Birmingham Living November 2021 (issue 106)

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November 2021

MAKING AN ENTRANCE SYMPHONY HALL PARALYMPIAN HERO BECKY REDFERN

ADAM’S HEAD CHEF JAMES GOODYEAR

WINTER WORKOUTS BEAT THE CHILL

LOLITA CHAKRABARTI ESSENTIAL STYLE COOL COATS

NATHAN DENNIS LEGACY CONSULTANTS

THE AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS AND WRITER TALKS VIGIL, LIFE OF PI AND HER LOVE OF THEATRE

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EDITOR’S VIEW

S

ymphony Hall has always been world class with officially one of the best acoustics of any venue on the planet. Stars love coming to perform here, not just because of the amazing sound quality but also because of the enthusiasm and passion of the audiences.

Due to the impact of Covid, the last 18 months has seen the live experience stripped away with Symphony Hall only now beginning to welcome back performers and visitors. During that enforced absence though the Hall was busy readying itself to return better than ever.

Shortly before lockdown, the Hall had embarked on its £13million Making an Entrance project aimed at creating wonderful, exciting new performance spaces in the foyer areas outside the main hall itself.

As the scheme’s name denotes, new entrances were developed from Centenary Square, giving visitors impressive access points and making a trip to the theatre feel even more special. This month, we talked to CEO Nick Reed who heads B:Music, the new name for the rebranded Performances Birmingham which runs both Symphony Hall and Town Hall. He’s understandably proud of what Making an Entrance has achieved and excited by the return of live performances and audiences.

We have some great theatres and arts venues in Birmingham and all of them have had a torrid 18 months, trying to develop innovative ways to survive. After being locked down longer than any other sector of the economy, this autumn and winter season and the return of ‘live action’ is absolutely crucial to their financial well-being and future. As our pages reveal, there are some cracking shows and events on offer, so please grab those tickets and give them all the support you can. We need each and every one.

s n h o J d i v Da

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

Lolita Chakrabarti Courtesy of Dan Kennedy/ Good Housekeeping Magazine

/bhamliving

FINALIST

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

Lolita Chakrabarti

Award-winning actress and writer talks Vigil, Life of Pi and her love of theatre

Making an Entrance The £13million project that’s created an awesome new Symphony Hall experience

Food & Drink Adam’s new head chef James Goodyear, plus news, reviews and very merry sherry

Health Hot tips from the experts to keep you fit and healthy through the winter

Style Great winter coats that take an outfit from ordinary to super-chic in seconds

Homes Turn your hall into something really special with these great looks and finishing touches

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CONTENTS

Best of the Rest

48 50 55 60 64 66 november 2021

Motoring

Sue Cooke test drives a refreshing new estate that delivers the goods

Young, Gifted & Brummie The amazing story of Paralympian Becky Redfern’s path to Tokyo glory Business News News, views, comings and goings in our update from the commercial community

Social Scene As life gets back to ‘normal’, business and social gatherings are making a comeback

What’s On Shows, gigs and more as we round-up the top events billed to take place this month

Up Close Nathan Dennis of Legacy Consultants on launching the First Class Foundation charity

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NEWS

FESTIVAL SIGNS IN

Picture: Lensi Photography

A six-month, £12million festival will shine a global spotlight on creativity in the West Midlands. Running from March to September, Birmingham 2022 Festival will feature hundreds of artistic commissions opening with a free spectacular large-scale production in Centenary Square with a cast of more than 300 performers by world renowned Leamington Spa based dance-circus company Motionhouse. The full festival programme will be launched in January. Sign up for details at: birmingham2022.com/festival

NEWS

IN THESE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES, WE BRING YOU STORIES TO INSPIRE AND ADMIRE FROM ACROSS THE CITY

JUMBO SURPRISE

Residents of Stratford-uponAvon were given a jumbosized shock after sightings of an African elephant entering the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The nine-foot model Nellie, constructed by the theatre’s puppeteers, stars in the new musical, The Magician’s Elephant. A spokesman at the theatre said: “News of the elephant’s arrival in the town has prompted an explosion of interest from visitors, with reports of families packing their trunks from miles around to get a glimpse of the elephant in action this winter.” Ho, ho…

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Picture by Simon Hadley

MEET OUR PANTO STAR Panto-time is fast approaching – oh, yes it is! – and what better way to enjoy the fun than with our very own homegrown Goldilocks, Samantha Dorrance? The local actress stars in Birmingham Hippodrome’s first pantomime since 2019, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. And what’s more, alongside Samantha on stage will be the Evil Ringmaster, Jason Donovan. The show – which runs from 18 December to 30 January 2022 – will be the first pantomime at the Hippodrome since the venue reopened after being closed due to lockdown for 18 months.

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NEWS

PICKING UP THE BATON

A new hand is poised to pick up the baton and take charge of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Japanese conductor Kazuki Yamada has been appointed chief conductor and artistic advisor with effect from April 2023 for an initial four-and-a-half-year period.

He made his debut with the CBSO in 2012 and has been the orchestra’s principal guest conductor since October 2018. He will succeed Mirga Gražinyt -Tyla, who has led the orchestra since 2016.

LIGHTING UP THE GAMES

RUTH’S DESIGNS ON BRUM The vibrancy that makes Birmingham such a great city is reflected in a new series of 10 illustrations by local designer and illustrator Ruth Salton. She launched the works of city landscapes in art print and large postcard formats after working on the project over the past year. Ruth said: “I Iove the city. In the past 20 years the development has made it a vibrant, modern day place to live and work in, combined with its abundance of history.” The artworks can be bought at www.jouledesignemporium.etsy.com

The talent of local designers and engineers is on show to the world as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games baton makes its 90,000-mile, 269-day journey across the globe before arriving for the opening ceremony in the city next July. The baton was created in a collaboration of science, technology, engineering and art and includes a platinum strand in recognition of the Queen’s platinum jubilee year. It will visit all Commonwealth nations and be carried by 7,500 baton-bearers.

NEW HEAD CHEF ON THE MENU

Michelin-starred Birmingham restaurant Adam’s has appointed a new head chef with ambitions of taking one of Britain’s favourite fine dining eateries ‘to the next level’. Coventry-born James Goodyear, pictured right with Adam’s owner Adam Stokes, is classically trained and was previously head chef at Hide in London’s Piccadilly Circus. James said: ‘“There’s so much potential here with a young team of enthusiastic chefs. I look forward to teaching them new techniques and working with them to continually improve their already exceptional skill levels.” See Chef’s Corner

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NEWS

TIME TO GET YOUR SKATES ON An ice rink is the centre-piece of a Christmas spectacular which has opened in Digbeth.

The rink at the Luna Springs site, Lower Trinity Street is part of festive entertainment which includes a Santa jazz band, The Nutcracker on Ice, Bavarian bands, the Bad Santa Christmas Show – and real life reindeer. Visitors can also enjoy Camp Luna, a 500 covers festive marquee which provides respite from the great British weather and an extravagant location for festive parties. More details at: https://www.lunasprings.co.uk

TOM LAUNCHES MUSIC VENUE Songwriter and broadcaster Tom Robinson is among top musicians and artists lined-up to perform at a new music venue. Drapers’ Hall, Coventry has undergone a £5million restoration project led by Historic Coventry Trust in partnership with the city council. Tom will be the first to take to the stage at the venue on 11 November. He will be followed by Swedish violinist Johan Dalene on 21 November and awardwinning saxophonist and BBC Young Musician of the Year finalist, Jess Gillam, on 25 November. Tickets at: www.drapershallcoventry.org.uk

SITA’S WRITE CALL

ELFY FESTIVE FUN A festive spectacular featuring a gigantic ice-skating rink, traditional circus, full-size fairground and Santa’s Grotto is coming to Birmingham for the first time this Christmas. Winter Funland is officially the UK’s largest indoor funfair and will open at the NEC Arena from 9 December to 2 January. Glen Ramsden, Winter Funland Birmingham event manager, said: “We have something for all the family to enjoy, including unlimited time on the rides which include traditional carousels, helter-skelters and dodgems.” Ticket details at: https://www.winterfunland.com/

Best-selling author Sita Brahmachari is calling on young people across the city to write stories about water. She is leading a judging panel of local role models and writing experts in Birmingham Stories’ annual story writing competition which has Water Stories as its theme this year.

The competition, hosted by the National Literacy Trust and the University of Birmingham, is open to nine to 14-year-olds with winners being announced in December.

GOOD AS GOLD Who doesn’t well-up when national anthems are played at sporting events? The anthems will hold a special significance at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games – because the songs of all 72 countries taking part have just been recorded for the medal ceremonies by our own City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Arranged and conducted by Royal Academy of Music professor Philip Sheppard, the anthems were recorded over three days at the CBSO centre by the orchestra’s 50 musicians, pictured.

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NEWS

URBAN IDEAS

Looking for inspiration on how to refresh your

outdoor space? Birmingham Botanical Gardens has created a new Urban Garden which features four separate areas – three small gardens and a balcony – and showcases what can be achieved in even the tightest of spaces.

The Gardens, recently voted the most popular place in Birmingham to ‘take a breath’ in a survey by Taskforce for Lung Health, transformed the site to create raised beds, wall planters, pots and seating.

TEE TIME FOR KIDS

You’re never too young to have a swing at golf. Warwickshire’s Belfry Hotel & Resort has launched new junior golf programmes taught by dedicated instructors for youngsters aged three and over with any golfing ability. Group lessons include the Belfry Minis for those aged three to five, Belfry Eagles for six to 11-year-olds and Belfry Futures for 12 to 15-year-olds.

Individual junior lessons are also on offer.

Who knows, there may be the next Rory McIlroy out there…

SNAKE CHARMER?

Hands up if you’ve ever heard of a Rhinoceros Rat Snake! Here’s your chance to see them for yourself after a bunch of babies hatched at Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm. The new arrivals are on display with their parents in the farm’s Minibeast Metropolis section. The snakes, also known as Gonyosoma boulengeri, are native to Southern China and North Vietnam and are notoriously difficult to breed and nurture. Find out more at: www.butterflyfarm.co.uk or call 01789 299288.

YOUNG LIFESAVERS Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s KIDS/NTS emergency transport service has joined the national Children’s Air Ambulance to transport critically ill babes and children. The clinically designed helicopters provide a flying intensive care unit for young patients and enable teams to bring specialist equipment on board to transfer patients from one hospital to another. KIDS/NTS is TCAA’s eleventh NHS transport team partner.

It has previously used specialist land ambulances for critical transfers.

DATE WITH NINA

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

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British Comedy Award winner Nina Conti is coming to Brum. The quick-thinking queen of ventriloquism brings her pioneering new dating show to the Alexandra theatre for one night on 8 November. Nina describes The Dating Show Live as ‘Blind Date with masks’. While there’s no promise that true love will be found, there’s a firm guarantee that big laughs will be had all round.

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COVER STORY

ACTING UP WE CAUGHT UP WITH AWARD-WINNING

ACTOR AND WRITER, LOLITA CHAKRABARTI

WHO CREDITS HER SELLY OAK SCHOOL FOR

SPARKING A LOVE OF THEATRE AND PUTTING HER ON THE PATH TO RADA AND BEYOND

e’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve interviewed talented Brummies who have been inspired to explore a life they might have discounted if it weren’t for a stand-out teacher. It’s possible they’d have found their way regardless, but maybe not. Lolita Chakrabarti for instance, wasn’t from an acting family and didn’t visit the theatre. A school trip as a teenager was Lolita’s introduction and she was totally hooked from the getgo. She recalls: “That teacher was instrumental in getting me into theatre. She took us to the RSC and the West End among others. I remember when we were studying Shakespeare, we went to see Richard III which blew my socks off.”

While Lolita had performed in public speaking competitions at school, acting was another story. The idea of it as a career was a bit of a leap that her father thought she’d grow out of. However, once Lolita had secured her place at RADA and it became more than a hobby, her dad was thoroughly supportive.

The body of work Lolita has amassed is a stunning array of accomplished acting roles as well as superb writing projects. Not least Hymn at the Almeida. The play, initially live streamed thanks to Covid, opened to actual audiences in July, moving and delighting in equal measure. Tender and heartfelt, and also starring Lolita’s husband, Adrian Lester alongside Danny Sapani, Hymn tells the story of two strangers that meet at the funeral of a man who, it turns out, is the father of them both. The play charts the friendship and the

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bond they build as their lives become intertwined. The writing is sensitive and well observed while Adrian and Danny as Gil and Benny bring chemistry with bells on – remarkable given strict social distancing had to be observed. Lolita adds: “I’m so grateful to the Almeida for being so inventive and able to make it happen.”

Covid struck the filming of the BBC hit Vigil too.

Lolita says: “We filmed the first three episodes in Glasgow then we were stood down and filming halted.

Acting stops for nobody, so it was very new.” Filming picked up again five or six months on, but it was different. “Normally filming is sociable, but there were protocols in place. Everyone was separate. I’m very grateful it worked, but it was very strange.”

LIFE OF PI This month is a biggie for Lolita as her adaptation of Yan Martell’s celebrated novel, Life of Pi opens at Wyndham’s Theatre. Lolita says: “I just loved the book and have such affection for it. Yan Martell was very generous and gave me free reign really.” The trailer shows off the drama of the story with some inventive staging and superb puppetry. Also, this month, Lolita stars in Show Trial on BBC One. Created by Ben Richards, Show Trial is a five-part drama that explores how prejudice, politics and the media distort the legal process.

Although obviously linked, acting and writing are two different jobs with very different time frames. “It’s like having two careers. They both have demands. I’m in a

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COVER STORY

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STORYTELLER Catch Lolita in Showtrial airing this month on BBC One and BBC iPlayer Life of Pi opens at the Wyndham’s Theatre, London on 15 November. Visit www.lifeofpionstage.com

POWER COUPLE: Lolita with husband Adrian Lester

position now where I can tell the stories I really want to write and accept roles I really want. I’m not complacent about it because it hasn’t always been that way.” It was a bit of boredom between acting jobs that led Lolita to writing in the first place. “I’d tried pottery and was hopeless at that, so I started writing short stories. Then I enjoyed it and thought about trying to make them better.

I did this for quite a few years, then I sold a short story for a bit of money. It wasn’t a plan.” The timing and commitment differ wildly. “Writing can take years and completely hooks me. With acting you’re hired sometimes two weeks before and you’re in.”

BRUMMIE ROOTS While Birmingham isn’t physically home anymore, it still feels like home to Lolita. “I have such fond memories. I don’t have family here anymore, but Adrian does, so we still have that link.” Lolita is now an Associate Artist at The Rep and it was in Brum where, as teens Lolita met Adrian, so there’s shared nostalgia too. By their early twenties Lolita and Adrian had a production company together and while they might not have set out to become acting royalty, we’d hand them that crown. A multitude of awards between them for both writing and acting plus recognition in the Queen’s honours list for services to drama – Lolita received an OBE earlier this year – is all well and good, but more impressively they are the only couple to have both appeared on the cover of Birmingham Living. Bravo. I

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Picture: The Masons

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COVER STORY

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FEATURE

MAKING AN ENTRANCE THE £13MILLION PROJECT TO TRANSFORM THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE TO SYMPHONY HALL HAS CREATED EXCITING NEW SPACES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND ENJOY s there a greater performance venue in the UK, the world even, than Symphony Hall? We don’t think so. And what’s more neither do the stars who love coming to Birmingham and sampling the incredible atmosphere, acoustics and audiences. It’s big news then that during the pandemic lockdown that has crippled so much of the entertainment and hospitality industry, Symphony Hall was actually working at getting even better.

The last 18 months has seen more than £13million – money raised before Covid struck – spent on transforming Symphony Hall’s entrance and public spaces to make them exciting performance areas in their own right. The previous, rather soulless areas outside the main hall have given way to a sparkling new look with brighter, more welcoming bars and cafes, new seating and with entrances sited at each corner of the venue in addition to the access via the International Conference Centre.

I

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FEATURE

Pictures: Matthew Westgate, courtesy of Page Park

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FEATURE

PROUD: CEO Nick Reed says the changes to Symphony Hall have earned praise from artists and audiences alike

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The new Jennifer Blackwell performance space – named after one of Symphony Hall’s greatest patrons and supporters and officially opened by Prince Edward last month – gives local artists the chance to perform as part of daily programmes of free and affordable events and activities. To complete the revamp, Performance Birmingham, the charity that manages Symphony Hall and Town Hall, has been rebranded with a new name, B:Music.

Nick Reed, chief executive of B:Music, said: “Symphony Hall is recognised as one of the best concert halls in the world. What we didn’t have previously was the feeling of entering a great cultural building. Now people coming here can enter straight from our wonderful Centenary Square. The feedback to the changes from artists and from

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FEATURE

While Making an Entrance improves the experience and makes Symphony Hall even more attractive to mainstream acts, B:Music hasn’t forgotten its crucial role in supporting the grass roots of the arts world. This includes helping disadvantaged people from the Midlands by offering music lessons and workshops, creating rehearsal spaces in its venues, providing paid opportunities to perform and supporting funding bid applications.

everyone has been incredible. We are very proud of what we have achieved.”

COMMUNITY FIRST The project, titled Making an Entrance, targeted a number of key areas. First and foremost, to make a visit to Symphony Hall more welcoming for audiences, but also to create an environment and spaces for more informal programmes of performance, to encourage even greater development of music and talent, and to foster greater community involvement and participation. “Music will play a powerful role in reuniting communities after the isolation and hardship of the last 18 months,” said Nick. “We want Symphony Hall to be a leading light for that reconnection.”

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YOUTH APPEAL Other community initiatives include the likes of Jazzlines, the free summer school course for local young people, and a recently launched collaboration with Neighbourhd to help celebrate up and coming artists from the West Midlands music scene. B:Music knows the importance of appealing to a younger, more diverse audience as there is still a misconception that Symphony Hall is for classical lovers and the privileged few. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth and the Making an Entrance project has reinforced the fact that the exciting Symphony Hall complex is for all the people, no matter what their background. I Discover more about B:Music and what’s on at Symphony Hall at: www.bmusic.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

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CHEF’S CORNER

JAMES GOODYEAR

Meet the new Coventry-born head chef of Michelin-starred Birmingham restaurant Adam’s. Classically-trained, James was previously in charge of the kitchen at Hide in Piccadilly Circus, London. So, what makes him tick?

Tell us about your cooking There is an implicit simplicity with good food – I like to work with nature, following the seasons and using great produce to bring my ideas to life. My style comes from a mix of my life experiences. I trained for five years at Le Manoir with Raymond Blanc. I’ve travelled to Scandinavia, where the culture is all about foraging for beautiful freshness. I also worked in the Basque region of Spain, cooking over fire and tasting some of the most beautiful food imaginable. Working in a beautiful kitchen with a fantastic team is what excites me and that’s what we have at Adam’s.

How did you become a chef?

I wasn’t always passionate about food as a child – I was more interested in sports and physical activity. I did enjoy being at school but didn’t want to go to university.

When school finished it was time to look at what I could do next. I always enjoyed eating food and watching Ready, Steady, Cook with my mom so thought I’d give cooking a go. As soon as I stepped into my first kitchen, I really loved it and I’ve just kept learning ever since.

What do you eat at home and what was your favourite food as a kid?

My mom would make a homemade meal for the family every day when I was growing up. I’ve travelled all over the world but when I go back home to Warwickshire, that’s what I crave. A nice cottage pie or a stew are among my favourite dishes even now.

higher pedestal than another, so I’d have to play it safe and say my mom is the best chef in the world for me!

Obviously, Adam Stokes is a fantastic chef and someone whose food I greatly admire. I am relatively new to Birmingham so I am excited to meet some of the talented chefs across the city!

Food heaven and food hell?

Heaven for me is all about my days off in the Basque country. Myself and the team would use the money we’d saved through the week and go out to get a whole grilled turbot, caught on the day and cooked over coals, slowly and beautifully. Served on a beach in San Sebastián with a fresh tomato salad on the side, it felt like heaven! Hell for me revolves around kidneys! I appreciate being resourceful and not being wasteful with food but that’s one thing I just can’t eat.

Share a cooking tip There is a real amount of skill in putting together a really well-cooked breakfast – making sure the bacon is crispy and getting the sausages just right. Eggs are a big one too. Poaching an egg is relatively simple but so worth doing right. I think if you take the time to learn how to do each element of a traditional cooked breakfast properly, you will acquire skills that help you in other areas.

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

I’d love to say I’d be a footballer, ever since I was old enough to kick a ball I loved it. If I wasn’t doing that it Who’s the best chef in the world and why? And who’s would be something sport related. I the best in Brum?

Adam’s Restaurant, New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo Street, I’ve worked with some amazing chefs across so Birmingham, B2 5UG. adamsrestaurant.co.uk many different styles of cuisine. I don’t put one on a

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NIBBLES and SHORTS

BIRMINGHAM’S BARS, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS ARE ROARING BACK IN STYLE. HERE’S

OUR INSIDER GUIDE TO THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CITY’S EATERIES AND DRINKING DENS

CHICKEN SUPREME

We’re suckers here for gorgeous crispy chicken. So, we’re delighted that JAQKS has opened its biggest fast food restaurant so far in Brum at Temple Row – with none other than the city’s mayor cutting the ribbon. The new chicken eatery is JAQKS’s fifth outlet and the second in central Birmingham, following its eatery at the Cube.

JAQKS is known for its delicious chicken coated in herbs and spices, hand-cut chips and dips.

FANCY A COFFEE AND A WAFFLE? If you love your coffee, you’ll love this! A new café has opened in the Mailbox. Black Sheep Coffee in the AC Hotel by Marriott serves a selection of innovative coffees, including the likes of Robusta Revival, a single-estate coffee and the world's only specialty-grade 100 per cent robusta bean coffee. The café also offers tasty smoothies and snacks, such as its signature Norwegian waffles with a range of fillings.

TRIPLE TREATS Three new independent

eateries have opened at Great Western Arcade. Vegan Kitchen is the first fully vegan street food restaurant in Birmingham and home to the ‘funguy’ burger as well as vegan craft beer, wines and cocktails. Habaneros, known for its Mexican street food, has opened its first restaurant, while Land, which focuses on sustainability, has reopened in a new location in the Arcade.

VAGABOND SETTLES IN BRUM

COTTAGE TRANSFORMED

Merry Hill has welcomed the opening of a new, local independent arts and crafts café, Creative Coffee Hub. Located on the upper mall near Next, Creative Coffee Hub provides a range of food and drink options, home décor products and a series of arts and craft workshops for all ages to enjoy.

Family-friendly craft activities include decorating ceramic flamingos in-store to take home!

New life has been breathed into the Cottage Tavern in Ashorne, near Warwick, with an exciting transformation and new managers at the helm. Tim Sidwell and Mark Williams took over the village pub earlier this year, which A new venue has opened in Birmingham following a has since been freshly decorated with new furnishings. £1million investment from its West Midlands-based The cellar has also been transformed and there’s a owners. Nude Bar & Grill in Bennetts Hill is over four re-designed garden. Mark and Tim have been floors and includes a bar, modern fusion Asian restaurant friends for more than 17 years and are and champagne lounge. The opening represents a new combining their knowledge and experiences venture for Donna and Craig Chance, owners of Comfy of the drinks trade to open their Pub Co, which runs the Trooper at Wall, the Wine House own pub. in Lichfield and Hoof Beats Bar & Kitchen in Brownhills.

NUDE BAR REVEALS ALL

RAINBOW RETURNS

Iconic Birmingham pub, the Rainbow, is back! The original Rainbow dates from 1767 and over the last 250 years it’s been bought and sold many times, loved and left abandoned. New owners Nick Rendall and Trevean Anderson have restored it back to take its rightful place at the heart of Digbeth nightlife. The Rainbow has hosted live performances from countless of well-known artists over the years such as The Heavy, La Roux, Joss Stone, Ocean Colour Scene, Bastille and UB40.

Wine bar chain Vagabond has chosen Birmingham for its first launch outside of

London. It has opened in a former restaurant building on the corner of Colmore Row and Bennetts Hill in the city’s business district. The 4,000 sq ft bar can hold around 200 customers and serves more than 120 different wines from around the world as well as the company's own English range made at its winery in London.

The wines are available via self-dispensing machines which are controlled through a smartphone app and the bar also serves other alcoholic drinks and food.

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DECORATE A FLAMINGO

THE LAST SIP

Fans of Birmingham Royal Ballet enjoyed a trip to a different kind of barre last month when a new cocktail inspired by the company’s Romeo and Juliet season came to the Pineapple Club Cocktail Bar and Bottle Shop in Great Western Arcade. Created by bar manager Klára Kopčiková, the limited-edition cocktail is called The Last Sip and is a blend of floral and fruity flavours such as violet, lavender, and raspberry topped with prosecco.

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

THE QUEEN OF HEARTS From New York, via Philadelphia, to Brum! Join us in welcoming this Big Apple special he beat of New York has arrived in Brum with the arrival of our latest swanky cocktail bar. Complete with neon signs, disco balls and plush booths, Manhatta is well known for creating Instagrammable havens with stunning cocktails at the ready. To whet your appetite, here’s the recipe for their Queen of Hearts – a twist on a Clover Club, the classic raspberry gin cocktail that originated in Philadelphia during preprohibition times. It’s slightly tart with a fresh fruit finish and it’s utterly delicious. As always, please enjoy responsibly. I

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INGREDIENTS:

I 30ml Bombay Bramble I 15ml Martini Rosso I 15ml Raspberry syrup I 22.5ml Lemon juice

METHOD: Shake and strain the Bombay Bramble, Martini Rosso, raspberry syrup and lemon juice in a Boston shaker then fine strain into a coup glass. If you want to really go for it, top with a hibiscus foam, but you might need to pop into the bar to get tips on how to make it!

Manahatta, 10 Temple Street, Birmingham, B2 5BN. manahatta.co.uk

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

TIERRA

53 Frederick Street, Birmingham, B1 3HS. tierratacos.co.uk ’ve always loved Mexico. The language, the culture, the beautiful and super-friendly people are all right up my street. And of course, the delicious food. Mexican street food has seen a resurgence in in popularity over the last few years which has led to a number of pretty ordinary eateries popping up trying to cash in on the fad. So how do you sort out the wheat from the chaff? Well social media has gone mad for one compact Jewellery Quarter restaurant, so we thought we’d better pop along and see what the fuss was all about.

Tierra Tacos has been masterminded by the people behind Tiger Bites Pig so expectations were high.

Firstly, it’s probably worth noting that it was so compact, we managed to walk past the restaurant twice, such is its modesty. But my goodness we’re glad we persevered. Once inside, the modesty continued.

Pale green tiles, the odd plant, simple furniture and paper menus are the order of the day.

The menu is mouth-watering. We could have grazed our way through most of it given an afternoon off, but deadlines schmeadlines… you know how it is! We ordered a couple of small plates and two versions of tacos. Scorched Padron peppers with chipotle sea salt were a great start and things got even better from there.

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I’ve never rated black beans, but it turns out I’ve just not done them right. Tierra’s frijoles were smoky, rich, slow cooked and topped with crumbled Lancashire cheese and bags of coriander served with a bowl of totopos (tortilla chips) to scoop up the black stuff. Superb.

Onto the tacos all of them hand pressed corn tortillas with various inventive toppings. The pork carnitas hit the spot – succulent slow roast pork served with red cabbage, pickled onions, caramelised mezcal pineapple, pumpkin seeds and coriander. That sounds like a lot of ingredients that might be fighting with one another, but the flavours were balanced brilliantly.

Beef barbacoa – oak smoked brisket with diced onion, pickled white cabbage and coriander again tasted superb. A word to the wise – if you don’t like coriander, it’s probably worth mentioning. We love it, so it wasn’t an issue, but there was a fair bit.

We were bowled over by the food, but the price delighted too. One portion of tacos – you get two per portion – costs £7. Our entire lunch bill for two including a couple of beers was just over £30. You’d be hard pushed to enjoy even an average meal for that, let alone one as brilliant and accomplished as this. It might look casual, but someone has thought through every tiny detail. Go. I

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FOOD & DRINK

OLÉ TO THE

SHERRY REVIVAL SHERRY IS MAKING A WELCOME COMEBACK – AND ITS

VALUE FOR MONEY MAKES IT ONE OF THE BARGAINS OF

THE WINE WORLD, ACCORDING TO EXPERT GARY CARTER hile Port remains a firm favourite on the wine list, Sherry is much less popular than it once was, but there is something of a revival underway with people discovering ‘Sherry and Tapas’ and drinking it like the Spanish themselves do. Sherry is remarkable value for money, truly one of the bargains of the wine world.

Sherry comes from around the town of Jerez in Andalucía, Southern Spain, where the weather is hot and dry. Here the conditions preclude making table wine of any quality and historically wine was fortified to act as a preservative and prevent the wine from ‘going off ’ (much in the same way as Port and Madeira).

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Almost all Sherry is made from Palomino, a white grape variety that produces a dry, neutral white wine of very little character. This is the ‘blank canvas’ on which the artistic Sherry maker paints. Taking the base wine, which is usually around 12% abv, the wine is fortified using grape brandy to either 15% abv or 17% abv. The resultant young Sherry is then placed into large barrels (known as butts) of 600 litres, but unlike conventional wine-making, a large airspace is deliberately left above the wine in barrel.

Whether fortified to 15% or 17% abv, Sherry is matured in-barrel for many years, with vintages blended together using the unique Solera system to create consistent wines.

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FOOD & DRINK

GARY’S

TO TRY

Manzanilla Sherry Pasada Pastrana NV Hidalgo – Majestic Wines £14.99 (75 cl) An intense nose of apple skins and nuts leads on to a palate characterised by classic notes of almonds, orange peel and a salty twang. A prolonged finish marks this out as a wine of real quality. This Manzanilla should be served chilled as a stunning apéritif, with salted almonds.

Bodegas Hidalgo Amontillado Napoleon – Frazier’s Wine Merchants £13.99 (50cl) Very intense, nutty, toasted almond characters.

Intense, full-bodied, good acidity and a medium structure. Very long finish.

Williams & Humbert 12-Year-Old Oloroso Sherry – Waitrose £8.79 (75 cl) This is a beautifully bright amber coloured sherry with intense and classic oloroso aromas of walnuts, almonds and dried fruit. Luscious yet perfectly balanced this is a deliciously rich, dry style with a smooth finish.

Sainsbury’s 12-year-old Sweet Pedro Ximenez, Taste the Difference – Sainsbury’s £8 (50 cl) Thick, rich and deliciously chocolatey and dark, the raisin and fudge, the rum-soaked concentration is gorgeous, the acidity pure and beautifully matched, a great PX – surely one of the great bargains of the wine word?

The Sherry fortified to 15% allows the ‘miracle of Jerez’, the formation of Flor, a special type of yeast that grows on top of the Sherry, protecting it from the air and creating the unique, intense ‘Sherry nose’ of almonds, yeast, bread and saltiness, while simultaneously consuming any residual sugar and also lowering acidity. This produces a pale, intensely flavoured, very dry, low acidity and delicate wine called Fino, or (if aged in nearby Sanlúcar), Manzanilla. The Sanlúcar-aged Manzanilla’s are even lighter, drier and more delicate than Finos, with a distinctive ‘sea air’ about them.

Fino and Manzanilla, always served well-chilled, make fabulous aperitifs, especially if accompanied by

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olives or even better, salty, fried Spanish queen almonds. They also go very well with seafood – perfect, for example, with Calamari.

The Sherry fortified to 17% prevents Flor growth and instead the Sherry is exposed to air. However, 17% abv prevents deterioration in wine condition and instead the wine takes on the positive aspects of deliberate oxidation, developing a deep amber colour and in time becomes brown. The aromas are of dried fruits and nuts. Again, the wine is mainly dry, although some wines are medium. These Sherries are called Oloroso. Oloroso Sherries compliment meatbased tapas, especially anything with Chorizo. They are also a remarkably good match to main courses, lamb, beef or pork.

AGEING BEAUTIFULLY Some developing Fino Sherry is refortified to 17% abv, which kills off the Flor. This Sherry then ages oxidatively like Oloroso, retaining its Fino type nose, but then deepening in colour and acquiring dried fruits and nuts aromas as well. These Sherries are called Amontillado.

Amontillado Sherries are the most versatile of all.

They retain the lightness of Fino but also have the depth of Oloroso. As such they are suitable for both aperitifs and main courses and almost all types of tapas.

Perhaps they are most suited to chicken and vegetablebased dishes, and whatever you’ve put in your paella.

There are many other types of Sherry, but another that is worth seeking out is based on an entirely different grape variety that gives its name to this Sherry, Pedro Ximenez (PX). These white grapes are air-dried in the hot sun after harvest, creating raisins that have lost almost all of their water. The remaining grape juice is therefore intensely sweet. Once a base sweet wine is made, it is fortified to 17% and longaged like Oloroso. The resultant Sherry is deep brown-black and lusciously sweet, with powerful dried fruit and nuts aromas. It has been described as ‘Christmas pudding in a glass’. PX sherry is a firm Yuletide favourite, but if you can’t wait that long, try pouring it over vanilla ice cream – delicious! I Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine education company that offers fun, informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses online, in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, and Warwick. For more information contact Gary Carter DipWSET, at www.localwineschool.com/birmingham or on 0121 270 7359.

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HEALTH

HOT TIPS TO BEAT THE WINTER CHILL COLDER DAYS AND DARKER EVENINGS MAKE IT HARDER TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO EXERCISE. TOP PERFORMANCE COACH ARJ THIRUCHELVAM HAS THE ANSWER TO THOSE WINTER BLUES

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HEALTH

s we’re getting back into social events, returning to the workplace and venturing on holidays, suddenly time seems a little short to look after your health and fitness. Add to this the colder days and darker evenings and motivating yourself to exercise is becoming harder.

Performance Physique head coach Arj Thiruchelvam is based in Solihull and supports novices up to Team GB athletes with their fitness and nutrition.

Arj has more than 16 years’ experience of performance mentoring, including as a UK Athletics sprints and jumps coach, and says now is a great time to mix up your training and set some specific goals. Here’s how: Grab your notepad and outline two things you would like to improve over the next two months, leading up to the New Year. These will comprise two-thirds of your exercise time and, by dedicating the majority of your time to them, means you will see a higher proportion of progress and improvement in your goals.

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UNLOCK THE POWER Perhaps you’re looking to improve your aerobic performance, so it’s time to unlock the power of the interval! Alternating short bursts (about 30 seconds) of intense activity with longer intervals (about one to two minutes) of less intense activity goes hand-inhand with a busy schedule. If you’re able to perform high intensity intervals for more than 30 minutes, the likelihood is that your intervals aren’t high intensity.

This workout can be performed running, on the bike or the cross-trainer so really can be achieved anywhere and will keep you warm if you’re outside: Five minutes warm up + 10 x (1min 30secs slow + 30secs fast) + 5 minute cool-down

These paces are relative to your current level of fitness, with slow allowing you to start the recovery process while still moving. Walking is OK but, as you get fitter, you must challenge yourself to increase the speed. Fast pace is above 90 per cent of your maximum effort, so imagine you’re running away from a bull!

It’s tough and gruelling but by including two of these sessions per week, you’ll notice cardiovascular improvements. Knowing in the back of your mind it’s not a really long workout will keep you moving forwards too!

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The concept of choosing two areas to focus on is pioneered by leading research which found by adopting this approach, muscle gains were rapidly increased in comparison to following more traditional approaches.

To apply this training method to our busier winter schedules, pick out just two exercises for the two body parts you want to improve and perform 5 sets of 10 repetitions of each of the exercises, utilising a paired superset (swapping body part without rest) to achieve more in a reduced time.

If you’re looking to gain more muscle, for example in your quadriceps and triceps, you will train these two muscles twice per week, while leaving any remaining time to do just enough to maintain other parts of your body. For example, 5 x 10 of (A) StepUps to Tricep Pushdown then afterwards 5 x 10 of (B) Squats to Tricep Extension.

HAVE FUN! Finally, it’s almost like we’ve forgotten how to enjoy exercise! Create game-based or activity-based workouts and grab a training partner if you can.

Maybe you don’t want to play a team sport but instead create a circuit of different exercises, some traditional and some a little more ballistic and ‘performance-like’; medicine ball throws, skipping, hopping and box jumps can actually be really rewarding, both mentally and physically.

These can essentially be like a circuit and, like any circuit, can be completed in a really short time. Think 20 seconds on 20 seconds off each exercise or activity.

Just be sure to always warm up before starting. Box jumps, hopping and ballistic exercises are surprisingly tough and therefore you want to avoid doing them when cold. Here’s a pro-tip: put the toughest exercises at the start of your circuit. I Performance Physique founder Arj Thiruchelvam has a BSc Hons in Applied Sports Science from Loughborough University and has co-designed two Sports Science Degrees for Oxford Brookes University. Providing clear fitness and nutrition guidance utilising the latest scientific research, Arj coaches novices of all ages to Team GB Olympians to consistently improve their personal bests. For more information visit www.performancephysique.co.uk IG: @performance_physique T: @Performphysique

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HEALTH

COLD

COMFORT

THE COMMON COLD MAKES US ALL FEEL UNCOMMONLY UNDER THE WEATHER! WITH THE SNIFFLES SEASON LOOMING, HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP YOURSELF AVOID THE DREADED LURGY

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HEALTH

hile we still have Covid in our lives, there’s the added spectre of the cold season looming large. The odd sniffle is inevitable, especially as the lurgy circulates around schools, but there are some tips you can take that might just minimise the misery.

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Warm it up – Shivering depresses the immune system, making it more likely to catch a cold. The easiest way to prevent this happening when you go out is to wear a hat. As we lose up to 30 per cent of our body heat through our heads, donning a hat is really a no-brainer!

Keep an eye on the weather – Ok, so we can’t spend winter being hermits, but just be aware that the weather out there can have a big say on making us feel grotty. Dull, misty, moist conditions raise the level of germs in the air and allow viruses to survive longer. This is the time when you’re more likely to catch something.

Hand hygiene – If one positive thing has come from Covid, it’s made us all aware how important personal hygiene really is. Never have so many bottles of hand gel been sold as in the past 18 months! Is there anyone out there who now doesn’t know that washing hands often – and drying them on disposable paper towels – can significantly reduce the chances of catching a virus? This is especially true in avoiding the rotavirus, which tends to infect children and causes vomiting and diarrhoea. Use soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Keep your distance – Stay away from anyone who is sick, and if you are sick just stay home to prevent spreading your illness. When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue – or if you don’t have one, use your sleeve. It’s not rocket science!

Bin it, kill it – If you have a runny nose remember the mantra ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’. Catch any sneezes in a tissue, bin any tissues immediately and kill the virus by washing your hands with soap and warm water or use a hand gel.

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Booster power – Make sure you get the vitamins you need, especially vitamin D (essential for teeth and bones and helps resistance against winter bugs), vitamin C (boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation as well as fighting fatigue) and iron (helps produce haemoglobin in the red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs around the body and boosts energy levels).

Get in zinc – Zinc helps fight colds and boosts flagging immune system. Meat, eggs, seafood, tofu, black-eyed peas and wheat germ are great for zinc.

Garlic also helps easing chest complaints and small amounts taken daily may also reduce the frequency of colds and flu.

Eat your greens – Green, leafy vegetables are rich in vitamins that help you maintain a balanced diet and support a healthy immune system. And how about swapping sandwiches for soup at lunchtime? Drinking any warm liquid – tea, soup or stew – helps relieve symptoms by loosening congestion and stimulating the flow of mucus.

Water works – We should all drink eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy, according to the health professionals. Water helps the kidneys function properly and flushes out the toxins that accumulate in our bodies.

Sleep well – We all lead busy lives but the less sleep we have, the more likely we are to become ill.

There’s no way round it, a regular eight hours a night is good for us.

Last but not least – Get a flu jab. Flu is not just a severe cold, it’s a completely different and highly infectious virus that kills around 8,000 people a year. The most vulnerable groups are older adults, very young children and people with underlying health conditions – so check if you’re eligible for a free jab. There are different flu jabs available so chat with your GP for more advice. I

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ECO WARRIOR

Sustainable long padded coat £110, Monsoon

TOP COATS LET’S TALK COATS. THE ULTIMATE WARDROBE ICON THAT FUSES FUNCTION WITH STYLE IS OUR GO-TO COLD WEATHER STAPLE TAKING AN OUTFIT FROM ORDINARY TO CHIC IN SECONDS

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STYLE

SHINE ON

Rochelle x Regatta jacket £90, Regatta

MELLOW YELLOW

Ochre padded coat, F&F

BELT UP

Mahalia coat £59.99, New Look

SHORT AND SWEET

Layla quilted jacket £99, FatFace

e noted a headteacher last week asked parents to ditch the pyjamas when dropping off their children in favour of actual clothing. I say, add a stunning coat to your sleepwear on the school run and no one would even notice.

The coat is that transformational. You can be having an off-day style wise and slipping into a swishy wool number will take any outfit to new fashion heights, even your PJs. And it doesn’t have to be pricey cashmere or alpaca, although clearly we’re fans. There are some brilliant examples on the high street as well as incredible finds in vintage stores and charity shops. Beautiful coats age well, sometimes actually getting better as they get older when treated with love, so you really can pick up a designer coat at a snip. Try Cow in Digbeth or their concession at Selfridges for some vintage finds.

We’ve trawled the rails and pulled together our favourites ranging in price from £29 to £3,000-plus, so whether you’re bargain hunting or splurging, there’s a coat with your name on it. I

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HEAVY METAL

Silver metallic puffer £39.99, TK Maxx

WINNING PUFFER

Stone longline puffer £48, TU Clothing

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STYLE DOUBLE TROUBLE

Opulent Borg double breasted coat £62, Cotton Traders

TRUE BLUE

RELAXED VIBE

Teddy coat £45, TU Clothing

Anyday teddy coat £68, John Lewis

REAL TEAL

Talia teddy coat £89, FatFace

CUTE CHIC

SHEARLING JOY

Stand Studio Camille green coat £400, Harvey Nichols

Faux shearling coat £69, Cotton Traders

HINT OF MINT

Green Snit boucle coat £29, F&F

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WHAT COLD SNAP?

Dry robe beach coat £140, Aspiga

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STYLE COOL CAT

Leopard print £39.99, TK Maxx

ANIMAL MAGIC

Animal print coat £95, Oliver Bonas

GOOD IN THE HOOD

Heyworth faux coat £69, Cotton Traders

THE NEW BLACK

Grey fluffy longline coat £125, Oliver Bonas

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INVESTMENT PIECE

Chloe tweed belted wool blend coat £3,325, Harvey Nichols

MINIMUM FUSS

Camel wool blend coat £45, Primark

CHECK MATE

GREAT VALUE

Black gingham double breasted long coat £59.99, New Look

WHY MESS WITH PERFECTION?

Inverraray wool coat £299, Barbour

ON YER BIKE

Tan wool blend biker coat £129, Sonder Studio

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Black and cream check coat £79.99, M&Co

TERRIFIC TRENCH

Alberta Ferretti alpaca wool blend trench £1,810, Selfridges

DREAM COVER UP

Lecce camel wool coat £2,600, Selfridges

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STYLE A CLASSIC

Killin wool coat £299, Barbour

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BEAUTY

CALENDAR CALL

It’s that time of year again, folks. I’m not sure how we got to the point where a

chalky blob of chocolate stopped cutting the mustard, but here we are. Limited edition, artist designed calendars filled with iconic beauty products are getting ever more extravagant. We’ve picked out some of this year’s best.

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1. LOOK FANTASTIC £85, LOOKFANTASTIC.COM This has sold out six years in a row, so get in quick. It’s not as attractive as some of the others but contains some of our favourite brands such as Shiseido, Aveda, NARS and Kate Somerville. It’s also the cheapest of our picks.

2. JO MALONE £325, JOMALONE.CO.UK The familiar cream and black classic packaging of Jo Malone hides 24 gorgeous fragrances within. Yes, it’s one of the pricier on the list, but would it be Christmas without it?

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3. CLINIQUE £95, SELFRIDGES, SELFRIDGES.COM All the old favourites and some newbies too, there’s a nice mix of 24 skincare and make-up gifts at a very reasonable price. Exclusive to Selfridges, we predict a sell-out.

4. DIOR £400, DIOR.COM Designed by artist Alice Shirley, this calendar feels indulgent and grown-up featuring midnight blue and metallics. There’s substance as well as style though with 24 of Dior’s most loved products to enjoy.

5. KIEHL’S £99, KIEHLS.CO.UK This was our favourite last year. We bought at least five of the products from the calendar once finished and we’re still using one of the eye creams from the calendar which we’ve dabbed on every evening since December. The packaging is made from FSC-certified material and even the ribbon is made from postconsumer materials.

6, LIBERTY £225, LIBERTYLONDON.COM This is a work of art and features 25 iconic products, including Votary, Olaplex and Decree among others. One calendar also holds a hidden golden ticket, entitling you to £5,000 to spend at Liberty.

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STYLE FOR MEN

FUNCTION AND FORM Milford jacket £99, Crew Clothing

HOT STUFF RIGHT THEN GUYS, WHO’S WANTING WINTER

WARMTH AND TOP-NOTCH STYLE ALL WRAPPED UP IN EQUAL MEASURE? WE’RE HAPPY TO HELP…

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STYLE FOR MEN

SUSTAINABLE STYLE Prada graphic recycled nylon and down jacket £2,700, exclusive to Selfridges

IN THE BLUE Emporio Armani quilted shell down puffer £460, Selfridges

ooking for a great coat? What’s your budget?

Doesn’t matter, we’ve picked out some pieces that’ll see you through a cold spell whatever you want to spend.

Yes, a Canada Goose puffer is the ultimate winter coat, will probably last a lifetime and if you ever fancy a stint as a polar explorer, you’re sorted, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Also at the designer end, is a terrific checked wool coat from Dries Von Noten, pictured, which is a total timeless classic that will last forever if you treat it well. The eco-friendly Prada number, pictured, packs a punch coming in at a cool £2,700 and while it could be a bit Marmite for some, we like it a lot.

The Anyday range from John Lewis has some cracking pieces including the modestly priced long puffer which is also recycled. There are plenty of cosy Borg lined coats around including this one from M&S as well as parkas and puffers at varying price points. Generally, you get what you pay for in terms of quality but there are some great looking finds to be had on the high street, too.I

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ARCTIC VIBES Canada Goose Emory red fur trimmed parka £950, Harvey Nichols

BUTTON UP Navy peacock £99.99, TK Maxx

WIDE LAPELS Dries Von Noten Rarson brown checked wool coat £1,830, Harvey Nichols

BRITPOP BEATS Khaki trench £29.99, TK Maxx

NEW NAVY Quilted coat £35, Matalan

PARK IT Borg lined parka £129, M&S

RECYCLED MATERIAL Anyday recycled long puffer £95, John Lewis

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ng il viHOMES

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GRAND ENTRANCE

MORE THAN MERELY A THOROUGHFARE, THE ENTRANCE HALL IS THE FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU ARRIVE HOME. MAKE IT A PLEASURE…

COOL AND CALM Furniture from Dunelm

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HOMES

AFTER DARK Furniture from Oak Furnitureland

he hallway sets the tone for the rest of the home but is often narrow and needs storage to avoid it becoming a dumping ground. If you’re blessed with a spacious wide hallway, congratulations, you’ve an opportunity to really create something special. Make the most of the width and go for knock-out lighting, an oversized mirror, some greenery, a great sideboard, some art, colour…. the possibilities are endless.

If you’re on the narrow side, maximise light by having a front door with lots of glass. It makes a massive difference. Flooring counts too. An original Minton floor is ideal and adds bags of character and interest. Failing that, try wooden herringbone flooring which will add width and style.

No matter how narrow your hall, you will need storage – a slimline console table at the very least – to keep keys and general day-to-day stuff that ends

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SLIM STORAGE Furniture from Habitat

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HOMES

TOP TABLE Eleanor console £399, Lee Longlands

OPEN PLAN Furniture from Nest

up in the hall. Add a striking plant and a small lamp to create the vibe you’re going for. Hooks for coats whether they’re on the wall or on a coat stand, are essential.

Somewhere to tuck your shoes away if there’s space is good too.

Stylish baskets underneath a console table work really well. If you’ve room under the stairs, check out built in cupboards – they might be pricey, but you’ll get exactly what you need and will look smart. Don’t be afraid of colour and pattern which can work brilliantly even in a small space or a gallery wall which adds interest without taking up floor space.

Essentially do whatever makes you smile when you open the front door – if that’s a bold print and a vintage chandelier, fill your boots. If it’s white walls and Scandi minimalism, do your thing. As the kids say, you do you and SLEEK STYLE Lugano wall mounted system from £1,449, BoConcept Birmingham enjoy coming home.

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HOMES

MIRROR MIRROR Furniture from Oakland Furniture

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HOMES

BE BOLD Furniture and accessories from Cult Furniture

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HOMES

BOHO CHIC Furniture and accessories from Dunelm

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HOMES

LESS IS MORE Samoa bench £110, Habitat ALL THE RIGHT CURVES Oulu Wall Mirror With Shelf, Black £129, Cult Furniture

I’VE GOT THE KEY Franco tray £20, Dunelm

FINISHING TOUCHES MAKE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION COUNT WITH THESE GORGEOUS PIECES

ATTENTION TO DETAIL Geometrical pink and green mat, HomeSense

DRESS TO IMPRESS Dalston lamp £130 (without shade), Neptune

OLD SCHOOL GLAMOUR Presley glass eight-tier chandelier £140, Habitat

RETRO FIT Rotary dial phone £36, Cuckooland

BARGAIN FIND Wood and metal shelving unit £99.99, HomeSense

CLEVER DESIGN Bently coat stand £115, Cuckooland

BENCH YES Angui bench £655, Nest

LIGHT UP Palin 10-globe pendant chandelier £119, Cult Furniture

BLACK IS BACK Fontana shelved console table £459, Cult Furniture

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MOTORING

DELIVERING THE GOODS USABLE, PRACTICAL TECHNOLOGY IS WHAT SUE COOKE IS LOOKING FOR IN HER IDEAL EVERYDAY CAR, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE FOUND IN SUZUKI’S REFRESHING NEW ESTATE

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Suzuki Swace hybrid estate car Performance: 0-62mph in 11.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 112mph Engine: 1.8-litre hybrid and electric motor Combined fuel consumption: 64.2mpg (WLTP) CO2 emissions: 99g/km (WLTP) Price: From £24,499 otr

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MOTORING

hate the process of renewing my car insurance. It has become such a battleground. I really don’t want the additional costly add-ons that a pushy salesperson thinks I really need. And the same with my car. I want to get from A to B in comfort and with the technology I will actually use. So, this month road testing the new Suzuki Swace, manufactured in the UK, was quite refreshing.

The technology in this estate car is by no means basic.

Like the blind spot monitor. A light in the corner of the wing mirror is displayed for instance on a motorway, to warn you of a car coming alongside you. There is a very clear rear parking camera and rear crossing traffic alert, which proved useful when reversing from my drive every morning. There are heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The air-conditioning uses a detection control function, delivering to the seats that are occupied.

The air-con will also take the set, ambient interior temperature and sunlight into account to maintain cabin comfort. So okay, there are some fancy features.

The eight-inch centre dash touchscreen and sat-nav is easy to operate as well as the audio system which

I

incorporates Apple Car Play and Android Auto device connectivity. The steering wheel has audio volume buttons which are useful to operate on the move. The centre console tray has a wireless charger.

The Swace is based on the Toyota Corolla Hybrid Estate platform and has a sporty exterior look with functional estate styling. Integrated roof rails provide roof carrier mounting. The interior design is plain but offers comfort and practicality. A long motorway journey left me feeling refreshed at my destination and there is adequate room to sit three people across the rear seat.

What most impresses me is the luggage space at 596 litres which with rear seats folded down creates up to 1,232 litres capacity. I tend to buy things without thinking how I am going to get them home. I bought a rather tall shrub and realised the tailgate would not close over it. Then I spotted the false bottom floor in the boot which revealed a round deep well, presumably for a spare wheel. I put the plant in its box in the well and the tailgate closed perfectly. Panic over.

I also discovered that the false bottom floor can be turned over from the carpeted side to the rubber side, presumably for very practically storing muddy boots or dogs. There are also useful pockets in the side of the boot where I could place a carrier bag without fear of the contents leaking all over the place.

SUDS’ LAW The Swace hybrid is powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a powerful electric motor I drove short distances in EV mode with no noise. There are three modes – normal, eco or sport. Sharp acceleration can be noisy and typical of the automatic CVT gearbox which Toyota uses.

My washing machine has 20 programmes and I’ve only ever used three. The Suzuki Swace does have other features which at some point in a driving journey you may have cause to use. But what you can be certain of is that when you really need a comfortable, practical, easy to drive car, this excellent hybrid estate caters for all your needs. I

SHOWROOM

Halesowen Motor House, Dudley Road, Birmingham, B63 3NH. Tel: 0121 516 6305 www.halesowenmotorhouse.co.uk

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

REBECCA REDFERN WE SALUTE THE SUPERFAST PARALYMPIAN WITH A BIG HEART WHO CAME HOME FROM TOKYO WITH A SILVER MEDAL AND AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

he uncertainty surrounding the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics made the road to Tokyo fraught for all athletes hoping to compete, but for Becky Redfern there was an added dimension. After winning gold at the World Para Swimming Championships in 2019, Tokyo was her next goal. Having won silver in Rio in the SS13 100m breaststroke, Becky was keen to make the Games and hoped to go one better.

It turns out that when Becky won the World Championship, she was pregnant which meant Tokyo was no longer an option. The timing wouldn’t have worked. Then due to Covid, the Games were postponed with the rearranged date giving Becky 14 months between giving birth to competing. It would take a monumental effort, but Becky and coach Mark Stowe at Worcester Swimming Club were up for the challenge. There was a dissertation to write too as Becky was due to complete her degree in 2020, so no pressure…

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PADDLING POOL Becky was diagnosed with degenerative eye condition, retinitis pigmentosa as a small child and now has severely impaired visual fields with no peripheral vision and poor frontal vision, hence the SS13 category status. With pools closed during lockdown Becky started training in a hot tub in the garden. It wasn’t exactly ideal, but better than nothing and with the tension of a bungee rope tied around the waist and the resistance that created, it became the most effective way for swimmers to keep up pool time during those months, elite or otherwise. Social media was awash with videos of swimmers training in oversized paddling pools. It was all very 2020.

Once pools opened and training was back on, Becky could be seen ploughing up and down the water putting in the hard yards with a steely determination and with Mark pacing the poolside coaching. Once she’d qualified for Tokyo – an amazing feat, Worcester SC rallied

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around firstly crowd funding to help get Becky there and then by ensuring training sessions were super clean and Covid safe. Masks, hand sanitiser, no access to changing rooms, strict entrance and exit policies were all in place.

Covid officers in hi-vis jackets kept the process running smoothly and swimmers kept their distance. A positive Covid test would have been a crushing blow to Becky’s effort as Tokyo grew closer which thankfully, she didn’t have to face.

FAST FINISH The time difference meant the final was in the middle of the night. Friends and family set the alarm and watched nervously. Becky stormed the first 50 metres establishing a lead early on, but in the final 25 metres German Elena Krawzow began to attack and just pipped Becky to the wall in the last few strokes. Becky’s time of 1:14.10 was her fastest over the distance since Rio and she was visibly delighted.

After a tough couple of years mentally and physically, it was a beautiful moment. Becky’s turnaround has been described as ‘miraculous’ and while it is an extraordinary achievement, miraculous seems to negate the massive amount of hard graft and commitment. We feel a Hollywood blockbuster coming on… I

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GROWING PLACES

RECREATION RESTORATION

CHIEF MASTER CEREMONY Former chief masters of King Edward’s School, Birmingham, came together to plant 10 new cherry trees.

The trees replace a number of cherries that have been lost over the years on the school’s driveway. Their location is being recorded as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy tree-planting initiative created for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Current chef master Dr Katy Ricks said: “We took a moment to reflect on the contribution of those who have served as chief master and the life and growth of King Edward’s during this time.”

A play area at Balsall Common Primary School which was closed for the last few years has been revamped and reopened. Pupils can now enjoy the new open space play area and sensory garden, with new fencing, trellis, planting areas and safe play bark flooring. The work to bring the play area back to life was carried out by 16 volunteers from HS2’s main works contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI, their supply chain and HS2 Ltd.

SCHOOL REPORT

IN MEMORY OF NIAMH Five Solihull girls are in training to take on the Three Peaks challenge in memory of their schoolfriend who died earlier this year, aged just 23. Niamh Duffy was part of the gang who had been inseparable since they met at secondary school aged just 11. She was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy aged 18.

Stephanie Loose, Abi Gumery, Lauren Kettle, Becky Nip and Sian Lyddy, all 23, will be tackling the challenge in an emotional tribute – while also raising money for Muscular Dystrophy You can support the girls on their Just Giving page.

BROADWAY ACADEMY SHINES The PTI education charity has crowned the geography department at Broadway Academy School, Birmingham as the winner of the Bernice McCabe Award, which celebrates excellence in subject leadership. The award, named in honour of the charity’s founding co-director, includes a trophy and £5,000 prize and was presented to head of department, Jack Cockayne. The money will be used to install weather stations at the school, buy industry ecological fieldwork equipment, set up a green project and fund additional field trips.

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GROWING PLACES

YOUNG HEROES SALUTED Youngsters who have contributed to the community in amazing ways were named the winners of the West Midlands Lieutenancy Young Active Citizen Awards. The awards were launched last autumn and nominations came from schools across the region highlighting young people helping others through volunteering, running food banks, delivering meals for those in need and raising money for the NHS. Prizes were awarded to 12 winners by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, John Crabtree, at a special ceremony at Acme Whistles in Birmingham. More details about the winners at: wmlieutenancy.org/young-active-citizen-award/

CYCLING SUPERSTAR Moreton Hall Sixth Form student Ellie Jones has confirmed her status as one of the UK’s top Enduro mountain bike racers. Ellie secured her place among the best female mountain bikers in the country by taking first place in the Ard Rock Enduro and fourth spot in the National Championships. At 17, she is competing against women in the under-30 category. Ellie was inspired to take up the sport by her father, who is also an avid mountain biker.

She says her philosophy for success is: “Knowing how to push yourself, but also knowing your boundaries.”

NIGHT WALK FOR CHARITY Staff from Yarnfield Primary School in Tyseley took part in the Shine Night Walk across Birmingham, raising nearly £1,000 for Cancer Research. Led by principal Davinder Jandu, the teachers all completed the 10k charity walk which started and finished at Centenary Square. “I am delighted that we managed to raise so much money for Cancer Research,” said Mrs Jandu. “It was moving to take part in such a positive event and we saw the city in a whole new light walking it at night!”

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BUSINESS

CITY TECH CALL

Tech firms in the West Midlands are being invited to meet with top executives in a bid to help them access a £27.8 billion business sector. Senior representatives from BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Wesleyan, Bruntwood SciTech, Shoosmiths and Barclays have committed to one-on-one meetings with emerging technology companies.

Organised by SuperTech, the meetings will help growing firms access the business, professional and financial services sector, which generates £27.8 billion gross value added annually and employs more than 360,000 people in the West Midlands.

PROPERTY ROLE

Independent Birmingham-based residential developer, Elevate Property Group, has recruited a new land director to help drive the company’s expansion. Sam Meeten, pictured, is tasked with creating a pipeline of sites for Elevate’s next generation of projects. He has worked in property and land acquisition in the Birmingham and West Midlands area for nearly 20 years, most recently for regional estate agent John Shepherd.

LIFESAVERS DEAL Family-owned luxury bath and body brand, Baylis & Harding, is backing Midlands Air Ambulance Charity during its 30th anniversary year. The Redditch-based company is sponsoring the charity’s new demonstration helicopter pod, pictured, which attends events and is a great opportunity for children to play in the helicopter. In addition, the company is backing the charity’s Recognition Awards and Charity Ball in the new year.

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NEWS

BUSINESS

AGENCY DUO

Content marketing agency HDY has strengthened its operational team with two key appointments.

Bringing 20 years of marketing and advertising experience, Deborah Green is the new growth director while Angharad Bray, who has spent 13 years in various roles spanning client services, events and procurement, joins as project director. HDY was co-founded by broadcaster Ed James and marketeer Angel Gaskell in 2018.

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BUSINESS

DOUBLING UP

Interior accessories manufacturer Rothley has moved to bigger premises following a period of continued growth. The company has taken new warehouse and office space in Wolverhampton, spread over 56,000 sq feet, doubling the amount of space for stock. Core product ranges include tube and fittings, profiles and metal sheets, curtain pole systems, sliding door and handrail systems and bathroom accessories, which Rothley supplies to retailers across the country.

CUT ABOVE

Stag Digbeth, the UK’s first independent barbershop, bar, speciality coffee shop, and venue is back! After a successful first year of business in 2019, the crew has returned for 2021 with its innovative concept. With a growing clientele, the team has expanded from a two-chair barbershop into a large capacity venue with a rich musical history – where the late Amy Winehouse once performed. The venue now includes a cocktail bar, speciality coffee shop, more barbering chairs, full DJ setup, and beer garden.

DAN RACES TO WIN Warwickshire’s Dan Skelton was among the winners of the Lycetts Leadership and Team Champions Awards, which celebrate the best

GALLERY OPENING The doors have opened on a new independent art gallery in Edgbaston. Lux Gallery and Photo Studio is a dual-purpose arts space and the brainchild of professional photographer and curator Owen de Visser, who founded Birmingham Open Studios and ArtsBrum. Situated at Greenfield Crescent, all the artworks are exclusively produced for the gallery by some of the UK’s finest creatives. Pieces start from as little as £55, plus there’s greetings cards

SAM’S IN CHARGE

and affordable jewellery also on offer.

racehorse training yards in Britain. Dan, based in Alcester, was awarded the inaugural Lycetts Leadership Award, which showcases trainers with the most exceptional leadership qualities. He received a trophy and cash prize for his yard at a presentation at Sandown Park Racecourse. “This award recognises the whole team at Lodge Hill and the leadership style and positive working environment throughout,” he said.

Samantha Frampton, former member executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), has been appointed head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce. She will continue her active engagement with Solihull members, patrons and the executive committee, as well as supporting the growth of the Solihull business network. Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of GBCC, said: “Over the past three years, Sam has been an integral part of developing our Solihull Chamber division in to the influential and dynamic network it is today.”

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BACKING THE REP Global Birmingham law firm, DLA Piper, has become official sponsor of Birmingham Rep’s 50th birthday season.

With lawyers in more than 40 countries, DLA Piper recently moved into new offices in Chamberlain Square, making the firm and its 160 employees ‘neighbours’ of the Centenary Square theatre.

Managing partner Trevor Ivory said: “We

BUSINESS

BUSINESS BITES GOLDEN PLAN

A new development will create scores of jobs and give the ‘golden mile’ of Birmingham’s main entertainment district a boost. Plans are underway to build a 12-storey aparthotel on the site of the former Lee Longlands furniture store car park at the junction of Tennant Street and Granville Street, just off Broad Street.

HEALTH MAP

are passionate about supporting our local

Hearts and Minds Partnership, which includes

cultural arts venues and the Rep plays a

Midlands Acacia Family Support, has launched

vital role in nurturing young performers,

an interactive map of safe perinatal mental

BALLET CHAIR

something that aligns to our firm values.”

Elmhurst Ballet School, the vocational school in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, has appointed Jim Harris as

health Voluntary and Community Sector services across England, for parents and healthcare professionals. More details at www.heartsandmindspartnership.org

RE-FASHIONED

its new chair of the board of governors. He succeeds

A Midlands designer outlet has launched a new

Dan Howard who stepped down to concentrate on a new,

initiative to tackle textile waste. McArthurGlen’s

full-time role in the education sector. Dan will continue his

Recycle Your Fashion initiative turns bags of

association with the school, as a governor of the board.

donated garments into funds for the centre’s

Jim has served on the Elmhurst board for the last 13 years, most recently as vice-chairman.

MARKET SUCCESS Edgbaston Village’s market has officially become the largest Artisan market in the city, after launching earlier this year. The market at Greenfield Crescent on the Calthorpe Estate has more than 40 stalls selling local artisan products and is attracting 6,000 visitors each month. Haydn Cooper, CEO of Calthorpe Estates, said: The artisan market is a fantastic way to showcase the best of the area, from handmade produce to our talented artists and creators. We’ve been overwhelmed by its success.”

november 2021

chosen local causes. Those making donations receive a 10 per cent voucher to be used across selected brands.

HOWDY PARTNER! Midlands legal firm mfg Solicitors has expanded its commercial property team with the appointment of a new partner. Beth Margetson is based at the firm’s Birmingham office in St Paul’s Square and brings expertise on all aspects of commercial property, including advice for landowners and developers on the sale and purchase of land and buildings for development for various uses ranging from mixed use, industrial, energy, medical and education.

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BUSINESS

METRO ON TRACK LODDERS PLODDERS

Four members of staff at law firm Lodders completed

Midland Metro Alliance is adding the finishing touches to the second phase of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension to Edgbaston. Throughout the summer, overhead wires have been installed and a new substation building is being constructed at Five Ways island. West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “It’s very exciting to see the final pieces of the jigsaw coming together, showing just how

the challenge, the team has raised £1,613, boosted

SALES HEAD

by Lodders Charitable Foundation which added

Coombe Abbey Hotel has appointed a new sales

£1,000 to the pot. Give the Lodders Plodders a

director. Stephanie Taylor has more than 10 years

donation for the Alzheimer’s Society at:

hospitality experience, working at Malmaison

https://www.justgiving.com/team/LoddersPlodders1

Birmingham and Hotel du Vin Birmingham and

a tough 23km walk across the Brecon Beacons in South Wales to raise more than £2,600 for

close we are to finishing construction on the extension of the West Midlands Metro line to Edgbaston Village.”

Alzheimer’s Society. Nicknamed the Lodders Plodders, the awesome foursome were Sharon Crosby, Gemma Bryan, Michael Brook and Sofia Tayton. On completing

The company behind Warwickshire’s four-star

Stratford-upon-Avon. She joins the No Ordinary Hospitality Management team whose portfolio includes the 121-bedroom hotel, as well as two cafes, an ice cream parlour and Go Ape adventure site.

OFFICE MOVE

A Birmingham-based health and wellbeing company is the latest tenant to sign a deal for offices at the 54 Hagley Road complex in Edgbaston. BHSF, founded in 1873 as

TRAVEL TRIUMPH

Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund, agreed a three-year lease for 3,900 sq ft on the 13th floor

West Midlands-based Your Co-op Travel is celebrating a double victory at the

which sees its 150 staff move from nearby

Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards. The company took the Central

Darnley Road as it looks to grow the business.

England Large Agency award for the eighth consecutive year, while Walsall-

Incoming BHSF group chief executive Heidi Stewart said: “54 Hagley Road provides us with superb facilities for our teams.”

based learning and development manager, David Watts-Davies, was presented with the Agency Support Team of the Year award. Your Co-op Travel has its regional head office in Walsall and 76 branches across England’s mid counties, including 19 in the West Midlands.

POWER PLAY

A Birmingham business outsourcing specialist has won a contract to support a 100 per cent renewable energy supplier in managing its most vulnerable or financially challenged customers through a ground-breaking new service.

Sigma Connected, which provides customer contact services for some of Britain’s biggest energy suppliers, has won the contract with Pure Planet through Sigma’s Reach:Out service, an initiative that helps customers who are struggling to pay bills to access grants and free money advice.

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SOCIAL SCENE

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LAW FIRM SERVES UP ACE DAY OF TENNIS

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Lodders family team hosts friends and contacts for fun-filled, on-court action

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he family team of law firm Lodders served up a day of tennis and high-tea. More than 50 guests including friends and professional contacts joined Lodders’ Beverley Morris, Vivienne Middleton, Caroline Dresden, Baldish Khatkar, and Christine Williams at Pershore Tennis Centre, Worcestershire. Partner Beverley, who heads the family law team, said: “The event was a great success with 56 players taking the opportunity to enjoy time on the court.” I

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1 Gail Eales, Lynda Collins, Jo Eales, Hannah Griffin, Baldish Khatkar, Alicia Farran. 2 Beverley Morris and Pete Hodgson.

3 Helen Anderson, Mary Osborne, Siew Kuan, Andrea Sapey. 4 Marius Lutken, Sue Hartill, Caroline Dresden. 5 Graham Mills, Natasha Brandler.

6 Beverley Morris, Simon Corbishley, Sarah McCormick. 7 Pershore Tennis Centre coaches, Mike, Lucy, Simon, Steve and Brad.

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SOCIAL SCENE

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OFFICIAL OPENING OF GREENFIELD CRESCENT 2

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Ribbon cut on pedestrianised streetscape in Edgbaston Village ollowing a year-long transformation, the ribbon was officially cut on the newlypedestrianised Greenfield Crescent in Edgbaston Village. Representatives from a host of nearby businesses came to watch CEO of Calthorpe Estates, Haydn Cooper, and Sir Euan AnstrutherGough-Calthorpe officially open the new streetscape. Guests enjoyed a live jazz reception at the Blue Piano, before heading to the new-look Crescent for opening speeches. I

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1 Dr Katy Ricks, Oliver Powell, Phil Powell. 2 Ralph Minott, Ann Tonks, Kay Cadman. 3 Prashant Dave, Paul Gillot, Paula Hay Plumb, Chris Adams, Drew Dulson. 4 Haydn Cooper, Sir Euan Calthorpe. 5 Gerald Allison, Tory Burgin. 6 Lewis Roberts, Tony MacDonagh, Matt Bennett.

7 Prashant Dave, Chris Adams, Andrew Parker. 8 Lee Haynes, Hannah Gallop, Katie French. 9 Kelly Sangha, James McBride, Linda McBride.

10 Sharon Gordon, Nancy Harding, Vanessa Powell.

Photography by Vivienne Bailey

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LULU WILD OPENS WITH EXPLOSION OF COLOUR

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Bold, quirky modern Chinese restaurant and cocktail bar lifts off in Brindleyplace

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he team from Aluna and Siamais celebrated the launch of their latest venue in Brindleyplace with an explosion of colour and cocktails. Lulu Wild is a modern Chinese restaurant and cocktail bar situated at the old Carluccio’s site. The design team has transformed the 5,000 sq ft space into a stylish two-story venue with bold and quirky interiors. Chef Derrick Chen showcased a tasty menu of modern Chinese cuisine, paired with some great cocktails. I

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1 Anita Champaneri, Harish Nathwani, Alexandra Ionsecu. 2 James March, Fionnula Burke, Andrew Riley. 3 Kelly Johnson, Amy Langston, Millie Frizzell. 4 Liliana and Evie Farnell. 5 Khaleda and James Meredith. 6 Eve Thomas and Louise Thomas. 7 Sacha Dymova, Galina Thomas, Gareth Thomas. 8 Abbie Richardson, Naomi Aly, Anita Champaneri.

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Photography by Daniel Knott/Delicious PR

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ing ON il vWHAT’S

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WHAT: BMM Quiz Night WHEN: 9 November

WHERE: British Motor Museum, britishmotormuseum.co.uk The museum hosts the first of a series of brand-new evening events. Led by special guest Danny Hopkins, teams can enjoy a fun night out while testing their knowledge of classic cars with all proceeds supporting the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

WHAT: Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market WHEN: 4 November to 23 December WHERE: Victoria Square, thebfcm.co.uk Sure sign life is really getting back to normal as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany returns to the city. A huge range of traditional good and gifts are on offer so try to look beyond the schnitzels, bratwursts, beer and gluhwein.

WHAT: Alexandra Dariescu WHEN: 10 November WHERE: Elgar Concert Hall, barber.org.uk/concerts/ Dariescu has performed with leading orchestras, premiered numerous new works and produced eight critically acclaimed recordings. Her

WHAT: Star Night with Ray Quinn

commitment to advocating diversity and

WHEN: 20 November

inclusion are reflected in this performance

WHERE: Nailcote Hall, nailcotehall.co.uk

of French female composers.

The X Factor and Dancing on Ice star brings his stunning solo show to the Hall, showcasing his fantastic vocal ability which will see him perform everything from swing all the way through to modern classics.

WHAT: MCM Comic Con WHEN: 13 and 14 November WHERE: NEC Birmingham The epic celebration of pop culture is back! With a programme jampacked with content, there’ll be celebrity guests, panels, independent creators and so much more – including a special appearance from Star Wars royalty and emperor of the dark side, Ian McDiarmid *All information accurate at time of going to press, but please check in case of changes or cancellation

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT: The Nutcracker WHEN: 20 November to 11 December WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome, birminghamhippodrome.com

WHAT: Love Actually in concert WHEN: 15 December WHERE: Symphony Hall, bmusic.co.uk The seasonal romcom that has become

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s evergreen

synonymous with the festive period is in Brum

production has been part of the city’s

this winter with a full orchestra performing its

Christmas tradition since 1990 and we love it!

soundtrack, live, to picture. A wonderful way

Join young Clara as she is swept away into an

to get into the Christmas spirit.

enchanting winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and a Sugar Plum Fairy.

WHAT: SHOUT Festival WHEN: 5 to 28 November WHERE: Various, shoutfestival.co.uk The Festival of Queer Arts and Culture

WHAT: Christmas in Cathedral Square

returns, helping to amplify the voices

WHEN: 17 November to 19 December

of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and

WHERE: Birmingham Cathedral grounds,

queer people. With a host of special

colmorebusinessdistrict.com

events across the city, there’s plenty

An exciting new market delivered by Colmore BID,

of opportunity to get involved and

complementing other established festive events in the city

have a jolly good time, too!

centre. The market is set to provide a platform for local businesses, producers and craftspeople to showcase their goods in the run up to Christmas.

WHAT: Creative Craft Show WHEN: 4 to 7 November WHERE: NEC Birmingham, creativecraftshow.co.uk Knitting, cross stitch, paper crafting, jewellery, calligraphy, dressmaking… it’s all on tap here with inspiration, ideas and tips from experts available from a range of workshops and demonstrations.

Oh, and there’s a giant, entirely knitted nudist village fete on display…

WHAT: Rocketman with Wine WHEN: 13 November WHERE: Millennium Point, millenniumpoint.org.uk Enjoy a good sing-along and reach the sky with this awesome musical hit. Run in conjunction with innovative event specialists, the Wine Events Company, enjoy a unique showing alongside five themed wines and a very BIG screen!

WHAT: Slade WHEN: 18 December WHERE: Asylum, theasylumvenue.co.uk With their unique blend of perfect pop rock ’n’ roll, outrageous flamboyance and pure fun – and no less than 23 top 20 singles of which six were No 1 smash hits – Slade have become a firm favourite in the hearts of pop fans all over the world.

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PERSON TO PERSON

CLOSE WITHÁ NATHAN DENNIS

The man behind Legacy Consultants talks his inner city background, the issue of youth violence, Black Lives Matter, greater engagement with ethnic communities – and his role in the 2022 Commonwealth Games BEEN THERE, DONE THAT I’m born and bred in Newtown, Birmingham and am proud to be of Jamaican heritage. Like many people from the inner city, I grew up in a council house. I didn’t see many positive examples of men when I was younger and I decided that I didn’t want to be like that. I gave up everything that I was doing, found faith and met my future wife, Sabrina, when I was 21. We now have four beautiful daughters together.

Sabrina supported me in establishing a consultancy business and last year we launched our charity, First Class Foundation.

We deal with issues such as youth violence, mental health resilience and connecting people to their purpose through employment and training opportunities. Our team is doing some amazing things in support of partners, including the West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit and Youth Offending Teams across the region.

IT’S WHAT I DO I’m a consultant and trainer helping organisations to think differently about how they engage with black and minority ethnic communities. Typically, that involves the delivery of a range of consultancy services, including dynamic training programmes and engagement strategies. Recently, I’ve been working with HS2 to help bring a host of exciting jobs, skills and training opportunities to people across our region.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE In the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd, I made a lifelong commitment that everything I do will be dedicated to working in partnership with those that want to make a lasting change in the areas of diversity and inclusion. I’m excited and intrigued to see how many of the businesses that made race and diversity statements in 66 birmingham living

the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, will develop those words into tangible delivery plans.

BIGGEST SUCCESS I’ve been fortunate enough to win regional and national awards which I am incredibly proud of but it’s the impact made on the lives of others that really matters to me. You may remember the tensions in the community following the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan in 2011. I was on the streets at that time, working to support our young people, and was also consulted by former Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Over the years, I’ve worked with thousands of people from diverse backgrounds and communities. It’s given me a good understanding of what is needed to help them to prosper. I’m keen to make sure their ambitions are represented in my new role as part of the Legacy and Benefits Committee of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED If I was speaking to my younger self, I would tell myself not to be fearful of anything. Where you come from and the labels attached to you, do not define you. It’s about the daily decisions you make.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM The people. We’re such a youthful city and there is more talent and creativity here than we give ourselves credit for.

Birmingham is a beautiful place.

DOWNTIME It’s crucial to create time to spend with your family – going on walks or watching films together. My faith plays a critical role in everything I do, it allows me to rejuvenate. I november 2021

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