Dluxe Birmingham Summer 2018 Web Edition

LU E D X BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL

SUMMER ‘18

INSIDE: TIM MINCHIN talks matilda dylan moran beach chic for him and her explore philadelphia get your garden on!

YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY

WWW.DLUXE-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

MUSIC TO YOUR EARS AND A DRINK (OR T WO) IN YOUR HANDS

Celebrate the most stylish night of the week with our mouth-watering menu, delicious drinks and a line-up of live musical talents.

Every Saturday night, 9pm – 12 midnight Ground Floor Bar BOOK NOW +44 121 616 6028 reservations.birmingham@harveynichols.com

The Mailbox 65 Wharfside Street Birmingham B1 1RE

EDITOR’S LETTER. We know that Spring is traditionally the period of growth but it all seems to be happening this Summer both at the dluxe offices and in Birmingham itself! After working in the city for nearly twenty years, we’ve finally ditched the M6 horrorcommute in favour of an office in the city, so from now on we’ll be keeping things cool with the city’s other creatives by the Custard Factory. I know, what took us so long? One thing that’s helped is the huge advances in technology and data management – I know that’s a bit of a dirty word following the dramas of GDPR, but having access to everything in the palm of your hand really is revolutionary - and essential to us, as we’re usually here, there and everywhere.

We talk to Calum Scott - P22

This ease of access to information has also transformed the rest of our business, for example did you know that we’re in touch with over 500, 000 readers each month online via our website, Facebook, twitter, Instagram and that you can also read an e-version of the magazine online, if you’ve missed it in print? The full magazine is there in its page-turning glory on www. dluxe-magazine.co.uk and there’s a huge amount of daily news, offers, updates and info on the website and via social media too that doesn’t even appear in the magazine at all. I invite you to give it a look and like. You can even check up on the back issues too if there’s something you’ve missed or just do a website search – perhaps the recipe for that amazing Ginger

WE CAN’T WAIT FOR...

Christmas Cake from last winter; sorry- no more talk of Christmas!

Our heart will always belong in print though; there’s nothing quite like flicking through a proper, luxury magazine with a cuppa (or wine) as a way to relax and we’re finding that, despite the conveniences in technology, there’s even more demand for physical magazines than ever before.

It’s a sentiment reaching our ears from the advertising world, too who liken it to the resurgence of vinyl compared to downloads. We think a mixture of online and print is the way forward though, so we’ll be printing more by the end of the year to keep up with the demand! It’s a nice position to be in.

So however or wherever you’re reading this, we hope you enjoy this, our summer issue. We’ve got interviews with the amazing Tim Minchin about the success of musical Matilda which hits Birmingham soon; the star of cult classic comedy, Dylan Moran, chats ahead of his appearance in the city and we’ve got our usual foray in to the world of fashion, travel, interiors and living - all with a suitably summer slant.

We’ll be back in September. Until then, remember to take us away with you on your tablet- www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk Best,

Jonathan Fraser Group Editor In Chief

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FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

THE LEAGUE LIVE

TH E N U N

blame it on Bianca

We knew she was set for big things when we first interviewed her in 2007.

The League of Gentlemen will return to the Arena Birmingham stage on the 13th and 14th September as part of their first UK tour in over 12 years.

Their brand new live show ‘The League of Gentlemen Live Again!’ will see BAFTA Award winning comedy legends bring their dark and unhinged fictional village of Royston Vasey back to life...

Remember that super creepy Nun in The Conjuring movies? Well she’s back back this summer! When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate.

Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret.

Risking not only their lives but their faith.

The cheeky, largerthan-life drag queen and outrageous comic who isn’t afraid to shock or offend brings her trademark acerbic wit and sharp commentary to the page in an uproarious illustrated collection of advice- Blame it On Bianca. Bianca sandblasted her name in the annals of pop culture on RuPaul’s Drag Race thanks to her snarky frankness.

It’s been far too long since we heard from the divine Florence Welch with 2015’s ‘How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful’ so we genuinely cannot wait for the release of the ten track High As Hope.

Guest appearances include Jamie xx, Kamasi Washington, Sampha, and Kelsey Lu with the album being co-produced by Emile Haynie who’s pedigree includes Lana Del Ray, Mark Ronson and Lady Gaga.

First single Hunger is an 80’s inspired belter, we can’t wait to hear more!

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See life in a new light New Pirouette® Shades from Luxaflex® The unique design of our Pirouette® Shades features soft fabric vanes which gently filter light and control privacy. And PowerView® Motorisation also lets you operate your shades with one tap of your smart phone, tablet or remote control.

Find out more at luxaflex.co.uk

LUXAFLEX® SHOWROOM: Solihull Blinds Ltd Solihull 0121 7331001

CONTENTS.

TALK TO US MANAGING DIRECTOR Kevin Urquhart Kevin@fu-media.co.uk 07713 740 272

GROUP EDITOR IN CHIEF Jonathan Fraser Jon@fu-media.co.uk 0772 580 9654

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Lilith Hunt-Sheppard lilith@fu-media.co.uk 07975 970711

ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATION Carey York carey@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445

DIGITAL CONTENT EXECUTIVE Francesca Arculeo Francesca@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445

08 AGENDA Our personal picks

of our favourite features, stories and products from around the West Midlands.

20 SPOTLIGHT We talk to Tim Minchin ahead of Matilda the Musical arriving at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

24 FOR HER Shaping up for summer, making a splash with yellow and keeping things simple on the beach.

28 FOR HIM No more tiny trunks, hand luggage heroes, finding your inner hero and falling in love with linen.

34 MOTORS Looking for the X Factor? The new BMW X2 might be just the job.

36 LIVING Summer brights, outdoor style, gardening in the great outdoors and getting on trend with texture.

42 TRAVEL Make the most of the

airport on your way through, exploring Edinburgh and falling for Philly- big style!

48 DINING Wonderful Rhubarb, Gorgeous Gin, Amplified Events and Dining Digest with Anita Champaneri.

52 DIARY What’s happening and

what’s happened in and around Brum this summer and we chat to comedian Dylan Moran ahead of his one man show in the city this Autumn.

62 BUSINESS The latest thinking

DLUXE BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL LOWER TRINITY STREET, DIGBETH, BIRMINGHAM. B9 4AG 31 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1RE TEL: 0116 2533 445

www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk info@fu-media.co.uk

dluxe.magazine

and topic led business advice from some of the city’s top business brains.

66 LAST WORD We find about

My Birmingham with Robert Diaper, General Manager of Three Church Road, Edgbaston

dluxe mag

dluxemagazine

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF VALENTINO

Disclaimer: Copyright 69 & dluxe BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publishers. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy in compiling this publication, the Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, omissions, breach of copyright or otherwise since compilation. The Publisher cannot be held responsible for any material submitted to the publication, not excluding advertisements. The views expressed within this title are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply recommendation by the Publisher. © 69 Magazine Ltd 2018

6 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

FEEL CONFIDENT IN YOUR APPEARANCE - FEEL CONFIDENT IN YOURSELF T: 0121 455 6974 or 0121 270 6085 M: 07885 752 638 E: info@yugen-clinic.co.uk W: www.yugen-clinic.co.uk

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AGENDA.

cirque

d u s o l e i l Cirque du Soleil will return to Birmingham this autumn as part of a brand-new UK arena tour with OVO, a celebration of nature and co-existence which will run from the 3 - 7 October.

OVO, meaning “egg” in Portuguese, is a headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

With a cast of 50 performing artists from 17 countries specializing in many acrobatic acts, OVO has already thrilled more than 5 million people worldwide since the show premiered in Montreal in 2009 as a Big Top show.

Tickets are available at www. cirquedusoleil.com/ovo or www.livenation.com

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 9

Bornholm Coffee Table, £179, BoConcept

LIGHT WOOD

REFRESH YOUR HOME

For a nod towards the popular minimalist Scandinavian homewares trend, light wooden furniture is your go-to.

Simply pair with neutral hues and fabrics for a clean, contemporary feel.

Whether you’re adding little touches or planning a complete overhaul, it’s time to embrace the warmer months with home furnishings at Mailbox Birmingham.

Ottowa Sideboard, £2,239, BoConcept

Tear Flowerpot, £69, BoConcept

Plant Box Small, £65, Heal’s

GREEN FINGERS

COLD HARD CONCRETE

’S TOR I D E K PIC

As well as being practical, durable and simple, small concrete accessories around the house will create a stripped back and rustic feel in your living space. If your home doesn’t have a garden, this is a great way to incorporate the outdoors.

Concrete bowl,

£95, BoConcept

10 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Kalaw Coffee Table Concrete, £249, MADE.COM

Endon Paloma Pendant Gold, £90, iLite

2, Heal’s

It’s the trend that originated in France back in the early 20th century, and Art Deco interiors aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. The most distinguishable characteristics of this trend include accents of gold, dark wooden cabinets and curved furniture.

Plant St and

High, £3

Black Bahia Leather Sofa, £5,274, BoConcept

Newgate Pluto Starburst Gold Wall Clock, £140, Heal’s

Bristol Table Lamp, £59, Heal’s

New Works Material Pendant Light, £138, iLite Lighting

Hakuun Set of 2 Terrazzo Plant Pots With Rubberwood Legs Grey, £49, MADE.COM

ART DECO Macrame Flowerpot, £59, BoConcept

Whether you’re tending to real plants or copping out with fake flowers, adding greenery will undoubtedly breathe new life into your home and these contemporary plant potting solutions will make all the difference.

Art Deco Tealight Holder, £15, BoConcept

Offer:

Use code BHAMSROOM50 for £50 off when you spend £500 or more at MADE.COM (ends 31st Dec 2018)

Lyra Garden Hanging Chair Charcoal Grey, £449, MADE.COM

SPECIAL FEATURE.

AGENDA.

and more...

mailboxlife.com

SPECIAL FEATURE.

AGENDA.

it’s needed to restore lost fullness, improve skin quality and smooth lines.

Their Birmingham clinic also offers Profhilo – a new type of anti-ageing treatment that helps your skin to produce four different types of collagen and elastin, so it rejuvenates itself from the inside out. Often described as an ‘injectable moisturiser’, in addition to smoothing lines, Profhilo increases firmness, improves elasticity and enhances skin texture.

It’s suitable for use in a number of different areas, including the face, neck, jaw, jowls, décolletage and hands.

BE BODY BEAUTIFUL At Courthouse Clinics Birmingham, we don’t just focus on your face. Their portfolio includes Laser Hair Removal, plus a wide range of body contouring treatments.

Their Laser Hair Removal is safe, effective, long-lasting and pain-free. Using only the most advanced lasers on the market, which are suitable for all skin types – and most hair colours. Most areas require six to eight treatments (with some time in between) so the sooner you start, the sooner you can dare to bare!

Look younger & feel fabulous at Courthouse Clinics Birmingham Courthouse Clinics is the UK’s leading aesthetic clinic chain. Their busy Birmingham clinic is located in the upmarket Edgbaston area, conveniently located near shopping, transportation and free parking. It offers a comprehensive range of anti-ageing aesthetic and wellbeing treatments, within a professional yet welcoming environment.

A TOP TEAM The talented team at the Birmingham clinic is led by Medical Director Dr Robin Stones.

Hugely experienced within aesthetics and dermatology, Dr Stones has been a practising physician for more than 20 years. He is a member of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors; an associate member of the British Association of Dermatologists; and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. He is even a former winner of the prestigious Aesthetic Awards Practitioner of the year, so you can be sure you’re in the safest of hands.

SAY GOODBYE TO LINES AND WRINKLES Anti-ageing injectables and facial fillers are some of the most popular treatments. Antiageing injections are a fast, effective solution to facial lines and wrinkles, especially on the upper half of the face, so they’re perfect for 12 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

frown lines and crow’s feet. They work by relaxing specific muscles, so they can no longer contract into deep grooves or worry lines, leaving your skin looking smoother, firmer and more youthful. And they don’t just work on existing wrinkles – regular treatments also help to prevent future lines from forming.

The summer months can be a testing time for body confidence, but Courthouse offer an extensive range of body treatments, so whatever you’re worried about, they’ve got a fix for it. Take Fat Freezing: the perfect treatment for eliminating stubborn stores of fat from all the usual problem areas. This pain-free treatment is a great non-invasive alternative to surgical liposuction, and achieves visible results after just one session.

If you’re stressed about cellulite, they offer a selection of specialist treatments designed to tackle that unsightly ‘orange peel’ effect. If you want to get rid of those wobbly bits, their body contouring and skin tightening treatments will leave you looking smooth, toned, taut – and ready to rock that bikini!

READER OFFERS!

At Courthouse Clinics, only qualified, experienced Doctors or Advanced Nurse Practitioners perform anti-ageing injections.

They’re committed to creating natural-looking results that subtly enhance and rejuvenate your appearance, so there’s no need to fear the ‘frozen face’ effect!

Here are some of the super savings on offer at Birmingham during the summer season (Quote code SUMMERB3):

Facial fillers (sometimes known as dermal fillers) are another hugely popular anti-ageing option, as they are an excellent way to add volume, improve facial contours, enhance definition and smooth lines and wrinkles. Lip fillers are also used to achieve a fuller, plumper pout.

• 20% off courses of Skin and Body Treatments

Facial fillers contain hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in our bodies, but which decreases as we age. Hyaluronic acid works by “filling in” a wrinkle, combining with the water in your skin to add moisture where

Courthouse Clinics Birmingham, 8 George Road, Edgbaston, B15 1NP

• Up to 40% off courses of Laser Hair Removal • Up to £300 off courses of Fat Freezing

(Offers expire 31.08.18. T&Cs apply)

For more information, or to book a treatment or consultation, call us today on 0121 5165296.

www.courthouseclinics.com

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AGENDA.

ANYONE FOR DARTH JEELING? In space, no-one can hear you steam… which is a shame because the superbly menacing Darth Vader Kettle has a whistle that could awaken The Force.

Fancy a fragrant cup of Darthjeeling or a nice Hoth mug of java? Then let the Dark Lord of the Sith lend a heat-resistant gloved hand. Styled to resemble the silhouette of Vader’s iconic shiny armoured bonce (albeit with a Lightsaber welded to it), this officially licensed, high quality stainlesssteel stovetop kettle will have 1.7L of water boiling with barely suppressed rage faster than you can say ‘the brew is strong with this one...’

A DECADE OF DE STRESSING THE CITY Birmingham’s yoga hotspot, yogahaven, is celebrating ten years of success in the city centre. Situated in a prime location, adjacent to the old railway arches, the business has grown from strength to strength since it was founded in 2008 by expert yogi, Allie Hill.

And since DV’s aforementioned saber functions as the handle, you can make the obligatory vwauuwauuming noises as you safely lift kettle to cup.

Speaking on the ten year anniversary, Allie said “Being able to impart my knowledge of the discipline to people of all shapes, sizes and abilities, day in, day out, brings me so much joy, and I’ve loved seeing yogahaven grow from strength to strength over the last ten years. Birmingham, as a city, has such a strong and diverse energy, and I try to do my bit to maintain that by nurturing the minds and bodies of the people who make up its inhabitants.”

One for the galactic lust list? Search your tea leaves, you know it to be true!

The Star Wars Darth Vadar Stovetop Kettle costs £49.99 from www.thefowndry.com

64 Livery St, Birmingham B3 1HA www.yogahaven.co.uk Tel. 0121 236 1547

REVOLUCIÓN DE CUBA BRINGS LATIN FLARE TO CITY brick walls and vintage posters. Meanwhile, upstairs the Havana Club Bar boasts plush velvet banquettes, leather bar stools and chandeliers. The stylish dancefloor, complete with a raised DJ stage and disco ball, is perfect for a night of live music, Latin-themed dancers and much, much more.

Cocktail connoisseurs will delight in the ‘Cantinero’s Choice’ of super premium offerings, including exclusive serves made with new aged rum, Bacardi Cuatro, such as the Pineapple Passion Spritz (pineapple liqueur, Freixenet prosecco, passion fruit and soda).

Vibrant new rum bar and cantina Revolución de Cuba is bringing some sizzling Cuban heat to the heart of the city with its new venue on Temple Street.

Reviving the days of Ernest Hemingway sipping Daiquiris to the sounds of the habanera, the new restaurant and bar, based in the grand former Birmingham Law Library, features a unique, colourful 14 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

and vibrant rùstico interior set across two floors with spinning ceiling fans, rich velvet curtains, chandeliers and antiquestyle furniture.

The kitchen pays homage to the best of Cuban, Caribbean and South American food, all cooked to order. Innovative dishes deliver exotic twists such as the savoury Dirty Churros which come dusted in spiced sugar and topped with manchego cheese sauce and pickled onions; and the Quesadilla Burger; filled with mozzarella, hot chilli cheese, spinach and serrano ham.

A flavour of old school Cuban glamour fills the downstairs space where diners can sit at colourful tiled tables and unwind with friends, surrounded by foliage, exposed

Revolución de Cuba 8 Temple Street, Birmingham. B2 5BN Tel: 0800 6300 860 www.revoluciondecuba.com

SPECIAL FEATURE.

Amplify your live event experience

as special as possible throughout their experience with us. I also have a fantastic team of Amplify representatives who support me with this – dedicated account managers who look after members, and event hostesses who ensure customers receive a first-class service right through to event finish.

Amplify is the premium hospitality provider for the NEC Group’s two arenas – Arena Birmingham and Genting Arena. Set up over 20 years ago, packages provide exclusive hospitality and exquisite dining, with premium tickets for concerts, entertainment and sports events. It’s the perfect way to treat the family, or host that important client.

Who is Sally Walder?

I’m the General Manager of Amplify. Having had over 12 years’ experience in the hospitality business, I understand the difference between good and exceptional hospitality.

Having initially developed my knowledge of the industry in football – selling corporate hospitality boxes- I moved into the equally fast paced world of the arenas business and haven’t looked back!

What made you get into the hospitality sector?

Birmingham has the strongest entertainment market in the UK outside of London, and with it, brings ample opportunity to offer enhanced hospitality offerings. I’ve always thought it important for businesses to offer the best customer service possible, so hospitality was a natural sector for me to go into and something I continue to enjoy.

What do you love about working at Amplify?

The people. We have a great variety of customers from all over the UK walk through our doors, and I strive to ensure they feel

What is the most challenging part of working in Amplify Working in live events means we work ridiculous hours throughout the year. There’s a great deal of work that happens behind the scenes of every event and preparations often need to take place months in advance. From promoting the event, through to deciding menu options, facilitating special requirements and securing Show Cubes for VIP guests of an artist, all fall under our remit.

Tell us about the Show Cubes – what are they?

These are our ten exclusive and luxurious hospitality boxes at Arena Birmingham. The perfect way to entertain up to 14 clients, colleagues or friends, each includes a private bar and offers balcony seating, not to mention uninterrupted panoramic views of the Arena. These benefits plus private entrance and in-cube dining as an optional extra, have made them our most sought after facilities for corporate and private guests alike.

What are the best ways to get Amplify packages?

The Amplify team is on hand every weekday 9am-5pm to help with any booking enquiries on 0844 338 0333. I’d recommend that those interested get in touch as soon as they hear about the event, especially if they would like to reserve a Show Cube.

Be the first to hear about NEC Group Arena events by signing up to the Genting Arena and Arena Birmingham mailing lists via their websites, or visit amplify.co.uk dluxe-magazine.co.uk 15

AGENDA.

BIRMINGHAM INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2018

The UK and Europe’s largest Indian film festival returns this summer and promises to be a cinematic treasure trove of carefully curated premieres of South Asian independent films, offering rare glimpses into some of the billion plus lives in the sub-continent.

The festival, presented by the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival, returns for its fourth consecutive year at Cineworld Broad Street, mac Birmingham and The Mockingbird Cinema & Kitchen until the 1 July.

Audiences can expect a spectacular 10 days of Midland premieres of feature films, documentaries and shorts exploring a compelling slate of

controversial, entertaining and thoughtprovoking themes with global resonances, plus lively Q&As and panel debates.

Festival director Cary Rajinder Sawhney says: “One great thing about being in the UK is that we are culturally intertwined to India and South Asia, not just through our shared history but our living, everyday experience where South Asian communities add so much to UK cultural life, of which cinema is an important aspect. This cutting-edge festival showcases indie cinema that entertains but shows the more realistic and sometimes the raw side of South Asian culture but, at the same time, there are always stories of comedy, hope and the un-exhaustible energy of over 1.3

billion South Asian lives from the Indian subcontinent” This year’s festival will highlight films based on a series of themes including ‘The Female Eye’, ‘Fathers & Sons’ ‘ExtraOrdinary Lives’ and Festival Shorts which will see the London Indian Film Festival Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition Entries screened in Birmingham for the first time giving festival goers a rare chance to see the works of talented, emerging filmmakers, who are exploring themes of South Asian experience.

For the full listings of events www. birminghamindianfilmfestival.co.uk

Krispy Kreme Caravan aRRIVES AT Selfridges Krispy Kreme, the creator of the ultimate indulgent doughnuts, has officially re-launched its concession in Selfridges Birmingham with a vintage-style Rocket caravan, made locally in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, along with seating for 30 diners wanting to enjoy a freshly made doughnut, a refreshing chilled drink, milkshake, tea or coffee at the concession on level 1.

Krispy Kreme opened in Selfridges in 2005 and has sold a staggering 5.6 million doughnuts since.

“Birmingham loves Krispy Kreme, so we’re very excited to bring our unique Rocket caravan and introduce our new space in Selfridges,” said Head of Operations Richard Latham. “As before, it will feature all of our favourite lines, as well as seasonal specials and, of course our uniquely blended coffees, which are the perfect complement for our doughnuts.”

Sam Watts, general manager of Selfridges Birmingham, said: “We’re thrilled to have the one-of-a-kind Rocket caravan in store, which is a visually striking addition to our food court on level 1” 16 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Hallfield Hallfield Hallfield school Hallfield school edgbaston school school edgbaston edgbaston

An independent co-educational day school from 3 months - 11 years

edgbaston

An independent co-educational day school from 3 months - 11 years An independent co-educational day school from 3 months - 11 years

An independent co-educational day school from 3 months - 11 years

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Open MOrnings Tuesday Open MOrnings Open MOrnings Open MOrnings Call 0121 454 1496

Call 0121 454 454 1496 Call 0121 1496 for more information Call 0121 454 for1496 more information for more information for more information

ROMEO AND JULIET Prokofiev’s glorious score sets hearts alight in Kenneth MacMillan’s enduringly popular Romeo and Juliet.

Love at first dance, forbidden passions, dangerous secrets and star-crossed fate combine in this exhilarating classic ballet. In the most famous love story ever told, a dangerous cocktail of arrogant youth, simmering tension and deadly feuds erupts, leaving two young lovers at the mercy of powerful families and their own hearts. From the balcony scene’s ecstatic pas de deux, exploring love in all its soaring wonder, to the lovers’ heartbreaking ends, Romeo and Juliet is dance at its most poignant and beautiful.

Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 June, (FREE audience open day: Saturday 30 June 12pm) Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000. birminghamhippodrome.com

Outstanding Academic results: 83% Pass rate to Select Entry LA Grammar Schools 37 Scholarships to Independent Schools – a record number! (For September 2017)

www.hallfieldschool.co.uk 0121 454 1496 admissions@hallfieldschool.co.uk www.hallfieldschool.co.uk www.hallfieldschool.co.uk Church Road, Edgbaston, 0121 454 1496 0121 454 1496 B15 3SJ Birmingham,

www.hallfieldschool.co.uk admissions@hallfieldschool.co.uk admissions@hallfieldschool.co.uk 0121 454 1496Road, Edgbaston, Church Road, Edgbaston, Church admissions@hallfieldschool.co.uk Birmingham,Birmingham, B15 3SJ B15 3SJ Church Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3SJ

AGENDA.

Rock On Roll Talk about statement wallpaper!

Rock Roll Wallpaper is the world’s first officially licensed repeat wallpaper and large-scale murals of album artwork from seminal recording artists.

Rock Roll’s official music wallpaper and wall murals have been designed in collaboration with some of the world’s biggest bands.

The company has partnered with musicians from Black Sabbath, The Who, and Guns ‘n’ Roses to The Rolling Stones, Bring Me the Horizon and The Sex Pistols to create high-quality music wallpapers featuring some of rock’s most memorable artwork.

Delivering superior quality bespoke wallcoverings of legendary bands, Rock Roll will transform rooms into statement spaces that speak to aficionados of quality and music.

Rock Roll Wallpaper is available from www.rockroll.co.uk with prices starting from £70 for wallpaper and £200 for murals.

POWER OF 4

BCH ride FOR LIFE

Birmingham Cocktail Weekend returns for its fourth year with forty venues, all offering a signature cocktail for just £4.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity is inviting its big hearted supporters to join them on their second annual London to Paris bike ride. Taking place on 5-9 September, this epic challenge will see supporters of all abilities cycle 300 miles over four consecutive days, to help raise vital funds for the sick kids and their families cared for at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

From the Edinburgh Gin Hub @ The Mailbox’s Urban Room, festival-goers will be in perfect proximity to BCW veterans Malmaison and Harvey Nichols, along with Pennyblacks, Churchills, Tom’s Kitchen, and AC by Marriott Birmingham, Gas Street Social and Marco Pierre-White’s for cocktails in the clouds. Just around the corner Island Bar will be joined by New Alexandra Theatre, The Victoria and, new for the 2018 line up, Radisson Blu Birmingham.

Continuing to the city centre, wristband-wearers can enjoy a tipple at Be At One alongside Chung Ying Central, and The Lost & Found. Bodega are joined by Buffalo & Rye, Amantia and Cosy Club. Bennett’s Hill’s new additions Dirty Martini and Revolucion De Cuba will be joined by Temple Street veterans The Botanist and Sabai Sabai.

James Lunney, Events Fundraiser at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “I took part in last year’s London to Paris bike ride and it was an incredible experience which I will never forget.

We had team members who hadn’t cycled for over 20 years and all abilities of fitness. Not only is it amazing experience for all involved, but it also raises vital funds to help provide the best possible facilities and environment at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”

The city’s business district is not to be missed with Hotel du Vin, Gusto, Gaucho and The Jekyll & Hyde, Edwardian Tearooms and Bar Opus joining the mix whilst in the Jewellery Quarter the Birmingham Whisky Club and The Vanguard at 1000 Trades join The Rose Villa Tavern. Take a canal-side stroll to Canal House then rejoice with fellow gin-lovers at The Distillery before heading to Broad Street and Brindley Place for the Bulls Head, Pushkar, Rub Smokehouse, Pitcher & Piano, Recess and Nuvo.

The London to Paris bike ride really is the challenge of a lifetime.

Connecting two of the world’s biggest capital cities, you will cycle through beautiful English villages and into the stunning countryside of rural France, passing historical landmarks and famous battlefields from World War I as you go. Finishing in Paris, undoubtedly one of the most magical places on earth, the sense of achievement you’ll experience will be one you’ll treasure forever.

Get your wristband at www.birminghamcocktailweekend.co.uk

To find out more visit www.bch.org.uk

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SPECIAL FEATURE.

Health Matters With Doctor Jane: CAN YOU IMAGINE A future without Sex? fibroblasts disappears.

What are the symptoms of vaginal atrophy?

These can vary from woman to woman and can vary in severity. Symptoms experienced include pain on intercourse, dryness, itching, burning, irritation, recurrent infections, laxity and stress incontinence.

These can be extremely distressing and can cause extreme strain on intimate relationships or prevent new relationships forming due to sexual difficulties.

How can vaginal atrophy be treated?

Until recently, I too, as a GP could only offer my patients HRT and topical oestrogen in the form of gels, creams and pessaries applied directly to the vagina. For many of my female patients, the outcome of treatment was not entirely satisfactory, a bit messy and as soon as they stopped using their oestrogen, symptoms returned quickly. They were unhappy and I was frustrated. I started to research the concept of “vaginal rejuvenation” with CO2 laser therapy. After much reading, research, lectures, a conference and direct observation with a leading gynaecologist in this field, I decided to offer the Mona Lisa Touch CO2 laser therapy for the treatment of vaginal atrophy. The laser acts directly on the mucosa activating fibroblasts to produce more elastin and collagen and increasing the thickness of the epithelial cells, restoring the vagina to the function of its younger years before oestrogen deficiency.

Can you imagine if you were told you could never have sex again? How would that make you feel? Do you think your relationship would be strong enough to cope with the implications of this? Would fidelity become an issue? Would you be able to form new loving relationships?

Unfortunately, this is the reality for many women with a condition known as vaginal atrophy. It is a condition caused by oestrogen deficiency and until recently women have been too embarrassed to talk about it. But we should! It affects our partners too. If a man suddenly developed a condition, which caused his genitalia to shrivel up and dry out like a prune, Donald Trump would declare it “fake news” should it happen to him (maybe it has??), the stock markets would crash, the world would hold a two minute silence and the NHS would suddenly find a budget to rectify the problem.

What causes oestrogen deficiency?

The biggest culprit is the dreaded Menopause. 50% of menopausal women will suffer symptoms of vaginal atrophy.

Looking on the positive side of menopause, we no longer need to worry about contraception, tampons, sanitary towels, white trousers and period pains. On the negative side, leading up to the menopause and for some years after, we can experience

hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, aches and pains, tiredness, annoying partners, teenage children. Medical research states that only hot flushes and night sweats, along with irregular and sometimes heavier than normal periods are actually due to decreasing levels of oestrogen. HRT is used for the treatment of hot flushes, night sweats and the prevention of osteoporosis in women with a strong predisposition to this terrible debilitating disease. For more information on osteoporosis visit www.nos. org.uk.

Other causes of oestrogen deficiency include anti-oestrogen drugs in the treatment of breast and uterine cancer, removal of ovaries following ovarian cancer, ovarian failure resulting in premature menopause, damage to the pituitary gland and/or the hypothalamus in the brain.

What is vaginal atrophy?

The vagina is a muscular structure lined by the mucosa. The mucosa is made up of layers of connective tissue. It has an layer of epithelial cells which keep the vagina moist and protects it from infection. Situated below the epithelial cells are another type of cell called fibroblasts which produce elastin, a network of highly supportive fibres and collagen. When there is a deficiency of oestrogen the mucosa thins and all the good work provided by the epithelial cells and the

What is the treatment like?

It is a painless procedure, which takes approximately 5 minutes to perform. A thin metal probe is placed inside the vagina and gently withdrawn as the laser acts directly on the mucosa. Normal activities can be resumed immediately. You must be period free and have an up to date, normal smear.

Sexual intercourse can be resumed after 3 days. The procedure is repeated twice one month apart and the best results are seen at month three following the last treatment.

It is time for women in the UK to start talking openly about the impact that the menopause is having on the quality of their lives and their relationships. This is a discussion for both men and women. There are many men who love our vaginas. It is time to love your vagina!

You can contact Dr Jane for a free consultation at YU Clinics to discuss your concerns and treatment options in more detail.

Call her direct on 0121 2706085

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 19

TIM MINCHIN When the Sunday Times decribes a show as ‘Easily the standout musical of the decade’ and even The New York Post tells its readers to ‘Believe the Hype’ you know you must be on to something good. Winner of over 85 international awards- including 16 for Best Musical- Matilda The Musical, the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, continues to delight audiences around the world and this summer comes to Birmingham’s Hippodrome from the 3rd July to 8th September.

Inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl and with original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Theo Bosanquet caught up with writer Tim Minchin to find out more about the show’s creation, it’s amazing critical and audience reception and what he would do if he, like Matilda, had magical powers.

How did you first get involved in Matilda The Musical?

Back in 2008 I was beginning to get some traction as a comedian. The Royal Shakespeare Company called me in for a meeting and I didn’t know what it was about, so I sort of walked in blind. Matthew Warchus, who was so unassuming I didn’t realise he was a giant of his field, asked if I knew Roald Dahl’s work. I said yes, of course, and he said they were thinking about making a musical of Matilda.

I told him the same thought had occurred to me a few years earlier and I’d even tried to get the rights. So it was a moment of huge convergence. But because things were going well in my comedy career, when they first offered me the job I hesitated.

Fortunately I ignored my doubts when I realised what an amazing opportunity this was.

What were your priorities when it came to writing the music?

Writing musicals is hard, because it’s really easy for them to be cheesy nonsense. And with Dahl it felt especially important to avoid this. He was the king of my childhood, and he wrote with this holy trinity of humour, heart and darkness. The humour and the heart only work with the darkness to offset them; without it you’re not doing him justice. There’s a lot of stuff you can’t put cherries on, especially in Matilda.

So primarily I wanted to make sure that when the actors started singing the songs, the audience didn’t feel compelled to slap them. I passionately wanted to avoid a ‘Disneyfication’ of the story.

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What difference does it make to have child actors at the heart of the show?

The extraordinary thing about watching Matilda is that you’re watching a show about a miraculous child being performed by seemingly miraculous children. I wrote the songs for children and always crossed my fingers that we could find young performers with the talent to deliver them. It soon became very apparent that we could.

I especially love it when people come with quite low expectations of how good a show performed by kids can be, and then have their minds blown.

When did you first realise you had a hit on your hands?

I think it was incremental. I knew it was special the moment I read Dennis [Kelly]’s draft, and then I saw Rob [Howell]’s design and Peter [Darling]’s choreography, and just knew I could trust these people. Then Chris [Nightingale] did such an amazing job with the orchestrations.

I’ll never forget the sitzprobe, when I heard the songs performed by an orchestra for the first time - it remains one of the happiest days of my life. And first night was incredible, and I was already in a pretty heightened state because I’d just opened my first arena tour the night before!

So I always knew it was special but I never allowed the idea to enter my head that it would run for so long.

SPOTLIGHT.

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 21

SPOTLIGHT.

“Writing musicals is hard, because it’s really easy for them to be cheesy nonsense. And with Dahl it felt especially important to avoid this.”

Do you have a favourite moment in the show?

It depends on the performance, but if I had to pick one I’d say ‘Quiet’. It’s just this amazing moment when a small child stands in a spotlight with her eyes closed and her arms out, after this freefall of ideas has gone through her brain. And there’s total silence. It comes at the point in the musical where typically you get a big, belting song. But we put two fingers up at that, because at that point in the story our character just needs peace. It always makes me feel very special.

What does it mean to be taking Matilda The Musical on tour?

I think it’s brilliant that there’s going to be another production. And it’s such a good production too, with lots of great Matilda alumni in the cast. The show has been seen by millions of people, and feels like it’s become a part of our culture.

But there are many people who haven’t managed to get to London or New York to see it. I think it’s great that they now have the chance. The fact this production will open the show out to a whole new audience is very gratifying.

Is the show just as relevant now as when it opened?

Matilda is a love letter to the power of stories, imagination and kindness in the face of cruelty, greed and superficiality. I think it’s become even more relevant in recent years. Combine Miss Trunchbull and Mrs Wormwood and you basically have the current President of the United States. But on top of that, it tells kids that reading is cool, and that changing 22 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

your story and standing up to bullies is possible. That’s a timeless message. And the RSC is running a brilliant education scheme around the tour, which makes me even more proud to be a part of making this production happen.

One of the songs you wrote for the show is ‘When I Grow Up’. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a farmer, which was a bit weird because I was asthmatic and allergic to hay. But my grandad had a farm we loved, so my brother and I naturally wanted to be farmers. Later on I wanted to be a teacher, partly because I never really thought you could be a poet or a songwriter. It took me a long time to work out that that could be a genuine career path.

If you could have a magical power, like Matilda, what would it be?

I would like her ability to read so many books in a week. Especially now I’ve got kids attending new schools, I feel I have a lot to catch up on. But usually I get halfway through a page and fall asleep with the book on my face. So I would love to have Matilda’s ability to vacuum up knowledge; I’m so frustrated by the books on my own bookshelf, never mind the countless others in the libraries of the world.

Matilda The Musical runs at the Birmingham Hippodrome between 3 July and 8 September.

For tickets visit www. birminghamhippodrome.com or call the box office on 0844 338 5000

Unforgettable performance, powered by you 0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge. 5% transaction charge (6% from 2 Jul 2018) may apply (excl. cash sales in person).

Polarity & Proximity

Tue 26 Jun - Sun 1 Jul £18

Tue 3 Jul Sat 8 Sep From £30

Tue 11 Sat 15 Sep From £12

Wed 26 Sat 29 Sep From £16

Wed 10 Oct Sat 3 Nov From £29.50

Mon 5 Sat 10 Nov From £18

Sat 17 Nov From £20

Fri 23 Nov Thu 13 Dec From £20

Wed 20 Sat 23 Jun From £10

La Fille mal gardée

Mon 17 Dec Sun 6 Jan £12.50

War & Peace Prokofiev

Wed 19 Dec Sun 27 Jan From £16

The Nutcracker

Wed 5 Sun 16 Feb From £21

HER STYLE. 1

SUMMER CHIC Those precious few weeks in the sun are supposed to be all about relaxing so keep things simple on the beach this season with plain, colour block swimwear teamed with playful and vintage inspired accesories.

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MELLOW YELLOW

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Last year, it was all about green. This season it’s yellow that’s making a play for fashion’s big colour story. At Carolina Herrera and Erdem it was all about floor-sweeping gowns in this cheeriest of shades; while Prabal Gurung and Marc Jacobs played around with the most modern take on sunshine brights. From bold and daring to more subtle hues, LISA PIDDINGTON selects her hero pieces that show off SS18’s yellow trend with ease.

Clothes featured are available from Harvey Nichols Birmingham, The Mailbox, or online at harveynichols.com.

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1. Bikini Top £74.95, Bikini bottom £54.95 www.jetsswimwear.co.uk, 2. Khaki tie front swimsuit £24.99 New Look at The Fort Shopping Park. 3. Mood Fly Earrings £10.00 Debenhams at The Fort Shopping Park. 4. Mini Circle Straw Bag £26 Next at The Fort Shopping Park. 5. Platform Mule £65 River Island at The Fort Shopping Park. 6. Aqua One Piece from £134.95 www.jetsswimwear.co.uk 7. Sliders £65 Dune. 8. Red cateye sunglasses £10 Next at The Fort Shopping Park 9. Faith shoes £39 Debenhams at The Fort Shopping Park. 10. Satchel, J by Jasper Conran £45.00 Debenhams at The Fort Shopping Park. 11. Black One Piece £159.95 www. jetsswimwear.co.uk 12. Cat Eye Style Sunglasses £129.95 TK Maxx. 13. Loewe X Paula’s Ibiza Fringed Flatform Sandals £590 Harvey Nichols.

1: Alice + Olivia silk chiffon blouse, £280. 2: American Vintage long-line cardigan, £150.

3: Baublebar fringed drop earrings, £55. 4: Free People broderie Anglais blouse, £90. 5: Gestuz open-knit mohairblend jumper, £190. 6: Three Floor asymmetric chiffon dress, £260. 7: Marc Jacobs shoulder bag, £270. 8: SelfPortrait floral print chiffon maxi dress, £430. 9: Joseph cashair v-neck sweater, £235. 10: No21 knotted satin sandals, £435. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 25

HER STYLE.

SHAPE UP

FOR SUMMER I’ll be perfectly honest, I have somewhat reduced my personal collection of sunglasses over the past year or two as I owned far too many and just didn’t get round to wearing them all (it’s not that sunny to warrant 15 pairs!) I decided to condense my collection down to a select few that suit my wardrobe and style perfectly. writes dluxe’s Cleo Lacey.

As you know, I am a massive fan of accessories, I spend more on shoes, handbags, scarves and jewellery than I do on clothes and I see sunglasses also fitting into this ‘essential accessories’ category.

However, sunglasses are notoriously difficult to get right. From the shape of your face, to your hairstyle and even your hair colour, choosing the right frame can be a bit of a minefield.

So, in preparation for the a long summer of sun (positive thinking and all that) and to help you lovely lot get your heads around what sunglasses you might want to wear, here is a short guide to buying the perfect pair of sunglasses:

SELECT A SIZE Sunglasses come in all shapes and sizes. Generally, finding a contrast between your face shape and the frame shape will look good. For example, if you have a round face, more angular frames will work well, and if your face is more square, a rounder softer frame shape will look good.

The following face shape matched to sunglasses style is recommended but not essential: Oval face: The oval type can wear any style of glasses. But best to avoid frames that are either too thick or too thin or wider than your face width.

Square face: Because this face shape has very straight, pronounced jawline and edges, choose round glasses to balance out these features.

Make sure the frames are not too thick. Try to choose wider sunglasses and avoid rectangular glasses with sharp corners.

Round face: A round face has plumper cheeks and chin. Choose more rectangular or square sunglasses that have an angle design to balance this out.

Long face: Choose larger lenses and the rectangular frame to modify a long face.

Make sure the sunglasses fit properly; try them on and make sure they don’t pinch around your head. The weight should be evenly distributed between your ears and nose, and your eyelashes shouldn’t touch the frame or lenses. Glasses should be your stand on the bridge of the nose and ears. If your sunglasses don’t fit well you can go to an opticians to have them adjusted.

All items Accessorize

SUNGLASSES TOP TIPS • Aim to protect your eyes first and foremost. Excessive exposure to UV radiation can cause a variety of problems for your eyes such as cataracts, burns, and cancer.

• Try before you buy. Don’t buy online without doing your research first. There are too many variables to consider and whether or not a style will suit you depends on a great deal more than just knowing your face shape.

• Consider your hair colour/skin tone. Coloured frames and lenses can be a fantastic way to inject individuality but, as with clothing, certain colours can drain your complexion or clash with your hair colour.

• Consider your hair style/length. Long hair can often soften features whilst short hair will leave them completely exposed.

• Remember the classics. Classic frames are considered as such for a reason. They work and have done for decades so don’t be afraid to try a certain style just because lots of other people are already wearing them.

• Invest. Sunglasses are worthy of investment so don’t be afraid to push the boat out. Better lenses, better build quality and a better overall look are certainly worth the extra cost and should last years.

• Sports glasses are for sport. Keep Oakleys for the slopes. Enough said!

Take time over your search and try as many different styles as possible.

Enjoy the process of finding them, you’ll know the right ones as soon as you put them on as you’ll feel amazing. Once you’ve found them, wear them with pride, just not when it’s raining, not sunny, inside or at night (it’s not cool!).If you need more help, you know where to find me, Your Fairy Clothes Mother xx

Working as a Buyer and Image Consultant for high street fashion chains as well as high end designers, including Amanda Wakeley, Cleo now runs her own personal styling and shopping service, helping real men and women to take control of their wardrobe.

E: cleolacey@demi-couture.co.uk W: www.demi-couture.co.uk Facebook: Demi Couture Twitter: @cleolacey Instagram: DemiCoutureStylist 26 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

AGELESS BEAUTY 1 Silver-locked models are asserting their presence on the catwalk; makeup artists are enhancing rather than masking mature complexions; and more and more people understand that looking good as you get older doesn’t mean you have to look younger. Because beautiful skin is key to looking fabulous whatever your age, we asked the beauty team at HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM to share their must-haves for women in their 40s and 50s.

SKINCARE IN YOUR FORTIES If you’ve not included a serum in your daily skincare routine then now’s the time to start. Most contain effective anti-ageing ingredients that aren’t necessarily found in cleansers or moisturisers; retinol, for example, helps to promote cell turnover, prevent the breakdown of collagen and leave you skin feeling smoother and supple. Team with a hydrating toner and anti-aging products that packed with 2 retinoids, vitamin C or alphahydroxy acids to help soften fine lines.

From BEACH 2 BAR

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Summer’s here and with it returns that eternal holiday conundrum: Just how do you transition from gorgeous mermaid on the beach to a classy curl queen in the evening? Well it’s actually a lot easier than you think say the style experts at Umberto Giannini.

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The first thing to we’re going to tell you is: DON’T over complicate it. Work visually.

When hair is prepped with the right products, it’s easy to work with - and, in this case, the more product the better.

Beach texture spray, Catch a Wave, is great for prepping the hair with as it will give you that effortless tousled effect when you’re going for the beach babe look, but it will also act as a great base if you fancy putting it up in the evening for a more formal look.

The beauty about the Catch a Wave spray is that it contains Coconut Oil, so it isn’t as rough or drying on the hair as with other texture sprays.

It’s a softer version and smells yummy too. You can spray this onto wet or dry hair.

When you’re prepping for your evening look, use Curl Whip to reactivate the curls and to encourage more curl into the hair.

Scrunch it into the mid-lengths and ends. Gather hair up into a high bun and use your large bobby pins to secure into place. Pull some curls out for soft feminine feel.

And there you have it - two simple quick looks in one day.

*TOP TIP

“If the holiday heat means your hair struggles to get body and movement, pop your head upside down and spray Wonder Lift thicker fuller plumping spray into the lengths and ends.”

Find out more at Umberto Giannini, 48 Hylton Street, Birmingham.

B186HN Tel. 0121 445 8040 www.umbertogiannini.com

SKINCARE IN YOUR FIFTIES: It’s essential to keep up a good, anti-ageing daily regime with the addition of a heavier moisturiser that will add hydration to drying skin. Look for products containing hyaluronic acid and glycerine as these help skin hold moisture in without making you look greasy.

Get into the habit of twice-weekly exfoliation to keep dead skin cells at bay, while enzyme peels gently exfoliate without stripping or scratching.

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1: Lancôme Visionnaire Serum Plus, £62. 2: NARS multi-action hydrating toner, £23. 3: Emma Hardie Vitamin C Intense daily serum, £49. 4: Pestle & Mortar pure hyaluronic serum, £36. 5: Elemis papaya enzyme peel, £33. 6: Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Global anti-ageing balm, £48.

Products featured are available from the Beauty Hall at Harvey Nichols Birmingham or online at harveynichols.com dluxe-magazine.co.uk 27

HIS STYLE. 1

BYE BYE

BUDGIE SMUGGLERS Let’s face it, unless you’re a 19 year old Brazilian playboy, your slinky speedo days are probably over. Time to invest in some short shorts instead.

Cut is key though so opt for a rugby short style- tight on the thigh- to make sure you don’t become ‘Ex on the Beach.’

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HAND LUGGAGE HEROES 5

Heading off to sunnier climes? Make sure you take these mini grooming essentials with you. Whether it’s a long haul sleeper flight or a short trip to Europe, ensure you’ve got these must-haves close to hand. At 100ml or under, meet the travel-sized products from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM that will leave you feeling refreshed on arrival.

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All grooming products featured are available from the Ground Floor Beauty Hall Harvey Nichols Birmingham or online at harveynichols.com

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1. SANJUAN_beach boxer £66 Hom. 2. Geo Shorts £18 River Island. 3. Hugo Penny Loafers £74.99 Office. 4. Sunglasses from £9.50 Marks and Spencer. 5. Colourblock Trilby £12 Next. 6. Cactus Beachboxer £66 Hom. 7. Linea Wave Shorts £30 House of Fraser. 8. Ruben Black Rubber Sliders £160 Harvey Nichols. 9. Dsquared Logo Shorts £180 Harvey Nichols. 10. Double Waistband Shorts £65 Calvin Klein. 11. Paul Smith Shorts £59. 12. Splash Shorts £66 Hom. 13.Retro Round Sunglasses £15 Next.

1: Chanel Bleu de Chanel EDT refillable travel spray (3x20ml), £64. 2: Malin + Goetz rice bran moisturiser (13g), £30. 3: Marvis toothpaste (75ml), £8.50. 4: Pestle & Mortar set of three face cloths, £13.50. 5: Skin Laundry night renew treatment (30ml), £36. 6: Scrubd travel size energising face wash (15ml), £11. 7: Ouai travel size dry shampoo, £10. 8: This Works evening detox spray-on exfoliant (60ml), £28. 9: Peter Thomas Roth water drench cloud serum (30ml), £52. 10: Pixi nourishing sleep mask (30ml), £18. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 29

HIS STYLE.

JUST HOW EASY IS IT TO reach 10,000 steps a day?

Just like eating our five a day, we’ve all become obsessed with the pressures of walking 10,000 steps a day but with many of us working in sedentary jobs, it can be a struggle to hit this goal. Most of us aren’t reaching anywhere near 10,000 steps a day – the equivalent to approximately 5 miles- with the NHS finding that the average British person walks between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day.

Studies have shown huge health benefits such as lower blood pressure, better blood glucose levels and improved mood so how easy is it to get to the magic 10,000?

If you’re a busy professional, you may be wondering where you’re going to find the time to put in 5 miles of walking a day.

Look for opportunities to move; walk to work, take the stairs instead of the lift, make an effort to walk over to speak with colleagues rather than email or why not use a kitchen on another floor to make a tea round?

Simply setting a reminder to get up from your desk and walk around the office every hour could also boost your step count and ensure you’re not sitting at your desk for long periods of time.

Try integrating exercise into work tasks; walking meetings are a chance to step away from your desk, have a succinct conversation and rack up steps. Fresh air and a change of scenery may inspire new ideas. They’re effective for 1-2-1s, and their informal style makes them great for brainstorming and building relationships.

Walking is not the only way to increase your step count; even things you may not think of as exercise can help, such as gardening, housework and shopping even washing the car instead of taking it to the car wash can add to your steps!

STYLIST’S CHOICE: It’s never too late to be great was ticked but being the only boy in the class, my BAGA badge haul was shortlived.

Swimming. Highboard Diving. Tick.

Tick. Football, the sport that is in the DNA of most Northern Lads (apart from me) bewildered me. My parents love to regale about the time I was playing football for the Boys’ Brigade and I was at the opposite end of the pitch to the action munching on crisps and a Mars bar that I’d hidden in my football socks. I still maintain that was planning ahead, but now understand it may have been viewed differently.

I had, I can see now, all the makings of being a great runner. Sprints were no problem – I was good at those and naturally very fast - but long distance running or, worse still, cross country was another matter entirely. As a prissy little lad, the mud horrified me. Which was why I recently challenged myself – and a group of close mates – to train for The Wolf Run… It’s never too late to become great writes dluxe’s very own ‘Iron Man’ Kevin ‘the kitten’ Urquhart.

opportunities been and gone and know what you should’ve done then, had you had today’s mindset.

If I’d known then what I know now, things might’ve been different. Hitting 40 arms you with the wisdom of doing things better. It’s the pay off for hitting middle age: you can look back and spot the

Business is one of those things for me. As is Sport. I was the worst kind of athlete back in the day. I was a gifted at longjump but that never got off the ground.

Trampolining, too. The Gymnastics box

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For those who’ve not heard of The Wolf Run, it’s essentially a 10km run, climb and swim through mud, water and other substances best not delved too deeply in to. This run would not only challenge the biggest nay-sayer of them all (me); my OCD behaviour toward mud but also give me a chance to do something good for

FALL IN LOVE WITH LINEN With a reputation as fashion’s easy-to-crease fabric, men often shy away from linen. But whether it’s the relaxed fit or the fact it keeps you cool in the heat, there are plenty of sartorial reasons to embrace it this summer. LISA PIDDINGTON picks her elevated essentials from HARVEY NICHOLS. THE LONGSLEEVED SHIRT: For a quickfire injection of signature style this Ivy Leagueinspired Polo Ralph Lauren slim linen shirt, £110, is a must. Pair with your go-to swim shorts or a smart pair of chinos for holiday dressing at its best.

THE MUST-HAVE TROUSERS: Nothing says summer chic like light linen trousers and the tapered style of these J Lindeberg linen trousers, £125, make them the stylish choice. Team with tailored separates for those hard-to-nail summer dresscodes.

THE LINEN SCARF: be inspired by our uber stylish European counterparts and plump for this Corneliani linen scarf, £105.

Wear with a wide array of evening ensembles when dining or drinking al fresco.

THE LINEN BLAZER: Wearing tailoring through the warmer months can be quite the challenge.

From a summer wedding to the boardroom, this smart Emporio Armani checked linen jacket, £660, is exactly what you and your wardrobe need.

THE SUMMER SHORTS: Stay on-trend this summer with these Oliver Spencer striped linen shorts, £125. OK, so they may be prone to light creasing, but embrace it. After all, linen is all about that easy breezy attitude. The season calls for it, you know what to do.

THE BOMBER JACKET: Give linen an urban update with this Oliver Spencer linen bomber jacket, £350.

For those not completely sold on linen, this is the failsafe foray into the fabric and what’s more, you can wear it well into autumn too.

THE SHORTSLEEVED SHIRT: Short sleeves are a warm-weather no-brainer, so give this classic shirt-shape a contemporary twist for SS18. With its mandarin collar and off-white colour the J Lindeberg linen shirt, £100, updates your look in an instant.

Clothes featured are available from Harvey Nichols Birmingham, The Mailbox, via Style Concierge or online at harveynichols.com charity – Prostate Cancer UK.

Fitbit Alta £99.99

I won’t bore you with my training log other than I didn’t do enough, but the challenge was met and I found a new love. The Wolf Run, for me, was a deeply personal experience despite being with my besties. It challenged me physically and mentally, but most of all, challenged the little chap locked inside – the little lad that most of us recognize who was not confident enough to stand out as a kid and be as different and brilliant as he truly could’ve been.

So, whether 40, 50 or more, do something different. Be more. Be bold and step out of your comfort zone. It’s never too late to become great.

Here are some of my favourite running wear and training aids, if you do fancy hitting the roads, waterways or treadmills this summer:

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H5 Earphones £229.

Split Second Vest £55 Every Second Counts

Mountflow Quick Dry Towel from £7.99 Amazon

Outpace Running Short £70 Every Second Counts

On Cloudventure-Peak Trail Running Shoe £125.

Aqua Flip Belt Zip Storage £25.

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 31

KID’S STYLE.

SCHOOL’S OU 32 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

UT Left To Right: Trail Short Sleeve Polo £16, Roadtrip Tee £18, Shorts From £16, Frill Seeker Swimsuit £16, Desert Shirt £25, Hammerhead Tee £14, Lyra Sun Top £16, Shorts From £16 All From White Stuff. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 33

MOTORS.

THE X FACTOR

Mondeo Man is dead. The practicality and style of the SUV killed off the traditional saloon years ago and it looks like our love for a high driving position and allusions to a sporty, active lifestyle is killing off the coupe and hatchback market too, as more and more manufacturers raise their ride height, widen their track and bolt on a shiny undertray to these urban offroaders.

The latest of the crop is the BMW X2 which is said to break new ground for BMW thanks to it’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system that is designed to deliver the ideal balance between sporting dynamics and efficiency.

The kidney grille has always been an identifying feature of a BMW. On the X2, however, its outline is wider at its base than at its top. The X2 is the first modern BMW to feature this design cue, and it gives the new car a broader, more distinctive and sportier appearance.

Below the grille, the hexagonal surface treatment in the bumper further reinforces this impression.

models get a bespoke diffuser insert in the contrast colour Frozen Grey.

BMW are old masters at the urban offroader. Next to its bigger brothers, the BMW X4 and X6, the BMW X2 makes a distinctive impression thanks to its exterior design that combines the lowslung proportions of a coupé with the robust core of an offroader.

Full-LED headlights come as standard on Sport, M Sport and M Sport X models. The bi-LED light for low beam and high beam is highly effective at illuminating the road, while also accentuating the BMW X2’s sporty character. The M Sport and M Sport X models are available with wheels in sizes up to 20-inch, side skirts contribute to its rugged good looks and protective body cladding, black on the SE and Sport models and Frozen Grey on the M Sport X, are a chunky, purposeful addition.

Eye-catching highlights can be added by opting for the new perforated Dakota leather in Magma Red or the Micro Hexagon fabric Anthracite/Alcantara combination upholstery with yellow contrast stitching.

The BMW X2 is two centimetres shorter and more than seven centimetres lower than the BMW X1, yet has the same wheelbase. Featuring short overhangs, it also has a stretched, coupé-style roofline and slim window graphic.

At the rear, a spoiler provides a flourish to round off the BMW X2’s roofline and contributes to the BMW X2’s drag co-efficient of just 0.28. M Sport models feature a diffuser-look cladding inlay in Dark Shadow metallic whilst M Sport X

The cabin is driver-focused, with the design of features such as the instrument panel binnacle directed at the road ahead. All controls are positioned to allow the driver to assimilate their information with a single glance and

34 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Inside the class quality of the BMW X2 and its levels of equipment, even in the SE model, are both instantly apparent.

The instrument panel has contrast stitching as standard, while the centre console features materials including Sensatec also with contrast stitching.

It’s practical too with the boot having a capacity of 470 litres, meaning it can handle leisure activities, from shopping sprees to a skiing weekend or mountainbike tour. Large storage pockets in the doors add to interior useability.

operate them with ease. All functional controls in the centre console are set in high-gloss black as standard, giving the interior a touch of sophisticated elegance (excluding SE).

An optional lighting package within the Plus pack allows drivers to set a stylish lighting mood for the interior by choosing from Orange, Lilac, Mint, Bronze, Blue and White lighting. The LED lighting in the trim surfaces of the instrument panel and door panels forms a continuous band that extends all the way around the cabin to the rear. One of the most distinctive options on the list is the panoramic roof, which adds to the sense of spaciousness inside. The front section of the panoramic roof tilts and slides open, just like a conventional sunroof.

Standard specification for every BMW X2 includes a 6.5-inch Touch Control Display with navigation system. The display concept is designed to provide the driver with a quick summary of the most important information at any particular time by means of, for example, the live tiles that appear in the display’s main menu. Its operation

emulates the intuitive touch control principles familiar from smartphones.

For even greater safety and convenience in the BMW X2, there is the option of the full-colour BMW Head-Up Display, also featured within the Technology Pack, projects all important driving information and navigation/assistance system readouts onto the windscreen and therefore into the driver’s field of view – in high resolution.

On the road the TwinPower Turbo engines within the BMW X2 range team with the car’s refined chassis to endow it with the handling qualities and exceptional agility you expect from a BMW. The car’s driving responses can be adapted by using the Driving Experience Control switch, allowing the driver to choose between default COMFORT mode, efficiency-enhancing ECO PRO mode and SPORT mode. The preprogrammed set-up available via SPORT mode gives the car even more dynamic steering and powertrain responses.

The M Sport suspension fitted as standard on the BMW X2 M Sport and M Sport X includes tauter spring and

damper tuning. BMW X2 M Sport and M Sport X models offer suspension which is 10mm lower than the standard suspension.

Not only does the BMW X2 offer drivers a wide selection of driver assistance systems, it also comes with highly advanced technologies.

The optional Driving Assistant (within Drive Pack) includes Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info with No Passing Info display, anti-dazzle High Beam Assistant, as well as Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function. We love the sound of the Traffic Jam Assistan which, at speeds up to 37mph,takes over both proximity control and lane-keeping tasks from the driver. The Traffic Jam Assistant uses steering assistance to keep the car reliably in the middle of its lane, but this isn’t full autonomy; the driver needs to have at least one hand on the steering wheel for the system to work.

The BMW X2 is on sale now with prices starting from £33,980 OTR for a BMW X2 xDrive20d SE. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 35

LIVING.

Summer time style

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22 1. Fiesta range from Sainsbury’s Home starting from £2. 2. Amazonas Rainbow Hammock £93 amara.com 3. Sunnylife Giant Tumbling Tower £38 amara.com 4. Carnival Beach Umbrella £45 amara.com 5. Seletti Garden Chair £128 amara. com 6. Seletti Garden Table £228 amara.com 7.Cushion £16 Sainsburys Home 8. Towelling Beach Bag £1587 Missoni Home. 9. Havana Plant Stand £14 Sainsburys Home 10. Salsa Garden Chair Set of 2 £140, Showerproof cushions for £10 John Lewis. 11. Sardinia Ratan Furniture from £199, Louis Coffee Table £99, Marks & Spencer. 12. Solar Bottle light £12 Debenhams. 13. Salad Servers, £2 each Seainsburys Home. 14. Reactive set of four melamine side plates £14 Marks and Spencer. 15. Riviera Plate £3.50 Sainsburys Home 16. Dipped Basket, Homesense. 17. Linea Cushions from £15 House of Fraser. 18. Capri Chair £179 Marks and Spencer. 19. Wire Cage Coffee table £280 Debenhams. 20. Broste Lantern £80 Debenhams. 21. Cane Lantern £30 House of Fraser. 22. Marble effect succulent pots- set of 3, £18, Next. 23. Festoon String lights from £50 amara.com

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 37

LIVING.

READY, STEADy, SUMMER!

The warm weather is finally here so it’s time to get your garden ready, set and started for Summer!

1. Invest In The Best When it comes to garden furniture it’s best to think long term – that stackable white plastic chair may just cost a tenner but when it comes to style it’ll break the bank!

Think multi season and buy proper fitting all weather covers to protect your investment.

All items Marks & Spencer

2. Light A Fire There’s something about the leaping of flames in to the night sky. Make the outdoors a truly useable space by investing in a firepit so you can stay outside long into the evening.

Fire Bowl £860 Houseology.

3. Think Floral Many of us choose plants based on how much space they’ll fill rather than how much flower they give so think strategic and plant wisteria or clematis up a wall or trellis for a stunning backdrop to your garden entertaining.

4. Go For Bold An oversized pot, water feature or garden sculpture can provide a much needed focal point in the garden and add a splash of drama.

5. Let There Be Light There’s nothing as stunning as a brightly lit bush. Adjust your garden lighting to employ shadow to full effect and highlight the architectural beauty of your planting.

String of 10 White Cafe Festoon Lights, £39.95 Rex London 38 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

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SPECIAL FEATURE

LIVING.

Get ready for the summer sun The sun is finally here - we weren’t sure this would happen! The weather over the last few months has really been confusing the plants in the Gardens, thanks to the fluctuations in temperature.

Some plants are flowering earlier but, most plants have much later this year, for example, the Wisterias in the Gardens have been up to a month late, writes the expert team at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Until next time, here are our top tips as we move into summer.

Make sure you look after your garden and remember, if you have any questions, tweet us at @BhamBotanicalGd

In addition to our flowering blooms, there has been a lot going on in the Gardens - we even have some exciting news about the Trials Garden; it will be undergoing a big transformation! We will be planting an array of sub-tropical plants, as well as a number of different Salvias, which will go on looking good until the first frosts are forecast. To keep these superb plants strong, we will apply generous amounts of fish blood and bone to the soil. For good measure, we will also be adding and incorporating fertiliser to the bottom of each planting hole.

In the coming months, the indoor team will also be busy looking after our Tropical butterflies in the Butterfly House. Every week, 100 pupae will be placed in the house to keep it full as many species only live for a few weeks. Make sure you bring the family down to enjoy these stunning creatures - but remember, you only have until Sunday 2nd September.

Moving on to jobs for this month, it is definitely the time to think about summer containers – although this should have been done already, it’s not too late. Once planted, you must make sure that your plants are watered regularly and you feed them with a high potash feed every 7 - 10 days.

THIS SUMMER MAKE SURE YOU... · Hoe weeds off regularly. · Plant out summer bedding and tender perennials such as Dahlias and Cannas

Bedding plants stay at their best when regularly deadheaded, as this prevents the plants producing seed. If seeds are produced, · Stake tall herbaceous perennials - providing support for them the plant is less inclined to yield more flowers because the process of creating seeds saps the plants energy, so doing this regularly is · Collect water from sheds, outbuildings and greenhouse roofs vital to prolong the display. with water butts. Rainwater is better for your plants than tap water Moreover, make sure you keep on top of grass cutting; if the weather is forecast to be hot, raise the cutting height of your lawn · Clip evergreen hedges such as box and privet mower. Did you know, grass is more droughts tolerant if it is not cut too short? Even if you just edge the perimeter of your lawns, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Rd, Birmingham this can make a big difference in the appearance of your garden.

B15 3TR Tel: 0121 454 1860 40 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

distressed vintage wooden sideboard.

If you’re looking to introduce texture, the floor is a key place to start, and coir, sisal and seagrass carpets, rugs and runners are available in a fantastic variety of different textures, from chunky bouclé weaves to herringbone designs and less pronounced rib and flat weaves.

GET ON TREND WITH TEXTURE Last year it was bright tropical prints and copper; this year, there’s an organic, back-to-nature feel to interiors, with neutral earthy tones and eco-friendly materials taking centre stage, and contrasting textures providing the visual wow factor.

When we’re decorating our homes, texture is all too often an afterthought, but this season – with the colour palette dialled right down – it’s essential for a pulledtogether look and preventing a largely neutral scheme from looking bland. For a truly insta-worthy home,

the key is to use different textures in unexpected ways: team rough with smooth and polished surfaces with distressed or rustic finishes.

It’s as easy as layering tactile fabrics such as wool or sheepskin on rattan or wicker furniture, or placing a polished brass lamp on a

Because they’re natural and organic, they have a naturally more authentic feel underfoot than synthetic carpet. They will not only add an extra visual and tactile dimension to a room, giving a space an instantly cosy, welcoming feel, but they’ll also cushion unwanted sound.

Sisal & Seagrass carpets come in a wealth of gorgeous colours, from natural golden and bronze shades to on-trend greys and even metallics, and are naturally hardwearing – ideeal for use in busy households.

Specialist Sisal & Seagrass have a vast array of styles to choose from at www. sisalandseagrass.co.uk

e r t a e h Tthe Gardens

in

Join us and let your imagination run wild with our summer of spectacular theatre.

Sherlock Holmes

A Midsummer

Robin Hood

Peter Pan

11 July

18 July

Night’s Dream 25 July

26 July

Chapterhouse/Immersion Theatre Company returns this summer.

Tickets start from just £10 for concessions

Book tickets online: www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/whatson For more information please contact reception birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

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31/05/2018 09:51

TRAVEL.

Travelling through Birm Airport this summer?

With the summer getaways upon us, the team at Birmingham Airport want to make sure you’ve planned your journey in advance so you can have a smooth and stressfree travelling experience. There may have been a few changes that you’ll notice at the airport since you last travelled through.

There’s a new security entrance with e-gates to keep passengers flowing through the security search area as efficiently as possible. It is still located on the first floor, opposite Frankie & Benny’s, but with some new entrance signage, it should be even easier to find! There have also been some new shops and restaurant openings over the spring period – there is now a fancy Kurt Geiger store located in the departure lounge as well as a new Bottega prosecco bar and Factory Bar & Kitchen, offering an array of British classic dishes, alongside local Birmingham favourites.

FAMILY TRAVELLER Travelling through the airport with young children can be stressful. Instead of being excited for your holiday, you find yourself focused on keeping the kids in check. To make sure your journey through Birmingham Airport as a family is as seamless as can be, we recommend arriving early - you won’t be rushed to find your carpark spot, you’ll have plenty of time to get the kids through security and you can make the most of the facilities in the departure lounge.

Park in Car Parks 1, 2 and 3, all located just a two-minute walk from the terminal building, making it convenient to transport your toddlers. Valet parking is a great option if you also have a lot of luggage. Most of the restaurants at the airport have special children’s menus - Giraffe’s kid’s menu offers food from all around the world, while Frankie & Benny’s is a family favourite serving American diner classics.

TOP TIPS FOR FAMILY TRAVELLERS •

Prepare for Security - Everyone needs to be scanned going through Security, so walking children need to go through the Archway Metal Detector (AMD) individually. Pushchairs must also be pushed though the AMD so there’s no need to collapse your buggy. Simply remove any bags and put them through the scanner separately.

•

Taking baby milk through security - Baby milk and baby food can be taken in hand luggage through Security, but

42dluxe-magazine.co.uk

do make the security officer aware you are carrying this. You can pre-order baby milk and other essentials online for collection at Boots in the departure lounge, if you’d rather not carry it through security. This must be pre-ordered at least 5 days in advance.

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Baby changing facilities – These are available throughout the terminal for you to change nappies or feed your baby. Most are located near to the blocks of toilets.

•

What to do with your pushchair after check-in - After check-in tags your pushchair for travel, you may keep it until your departure gate, where the handling agent will take it from you for loading.

SPECIAL FEATURE

mingham

LEISURELY TRAVELLER Remember when heading to the airport was all part of the adventure? Spending time at the airport before a flight can be half the holiday fun, so make the most of your time there. Getting to the airport in plenty of time means you can have a lovely meal before you board the flight. With a range of cafes and restaurants available, you’ll be sure to find something to suit your taste and budget – spoil yourself at Bottega, the new prosecco bar offering light bites and a range of drinks, or take a moment to unwind at All Bar One or Factory Bar & Kitchen, with extensive food menus.

TOP TIPS FOR LEISURELY TRAVELLERS •

Book into one of the lounges – Airport lounges are no longer reserved for the hot shots in First Class. For a small fee, book into one of the executive lounges, a quiet sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of a busy airport. Take advantage of comfortable seating, a fully- tended bar and bistro, complimentary national newspapers, glossy magazines and unlimited WiFi.

•

Last minute holiday shopping - You know those bits you kept saying you’d go and grab at lunch time but never got around to? The stores in the departure lounge have your back. Boots has got your sun cream and toiletries, Next has your last-minute swimwear and Dixons Travel will sort you out with plug adapters. Head to Victoria Secret for lingerie, or Superdry for a new hoodie to keep warm on the flight.

•

Keep yourself entertained – Wherever you are within the terminal, you can connect to free WiFi for half an hour slots.

Why not VIP your experience for the ultimate journey through the airport? Book Valet Parking online to guarantee your spot and ensure a hassle-free start to your trip; take advantage of the Express Lane through security, especially through peak times; relax and unwind in one of the executive lounges; and when you return, use the Premium Fast Track to skip the queues at the UK Border Force checkpoint using a designated lane.

TOP TIPS FOR SPEEDY TRAVELLERS •

Express Lane security - To get through security fast, use the Express Lane. You can pre-book online or pay at the entrance.

•

Pre-pack your hand luggage liquids – For an even more seamless security experience, organise your liquids into a plastic bag before you get to the airport.

•

World Duty Free – If you want to enjoy the offers at World Duty Free, you can shop online before you travel and reserve duty free items to collect in store before departure. You have access to the full range of World Duty Free brands, not just those stocked at Birmingham Airport.

SPEEDY TRAVELLER If you’re the kind of traveller who likes to turn up at the airport, jump on your flight and go, there are ways to make your experience at the airport as quick and seamless as can be. If you know your time at the airport is going to be tight, nothing screams fast-food louder than Burger King or the ‘food-to-go’ options like Costa, Café Nero and Pret-a-Manger. If you’d rather grab something to eat before you go through security, wrapchic, a new street-food style eatery has recently opened offering healthy, authentic Indian food. To ensure you’re getting real time updates on your flight, take advantage of the FlightSmart service available at the airport. Simply tweet your flight number to @flyBHX on your day of travel to see gate numbers, check-in opening times and live updates about any cancellations or delays.

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 43

TRAVEL NEWS.

new Prosecco Bar COMES to Birmingham Airport The new outlet brings the atmosphere and ambiance of a typical Venetian Bacaro bar to the international traveller.

SSP UK, a leading operator of food and drink concessions in travel locations, has partnered

with Italian drinks brand Bottega to open a new Bottega Prosecco Bar at Birmingham Airport.

Deeply rooted in the Italian tradition of fine wine and food, Bottega Prosecco Bar offers a broad selection of wines, along with traditional finger food and specialties, that can be enjoyed all day in a relaxed environment.

The bar at Birmingham features a selection of dishes popular with airport passengers, giving an Italian twist. It also features an Italian breakfast menu to meet the needs of travellers at all times of the day.

new security entrance OPENs ready FOR EASTER Birmingham Airport opened its new security entrance area as more than 130,000 passengers travelled through the terminal over the Easter weekend.

The first lucky passengers to pass through ‘phase one’ of the newly created security entrance were the Kumar family from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, who flew off to Brisbane for a family wedding. They were treated to a lunch at the brand new Bottega prosecco bar within the departure lounge.

The new security area provides passengers with a bright and airy environment for customers as they prepare and enter the search area. A new route has been created through to the central search zone, with new flooring, lighting, preparation area and messaging to help customers prepare for security.

TUI LAUNCH MONTENEGRO FROM BIRMINGHAM TUI (formerly Thomson) the UK’s largest holiday brand, has launched its first flights to Podgorica, Montenegro from Birmingham for summer 2018.

Flights will operate once a week every Wednesday until the middle of October.

For customers who have already booked their summer holidays they can look ahead to next year as flights and holidays to Montenegro are already on sale for summer 2019.

The decision to add Montenegro to the network is part of the holiday company’s plans to offer as much choice as possible to customers flying from their local airport and staying at the best hotels TUI and First Choice have to offer including the brand new 4Sun Holiday Village Montenegro.

BRITISH AIRWAYS LAUNCH ALMOST 19,000 SEATS FROM BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT British Airways has begun one of its busiest summers ever in the UK regions with the launch of additional frequency on popular leisure routes from Birmingham Airport.

The addition of two new Embraer 190 jets to the growing aircraft fleet means that almost 19,000 seats will be on sale from Birmingham to some of the most popular leisure destinations in Europe, an increase of 16 per cent compared to last year.

There are extra flights to Florence and Palma from Birmingham, as well as flights to Malaga.

Greece is the word AT Birmingham AIRPORT thanks to Jet2.com & Jet2holidays Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has added more flights and holidays for the peak summer season, with a major focus on Greece which includes the addition of a new route to Corfu.

The leading leisure airline and package holiday specialist is approaching its first anniversary at Birmingham Airport and has added over 9,000 departing seats between July and September, including more than 7,500 seats to Greece. This takes the company’s capacity at its newest base to well over 1.2 million seats this Summer, more than double the capacity last summer.

The addition of Corfu gives a choice of 34 top sun and city destinations from Birmingham Airport this summer with Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.

44 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

CITY OF FESTIVALS

Fish and Chips, Tatties and Neeps, Edinburgh and Festivals. Some things just go together don’t they but did you know that there is much, much more to Edinburgh’s festival pedigree than the city’s fringe theatre festival? Dluxe magazine’s Jonathan Fraser went back to his Scottish roots to experience another aspect of Edinburgh – the annual Jazz and Blues Festival.

Three things immediately strike you when you first arrive in Edinburgh. The first that it is architecturally stunning. A Unesco World Heritage site, the streets and stone buildings are almost theme park like in their perfection with the castle sat overlooking it all in fortified magnificence.

The second thing that hits you is that Edinburgh is wee!

This is a city you can whizz around by walking but should the weather turn or your feet ache from all that exploring, flagging down a cab or grabbing an Uber won’t break the bank. It means you can cram a lot of sight-seeing into one weekend and, believe me, there is a lot to see!

The third and final thing that smacks you round the chops and leaves a huge smile on your face is the huge amount of tartan and toffee shops! If you’re part of a long-lost clan or just have a penchant for plaid and sticky treats then Edinburgh will fulfil all of your shopping desires and then some.

Recognised as the capital of Scotland since at least the 15th century, the city is the United Kingdom’s second most popular tourist destination, attracting over one million overseas visitors each year.

Known as the City of Festivals, Edinburgh hosts 6 festivals in August alone meaning every visit offers pleasure trippers a fresh and alternative experience.

Our arrival in the city coincided with the city’s Annual Jazz and Blues Festival; the biggest festival of its kind in Britain that sees some of the best international musicians rub shoulders with top Scottish talent to present unique collaborations and outstanding musicianship in over 170 gigs in just 10 days. This year’s festival takes place from the 13th to 21st July in theatres, concert venues, bars and even a vintage, art deco big top tent, known as a speigeltent, erected in the city’s Princess Street Gardens.

We were lucky enough to visit this mirrored paradise to enjoy a boozy, bluesy and bawdy evening of music from Davina and The Vagabonds. (pictured) Full of southern charm, Davina and her band swaggered

through a riotous show of rollicking tunes inspired by the likes of Fats Domino, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Tom Waits and Amy Winehouse.

She’s performing for two night’s only at this year’s festival (19th & 20th July) and is undoubtedly a must see act.

Other miss it or miss out events for this year’s festival include Musical virtuoso and legendary television presenter Jools Holland and his much-loved Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with his trademark boogie-woogie party on 13th July. Joining the band on stage will be fan favourites Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Rosie Mae on vocals, plus Soft Cell singer, Marc Almond 18th July sees the sensational 21-piece Bratislava Hot Serenaders play vintage swing and hot jazz and dance music from the 20s and 30s with extraordinary authenticity and pizazz.

Brass, reeds and violin players combine to play the sweet and hot music that dazzled pre-war Europe, transporting audiences with brilliant musicianship, period dress, and all the genuine style of the period.

Also not to be missed is the Average White Band on the 21st July who return to the festival after their now legendary 2016 show. Founder members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre, front the group, and keep the flame of the classic sound, distilling their special blend of R’n’B, Jazz, Soul, and Motown into a potent funky mix.

For this year’s full festival line up and to get tickets visit www.edinburghjazzfestival.com

MUST SEE EDINBURGH

A trip to Edinburgh is not complete without visiting Edinburgh Castle and the Crown Jewels, Greyfriars Bobby, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the beautiful Georgian Newtown and Edinburgh’s spooky old town with its many ghost hunts and haunted happenings.

To build the ultimate Edinburgh itinerary, visit www.edinburgh.org dluxe-magazine.co.uk 45

TRAVEL.

CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE Kevin Urquhart discovers there’s more to Philadephia than Rocky, Steak and Bells...

As a seasoned travel journalist, the first thing you do before any trip is google; get a lay of the land and suss out the sweet spots. I wanted the Top 10 things to do in Philly. Whilst every Top 10 guide cited the Liberty Bell, Philly Steak and the Rocky film steps among their ‘must do’ highlights, I discovered that Philadelphia is also the birthplace of American Democracy and, it transpires, the home of the hit musical Hamilton writes Kevin Urquhart.

We flew from Dublin Airport with Aer Lingus – a new route for the airline that launched on the very day of our flight.

The check-in and customs clearance via Dublin really does take the sting (and lengthy interrogations Stateside) out of the equation and allows you to simply walk out of the airport as if it was a bus station. No checks, passports or retina scans required.

Operating from a Boeing 757, Aer Lingus offer a daily flight and a business class option on their flights from Birmingham to Philadelphia, via Dublin with each serviced by typical Gaelic charm. Sure, the business class isn’t quite Qatar or Emirates, but the flat bed is an absolute boon and worth every cent of the upgrade.

As a city, Philadelphia, which was once 46 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

the Capital of the USA, is benefiting from the ripple effects of NYC’s saturation the Coventry to Birmingham, if you will.

Cited as the ‘sixth borough of New York’, it’s only 75 minutes to NYC on the train and something you could easily consider - although, as I found out, there’s more than enough to occupy your time in Philadelphia.

Whilst in the shadow of NYC, it’s confidently promoting itself as a city in its own right, rather than the under-dog. A city with an incredible heritage in Medical Research (Penn University); they are a hot-bed for tech-innovation and are currently awaiting the decision as to whether Amazon sets up here and brings with it around 5billion dollars of follow-on income.

We arrive in Philadelphia via Freeway 95 and beyond the shipyards and petrochemical plants, you see a skyline that has echoes of down-town Manhattan, radiating out from its ancient river port.

We stayed at the Loews Hotel on 12th and Market Street. Like NYC, Philadelphia operates the same block numbering system that originates from the first settlements at the port. So, you start at 1st Street and its intersections and as you

move further inland, the numbers get higher.

It makes navigating the city super easy, something best done by foot. Philadelphis is truly a walker’s paradise (voted 5th Most Walkable City in USA, fact fans), not least because of the incredible investment in public art the city has made as part of its Mural Arts programme. This programme was originally created to halt graffiti blight across the city, but it’s become much more than that. The ‘walls have become windows’ and afford

a space to voice an opinion - political, thanks, diversity, remembrance, even to inspire public health. The 4000 murals, some at least 70ft high, are even used as part of the rehabilitation and ‘forgiveness policy’ of former addicts and prisoners.

It’s a $6 million annual scheme that not only celebrates public art in a way that dwarves the attempts at similar schemes in the UK, but it’s been proven to reduce re-offending rates. If you’re not a walker with a half-day free, or don’t want to miss the murals, there is also a Segway Tour, or make use of the super-easy, East/West and North/South Subway lines.

You can’t not visit the Philadelphia Magic Gardens. Don’t be fooled: this is one of the most insane but fabulous recycled art installations ever witnessed, created by Isaiah Zagar.

If you prefer your art indoors, the city boasts a ‘Museum Mile’: a Parisiennestyle boulevard boasting the Free Library; Franklin Institute; and the incredible Barnes Museum, which has the largest hanging collection of Renoir and Cezanne in the world.

Not to be missed is the gigantic Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is the third largest art museum in the country – go, if only to see the Asian Floor, which is breathtaking - and something of a movie-star. Google ‘Rocky’ and you’ll see the museum as the backdrop to the iconic Sylvester Stallone image of him, atop the 72 steps, ready to take on the world.

As a side note, it’s worth checking out the museum websites in advance as the city does have a programme of making arts more accessible and regularly open the museums free of charge, usually on the first Friday of the month, from 5.30pm.

When it comes to food there’s much more on offer than Philly Steak (although if you’re going to try it you must get

it from Campo’s Deli on 214 Market Street in the Old Town but be prepared to queue) as Philadelphia’s food culture is second to none. A must-visit is the Reading Terminal Market. Open 8-6pm, every day, you’ll find soul food, Peking duck and everything in between. The eggs benedict with bacon, served at the Amish stand was to die for and a great place to pull up a stool and people watch.

If you love your dinner to be about the experience, as much as the food, head to the Observation Deck for 360-degree views of the city, before you hit ‘happy hour’ from 5pm. Here, even on a schoolnight, the restaurants are heaving with the city’s fashionable, fabulous and foodies. Booking is highly recommended at Sampan Restaurant, which is an Asian tapas-style restaurant; Mission Taqueria, which is Mexican in heritage and a haven for beardy boys and tattooed girls, Urban Farmer and The Parc Restaurant, which is French in influence and very chic if you want to get dressed-up. The fact that the city is ‘majority minority’ and to the left of the political spectrum means that Philly is a real melting pot of world cuisine, representative of its inhabitants.

It’d be remiss of me not to mention Insomnia in my list: this is a cookie store that will courier your warm cookies to you until 3am, perfect for when the munchies kick-in after a night on the tiles. The bar scene is, in my opinion, better than in NYC. Speakeasy bars are particularly fashionable right now and you should check out One Tipperling Place for some incredible cocktails.

So who needs Top Tens? Philadelphia is easily one of the safest-feeling, friendliest and culturally-rich cities we’ve ever visited and one that we’ll be making a date to return to very soon.

GETTING THERE Overnight accommodation in a Deluxe Room at Loews Philadelphia Hotel costs from approx. £126 / €145 ($179).

For further details, visit www.loewshotels.com/philadelphia-hotel.

For further details on Philadelphia, visit www.discoverPHL.com. @phlvisitorctr @barnesfoundation @phillyMagicGardens @OneLibertyPHL @MissionTaqueria @Sampanphilly @readingterminalmarket @phillytourhub @AmRevMusuem @Camposdeli @IndependenceNHP @MuralArtsPhiladelphia @PhilaMuseum

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 47

DINING.

WONDERFUL RHUBARB There’s something so very English about the tart taste of rhubarb. If you’re lucky enough to have rhubarb growing in your garden then make sure it doesn’t go to waste with these delicious recipes for sharp summer treats!

Rhubarb & Custard Muffins Makes 12 muffins Ingredients:

RHUBARB AND CUSTARD SLICE Serves 12 Ingredients For the base 250g plain flour 1 ½tsp baking powder 200g caster sugar 125g cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes 1 egg 1tbsp of water

For the filling 90ml of water 50g caster sugar 800g rhubarb, cut into 6cm lengths ½tsp Dr. Oetker Madagascan Vanilla Natural Extract / Dr. Oetker Madagascan Vanilla Bean Paste 1 egg yolk

250ml double cream 75g caster sugar 3 medium eggs, 1 egg yolk 800g rhubarb, cut into 6cm lengths 250ml double cream To serve a dusting of icing sugar

Method: 1.

For the base; mix the flour, Baking Powder and 200g of the sugar, rub in the butter with your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Beat one of the eggs with 1tbsp of water then mix in using a butter knife. Then, without overworking, bring the mixture together with your hands to make a smooth dough. Cover and leave in the fridge for 30 mins.

2.

For the filling; in a wide pan bring 90ml of water mixed with 50g of sugar to the boil, reduce to a simmer then add the rhubarb in a single layer (you may need to do two batches), cover and cook for 3-4 mins until just tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate to cool. In a jug mix the rest of the sugar, the eggs and yolk, cream and Vanilla Extract until just combined, set aside.

3.

Heat the oven to 180C, 160C fan, gas 4. Grease a 20cm x 30cm tray-bake or brownie tin. Take a sheet of baking parchment big enough to line the whole tin, trace the base of the tin in the middle then roll the dough out to cover it. Trim and reserve the excess pieces of dough.

Snip from the tip of the parchment to the tip of the dough in each corner then set into the tin, tidy up the parchment and gently press the dough to the edges. Bake for 20 mins.

Rhubarbs (200g/7oz trimmed and chopped) 225g Plain Flour (8oz) 2 Dr. Oetker Baking Powder Sachets (x2 sachet, 10g/2 tsp) 115g Caster Sugar (4oz) Large Egg (x1 beaten) 115g Butter (4oz, melted) 150ml Whole Milk (1/4 pt) 10g Dr. Oetker Madagascan Vanilla Paste (2 tsp) 200g Fresh Vanilla Custard 40g Demerara Sugar (1 ½ oz) Method: 1.

Preheat the oven to 190˚C (170˚C fan assisted oven, 375˚F, gas mark 5). Put the Muffin Cases in 12 muffin tins. Sift the flour and Baking Powder into a mixing bowl and stir in the sugar. Make a well in the centre.

2.

In a jug, mix the egg, melted butter, milk and Vanilla Paste together. Pour into the well, add 150g (5oz) the rhubarb and mix all the ingredients together to make a thick batter.

4.

Turn the oven down to 150C, 130C fan, gas 2. Carefully press strips of the reserved dough all along the edges of the tin the seal in the dough after any shrinkage from baking.

Scatter the rhubarb, pour over the custard and bake for 40 mins or until the centre is set but with a slight wobble. Cool for at least 30 mins.

3.

Spoon some of the mixture equally between the cases to ¼ fill the cases and make a slight indent in the centre. Spoon in a dollop of custard then spoon the rest of the muffin batter on top. Smooth over the tops to cover the custard, sprinkle each with the remaining rhubarb and Demerara sugar.

TIP – bubble down the leftover rhubarb juices until reduced by half. Use as a drizzling syrup on pancakes or freeze in ice-cube trays and add to drinks.

4.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until risen and golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

48 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

RAISE A GLASS TO THE MOST SIOFRA STYLISH OF SPIRITS

WINE TASTING WITH

O’BRIEN

It wasn’t all that long ago that gin was seen as little more than the unfashionable bedfellow of tonic water. Fast forward a decade and it has now overtaken vodka as our favourite spirit. LISA PIDDINGTON chooses the most stylish varieties from HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM.

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The rise of gin over the last couple of years has been nothing short of phenomenal – in 2017 us Brits bought just shy of 50million bottles, up seven million on 2016. Demand for the more niche gins created by artisan producers is certainly heading up its revival; infused with lavender, rose, pomegranate and even Turkish delight, these great-tasting options are appealing to a whole new generation of trendy drinkers.

From classic to contemporary, floral or spicy there’s a gin for everyone. Here Harvey Nichols Wine Expert SIOFRA O’BRIEN selects two of her favourites.

Smeaton’s Gin Bristol Method dry gin, £49.95: The enormous boom in gin will not have escaped your attention, and while many brands rush to capitalise with new and interesting flavours, Smeaton’s Gin keeps it footing well and truly in the past. Its Bristol Method Dry Gin resurrects an original Victorian recipe and is produced using techniques deemed too costly, labour intensive and time consuming by the majority of distillers.

Rich, spicy and perfectly balanced, there’s a big hit of juniper, pine, tree sap and orange oil followed by a peppercorn tingle mixed with marmalade and liquorice allsorts. I recommend serving it with Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic.

Tarquin’s Gin “The Sea Dog Navy Strength” hand-crafted Cornish dry gin, £27: This limited run of Tarquin’s multiaward-winning Cornish Gin was created to mark the disbanding of the 771 Naval Air Squadron. In fact, Navy Strength is the alcohol level at which if gunpowder becomes soaked with spirit from broken barrels during the heat of battle it will still light.

That’s 57%.

Kosovar juniper, citrus, almond, peppery spices and fiery Madagascan cinnamon give a long, dry finish; mix with a spicy tonic or use as perfect cocktail accompaniment for a Negroni, Gimlet or Martini.

3 2

5 4

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All gins featured are available from the Wine Shop at Harvey Nichols Birmingham.

1: The Old Curiosity Distillery chamomile and cornflower secret garden gin, £42.

2: One Difference One Gin, £60. 3: Eden Mill botano gin, £39.95. 4: Edinburgh Gin pomegranate and rose gin liqueur, £18.95. 5: Forest Gin Earl Grey gin, £70. 6: Manchester Gin raspberry infused gin, £19.95.

Throughout June and July the luxury Mailbox store is offering a speciallythemed Edinburgh Gin afternoon tea priced at £30 to include a choice of cocktail. There will also be Edinburgh Gin masterclasses on Saturday June 9 and Saturday July 14 at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm, priced at £15 per person. For more information and to book, please call 0121 616 6028. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 49

DINING.

DINING DIGEST It’s all going on in Birming-yum writes DLUXE Dining correspondent Anita Champaneri. Read more food news at dluxe-magazine co.uk and msdelicious.blogspot.co.uk

Anita

“The Ivy” conjures up an image of celebrity and style in our capital city of London, where the cool and famous come to dine in an elegant fashion. So that’s why the arrival of The Ivy was the most eagerly-anticipated restaurant opening in the Second City this year.

Created by the group behind the world famous celebrity haunt, this brasserie model has been rolled out to other major cities around the UK The Ivy is a fabulous new 155-seat, threefloor restaurant on Temple Row. It has a stunning Art Deco vibe which oozes style, and sophistication, with leather banquettes in a dreamy shade of burnt orange mix with plenty of green leafy hues to match. It’s a real stunner and the public have been flocking to see it. Everything is picture perfect.

It’s convivial dining; food we all want to eat but in a sophisticated setting. All your classics are on the menu like prawn cocktail, steak and chips and even Shepherds Pie although thankfully there are a few surprises in there like an Oriental style duck curry.

We headed there on a busy Tuesday night and the staff were friendly and attentive, looking perfect in their crisp white blouses.

The bartender chose a couple of cocktails for us, the Lychee Martinis, which were so sweet, even for me and my super sweet tooth!

For starters I, unusually for me, went for the prawn cocktail. Towered high with crisp baby gem lettuce, avocado, cherry tomatoes and plump prawns in a delicately flavoured Marie Rose sauce. It looked impressive – and it was; a simple dish executed well. Hubby had the scallops in a pea puree which was set off 50 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

with lemon zest, sea cress and crispy shallots: faultless.

For mains, hubby and I went straight for comfort food! I enjoyed a good sized portion of slow-roasted lamb shoulder with just the right hint of mustard and herbs. Served on a cushion of creamed potato, garlic, spring vegetables and a rosemary sauce, I so wanted to love it but was a tad on the dry side.

Hubby’s fish and chips looked lovely.

Traditional battered cod served with mashed peas, thick cut chips and tartare sauce. It’s a brasserie classic served in that brasserie way … pea puree in a mini copper saucepan and the chips displayed like flowers in a vase.

Every new restaurant now has to have a ‘piece de resistance’ or something instagrammable for the millenials. So the Chocolate bombe was a must. Served with a vanilla ice cream and honeycomb centre, its melted at your table with a hot salted caramel sauce.

Undeniably divine I think my tastebuds were having a party in my mouth!

And then we had the Apple Tarte served with a Calvados flambé.

Strong, sticky and sweet, it left us wanting more.

So, thankfully, The Ivy lives up to its name and it’s reputation offering sophisticated, relaxed dining and serving a classic every day style menu. Its bound to be full everday for many months to come so get your table booked!

SUMMER OPENINGS The merry go round that is Birmingham’s dining scene has been in full spin. Whose coming whose going? Who changing and what are we currently loving right now?

Out with Viva Brazil and in with Dirty Martini, out goes Cheval Blanc and in comes Little Blackwood. Out goes Nosh and Quaff and in comes Jailbird.

Who decides what’s hot and what’s not? Not self-confessed experts like me, but the paying public. But what I can tell you about is all the cool new things coming to the city this summer…. and there are plenty of them!

Bringing the buzz of Bangkok to Birmingham, Thai Express has brought its own brand of Thai Street Food to the hustle and bustle of Grand Central’s food court. If you crave a full authentic Thai menu, cooked fresh from live cooking stations, skillfully and speedily, then this is the place for you. Expect full-on, flavoursome food in a fun environment.

If you live by the motto ‘winner winner chicken dinner’ then a visit to Rebel Chicken is compulsory. It was originally going to be called Fowl Play (which I think is hilarious) and is a new 50-seater eatery in the Jewellery Quarter where Fishylicious use to be.

Sounds like it’s going to be the Che Guevara of chicken as its marinated, steamed and cooked on a specialist rotisserie over a mix of Cuban and sweet cherry wood logs.

Sundays sound great with their ‘Rum Reggae and Roasts’ from noon. And with an impressive 120-seater beer garden and courtyard it sounds like a fab place to hang out this summer.

For those of you looking for a family friendly place to watch sport and eat great food then get on your horse and gallop to Smokey Barrels, an American style smokehouse on the Coventry Road near Solihull.

Let them introduce you to the joys of the Smokehaus. The meat is lovingly slow cooked over a real wood fire to create the rich, deep and distinctive smoky taste that makes the barbecue food so authentically mouthwatering.

So, roll up those sleeves and get stuck into a menu full of smokehouse favourites…

S UM M ER

S PA & GOLF ES C A P ES FROM £79 Overnight stay, full English breakfast, Fire & Ice Experience or 18 holes of golf

ENGLAND’S LEADING RESORT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2017 Standard Belfry terms and conditions apply.

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Take a seat in the stunning Perrier-Jouët courtyard for some Al Fresco dining in the heart of the city.

The menu includes a tasty array of salads, baguettes and omelettes, all full of great quality fresh ingredients. With jugs and cobblers of Pimms, Aperol Spritz and our very own Hotel du Vin Rum Punch.

Launching in July our new À La Carte menu promises to be a delight of seasonal flavours.

Book a table at HOTELDUVIN.com HOTEL DU VIN& BISTRO BIRMINGHAM 0121 794 3005

THE DIARY. Kylie

21st September at Genting Arena, Birmingham Kylie always raises the bar with her live performances and this, her Golden Tour, promises a feast for the eyes and ears centred around her new Country and Western inspired album ‘Golden’. We not completely sure if she’ll go the whole hog and start do-si-do-ing around the stage but we‘re pretty sure that we’ll be treated to some amazing interpretations of songs from her back catalogue in what will be her Golden year.

52 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

Nitin Sawhney: Music in Me

23rd June at Recital Hall Acclaimed artist and polymath, Nitin Sawhney is the recent recipient of the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award. This evening of music and memories from a career spanning 30 years in the music industry is delivered through Sawhney’s unique prism, performance and perspective of music as a universal language. Music and Me features Aref Durvesh (tabla) and Eva Stone (vocals). Part of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Opening Festival.

Travis – The Man Who In Concert

25th June at Symphony Hall, Birmingham Following their triumphant headline show at On Blackheath Festival last September and due to popular demand, Travis, one of Britain’s best loved bands play their classic album The Man Who live in full.

Jess Gillam

26th June at Recital Hall In 2016, at the age of 17, Jess Gillam made history as the first saxophonist dluxe-magazine.co.uk 53

THE DIARY.

Leading Ladies gets a ‘Band’ new makeover!

to reach the BBC Young Musician of the Year Final.

Since then, she’s made her Proms debut, performed as a concerto soloist with major national orchestras and given numerous recitals throughout the UK. Part of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Opening Festival.

Be Festival

The Leading Ladies were ‘Back For Good’ at Birmingham Hippodrome’s networking event which treated members to a premium show ticket for the new hit show The Band, a delicious bowl food supper and a welcome drink. The event was sponsored by Primera Air, who also donated a round trip to New York City!

Justin Timberlake

27th August at Arena Birmingham Following the release of his highly anticipated album Man of the Woods and his epic Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show performance, Justin Timberlake has announced his return to Birmingham.

Roger Waters

Launched in August 2011, Leading Ladies now welcomes guests from all business sectors. Said to be one of the most popular (and glamorous!) networks of its kind in the city.

Alongside enjoying great performances, meeting the stars, learning from guest speakers, trying out new venues, getting to know clients better and bumping into other Leading Ladies from the business world, Birmingham Hippodrome also raises funds for the amazing work of Hippodrome Projects.

7th July at Arena Birmingham The show features songs from Pink Floyd’s greatest albums (The Dark Side of The Moon, The Wall, Animals, Wish You Were Here) plus some new songs from his new, bestselling album “Is This the Life We Really Want?”.

Matilda The Musical

3rd July – 8th September at Birmingham Hippodrome Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl.

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival

6th-8th July at Moseley Park, Birmingham The Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival returns with three days of open air mostly contemporary jazz, funk and soul music to the surroundings of Moseley Park.

54 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

3rd -7th July at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Each year a daring and innovative programme of boundary pushing theatre, dance, comedy, circus, music, visual and performing arts takes place turning the theatre’s rarely seen backstages into a den of creativity, discovery and exchange where diverse cultures are celebrated.

Summer in Southside

14th & 15th July at Birmingham Hippodrome The streets around Birmingham Hippodrome will be transformed into a summer playground with traditional funfair rides, retro games, and a whole host of exciting, nostalgic performances to spark the imagination. Pop-up food stalls, face-painting and craft

Breathtaking arias & daredevil feats: Belgrade Theatre presents a spectacular summer lineup

Belgrade in August with their first opera performances to be staged in the city.

Reimagining two of the best-loved stories in the operatic repertoire, this critically lauded company now take on Bizet’s Carmen and Verdi’s La Traviata, complete with a sumptuous live orchestra of over 30 musicians.

From classical music to contemporary circus, Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre presents another dazzlingly diverse programme of shows this summer, with daring feats in Cirque Berserk followed by two stunning new productions from the internationally acclaimed Russian State Opera House.

Returning to Coventry in time for the 250th anniversary of circus, the awardwinning Zippo’s Circus is joining the celebrations with a spectacular new show developed especially for the stage.

Running at the Belgrade Theatre 2628 July, the astonishing Cirque Berserk combines cirque-style artistry with

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adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, including the world’s most hair-raising circus act, the legendary “Globe of Death”!

Widely regarded as one of Britain’s best circus companies, Zippo’s Circus comprises over 30 jugglers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers, drummers and daredevil stuntmen. In their latest work, this astoundingly talented international troupe celebrate the rich history of circus, while looking forward to an exciting future for the artform.

Following the huge success of their touring ballet shows, the Russian State Ballet and Opera House then return to the

On Thursday 30 August, expect fiery passion, intense love, jealousy and betrayal as Bizet’s most popular opera arrives on the Main Stage. Set against a bustling backdrop of 19th-century Seville, Carmen is best known for the freespirited, seductive heroine of the title, and for featuring some of the best-known arias in history, including the instantly recognisable “Toreador”.

Finally on Thursday 31 August, La Traviata brings the beguiling splendour and gaiety of mid-19th-century Parisian society to the stage. But beneath the revelry and hedonism lurks heartbreak and pathos in a timeless tale of tragic romance, as high-class courtesan Violetta sacrifices everything for the man she loves.

Tickets to all of these shows and more are available to book now by calling the Belgrade Theatre box office on 024 7655 3055, or visiting www.belgrade.co.uk where prices are even cheaper.

11/05/2018 16:19

THE DIARY.

Royal Wedding fever grips Hallfield SCHOOL PUPILS

Children and staff cancelled school for the day in favour of celebrating the impending nuptials of Prince Harry and Megan Markle.

An army of Royal wedding enthusiasts came to school dressed head to toe in red, white and blue with huge smiles on their faces.

They kicked off the day with their annual Inter-House Music competition where the theme was ‘love and marriage’.

workshops complete our summer celebrations.

Jason Manford

20th July at Arena Birmingham ‘Muddle Class’ promises to feature a wealth of new material about Jason growing up ‘working class’ then finding, over the years, that part of him has become ‘middle class’ - causing much confusion! Delivered with Jason’s amiable charm and captivating wit, this is a show not to be missed.

By lunch time, Royal wedding celebrations were in full swing as the children tucked into a barbeque lunch, topped off with union jack cupcakes and ice lollies for dessert.

The entire school gathered together to sing the national anthem before they conga-ed off for fun and games on the playing fields.

Mrs Anthony, Head of Values at Hallfield School, said: “It was a wonderful day full of lots of laughter. Everyone came together to celebrate the wedding in a superb fashion and had a fabulous time. What better reason is there to cancel lessons for the day?”

For more information visit www.hallfieldschool.co.uk 56 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

The Craft Drink Festival

28 & 29th July at NEC Birmingham Craft Drink Festival is not your average festival or your average drink event, but an immersive two-day experience of flavour, fun, entertainment and education, stimulating all five senses.

Alongside live music, comedy and cinema, you’ll find hundreds of breweries, distilleries, cider makers, wine merchants, food trucks, and more! Craft beer, cider, gin, whisky, wine, coffee, juice… whatever your tipple of choice, Craft Drink Festival is the place to discover the latest offerings from the industry’s most innovative names.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes – Living Dangerously 31st July at Town Hall Birmingham Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ many endeavours have pushed his endurance levels to the very limits, inspiring generations and making him a pioneer of exploration with an unparalleled story to tell.

“I’d like to thank our fantastic groundsmen for setting everything up for the big day and a huge thank you to those in the Parent Teacher Association who came and helped out.”

Not to be outdone, the little children at Hallfieldfirst had a party of their own where they celebrated the big day in their own royal fashion.

Michaela Strachan, be amazed and thrilled as the greatest creatures ever to walk the earth return before your eyes.

The dazzling production features new, state-of-theart technology, making this the biggest and best dinosaur show in the world.

Internationally renowned designers have worked with scientists to create 18 lifesize creatures, including the Stegosaurus, raptors, and the terrifying TyrannosaurusRex!

Walking with Dinosaurs

26th-28th July at Arena Birmingham Seen by over nine million people in more than 250 cities around the world, Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular, is back. Starring

The Comedy About A Bank Robbery

23rd August – 8th September at Birmingham Repertory Theatre Think Ocean’s Eleven meets the Marx Brothers in this dynamite new comedy direct from the West End! Following the phenomenal sell-out success of their multi awardwinning comedy The Play That Goes Wrong.

Kevin Hart

30th August at Arena Birmingham The legendary comedian has been pretty busy since the last time he ended up in Brum with his sell out ‘What Now’

REVEL IN THE WONDER OF THE EVERYDAY AT BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY at the utter wonder of the everyday. Step foot inside the museum and enter the Wunderkammer (a room of wonder): immerse yourself in a gallery space where objects climb the walls, large sculptures fill the gallery floor and lively walls dazzle against a ‘cabinet of curiosities’-style installation.

From an umbrella fashioned into a crow and one hundred everyday objects transformed into a plastic rainbow, to eclectic artworks made from the likes of children’s toys and cake decorations, this vibrant and visually immersive exhibition features over 70 artworks by hugely talented artists.

Birmingham-based artists will get their chance to shine a spotlight on the everyday, such as Chris Clinton and Kurt Hickson. Also included are internationally-renowned works such as Yoko Ono’s ‘All White Chess Set’, which takes the everyday to showcase her anti-war beliefs, and Hew Locke’s ‘Jungle Queen II’, that uses commonplace objects to satirise British colonisation, capital wealth and consumption.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s new summer exhibition is challenging us to look at the everyday with a new perspective.

Running until the 9th September, The Everyday and Extraordinary will explore the potential of everyday objects to be transformed into artworks of wonder.

As part of a three year partnership with the Arts Council Collection, Birmingham Museums Trust’s new exhibition presents a playful and surreal experience which encourages visitors to look at everyday objects in new and imaginative ways.

The technology in our pockets constantly provides wonder, but have you ever marvelled at a chess set or an old discarded umbrella?

The new exhibition will make you drop those phones and stare open-mouthed

Pop a reminder in your phones: The Everyday and Extraordinary will inspire everyday wonder, astonishment and magic.

For full details about the exhibition, visit birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/ whats-on.

F RE E E N T RY

G E T A TASTE O F CO LMO RE B ID All dishes £4 11am - 7pm, Friday & Saturday

Live music, entertainment, cooking demonstrations, cocktail masterclasses, wine tasting and more!

THE DIARY.

DR COSMOS...

Dylan Moran

As he prepares to take Dr Cosmos across the UK, it might feel as though Dylan Moran has an intricately conceived game plan in place given that he announces a new comedy tour approximately every three years. But that feeling would be quite wrong. “I’m glad to be able to say that I don’t know how often I tour, because I can’t really deal with knowing exactly what I’m going to be doing. But I do enjoy touring and I’m really looking forward to this one. It’s great fun getting to go places. Last year I went to Lincoln: I’d never been there before.”

A reader and a thinker, Dylan is always alert to the comedic or philosophical possibilities all around him. And never is this more apparent than when he’s on the road. “I try to make myself very responsive, and you’re always on when you’re touring, constantly receiving and transmitting, but you can’t be like that all the time. You have to come home and be a boring dad. Which I’m very good at apparently.

And yes, they tell me that in no uncertain terms.”

Little do they know, perhaps, that this dull father is one of the most acclaimed UK-based comedians of the past three decades. In 1996, at the age of 24, Dylan became the youngest winner of the Perrier Award, and this Navan-born, Edinburgh-based comic, actor and illustrator (his ‘doodlings’ are likely to be used as the backdrop to his new live set), has continued to woo the critics and charm his audiences with live shows such as Monster, What It Is, and Off The Hook, while his TV and film credits include Channel 4 sitcom Black Books, BBC comedy-drama How Do You Want Me?, brittle Irish movie Calvary, and zombie romcom Shaun Of The Dead.

But never does Dylan seem more alive than when he’s working his material before a live audience.

“I have high hopes for this show, I’m really into it. And I’m really into what an incredible time it is to be doing comedy. I want people to come in and have a great time and go home feeling better. I’m not going to ask people to understand anything too complicated or anything that I feel can’t be understood. A lot of it is about pulling the squirrels out of the bag and giving them a name or a number. Let’s just say that I’m organising the squirrels.”

Much of this new way of living has, of course, much to do with the technology that seems constantly at our fingertips. It’s fair to say that Dylan isn’t exactly approving of our dependency on screens. “Look at the mystery that has been taken away from us: the whole romance of human history was made by all the imagination and projection of people in one place wondering what was over the hill. There was myth and storytelling, but now everything we could concoct in the dark has been replaced by the crystal clear Samsung LED screen. All those deliberations that were needless but very human and showed how inventive, capable and nutty we were has been swept away now.”

“A lot of it is about pulling the squirrels out of the bag and giving them a name or a number.

Let’s just say that I’m organising the squirrels.”

So, who is this Dr Cosmos that Dylan Moran speaks of? Is it some fictional man of the world?

Or is it the Irish comedian himself in stage guise?

“I get these ideas for themes or identities that obsess me for years and Dr Cosmos has been around for a while.

I’m writing a pilot episode which has Dr Cosmos as the title and it’s about all kind of things, like consumerism and mental health. It’s the idea of a snakeoil salesman, like those ads you see on the net about losing your tummy by eating bananas or not eating bananas, whatever it is. A lot of the live show is about 58 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

people just trying to cope. The big things still apply: family is still there and the root systems don’t change, it’s just the way we’re living has.”

So where does over-reliance on technology that answers all our questions in a nano-second leave the art of storytelling? “I think people are desperate for it; we really need it. And we need to be around the fire and hear it. We’re confused about what’s happening to us now, and that’s why you get Brexit and you get Trump and you get all this polarisation.”

If people are craving stories and storytellers, then they can still delight in the innovative world of Dylan Moran. And the good news is that he has plenty to say. “I write a lot, so I’ve got tons of material. That’s never been a problem for me, the problem is deciding exactly what to do with it. Much of what I have for this show is about the incredibly fluid nature of now, how disorientating and tiring it all is and how it feels to try and orientate yourself and stay foursquare on the earth.”

What Dylan won’t be doing is looking around at other comedians for inspiration or to glean a sense of what’s on other people’s agenda. He’s certainly not immune to what’s going on in the comedy world and enjoys everything from the Dutch absurdism of Hans Teeuwen to the smart observational work of Kevin Bridges, but you’re unlikely to find him lurking in the shadows at a stand-up show. “That’s just sensible. Are there jockeys out there hiding behind hedges looking at horse races? I don’t think so. Are there hookers with their noses pressed up against the windows of cheap hotels? I don’t think so . . . I don’t know why hookers and jockeys came to mind, but there you go. I don’t seek live comedy out but I love it when I see someone who has their own voice.”

Dylan Moran: Dr Cosmos will be at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August, and then the New Alexandrara Theatre on the 22nd September. www.dylanmoran.com

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 59

THE DIARY.

NETWORKING AT REVOLUCION DE CUBA FOR Birmingham Law Society

tour. With his memoir ‘I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons’ debuting at Number One on the New York Times Bestseller list, he’s been voicing the character Captain Underpants in its first Epic movie plus who could miss him starring in the Sony reboot of the classic film Jumanji alongside Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black! Returning to stand up Kevin Hart is set to bring his already widely successful and massively hysterical ‘The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour’ to the Brum crowd.

More than 100 members of the organisation attended the event for Latin-inspired music, food and cocktails.

The event was sponsored by St Ives Chambers, St Philips’ employment team and Revolucion de Cuba. A charity raffle raised funds for Headway, the brain injury association, and the Jeff Astle Foundation.

Alexandra Burke

18th September at Symphony Hall, Birmingham A decade after winning The X Factor, pop sensation Alexandra Burke announces her first UK headline tour since 2010, The Truth Is will see Alexandra take her infamous soulful voice on the road.

Birmingham Law Society (BLS) held a networking event at one of the city’s newest bar and restaurants Revolucion de Cuba.

The premises, on Temple Street, was formerly the BLS HQ and included the magnificent former Law Library on the first floor. The space is now reinvented as a bar, with a dancefloor area.

Monkeys have announced a return to Birmingham this September!

An Evening with Brian Blessed

13th September at Town Hall Birmingham Brian is guaranteed to have the audience captured from the moment he walks on stage until the moment he leaves with his eloquent wit and booming, operatic voice.

His show may not be suitable for people of a nervous disposition or those who aren’t expecting the odd expletive!

Taj Express

11th-15th September at Birmingham Hippodrome A spectacular new musical featuring Bollywood’s greatest dancers and the songs of A.R. Rahman.

Dionne Warwick

20th September at Symphony Hall, Birmingham Dionne Warwick will be performing unforgettable hits, including Walk on By, Any One who had a Heart, Do you Know the Way to San Jose, Don’t Make me Over, Heartbreaker and many more at the prestigious Symphony Hall, featuring orchestral accompaniment.

Shania Twain Arctic Monkeys

15th September at Arena Birmingham Following the release of their new album ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’, Arctic 60 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

24th September at Arena Birmingham With hits including “Any Man of Mine,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” “You’re Still the One,” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”, This is one unmissable show!

chef and TV show host will help officially launch Colmore Food Festival 2018 before hosting cookery demonstrations on the Kitchen Stage.

The Festival will also feature taster dishes and drinks prepared

by Business District favourites Opus, The Old Joint Stock, Gusto, Gaucho, Primitivo and Hotel du Vin among many others including new businesses to the District Pinchos, Coffee #1 and Hookway’s, along with Adam’s and Loki wine.

COLMORE FOOD FESTIVAL RETURNS

Organisers have given a taste of what’s to come at one of Birmingham’s most popular summer events as the Colmore Food Festival will be returning to Victoria Square for the eighth time on Friday July 6 and Saturday July 7.

The annual celebration of Colmore Business District restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels attracts more than 30,000 visitors and is hosted by the area’s Business Improvement District (BID) and prides itself on each of the taster dishes costing no more than £4, which means visitors can try the different menu options on offer at more than 30 stalls without breaking the bank.

This year’s Festival will once again feature the culinary skills of Glynn Purnell, owner of two restaurants in Colmore Business District: Purnell’s and Purnell’s Bistro, both of which will be showcased at the Festival, and who has won numerous awards and national accolades for his contemporary fine dining with an eclectic twist. The Michelin-starred

Fringe events connected to the Festival were held in April and May; each intended to celebrate the global cuisines and delicious drinks now available in Colmore Business District. Glynn said: “Colmore Food Festival is always, without fail, a fantastic event. Everything gets bigger and better every year – the food, the music and the ambience.

This year will be no exception as more fantastic food and drink outlets continue to move in to the District. I can’t wait to demonstrate at this year’s event, and of course Purnell’s and Purnell’s Bistro and Ginger’s Bar will both be represented in the stalls; hopefully I’ll get chance to use my sun cream again this year!”

Mike Best of Colmore Business District said: “This year will be the eighth Food Festival that the team at Colmore BID has organised for the city.

“We’re really looking forward to the variety of food and drink on offer from our fantastic venues in the Colmore area of Birmingham. We’ll be joined by Glynn Purnell who is a long-time supporter and friend of the Festival. He will be on stage for three hours on Friday, working with specialists from the indoor markets. we’ll also have a full programme of entertainment including live music, street theatre and live demos on the kitchen stage. Make sure 6 and 7 July are in the diary!”

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BUSINESS.

Take a holiday every month! Seriously you can.

Off to Orlando, Tenerife, or something more energetic like throwing tomatoes at your neighbours for fun in Eastern Spain?

Holidays are the things that we all love and most of us work very hard to be able to afford and enjoy.

But holiday is also a word that strikes fear in the heart of most business owners. It means so many things and most of them are not good. Getting employees prepped to handle the workload, get clients ready to live without you for two weeks. It can also mean sleepless nights as you prepare for the time to go away. The most frantic periods for most successful business people is the 3 days ahead of your holiday and the three days when you get back, writes dluxe Business Editor Bart Dalton.

When was the last time you went on holiday and stayed away for more than 3 weeks, didn’t have your phone attached as a 6th finger, and didn’t worry about anything that was happening back at the proverbial ranch? If you have it all under control, stop reading this article now but if, like so many people who are trying to get to their “Next Level,” you like the idea of taking a little more down time, then keep on reading, as in my book 'Grow, Sell and Retire' I go through the concepts on how to make sure that you can go on a vacation every month and I’m going to share some of those methods here.

There are three things that you need to put in place to make sure that you can go on your monthly holiday and relax.

1.

2.

3.

Team based client engagement experience.

Communications standard operating procedure Plan for pre-holiday and post-holiday work “Fill the pipeline”

Whether you are a one-person business or a full complement of employees, you can build the feel of a team. Here are some secrets to make sure that you get the dynamic right. Make sure you assign roles and responsibilities for each stage of a process. The more people that have client engagement whether email, face to face or on the phone the better. (As long as you all have the same message) Ask yourself, even if it is just you, what roles would my client expect 62 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

from a company of my size and how can I emulate or, even better, surpass their expectations. One more hint: hand written thank you notes are awesome at some point to enhance your client experience.

Establish a contact regime for your clients when you are working through an order or delivering a service. Give them specific time lines for each thing and why it will happen in that sequence.

Tell them what happens at each stage of the process and who will be contacting them with what information. People do not like surprises, so the more you can keep them from feeling out of control the better off you are going to be. Remember clients like things little and often versus all at once. Set out at least 3 different touch points on an order or at each stage of a client journey. The easiest way to look at it is Engage, Explain, Deliver and repeat the first two steps as many times as need be. If you end up doing this more that 2 times on the Explain step, get one of your friends that is not in your industry to listen to your words. In communication there is only Content and Context, we control the Context for our clients and how the Content is delivered in a language they can understand.

Now the difficult part, you need to put a plan in place to make sure that you are going to have your super fabulous holiday every time you go away.

1.

2.

3.

Get your orders, clients and prospect contacted and discuss a next step with each of them.

Give them a time line and who will be calling them next.

Upsell at least one service or provide a referral to each one of them even if it is a great idea like a great book such as Grow, Sell and Retire?!? (wink)

So where are you off to? I have found that if you book your holiday now then you will expedite the need to do all of the above. When you are sipping your favourite beverage by the pool, beach or in a chilled out setting just remember that you were able to do it because you read an amazing article in Dluxe and now you are a holiday machine.

Look for my new book on Amazon or any other ideas at www.growsellandretire.com

BPA RE-APPOINTS CHAIR

Rev it up at The Engine Room One of Birmingham’s newest multi-purpose private hire spaces is celebrating summer in style, having held its first wedding of the season.

The chair of the Birmingham Publicity Association, Caroline Chell, has been appointed into post for the third year running - a first in the groups 72 year history.

Caroline, who is Strategy Lead at First Radio Sales and has been involved with the council since 2004 and was formally sworn into position at the Birmingham Publicity Associations’ annual general meeting held at The Loft Lounge.

Sitting beside her is also Natalie Pejovic of Superdream as vice chair for the second year running, who was also awarded the Chair Cup – awarded each year to the person who has supported the Chair the most. Selena Higgins-McCarron of Global Radio has also agreed to extend her presidency for a third year next year to 2020.

The Birmingham Publicity Association supports the media and creative industries in the region, while raising money for key local charities that its members. Its members include global organisations to sole traders, graduate trainees right up to CEOs and MDs, media owners and agencies, advertising and marketing agencies, digital agencies, PR agencies and freelancers. www.thisistheBPA.co.uk

The Engine Room, which is a highly versatile space in the heart of Birmingham’s creative quarter, Digbeth, has been open for a few months, and already has a host of events under its belt.

The wedding was the first since the venue opened its doors just a few months ago, however there has also been birthday celebrations, art and photography exhibitions, along with a host of themed nights, for partygoers looking for something a little different.

Karl Hodgetts, director of The Engine Room, said: “We have such an incredible space which can be transformed, and people are just drawn to it once they see it. It’s a cool and chic industrial venue which fits in perfectly with Digbeth’s urban profile - and that’s a great selling point. “The area really has pulled itself up over the last few years, and is a destination of choice for people wanting something with a little more edge and a little less commercial. So to host a wedding was an absolute dream as not everyone wants a hotel for the reception, and this just was a personalised twist for the couple and their guests to enjoy,” he added.

The space can hold up to 190 people, and there is a bar, sound system, DJ booth along with the choice of street food traders, projectors and other facilities upon request.

For more details, visit www.theeingineroom.space

FRASER URQUHART MEDIA OPEN NEW OFFICE IN CITY the Dluxe series of magazine titles and Bulletin, the official publication for the Birmingham Law Society.

“We spend so much time within the city that it seems crazy that this is our first official office in the West Midlands” said business co-owner “Kevin Urquhart. “We’ve been marketing businesses across the Midlands for over 19 years now and by bringing our expertise into a base in Birmingham we’re even better placed to assist our clients, whether that's organising an event or launch, generating press coverage and publicity, print and digital advertising, contract publishing or copywriting.”

Publicity specialists Fraser Urquhart Media have opened their first Birmingham office as part of a continued expansion across the Midlands.

The well-known firm PR, events and premium publishing company, run by Kevin Urquhart and Jonathan Fraser, have doubled the size of their Leicestershire HQ and opened this, their second office, in Digbeth during an exciting period of recruitment and growth in all parts of their business which boasts a portfolio that includes the iconic SIXTY9 Magazine,

“Although our digital marketing and design team will remain based in our new, larger Leicestershire head office, Birmingham will become home to some key members of our PR and sales team so that they’re always on hand to grab a feature opportunity or a cuppa with a client” added co-owner Jonathan Fraser. “We’ve always run the business with a focus on honesty, integrity and sociability so having this extra base means we’ll be able to spend more time with our clients and be even better placed to get them real world results and successes with their amrketing campaigns.”

To find out more about Fraser Urquhart Media call them on 07713 740272 or visit www.fu-media.co.uk

dluxe-magazine.co.uk 63

BUSINESS.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Connecting business, spirituality and success There has been little change in the way estate agents have operated since the introduction of the internet. But while the day to day running remains the same, its advertising platform has broadened from the conventional shop window and newspaper editorials.

Alongside this the negative reputation has lingered, shrouded in years of mistrust. A change was needed; an innovative approach. Our ethos has always been that we are part of the community we serve and we stand by our shared values. Sikhism teaches us to serve humanity as one, with love and no discrimination.

It was a simple message of peace, and reminder, that ‘love conquers all’ in the face of adversity. The faces and words of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji, and other brave Sikhs, appeared on screens in prominent cities across the UK such as Birmingham, London and Edinburgh. A peaceful reminder of the Sikh genocide of 1984, raising awareness of the lives lost and the on-going, powerful legacy left behind. Within days, through the power of social media, Love Your Postcode had reached out across the world; inspiring the Asian community and beyond.

Love Your Postcode is not corporate yet it's not an online agent either; it is a Performance&™ driven brand with global reach. It belongs to the people it serves. This allows the unconventional style that we have created to be tailored and individual to those that we assist. It is understanding the person in front of you, or over the phone, and taking the time to carefully consider what their requirements are and adapting accordingly.

So what does this have to do with developing, buying, selling and renting properties? Our core beliefs link closely to the way in which we operate and filter through to those we serve.

Love gives the strength to overcome all obstacles. This saying is found in the works of the ancient Roman poet Virgil. It is a common theme found and felt by all, and is synonymous with care and kindness. It is always a great place to start.

Truth forms the cornerstone of our business. Estate agents are often seen as untrustworthy, but we put forward a fresh approach with honesty and truthfulness at the core of our values. Truth cannot damage a cause that is just.

Justice plays a significant part in the way we work. Where others may not be able to justify their fee, we strive to provide a five-star customer service led approach. Achieving our sellers required selling price within 21 days*. We can stand boldly by this with our worth and expertise.

Freedom must play a part. With a waiting list of qualified clients looking 64 dluxe-magazine.co.uk

to purchase on the confidence of our recommendation, we offer the freedom to move to a desired postcode, or even country, sooner rather than later.

Strength portrayed by the soldiers in the images on our screens mimics our brand, which stands powerful and proud because it respects its unique identity and pole position in the industry.

We don’t see this as a marketing campaign; this is a movement, which has allowed us into the hearts and minds of our community around the world. We don’t have clients anymore, they’ve become fans. They can see the message is that of open dialogue with a chance to learn from the past to make a better future.

Our values are shared by all who pass through our doors. We are inclusive and keen to spread the ideas in every aspect of what we do.

Within a matter of days, we have become the strongest Sikh owned property brand; shown by the fact that a judge has decided to make transparent all documentation related to the 1984 genocide. With a brand based on justice and truth, there can be nothing more humbling than this.

The industry is changing, there is no place to stagnate and fall by the wayside. We believe that by using such a strong starting point, as our values above, there can be only one direction for the brand. With the support and understanding of our existing and new members, we can only build in strength and improve further. We are changing the role of estate agency into something far more meaningful.

Due to this campaign reaching millions of people worldwide, Love Your Postcode will now be creating a superhero day so if you would like to see your superhero on our digital screens, please contact our group.

One Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2BJ loveyourpostcode.com 0800 862 0870 R

TM

Property

MY BIRMINGHAM. projects happening on the roads of Birmingham, it certainly is short-term pain for a long-term gain.

What is it that makes you stay here?

Birmingham is such a fast-paced city with so much to offer, its growth is exciting, and I plan to be here to be a part of it.

How do you see the city growing culturally and socially?

With cultural areas such as the Symphony Hall, MAC Birmingham and Eastside Projects, there are so many reasons to visit the city. The city has been experiencing a bit of a renaissance with a number of exciting developments. The Commonwealth Games – that’s going to be a real game changer for the city.

What’s your favourite way to relax in the city?

Cold drinks, beer garden and good food.

Simple but effective.

What's your ambition for Birmingham?

To become the Food Capital of the country What’s your favourite place to eat in the city?

My birmingham ROBERT DIAPER, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE THREE CHURCH ROAD, EDGBASTON. Set in the magnificent Georgian building of St George’s Place, Three Church Road restaurant and bistro is a contemporary local gem, full of quintessential English charm.

Here Robert tells us why a move to Birmingham was the best decision he ever made.

How did your relationship with Birmingham begin?

I first arrived in Birmingham in 2011 after moving up from London working for Gordon Ramsay. I was worried at first that I would not find the same buzz as I did living and working in the capital but I soon felt that Birmingham had something special.

What was it about the city that caught your attention?

I was just amazed at the diversity in the city, and this is highlighted no clearer than in the food and drink on offer, from world-beating street food to the finest Michelin star restaurants.

What do you think makes Birmingham unique?

I feel that the people of Birmingham are always ready for something new, they

really accept new and unique concepts, and Birmingham always feels like its moving forward.

I love El Borracho de Ora. They do great Spanish tapas.

What’s the best dish on the menu?

Conejo con tomate – Slow cooked Rabbit in garlic and tomato What’s your favourite bar?

Bubble Lounge at Hotel du Vin. My first job when I moved to Birmingham was at HDV as Deputy GM. It’s a great place to get to know the city.

What’s your tipple of choice?

What part of the city do you call home and why?

You can’t go wrong with an Old Fashioned.

Although I live outside the city I must admit I feel completely at home in Edgbaston, it has a real village feel to it with its tree-lined roads, incredible restaurants and green spaces.

In your time here, what has surprised you most about Birmingham?

What do you love most about Birmingham?

That’s easy…the people. Having worked in a city where people struggle to make eye contact, the people of Birmingham are by far the friendliest people I’ve ever met, true to their roots and proud of their city.

What frustrates you about it?

It’s got to be the traffic, with so many

The friendliness of the people, and the support we have received when opening our restaurant.

If you weren’t in Birmingham, where else would you be in the world?

It would have to Italy, great food and ingredients with a beautiful backdrop to match. www.threechurchroad.co.uk