapped period. We’re alternating between this and Drunk Elephant at the other end of the spectrum.

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ADVERTORIAL

IN ENGLAND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE AROUND 1.5 MILLION LANDLORDS WITH APPROXIMATELY 94% OF THOSE LANDLORDS ACTING AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL LANDLORDS. ver recent years the legislation regarding the letting of properties has been improved to provide tenants with more protection. But what does this mean for landlords?

The Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into force last year and capped tenancy deposits at no more than five or six weeks rent depending upon the annual rent the landlord receives. Whilst the scheme is reported by sources to have resulted in renters across England saving, it carries dangers for landlords who do not comply with the law.

A recent case under the Tenant Fees Act, which came into force last year, has resulted in the landlord having to pay £4,880.89 to the tenant for failing to comply with the new law.

This isn’t the only recent development in the law that puts further strain on landlords. In 2015 with the introduction of the Deregulation Act, changes were made to the eviction procedure known as Section 21 Notice evictions. These are known as no fault evictions in that the landlord does not require a reason to evict the tenant from the property. There has been much talk over recent months about the scrapping of section 21 notices to provide tenants with further protection but as of yet the government are yet to make a decision on the scrapping of such notices. Whilst the new procedure under the Deregulation Act made some changes in simplifying the procedure for landlords, it provided tenants with further protections.

It places restrictions on landlords such as section 21 notices no longer being able to be served upon tenants if documents such as gas safety certificates and the governments “How to rent” guide have not been provided. Landlords are no longer able to serve section 21 notices on tenants who have made complaints to the landlord regarding the condition of the dwelling prior to the service of the notice as well as other protections.

There are further requirements in respect of the

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protection of tenant’s deposits which, if not protected, can result in landlords paying tenants compensation for failing to protect it of up to 3 times the amount of the deposit plus the returning of the deposit to the tenant.

Whilst the introduction of legislation seeks to provide further protection for tenants, it imposes additional hurdles for landlords. Landlords should ensure that when a new tenant enters into the property, they take careful note of the requirements in order to avoid any issues that may arise during the tenancy and when seeking to recover possession of their property. I If you are a Landlord seeking to recover possession of your property, Lauren Bryan, specialist property litigation lawyer is here to help and provide advice before the eviction process begins and assist with the eviction process. Call Lauren on 01562 512 471 or email lbryan@thursfields.co.uk

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STYLE FOR MEN

COOL TREWS Linen trousers and shirt, Burton

SPRING EDIT

GET SOME PASTELS AND BOLD PRINTS IN YOUR LIFE TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD FOR SUNSHINE

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STYLE FOR MEN

THINK PINK Suit jacket £54, Matalan

CAMO PRINT McQ Alexander McQueen camoprint jacket £495, Harvey Nichols

BE BOLD Animal print shirt £28, Jacamo

n among the nineties tie dye, head-totoe satin and sheer vests of the SS20 catwalks there were two more easily transferrable trends to take away. First up, prints. From subtle checks to over the top graphics, a printed tee or jacket is a simple way to refresh your spring wardrobe. The camouflage print jacket from Alexander McQueen pictured is right on the money providing the ideal transition piece while a plethora of graphic cool short-sleeved shirts and tees on the high street will easily update your look. Pastels are also big this season with pink and lilac hues leading the way.

Whether you’re dipping your toe in the water with a subtle tee or going headlong into a pink linen suit, embrace it. Flattering, stylish and easy. Win, win, win.

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A-STAR AZTEC Aztec shirt £25, M&S

IN THE HOOD Stone Island nylon jacket £625, Harvey Nichols

CHECK MATE Jacket £55, Burton

LOVE LETTER Graphic shirt £11, Primark

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MONO WOW AOP sports tee £11, Primark

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HEALTH

DON’T GO BREAKING YOUR HEART

MORE WOMEN DIE OF HEART DISEASE THAN ANY OTHER CAUSE. HERE’S 10 WAYS TO LOWER THE RISK

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HEALTH

t’s a sobering fact that heart disease is the No 1 threat to women. In fact, it’s twice as deadly as breast cancer.

British Heart Foundation research suggest that there are around 3.5 million women living with a heart or circulatory disease – including heart disease and stroke – in the UK. More than 24,000 women die from coronary heart disease each year in the UK, most commonly due to a heart attack – that’s an average of 65 women a day. Your heart is something that you can help, or hinder, every day of your life, so follow these top 10 tips to keep things ticking over nicely.

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SPOT THE SIGNS: Chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack. But heart attacks in women can also be accompanied by symptoms that can be confused with other ailments. Shortness of breath, nausea or actual vomiting, back or jaw pain and unexplained fatigue can also be danger signs. If you’re in any doubt, don’t hesitate to seek help from your GP just to be on the safe side.

PACK IT IN: There are zillions of reasons why smokers should kick the habit. It helps health in so many ways and lowering the risk of heart disease is right up there. If you’ve tried to quit and can’t, get some help – Google the NHS Quit Line.

GET YOURSELF CHECKED: The British Heart Foundation says that anyone over the age of 40 should be having regular cardiovascular check-ups with their doctor.

This examines risk factors including cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes. Family history is another good reason for a check, especially if your mum had a heart attack before the age of 60, or if your dad had one before the age of 45.

CONFRONT YOUR FRONT: The more fat you store around your middle (as opposed to your hips, thighs or bottom), the higher your risk of heart disease. But on the plus side, this more dangerous fat is also the easiest to shift.

CUT OUT TRANS FATS: Unlike ‘good’ fats found in foods such as olive oil, flaxseed oil and walnuts, trans fats

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are chemically altered vegetable oils and should be avoided. They are very common, turning up in everything from ready meals and biscuits to crisps and sweets.

GET GOING: After menopause, women have higher concentrations of total cholesterol. To compensate, women need to make their life more aerobic. Aerobic exercise helps boost your ‘good’ cholesterol and lowers the blood fats (known as triglycerides). Exercise also helps reduce blood pressure, keeps your weight down and makes you feel good.

SALT IT OUT: Just a pinch of salt can raise your blood pressure and you shouldn’t consume more than six grams a day – that’s about a teaspoon’s worth. So start taking an interest in the labels of foods you buy and, at home go easy on how much you use. (A good start is not to salt something you haven’t tasted.) Your blood pressure should be 120/80mmHg or below, and bear in mind that over the age of 55 there are more women with high blood pressure than men.

SOMETHING FISHY: Try to put fish on the menu at least twice a week. It can lower your blood fats and help boost your levels of HDL, or ‘good’ cholesterol. In particular, go for mackerel, salmon or sardines which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. These are protective fats that are good for your heart.

CUT DOWN ON ALCOHOL: There is some evidence that an occasional glass of red wine can be beneficial, but on the whole alcohol and good health don’t tend to mix.

As well as risking other problems, women who drink more than a glass of wine a day may find their blood fats (triglycerides) starting to rise.

REDUCE THE RISK OF DIABETES: A woman with diabetes has an increased risk – by a factor up to seven – of heart disease or heart attack. How do you know if you’re at risk of diabetes? One indicator is to measure your girth (the circumference of your abdomen, running a tape measure across your belly button). If it’s above 35 inches your risk of diabetes, and therefore heart disease, is greater. I

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SPIT SPOT DAFFODILS, BLUE SKY, BIRD SONG…. IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. A GOOD OLD SPRING DECLUTTER THAT’LL BOOST YOUR MOOD AND EFFICIENCY IS SURELY ON THE CARDS

CLEAN LINES Grayson TV stand and sideboard £450, John Lewis

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HOMES

MINIMUM FUSS Fogia Bond shelving £3,144, Nest

ORDER ORDER Magnolia thin rattan basket £5.99, Home Sense

CIRCULAR SHELF Metal shelving £25, Matalan

GREAT LENGTHS Copenhagen sideboard £250, Argos

ecluttering, as well as being practically de rigueur thanks to the rise of the Home Edit girls and Instagram favourite This Girl Can Organise, is seriously therapeutic and there’s no better time to tackle it than now.

The trick is to start small. Rather than trying to tackle your entire house in a weekend, focus on one room or area at a time making sure everything has a home. Small successful steps will encourage you more than a daunting mammoth project that will make you miserable.

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CLASSY CABINET Anya cabinet £329, Dunelm

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HOMES

Storage is key to order. Ask yourself if you have adequate shelving, cupboard and drawer space.

Look at each area and assess whether it’s as efficient as it could be. Think about moving furniture from room to room. If something doesn’t work hard for you in its current spot, could it be rehomed to a different space?

Drawers that contain small items benefit from dividers. If you don’t want to invest in them, start saving your clear plastic containers that your vegetables come in and reuse. They’ve revolutionised our drawer of doom – you know the one with the gazillion chargers? Each charger has its own plastic tray and it has significantly improved our quality of life. I’m not kidding.

A sideboard can store a lot of stuff and takes up minimal space. We’ve picked out a few great examples. Shelving units for displaying things you love are great – just make sure they don’t become a dumping ground. Keep on top of it. Straw baskets not only look stylish, they are great for storing small items like children’s toys, loo roll, hats/gloves, etc.

CREAM OF THE CROP Craven chest of drawers £945, Soho Home

KEEP IT PRETTY Dressing table mirror £49.50, Joya jewellery stand £22, Luiza wooden jewellery box £69.50, and Reyna wooden jewellery box £79.50, Oliver Bonas

CUT ABOVE COOL STOOL Pink foot stool with storage, Next

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A by Amara cut glass storage pot £24, Amara

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HOMES

CURVE APPEAL Set of two storage boxes £38, Next

CUPBOARD LOVE Storage cabinet £459.99, Oak Furnitureland

MEDIA CENTRE Layton media unit with storage £399, Cult Furniture

NEW BAMBOO Storage drawers £65, Next

BASKET SPACE Pom pom basket £12, Matalan

PAPER WORK Hana floral fabric file £8, Paperchase

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HOMES

FIRST IMPRESSION Furniture from Laura Ashley

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HOMES

COLOUR POP Vitra Eames storage unit £1,990, Nest

If space is tight, think outside the box – under bed storage, a useful trunk that doubles as a coffee table, foot stool with storage, wall units that don’t eat into floor space. You get the picture.

Be ruthless, but ask yourself if your cast offs could be someone else’s treasure. The charity shop is your ideal go-to for furniture and clothing, but even things like toiletries and make-up can be donated to your local hygiene bank. Do your homework. It’ll make you and the recipient happy. I SHELVE IT

BLACK MIRROR Black shelving unit mirror £15, Wilko

Giro industrial trolley storage £299, Cuckooland.com

BOX CLEVER Savor silver two-door cabinet, Lee Longlands

TO THE WALL Vitra Uten Silo II wall storage system £249, Nest

SPARE ROOM Hanging shelf storage £3, Wilko

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HOMES

PROPERTY CASTLE CRACKER

THIS MONTH’S PICK OF TOP HOMES FOR SALE ON THE MARKET

The Long House, Elmley Castle Guide price: £1.25million Agent: Andrew Grant, tel: 0330 024 3000 A superbly finished, grade II listed barn conversion that has four double bedrooms, three bathrooms, lovely open plan kitchen diner and a stunning vaulted reception hall with a galleried landing. There‘s also a separate twobed, two-bath holiday cottage and large mature private garden.

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HOMES

HAMLET SETTING Lilac Cottage, Bromsgrove Guide price: £1.25million Agent: Andrew Grant, tel: 01905 734735 This amazing family home is beautifully decorated throughout and boasts five reception rooms, four generous bedrooms, a bespoke kitchen and three immaculate bathrooms. The grounds extend to nearly three acres and include equestrian facilities – all set in the heart of a desirable hamlet.

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HOMES

AGA CHARMER Long Barn, Pebworth Guide price: £675,000 Agent: Andrew Grant, tel: 0330 024 3000

Oozing character and charm, this four-bedroom barn conversion features a great open plan kitchen, complete with Aga, large living room that opens onto a conservatory and double garage complete with office space. A large garden extends over 223 feet with stunning countryside views.

BARN STUNNER

Home Farm Barns, Hampton in Arden Guide price: From £625,000 Agent: Knight Frank, tel: 01789 206961 A stunning development of 11 contemporary barns nestled in the heart of the Solihull countryside. Each property is beautifully designed and offers the very best of open plan living with awesome kitchens, loads of entertaining space and generous bedrooms with at least one en-suite.

BRICKS&BITS

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

ACE APARTHOTEL

ON THE BUTTON

STADIUM GO-AHEAD

Planning approval has been granted for the

The commercial banking division of

Proposals for the redevelopment of Alexander

city’s first super slender tower and the country’s

Coutts has agreed a funding package

Stadium have been given the go-ahead by

first habitable structure of its kind. 211 Broad

worth £17.5million to develop a new

Birmingham planners. The £72million scheme

Street, designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects

residential site in Digbeth. GJL Property

will see the stadium become the focal point of

for Taylor Grange Developments is a 37-storey

Developers plans to create high spec

the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games,

aparthotel skyscraper, 116.5m tall and just

apartments entitled the Forge Digbeth on

hosting opening and closing ceremonies and

9.5m wide that will incorporate 264 self-

the site of a former button factory and have

athletics events. Post-Games it will continue to

contained rooms and amenities like a bar, gym

already achieved healthy pre-sales of

be home to Birchfield Harriers as well as

and residents lounge.

80 per cent.

Birmingham City University’s sports students.

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HOMES

COOL PAD Tenby Street North, Birmingham Guide price: ÂŁ349,950 Agent: James Laurence, tel: 0121 604 4060

A top-spec, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in a sparkling brand new build, Sydenham Place. This cool pad is part of a Grade II listed conversion and the finish is of the finest quality including stone veneered fitted cupboards in the kitchen and full height ceramic tiling in the bathrooms.

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

march 2020

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MOTORING

FITTING THE BILL

BRUM IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE IN THE UK TO OWN A CAR, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH. BUT SUE COOKE HAS DRIVEN A NEW MODEL THAT CAN SLASH THOSE SKY-HIGH COSTS esearch carried out by Kwik Fit has revealed that Birmingham is the costliest place in the UK to own a car. Taking into account the average spend on parking, residents’ annual parking permit, sample insurance cost and the average annual spend on fuel in comparison to 20 locations across the country Birmingham is the most expensive, totalling £3,326.87.

There aren’t many choices on how to reduce the cost of driving a car, but it would help to keep the annual spend on fuel down by choosing an alternative fuelled vehicle (AFV). Hyundai is offering a world-first three electrified powertrains in the IONIQ. There is a petrol hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, both powered by a 1.6-litre GDI petrol

R

58 birmingham living

engine and a lithium ion polymer battery. There is also a fully electric IONIQ. Hybrid fuel consumption is 62 to 61.4mpg. I achieved an average of 52mpg. CO2 emissions are 85-84 g/km combined which means saving on the cost of Birmingham congestion charges due in the summer this year. At speeds up to 75mph, the IONIQ can operate just from the electric motor.

DISTINCTIVE STYLING The exterior is contemporary in style and the 17-inch alloy wheels have a distinctive pattern. The rear bumper is two-tone and the rear spoiler has an integrated LED brake light. In stationary traffic, I realised that I couldn’t actually see the face

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MOTORING

FACTS AT A GLANCE Model: Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid Premium SE Price: £26,995 otr Engine: 1.6 GDi petrol, two-wheel drive, six-speed DCT Performance: 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 115mph CO2 emissions: 85g/km Combined fuel consumption: 62.8 to 61.4mpg

find it difficult to live without is the smart key. I put the key in my coat pocket and forgot about it. To open the car, I pressed a button on the pull handle and pressed it again to lock.

SAFE AND SECURE

of the person driving behind because of the position of the rear spoiler, but it didn’t interfere with any other rear view.

In the dark, the whole of the very quiet cabin glows an iridescent blue which is gorgeous. There is a long list of technology and entertainment features which are all standard on the Premium SE model. There are front and rear parking sensors, a clear rear view camera and gearshift paddles and even a heated steering wheel, which I will miss.

I got quite obsessive about the green bar on the dashboard which ebbs and flows to tell the driver if they are driving economically or not. This is the eco driving assistant system. Another system which I will

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For safety and security there is another long list of items. Years ago, it was the number of airbags that made the pages. Nowadays the pertinent features are the lane departure warning system, rear cross traffic alert and, new for 2020, the driver attention alert. If the car in front moves forward, a little beep will alert the driver.

With so many AFVs flooding our Midlands roads, Hyundai has to offer something that others don’t.

The hatchback is ahead of the game and has an eight-year, 125,000-mile warranty on the highvoltage battery. That’s alongside the industry-leading five years unlimited mileage warranty. The Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid can at least ward off high fuel and road tax costs by cutting some of the costs of driving on Birmingham roads. I

SHOWROOM

Hyundai Birmingham West, 68 Hagley Road West, Birmingham.

Tel: 0121 434 6400 www.hyundaibirmingham.co.uk

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

RAZA HAMZA THE BOXER WITH WORLD TITLE AMBITIONS TALKS TRAINING, TRAGEDY AND LATE NIGHT NANDO’S

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

aza Hamza might not be a name you recognise… yet. The young featherweight is set for a hell of a year on the boxing scene – he’s currently negotiating a title fight – and if ambition and dedication count for anything he’s on a path to potential global success. He says: “This will be a big year.

Everyone will know who I am.” With five British titles, three English titles and two Asia titles as an amateur, you wouldn’t bet against him.

Against the odds, Raza navigated his way through a childhood in the shadows of Villa Park where he watched his peers one by one creep into criminality. He remembers: “Friends were going down the wrong path selling drugs and thieving.

I knew I didn’t want to be that person.” Dad was a mechanic and Raza’s mother was a stay-athome mum who loved watching boxing.

She could see the benefits of the discipline required to excel at the sport and encouraged Raza to go to the gym. He threw himself into it at the Aston ABC gym leaving little time for anything else which kept him on the straight and narrow. “I came home from school, ate, went to the gym, arrived home at 7pm and went to bed.

There was no time to get into trouble.”

R

MY HERO Sadly, when Raza was aged 12 and on the morning of his first fight, his mum died without seeing her son compete in the sport she and he loved. Raza won that fight along with the majority of his amateur bouts, always with the memory of his mum spurring him on to do his best. He says: “I don’t idolise other people, but my mum’s my hero. She inspires me to do well.”

Another motivating factor is the memory of his brother who died aged just 21 in a motorbike accident. Raza turned those tragedies into motivation and his philosophy is: “Never give up.

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Believe. If there are no opportunities, make one.”

Mental coaching, yoga and meditation is part of daily life for Raza. At odds with the aggression he shows in the ring, Raza explains: “Fighting is a job. I’m actually the nicest guy in the gym. I go to the mountains in Wales a fair bit. I’ve done yoga temples in Thailand and I meditate every day. It’s just part of my routine.”

When Raza was aged 16, he moved to Manchester to train under Haroon Hedley so he could really focus. Now he’s back in Brum training with Max McCracken and managed by MTK Global who look after big names such as Tyson Fury and Carl Frampton and is getting closer to his world champ ambitions.

CHEEKY TREAT A typical day for Raza is very structured with two to three hours with a trainer in the morning as well as a session in the gym – possibly running – followed by sauna and steam room in the afternoon/evening. Food is a regular feature to keep the energy up which as well as the usual training fodder of eggs, pasta, baked potatoes and the like, include a big hit of protein from the odd ‘late night cheeky Nando’s’.

Keen to give back a bit, Raza is evangelical about boxing, giving kids in a similar situation to his a route out of trouble. When a teenager close to where he grew up approached him outside the chip shop in Aston ‘playing the gangster’ with three Nokia phones in his pocket, Raza told him to go the boxing gym. Raza says: “The kid said he couldn’t afford it, so I pay £10 a week for him to train. He now trains every night. He’s staying out of trouble and showing promise.”

Raza feels it’s easier now for kids from his old stomping ground to break the cycle. He explains: “Birmingham is building and getting brighter.

When HS2 comes bringing more people there’ll be increased opportunities for sure.” I

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GROWING PLACES

FESTIVAL FEVER Primary school pupils across the region are being invited to take part in free choir workshops and perform live on the main stage at vintage festival, Swingtime In The Garden. The festival on 6 and 7 June, will feature performances from vintage, jive and swing acts across two stages at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire. Organisers have teamed up with Sutton Coldfield’s Singing Community of Choirs to offer years 4, 5 and 6 pupils the chance to learn

CHECK MATES and perform four songs. Details: email tim@swingtimeinthegardens.com

SCHOOL REPORT

Hallfield School’s chess aces have done it again! A team of four took on other local schools in the Birmingham and District Chess League Rapidplay, which is a competition mostly aimed at senior schools. The main opposition was King Edward’s School A and King Edward’s V1 Camp Hill A teams and despite the age differential, Hallfield was crowned champions after winning all five of their matches.

In addition, a number of Hallfield players represented Warwickshire in the Midland County Championships.

MENTAL HEALTH CHAMP A local teenager who has worked to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health by sharing the story of her battle with anorexia has been named West Midlands Thrive Mental Health Superstar 2020. Sophia Badhan from Sutton Coldfield was presented with the award at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) event. Sophia, 18, was nominated in the Young Person category for her workshops championing early intervention and encouraging fellow school pupils to talk openly about mental health.

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GROWING PLACES

SIR, YOU’RE THE TOPS! On the back of its shortlisting by the Times for Prep School of the Year and Strategic Education Initiative of the Year,

LYDIA TO THE RESCUE

Blue Coat School is celebrating another accolade with headmaster Noel Neeson nominated as one of the sector’s leading

Ballet student Lydia Brayshaw has turned a school project into a business called LYDIA B which is helping raise funds for WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service) in New South Wales, Australia.

Lydia, 17, of Elmhurst Ballet School, the vocational school in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, began designing LYDIA B t-shirts in response to the Australian bush fires. The clothing is made from 100 per cent organic cotton and is world-certified to avoid sweatshops. For every t-shirt

innovators and influencers in the i25 Awards. The country’s ‘Top 25’ will gather at an awards ceremony in London where the winners will be announced. Of the school accolades Noel said: “They are achievements we can be extremely proud of.”

sold, £5 goes to WIRES.

NATIONAL FINALS

Bromsgrove School’s 1st netball and U14 teams have qualified for the National Netball Finals after excelling at the regional finals which they hosted.

The 1st team was unbeaten and triumphed over Wrekin College in the final. The U14s won all the games in its pool narrowly missing out on the top spot to King’s Worcester in the final, qualifying in the silver medal place.

The national finals will be held at Stanborough School in Hertfordshire later this month.

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CLOSE WITHÁ STUART BIRNIE

FROM FREELANCE TUBA PLAYER FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE TO HEAD OF MUSIC SERVICE FOR SERVICES FOR EDUCATION – BRINGING MUSIC INTO THE LIVES OF 38,000 CHILDREN EVERY WEEK IN BIRMINGHAM BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I graduated from Birmingham School of Music in 1991 and became a freelance tuba player working with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Big Band, British Tuba Quartet and Royal Ballet Sinfonia. I started a teaching career with Birmingham Music Service and various other Midlands music services. I went on to teach tuba at Birmingham Conservatoire for 12 years and teaching then took over my life – I became an advanced skills teacher followed by head of whole class instrumental teaching for the Music Service. I became head of the Music Service in 2018. I’m passionate about the children of Birmingham having access to the best musical opportunities.

IT’S WHAT I DO I am in a very lucky position to meet regularly with many of our fantastic head teachers from around the city. We have 218 instrumental and vocal staff teaching 38,000 children every week and offer more than 60 ensembles/choirs for children to access completely free of charge. We aim to offer all pupils the opportunity to perform in authentic venues and work closely with Symphony Hall, Elgar Hall (University of Birmingham), Bradshaw Hall (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) and other local venues. We have a fund-raising and marketing department and a lot of my time is taken up with meetings and writing bids for specific work in settings across Birmingham. We fund raise to help deliver work in lots of new areas – special schools, community outreach choirs and nursery schools with our fantastic Soundtots programme. I sit on many boards including the Cultural Education Partnership with other arts leads from around the city. We have a vibrant working group of hub partners in Birmingham – CBSO, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Quench Arts, MAC Makes Music, BCMG, Ex Cathedra and the BCU. We are also part of West Midlands Music, a collective of all

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14 of the region’s Music Services and together we’re about to deliver our first major project, Big Month of Music in March. It will celebrate children’s musical achievements through regionwide events like the Big Sing at Symphony Hall and a virtual celebration called Big Play, as well as concerts and gigs locally.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE To reach an even wider population and provide music education for those who are not lucky enough to have it. One area that the Music Service is developing is inclusion and working with those who have additional needs – both children and adults.

BIGGEST SUCCESS Starting my teaching career as a brass teacher for Birmingham Music Service fresh out of college and now heading up the service under its current name, Services For Education. A personal success was performing at the Musikverein concert hall in Vienna with the CBSO under Sir Simon Rattle in the Towards the Millennium tour.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED To never expect that everyone in my team knows what I know. Therefore I should share my thoughts more and communicate clearly my vision.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM Its people and communities along with the wealth of performance spaces.

DOWNTIME Walking in the countryside with those who are close to me.

Big Month of Music takes place throughout March.

For details visit www.westmidlandsmusic.org.uk

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From only ÂŁ25

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FEATURE

ARE YOU READY TO

ROCK?

IF YOU CAN TALK, YOU CAN SING. AND IF YOU CAN SING, NO MATTER HOW BADLY, YOU CAN JOIN ROCK CHOIR – A NATIONAL PHENOMENON THAT’S HITTING THE HIGH NOTES RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDLANDS

inging is good for the soul, so the saying goes. And science certainly agrees that breaking into song helps improve our mood. The research is conclusive – singing relieves stress, is a natural anti-depressant and boosts mental alertness and well-being.

Maybe that’s why Rock Choir is so popular, with more then 350 choirs and 30,000 members. A national organisation broken down into local choirs across the country, Rock Choir was established 15 years ago by musician and singer Caroline Redman Lusher. What started with an ad in a coffee shop for singers and a group of just 70 people has expanded into a highly rewarding experience for the singers and a highly successful business.

S

CONTEMPORARY Described in the media as a “community singing phenomenon that is sweeping the country” and “the world’s largest contemporary choir”, the Rock Choir bug has bitten here in Birmingham and the West Midlands, too.

Local Rock Choir leader Sonia Eyre looks after the choirs in Birmingham, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Dorridge, Aldridge and Lichfield. Sonia is a classically trained singer who gained her Masters in Early Music Performance from Trinity College of Music, London.

Starting at the age of six, she learned piano, violin and saxophone to grade 8 standard. She has performed vocal solos in venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall and Notre Dame, Paris.

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FEATURE

IN FULL VOICE: Sonia conducts the local Rock Choir at the Proms in the Park in London’s Hyde Park

After gaining her Masters in London, Walsall-born Sonia started looking for work and says she saw details for a job heading Rock Choir “in my home town”. She adds: “It was too good a chance turn down and now nine years later I am blessed with doing the job that I truly love.”

UNIQUE FORMULA The key to Rock Choir seems rather odd at first. You don’t have to be able to sing to join. Or read music.

“Everyone can sing, regardless of ability or age,” said Sonia. “No matter how bad you think you might be, we can teach you to become a singer. We say that the only exception is if someone is truly tone deaf – and the number of people who are tone deaf is very, very small.”

The Rock Choir formula is unique. Singing is learned by repetition, not from reading a music score, so anyone can sing harmonies. The first Rock Choir sessions in the Midlands started with 40 people and that number has grown to just under 600. All managed and led by hard-working Sonia who brings everyone together singing everything from pop and Motown to gospel classics.

Members have experiences unlike any other choirs and with many exciting opportunities. Local members joined other Rock Choir groups and took part in the BBC Proms in the Park at London’s Hyde Park appearing with the likes of Barry Mannilow, Chrissie Hynde and Jack Savoretti.

Sonia said: “The great thing is, if you can talk you can sing. I remember as a child I was told I couldn’t

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sing in the school choir! Some people will find it harder to sing than others, but that’s only natural. The main aim of Rock Choir is to improve everyone who joins in their signing but importantly in their health and well-being, too. We do take part in concerts – we have performed at the likes of Birmingham Symphony Hall, as well as in London – but no one is pressured to take part unless they want to.”

ABBEY ROAD As well as taking part in the BBC Proms in the Park, other experiences range from recording at Abbey Road to appearing on national TV and radio shows and releasing a Christmas single – Happy Xmas (War is Over). “The experiences are all part of being part of something exciting and enjoyable and forging new friendships while pursuing a passion for singing, regardless of age and ability,” said Sonia. The youngest members can join Rock Choir at 14 as long as they are accompanied by an adult. The eldest members in Sonia’s groups are in their eighties.

“Some people have been with us since day one while others are newcomers. We do have more women than men, and we would really love it for more men to come along and join us,” said Sonia. So, come on guys! After all, who doesn’t like to sing… I Find out more about the Rock Choir and how to join the local groups at www.rockchoir.com

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BUSINESS

ARENA’S NEW NAME

Arena Birmingham is set to become Utilita Arena Birmingham as a part of a new tie-up with the Smart Pay As You Go energy provider. The arena will take its new name from 15 April and as part of the deal Utilita will also become a partner of the NEC Group’s other flagship arena at Resorts World. NEC Group CEO, Paul Thandi, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Utilita to get our audiences thinking about their environmental footprint.”

BUSINESS

NEWS

WIN AND BEAR IT

Less than a year since launch, Birmingham-based marketing agency Tribera has added another exciting new client to its consumer portfolio – the Bear Grylls Adventure.

Operated by leisure attractions giant, Merlin Entertainments and Bear Grylls Ventures, the Bear Grylls Adventure boasts 10 adrenaline-rushing activities for visitors. As part of the contract, Tribera will run a number of marketing activities, including national and regional consumer PR, trade PR, PPC and paid social.

MATT’S CLUB MOVE

Jessica Wheeler, principal of Elmhurst Ballet School, the vocational school in

Former Worcestershire cricketer, Matt Rawnsley,

association with Birmingham Royal

has been appointed as chief executive of

Ballet, has been selected as a finalist in

Edgbaston Priory Club. He succeeds Rob Bray

the Business Woman of the Year

who left the club in December after 14 years in

category of the Ladies First Awards

the role. Matt started his career as a

2020, a charity event in support of the

professional cricketer for the Pears before

Katie Piper Foundation. During 10 years

moving into industry, holding senior leadership

working at Elmhurst, Jessica has

positions at both Caterpillar and Barnes Group

changed and developed the culture of

Inc. Most recently, he was chief executive of

the school, encouraging students to

Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

take part in Elmhurst’s development

IN THE HOT SEAT: Matt Rawnsley, right, with Edgbaston Priory Club chairman David Tucker

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PRINCIPAL FINALIST

through a school council and student leadership programme.

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BUSINESS

AIRPORT HELP

Birmingham Airport has signed a new three-year corporate partnership with

MARATHON MAN Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, John Crabtree,

locally based mental health charity, Solihull Mind. The decision to support Solihull Mind came from airport staff who were given the opportunity to nominate local charities. All 800 employees had the chance to vote for the new charity partner. Airport CEO Nick Barton, pictured far right, said: “We’re excited to be raising awareness of the incredible work of this charity and have

Coldfield, was one of the event’s highest money-raisers.

FITNESS TITLE

The cash helps support the well-being of more than 1,500

Gym in the Midlands at the UK Fitness Awards. Based at

older people living in ExtraCare’s Birmingham and

100 Holloway Head, the gym was opened in 2013 by

Coventry retirement villages and housing schemes.

owner and MD Simon Fan. Simon runs the gym with wife

presented a fund-raising award to a local chief executive after he raised £57,000 running the London Marathon to

some exciting activity in the pipeline.”

support Midlands-based charity, the ExtraCare Charitable Trust. ExtraCare chief executive Mick Laverty, from Sutton

Ultimate Fitness Birmingham was named Best Independent

Kirsty and is a former British bodybuilding champion with more than 30 years experience in the fitness industry.

Guests at the UK flagship event included Golden Gloves champion Joe Egan, comedian Kane Brown and West Midlands mayor Andy Street.

SUPPORT GROUP: From the left, Nick Taylor, managing partner at Higgs, Rita Tonks and Sheila Freeman from WINGS and Tim Jones, head of the CSR programme at Higgs

DRAGONS FIRED UP

CHARITY CHAMPS

West Midlands law firm Higgs & Sons raised £22,250 for good causes in 2019. Half of the funds went to Higgs’ Charity of the Year, WINGS Wombourne Special Needs Support Group, with the remainder split between 11 good causes. Simon Lilley of WINGS said: “This very generous financial support will make a significant difference to our work in the community.” The firm’s Charity of the Year

PAUL CLEANS UP

2020 is the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The dragons have a new home! Birmingham’s famous Dragonboat Race is moving to Pendigo Lake at the NEC as part of a three-year tie-up between the venue and organisers, Birmingham-based Cure Leukaemia charity. The popular event is promising to be bigger and better than ever on Saturday 5 September and marks the launch of the charity’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Teams taking part in Dragonboat events have helped raise £300,000 for Cure Leukaemia over the last five years.

A Midlands industrial designer who has spent more than 20 years in the floorcare industry has launched his own company and a new vacuum which he says will ‘disrupt’ the competitive UK cleaning sector. Paul Bagwell from Leamington Spa has designed Capsule by Halo, a cordless vacuum which uses a carbon fibre body – a first in a domestic appliance – to create the only lightweight cordless with the same capacity and power as a traditional full-size upright appliance. More details: www.capsuleclean.com

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BUSINESS

BUSINESS BITES GRAND DATE

STUDENTS AWARD

Private investment company Starwood Capital Group has revealed the Grade II* listed Grand Hotel will open its doors this summer following a dramatic restoration that will return the city centre landmark to its former glory and features 185 rooms and suites.

Leading Birmingham purpose-built student accommodation operator Student Roost has landed first place nationally in the Top Student Accommodation Operators Awards. Student Roost took the accolade after an online survey of students by Student Crowd, an independent review platform used by 1.3million students in 2019. Jason Andrews, director of operations at Student Roost, said:

NICOLA HEADS BID

“This is huge accolade from what is known as the ‘TripAdvisor for students’.” The award was presented by Student Crowd CEO, Paul Humphreys, to Student Roost CEO Nathan Goddard.

Lettings and estate agency owner Nicola Fleet-Milne has been appointed the new chair of Colmore Business Improvement District (BID). Nicola, who owns a residential property agency at Colmore Row, has been a director on the BID board for seven years. She takes over from property consultant Gary Cardin, who chaired Colmore BID since its inception in 2008. Alex Tross of property consultancy LSH and Paul Fielding of Brewin Dolphin have

EXCELLENT NEWS

Heartlands Hospital (University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust), was officially recognised as a paediatric centre for clinical excellence

by Muscular Dystrophy UK at a special award ceremony.

EVENTS BOSS

Paul Bartlett has been appointed director of Warwick Conferences – the University of Warwick’s conference, meeting and events organisation. He steps up after six years at the organisation, which last year hosted more than 17,000 events.

been appointed joint deputy chairs of the BID.

HAVING A BALL The ‘home of competitive social gaming’, Roxy Ball Room, has launched in Digbeth. The 13,000 sq ft space at Heath Mill Lane offers pool, beer pong, shuffleboard and arcade games and is the ninth UK venue for the Roxy Leisure brand. Director Matthew Jones said: “Digbeth shares our rebellious spirit and as the creative quarter of the city with a really interesting retail, food and drink and leisure offer it feels like the perfect home for us.”

WELCOME: Head of Lodders’ real estate practice Mark Miller with new senior associates Donna Bates and Theresa Spalding

LAW BOOST Regional law firm Lodders has boosted its real estate team with two senior appointments.

Theresa Spalding and Donna Bates join as senior associates in the firm’s real estate practice, which is one of the largest in the West Midlands with 32 specialist real estate, commercial property, planning, construction and highways legal experts, including nine partners.

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SOCIAL SCENE

2

LEGAL FIRM MARKS 10-YEAR MILESTONE

1

3

Employment specialists joined by

friends and clients for celebration

4

5

chofield & Associates celebrated its 10th anniversary at Hogarths, Solihull. The employment specialist law firm, based in Knowle and headed by principal Eileen Schofield, was joined by friends, colleagues and clients to celebrate the landmark occasion.I

S

6 8

7

9

1 Charlie Cooper, Sarah Coyne, Carina Jheeta. 2 Gerard Dufficy, Richard Moxon. 3 Sandrine and Andy Wakefield. 4 Sarah Dwight, Judy Groves. 5 Stephanie Boyce, Janie Frampton. 6 Chris Allen, John Dufficy.

Diane Benussi, Mike Kelly. 9 Richard Fallon, Calum Nisbet, Henrik Court.

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7 Angela Richards, Gill Travitzky.

8 Eileen Schofield,

Photography by Jas Sansi

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TIPPLES AND TRICKS AS GUESTS GET CREATIVE 2

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Clients and partners enjoy magical networking event hosted by EDGE DGE Creative hosted another of its exclusive events at the Jam House.

More than 100 clients and partners had the opportunity to network with professionals across many industries while sampling a special selection of Botanical Vodka from drinks provider, Diagio. The event – which even had a magician performing close-up tricks and illusions – was sponsored by Hayward Wright and KLO Financial Services. I

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1 Louise Panayides, Melinda Rice, Liane Denton. 2 Stephen Cloves, Jonathan Ratcliff, Gary Simpson. 3 Kathryn Small, Ros Wilson, Elizabeth Mee, Clare Macleod. 4 Kyri Christou, Jessica Greaney. 5 John Laycock, Darren Riley. 6 John Glavey, Paul Warren.

7 Rebecca Mander, Paul Ord. 8 Sophia Raftery, Jodie Green, Pavan Harnal, Dan Styles. 9 Iain Hall, Amy Lloyd, Mark Abrol.

10 Faye Wilson, Amy Brown.

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SIGNATURE AWARDS SIGN IN AT THE ICC

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Audience of 600 sees manufacturing

and service industries finest honoured

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he annual Signature Awards for the manufacturing and service industries were held at the ICC in front of an audience of nearly 600. Keynote speaker at the awards, hosted by Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Ninder Johal, was Paresh Davdra, co-founder of RationalFX. Winners included Lola Ojomo (Business Person of the Year), Tehmi Parinchy (Business Woman of the Year), Imperial Roofing Supplies UK (Small Business of the Year), Gurpreet Bassi (Entrepreneur of the Year) and Enzen (Business of the Year). The event was presented by Tommy Sandhu and raised £13,000 for Acorns children’s hospice.I

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1 Excellence in Creative and Design – HDY Agency. 2 Small Business of the Year, Imperial Roofing Supplies UK. 3 Business of the Year, Enzen.

4 Business Woman of the Year, Tehmi Parinchy. 5 Entrepreneur of the Year, Gurpreet Bassi. 6 Excellence in Legal Services, FBC Manby Bowdler.

7 Business Person of the Year, Lola Ojomo.

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8 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion, Irwin Mitchell.

Photography by Jas Sansi

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WOW! MEET THE CITY’S GREAT ENTERTAINERS Best entertainment businesses celebrated at WOW Awards 2020 irmingham’s entertainment district celebrated its finest venues and businesses in style at the annual Wonders of Westside awards held at Pryzm Birmingham, Broad Street. Organised by Westside BID and sponsored by Jelley’s Organic Vodka, the WOWs 2020 saluted the venues, bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, organisations and businesses in and around Broad Street and Brindleyplace. Winners were Pushkar (Best Fine Dining), Hyatt Regency Birmingham (Best Hotel), Hampton by Hilton (Best Hotel Manager), Vodbull (Best Promoter) and Jurys Inn (Best Front of House). The awards were hosted by ITV Weather presenter Des Coleman. I

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Photography by Jas Sansi

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BUSINESS LEADERS ENJOY NETWORKER

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Asian Business Chamber of Commerce holds successful lunch hosted by Amplify

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he Asian Business Chamber of Commerce held a successful lunchtime networking event at Arena Birmingham. The event was hosted and sponsored by Amplify, the premium hospitality provider for the NEC Group, and keynote speakers included ABCC president Qasim Majid and Amplify general manager Sally Walder. As well as some fine networking, guests enjoyed great food from Amadeus, caterer for the NEC Group. I

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1 Qasim Majid, Anjum Khan, Sally Walder, Jas Sansi. 2 Susan Kelsall, Asim Fiaz. 3 Neelam Afzal, Zoe Clulow. 4 Ifraz Ahmed, Neelam Afzal. 5 Sarah Wallace, Erica Burke. 6 Kevin Page, Chantal Herbert, Rick Grain.

Mohan Bhogal, Lee Clayson.

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7 Julie Ledesman, Anjum Khan.

8 Ikhlas Alvi,

Photography by Jas Sansi

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BENVENUTO! MILANO RELAUNCHES IN STYLE 2

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Big welcome as new team serves Taste of Italia at Arcadian party uests were treated to a Taste of Italia showcase when Milano Kitchen and Bar relaunched in the Arcadian.

Authentic canapĂŠs, Italian favourites such as authentic pizza and speciality pasta and Italian wine were served. Under new ownership, the Milano has been refreshed with the arrival of Antonello Atzori, formerly of the Fig & Olive, and a new chef team. I

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1 Navneet Mangat, Sarah Hartley and Anita Champaneri. 2 Lauren Morton, Amelia Frizzel. 3 Stefania Pellegrino, Elizabeth Mee, Janna Kuhl, Shaheen Shah. 4 Antonello Atzori. 5 Rabia Raza, Rebecca Bannister. 6 Stefano Neofitou, Denisa Antonia Neo. 7 Kate Morley, Matt Roden. 8 Phil Oldershaw, Julia Robinson. 9 Matt Barnsley and Stephanie Taylor. 10 Tony and Lucy Elvin.

Photography by Jas Sansi

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WHAT: Crufts 2020 WHEN: 5 to 8 March WHERE: Birmingham NEC, tel: 0844 338 0338 www.crufts.org.uk More than 20,000 dogs are competing at the world’s biggest and best dog show this year. Which one will win the prestigious title of Best in Show?

WHAT: Antiques for Everyone WHEN: 2 to 5 April WHERE: NEC, www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk The largest antiques, interiors and collectables fair outside of London returns with hundreds of specialist dealers offering a huge variety of desirable, rare and quirky items at prices from £10 to £100,000.

WHAT: Pussycat Dolls WHEN: 8 April WHERE: Arena Birmingham, tel: 0844 338 8000 www.theticketfactory.com The era-defying, chart-topping, button-pushing, mega-group is back!

The girls will be performing together for the first time in more than a decade, bringing their smash hits back to life with their iconic dance routines and show-stopping vocals.

WHAT: RHS Malvern Spring Festival concert WHEN: 9 May WHERE: Three Counties Showground,

WHAT: Susan Boyle – The Ten Tour

www.threecounties.co.uk/buy-tickets

WHEN: 17 March

As part of the 35th anniversary celebrations, Music at

WHERE: Symphony Hall, box office: 0121 345 0600

Malvern is a new element to the Malvern Spring Show that

www.thsh.co.uk

includes an evening where Radio 2’s Jo Whiley will DJ a

The original star of Britain’s Got Talent is heading back out on tour for

curated set of music chosen by the show’s special guests

the first time in four years with a spectacular new show celebrating

and exhibitors.

10 years since her iconic BGT audition catapulted her to global fame.

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: Swan Lake WHEN: Now to 4 April WHERE: Birmingham Royal Ballet at Birmingham Hippodrome, www.brb.org.uk Ballet’s greatest love story returns in this lavish production that tells the romantic fable of ill-fated passion, powerfully illuminated by Tchaikovsky’s legendary score.

WHAT: Tartuffe

WHAT: Jess Fostekew: Hench

WHEN: 20 March to 4 April

WHEN: 15 March

WHERE: Birmingham Rep, tel: 0121 245 2024

WHERE: Mac Birmingham,

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

tel: 0121 446 3232

Tartuffe has the gift of the gab.

www.macarts.co.uk

A spirituality. A certain aura about

The absolute powershed, host of the

him… that comes only when you

Guilty Feminist and the Dave Comedy

claim to have Allah on your side,

award nominee explores her big

hundreds of Twitter followers and

strong strength. Have you ever

access to the family’s bank

watched a feminist try and take

account. Eventually, the lies and

‘hench’ as a compliment? It’s like

deceit unfold in this wickedly

watching a snake eat but funny.

hilarious Brummie comedy.

WHAT: 100 Years of Movie Magic WHEN: 27 March WHERE: Symphony Hall, tel: 0121 780 3333 www.cbso.co.uk/whats-on There’s nothing quite like the sensation of hearing film music played live in concert by the 90-strong City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. From favourites such as the Dam Busters and Gone With the Wind to 21st century classics like Harry Potter,

WHAT: An evening with Kit Harington WHEN: 29 March WHERE: Birmingham ICC, www.anexperiencewith.com Enjoy an exclusive Game of Thrones-themed dining and fan experience with one of the show’s leading lights. Guests will be treated to a 20-piece orchestra as well as Game of Thrones fandom and have the chance to bid on exclusively signed Kit Harington Game of Thrones auction items.

the Lord of the Rings and La La Land, just sit back and enjoy.

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: Simon Evans: The Work of the Devil WHEN: 11 March WHERE: Glee Club www.glee.co.uk/birmingham His last tour provided a hilarious analysis of the departure of any visible sign of intelligence from modern life. This new show raises the stakes with a tongue-in-cheek critique of a world on fire.

WHAT: Birmingham Wine Weekend

WHAT: Friends! The Musical Parody

WHEN: 24 to 26 April

WHEN: 28 March

WHERE: Various venues,

WHERE: Alexandra Theatre, tel: 0844 8713011

www.birminghamwineweekend.co.uk

www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

A long weekend of sipping delicious wines in some of the city’s

This cracking show celebrates and pokes fun at the wacky misadventures

best venues. To take part, all you need to do is buy your

of the group of 20-something pals we love from the hit TV show as they

wristband. From charming wine bars to stylish hotels, there are

navigate the pitfalls of work, life and love in 1990’s Manhattan

some cracking venues taking part in this great event aimed at novices, connoisseurs and everyone in between.

WHAT: Francis Rossi WHEN: 25 March WHERE: Redditch Palace Theatre, tel: 01527 65203 www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk

WHAT: The Comedy of Errors

The legendary Status Quo

WHEN: 25 April to 3 October

lead singer shares the

WHERE: Royal Shakespeare Theatre,

extraordinary secrets of his

tel: 01789 403493 www.rsc.org.uk

50-plus years in rock ’n’ roll when he takes to the stage for this intimate evening of chat and music.

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A man arrives in a strange town only to find that everyone knows his name but thinks he’s someone else. A woman wonders why her husband is not the man he was but starts to rather like it. Confusion mounts as everyone uncouples from themselves. Will they ever find themselves again? And do they really want to?

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: Louise

WHAT: Spring Pink Ball

WHEN: 16 March

WHEN: 28 March

WHERE: Birmingham O2

WHERE: Nailcote Hall,

Institute

tel: 02476 466174

www.academymusicgroup.com/

www.nailcotehall.co.uk

o2institutebirmingham The diminutive pop star’s first full UK tour since her sell-out Intimate and Live mini tour at the start of 2018 and her 2017 comeback show at Under the Bridge in London. Supporting her new album, Heavy Love, expect a selection of her greatest hits, too.

The stunning Black/Pink Tie Ball returns to the Hall for a great night out which raises vital funds for Breast Cancer medical equipment for local hospitals.

Entertainment from Rang-ATang & David Lawrence plus after show disco with DJ Franco.

WHAT: John Archer: Against the Odds WHEN: 22 March WHERE: The Old Rep, www.oldreptheatre.co.uk The semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent and support act for Tim Vine finally takes to the stage in his own oneman show. A rare chance to see baffling magic with a dash of comedy thrown in by the man who many consider to be the best comedy magician in the UK.

WHAT: Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival

WHAT: An Evening with Frankie Bridge: Open

WHEN: 30 April to 3 May

WHEN: 6 March

WHERE: Resorts World Arena, tel: 0844 338 8000

WHERE: Town Hall, box office: 0121 345

www.theticketfactory.com

0600 www.thsh.co.uk

Join Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Mickey and all your Disney favourites as this winsome

Hear the ex-member of the Saturdays open up on

wonderland returns to Birmingham.

her battle with mental illness in a discussion of her new book Open, published in collaboration with Mind, drawing on her own experience and observations, as well as expert guidance from the team of professionals that aided her recovery.

Picture: Sophie Davidson Photography

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IN THE CITY WITH JIMI SHABIR OF BOOTCAMP MEDIA

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I’m Jamil Shabir, more commonly known as Jimi. I’m the founder and CEO of Bootcamp Media, a multi-awardwinning digital marketing agency that specialises in results driven marketing projects that cover SEO, Social Media and Pay Per Click advertising. We also offer our clients website design and e-commerce solutions. Now in our eighth year, Bootcamp Media is based in Birmingham and Exeter and we are now expanding as a business and opening in London this summer.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN? We’re based in the vibrant Jewellery Quarter and I live not far from there in Handsworth Wood. I do drive into work but I’m starting to use the bus every now and again to do my bit to reduce pollution in the city.

HOW’S THE COMMUTE? It’s pretty easy as I live 10 minutes away and have a good bus route when I need to jump on public transport.

WONDER WALL:

The award-winning digital agency boss is excited by

our creative city of ideas

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN? One hundred per cent – there is nowhere else I’d rather be. I love Birmingham and everything about it. It’s an exciting time to be living and working here right now with all the exciting developments going on.

COFFEE BREAK? I’m quite lucky being based in the Jewellery Quarter as I have a number of great coffee shops and bars nearby. I have to admit that I really like Saint Pauls House for a meeting outside my office. I also like a cheeky coffee at Tim Hortons if I’m passing through town.

LUNCHTIME? Most lunch times you can find me grabbing a quick sandwich at Deli Heaven.

POWERWALKING? I usually take a walk around the beautiful Jewellery Quarter and St Paul’s Square, leave my mobile in the office and just take in the sights and sounds.

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY? In the summer I love Moseley because of all the restaurants and bars – it has a big community feel, especially with the local farmers’ market. Birmingham Rum Festival at the Cuban Embassy was brilliant – it was held on such a hot weekend, giving it a perfect holiday vibe!

AFTERWORK PINT? There are so many great places to hang out in Birmingham right now but if I had to choose one it would be the Gentleman and Scholar at the Hyatt with a nice whiskey.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER? Isn’t Birmingham already perfect? OK seriously, I think we do need to improve public transportation around Birmingham. When the council brings in the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) we will need better access to public transport.

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