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FREE | ISSUE 4 | JULY 16<br />

BIRMINGHAM & WEST MIDLANDS<br />

In The<br />

WIN FESTIVAL TICKETS - P11<br />

NEW FASHION EDITOR - P14<br />

OUR FESTIVAL FEATURE - P32<br />

THE NEW HIGH FIELD TOWN<br />

HOUSE- P60<br />

SUMMER<br />

FESTIVAL<br />

FUN<br />

BANARDOS CELEBRATES<br />

150 YEARS - P90


Award winning dining<br />

in Edgbaston<br />

The Calthorpe Estate within Edgbaston, just a mile from <strong>Birmingham</strong> city centre,<br />

is home to an array of award winning places to eat.<br />

Whether catching up with friends or entertaining in style, take a taste test in<br />

Edgbaston Village in the wide selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and leisure clubs.<br />

Take a taste test in Edgbaston Village.<br />

To book a table visit www.calthorpe.co.uk/dining<br />

Offices / Residential / Retail / Medical / Leisure / Education


CONTENTS // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP<br />

3<br />

WELCOME<br />

LETTER<br />

FROM THE<br />

EDITOR<br />

Welcome to the fourth edition of In The City Magazine. When I think<br />

about summer I think festivals, nothing marks British Summer more than<br />

festivals, which has been part and parcel of British culture for decades.<br />

Whether you are an avid festival goer or new to the scene we bring you all that's<br />

fresh to get you in the mood to party!<br />

EDITOR IN CHIEF<br />

Shana Owen<br />

shana@inthecityuk.com<br />

To mark this we have an exciting competition to win tickets for The Secret Garden<br />

Party Festival & Shardfest which are the go to festivals of the year. We also have a<br />

spotlight feature on all the great festivals from Glastonbury (naturally!) to Wireless.<br />

The school summer break is also on the horizon, to help you plan your summer<br />

holidays we have a feature on the best seaside locations in the UK. If you are thinking<br />

further afield, we have an editorial piece on the best places you can fly to from<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> International Airport. Flying to international destinations from your<br />

doorstep has never been easier.<br />

In this edition we introduce and welcome three new additions/collaborations to the<br />

magazine. TheTicketSellers takeover our nightlife section sharing their expertise on<br />

what's on and why you should be there. Collis our Fashion Editor shares his passion<br />

with our readers and has dedicated his editorial to denim - a perfect fit for festival<br />

goers. We also introduce our 'Nights Out In The City' section. This month focuses on<br />

dancing and dining in Digbeth.<br />

Our Business and Community section carries forth the festival theme which<br />

highlights 'Music for Youth National Festival'. This is the largest youth music festival<br />

to celebrate the UK’s most inspiring young musicians. <strong>Birmingham</strong> will come<br />

alive with five days of extraordinary music, taking place across three world class<br />

stages and city-centre locations. With over four hundred live performances, there’s<br />

something for everyone, bringing together music lovers of all generations.<br />

<strong>ITC</strong>magUK<br />

We have taken the best of summer, keeping you in the loop to ensure your social<br />

calendar is on point. So relax and enjoy the read - you will need it!<br />

<strong>ITC</strong>magUK<br />

@<strong>ITC</strong>magUK<br />

www.inthecityuk.com<br />

HAPPY READING!<br />

Shana Owen<br />

In The City Magazine<br />

G.B. House,<br />

21 - 27 Milk Street,<br />

Digbeth,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>,<br />

B5 5TR<br />

Advertising<br />

advertising@inthecityuk.com<br />

0121 230 8333<br />

Publishing<br />

enq@askalps.com<br />

0121 230 8099


4 CONTENTS // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 4 | <strong>July</strong> 2016<br />

CONTENTS<br />

NEWS<br />

7 FOOD & DRINK<br />

21<br />

Spotlight | Prime-Time appeal of <strong>Birmingham</strong> .......8<br />

Costa Coffee great expansion plan ..............................9<br />

Formula One British Grand Prix ......................................9<br />

Glastonbury's steel resolution ........................................10<br />

Wifi Wars waged in Wolverhampton ..........................10<br />

COMPETITION<br />

11<br />

Spotlight | The Internationally acclaimed Indian<br />

restaurant with more than a touch of class...............22<br />

Full Fat Vs Low Fat - The thick of it!...............................26<br />

Recipe of the month: Healthy egg and chips............28<br />

ENTERTAINMENT<br />

31<br />

Spotlight | Summer Festivals ...........................................32<br />

Staying healthy at festivals ..............................................34<br />

Win 2 tickets each to The Secret Garden Party<br />

Festival & Shardfest 2016................................................11<br />

FASHION + LIFESTYLE<br />

13<br />

Spotlight | Collis - Introducing our fabulous fashion<br />

editor..................................................................................14<br />

Denim fever - Facts on Denim............................................16<br />

Lifestyle Coach: Bringing sparkle to your life.............18<br />

The power of passion .........................................................35<br />

Summer Tasters - From traditional to exotic .........37<br />

Cocktail of the month: Snow in the summer.............37<br />

NIGHTLIFE<br />

39<br />

Spotlight | TheTicketSellers Nightlife takeover ....40<br />

- Featuring shardfest............................................................40<br />

- 15 minutes 4 U presents stepping out ....................41<br />

- Nights out listing................................................................42<br />

In The City created by: In The City Magazine Ltd<br />

Published by: Alps Group | Sales Director: Darren Tyler<br />

Editor in Chief: Shana Owen | Editor: Richard Hobson<br />

Creative Director: Hassan Moulavi | Designer: Jerome Beaumont<br />

E: advertising@inthecityuk.com<br />

E: editorial@inthecityuk.com<br />

T: 0121 230 8333<br />

Switchboard: 0121 230 8080


CONTENTS // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP<br />

5<br />

MONTHLY FEATURE<br />

49 MOTORS<br />

73<br />

Don't move; Improve!...........................................................50<br />

- Minimum Energy, Maximum Results...........................54<br />

Spotlight | Tesla takes the world.......................................74<br />

The mogul - Class Bentley Mulsanne................................76<br />

- Conversions: Bigger is better..........................................56<br />

- Kitchen & Bathrooms..........................................................56<br />

NIGHTS OUT IN THE CITY<br />

79<br />

TRAVEL<br />

59<br />

Spotlight | Dancing & Dining in Digbeth........................80<br />

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY<br />

85<br />

Spotlight | Music for youth festival................................86<br />

BrightLET's bright idea sees it in the spotlight ..........87<br />

CHARITY<br />

89<br />

Spotlight | The High Fields Town House...........................60<br />

The UK's Best Seaside Locations ...................................62<br />

Global destinations at your doorstep ...........................64<br />

National Express takes international route .................65<br />

PROPERTY<br />

67<br />

Spotlight | Seven Capital reaches new heights...........68<br />

Spotlight | Barnardos 150th birthday ..........................90<br />

- Residential developments .................................................68<br />

- Commercial developments ...............................................69<br />

WHERE IN THE CITY<br />

93<br />

- Hospitality redevelopments ............................................69<br />

Guide to In The City .............................................................94<br />

- Restaurants ........................................................................94<br />

- Hotels ......................................................................................98<br />

- Nightclubs .............................................................................98<br />

All views and opinions expressed by contributors to, and staff of In The City Magazine may not represent the views and opinions<br />

of the publisher. In The City Magazine takes no responsibility for claims made in advertisements, advertorials or editorials made in<br />

this magazine. No part of In The City Magazine may be reproduced or copied in any way without prior written consent of In The<br />

City Magazine Ltd


STOP<br />

THE PRESS!<br />

Do you have a news story that<br />

you want to share with over<br />

50,000 readers?<br />

CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM NOW<br />

t: 0121 230 8333<br />

e: advertising@inthecityuk.com<br />

EDITORIAL<br />

SPACE<br />

Do you have editorial, news,<br />

articles etc. Get your work<br />

featured in our next issue<br />

CONTACT US ON<br />

t: 0121 230 8333<br />

e: editorial@inthecityuk.com


SPOTLIGHT<br />

NEWS<br />

SPONSORED BY RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS<br />

WWW.RLKSOLICITORS.COM


8 NEWS // SPONSORED BY RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS<br />

PRIME-TIME APPEAL OF BIRMINGHAM:<br />

DO YOU WANNA MAKE TEA AT THE BBC?<br />

Exciting news broke in May that both the BBC and Channel 4 were looking to potentially expand operations within<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> and the West Midlands.<br />

‘Do you wanna make tea at the BBC?’<br />

asked Joe Strummer on The Clash’s<br />

“Career Opportunities”. For young<br />

people living and working in the West<br />

Midlands a loftier job prospect working<br />

with the media giant could be just<br />

around the corner...<br />

News broke recently that BBC3<br />

would be moving half of its<br />

operations to <strong>Birmingham</strong> by<br />

2018, greatly expanding upon the<br />

existing infrastructure that the BBC<br />

Centre in the Mailbox offers. According<br />

to plans, the BBC will pledge a third of<br />

BBC3’s £30 million budget to projects<br />

within the city, and the centre would be<br />

responsible for some short-form content<br />

as well as a new youth team for BBC<br />

News.<br />

This news is among the first positive<br />

developments for the BBC3 brand since<br />

the TV channel was shut earlier this year,<br />

shifting to an entirely online base with<br />

programming mainly targeting a youth<br />

audience. The shift was met with some<br />

heavy criticism at the time, but this new<br />

development suggests a genuine plan<br />

for development of programming for<br />

young people on the BBC3 brand, as well<br />

as spelling a sunny forecast for Media<br />

graduates, trainees and professionals<br />

who live in the West Midlands and are<br />

interested in a career working for the<br />

UK’s most iconic media institution.<br />

The BBC weren’t the only media giant<br />

with their sights on the city however;<br />

renewed talks for plans to move Channel<br />

4’s headquarters from London have also<br />

been reported, following a suggestion<br />

that the government could look to<br />

selling the company’s iconic Westminster<br />

HQ, which was first reported in June last<br />

year.<br />

Though this move has been met with<br />

some resistance, it has been suggested<br />

as a logical move to boost the<br />

broadcaster’s regional remit and help<br />

cut heavy production costs that entail<br />

working within the capital. As well as<br />

extortionate rent rates – it is believed<br />

that a move from London could cut the<br />

rent by up to 50%).<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>’s pre-eminence as a<br />

broadcasting base was somewhat<br />

diminished with a shift by major<br />

broadcasters to areas like Greater<br />

Manchester in past decades. The<br />

departure of much of the production<br />

behind ITV at the iconic Gas Street<br />

Studios also seemed to spell an end<br />

to <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s ability to compete<br />

production-wise with other areas of the<br />

UK.<br />

These developments suggest a great<br />

deal of optimism for the region’s<br />

future, and an even better outlook for<br />

media professionals who would rather<br />

not move regions or commute great<br />

distances to work every day. Stay tuned…<br />

by Rich Hobson


NEWS // SPONSORED BY RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS<br />

COSTA COFFEE GREAT EXPANSION PLANS<br />

9<br />

It might not be as globally widespread<br />

as Starbucks, but UK mega-franchise<br />

Costa is a coffee giant in its own right,<br />

currently standing as the largest and<br />

fastest growing coffee brand with over<br />

1,500 stores throughout the UK, at least<br />

twelve stores in <strong>Birmingham</strong> alone.<br />

Lucrative to say the least, Costa has<br />

enjoyed twelve years of continued<br />

growth as it challenged international<br />

super-chain Starbucks for market<br />

supremacy. In its wake, Costa has<br />

inspired a wave of expansions by other<br />

brands who also look to take a slice<br />

of the contested UK coffee market,<br />

including pub chain Wetherspoons, food<br />

retailer Greggs and international fast<br />

food giants McDonalds.<br />

It is believed that Britons consume 1.7<br />

billion cups of coffee a year (source:<br />

Financial Times), which although much<br />

less than in Europe (where the average<br />

is a whopping 2.8 kilogrammes a year,<br />

per person), still represents an incredible<br />

amount of business opportunity for the<br />

Costa brand, and by extension, for other<br />

brands looking to break into a lucrative<br />

food and drinks market.<br />

Owned by FTSE 100 firm Whitbread, and<br />

one of their two core brands (the other<br />

being Premier Inn), Costa coffee pulled<br />

in around £1.2 billion for the company in<br />

2016, and is now looking to expand its<br />

ventures to China, with hopes to have<br />

over 700 stores in the country by 2020.<br />

This strategy for growth is in keeping<br />

with Costa’s ambitious expansion<br />

plans sees them not only opening full<br />

Costa coffee houses, but also takeaway<br />

style shops and franchise stores. One<br />

such ten store franchise in the West<br />

Midlands recently sold for an undisclosed<br />

seven-figure sum, having grown into a<br />

business which enjoyed a £4.5 million<br />

annual turnover, as well as employing<br />

over 100 members of staff.<br />

by Rich Hobson<br />

FORMULA ONE BRITISH GRAND PRIX<br />

Dates: 8th– 10th <strong>July</strong><br />

Venue: Silverstone Circuit<br />

Tickets: £40+<br />

Formula One is housed on some of the<br />

most extraordinary circuits in the world,<br />

among them; Nurburgring, Monaco,<br />

Barcelona, and of course the crown jewel for all<br />

British racing enthusiasts, Silverstone.<br />

The tenth event in the Formula One 2016<br />

calendar, the British Grand Prix is a party which<br />

welcomes over 300,000 guests for a weekend<br />

of supersonic racing and full-throttle partying<br />

for one of the most exciting events in the world.<br />

In addition to some of the greatest racers in the<br />

world (including our very own Lewis Hamilton),<br />

the British Grand Prix also features night time<br />

concerts and entertainment that guarantee that<br />

you’ll get 3 full days of unforgettable enjoyment.<br />

The 2016 Grand Prix Calendar kicked off in<br />

Australia with a four-strong winning streak<br />

from German racer Nico Rosberg, representing<br />

Mercedes, only dethroned in the Spanish<br />

Grand Prix on May 15th by Belgian upstart Max<br />

Verstappen, representing Red Bull.<br />

With such a strong start to the 2016 season<br />

already, it’ll be interesting to see who will still<br />

remain in the top ten come November, with the<br />

semi-final races in Brazil and the last race of the<br />

season in Abu Dhabi on November 27th.


10 NEWS // SPONSORED BY RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS<br />

GLASTONBURY’S STEEL RESOLUTION<br />

It might seem like an oxymoron, to say<br />

that Glastonbury Festival is launching<br />

a green initiative in association with<br />

steel, but as anyone who’s ever been to<br />

a summer festival can attest, the sheer<br />

number of paper cups that go to waste<br />

over the space of a weekend could easily<br />

populate a forest stretching the length<br />

(and quite possibly breadth) of the UK.<br />

To combat this, Glastonbury’s organizers<br />

have announced a joint venture with<br />

UK steel firms to produce sustainable,<br />

reusable steel cups which could be used<br />

over the space of the weekend and<br />

possibly offer other festivals a unique<br />

alternative to creating high amounts of<br />

waste with the standard cardboard cups.<br />

Following three years of trial and<br />

research, Glastonbury unveiled the cup<br />

design ahead of the 2016 festival. Made<br />

of sustainable, recycled stainless steel,<br />

the cups debuted on a major scale at the<br />

2016 festival, with over 200,000 cups<br />

put into circulation at ten major bars,<br />

with customers paying a £5 deposit<br />

when they purchase their first pint.<br />

Made by APS in <strong>Birmingham</strong>, these cups<br />

could revolutionise the sustainability<br />

of festivals in the UK, and also acts<br />

as a fresh source of income for<br />

the steel industry, which has been<br />

experiencing a well-publicised drop<br />

as of late. Supporting local industry<br />

and communities has been a mainstay<br />

goal of Glastonbury Festival since its<br />

inception in 1970.<br />

WIFI WARS WAGED IN WOLVERHAMPTON<br />

Date: 10th <strong>July</strong><br />

Tickets: £16.80<br />

Venue: The Slade Rooms,<br />

Wolverhampton<br />

Postcode: WV1 1HP<br />

The leaps and bounds made in<br />

mobile technology in the past<br />

20 years have undoubtedly<br />

changed our lives for the better, so why<br />

is it that the entertainment industry<br />

still predominantly treats the advent<br />

of the Smartphone as a punchline in a<br />

“technology these days, eh?” joke?<br />

While the majority of entertainers still<br />

stick to the tried and true methods<br />

of the past, events like WiFi Wars are<br />

pushing audiences into whole new<br />

experiences, changing the face of live<br />

events by making use of the latest<br />

technology to put audiences centre<br />

stage.<br />

Audience members log in using a<br />

smartphone or tablet and compete in a<br />

range of games, quizzes and challenges<br />

to win the show, and various prizes along<br />

the way.<br />

Hosted by comedian and regular<br />

videogames commentator Steve McNeil<br />

(Challenge TV's Videogame Nation, Ginx<br />

TV's Console Yourself, Minecraft: Digging<br />

Deeper), the show was first performed<br />

as part of the Royal Institution's 2015<br />

Summer Programme, and has become a<br />

smash hit at corporate and public events<br />

alike, offering a fun night out where<br />

everybody can get involved.<br />

So brush up on your trivia knowledge,<br />

stretch your fingers and above all make<br />

sure that your battery is fully charged!<br />

by Rich Hobson<br />

Coming to Wolverhampton on 10th<br />

<strong>July</strong>, WiFi Wars is a live comedy game<br />

show where the audience play along –<br />

a perfect experience for anyone who<br />

shouts answers at the screen when<br />

watching ‘The Chase’!


COMPETITION // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP<br />

11<br />

£20<br />

VOUCHER<br />

HELEN<br />

EDGAR<br />

APRIL/MAY EDITION<br />

WINNER<br />

LEIGH ASTLEY<br />

JUNE EDITION<br />

WINNER<br />

SIMON KUMAR<br />

JUNE KIDS EDITION<br />

WINNER<br />

SUMMER DOUBLE BONANZA<br />

CAN YOU FIND ME<br />

ELSEWHERE IN<br />

THE MAGAZINE?<br />

WIN<br />

TWO TICKETS<br />

TO THE SECRET GARDEN<br />

PARTY FESTIVAL<br />

CODE: <strong>ITC</strong>SECRET<br />

OR<br />

WIN<br />

TWO TICKETS<br />

TO SHARDFEST<br />

CODE: <strong>ITC</strong>SHARD<br />

<strong>ITC</strong>magUK<br />

FIND EDDIE TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING TICKETS<br />

TO EITHER THE SECRET GARDEN PARTY FESTIVAL OR SHARDFEST<br />

TO ENTER; LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, SHARE THE COMPETITION POST AND DIRECT MESSAGE<br />

THE PAGE NUMBER ALONG WITH YOUR PREFERRED COMPETITION CODE<br />

The festivals are between 21 st - 24 th <strong>July</strong>, the winner will be contacted via e-mail on 18 th <strong>July</strong><br />

and published on facebook and twitter<br />

Competition closes : 17 th <strong>July</strong> 2016


SPOTLIGHT<br />

FASHION &<br />

LIFESTYLE<br />

SPONSORED BY ESTILO CLOTHING<br />

WWW.ESTILOCLOTHING.CO.UK


14 FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY ESTILO CLOTHING<br />

INTRODUCING OUR<br />

FABULOUS FASHION EDITOR<br />

A former world-ranking squash professional, with a winning<br />

collection of over 400 trophies, who has played the likes of<br />

legends Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan and film star Omar<br />

Shariff as well as Eddie Grant. Collis Sheik is an Artistic<br />

Director in hairdressing, trained at Vidal Sassoon which led<br />

to work on photo –shoots with the likes of Beverley Cobella,<br />

Jennifer Cheynes and Mark Hill.<br />

Collis eventually became Art Director at Toni and Guy<br />

working in Manchester, London, <strong>Birmingham</strong> and Sutton<br />

Coldfield and is now based at Rumours in Harborne.<br />

Like any other hairdresser Collis is a firm believer in<br />

looking good. So good, in fact that he has a collection<br />

of over 350 pairs of jeans, not to mention 80 designer<br />

watches, 70 sunglasses and 200 pairs of trainers. This man<br />

might be the Midlands leading Doyen of Denim.<br />

He has a priceless collection of denim and accessories, many<br />

of which are irreplaceable. His home is a plethora of denim,<br />

which he has been buying since the seventies. He sees<br />

Jeans as an important part of his appearance. "Jeans, like<br />

sunglasses, and watches to me are a symbol, and everyone<br />

admires them.”<br />

The denim fan has a room<br />

dedicated to his collection; they<br />

are displayed on bookshelves<br />

and organised into groups, like<br />

vintage, large pockets, dark to<br />

light and separate brands and<br />

two rows of pure Levis. The<br />

room is also home to other<br />

fashion accessories and shoes.<br />

He has more variety than a<br />

boutique.<br />

“It is more than materialism or<br />

obsession. It’s an interest and<br />

the more you collect the more<br />

you become aware – it’s one<br />

way of maintaining a constant<br />

waistline!”<br />

“I see myself more of a lifestyle consultant<br />

and counsellor who gives advice to clients on<br />

a whole range of things from what to wear to<br />

where to eat. Clients are not buying a haircut<br />

but a lifestyle.” - COLLIS<br />

What makes a fantastic pair of Jeans?<br />

“ Look out for the red stitching on the inside leg of the<br />

Jeans; this is the sign of an expensive and well made pair. I<br />

love classic brands such as Levi’s, as well as designers like<br />

Diesel.”<br />

What was the first pair of jeans you bought?<br />

“A pair of Levis 501 pre-shrunk to fit. They were plain with<br />

the original Levis zinc button – plain in the fly and a watch<br />

pocket with a genuine leather label from Cone Mills. As you<br />

can see I am a jeans fanatic”


FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY ESTILO CLOTHING<br />

15<br />

“The Jeans room is fitted with four Airwick Fresheners all on<br />

timers, and I have a cleaner twice a week. In the old days I<br />

would roll the Jeans I was wearing that week and store them<br />

in the fridge (lost many a girlfriends over that). If they were<br />

Wranglers, I would soak them in starch-water that was left<br />

over after boiling rice making them rigid”.<br />

Where in <strong>Birmingham</strong> do you like to buy<br />

your jeans?<br />

Selfridges and Harvey Nichols<br />

What about designing Jeans?<br />

“I have made my own jeans in the past when I owned an old<br />

Singer machine, the pair I was most proud of were “inside<br />

out “ everybody would say did you get dressed in the dark?.<br />

But one day, I’d love to introduce organic jeans and label<br />

them JEANOLOGIST”<br />

“ The most expensive pair of<br />

jeans in my collection is Balmain<br />

at £766. Although it seems a lot<br />

of money on jeans, Secret Circus<br />

have got a pair of Jeans with<br />

Diamonds in which are about 1.3<br />

million dollars I wouldn’t go for<br />

those just yet!”<br />

Collis with his squash trophies and medals<br />

Do you have any other interests or hobbies?<br />

“Cooking fusion food, especially the under rated but all too<br />

good Lentils and Pulses. They are cheap, a low-fat source<br />

of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Cooked the right<br />

way you be amazed of their taste. My signature dish is the “<br />

Butter Chicken” (tasted by people from all walks of life many<br />

of whom didn’t even like curries) – but my main passion will<br />

always be fashion!”


16 FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY ESTILO CLOTHING<br />

FACTS ON DENIM<br />

A brief history of denim<br />

DENIM<br />

FEVER<br />

What began as a staple for<br />

Cowboys and Miners, denim is<br />

still classed as one of the most<br />

wearable fabrics and a sure go to choice<br />

in every persons wardrobe. The rise in<br />

women's brands has boomed in recent<br />

years, there is more choice than ever.<br />

1850<br />

Levis Strauss & Co; founded in<br />

New York By Bavarian immigrant<br />

Levis Strauss<br />

1855<br />

Levis Strauss & Co produces<br />

waist high overalls<br />

using surplus cloth originally<br />

meant for tents and wagon<br />

covers<br />

Later in the summer, you will see fantastic<br />

boot-cuts, flares and particularly cropped<br />

denim flares. From specific denim<br />

designers to cult bestsellers - such as<br />

Japanese Edwin, everyone will be spoilt<br />

for choice.<br />

LIMITLESS<br />

AGELESS<br />

CLASS<br />

NATIONALITY<br />

AND FASHION.<br />

The reason denim is always so good to<br />

wear is because it’s above everything<br />

else...<br />

Denim has somehow always managed to<br />

appear fresh and rebellious.<br />

From the high street to the catwalk and<br />

everything in between there's no getting<br />

away from denim this season!<br />

2016<br />

2016 New age designers completely destroyed the<br />

fabric covered in deeply entrenched whiskers lines<br />

of fading that makes jeans look aged and dirtier<br />

As Tom Ford points out with jeans encapsulating<br />

a modern way of dressing, how they are worn the<br />

way they are mixed is as important.


FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY ESTILO CLOTHING<br />

17<br />

1872<br />

Jacob Davis approaches<br />

Strauss with his idea of using<br />

metal rivets in the overalls to<br />

increase their strength.<br />

1890<br />

1890 The term 501 is used by Levis<br />

Strauss & Co for the first time<br />

1878<br />

1878 The first synthetic<br />

indigo dye is invented<br />

by Adolf von Baeyer<br />

1891<br />

1891Levis Strauss’s patent<br />

expires opening up the<br />

jeans market to other<br />

manufactures for the<br />

first time<br />

The bluebell Overall Company creates<br />

its first line of jeans wear and names<br />

it Wrangler. The company goes on to<br />

be known as Wrangler<br />

1925 Lee launches the<br />

first zip-fly jean<br />

1910<br />

1947 1910 The Lee Mercantile<br />

Co produces its first<br />

1925<br />

workwear range including<br />

Lee Bib Overalls<br />

1960<br />

Levi’s discards the term overalls<br />

and adapts “genes”, the 1560s term<br />

for trousers worn by<br />

Genoese sailors, to “jeans”<br />

1943<br />

The Levis Strauss & Co<br />

launches rebrands itself<br />

as Levi’s<br />

1978<br />

1978 Peter Golding brings stretch<br />

denim to the market for the first time<br />

Levi’s changes its label from capitals<br />

to lower case. Original labels are now<br />

worth well over £500<br />

2010<br />

2010 Yohji Yamamoto scored a hit<br />

with deep dyed denim with prints<br />

of Fifties Japanese film stars<br />

1971 1978<br />

Renzo Rosso in Molvena, Italy<br />

sets up DIESEL, which goes on<br />

to become one of the most<br />

successful denim labels in the<br />

world<br />

2002<br />

2002 Marc Jacobs’<br />

Mark line introduces its<br />

first menswear jeans<br />

1987<br />

1987 The Gap opens its<br />

first store outside the<br />

USA in London. It goes<br />

on to become one of the<br />

world’s biggest denim<br />

retailers<br />

2008<br />

Junya Watanabe, Comme des<br />

Garcons produced a collection with<br />

elaborated printed texts<br />

1991<br />

Using the original Levi’s looms bought<br />

in a factory sale in San Francisco,<br />

Japanese tailor Hidehiko Yamane<br />

launches EVISU


18 FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY ESTILO CLOTHING<br />

THE LIFE COACH: BRINGING SPARKLE TO YOUR LIFE!<br />

With ever increasing demands on our lives, sometimes we can lose focus on what’s important – us! We catch-up<br />

with Aamna Khokhar an enthusiastic Life Coach, to find out what her job entails, what drives her, the benefits and<br />

what to consider should you wish to become a Life Coach.<br />

Tell our readers what a life coach is.<br />

Life coaching is facilitating a client’s development so that<br />

they are able to craft a life that they desire. Coaches<br />

ask powerful questions that will challenge limiting<br />

beliefs and therefore<br />

creating choices for the<br />

client.<br />

Did you always aspire to<br />

be a life coach?<br />

I came into coaching after<br />

receiving coaching myself.<br />

My background is as a<br />

teacher of Psychology so I<br />

always had a keen interest<br />

in people’s behaviours<br />

thoughts and intentions. I<br />

came across coaching after<br />

it was offered to me and<br />

I simply devoured all the<br />

sessions, insights and so<br />

enjoyed being able to see<br />

my life as my choice that<br />

I decided to give people<br />

the same gift. I have always<br />

believed that lending a<br />

good ear and allowing<br />

people to be guided to<br />

goodness is so rewarding<br />

and with coaching I found<br />

my calling.<br />

How did you get into it?<br />

I completed an ICF<br />

accredited coaching course<br />

with an organisation called<br />

Noorworks.<br />

What sorts of clients do<br />

you have, do they come<br />

from all walks of life?<br />

I have clients of all age ranges and genders. They come from<br />

many different backgrounds, I see possibility in people and<br />

this is not bound by any label.<br />

What value do you think you add to your clients lives?<br />

I allow them to see they have choices, in many ways a coach<br />

is like a mirror who reflects back to the client the inner<br />

dwellings of their mind and often that opens and nonjudgemental<br />

space<br />

creates an opening<br />

for them to learn<br />

about themselves<br />

and to take control<br />

over their lives. With<br />

my background<br />

in Psychology I<br />

have studied CBT,<br />

some principals<br />

of NLP and self<br />

development and I<br />

am able to give my<br />

clients many tools<br />

to allow them to be<br />

empowered within<br />

their own lives.<br />

What geographical<br />

areas do you cover<br />

for your services?<br />

I have clients<br />

from London,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> to<br />

Singapore.<br />

What skills do you<br />

need to become a<br />

life coach?<br />

Many of the skills<br />

you learn on the<br />

course itself, it<br />

has to be said<br />

that empathy, a<br />

non-judgemental<br />

attitude, a passion<br />

for personal growth<br />

and a genuine interest in human beings is certainly very<br />

helpful. I love to learn about people’s possibility and help<br />

them see who they can be, the choice is theirs.


FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY ESTILO CLOTHING<br />

19<br />

What would you say to people who would<br />

like to use a life coach but are a little<br />

apprehensive?<br />

I would say they could try it. When I first<br />

heard about coaching I felt the same, I am<br />

so committed to personal grown that I did<br />

not entertain apprehension for much longer. I<br />

enjoyed every minute of it and I also realised<br />

that what was most important was that<br />

we learn skills to manage life and to create<br />

choices for ourselves that will enrich this<br />

journey.<br />

What advice would you give to anyone<br />

looking to become a life coach?<br />

I would say as with any programme you<br />

might enrol on do lots of research beforehand<br />

and consider if they meet your ethics and<br />

morals. Speak to the coaches and look at their<br />

marketing strategies as well as their after care.<br />

What would you say are the most rewarding<br />

aspects of being a life coach?<br />

I hold freedom so dearly and this is in terms<br />

of the way that I live my life, within my<br />

relationships, the job I do, the way I see myself<br />

and I was given this gift through my own self<br />

development and when I see a client begin to<br />

live a life of freedom I feel the world has a lot<br />

more sparkle.<br />

To get intouch with Aamna please contact her on: aamnakhokhar@hotmail.com


SPANISH NIGHTS | POLISH NIGHTS | BHANGRA NIGHTS<br />

LIVE SKY & BT SPORT | PRIVATE VIP ROOMS<br />

Tel: 0121 643 3334 | Email: info@zarasbar.co.uk<br />

80 Broad st, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, B15 1A0


SPOTLIGHT<br />

FOOD & DRINK<br />

SPONSORED BY TOWN & COUNTRY INNS PLC<br />

APRES | FLEET ST K<strong>ITC</strong>HEN | MECHU<br />

WWW.TOWNANDCOUNTRY.CO.UK


22 FOOD & DRINK // SPONSORED BY TOWN AND COUNTRY INNS PLC<br />

THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED INDIAN<br />

RESTAURANT WITH MORE THAN A TOUCH OF CLASS<br />

Saviours just in the nick of time...<br />

by Roxanne Smith<br />

Whether you have visited Manchester, decided to eat out in <strong>Birmingham</strong> or travelled further afield to the Middle East<br />

- one name you will be sure to have heard of when it comes to Indian cuisine is Asha's. Asha's is an internationally<br />

acclaimed award winning restaurant with a celebrity following. Located on Newhall Street in the heart of the financial<br />

district, the restaurant offers exquisite food in stylish surroundings with exceptional service. The journey of Asha's in <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

is an interesting one..<br />

The UK franchise is owned by Pawan Kenth and Paul Bassi,<br />

what makes their journey incredible is although they were<br />

very successful business men neither had backgrounds in<br />

hospitality industry. With the growth of Asha's, from Dubai<br />

to its U.K. base in <strong>Birmingham</strong>, you would not have been<br />

wrong to assume Asha's <strong>Birmingham</strong> launch would be an<br />

instant success. However, it may have been ahead of its time,<br />

the high end cuisine and ethos was dissimilar to most Indian<br />

restaurants of its time which led to a sense of scepticism<br />

regarding the authenticity of its menu. Nevertheless, Pawan<br />

and Paul loved the food and saw the potential, in fact they<br />

loved the food, atmosphere and ethos so much - they<br />

bought the <strong>Birmingham</strong> restaurant!<br />

In 2008 during the financial crisis resulting in the previous<br />

owners facing administration, Pawan and Paul took over as<br />

owners of the <strong>Birmingham</strong> franchise and the rest as they say<br />

is history.<br />

Celebrating celebrity success<br />

Gracing the restaurant chains doors has been the rich,<br />

influential and famous - Asha's has achieved celebrity status<br />

in its own right. Bollywood stars such as the legendary<br />

Amitabh Buchchan, Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan and Priyanka<br />

Chopra have eaten at Asha's. Equally impressive are the<br />

number of top chefs who have paid a visit; including<br />

celebrity chefs Heston Blumenthal and Paul Rankin.<br />

Since 2009 Asha's has received numerous awards and<br />

international acclaim, ranging from the West Midlands Curry<br />

Award in 2009, Diners Choice Award 2010, 2011, 2012 to Trip<br />

Advisers Certificate of Excellence in 2015 - and many more<br />

awards in-between. In addition, The Sunday Times featured<br />

the restaurant in their top 130 restaurants under £50, they<br />

have also been recommended in the Michelin Guide no less<br />

than 8 times, the latest being 2015. The chains international<br />

counterparts are no stranger to collecting awards either, in<br />

2012 the Dubai restaurant were winners of the 'Time Out<br />

Dubai Restaurant Award'.<br />

All about the food...<br />

Serving over 100,000 meals a year to those who appreciate<br />

and enjoy first class food and service, Asha's food is North<br />

Indian combined with a mix of southern Indian cuisine, they<br />

are also very proud of their interesting vegetarian dishes.<br />

Asha's is named after the most recorded musician in the<br />

world - Asha Bhosle. Another string to her bow is her<br />

cooking prowess which has inspired the chains menu. Asha<br />

Bhosle is a keen cook and is very much involved in the chains<br />

menu. She spends time in Dubai (the very first restaurant)<br />

every month with the chefs creating and shaping the dishes.<br />

As a franchise all the chefs are handpicked, they have<br />

worked in five star hotels in India and then trained in Dubai


FOOD & DRINK // SPONSORED BY TOWN AND COUNTRY INNS PLC<br />

23<br />

to understand the concept of Asha's, so there's authenticity<br />

combined with skill and expertise which is reflected in the<br />

amount of awards the restaurant has won - resulting in high<br />

quality traditional cuisine with a seven star service.<br />

Par excellence as standard<br />

Asha's goes beyond excellent food and customer service,<br />

what makes Asha's unique is the experience and atmosphere.<br />

Eating in luxurious surroundings is only one aspect of what<br />

Asha's has to offer. The restaurant is just as passionate about<br />

its cocktail menu, the restaurant take their bar staff through<br />

rigorous training to ensure they are experts in mixology and<br />

can create the perfect alcoholic and none alcoholic cocktails.<br />

The staff have also received training by famous bartenders<br />

from the likes of the Berkeley in London, who's cocktails are<br />

popular with Beyoncé and Jay-Z.<br />

It is quite unusual to combine a cocktail offering with an<br />

Indian restaurant nevertheless this combination has proven<br />

to be a winner with the restaurants social crowd. Thursday's<br />

and Friday's are particularly buzzing where you will be hard<br />

pressed to find a seat!<br />

From an intimate meal for two to 'power' meals in the<br />

boardroom<br />

The restaurant caters for intimate meals for two, group<br />

bookings in their stylish booths and large parties for<br />

celebrations. Positioned in the centre of <strong>Birmingham</strong>, Asha's<br />

has found a unique way to service the city's business and<br />

financial sectors. They have a boardroom that seats up<br />

to 40 which has proven to be very popular with business<br />

lunches and evening corporate events. It doesn't stop there,<br />

Asha's is also licensed for weddings, they offer exclusivity<br />

for large celebrations ensuring guests can enjoy the stylish<br />

surroundings whilst being waited on by professional, friendly<br />

and attentive staff. Of course the food speaks for itself but<br />

no doubt having the versatility to adapt to and be at the<br />

forefront of growing trends makes Asha's the go to place for<br />

all your social requirements.<br />

The new kid on the block.<br />

Asha's Manchester, fronted by Peter Warden (formerly of<br />

individual Restaurants: RGB and Piccolino) - is the latest<br />

to join the acclaimed chain. The restaurant set in a midnineteenth<br />

century Grade II listed building on the corner of<br />

Peter Street and Mount Street. Following a £2 million revamp<br />

the Manchester restaurant certainly meets high expectation.<br />

Spread across two floors and over 6000 sq ft, providing<br />

a unique dining experience to over 100 guests. with the<br />

luxury of opulence surroundings. The restaurant boasts gold<br />

finishings, mood lighting, a deep purple design palette and<br />

luxurious drapings - nothing short of opulence and that is<br />

before we even get to the food...we already know the food is<br />

the main star of the show!


24<br />

Bookings<br />

0121 643 2233<br />

Pre - Theatre Menu<br />

Mon - Sat<br />

4-7pm<br />

2 for 1 Cocktails<br />

Mon - Fri from 5pm<br />

Saturday 12-8pm<br />

Half Price Prosecco<br />

Thursdays<br />

from 5pm<br />

Afternoon Tea<br />

Daily<br />

12-4pm<br />

(booking essential)<br />

Live Music Every Thursday Night<br />

Club Nights Every Friday & Saturday<br />

VIP Booths<br />

The Chameleon Restaurant & Bar<br />

1 Victoria Square, Hill Street, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1BD<br />

Email: info@thechameleonbam.com Website: www.thechameleonbham.co.uk<br />

The Chameleon Restaurant & Bar chameleonbham @chameleonbham


26 FOOD & DRINK // SPONSORED BY TOWN AND COUNTRY INNS PLC<br />

FULL FAT VS LOW FAT<br />

THE THICK OF IT!<br />

The moment you find one of your food favourites with the label ‘low fat’, it’s like a ray of sunshine on your healthy<br />

eating lifestyle. Mentally, we believe having low fat foods is helping us on our weight loss journey, but whispers<br />

suggest that low fat products may not be as low as we hoped for.<br />

by Huma Mian<br />

The idea of low<br />

fat food was<br />

introduced<br />

to help cut down<br />

cholesterol by<br />

reducing saturated<br />

fats that block the<br />

Huma Mian<br />

arteries. So, for those<br />

with heart problems<br />

this was a wonderful solution that allowed them to eat<br />

the foods they enjoyed, without making their health<br />

worse. Over the years it’s been adopted by most<br />

healthy eaters, but the truth of it is: Low fat is fattier<br />

than you think.<br />

In order for manufacturers to make something low<br />

fat, they replace the animal fat with unsaturated<br />

vegetable oils, which means the oil has to go through<br />

a structure change called hydrogenation to create a<br />

solid substance. Hydrogenated fats increase levels of<br />

dangerous trans-fats, which are both bad for the heart<br />

and cholesterol levels.<br />

In order for food to taste as delicious as it’s full<br />

counterpart, the amount of sugar has to be increased.<br />

So, low fat foods tend to contain more sugar, carbs and<br />

trans-fat while still having a similar calorie count to its<br />

full fat friend.<br />

Foods rich in carbs get digested quickly, which can<br />

lead to high blood sugar swings and cravings, making<br />

it harder to control your calories overall. Knowing how<br />

much fat is too much will help you when buying foods,<br />

so here’s shortcut to understand fats on food labels.<br />

20g per 100g of fat is too much<br />

5g per 100g of saturates is too much<br />

15g per 100g of sugar is too much


FOOD & DRINK // SPONSORED BY TOWN AND COUNTRY INNS PLC<br />

27<br />

HERE ARE SOME FOODS YOU SHOULD NEVER<br />

HAVE THE LOW FAT ALTERNATIVE TOO!<br />

Butter<br />

Rich in vitamins A and D, butter is not as<br />

bad for the heart as we once thought.<br />

Most butters have saturated fats which<br />

can help decrease blood pressure.<br />

Salad Dressing<br />

Fat helps us absorb nutrient rich<br />

components found in vegetables, so<br />

it’s important that salad dressings have<br />

some fat in them. Low fat dressings tend<br />

to have more sugar in them, so buy full<br />

fat or make a delicious version at home!<br />

Baked Goods<br />

Always go fresh when it comes to<br />

baked goods. Buying fresh foods<br />

with full fat liquid oils is much better<br />

for your health. Alternatively you can<br />

polish your baking skills and cook at<br />

home to have more control over the<br />

ingredients.<br />

Fats can help you feel more satisfied, which means you’ll be eating less calories overall. It seems that having low fat foods isn’t<br />

really going to help you more in the long run, so going for full fat options is better, but that is no excuse to start eating full fat<br />

everything! Always check the labels to see the sugar and fat content when buying products and be mindful to have a balanced<br />

diet.<br />

SUPERFOOD OF THE MONTH<br />

These succulent bright blueberries not only taste delicious, but also have masses of health and preventative benefits.<br />

Blueberries are classed as brain food because it’s been shown to improve brain function, memory and heal damaged cells. They<br />

are also referred ‘a burst of youth’ because blueberries can give you softer skin and combat free radicals in the skin that cause us<br />

to age.<br />

HIGH IN VITAMINS<br />

(A, C, E, B, potassium, copper, zinc, and magnesium) these bountiful berries can speed up your metabolism and is full or<br />

fibre and antioxidants for a healthy heart and weight loss.<br />

For such a small piece of fruit, blueberries are a ‘must add’ to your diet, not only for now but for your future health.


28 FOOD & DRINK // SPONSORED BY TOWN AND COUNTRY INNS PLC<br />

RECIPE OF THE MONTH:<br />

HEALTHY EGG AND CHIPS<br />

INGREDIENTS (281 KCAL)<br />

500g Potatoes, Diced<br />

2 Shallots, Sliced<br />

1 tbsp Olive Oil<br />

2 tsp Dried, Crushed Oregano<br />

200g Small Mushrooms<br />

4 Eggs<br />

3 Rashers Turkey Bacon, Grilled<br />

Optional: Tomatoes and Asparagus<br />

METHOD<br />

1.) Heat oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6. Tip the potatoes and<br />

shallots into a large, non-stick roasting tin, drizzle with oil.<br />

2.) Sprinkle over the Oregano, then mix everything together<br />

well. Bake for 40-45 mins (or until starting to go brown) Add<br />

the mushrooms and cook for a further 10 mins until potatoes are<br />

tender.<br />

3.) Make four gaps in the vegetables and crack an egg into each<br />

space. Place strips of Turkey Bacon around the tin and return to<br />

the oven for 3-4 mins, or until both are cooked to your liking.


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OR BAR?<br />

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New Management.<br />

Let us know and we will do the<br />

rest to get your message out.<br />

CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM NOW<br />

t: 0121 230 8333<br />

e: advertising@inthecityuk.com<br />

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NEW CHALLENGE?<br />

In The City Magazine require<br />

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SPOTLIGHT<br />

ENTERTAINMENT<br />

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32 ENTERTAINMENT // SPONSORED BY LETTERBOX DIRECT UK<br />

FESTIVALS FEATURE<br />

Music is in the air, no matter the weather this summer the music hungry hordes of the UK will once again be<br />

descending on a field in every county in the land to enjoy some world-class music, super-priced beers and greasy<br />

festival grub. Thousands strong (and that’s just the festivals), the programming for festival season 2016 sees every<br />

subgenre, subculture and lifestyle get its own celebration – here are In The City’s guide to the absolute “can’t miss”<br />

events this summer.<br />

by Rich Hobson<br />

Glastonbury Festival<br />

Glastonbury<br />

There’s no talking about festivals in the UK without<br />

mentioning the absolute granddaddy of them all. The<br />

monolithic Glastonbury festival takes place in mid-June<br />

(meaning that by the time this has gone to publication its<br />

patrons will still be nursing a screaming hangover), and brings<br />

together acts far and wide from every conceivable genre for<br />

a celebration that’s as much for modern music as it is for the<br />

legends who have gone before.<br />

Line-Up: Muse, Adele, Coldplay, Foals, Beck, New Order,<br />

Underworld & many more.<br />

Barclaycard Presents: British Summer Time<br />

Hyde Park, London<br />

Six concerts over two consecutive weekends, British Summer<br />

Time is the spiritual successor to the ‘Hyde Park Calling’<br />

events, taking place at the iconic park in the middle of the<br />

capital city for a musical celebration featuring some of the<br />

biggest names to ever grace a stage. The 2016 events saw<br />

the likes of Take That, Stevie Wonder and Florence & The<br />

Machine; all headline events programmed with their music<br />

in mind, offering quite possibly the best picnic in the park<br />

opportunity in the world.<br />

Line-Up: Massive Attack, Florence & The Machine/Kendrick<br />

Lamar, Carole King, Mumford & Sons, Take That, Stevie<br />

Wonder


ENTERTAINMENT // SPONSORED BY LETTTERBOX DIRECT UK<br />

33<br />

Godiva Festival<br />

War Memorial Park, Coventry<br />

You need only look at the price-hike for Glastonbury over<br />

the years (starting out at £1 for the first festival in 1970, to<br />

its £200+ pricetag today) to know that attending festivals<br />

quickly becomes expensive business, not exactly ideal for a<br />

family outing even if you all love music. All the better then<br />

that events like Coventry’s Godiva exist – an entirely free<br />

family-friendly festival, Godiva 2016 has pulled in music icons<br />

The Boomtown Rats, Scouting For Girls and The Charlatans<br />

for a party where everybody can be involved.<br />

Line-Up: Boomtown Rats, The Charlatans, Scouting For Girls,<br />

Space, Mystery Jets<br />

2000 Trees<br />

Upcote Farm, Cheltenham<br />

Quite possibly the biggest Alternative music festival in the<br />

UK, 2000 Trees offers two days of camping and the very<br />

best up and coming artists in the music industry, having<br />

proved the ideal launching point for the likes of Frank Turner,<br />

Scroobius Pip and Wolf Alice, amongst countless others.<br />

The 2016 event sees the likes of Alt. Punk legends Refused,<br />

reformed Ska-Punks The King Blues and prolific rocker<br />

Ginger Wildheart (performing both solo and with his group<br />

Hey!Hello!) descend on Upcote Farm for a two day Rock and<br />

Metal extravaganza.<br />

Line-Up: Refused, Twin Atlantic, The Bronx, The King Blues,<br />

Ginger Wildheart, Ash<br />

Wireless Festival<br />

Finsbury Park, London<br />

Pop music doesn’t get much of a bigger home than at<br />

Finsbury Park for the annual Wireless Festival, a threeday<br />

celebration in the capital that will see massive chartstorming<br />

acts like Calvin Harris, Chase & Status and The<br />

1975 all blast out some great tunes. A perfect cure for the<br />

summertime blues, Wireless Festival is an absolute must for<br />

the chart-savvy Pop fan looking to enjoy some of the hottest<br />

acts in the UK.<br />

Line-Up: Calvin Harris, The 1975, Miguel, Chase & Status, J.<br />

Cole, Future, Boy Better Know, Kygo<br />

T in the Park<br />

Strathallan, Pethshire<br />

Scotland’s biggest festival, and one of the best places in<br />

the UK to catch a huge mixture of acts old and new, T in<br />

the Park draws from genres including Rock, Indie, Pop and<br />

Electronica to pull together a line-up that will well and truly<br />

bring some sunshine to the (far) north. The 2016 line-up<br />

includes the likes of legendary Manchester band The Stone<br />

Roses (soon due to release their first album in 22 years),<br />

Scottish musical hero Calvin Harris and Californian Funk<br />

Rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers.<br />

Line-up: Stone Roses, Calvin Harris, Red Hot Chili Peppers,<br />

Rodrigo y Gabriella, Bastille, Courteeners


34 ENTERTAINMENT // SPONSORED BY LETTTERBOX DIRECT UK<br />

STAYING HEALTHY AT FESTIVALS<br />

The sun is out, the bands are rockin’ and the mud is basically everywhere; festival season 2016 is well and truly<br />

upon us. In The City are on the case to give you the top tips to maintaining your body as a temple for festival<br />

season 2016.<br />

Come rain or shine, make sure you wear sun-tan lotion<br />

What most people tend to forget over the summer (and<br />

especially at festivals) is that even if its overcast and raining<br />

like its November, you’re still spending a lot of time in<br />

the summer sun and can catch it pretty hard if you aren’t<br />

careful.<br />

Chuck a bit of suntan lotion on before you head out of a<br />

morning and you’ll be thankful come 11pm, when you try to<br />

avert your gaze from the snakeskin like soreness that was<br />

your best mate’s face.<br />

Festival food: The undoing of many a great weekend<br />

Greasy grub is a mainstay of the festival experience, and no<br />

weekend is complete without an oozing cheeseburger on<br />

Sunday morning to flush out the hangover. With that in mind<br />

though, be aware that overly greasy grub has the downside<br />

of also making you need the loo more, and come Sunday<br />

afternoon you’ll rather spend a year huffing dog-droppings<br />

than sit in a Portaloo for five minutes.<br />

Bring your wellies<br />

The most obvious tip of them all, and yet one that always<br />

somehow seems to get overlooked (and I know I’m certainly<br />

guilty of this one myself). Save wrecking your brand new<br />

£90 boots from River Island, or foolishly trusting your<br />

Converse knock-offs to not turn to toilet paper the second<br />

they get a bit wet, and invest in some wellies that you can<br />

use over the weekend.<br />

Mints: Instant hydration (feeling) and a way to fend<br />

off devil breath<br />

If you’ve ever watched Bear Grylls, you’ll no doubt have<br />

heard the suggestion that should you be struggling to stay<br />

hydrated you should suck on a button/pebble to keep your<br />

mouth moist and stop you from drying out. Whilst this<br />

has been proven to not help in terms of staying hydrated,<br />

the last thing you want when you’re singing along to your<br />

favourite band is to come down with dry throat.<br />

Enter then, the humble mint – something to suck on to keep<br />

your mouth watering if you can’t get to the bar (which,<br />

let’s face it, at some point you won’t be able to) and more<br />

importantly something which’ll help fend off the god-awful<br />

festival breath.<br />

by Rich Hobson


ENTERTAINMENT // SPONSORED BY LETTTERBOX DIRECT UK<br />

35<br />

THE POWER OF PASSION<br />

Whilst it would be unrealistic to say that the fine fettle of the Midlands live music scene is down to one particular<br />

person or organisation, the fact remains that the Midlands’ strength is in its strong promoter base, and this base<br />

doesn’t come much stronger than Surprise You’re Dead Music – run by founder Ian Shaw out of the<br />

Custard Factory in <strong>Birmingham</strong>.<br />

Founded in 2014, the SYD story actually<br />

stretches back much further to 2003,<br />

when Ian was working with The Mirror<br />

newspaper, doing tax and accounting. Bored,<br />

and left to his own devices for much of the<br />

day, Ian decided to try and build his own<br />

career, eventually putting on live music shows<br />

in his home town, Wrexham.<br />

From there I went from being a Rock and<br />

Metal promoter to promoting a whole variety<br />

of acts in Wrexham, and then I started<br />

working for a record label called Lockjaw<br />

Records, which at the time was based in Worcester. I realised<br />

very quickly that you had to have a story behind the band to<br />

get them into the magazines, or a tour, but none of the bands<br />

were touring so I was like ‘Right I’m going to book these bands<br />

some tour dates to go with the release they have coming up’.<br />

Ian was eventually taken on by booking agency Factory Music,<br />

working with a lot of Heavy Metal artists from around the<br />

world. Ian moved to <strong>Birmingham</strong>, where he formed Surprise<br />

You’re Dead promotions, and was instrumental in setting up the<br />

Custard Factory venue The Oobleck.<br />

I was really keen to get involved on putting in shows<br />

in <strong>Birmingham</strong> because all the tours generally come to<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>. The stepping stone into the bigger market<br />

was when I joined the Oobleck; all of a sudden I was getting<br />

bigger shows with artists I’ve always wanted to work with,<br />

and it sort of snowballed from there.<br />

Spreading much further than just putting on shows, however,<br />

Ian now also runs three venues (The Live Rooms in Chester,<br />

The Central Station in Wrexham and The Station in Cannock)<br />

and works with international booking agency TKO, where<br />

he is responsible for bands including The Dirty Youth, New<br />

Year’s Day and InMe. With so much work on his plate, what<br />

things really fill him with professional pride?<br />

I get stupidly excited every time – from a booking agency<br />

point of view – my artists get confirmed to play any kind<br />

of festival. I always have two or three acts play download<br />

and I love seeing my bands on posters and knowing that<br />

you got that artist on the festival. I’m always gonna love<br />

being involved with live music, putting on live music, and<br />

my ultimate goal would be to own my own venue and to sit<br />

back at relax...only joking! There is no relaxation in owning a<br />

live venue, but I want my own venue in <strong>Birmingham</strong> or just<br />

outside.<br />

With the number of big-name acts Ian has managed to<br />

successfully see into the Midlands area already, this dream<br />

could be a reality sooner rather than later. Ian’s story is a<br />

perfect illustration of how passion can pay off in a big way,<br />

if you’re willing to put in the work necessary to get things<br />

done.<br />

For a list of upcoming shows by SYD Music, visit:<br />

www.surpriseyouredeadmusic.co.uk<br />

by Rich Hobson


ENTERTAINMENT // SPONSORED BY LETTTERBOX DIRECT UK<br />

37<br />

SUMMER TASTERS – FOOD & DRINK; FROM TRADITIONAL TO EXOTIC<br />

Whether you’re a shrimp on the barbie fan, love the flamin’ fruity flavour of Caribbean food, or just can’t live<br />

without a chargrilled sausage in a bun in the summer. There’s no denying that the sun brings out our inner foodie,<br />

desperate to chomp down on some of the freshest flavours around and quench ourselves in the most exotic drinks<br />

we can get our tongues to.<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Beer<br />

Bash<br />

(21st – 23rd <strong>July</strong>)<br />

The Bond Company,<br />

180-182 Fazeley Street.<br />

B5 5SE<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Caribbean Food Festival (29th – 31st <strong>July</strong>)<br />

Centenary Square, Broad Street, B1 2EP<br />

The sun is shining, and the weather is sweet – Summer 2016<br />

might have got an early start this year, but regardless of how<br />

the weather turns out on the day (this is England after all!)<br />

visitors to <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s centenary square between 29th and<br />

31st of <strong>July</strong> can get a sultry taste of the sun courtesy of the<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Caribbean Food Festival.<br />

Celebrating Caribbean culture, food and arts, the<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Caribbean Food Festival is a chance to enjoy<br />

the rich and diverse culture of the various Caribbean islands<br />

at your doorstep.<br />

Move over Munich,<br />

there’s a new kid in<br />

town. <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Beer Bash started in<br />

2013 as a collaboration<br />

between enthusiasts,<br />

bloggers and tweeters<br />

who concocted the concept whilst discussing their love for<br />

beer. Working to bring together the best craft beers from<br />

around the UK and gather them together for an Oktoberfest<br />

style celebration of all things brewed.<br />

Now in its third year, <strong>Birmingham</strong> Beer Bash is the city’s top<br />

event for the discerning beer connoisseur, and will feature as<br />

part of the brand new <strong>Birmingham</strong> Beer Week – make sure<br />

your best hangover cure is ready to go!<br />

Entry: £9 - £28<br />

by Rich Hobson<br />

INGREDIENTS:<br />

25ml Bacardi Carta Blanca<br />

20ml Malibu Coconut Rum<br />

10ml Crème de Cacao<br />

25ml of Coconut Cream<br />

COCKTAIL OF<br />

THE MONTH<br />

SNOW<br />

IN THE<br />

SUMMER<br />

Summer’s here at Mechu Cocktail Bar & Club<br />

and we’ve come up with a special treat to<br />

reflect the sometimes glorious (but often<br />

unpredictable) weather of the city! A refreshing<br />

take on the pina colada but with all of the<br />

strength of a good martini. Served straight up<br />

in a classic martini glass, the ice cold balance of<br />

Snow in the Summer offers a balance of coffee<br />

and coconut with a kick of white rum.<br />

Chill your martini glass for<br />

ultimate refreshment. Add all<br />

ingredients to your boston shaker<br />

and let loose. Shake until the tin<br />

frosts over and double strain. Add<br />

a tiny splash of Blue Curacao that<br />

sinks to the bottom to finish.<br />

ENJOY!


0844 870 0000 (24hr)<br />

Ticketing solutions<br />

Online box offices<br />

Event management<br />

24hr customer service<br />

On-site accreditation


SPOTLIGHT<br />

NIGHTLIFE<br />

SPONSORED BY THETICKETSELLERS<br />

WWW.THETICKETSELLERS.CO.UK


40 NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THETICKETSELLERS<br />

Welcome to the Nightlife section of In The City Magazine, presented by TheTicketSellers.<br />

NIGHTLIFE TAKEOVER<br />

SECRET GARDEN PARTY FESTIVAL<br />

Over the coming months,<br />

we will be providing<br />

our readers with<br />

industry gossip, breaking<br />

news, inside stories and a<br />

comprehensive list of the best<br />

events to go to, in and around<br />

the West Midlands.<br />

Each month, we will also introduce you to one of our<br />

promoters through our brand new blog, Backstage. Here we<br />

delve into the habits, hobbies and lives of our promoters, to<br />

find out how they tick and why they do what they do. <strong>July</strong>'s<br />

edition welcomes Shardfest to Backstage. This fantastic<br />

community festival returns on 23rd <strong>July</strong> and features a<br />

massive line-up of artists to include X-Factor famed James<br />

Arthur, Reggie n Bollie, Musical Youth, Lemar and so much<br />

more. We managed to track down one of the festival<br />

directors, Paul, to ask him a few questions. This is what he<br />

had to say;<br />

When did Shardfest start and how has it changed?<br />

Shardfest is moving into its 3rd Year and we've come a long<br />

way from a group discussion on Facebook. Yes, Shardfest<br />

was born from a group of friends on Facebook reminiscing<br />

about the fantastic Shard End Carnival from years gone by.<br />

Shard End had one of the oldest Carnivals in <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

dating back to the early 50’s, but in 2001 it ended thus<br />

taking away a great source of community cohesion.<br />

When did you start putting on events?<br />

In January 2014 a group met to see if we could reignite the<br />

Carnival under the new name of “Shardfest”... We had the<br />

vision of putting together an event to bring the community<br />

together but with the extra attention to detail that the event<br />

had lacked thus leading to its downfall all those years before.<br />

What made you decide to be a Festival organiser?<br />

I just wanted to do something for my community and to help<br />

bring everyone together.<br />

What's your favourite event?<br />

Favourite and most admired event has to be the Isle of Wight<br />

festival. They started up much like we have and it's fantastic<br />

to see how they've grown.<br />

What was the first festival you ever attended?<br />

I've actually never attended a festival (apart from my own).<br />

If you could have anyone headline your event who would<br />

you choose?<br />

My dream headline act would have to be Jeff Lynn and ELO<br />

simply because they are from Shard End, so that'd fit quite<br />

nicely with our event!<br />

If you weren't putting on festivals, what would you be doing?<br />

Along with running Shardfest I've also got a day-job working<br />

on the railway, so I'd have to say that's what I'd be doing.<br />

What are your 3 must have festival promoter essentials?


NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THETICKETSELLERS<br />

41<br />

Have no fear, get your marketing spot on and book the right<br />

artists.<br />

What's the best bit of tech you use at your event/festival?<br />

TheTicketSellers ticketing and entry system. It's really<br />

helped me streamline things and taken a big weight off my<br />

shoulders.<br />

What makes your event stand out from all the rest?<br />

It's an affordable community event that has something for<br />

everyone, young and old.<br />

Where would we find you on the last night of your festival?<br />

Trying to chill out after a manic build up and ensuring<br />

everything is running smoothly!<br />

Finally - Do you ever get used to portaloos?<br />

NO NEVER! They're horrible things. It's the luxury toilet block<br />

for me.<br />

News<br />

In mid-June the former Gatecrasher reopened as<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>’s very own Pryzm, which is billed as the biggest<br />

nightclub In The City. It has gone through a £1.4 million<br />

refurbishment to create a multi-room club with an R&B main<br />

arena known as Curve and a retro disco room called Vinyl.<br />

If you didn’t manage to get down to the new venue in June<br />

we recommend that you drop in and let us know what you<br />

think. But don’t worry if <strong>Birmingham</strong> isn’t your scene as they<br />

are also opening a Pryzm in our neighbours to the East,<br />

Nottingham, in <strong>July</strong>.<br />

Also a heads up for those of you that had an amazing time<br />

at Swingamajig and <strong>Birmingham</strong> Pride earlier this year, the<br />

2017 dates for both of these are now on sale! Buy soon so<br />

that you can make sure you have the tickets at the cheapest<br />

possible rates.<br />

Thanks for reading and we hope you have a fun and safe<br />

<strong>July</strong>, whichever event you go to :)<br />

If you are a promoter and you would like your event listed for<br />

free or if you are interested in advertising or editorial, then<br />

please get in touch with us on <strong>ITC</strong>@theticeketsellers.co.uk<br />

15 MINUTES 4 U PRESENTS STEPPING OUT<br />

You have two great opportunities in <strong>July</strong> to enter a dance<br />

event beyond imagination when 15 Minutes 4 U presents<br />

Stepping Out. Set at Aston Student Union - Stepping Out<br />

will entertain in a amazing disco setting; a high energy fun<br />

audience.<br />

Stepping Out is a brand new dance culture event hitting<br />

the West Midlands. Focusing on dance culture, the event<br />

is aimed primarily at the dance and UK artist audience.<br />

Attendees can actively get involved to dance and watch<br />

performances from some of the globe's hottest talent while<br />

watching their favourite artist rock the mic.<br />

Attendees will be wowed with a dazzling lighting display and<br />

have a chance to grace the dance floor and perform their<br />

moves and routines for fun while our locally based DJ's rock<br />

the dance-floor with their favourite dance routine anthems.<br />

Those who can't dance have no need to fear, as they can<br />

also learn simple dance steps to their favourite songs and<br />

come within touching distance of some of the hottest dance<br />

talent from across the globe and region. Friends are also<br />

encouraged to join in the fun and proudly display their group<br />

routines and setting the dance floor on fire.<br />

Special appearances by a hot, weekly line-up means this<br />

fun-engaging and unforgettable celebration of dance and<br />

friendship promises you leaving with memories to last a<br />

lifetime.<br />

There are different line-ups, hosts and activities to suit<br />

each age group with; under 11’s attending for free between<br />

10:30am and 11pm, under 18s at £7.50 between 3pm and<br />

8:30pm, and over 18s finishing the day from 9pm at £11.<br />

Summer may have well and truly landed, even though the weather didn't get the memo but this hasn't stopped our promoters<br />

offering a diverse range of events, to cater for all music lovers. Check out our very first free listing on the next pages and make<br />

sure you grab a copy of In The City Magazine each month, as our listing will dramatically grow in size, covering more events<br />

and music styles.


42 NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THETICKETSELLERS<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Jazz - Still Waters<br />

Friday 1st <strong>July</strong><br />

7:15pm - 11pm<br />

The Red Lion, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £6.50<br />

Music of the Night<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 11pm<br />

Brierley Hill Civic Hall<br />

From £10<br />

Pilgrimage<br />

Friday 1st <strong>July</strong><br />

8:30pm - 2am<br />

Hare and Hounds<br />

From £8<br />

Jay Hutton Meet and Greet<br />

Friday 1st <strong>July</strong><br />

9pm - 3am<br />

Popworld <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £8<br />

Rocket<br />

Friday 1st <strong>July</strong><br />

9:30pm - 2am<br />

The Jam House, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £5<br />

Swampmeat<br />

Friday 1st <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 2am<br />

The Dark Horse, Moseley<br />

From £5.50<br />

Mischief Presents Thomas Jules<br />

from Rudimental<br />

Friday 1st <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 3am<br />

Luna, Solihull<br />

From £5.50<br />

Click Friday<br />

Friday 1st <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Hagfest 2016<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

12pm - 8pm<br />

Hagley Playing Fields<br />

Adults £10/ Family £25/Aged 3-17<br />

£5<br />

So It Goes & Nightingale Presents<br />

The Street Party<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

2pm - 6am<br />

The Nightingale Club<br />

From £8<br />

Pleasure Ladies Nights<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 10:30pm<br />

The Hub, Kent Street<br />

Standard £14.50/Student £5.50/<br />

VIP options available<br />

Rocking the Boat<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 9:30pm<br />

The Singing Cavern, Dudley Canal<br />

From £11<br />

Star Wars & Beyond: A Space<br />

Spectacular<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

Starts 7:30pm<br />

Symphony Hall<br />

From £19.50<br />

Summer Extravaganza<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 2am<br />

The Swan, Stourbridge<br />

From £5.50<br />

Lock Down<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

9pm - 4am<br />

The Drum, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £8<br />

Raver Reunited: Summer<br />

Slammer Payback Party<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

9pm - 6am<br />

The Emporium, Leicester<br />

From £5.50<br />

Stevie Wonder Night<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

9pm - 4am<br />

The Night Owl, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £5.50<br />

Hot92 Birthday Party<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

9pm - 5am<br />

Myyst Nightclub, Hurst Street<br />

From £5.50<br />

Rocket<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

9:30pm - 2am<br />

The Jam House, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £10<br />

ONEDUB presents U-Roy<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm-4am<br />

Irish Centre, B12 0LN<br />

From £13.50<br />

Loaded Saturday<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 4am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Unda-Vybes Session Live<br />

Saturday 2nd <strong>July</strong><br />

11pm - 6am<br />

Rainbow Venues<br />

From £10<br />

Sutton Vintage & Arts Summer<br />

Fair<br />

Sunday 3rd <strong>July</strong><br />

11am - 5pm<br />

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall<br />

From £1<br />

Danny Bhoy<br />

Sunday 3rd <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 11pm<br />

Glee Club, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £10<br />

Paws<br />

Monday 4th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 10:30pm<br />

Hare and Hounds<br />

From £7<br />

Speed Dating<br />

Tuesday 5th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 10pm<br />

Revolution, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £19.95<br />

Lucy Porter & Cary Marx<br />

Wednesday 6th <strong>July</strong><br />

6:45pm - 7:30pm<br />

Glee Club<br />

From £12<br />

Tim Exile Flow Machine Tour<br />

Wednesday 6th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 11:30pm<br />

Green Street Arts (22 Green<br />

Street), Digbeth<br />

From £5<br />

ZOO <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Wednesday 6th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 3am<br />

Popworld <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4.50<br />

Big Wednesday<br />

Wednesday 6th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Americana International<br />

Thursday 7th - Monday 11th <strong>July</strong><br />

1pm Thurs - 8pm Mon<br />

Draycott Showground, Derby<br />

From £43<br />

Lionel Richie<br />

Thursday 7th <strong>July</strong><br />

Doors Open 18:00<br />

Barclaycard Arena<br />

From £45.70<br />

Millbrook<br />

Thursday 7th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 11pm<br />

Hare and Hounds<br />

From £5


NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THETICKETSELLERS<br />

43<br />

‘Allo ‘Allo<br />

Thursday 7th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 10:15pm<br />

The Shirley Centre<br />

From £13.50<br />

Omar<br />

Thursday 7th <strong>July</strong><br />

Starts 9:30pm<br />

The Jam House, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £8<br />

P.A.R.T.Y Psychedelic Disco<br />

Thursday 7th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 3am<br />

Pryzm, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Andrew Lawrence<br />

Friday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 11pm<br />

Glee Club, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £11<br />

Wow 80s Tribute<br />

Friday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 12:30am<br />

Arena Aldridge, Walsall<br />

From £5<br />

‘Allo ‘Allo<br />

Friday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 10:15pm<br />

The Shirley Centre<br />

From £13.50<br />

Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul<br />

Festival 2016<br />

Friday 8th - Sunday 10th <strong>July</strong><br />

1pm Fri - 11pm Sun<br />

Moseley Park<br />

Adults from £46<br />

Ladies night in support of<br />

breast cancer<br />

Friday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 3am<br />

Geisha, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £14<br />

Click Friday<br />

Friday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

15 Minutes 4 U Presents<br />

Stepping Out<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

Under 11’s 10am - 1:30pm<br />

Under 18’s 3pm - 8:30pm<br />

Over 18’s 9pm - 2:30am<br />

Aston Students Guild<br />

U11 Free/ U18 £7.50/O18 £11<br />

‘Allo ‘Allo<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

Matinee 2:30pm - 5pm<br />

Evening 7:30pm - 10:15pm<br />

The Shirley Centre<br />

From £13.50<br />

Pleasure Ladies Nights<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 10:30pm<br />

The Hub, Kent Street<br />

Standard £14.50/Student £5.50/<br />

VIP options available<br />

The Naked Beatles<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 12:30am<br />

Land Rover Sports and Social<br />

Club, Solihull<br />

From £5<br />

Stereosonics<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 12:30am<br />

Arches Venue, Coventry<br />

From £9<br />

Soul Nostalgia Night<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

9pm - 3am<br />

The Village Hotel, Coventry<br />

From £6.50<br />

The Granville Sessions<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 2am<br />

The Dark Horse<br />

From £5.50<br />

Kandy Krush<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 6am<br />

PST, Digbeth<br />

From £8<br />

Hidden & Moon Lounge<br />

Reunion<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 6am<br />

Hidden Nightclub<br />

From £9<br />

Bunny Wailer & Max Romeo:<br />

Roots Renaissance<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 3:30am<br />

O2 Academy, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £29.50<br />

Loaded Saturday<br />

Saturday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 4am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Smash Entertainz; Im Friggin<br />

30!!!<br />

Sunday 10th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 11pm<br />

6 on Broad Street<br />

From £7<br />

Ladies Charity Night<br />

Sunday 10th <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 2am<br />

Reflex, Stoke-On-Trent<br />

From £8<br />

Matt Cardle<br />

Monday 11th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 11pm<br />

Glee Club, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £25<br />

Speed Dating<br />

Tuesday 12th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm -10pm<br />

Vertu, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £19.95<br />

Scott Matthews<br />

Tuesday 12th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 11pm<br />

Glee Club, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £12.50<br />

Jazzlines presents Reedbass<br />

Tuesday 12th <strong>July</strong><br />

Starts 8:30pm<br />

The Jam House, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Free<br />

ZOO <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Wednesday 13th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 3am<br />

Popworld <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4.50<br />

Big Wednesday<br />

Wednesday 13th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Luke Rainsford & Laurenmarie<br />

Thursday 14th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 11pm<br />

The Flapper<br />

From £2.50<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Jazz - Mosaic<br />

Sean Gibbs<br />

Friday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:45pm - 11pm<br />

The Red Lion, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £3.50 (Members free)<br />

Sublime DnB Weekend - 15<br />

yrs of Dispatch Recordings -<br />

Metalheadz<br />

Friday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 6am<br />

The Queens Head, Redditch<br />

From £11<br />

Guns 2 Roses<br />

Friday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 12:30am<br />

Arches Venue, Coventry<br />

From £9


44 NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THETICKETSELLERS<br />

1-Eye Reggae Review<br />

Thursday 14th <strong>July</strong><br />

Starts 9:30pm<br />

The Jam House, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Free before 9pm, £5 after<br />

P.A.R.T.Y<br />

Thursday 14th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 3am<br />

Pryzm, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

All Out<br />

Thursday 14th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 4am<br />

6 On Broad Street<br />

From £6<br />

Aspatria Music Festival 2016<br />

Friday 15th - Sunday 17th <strong>July</strong><br />

5pm Fri - 8pm Sun<br />

Bower Park, Cumbria<br />

Weekend from £50/ Day from<br />

£10<br />

The Night Owl First Birthday<br />

Weekender<br />

Friday 15th - Sunday 17th <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm Fri - 10pm Sun<br />

The Night Owl, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £8<br />

Rufus Wainwright<br />

Friday 15th <strong>July</strong><br />

Starts 7pm<br />

Symphony Hall<br />

From £40.50<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Jazz - Julian Siegel<br />

Quartet<br />

Friday 15th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:15pm- 11pm<br />

The Red Lion, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £6.50<br />

Cracked Actors / Millie Manders<br />

/ Lobster<br />

Friday 15th <strong>July</strong><br />

9pm - 1am<br />

The Big Bull's Head<br />

From £4.50<br />

Click Friday<br />

Friday 15th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Essence Presents the Red and<br />

Black Ball<br />

Friday 15th <strong>July</strong><br />

11pm - 4am<br />

6 on Broad Street<br />

From £10<br />

Nice - Underground Garage<br />

Friday 15th <strong>July</strong><br />

11pm - 5am<br />

Rainbow Venues<br />

From £11<br />

15 Minutes 4 U Presents<br />

Stepping Out<br />

Saturday 16th <strong>July</strong><br />

Under 11’s 10am - 1:30pm<br />

Under 18’s 3pm - 8:30pm<br />

Over 18’s 9pm - 2:30am<br />

Aston Students Guild<br />

U11 Free/ U18 £7.50/O18 £11<br />

Musical Picnic<br />

Saturday 16th <strong>July</strong><br />

Starts 10:30am<br />

Symphony Hall Cafe Bar<br />

Free<br />

Pleasure Ladies Nights<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Saturday 16th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 10:30pm<br />

The Hub, Kent Street<br />

Standard £14.50/Student<br />

£5.50/ VIP options available<br />

Sarah Millican<br />

Saturday 16th <strong>July</strong><br />

Starts 8pm<br />

Symphony Hall<br />

From £28<br />

Raveology & Highgrade<br />

Presents Summer Convention<br />

2016<br />

Saturday 16th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 5am<br />

O2 Academy<br />

From £11.25<br />

Loaded Saturday<br />

Saturday 16th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 4am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

The Budapest Ragtime Band<br />

Sunday 17th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm- 10pm<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Botanical Gardens<br />

From £13.50<br />

Sarah Millican<br />

Sunday 17th <strong>July</strong><br />

Starts 8pm<br />

Symphony Hall<br />

From £28


NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THETICKETSELLERS<br />

45<br />

Sun Kil Moon<br />

Tuesday 19th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 11pm<br />

The Glee Club, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £27.50<br />

Mamma Mia<br />

Wednesday 20th <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 10pm<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Hippodrome<br />

From £28<br />

Gospel Central<br />

Wednesday 20th <strong>July</strong><br />

Live band on from 9pm<br />

The Jam House, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Free<br />

ZOO <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Wednesday 20th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 3am<br />

Popworld <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4.50<br />

Big Wednesday<br />

Wednesday 20th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Secret Garden Party<br />

Thursday 21st - Monday 25th<br />

<strong>July</strong><br />

2pm Thurs - 12pm Mon<br />

Mill Hill Field, Cambridgeshire<br />

Adults from £185.99<br />

Nozstock The Hidden Valley<br />

Thursday 21st - Sunday 24th<br />

<strong>July</strong><br />

5pm Thurs - 11:30pm Sun<br />

Rowden Paddocks,<br />

Herefordshire<br />

Adults from £121.90<br />

Scotty T’s World Tour<br />

Thursday 21st <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 10:30pm<br />

O2 Academy, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £10<br />

Mamma Mia<br />

Thursday 21st <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 10pm<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Hippodrome<br />

From £28<br />

Midlands Tattoo Industry<br />

Show<br />

Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th<br />

<strong>July</strong>,<br />

9am - 3am<br />

Greene King Stadium, Hinkley<br />

From £12.50<br />

Moon Duo<br />

Friday 22nd <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 10pm<br />

Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath<br />

From £11<br />

The Copper Rooms present:<br />

Terrorvision<br />

Friday 22nd <strong>July</strong><br />

7:30pm - 10:30pm<br />

The Copper Rooms, Coventry<br />

From £22<br />

Barb'd Wire plus support from<br />

TooNice<br />

Friday 22nd <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 12:30am<br />

Arches Venue, Coventry<br />

From £9<br />

Click Friday<br />

Friday 22nd <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Shardfest<br />

Saturday 23rd - Sunday 24th <strong>July</strong><br />

1pm Sat - 10pm Sun<br />

Norman Chamberlain Playing<br />

Fields<br />

From £21.60<br />

Mamma Mia<br />

Saturday 23rd <strong>July</strong><br />

2:30pm - 5:30pm<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Hippodrome<br />

From £28<br />

Pleasure Ladies Nights<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Saturday 23rd <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 10:30pm<br />

The Hub, Kent Street<br />

Standard £14.50/Student £5.50/<br />

VIP options available<br />

Discharge<br />

Saturday 23rd <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 12:30am<br />

Arches Venue, Coventry<br />

From £11<br />

It's a 'Mackabee Affair' -<br />

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS<br />

Saturday 23rd <strong>July</strong><br />

9pm - 2am<br />

Rialto Reborn, Coventry<br />

From £16.50<br />

Loaded Saturday<br />

Saturday 23rd <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 4am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Bob The Drag Queen<br />

Saturday 23rd <strong>July</strong><br />

11pm - 5am<br />

The Nightingale Club<br />

From £9<br />

ONEDUB presents Rastafari<br />

Way<br />

Saturday 23rd <strong>July</strong><br />

11am onwards 24 hour event<br />

Morbec Farm, Essex<br />

£27.50<br />

The Rajasthan Heritage Brass<br />

Band<br />

Sunday 24th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm- 10pm<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Botanical Gardens<br />

From £16.50


46 NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THETICKETSELLERS<br />

Big Wednesday<br />

Wednesday 27th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Port Eliot Festival<br />

2016<br />

Thursday 28th -<br />

Sunday 31st<strong>July</strong><br />

11am Thurs - 10pm<br />

Sun<br />

St Germans, Cornwall<br />

Mamma Mia<br />

Adults weekend from<br />

Monday 25th <strong>July</strong><br />

£172.50<br />

7:30pm - 10pm<br />

Day tickets available<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Hippodrome<br />

From £28<br />

Summer Jam<br />

Mamma Mia<br />

Thursday 28th <strong>July</strong><br />

Tuesday 26th <strong>July</strong><br />

5pm - 11pm<br />

7:30pm - 10pm<br />

Motorpoint Arena,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Hippodrome<br />

Nottingham<br />

From £28<br />

From £19.50<br />

Mamma Mia<br />

LatinMotion presents Del<br />

Wednesday 27th <strong>July</strong><br />

Camino<br />

2:30pm - 5:30pm<br />

Thursday 28th <strong>July</strong><br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Hippodrome<br />

9pm - 1pm<br />

From £28<br />

The Jam House, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Free before 9pm, £5 after<br />

Conya Doss & Teri Tobin<br />

Wednesday 27th <strong>July</strong><br />

Thursday Club - Arron Crascall<br />

7pm - 10:30pm<br />

Thursday 28th <strong>July</strong><br />

Hare and Hounds<br />

9pm - 3am<br />

From £13.60<br />

Walkabout, Solihull<br />

From £5.50<br />

The Launch Pad<br />

Wednesday 27th <strong>July</strong><br />

Summer Gathering Festival<br />

Live music from 8:30pm<br />

Friday 29th - Sunday 31st <strong>July</strong><br />

The Jam House, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

12pm Fri - 3pm Sun<br />

Free<br />

Donington Park, Derby<br />

ZOO <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £48.60<br />

Wednesday 27th <strong>July</strong><br />

World Yoga Festival 2016<br />

10pm - 3am<br />

Friday 29th - Sunday 31st <strong>July</strong><br />

Popworld <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

7am Fri - 10pm Sun<br />

From £4.50<br />

Beale Park, Berkshire<br />

Adult weekend from £152<br />

Day tickets available<br />

Rebel Rebel<br />

Friday 29th <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 12:15am<br />

Arches Venue, Coventry<br />

From £8<br />

OBSXSSION Events<br />

Presents: #ZimLinkUp<br />

Friday 29th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 4am<br />

Myyst <strong>Birmingham</strong>, Hurst<br />

Street<br />

From £10<br />

Click Friday<br />

Friday 29th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 3:30am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

Big Family Festival<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong> - Sunday<br />

31st <strong>July</strong><br />

10am - 11:45pm<br />

Dunton Hall, Sunton<br />

Coldfield<br />

From £30<br />

MADE <strong>Birmingham</strong> 2016<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

12pm - 12am<br />

The Digbeth Triangle<br />

From £43.45<br />

MADE... My Night 2016<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

11pm - 6am<br />

Secret Venue<br />

From £19.50<br />

Academy Events Presents<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> ICW: Seven<br />

Nation Army<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 12am<br />

O2 Institute<br />

From £19.10<br />

Pleasure Ladies Nights<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

7pm - 10:30pm<br />

The Hub, Kent Street<br />

Standard £14.50/Student<br />

£5.50/ VIP options<br />

available<br />

Straighten Out<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

8pm - 12:30am<br />

Arches Venue, Coventry<br />

From £11<br />

Mad P Top Buzz Birthday<br />

Bash<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 5am<br />

PST Rooftop, Digbeth<br />

From £11<br />

Anomaly<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

10pm - 5am<br />

Rainbow Venues<br />

From £5.50<br />

Loaded Saturday<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

10:30pm - 4am<br />

Snobs, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

From £4<br />

The Nightingale 00's Party<br />

Saturday 30th <strong>July</strong><br />

11pm - 6am<br />

The Nightingale Club<br />

From £9<br />

Hacienda Classical<br />

Sunday 31st <strong>July</strong><br />

3pm - 9pm<br />

Rainbow Venues<br />

From £35<br />

Include your event for free or upgrade your listing<br />

itc@theticketsellers.co.uk | 0844 870 0000


www.askalps.com<br />

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For all enquiries contact one of our team at:<br />

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SPOTLIGHT<br />

MONTHLY<br />

FEATURE<br />

SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING SERVICES<br />

WWW.ASKALPS.COM


50 MONTHLY FEATURE // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING SERVICES<br />

DON’T MOVE; IMPROVE!<br />

It’s a situation many of us may find ourselves in; you’ve moved out, got yourself a home and spent a few years living<br />

there, getting comfortable. Then, one day the itch for a change hits – you want a change of scene; more space,<br />

more colour in your life and it’s something you believe can only be achieved by moving home.<br />

by Rich Hobson<br />

Think again! It has become increasingly popular amongst homeowners to invest in their homes, choosing home building<br />

projects which could not only spruce up and potentially extend their living space, but also add massive value to their<br />

homes in the process. So sit back, set your tea down to cool and grab a notepad to read up on some of the tips we have<br />

aggregated to tell you – Don’t Move; Improve!<br />

Plan, Plan, Plan!<br />

Though it’s true that the best plans<br />

of mice and men often go astray,<br />

the biggest key to remember when<br />

making the decision to undertake<br />

a project on your home is to<br />

conceptualise an idea of exactly what<br />

you want, why you want it, and what<br />

you want out of it. This will not only<br />

help you realise your dream easier,<br />

but also save you tonnes of cash in<br />

the end.<br />

…and plan some more<br />

Once you have an idea of what you<br />

want in your head, and are ready to<br />

invest in your project, you’ll be ready<br />

to… plan a little more, sadly. Before<br />

you rush off to hire a contractor to<br />

build the swimming pool you always<br />

knew you needed, make sure you get<br />

planning permission from your local<br />

authority, and just to be *extra* safe<br />

speak to the neighbours too – the last<br />

thing you want is to get £2000 deep<br />

into a project and find out that you<br />

aren’t actually legally qualified to turn<br />

your house into Trump Towers.


FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE<br />

PLEASE CONTACT US AT:<br />

t: 0121 230 8089 | e: enq@askalps.com | www.askalps.com


52<br />

MONTHLY FEATURE // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING SERVICES<br />

Balancing The Budget<br />

The plan is in place, and you figure you’re all ready<br />

to get started and jump right into the world of home<br />

improvements? Not yet! The last main stage of<br />

planning is to figure out a budget and timescale for<br />

your project – this is especially important if you have a<br />

strict budget you are sticking to (after all, it’s nice that<br />

you can enjoy your newly refurbished kitchen, but not<br />

so much if you’re eating cold beans for six months to<br />

achieve it) or are hiring outside help, as it will give you<br />

an idea of how big/small your project really is.<br />

Compare quotes from different companies (and<br />

retailers) to make sure your money goes the distance,<br />

and keep in mind that all estimates you make should<br />

err on the side of pessimism so you don’t get any<br />

nasty surprises.<br />

More power, less cost<br />

Everything’s in place, the budget is balanced and<br />

prepared and you are ready to dive right in to make<br />

your home the very best that it can be. Often times a<br />

building project in the home can have some knock-on<br />

effects to improve the overall effectiveness of your<br />

house, and one of the biggest avenues to explore in<br />

this is to optimise the energy-effectiveness of your<br />

home.<br />

If you’re installing new windows, consider double<br />

glazing (though be aware: if you aren’t, then don’t<br />

worry too much as the energy saved is minimal), a loft<br />

conversion could include some insulation or maybe<br />

underfloor insulation to keep heat loss in your home to<br />

a minimum – there are plenty of avenues to explore,<br />

and you should definitely explore them to guarantee<br />

that your house works as a great investment, rather<br />

than a giant cash sink. Turn to page 54 for more tips<br />

on how to keep your house eco-friendly.<br />

Conversions – From home owner to<br />

home lover<br />

If your main gripe with your home is that you lack<br />

space, for whatever reason (you need more storage,<br />

not enough bedrooms, a new baby on the way etc.),<br />

first consider before you look to the housing market<br />

to solve your woes – do you have unused space in the<br />

house you already live in that could be used better?<br />

If so, turn over to Page 55 for a fuller guide on how a<br />

conversion might just be the project for you.


54 MONTHLY FEATURE // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING SERVICES<br />

MINIMUM ENERGY, MAXIMUM RESULTS<br />

It’s no big secret that energy bills are soaring, so often it is down to the savvy homeowner to know the<br />

best ways to save money and energy in keeping their home as efficient as possible. by Rich Hobson<br />

Loft Insulation<br />

Much like the bills, heat rises. As such, many homeowners<br />

will find that a large source of heat loss in their homes<br />

is through the loft area. One of the most cost effective<br />

options for saving money, loft insulation is extremely useful<br />

for keeping costs low, and some homes even qualify for<br />

free grants which can help with the cost of installation.<br />

Cavity Wall Insulation<br />

As with loft insulation, cavity wall insulation is a (fairly)<br />

easy and highly effective form of preventing energy loss in<br />

the home. Though this mainly only applies to homes that<br />

don’t already have insulation, cavity wall insulation is worth<br />

looking into and, similar to loft insulation, government<br />

grants are available to help with installation.<br />

Under-floor Insulation<br />

Under-floor insulation is a more complicated form of<br />

energy saving – it can reduce heat loss through the floor<br />

by up to 10%, but can also be extremely costly to get done<br />

professionally as it may require removing floorboards. An<br />

alternative option is available, whereby the homeowner<br />

can install the insulation themselves (using a material like<br />

mineral wool, at an average cost of around £300), but<br />

shouldn’t be tried by anyone unconfident in their own<br />

abilities.<br />

Switching to energy saving bulbs<br />

Another simple and easy to implement energy saving tactic,<br />

energy saving bulbs do exactly as it says on the tin. Bear in<br />

mind that there’s no need to go for a top of the range bulb,<br />

you’ll likely find that the more expensive you go with the<br />

bulb, the less money you’ll save using the bulb.<br />

Dishwasher vs Marigolds<br />

A true triumph for couples who’ve ever argued about the<br />

expenses of using a dishwasher over washing up in the sink,<br />

it turns out that using a dishwasher is actually cheaper than<br />

the old fashioned method. Of course, this only applies if<br />

the dishwasher is full when used (which, unless you’re a big<br />

family eating together every night, is unlikely), but a top<br />

tip for keeping the cost down is to scrape dishes off before<br />

loading them in, so that a quick rinse in the dishwasher will<br />

get them sparkling clean.


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56 MONTHLY FEATURE // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING SERVICES<br />

CONVERSIONS: BIGGER IS BETTER<br />

Having a project to work on in the home is a great way<br />

to invest for the future, extend your liveable space<br />

and quite possibly add a massive chunk of value to<br />

the property. Certainly not something you’d be thinking of<br />

if you’re strapped for cash, these projects are perfect if you<br />

have time and money available to invest in making your<br />

house the best it can be.<br />

The most obvious conversion that will come to most people’s<br />

minds is to invest in loft conversion, using the extra storage<br />

space for something more than just a retirement home for<br />

old toys, knickknacks and Aerosmith album titles. A loft<br />

conversion can add up to 20% to the value of a property, and<br />

the investment offers more living space without having to<br />

move home.<br />

Of course, it may very well be that you already have a loft<br />

conversion in place, in which case perhaps a basement<br />

conversion will better serve your needs. Certainly not for<br />

the tight of wallet (requiring digging as well as fitting, not to<br />

mention checking the structural implications of digging etc.)<br />

but this kind of conversion is growing increasingly popular, if<br />

only because having another extra room can always come in<br />

handy for removing clutter.<br />

In addition to these options, another hugely popular<br />

conversion is to get rid of unused garage space and turn the<br />

whole garage area into a further extension for the home. It is<br />

believed that around 90 percent of all Britons’ garages will<br />

not contain a car, so make use of the extraneous space and<br />

turn it into an area that fulfils your needs.<br />

K<strong>ITC</strong>HENS & BATHROOMS<br />

Perhaps a major home development project isn’t on the<br />

cards for you right now – maybe you don’t have the<br />

time, the cash or the inclination to undergo a massive<br />

project just yet, if so you could always dip a toe into the<br />

world of room redevelopment, making sure that your living<br />

space is the absolute best you hope it could be.<br />

The two most popular rooms for redevelopment are, of<br />

course, the kitchen and the bathroom – after all, you’ll<br />

probably spend a lot of time in one or the other! Whether<br />

it’s a simple design change, wherein you change the décor<br />

and tone of the room, or a full development, with all new<br />

appliances and layout changes, this kind of redevelopment<br />

is (relatively) easy to plan, shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg,<br />

and ultimately can contribute to your satisfaction about your<br />

home, as well as potentially adding a bit more value too.


Enjoy the delights of<br />

the UK comfort and<br />

style with outstanding<br />

coach travel from<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>’s experts.<br />

www.caltours-coach.co.uk<br />

Caltours of <strong>Birmingham</strong> upcoming destinations<br />

Berrington Hall<br />

Tuesday 5th <strong>July</strong><br />

Chipping Campden and Hidcote<br />

Thursday 14th <strong>July</strong><br />

Henley on Thames and River Thames Cruise<br />

Wednesday 27th <strong>July</strong><br />

Moseley Old Hall<br />

Tuesday 2nd August<br />

Abergavenny Market<br />

Tuesday 9th August<br />

Lytham St Annes<br />

Saturday 13th August<br />

Plant Hunters Fair & Abbeywood Gardens<br />

Sunday 21st August


SPOTLIGHT<br />

TRAVEL<br />

SPONSORED BY CALTOURS<br />

WWW.CALTOURS-COACH.CO.UK


60 TRAVEL // SPONSORED BY CALTOURS<br />

THE HIGH FIELD TOWN HOUSE HAS OPENED!<br />

A LUXURIOUS HAVEN IN THE CITY<br />

The High Field Town House is a luxurious boutique hotel with 12 individually styled rooms. With just five minutes<br />

from <strong>Birmingham</strong> city centre, and only a moments stroll from "<strong>Birmingham</strong>'s best breakfast", served in The High<br />

Field, it is sure to make your stay memorable. We caught up with General Manager Sarah Robinson to find out more...<br />

You are renowned for your high end, individualised Pubs,<br />

tell our readers where your pubs are situated.<br />

Peach is a collection of 17, individually designed great<br />

pubs, mainly in market towns in the heart of England.<br />

We serve good quality, fresh, honest food and drink<br />

in relaxed, welcoming surroundings. We have pubs in<br />

Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Bedfordshire to name just a<br />

few.<br />

What makes your pubs unique?<br />

GIN FIELDS<br />

Saturday 13th August<br />

“You are the Gin to my Tonic”<br />

The High Field presents Gin Fields, an adult kind of festival.<br />

The BBQ will be fired up, our very own DJ will be spinning<br />

the decks & of course there’ll be Gin, lots of Gin!<br />

There'll be special appearances from some of our fabulous<br />

suppliers, including a few guest Gins too. Tickets are<br />

available now £10 each, to include a G&T on arrival, tasters<br />

and your very own Grand Gin Glass. Visit the events page of<br />

our website to book.<br />

Head down from 2pm, we are sure you don’t need any more<br />

of an excuse. After all, love is like a bottle of Gin.<br />

The High Field<br />

22 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, B15 3DP<br />

t: 0121 227 7068 | e: highfield@peachpubs.com<br />

www.highfieldedgbaston.co.uk<br />

No two of our pubs are alike, but what they share is really<br />

high quality food and drink. We only serve the good stuff,<br />

and would never serve anything we wouldn’t be happy<br />

to eat ourselves. We care about our real ale, work with<br />

suppliers we trust and allow our Chefs to write their own<br />

menus, changing them with each season.<br />

Your new venture is into the world of Boutique Hotels, how<br />

did this come about?<br />

Venturing into hotels is not something new too us, we<br />

already have rooms in four of our pubs. We felt <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

needed something different though, and when the lovely<br />

house next door became available, we jumped at the chance<br />

to convert it into boutique hotel rooms. As with the design<br />

of The High Field, which bought a country feel to town, the<br />

12 bedroom High Field Town House majors on country house<br />

comfort and style.<br />

The hotel is in Edgbaston is the plan to create a chain of<br />

these hotels across the region/Country?<br />

Peach is not a chain, it’s a group of like-minded enthusiasts.<br />

We will never be the biggest pub or hotel company; we’re<br />

out for perfection on a small scale, fuelled by passion for


TRAVEL // SPONSORED BY CALTOURS<br />

61<br />

good food and drink. Every pub is unique, individually<br />

designed to suit their town or village and represent each<br />

pub’s history. Only some of our pubs offer B&B rooms, we<br />

will never develop into a chain of hotels.<br />

What can people staying at the hotel expect in terms<br />

of service?<br />

The Town House offers a strong contrast to the modern<br />

hotels that largely make up the <strong>Birmingham</strong> hotel scene.<br />

We use natural themes and colours, with bolder shades in<br />

the Sitting Room, the hotel’s answer to a formal reception<br />

lobby. We’re using a self check-in service using the latest<br />

technology, allowing independent stays in the hotel. Guests<br />

will have full use of the hotel's honesty bar, and we promise<br />

our usual Peachy welcome in the pub just next door.<br />

What facilities will be available at the hotel?<br />

All our rooms are individually furnished with period walnut<br />

and mahogany furniture with powerful rain showers and<br />

40 inch high-spec TVs in all rooms. Some of our premium<br />

rooms have free-standing roll-top painted baths as dramatic<br />

features too. Our English wallpapers are hand-printed and<br />

the sitting room features an honesty bar in a beautiful old<br />

French cupboard. The pub will be serving “<strong>Birmingham</strong>’s<br />

Best Breakfast” every morning, as well as lunch and dinner<br />

each day of the week.<br />

What is the menu like?<br />

Our menus are seasonal, and our Head Chef, Ian Meek and<br />

his team devise a range of daily specials. We buy top quality<br />

ingredients, our meat is free-range and our fish is native<br />

where possible. We pride ourselves on serving British gastro<br />

pub food of the highest quality.<br />

Is it family friendly or more couple orientated?<br />

We are very family friendly, but cater for smaller intimate<br />

dinners too. Dogs are also welcome in the bar, so you can<br />

stop by after a Sunday morning walk too!<br />

What will you hope your customers will take away with<br />

them in terms of experience from staying at the hotel?<br />

The need to return. As soon as possible!<br />

by Roxanne Smith


62 TRAVEL // SPONSORED BY CALTOURS<br />

WE ALL LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE –<br />

THE UK’S BEST SEASIDE<br />

LOCATIONS<br />

Come rain or shine, wind or snow, there’s little that will deter the Great British public from heading out to the<br />

beach for some sand and surf during the summer. Here are our top picks for places you should visit this year<br />

By Rich Hobson<br />

Aberystwth, Wales<br />

A popular choice for students looking to move out by<br />

the sea, Aberystwyth is also hugely popular for tourists<br />

visiting Wales’ gorgeous coastline. A taste of Wales<br />

at its most proud, Aberystwyth houses the National<br />

Library of Wales and is home to a great number of<br />

authentic Welsh pubs – perfect for an afternoon of beer<br />

garden hopping.<br />

Brighton, England<br />

A little under an hour from London, Brighton has been<br />

a popular seaside destination for holidaymakers across<br />

the UK for over 100 years, pleasing with its small-town<br />

charms and numerous amusements including the<br />

famous Palace Pier, pebble beach and the ultra-chic<br />

shopping area The Lanes.<br />

Gullane, Scotland<br />

The perfect destination for the golf enthusiast, Gullane<br />

attracts many with its selection of sea-view golf<br />

courses, regular Open Championship venue Miurfield<br />

among them. Gullane is a typical seaside town of<br />

Scotland, with its wild beach possessing numerous<br />

dunes and coves which will leave tourists thankful for<br />

Scotland’s untamed nature.<br />

Porthcawl, Wales<br />

A traditional holiday resort, Porthcawl boasts much of<br />

the features that have made the rest of Wales’ seaside<br />

locations so attractive to visitors, but Porthcawl’s<br />

biggest unique draw is that it offers consistent surf<br />

which isn’t as choppy as in other areas of Wales,<br />

making it perfect for beginners.


TRAVEL // SPONSORED BY CALTOURS<br />

63<br />

Portrush, Northern Ireland<br />

Northern Ireland’s Portrush is hugely popular for its<br />

central location when allowing tourists access to the<br />

North Coast, and the many natural landmarks that are<br />

within reach (Giant’s Causeway chief among them). The<br />

town also has beaches of its very own which are ideal if<br />

you’re not the location-hopping type.<br />

Portstewart, Northern Ireland<br />

Boasting a two-mile-long beach at Portstewart Strand,<br />

Portstewart’s golden sands are a prime attraction<br />

for tourists looking to sample an expansive beach<br />

landscape in the UK. The town itself is a typical mixture<br />

of quaint Irish village architecture and lively culture,<br />

offering excellent opportunities to catch some Irish<br />

folklore without falling into a tourist trap.<br />

St. Austell, England<br />

Set into the verdant Southern English countryside and<br />

resplendent in natural beauty, St Austell is popular<br />

for its choice of numerous nearby seaside resorts and<br />

access to the Eden Project. Beautiful and often sunny,<br />

St Austell is perfect for enjoying some Cornish ice<br />

cream or drinking a cold cider facing out to the cool<br />

sea.<br />

Tenby, Wales<br />

Don’t let the city walls fool you – Tenby is one of Wales’<br />

most welcoming seaside towns (and that’s saying<br />

something). With pastel coloured buildings right out<br />

of “Balamory”, Tenby is a vibrant and charming little<br />

town which oozes with history and unique charm<br />

accentuated by its numerous narrow cobbled streets.<br />

Tobermory, Isle of Mull (Scotland)<br />

As colourful as the children’s TV show that was filmed<br />

there (Balamory, which has already been mentioned<br />

on this article!), Tobermory combines rugged Scottish<br />

sea views with a picturesque seaside appeal that has<br />

helped endear it to families and tourists alike. Boat trips<br />

run daily to the nearby seal colony, and older visitors<br />

might wish to try a sample at the Tobermory Distillery.<br />

Whitby, England<br />

The famed setting of Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel,<br />

Whitby is a charming seaside town which revels in its<br />

gothic associations with multiple Dracula experiences,<br />

ghost walk tours and curiosity shops sure to please<br />

horror-loving travellers. The “old town” area comprises<br />

of classical cobbled streets and the famed 199 steps,<br />

which lead up to the iconic Whitby Abbey.


64 TRAVEL // SPONSORED BY CALTOURS<br />

GLOBAL DESTINATIONS AT YOUR DOORSTEP<br />

It is only befitting that the city of<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> should be serviced<br />

by an airport which can offer both<br />

incredible luxury and commercial travel<br />

opportunities, allowing access to and<br />

from the West Midlands to destinations<br />

around the globe. Flying to destinations<br />

as near as Aberdeen and as far away as<br />

Bahrain and Argentina, <strong>Birmingham</strong> is<br />

globally connected to offer passage to<br />

its customers, travelling for any reason<br />

– be it business or pleasure (or a mix of<br />

the two).<br />

With over 110 destinations covered by the<br />

airport, In The City have gathered you all<br />

the information you could need about<br />

some of the most intriguing destinations<br />

catered to by <strong>Birmingham</strong> City Airport,<br />

and whether or not they are better as a<br />

business or pleasure destination.<br />

Amsterdam, Netherlands<br />

Flight Time: 1 Hr 15 mins<br />

Business or Pleasure? Pleasure<br />

– Amsterdam has more tourist<br />

attractions within walking distance<br />

of each other than any other city in<br />

Europe.<br />

Argentina<br />

Flight Time: 15 Hrs 30 mins<br />

Business or Pleasure? Business –<br />

Argentina (and South America in<br />

general) is enjoying a massive business<br />

boost of late, and has one of the fastest<br />

growing economies in the world. A<br />

perfect business opportunity for the<br />

budding entrepreneur.<br />

Auckland, New Zealand<br />

Flight Time: 29 Hours<br />

Business or Pleasure? Both! New<br />

Zealand offers fantastic landscapes to<br />

explore, as well as emergent business<br />

markets for the intrepid business person.<br />

Chicago, USA<br />

Flight Time: 10 Hrs 30 mins<br />

Business or Pleasure? Both! – Chicago<br />

is one of America’s liveliest cities, with a<br />

wealth of tourist attractions to appease<br />

holidaymakers, as well as a booming<br />

business trade which makes it an ideal<br />

city to visit when looking to expand<br />

business out to the US.<br />

Dehli, India<br />

Flight Time: 8 Hrs 30 mins<br />

Business or Pleasure? Pleasure – Delhi<br />

is just one of India’s many vibrant<br />

cities, but gleams with beautiful sights,<br />

incredible arrays of aromas and colours<br />

creating an unforgettable experience for<br />

tourists.<br />

Dubai, UAE<br />

Flight Time: 6 Hrs 45 Mins<br />

Business or Pleasure? Both! Dubai<br />

has plentiful business opportunities,<br />

especially as a gateway to the United<br />

Arab Emirates, but is also famed for<br />

being a high-end luxury destination<br />

for tourists looking to lounge in lavish<br />

surroundings.


TRAVEL // SPONSORED BY CALTOURS<br />

NATIONAL EXPRESS TAKES INTERNATIONAL ROUTE TO PROFIT<br />

65<br />

They may have a near monopoly<br />

on quality coach travel around the<br />

UK and Europe, but <strong>Birmingham</strong>based<br />

transport giant National Express<br />

aren’t resting on their laurels, instead<br />

taking measures to ensure that their<br />

brand of high-quality transport is now<br />

exported to foreign locations.<br />

Recently revealing new statistics about<br />

their latest ventures in Germany (which<br />

were first announced back in 2013),<br />

the company has indicated significant<br />

growth with an 11% increase, in what the<br />

company has dubbed a “strong start” to<br />

the year.<br />

National Express were first awarded<br />

contracts to serve German cities<br />

including Cologne and Munster in<br />

2013, officially moving into Germany's<br />

profitable rail market in December. Since<br />

this expansion, the group’s turnover<br />

grew across all its divisions during the<br />

first quarter, with underlying passenger<br />

growth of 3% indicating that their<br />

investment is now paying off immensely.<br />

In addition to the growth in German<br />

business, National Express also unveiled<br />

a ten-year contract with UAE Country<br />

Bahrain in 2015, serving the capital<br />

Manama and various inter-urban areas<br />

across the kingdom. It is believed that<br />

the group has carried more than six<br />

million passengers since taking over the<br />

route at the start of 2016, and carries<br />

over a million passengers every month<br />

on its Bahrain bus services.<br />

These investments are not only<br />

increasing the company’s profit margins,<br />

but also allowing further opportunities<br />

to develop for international contracts,<br />

which could potentially also see their<br />

destinations list grow beyond the<br />

currently available territories.<br />

PUT YOURSELF<br />

IN THIS SPACE<br />

Get infront of over 50,000<br />

potential customers<br />

CALL OUR SALES TEAM NOW<br />

t:0121 230 8333<br />

e: advertising@inthecityuk.com


alps<br />

SPECIALISTS IN COMMERCIAL FINANCE<br />

Accounts<br />

Bookeeping<br />

Payroll<br />

Taxation<br />

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For all enquiries contact one of our team at:<br />

0121 230 8099 | enq@askalps.com


SPOTLIGHT<br />

PROPERTY<br />

SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING SERVICES<br />

WWW.ASKALPS.COM


68 PROPERTY // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING SERVICES<br />

SEVEN CAPITAL<br />

REACHES NEW HEIGHTS<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> is changing. Or rather, <strong>Birmingham</strong> has<br />

always changed, ever amorphous and shifting as<br />

it accommodates new ventures, economic trends<br />

and social shifts to guarantee that it can always at the<br />

very least make strong competition as England’s “Second<br />

City”. Delve a little deeper into the city’s background,<br />

and you’ll see that at the forefront of this change are the<br />

city’s developers, both resident and national, who seize<br />

opportunities as they arise to complete <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s<br />

promise to be a city which always improves upon itself.<br />

Delve even deeper, and you’ll see one name come up time<br />

and again as one of the biggest “players” In The City’s<br />

economic growth, a name which often gets attached<br />

to some of the most hopeful and ambitious projects In<br />

The City, a name which has become synonymous with<br />

property innovation – Seven Capital.<br />

Privately owned, Seven Capital are a real estate<br />

organisation specialising in development and investment<br />

projects with numerous high profile success stories that<br />

back up their ability to see and seize hugely advantageous<br />

opportunities. Working throughout the West Midlands<br />

(and beyond), Seven Capital own properties in areas as<br />

diverse as <strong>Birmingham</strong>, Dudley and Liverpool, and have<br />

managed to capitalise on some of the most appealing<br />

architectural marvels in the Midlands.<br />

Currently, much of Seven Capital’s developments can be<br />

put into three separate portfolios; Residential, Commercial<br />

and Hospitality. Each property represents a massive<br />

commercial opportunity for the company, and also<br />

poses some attractive housing options for the discerning<br />

potential resident.<br />

Seven Capital Residential Developments<br />

Much of the company’s Residential developments have seen them redevelop disused office spaces in urban environments for use<br />

as trendy home spaces, with easy access to some of the West Midland’s most chic commercial and residential areas.<br />

The Landmark building, on Brierley<br />

Hill’s Waterfront district. The property is<br />

directly above the Merry Hill shopping<br />

centre.<br />

One Hagley Road – less than a mile<br />

outside of <strong>Birmingham</strong> city centre.<br />

Fabrick Square in Digbeth, one of the<br />

hottest regeneration areas in <strong>Birmingham</strong>.


Commercial Developments<br />

PROPERTY // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING SERVICES<br />

69<br />

Seven Capital also have an extensive portfolio for commercial developments through their subsidiary Seven Capital investments.<br />

These developments include business parks and retail centres, spread throughout the Midlands in areas including <strong>Birmingham</strong> and<br />

Rugby.<br />

Broadway, Five Ways is just on the edge<br />

of <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s Financial District, and<br />

also on the edge of the city centre.<br />

Clock Towers Shopping Centre in Rugby<br />

comprises of 55 retail units leased by<br />

tenants including Boots, Argos and<br />

Superdrug.<br />

Bartley Wood business park buildings<br />

260 & 270 were acquired by Seven<br />

Capital, and have since been leased to<br />

global telecommunications giant Virgin<br />

Media.<br />

Hospitality Redevelopments<br />

Seven Capital’s Hospitality redevelopments are much more ambitious in scope than the other two types of venture. Stretching<br />

as far afield as Sydney and Dubai (as well as London and <strong>Birmingham</strong> properties), Seven Capital not only develops properties in<br />

hospitality, but also owns an operational hotel business.<br />

The Park Regis Hotel in Five Ways,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> houses 253 rooms, a Gin<br />

bar, a Presidential suite, a Saki bar, spa,<br />

gym, executive meeting rooms and a<br />

pan-Asian restaurant with a sky bar.<br />

The Park Regis in Sydney was the<br />

very first “Regis” hotel outside of the<br />

UK. 122 rooms with views spreading<br />

across Sydney, the Australian Regis is<br />

an ambitious development for Seven<br />

Capital.<br />

The Park Regis Kris Kin expanded<br />

Seven Capital even further, giving them<br />

development projects in the Middle<br />

East whilst still expanding their popular<br />

hospitality brand.<br />

Seven Capital have proven themselves to be canny developers in the ever shifting property market. Keeping<br />

both local and international interests in mind whilst expanding rapidly, to guarantee they maintain a position<br />

as not only one of <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s best real estate organisations but quite possibly one of the best in the<br />

country.


70 MOTORS // SPONSORED BY TOWN AND COUNTRY INN PLC<br />

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0121 227 4860<br />

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74 MOTORS // SPONSORED BY COLLIERS<br />

TESLA TAKES THE WORLD<br />

There’s very little argument to be had about exactly<br />

which companies are at the forefront of innovative<br />

technology in the motoring world. Though almost<br />

every motoring company in the world is now researching,<br />

developing, or even offering something in the way of<br />

eco-friendly electric tech, each can trace their commercial<br />

interests back to one other company who more or less had<br />

the market cornered for electric vehicular transport.<br />

That company, if you didn’t know already, is Tesla. Formed in<br />

2003, Tesla released their first vehicle in 2008 and became<br />

a global motoring superpower in 2013, when the company<br />

reported profits for the first time. It may seem odd to read<br />

that Tesla didn’t make a profit as such until ten years after<br />

their conception, but then those in the know (and especially<br />

those who have ever discussed petrol vs electric cars) will<br />

tell you; going green isn’t cheap, and it certainly isn’t easy.<br />

Still, Tesla and (in particular) its CEO and co-founder Elon<br />

Musk perservered through tough times to come out on top<br />

as one of (if not the) the foremost manufacturers of electric<br />

vehicles in the world. Not only did Tesla launch their own<br />

vehicles, but they were also an inciting catalyst for other<br />

car manufacturers to invest in eco-friendly technology<br />

in an attempt to create vehicles which would be less<br />

environmentally damaging.<br />

So, where are they now? Tesla’s presence on the UK market<br />

might not be as all-encompassing as one would hope in<br />

2016, but the truth remains that their vehicles are still (for<br />

the time being, anyway) more luxury items than instantly<br />

affordable, making them still something of an eccentricity<br />

on the UK market. In Europe, Tesla have a much stronger<br />

presence in countries like Norway, where consumers find<br />

it much easier to get government incentives to switch to<br />

electric vehicles.<br />

These incentives are not entirely exclusive to overseas<br />

however – the UK government also offers grants to drivers<br />

looking to switch to “plug-in” (electric) vehicles.<br />

Which begs the question – are they worth the cost? If<br />

consumer-led surveys are to be believed, most definitely!<br />

Tesla’s Model S topped driver satisfaction lists for Driver<br />

Power 2016, citing the Model S’s superior reliability, handling<br />

and driving ease as factors that saw it top the list, which is<br />

the biggest in the UK.<br />

So, where next? Well, Tesla is currently launching its first<br />

autopilot vehicles, which though not quite KITT from ‘Knight<br />

Rider’ just yet, is a strong step on the way, and allows a safer


MOTORS // SPONSORED BY COLLIERS<br />

75<br />

drive along long straight routes – perfect if you get bored<br />

on the motorway. The company are also currently working<br />

on the Model 3 vehicle, which they hope to be unleashed by<br />

2017 and will cost much less at launch than its predecessors<br />

did.<br />

Ultimately, Tesla are a company with many plates spinning<br />

at once, ever-shifting to match new technological<br />

developments and innovations and always ready to jump<br />

forward to stay ahead of the curve. Between their excellent<br />

electric cars, innovative battery technology and astounding<br />

technological projects currently in development, the<br />

company have their fingers on the pulse of every potential<br />

avenue to guarantee that they will surf the wave of<br />

innovation, be it in personal transportation or public…<br />

High Hopes for Hyperloop<br />

Dominant as they may be in personal electric vehicle<br />

technology, Tesla’s Elon Musk also has interests in improving<br />

public transportation to a futuristic degree, masterminding a<br />

project dubbed ‘Hyperloop’ which could see the public travel<br />

in carriages through tubes, utilizing alternative energy<br />

sources to provide a method of transportation which could<br />

revolutionise the daily commute.<br />

start-up firms, offering funding for tests but otherwise<br />

leaving the work to each individual group trying to crack the<br />

technology, with the first full tests set for August this year.<br />

The work is being covered by non-commercial groups,<br />

some of which are associated with the prestigious American<br />

institution Michigan Institute of Technology, which itself has<br />

been involved in some of the most cutting-edge technology<br />

innovations of the last 50+ years.<br />

One of the biggest obstacles facing the Hyperloop project<br />

is the logistics of building, maintaining and operating the<br />

tube system between locations, drawing some concern for<br />

the potential unwillingness of landowners to allow such a<br />

structure to be built across their land.<br />

It is a concern with decent foundations – no matter how<br />

beneficial a new technology development may be for<br />

people, there will always be somebody that complains<br />

that an installation is an eyesore, or stubbornly stick to the<br />

transportation they are familiar with. It’s a problem which has<br />

hampered efforts to build solar and wind farms in the past,<br />

but more interestingly a problem that was also faced when<br />

the railway was first suggested, offering some hope that<br />

eventually it is a technology which could be adopted despite<br />

its initial teething problems.<br />

Whether a viable transportation alternative, or Sci-Fi fantasy,<br />

either way the Hyperloop project is something which inspires<br />

a great deal of interest and imagination from the world at<br />

large, and could just inspire the next big transport revolution<br />

– a project befitting a company named after one of the most<br />

pioneering inventors of the past 200 years.<br />

By Rich Hobson<br />

Much as the smartphone would seem hilariously unrealistic<br />

to anyone in the early 00’s who owned the latest Nokia Brick,<br />

the idea of tube travel seems like a total fantasy as it stands<br />

now. However, there may be some real-world basis that could<br />

see the technology someday exist, albeit not exactly as we<br />

expect it.<br />

Enter Hyperloop – a conceptual transport system in which<br />

passengers are loaded into pods and fired through vacuum<br />

tubes at speeds of above 600 miles per hour from one<br />

destination to another in the shortest possible time. The<br />

concept has already reached prototype stage, with pods<br />

tested and run along magnetic tracks in a similar way to<br />

how maglev trains run in countries like Japan and South<br />

Korea. The tubes work via pressure; pumping the air out of<br />

the tubes reduces resistance, allowing high speeds to be<br />

achieved, as well as potentially using less energy than a train.<br />

Tesla’s Elon Musk hasn’t so much commissioned research<br />

into the project as issued a challenge to a variety of different


76 MOTORS // SPONSORED BY COLLIERS<br />

THE MOGUL - CLASS BENTLEY MULSANNE<br />

The new Top Gear<br />

series might<br />

have dropped<br />

onto our screens like<br />

pigeon droppings on a<br />

freshly waxed car, but<br />

that doesn’t mean that<br />

you are fated to never<br />

again be in the know<br />

about the hottest new<br />

cars on the market<br />

in 2016. For our <strong>July</strong><br />

Edition of In The City<br />

we have picked apart<br />

every detail of Bentley’s<br />

latest offering to give you the inside<br />

scoop on one of the hottest car releases<br />

this <strong>July</strong>.<br />

Enter the Mulsanne Speed, a hyperluxury<br />

limousine by the tsars of taste at<br />

Bentley, updating their hugely popular<br />

Mulsanne model. First launched in<br />

2010, and named for the Mulsanne<br />

Corner of Le Man’s racing circuit, the<br />

model has become synonymous with<br />

luxury travel in much the same way as<br />

its manufacturer has over its lifespan,<br />

almost dominating the market with its<br />

peerless offerings of top-class driving<br />

experiences.<br />

Fully furnished with luxury leathers,<br />

woods and metals, the Mulsanne<br />

Speed is all sleek design, with practical<br />

innovations that shift gears from luxury<br />

to true petrol-head territory without<br />

sacrificing any of the elegance that<br />

makes the car so perfectly catered to a<br />

luxury audience.<br />

Customisable in almost every way<br />

conceivable, the Speed factors in the<br />

kitchen sink approach that greatly<br />

endears the customisation market to<br />

motor lovers these days, capable of<br />

adding or taking away nigh on any<br />

feature imaginable to guarantee a<br />

personalised slice of highway heaven for<br />

the driver.<br />

Brandishing true muscle under the hood,<br />

the Speed boasts 505 horsepower and<br />

752 pound-feet of torque, meaning<br />

that when she goes she really roars<br />

with minimal fuss, able to launch to hit<br />

60 miles per hour in a little over five<br />

seconds, an impressive feat for a luxury<br />

vehicle!<br />

Fast, powerful and kitted out to be as<br />

deluxe as you like, the Bentley Mulsanne<br />

Speed 2016 model (to give it it’s full title)<br />

is a continued show of progress from<br />

Bentley, promising a ride which will both<br />

purr taste and luxury, but also scream<br />

pure performance results for the best<br />

driving experience you could possibly<br />

have.


Retail and Leisure Installations:<br />

TASC offer a complete site survey service,<br />

followed by quotation and discussion with<br />

project directors and managers. After<br />

acceptance our services include<br />

ordering, installing and commissioning the<br />

project. Staff training is also included to<br />

nominated members of the project team.<br />

Home Domestic Installations:<br />

TASC offer a complete turnkey service for<br />

our domestic customers creating<br />

sophisticated home surround sound<br />

solutions and large screen cinema<br />

entertainment experiences.<br />

Call us and find out who we have worked<br />

with over 30 years experience in the<br />

Leisure and Retail industry. You will not be<br />

disappointed.<br />

• Audio<br />

• Visual<br />

• Lighting<br />

• Technology<br />

• Design<br />

• Consultancy<br />

• Installations<br />

• Maintenance<br />

FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE<br />

PLEASE CONTACT US AT:<br />

t: 0121 230 8098 | e: admin@asktasc.com | www.askalps.com


SPOTLIGHT<br />

NIGHTS OUT<br />

IN THE CITY<br />

SPONSORED BY TASC<br />

WWW.ASKTASC.COM


80 NIGHTS OUT IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY TASC<br />

DANCING & DINING IN DIGBETH<br />

Digbeth’s pre-eminence as the go-to hotspot for alternative <strong>Birmingham</strong> nightlife has been a long time coming, not<br />

least for the sheer variety of events that can be found in the area. An impressive amount of regeneration has gone<br />

into rebuilding Digbeth without sacrificing its wonderfully interesting history, leaving many of its best venues, pubs<br />

and clubs as they were when they were first established<br />

(with some establishments, like the Crown Pub, open since the 14th Century).<br />

That’s not to say that Digbeth isn’t at the forefront of innovation, however; the area also houses the Custard Factory, the de<br />

facto creative “capital” of <strong>Birmingham</strong>, and the very magazine you hold in your hands (or on your smartphone, if you’re<br />

a tech-type) right now. Celebrating our home in <strong>Birmingham</strong>, In The City has put together a guide for some of the best<br />

places to eat, dance and drink around Digbeth.<br />

CUSTARD FACTORY, DIGBETH<br />

Boxxed Warehouse<br />

104-108 Floodgate St,<br />

B5 5SR<br />

Can’t find an event that works for you? Sick of the same<br />

old playlists at club nights, the overpriced beers at gigs and<br />

the same décor in each and every venue you go in? Then<br />

Boxxed Warehouse might just be the place for you. A fully<br />

rentable event space with the provisions to cover just about<br />

any event you could want to put on, Boxxed Warehouse is<br />

in the space of Digbeth’s “Creative Quarter”, and houses<br />

a charming, rugged décor which offers a real change of<br />

place from the sweating walls and polished wood floors of<br />

Walkabout.<br />

From warehouse raves to punk all-day festivals, Boxxed has<br />

seen it all, and in addition to private events the building also<br />

hosts public events.


NIGHTS OUT IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY TASC<br />

81<br />

Digbeth Dining Club @ Spotlight<br />

Spotlight Club<br />

Unit 2 Lower Trinity St<br />

B9 4AG<br />

Open every Friday after 5PM, Digbeth Dining Club is<br />

now best known as the best street food experience in<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>. Though it may now have events in Kings<br />

Heath and Codsall, the club didn’t get its name from<br />

nowhere and its foodie events at Spotlight in Digbeth<br />

are bonafide brilliance that’ll have you shouting “bon<br />

appetite!”.<br />

Don’t let the dining club moniker fool you though, DDC<br />

is about much more than just food; the events also bring<br />

craft beers into the mix, with DJs spinning great Soul,<br />

Dance and Jazz tracks.<br />

Digbeth First Friday<br />

Various locations around Digbeth<br />

You can’t talk about nights out in Digbeth without at<br />

the very least mentioning the brilliant Digbeth First<br />

Friday team, who put together a series of exhibitions<br />

and special events catered to making sure Digbeth’s<br />

visitors get the absolute most out of their visit to the<br />

area.<br />

Each line-up is secured in the weeks leading up to<br />

the actual event itself, announced through the www.<br />

digbethfirstfriday.com website. Digbeth First Friday<br />

usually pulls together activities as diverse as live<br />

poetry readings, street food markets, art exhibitions<br />

and comedy events.<br />

The Institute<br />

O2 Institute<br />

78 Digbeth High St<br />

B5 6DY<br />

Digbeth’s most established venue, having gone through<br />

multiple revamps over the decades (from Barfly, to<br />

Institute, to HMV Institute, to its current state as the<br />

O2 Institute), the O2 Institute hosts acts from almost<br />

every genre conceivable. A smaller venue compared to<br />

its bigger sister, the O2 Academy, the Institute offers<br />

a much more intimate setting for music, as well as its<br />

own unique club nights, comedy shows and even sports<br />

events.


82 NIGHTS OUT IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY TASC<br />

The Mockingbird @ The Custard Factory<br />

Gibb St<br />

B9 4AA<br />

Housed in the iconic Custard Factory building in the<br />

poolside courtyard area, The Mockingbird theatre<br />

is an ultra-chic bar with a wide selection of craft<br />

beers, ales and ciders, as well as gourmet food<br />

options which are a perfect base for a good night’s<br />

socialising.<br />

Much more than just a bar, however, The Mockingbird<br />

also hosts events ranging from comedy showcases,<br />

to cinema screenings of classic movies, to sporting<br />

events like the Euros, guaranteeing that whatever<br />

your preference the bar has a night that can cater for<br />

your personal tastes.<br />

.<br />

The Rainbow Venues<br />

160 Digbeth High Street<br />

B12 0LD<br />

Indoor, outdoor, above-ground, underground… The<br />

Rainbow has it all, comprising of multiple separate<br />

rooms all combined into one massive venue to cover<br />

almost every event conceivable. Be it a Punk Rock<br />

party in The Rainbow Cellar, a-loud-as-you-like Indie<br />

gig in the Rainbow Courtyard, or a massive event at<br />

the outdoor Rainbow Arena, the venue is able to put<br />

on spectacular events which fully utilize the venue’s<br />

unique spaces.<br />

Night Owl<br />

17 Lower Trinity St<br />

B9 4AG<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>’s premier Northern Soul and Motown<br />

Bar and Club in <strong>Birmingham</strong> (let alone Digbeth), the<br />

Night Owl has fast risen as the de facto place to go<br />

if you find yourself yearning for the Northern Soul<br />

experiences of old.<br />

The Night Owl hosts a series of weekly club nights<br />

including KoKo (Keep on Keeping On) every Friday,<br />

The Soul Hole every Saturday, and an open mic night<br />

every Wednesday for Soul, Jazz & Funk musicians,<br />

as well as a monthly party called Le Freak which is<br />

held on the last Friday of each month. Offering a<br />

selection of Soul, Jazz, Funk and Motown tracks old<br />

and new, the Night Owl is a must if you find yourself<br />

tired of the same Pop songs at the usual clubs.


NIGHTS OUT IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY TASC<br />

83<br />

The Old Crown<br />

188 Digbeth High Street<br />

B12 0LD<br />

Digbeth’s Old Crown Pub is a timber framed 14th Century<br />

pub at the top end of Digbeth’s High Street, and an ideal<br />

place for a quiet pint or two before you hit the clubs in the<br />

area.<br />

The oldest secular building in Britain, the Old Crown<br />

supposedly dates back to 1368, meaning it has seen much<br />

of the history of the region, from before the Industrial<br />

Revolution right the way through to the early 1900s when<br />

the (now famous) Peaky Blinders may have frequented.<br />

With a gorgeous beer garden, and comfy interior, the Old<br />

Crown is the archetype of a British pub, brimming with<br />

history of its very own and perfect for a post-work drink.<br />

Club L’amour<br />

Suki10C<br />

21 Bordesley St<br />

B5 5PH<br />

Club nights don’t come much more intimate than the 150<br />

capacity Suki10C (Suck it and see) building. A colourful<br />

renovated pub on one of Digbeth’s trendier backstreets,<br />

Suki10C is the home of Club L’amour, a club night run by<br />

true nightlife lovers and geared towards offering the best<br />

experience possible.<br />

Hosting bands as well as club nights, Club L’amour<br />

is unique in its approach of not attempting to attract<br />

the masses, but instead to instil loyalty in its patrons<br />

through a mixture of great tunes and cheap drinks for a<br />

memorable experience.


Who are FP?<br />

We have over 23,000 customers in the UK and 96% rate us either<br />

excellent or very good at what we do, we have national field service<br />

technicians and a UK call centre.<br />

Our priority is looking after our customers and making sure that we<br />

exceed their expectations and listen to their feedback so we can<br />

continuously improve our products and services.<br />

So why not join our 23,000 customers today who already benefit from<br />

franking.<br />

Contact Us<br />

FP Midshires<br />

1 Victoria Square<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1BD<br />

Phone: 0121 314 1445<br />

Mobile: 07962 652 262<br />

Fax: 0121 616 0555<br />

Email: peter@fp-wmid.com<br />

MIDSHIRES<br />

MAILING


SPOTLIGHT<br />

BUSINESS &<br />

COMMUNITY<br />

SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP<br />

WWW.ASKALPS.COM


86 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP<br />

MUSIC FOR YOUTH FESTIVAL<br />

Music For Youth Festival (5th – 9th <strong>July</strong>)<br />

Location: Various venues around <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Tickets: £5 - £17.50<br />

Five days of musical celebration for the<br />

talents of the UK’s most inspiring young<br />

musicians, Music For Youth Festival lands<br />

in <strong>Birmingham</strong> on <strong>July</strong> 5th for a massive pop-up<br />

celebration held at various places throughout<br />

the city.<br />

Boasting three huge stages, over 400 live<br />

performances and further pop-up performances<br />

throughout the city, Music For Youth is a huge<br />

community event which will entertain people<br />

young and old, connecting everybody through<br />

the universal enjoyment of music.<br />

Delivered in partnership with <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Town Hall and Symphony Hall, Music For Youth<br />

Festival takes advantage of <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s richly<br />

diverse music past. As well as its expansive<br />

selection of modern arts, styles and cultures,<br />

the festival also delivers a comprehensive<br />

programme of performers stretching from<br />

arts as diverse as Rock and Pop, to Jazz and<br />

Orchestra.<br />

This event offers its patrons the opportunity to<br />

explore the potential local stars of tomorrow,<br />

giving a glimpse to the dizzying array of acts<br />

and styles which could achieve commercial<br />

success in coming years.<br />

Group Types: Choirs, Folk & Roots, Brass & Wind, Orchestras, Infants<br />

& Juniors Ensembles & Chamber, Rock, Pop, Funk & Soul, Jazz


BUSINESS & COMMUNITY // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP<br />

87<br />

BRIGHTLET’S BRIGHT IDEA SEES IT IN THE SPOTLIGHT<br />

Camran Khan, Director of<br />

Technology for Innovation<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> Campus-based digital<br />

lettings and property management<br />

provider, brightLET, has been<br />

nominated for this year’s<br />

international Talent Unleashed<br />

awards.<br />

A<br />

cloud based lettings and property<br />

management platform<br />

that connects landlords directly<br />

with tenants, brightLET provides a 360<br />

degree service which enables users to<br />

advertise, find a property, communicate<br />

and manage tenancies online without<br />

using a third party.<br />

The Talent Unleashed awards recognise<br />

and reward game-changing,<br />

ground-breaking technology entrepreneurs<br />

and businesses from around<br />

the world across five categories: Best<br />

start-up for social impact, Best start-up<br />

for tech innovation, Best SME for tech innovation,<br />

Most Disruptive CIO/CTO and<br />

Best Tech IPO/Venture Capital Raising.<br />

Mr Khan was nominated for this year’s<br />

Most Disruptive CIO/CTO category,<br />

having reached the final 10 businesses<br />

nominated for the 2015 awards. The five<br />

grand prize category winners receive a<br />

trip to Silicon Valley in USA, where they<br />

will attend a cutting edge technology<br />

conference and a bespoke tour of some<br />

of the region’s leading tech companies.<br />

Camran Khan, Director of Technology<br />

at brightLET, said: “I am delighted to<br />

have been nominated for this prestigious<br />

award for the second year running and<br />

am thrilled to be representing the West<br />

Midland region as part of an awards<br />

programme which recognises worldwide<br />

leading digital innovators.<br />

“A global award of this calibre provides<br />

us with a brilliant opportunity to extend<br />

brightLET’s services to the global marketplace<br />

and comes at an exciting time<br />

for the company following the launch of<br />

our new commercial offering earlier this<br />

year.”<br />

brightLET are one of 12 start-ups recently<br />

accepted onto Innovation <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Campus’ Serendip Smart City Incubator,<br />

a new offering aimed at accelerating the<br />

growth of digital start-ups by co-locating<br />

them with large corporates.<br />

Based at the Campus’ new 42,149 sq ft<br />

iCentrum building, start-ups can sign up<br />

to one of four sector-specific ‘quarters’;<br />

Digital Health, Intelligent Mobility, Internet<br />

of Things and Barclays Eagle Labs,<br />

which are being delivered by Innovation<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> in collaboration with the<br />

West Midlands Academic Health Science<br />

Network, Centro, the Transport Systems<br />

Catapult, RWE npower and Barclays.<br />

Applications for the second cohort of<br />

start-ups are now open.<br />

For more information on brightLET,<br />

please visit: www.brightlet.com


SPOTLIGHT<br />

CHARITY<br />

SPONSORED BY<br />

ALPS ACCOUNTANTS & COMMERCIAL SERVICES<br />

WWW.ASKALPS.COM


90 CHARITY // SPONSORED BY ALPS ACCOUNTANTS & COMMERCIAL FINANCE<br />

BARNARDO’S 150 th BIRTHDAY<br />

Protecting and caring for vulnerable children is a universal concern, and though in the modern era the state has<br />

procedures and services geared towards looking after at-risk individuals, this has not always been the case.<br />

Travel back over<br />

150 years and<br />

Britain suffered<br />

something of an epidemic,<br />

with homelessness and<br />

vulnerability among<br />

children rife in both<br />

London and other cities<br />

throughout the UK. It was<br />

these tragic conditions<br />

that first spurred Thomas<br />

Dr. Thomas Barnardo<br />

Barnardo, a student of<br />

medicine at the London Hospital, to form his now iconic<br />

charity, in an attempt to not only care for children, but also<br />

train and educate them so that they would have skills that<br />

could assist them in later life.<br />

Over time Barnardo’s evolved to include orphanages,<br />

children’s homes and “ragged schools”, amongst numerous<br />

other projects, always working with the mission to ensure<br />

that no child would be turned away so long as the charity<br />

existed. Today, instead of homes in the old sense, Barnardo's<br />

has more than 960 services across the UK, to support<br />

vulnerable children. Last year they supported 240,000<br />

children, young people and families.<br />

Though the state stepped up in 1948 to care for children<br />

and ensure that they would be protected, Barnardo’s has<br />

never wavered from its core mission, establishing itself as the<br />

UK’s leading children’s charity and an invaluable service for<br />

supporting the nation’s youth.<br />

To mark their 150th anniversary, Barnardo’s staff, volunteers<br />

and supporters were invited by kind permission of their<br />

Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, to a Buckingham Palace<br />

garden party, to acknowledge the invaluable service they<br />

have offered for the past century and a half.<br />

by Rich Hobson


CHARITY // SPONSORED BY ALPS ACCOUNTANTS & COMMERCIAL FINANCE<br />

91<br />

1845<br />

Barnardo’s founder Thomas Barnardo is<br />

born in Dublin.<br />

2007<br />

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is appointed<br />

President of the charity.<br />

1866<br />

Thomas Barnardo arrives in London to<br />

study medicine at the London Hospital.<br />

His medical studies draw his attention to<br />

the plight of the great number of homeless<br />

and destitute children living in England<br />

2010<br />

Barnardo’s hits a whopping 100,000 children<br />

helped.<br />

1867<br />

Thomas Barnardo sets up a “ragged<br />

school” in the East End, where poor<br />

children can get a basic education.<br />

2013<br />

Barnardo’s opens its 500th store.<br />

1868<br />

Barnardo’s first boys home is opened at 18<br />

Stepney Causeway in London, and houses<br />

destitute children until 1939 when it is<br />

closed due to the blitz.<br />

2016<br />

Barnardo’s today – celebrating 150 years<br />

of helping and protecting at risk children,<br />

Barnardo’s is invited to a Royal Garden Party<br />

at Buckingham Palace.<br />

1873<br />

1889<br />

1891<br />

Thomas Barnardo Marries Syrie Elmslie,<br />

a fellow philanthropist. The pair are<br />

gifted are fifteen-year lease on Mossford<br />

Lodge, in Barkingside. This site is used by<br />

Barnardo to open a girl’s home.<br />

Fostering is introduced, allowing children<br />

the opportunity to return to a normal<br />

lifestyle and leave the care system.<br />

Barnardo’s starts employing a free<br />

education programme for under 10s<br />

"BARNARDO’S 150TH YEAR IS A<br />

GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US ALL TO<br />

STAND TOGETHER AND SHOW OUR<br />

SUPPORT FOR THE MOST<br />

VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN THE UK."<br />

Javed Khan, Chief Executive, BARNARDO'S<br />

1905<br />

Thomas Barnardo dies, at the time of his<br />

death the charity cares for 8,500 children<br />

at nearly 100 homes.<br />

1947<br />

Barnardo’s Adoption society<br />

is established<br />

1948<br />

1970<br />

State takes responsibility for at risk<br />

children, meaning that charities like<br />

Barnardo’s are no longer the only<br />

support network available.<br />

Barnardo’s expands its fostering and<br />

adoption methods, helping children get<br />

back into loving homes.<br />

1988<br />

Barnardo’s changes its name from Dr<br />

Barnardo’s to simply “Barnardo’s”<br />

1989<br />

Barnardo’s shuts its last traditional<br />

orphanage home.<br />

1999<br />

Barnardo’s reaches a milestone of<br />

47,000 children helped since it was<br />

first established over a hundred years<br />

previous.


DIRECTORY<br />

WHERE?<br />

IN THE<br />

CITY<br />

PLACES TO<br />

EAT, DRINK,<br />

PARTY, SLEEP<br />

SPONSORED BY EURO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES<br />

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94 WHERE? IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY EURO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES<br />

RESTAURANTS<br />

American Restaurants<br />

Ed's Easy Diner<br />

Barclaycard Arena<br />

King Edwards Rd<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2AA<br />

0121 233 4005<br />

TGI Fridays<br />

180 Hagley Rd<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B16 9NY<br />

0844 6920 0225<br />

Buffalo & Rye<br />

11 Bennetts Hill,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B2 5RS<br />

0121 643 3312<br />

Five Guys Burger & Fries<br />

Bullring Shopping Centre,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 8BU<br />

0121 643 0215<br />

Original Patty Men<br />

9 Shaws passage,<br />

Digbeth, B5 5JG<br />

0121 643 2546<br />

Fish & Seafood Restaurant<br />

Bun & Bowl<br />

Unit 10, The Cube, Commercial St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RS<br />

0121 643 9896<br />

Le Monde Fish Bar & Grill<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2HL<br />

0121 271 0600<br />

Carribean Restaurants<br />

Turtle Bay<br />

81-91, John Bright St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1BL<br />

0121 643 1303<br />

Carat Bistro<br />

27 Warstone Lane, Hockley,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B18 6QJ,<br />

0121 236 0519<br />

Chinese Restaurants<br />

Chung Ying<br />

16-18 Wrottesley St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 4RT<br />

0121 622 5669<br />

Ming Moon<br />

Chinese Restaurant & Bar<br />

16 Hurst St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 4BN<br />

0121 622 5588<br />

Shanghaiye<br />

88 Holloway Head,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1QP<br />

0121 666 6899<br />

Shangri La Chinese Restaurant<br />

51 Station St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 4DY<br />

0121 616 2888<br />

Greek Restaurants<br />

Athens Café Bar Ltd<br />

31 Paradise Circus Queensway,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2BJ<br />

0121 661 8182<br />

Himalaya Restaurant<br />

1716 Longbridge Road South,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B45 9QD<br />

0121 453 4336<br />

Mediterranean Resteraunts<br />

Red Peppers<br />

The Mailbox, 117, Wharfside St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RF<br />

0121 643 4202<br />

Byzantium<br />

11 York rd<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B14 7SA<br />

0121 444 5444<br />

Would you like to showcase<br />

your Restaurant, Bar, Hotel or<br />

Club in this space?<br />

If so, contact us on<br />

0121 230 8333 or email at<br />

advertising@inthecityuk.com<br />

Italian Restaurants<br />

Bella italia<br />

102 New St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B2 4HS<br />

0121 643 1548<br />

Cariuccios<br />

The Water's Edge,<br />

Brindley Place,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2HP<br />

0121 633, 9262<br />

Cielo Ltd<br />

6 Brindley Place,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2JB<br />

0121 632 6882<br />

Cucina Rustina Ltd<br />

24 Ludgate Hill,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 1DX<br />

0121 233 2277<br />

Del Villaggio<br />

175 Broad St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B15 1DT<br />

0121 633 3553<br />

Filini Restaurant<br />

12 Holloway Circus,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1BT<br />

0121 654 6098<br />

La Galleria<br />

5A, Ethel St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B2 4BG<br />

0121643 5933<br />

Piccolino Restaurant<br />

Nine Brindley Place,<br />

2-3, Oozells Square,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2HS<br />

0121 634 3055<br />

Strada<br />

109-111, Wharfside St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RF<br />

0121 643 7279<br />

Zizzi<br />

The Mailbox,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RL<br />

0121 643 5605<br />

Buonissimo<br />

1 Albany Rd, Harbourne,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B17 9JX<br />

0121 426 2444<br />

Fumo<br />

1 Waterloo St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B2 5PG<br />

0121 643 8979<br />

Pasta Di Piazza<br />

11 Brook St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 1SA<br />

0121 236 5858<br />

San Carlo<br />

1 Waterloo St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B2 5PG<br />

0121 633 0251


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96 WHERE? IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY EURO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES<br />

Indian Restaurants<br />

Blue Mango<br />

Unit 5, Regency Wharf,<br />

Broad St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2DS<br />

0121 633 4422<br />

Celebrity Indian Restaurant<br />

44 Broad St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2HP<br />

0121 643 8969<br />

Eastzeast Restaurant<br />

197 Broad St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B15 1AY<br />

0121 643 4808<br />

Asha's <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

12-22 Newhall St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B3 3LX<br />

0121 200 2767<br />

Maharaja Restaurant<br />

23-25, Hurst St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 4BP<br />

0121 622 2641<br />

Jojolapa Nepalese Restaurant<br />

55-59, Newhall St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 3RB<br />

0121 212 2511<br />

Praza<br />

94 - 96 Hagley Road<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B16 8LU<br />

0121 456 4500<br />

Pushkar Cocktail Bar & Dining<br />

245 Broad St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2HQ<br />

0121 643 7978<br />

Japanese Restaurants<br />

Shogun Sushi & Noodle Bar<br />

The Mailbox, 27-29, Wharfside St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RS<br />

0121 632 1253<br />

Teppanyaki<br />

Unit E1, The Arcadian, 70,<br />

Hurst St, <strong>Birmingham</strong>,<br />

B5 4TD<br />

0121 622 5183<br />

Wagamama<br />

The Water's Edge, 66,<br />

Broad St,<strong>Birmingham</strong>,<br />

B1 2HL<br />

0121 643 7656<br />

Malsian Restaurants<br />

Bugis Street Brasserie<br />

Paradise Place,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 3HJ<br />

0121 200 2727<br />

Rofuto<br />

160 Broad St,<br />

Paradise Place,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B15 1DT<br />

0121 369 8888<br />

French Restaurants<br />

Cote Restaurant<br />

The Mailbox,<br />

120-122, Wharfside St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RQ<br />

0121 631 1587<br />

Annexxe<br />

220 Corporation St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B4 6QB<br />

0121 236 1171<br />

Modern Cuisine Restaurants<br />

Bank <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

4 Brindley Place,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2JB<br />

0121 633 4466<br />

Handmade Burgers<br />

14 The Water's Edge,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2HL<br />

0121 374 2498<br />

The High Field<br />

22 Highfield Rd,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B15 3DP<br />

0121 227 7068<br />

Ju Ju's<br />

Watermarque, 100, browning St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B16 8EH<br />

0121 456, 3384<br />

Purnell's Restaurant<br />

Newater House, 11, Newhall St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 3NY<br />

0121 2129799<br />

Opus Restaurants<br />

54 Cornwall St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 2DE<br />

0121 200 2323<br />

Simpsons<br />

20 Highfield Road<br />

Edgbaston B15 3DU<br />

0121 454 3434<br />

Spanish Restaurants<br />

Amantia<br />

Apartment 9, Sun House,<br />

9-10, Bennetts Hill,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B2 5RS<br />

0121 643 3647<br />

La Tasca<br />

King Edwards Road,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2AA<br />

0121 796 1286<br />

El Borracho<br />

65 - 67 Harborne<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B!5 3BU<br />

0121 454 3568<br />

Specialty Restaurants<br />

Blue Piano<br />

26 Harborne Road<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B15<br />

0121 454 6877<br />

Selfridges<br />

Upper Mall East,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 4PJ<br />

0121 600 6869<br />

Stageside Bar & Restaurant<br />

Ythorp St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 4AU<br />

0844 338 9000<br />

Bank <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

4 Brindley Place,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2JB<br />

0121 633 4466<br />

Las Iguanas<br />

Unit E203, The Arcadian, 70,<br />

Hurst St, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 4TD<br />

0121 622 4466<br />

Rodizo Rico<br />

207 Wharfside St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RN<br />

0121 285 2856<br />

Would you like to showcase<br />

your Restaurant, Bar, Hotel or<br />

Club in this space?<br />

If so, contact us on<br />

0121 230 8333 or email at<br />

advertising@inthecityuk.com


98 WHERE? IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY EURO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES<br />

BARS<br />

Apres<br />

39 Summer,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 1JJ<br />

0121 212 1661<br />

Zaras<br />

80 Broad ST, Five Ways,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B15 1AU<br />

0121 643 3334<br />

The Chameleon<br />

Restaurants & Bar<br />

1 Victoria Square,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1BD<br />

0121 643 2233<br />

All Bar One<br />

12G-13G, Water's Edge,<br />

Brindley Place,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2HL<br />

0121 644 5861<br />

All Bar One<br />

43 Newhall St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 3NY<br />

0121 212 2551<br />

Edmunds Bar<br />

29 Newhall st,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 3PU<br />

0121 200 2423<br />

Harvey Nichols<br />

Restaurant & Bar<br />

65 The Mailbox, Wharfside St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RE<br />

0121 616 6000<br />

Gas Stret Social<br />

166-168 Wharfside St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RL<br />

0121 643 0362<br />

Gingers Bar<br />

11 Newhall St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 3NY<br />

0121 200 1588<br />

Island Bar<br />

14-16 Suffolk St Queensway,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1LT<br />

0121 632 5296<br />

Jekyll & Hyde<br />

28 Steelhouse Lane,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B4 6BJ<br />

0121 236 0345<br />

MAKE YOUR<br />

LISTING BE SEEN<br />

Contact us now on<br />

0121 230 8333 or email at<br />

advertising@inthecityuk.com<br />

The Balcony Brasserie &<br />

Moet Rose<br />

Upper Mall East,<br />

Digbeth, B5 4BP<br />

0121 600 6869<br />

Viva Brazil<br />

7 Bennets Hill,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B2 5ST<br />

0121 212 1020<br />

Café Soya<br />

70 Hurst St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, G5 4TD<br />

0121 683 8350<br />

HOTELS<br />

Ramada Hotel ****<br />

160, Wharfside St, The Mailbox,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RL<br />

0121 643 9344<br />

Park Regis ****<br />

160 Broad St,<br />

Bimringham, b15 1dt<br />

0121 369 5555<br />

Jurys Inn City Breaks ***<br />

245 Broad St, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1<br />

2HQ<br />

0121 606 9000<br />

Bloc Hotel **<br />

77 Caroline St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 1UG<br />

0121 212 1223<br />

Hyatt Regency <strong>Birmingham</strong> ****<br />

2 Bridge St, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2JZ<br />

0121 643 1234<br />

Travelodge Hotels Ltd **<br />

230 Broad St, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, B15<br />

1AY<br />

0871 9846064<br />

The Paragon Hotel ***<br />

145 Alcester St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B12 0PJ<br />

0121 627 0627<br />

Crowne Plaza ****<br />

Holliday Street,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1HH<br />

0871 4234828<br />

Radisson Blu Hotel ****<br />

12 Holloway Circus Queensway,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1BT<br />

0121 654 6000<br />

Hotel La Tour ****<br />

Albert St, <strong>Birmingham</strong> B5 5JE<br />

0121 718 8000<br />

Holiday Inn Express ***<br />

65 Lionel St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 1JE<br />

0871 4234828<br />

Malmaison ****<br />

The Mailbox, 1, Wharfside,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 1RD<br />

0131 468 5000<br />

Hotel Du Vin****<br />

25 Church St, <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

B3 2NR<br />

0121 794 3005<br />

Marriott ****<br />

12, Hagley Rd, Fiveways,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B16 8SJ<br />

0121 452 1144<br />

NIGHT CLUBS<br />

Nightingale Club<br />

Essex House, Kent St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B5 6RD<br />

0121 622 1718<br />

Bushwackers<br />

103 Edmund Street,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B3 2HZ<br />

0121 236 4992<br />

Nuvo<br />

11 Brindley place,<br />

2 Brunswicksquare,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B1 2LP<br />

0121 631 1600<br />

The Chameleon<br />

Restaurant & Bar<br />

1 Victoria Square, Hill St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B1 1BD<br />

0121 643 2233<br />

Legs 11<br />

193 Broad St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B15 1AY<br />

0121 665 6660<br />

Mechu<br />

59 summer row<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B3 1JJ<br />

0121 212 1661<br />

Medusa Gentlemans Club<br />

142 Suffolk Street Queensway,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B1 1LN<br />

0121 643 2442<br />

Spearmint Rhino<br />

64 Hagley Rd,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong>, B16 8PF<br />

0121 455 7656<br />

Bambu<br />

Kotwall House, 1 Wrottesley St,<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> B5 4RT<br />

0121 622 4124<br />

Myyst<br />

Unit A304, The Arcadian, 70<br />

Hurst Street, <strong>Birmingham</strong> B5 4TD<br />

0121 695 1191


100 MOTORS // SPONSORED BY TOWN AND COUNTRY INN PLC<br />

THE TICKETSELLERS<br />

WWW.TURKISHAIRLINES.COM

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