ITC_Birmingham_Jan_2017

FREE - ISSUE 10 - JANUARY 2016 

COMPETITION - P11 

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THE NIGHT OWL 

BEAUTIFUL BLUES - P14 

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LIGHTS - P63 

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THE NIGHT OWL 




LIGHTS - P63 

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP 

3 

WELCOME 

LETTER 

FROM THE 

EDITOR 


BIRMINGHAM & WEST MIDLANDS 

Welcome to 10th edition of In The City Magazine Birmingham. Happy 

New Year from all the team at In The City Magazine! 

The New Year often means, a fresh start, setting your sights on a 

new challenge and more often than not - looking to undo some of that Christmas 

indulgence. Our theme for the January edition encapsulates all of this with our tag 

line; A New Year A New You. 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Shana Owen 

shana@inthecityuk.com 

Our Fashion Editor, London Irish Fashion Designer Catriona Hanley looks at trends 

focusing on beautiful blues. Everything from bold cobalt blue to innocent baby blue, 

the palate is extensive and the fashion possibilities endless. Catriona looks at the 

essential blouse during this season, as well as a new take on Tweed from her very 

own collection. Make-up is also on the agenda with a piece on ‘neutralising’ you skin, 

rather than ‘conceal’ – After many an excessive night over the Christmas season, 

knowing how to neutralise those dark circles may well be a blessing. 

This months Food and Drink section features 21 Milk Street, back with a bang – 

January marks the launch their latest event. The street food event is on the 27th 

January at the venue that is the epitome of galvanised warehouse chic. The street 

food event will cover everything you expect and more, including cocktails and craft 

beers to live music by Ed Geater. 

Our new Arts and Culture section starts January off with a feature on the Verve 

Festival of Poetry and Spoken Word. A four day festival brimmed with world class 

poetry and spoken word, with readings performances and more – certainly not to be 

missed. We also cover all that’s hot on the theatre scene in January. 

ITCmagUK 

ITCmagUK 

@ITCmagUK 

www.inthecitymag.com 

In The City Magazine 

G.B. House, 

21 - 27 Milk Street, 

Digbeth, 

Birmingham, 

B5 5TR 

In-keeping with our theme, our Monthly Feature looks at ways to take charge of your 

health, ready to take on 2017. The monthly feature also includes an interview with 

Dale Sampey owner and proprietor of the renowned The Barber House, based in the 

heart Birmingham’s Colmore Row. Dale speaks to Robert Hallmark about his journey, 

trend, tips and more. 

As the New Year begins, we have you covered to ensure you start your year with a 

positive vibe. 

HAPPY READING! 

Shana Owen 

Advertising 

advertising@inthecityuk.com 

0121 230 8333 

Publishing 

enq@askalps.com 

0121 230 8099

4 CONTENTS // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP 

Issue 10 | January 2016 

CONTENTS 

NEWS 

Spotlight | Birmingham’s New year Revolution ......8 

Start Up 2017 ......................................................................10 

7 

ENTERTAINMENT 

31 

COMPETITION 

11 

Win 2 Free Tickets To The Night Owl ............................11 

FASHION + LIFESTYLE 

FOOD & DRINK 

13 

Spotlight | Beautiful Blues By Catriona Hanly ...........14 

- A New Year, A New You..................................................16 

- New Year, New Body ........................................................18 

21 

Spotlight | No21 Digbeths New Venue .......................22 

Left Over Lunchies ................................................................28 

Beet The Sickness .................................................................28 

ROTM: Leftover Turkey & Potato Pie ...........................29 

Spotlight | 2017: New Year, New Gigs ..........................32 

Baddies Boogie ......................................................................34 

No More, New Years ............................................................35 

ARTS & CULTURE 39 

Spotlight | Verve: Poetry & Spoken Word Festival ...40 

What’s On At The Theatre In Birmingham ...................41 

NIGHTLIFE 

43 

Spotlight | Nozstock Festival .........................................44 

- Not The Rolling Stone ........................................................45 

- The Ticketsellers: Listings ................................................48 

In The City created by: In The City Magazine Ltd 

Published by: Alps Group | Sales Director: Darren Tyler 

Editor in Chief: Shana Owen | Editor: Richard Hobson 

Creative Director: Hassan Moulavi | Designer: Jerome Beaumont 

E: advertising@inthecityuk.com 

E: editorial@inthecityuk.com 

T: 0121 230 8333 

Switchboard: 0121 230 8080

CONTENTS // SPONSORED BY ALPS GROUP 

5 

MONTHLY FEATURE 

53 

Bringing You Old School Flair ..........................................54 

- Take Charge Of Your Health in 2017 ...........................58 

OUT IN THE CITY 

77 

TRAVEL 

61 

Spotlight | Hello, Auf Wiedersehen ..............................78 

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY 

83 

Spotlight | What Does The New Year Really Mean 

To You ..........................................................................................84 

Spotlight | Chasing The Northern Lights .....................62 

HOME & PROPERTY 

65 

Spotlight | brightLet - The important of Saving .........66 

Decorating On A Budget .....................................................67 

Yes - Property is better than a Pension ..........................68 

Promoting positive mental health ................................87 

WHERE IN THE CITY 

93 

In The City Guide ..................................................................94 

- Restaurants ..........................................................................94 

- Nightclubs ............................................................................96 

- Hotels ......................................................................................98 

MOTORS 

71 

- Bars ..........................................................................................98 

Spotlight | Shifting Gears On The New Year .............72 

- Auto Sport International 2017 .......................................73 

The Continental Connection ............................................74 

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

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

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

In The City Magazine Ltd

Award winning dining 

in Edgbaston 

The Calthorpe Estate within Edgbaston, just a mile from Birmingham city centre, 

is home to an array of award winning places to eat. 

Whether catching up with friends or entertaining in style, take a taste test in 

Edgbaston Village in the wide selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and leisure clubs. 

Take a taste test in Edgbaston Village. 

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

Offices / Residential / Retail / Medical / Leisure / Education

SPOTLIGHT 

NEWS 

SECTION SPONSORED BY 

RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS 

WWW.RLKSOLICITORS.COM

8 NEWS // SPONSORED BY RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS 

BIRMINGHAM’S 

NEW YEAR 

REVOLUTION 

Hello readers and welcome to the tenth 

edition of In The City Magazine – the 

first of 2017! Whilst you’d probably 

have to be a soothsayer to even try and 

predict what will happen in 2017 (after all, 

2016 surprised just about everybody!), one 

thing is certain – Birmingham is only getting 

better. You need only look at the national 

press to see that corporate and political 

opinion on Birmingham (and the greater 

West Midlands region) is on the up as more 

and more businesses set up shop in the 

area. 

So what kind of things are we looking at in 

Birmingham’s not-too-distant future? 

Fill up on fine fittle 

Over the past few years Birmingham 

has fast secured a position as one of the 

premium foodie destinations in the UK. It 

doesn’t matter if its street food or premium 

Michelin starred cuisine – Birmingham has 

it all. It’s to be expected then that the city 

is to continue its foodie renaissance with a 

host of new openings. Vegetarians can look 

forward to the opening of the inaugural 

Not Dogs restaurant, a fast-food chain with 

a vegetarian twist. Film lovers might want 

to take advantage of the newly renovated 

cinema space at The Mockingbird Theatre, 

in Digbeth. Though the establishment has 

long shown films, it has recently undergone 

a facelift to turn it into a full working 

cinema, with gourmet dining options 

available in the bar area. Be sure to keep 

up with In The City Magazine as we hunt 

for the best new restaurants, bars and 

establishments to guarantee that you get 

the inside scoop. 

New places to go for a drink and dance 

It should come as no surprise that 

Birmingham boasts one of the most 

diverse and exciting entertainment/nightlife 

infrastructures in the UK. Between massive 

clubs like Gatecrasher and Snobs, and more 

independent fixtures like Club L’Amour and 

Propaganda, Birmingham has plenty to offer 

to the dance-crazy partier. 2017 will offer 

more of the same. New bars like Bierkeller 

on Broad Street (opened in December 2016) 

making up part of a multi-million pound 

revitalisation of the watering holes in the 

city centre. 

Better public transport for getting around 

the West Midlands... 

With over a million people living within 

the West Midlands borders, it would be 

a colossal understatement to say that 

the maintenance and improvement of 

public transport is critical to the success 

of the city. National Express’s unveiling of 

“platinum” busses has seen an increase in 

the quality of travel, especially for those on 

long journeys. With free Wi-Fi and increased 

leg-room, these busses offer a more 

comfortable way to travel to and from work, 

at no extra cost. Taking cues from National 

Express, train companies have also pledged 

to improve their services in 2017, with rail 

provider London Midland announcing plans 

for free Wi-Fi on all of their trains. 

...And out of it 

One of the more ambitious projects 

currently underway in the Midlands is the 

development of HS2. A high-speed rail 

development meant to greatly improve 

Birmingham’s transport infrastructure, HS2 

is currently being developed in two stages. 

Stage one will see the travel time between 

London and Birmingham reduced to less 

than an hour, whilst stage two will expand 

the network to as far afield as Manchester 

or even Glasgow. 

Birmingham means big business 

A city can’t achieve second city status 

by bars and restaurants alone! Though 

Birmingham has been somewhat snubbed 

since the 80s, when Manchester overtook 

it as the go-to place for businesses outside 

of London, the city has recently enjoyed 

a huge influx of fresh business. Attracted 

by lower rents and a well-connected 

infrastructure to the rest of the UK, big 

businesses and banks like HSBC have 

begun moving away from the capital in 

favour of more a regional base. Between 

global companies like Lombard Risk 

Management (who recently opened a hub 

in the city centre and is expected to create 

over 140 jobs) and numerous start-up 

projects (including the illustrious property 

management software firm brightLet), it 

seems the city’s employment prospects are 

limitless. This fact has also been reflected in 

Birmingham being named as the UK’s top 

business tourism destination.

NEWS // SPONSORED BY RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS 

9 

More sport than you can shake a (hockey) stick at 

With three football teams within a stone’s throw of Birmingham 

city centre alone, you can be sure that just like any other year, 

2017 will no doubt be touted as “our” year – regardless of 

team, league or logical feasibility. What is certain though, is 

that 2017 will see Edgbaston Cricket Ground once again attract 

international crowds. With 28 days of major matches confirmed 

between 2017 and 2019, the city will surely enjoy plenty of 

sports tourism in the New Year. As if that weren’t enough, a 

new £55 million swimming pool development in Edgbaston 

is also set to be finally opened in 2017. Called 360 Sport & 

Fitness, the centre will have Birmingham's only 50-metre pool, 

a 900-seat sports arena, squash courts, dance studios and a 

gym. 

Of course this is just a vague forecast of what is to come 

in 2017. You can be sure though that we here In The City 

Magazine will be keeping our ears to the ground, ready to 

bring you information on the hottest, best and most interesting 

new developments. Happy New Year!

10 NEWS // SPONSORED BY RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS 

Starting out in 2017 with 

“STARTUP 

2017” 

With Christmas now out of the way, you’ll 

probably be looking to how best to the new 

year. That might come in the form of catching 

up with work after the Christmas period, or it could be 

taking on a new challenge. There are certainly few things 

more challenging than starting up your own business, 

even amidst Birmingham’s booming start-up economy. 

Lucky for you, if you’re looking for tips as an early-stage 

entrepreneur, StartUp 2017 is the event for you. The 

UK’s biggest start up event of the new year, StartUp 

2017 is a touring event helping entrepreneur’s learn all 

of the ins and outs of being a successful entrepreneur. 

Also appearing in London and Bristol, the Birmingham 

StartUp 2017 event will be held on January 14th, with 

tickets costing just £10 for general admission (£7.50 for 

Entrepreneur Nation members). 

Starting at 9:30am, the event runs until approximately 

4:30pm and will feature a host of guest speakers 

throughout the day. A perfect event for entrepreneurs 

at all levels (after all, you can never learn too much), the 

event also offers optimum networking opportunities for 

budding business persons. 

Among the speakers in Birmingham are; 

• Debbie Assinder, Enterprise Nation West Midlands 

Champion 

• Matt Fowell, digital lead at FiveRivers 

• Gavin Auty, a branding expert with 10 years of experience 

• Mike Bandar, co-founder of Real Tribe and Hopper HQ 

• Robbie Beak, founder of Ammba Digital 

• Laura Hogan, Birmingham City University alumna and head 

of search at Ricemedia 

• Joe Trodden, enabler at Entrepreneurial Spark 

• PR consultant Chris Brown of Barques PR 

• Mel Bound, founder of This Mum Runs, Birmingham 

University alumna and Enterprise Nation's Female Start-up of 

the Year 2016 

Tickets are available through the Enterprise Nation website 

(www.enterprisenation.com) or via eventbrite 

(www.eventbrite.co.uk)

NEWS // SPONSORED BY RUBRIC LOIS KING SOLICITORS 

#ITCMAGUK COMPETITION 

11 

WIN 

2 FREE TICKETS TO SCOOBY’S TOSH 

AT THE NIGHT OWL, BIRMINGHAM 

28TH JANUARY 

TO ENTER GO TO INTHECITYMAG.COM/COMPETITION 

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OUR AMAZING COMPETITIONS 

The winner will be contacted via e-mail on 19 th December 

2016 and will be published on facebook and twitter 

By entering this competition you agree to have your name published 

on social media in next months magazine if you are the winner. 

Competition closes :17 th December 2016 

www.inthecitymag.com 

@ITCmagUK

SPOTLIGHT 

FASHION & 

LIFESTYLE 


TITOS LONDON 

WWW.TITOSLONDON.COM

14 FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY TITOS LONDON 

Beautiful 

Blues 

by London Irish 

Fashion Designer 

Catriona Hanly 

If you can’t beat the January blues, you may as well join 

them! So, with that in mind this month we are celebrating 

all that is blue. From bold cobalt blue to bright electric 

blue and from sultry midnight blue to innocent baby blue, 

the palate is extensive and fashion possibilities are endless 

with a shade to match most skin tones and almost every 

mood. 

Who Knew What A Blue 

Hue Could Do ! 

The excesses of the festive period have left us feeling 

somewhat deflated and also alarmingly inflated as 

waistbands seem tighter and your entire work wardrobe 

seems to have shrunk overnight. The cold is no longer 

tempered by the hope of a white Christmas, and serves 

only to increase the chances of a runny nose and a ruddy 

complexion. 

But fear not because this month we don’t want to banish 

the blues but rather have some great fashion hints, tips and 

treats to embrace the January blues with aplomb! 

‘Catriona Hanly Designs are available at 

www.catrionahanly.com and can be ordered 

made to measure just for you!’ 

info@catrionahanly.com | 07809253278 

“Neutralise” is overtaking “conceal” as the buzzword in skintone 

perfection. Instagram has spoken: Colour-correcting is 

the big thing in makeup right now, and beauty brands are 

answering the call with green, purple, peach, red and yellow 

creams that promise to cancel out ruddiness, brighten 

under-eye circles, hide veins and generally erase all signs 

that your skin has been though the mill over the Christmas 

party period. This sheer, silicone-based Smashbox Color 

Correcting Primer can actually create “perfect skin.” and the 

Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Eyebright can prep and brighten 

red, tired eyes.

FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY TITOS LONDON 

15 

BLOUSE BLUES 

There is something about a blouse that offers a special note of elegance, 

sobriety and style. Blouses and shirts have undergone many changes over 

time but are a key trend this winter with an eclectic mix of designs and 

styles. Top blouse trends are: 

Collars and Cuffs 

Collar and cuffs are traditionally for the modern business woman for a 

sharp and professional look but they have now snuck out of the office to 

lend the party girl a touch of mysterious and interesting 

Frills and ruffles 

Frills and ruffles are no longer considered to be extravagant, romantic 

and exaggerated. The wearer will look feminine and attractive from day to 

evening. 

Midnight blues 

A blouse in midnight blue is possibly one of the most versatile pieces you 

can have in the wardrobe. It will look great with jeans but can also be worn 

with leather and can be dressed up or down for almost any occasion 

Tempting In Turqoise 

A key trend for Autumn Winter ‘16/’17 is heritage 

tweeds but we have given them a high-fashion 

makeover with an explosion of colours and pastels 

shot with opulent velvet lapels and side stripes, 

luxurious faux fur detailing, fringed trims and 

decorative buttons. There is an old Irish saying 

‘Blue and green should never be seen … except on 

an Irish Colleen!’ This month throw caution to the 

wind, be bold with your blues and step out in style! 

Turquoise Tweed Suit from Catriona Hanly 

Twill weave tweed top with velvet back, collar and 

bows | Twill weave tweed flared trouser 

RRP: €349 (Top), €295 (Trousers) 

All available from www.catrionahanly.com 

Don’t It Make 

My Brown Eyes Blue! 

If you love the ocean and the sky, there’s a sweet and simple way to bring a little bit of 

that blue wonder into your life. Colored contact lenses will ensure that your eyes sparkle 

with the depth of a deep blue, perfect for anyone who loves the water. There are hundreds 

of options now available from most opticians that are now really natural and the lenses 

have also been made to feel a lot more comfortable. In stunning pale blue, these nonprescription 

daily disposable ones from Freshlook can have you batting your baby blues in 

an instant!


A 

NEW 

YEAR 

A 

NEW 

YOU!! 

What would it be like to be able 

to create a new you? On any 

day of your choosing, at any 

point in time you can choose again who 

you want to be. You can make resolutions, 

change your habits or simply rewrite 

the script to old relationships. You can 

surprise yourself and others with a 

brand new you! That’s what New Year’s 

resolutions are all about! 

The creation of a new and reenergised life 

lies in understanding the inter-relationship 

between our unexamined thoughts, 

words and actions, and how through 

a structured and consistent critical 

evaluation of these three key areas – we 

can come to create ourselves anew. We 

create our context through our words and 

action, and these in turn come from the 

beliefs we have. The beliefs we have come 

from many places, but how often do 

we take stock and think about whether 

these beliefs are really from our own 

making, or have they been handed down 

to us - or even worse - have we just been 

conditioned into them. 

Sometimes it becomes very important to 

evaluate where these thoughts come from 

so that we are able to take a step closer 

to recreating and regenerating ourselves 

and actively choosing who we want to be 

in the context of a life we love to live. 

One way of doing this is to go deep 

into your thoughts and think about who 

you want to be and what you would 

like to create in your life. Be free in your 

consideration of the different areas 

in your life and when choosing, pick 

something you really want to be working 

on, don’t be afraid of being confronted 

by it. It helps to be totally honest with 

yourself and remember that you are doing 

this just for yourself and no one else. 

There are many reasons why people 

don’t stick to New Year’s resolutions 

or attempts to change different habits 

but let’s focus on making them work. To 

stick to the changes you want to make 

you must consider your intention to 

create and not the result you are trying 

to achieve. Let’s take weight loss as an 

example; instead of saying ‘I want to lose 

5kg’ which will have you focusing on the 

result you can focus instead on why you 

want to do that. The reason might be that 

you want to be healthier and revitalised. 

So a more effective intention is ‘To be 

healthy and full of vitality’. With the 

former scenario you are actually focused 

on the very thing you don’t want which 

by law of attraction will bring you more 

of what you don’t want, alternatively the 

latter has you attracting the very thing 

you do want. 

Focused on the intention it’s easier to 

create a desired outcome ‘I want to 

weigh 11 stones and be able to run a mile 

with ease’. From such an outcome you 

will create better actions, you are more 

likely to find out what it takes to live a 

healthier lifestyle, eating the right kinds of 

foods and engaging in the right kinds of 

exercises and that in turn will cause the 

weight to drop off and stay off. 

“IF THINGS 

DON’T GO TO 

PLAN DON’T 

GIVE UP”

FASHION & LIFESTYLE // SPONSORED BY TITOS LONDON 

17 

To achieve what we 

want we must clearly 

define it. 

1 

. Create an intention that is in 

alignment with your values and the 

kind of life you would like to live. 

2 

. Define what you want as an 

outcome, remember this is not about 

stating what you don’t want but rather 

shaping what it is that you do want. This 

should be what you would get if you 

fulfilled your intention. 

3 

. Create an action plan with actions 

that will bring you to your desired 

outcomes. 

4 

. Create a timetable where you map 

the things that you are doing on a 

day-to-day basis, look at those activities 

and decide which of those are serving 

you and which do not. Those that are 

superfluous, ineffective or not part of a 

greater purpose can be removed. 

5 

. In the same timetable add your 

new activities that serve the greater 

purpose which is a new. 

6 

. Create rewards for yourself when 

you fulfil your intentions through 

your chosen activities and enjoy your 

transformation. 

7 

. If things don’t go per plan don’t 

give up on all your efforts. Just take 

stock to work out why it didn’t work and 

then start again. 

At any point in your life you can make 

new decisions about who you are and 

who you want to be, it doesn’t matter 

who you have been, it’s never too late. 

Be true to yourself and create a you 

that lives a life out of the ordinary. You 

deserve it. 

To contact Aamna directly please email: 

info@leafcoaching.com


NEW YEAR, 

NEW BODY 

It might be the start of a New Year, but you can guarantee 

we’ll all still be making the same old New Year’s resolutions. 

Giving up smoking, cutting down on caffeine... there are 

plenty of things we choose to do to try and make sure that 

we lead healthier lives, but probably most popular of all is the 

choice to start up or renew a gym membership. 

The first thing to consider when joining a new gym is 

finding the best membership to suit you. Choosing a gym 

membership can come down to much more than just which 

gym is cheapest – different gyms will have different offers 

and facilities that suit you better. Consider your choice akin 

to buying a bespoke suit – you aren’t just making a singular 

purchase, but considering each individual component to 

get the best end result. With that in mind, In The City 

Magazine has some advice to bear in mind before joining 

up... 

Make sure you can actually get to the gym! 

It doesn’t matter if you’re the kind of early bird that uses 

excercise as a way to greet the day, or a night owl blowing off 

steam before bed, there is no definitive time of day to hit the 

gym. One thing to bear in mind though, is that different gyms 

have different opening times. As such, its best to thoroughly 

check your gym before signing any contracts – siging up for 

a gym which opens at 9am shuts at 7pm probably won’t be 

any good if you have a work pattern that means you seldom 

make it in time! The same applies for classes; if you are 

interested in taking part in a particular excercise, make sure 

that excercise is held at your gym at a time you can actually 

make. 

Does your gym have what you need? 

With the sheer abundance of gyms (including both national 

chains and independent locals), you might be fooled into 

thinking every gym offers more or less the same facilities 

and equipment. Even if certain staples *can* be found across 

the board (after all, you’re unlikely to find a gym that doesn’t 

have any kind of treadmill!), make sure your gym has exactly 

what you want. Decide on what’s best for you – do you mind 

using communal showers, or are you only comfortable in a 

private shower stall? Do you like to have a swim after working 

out? Or do you need to fully relax post-work out in the 

sauna? By figuring out exactly what you want, you can start 

to eliminate gyms until you find something perfect for your 

needs. 

The right kit to get fit 

Despite what Rocky IV might have taught us, there’s no 

shame in making use of special equipment when it comes 

to getting fit. The best way to approach getting equipment 

is to find things that will not only help you exercise, but stay 

safe whilst doing it. Knee supports and suitable footwear are 

essential if you intend to do lots of cardio (especially if you 

take up jogging), whilst wrist supports and gloves offer huge 

benefits for weight training. Ultimately, do some research to 

find out what exercises you will be doing and what you will 

need to do it effectively and safely.

SPOTLIGHT 

FOOD & DRINK 


HEINEKEN 

WWW.HEINEKEN.COM

22 FOOD & DRINK // SPONSORED BY HEINEKEN 

TEAM BEHIND TASTE AND LIQUOR 

LAUNCH NEW VENUE! 

The “new hub for global street food, diverse arts 

and culture” is located in Digbeth 

Opening later this month, the team behind Taste and 

Liquor is launching a new venue called No21 Digbeth. 

The venue is located on Milk Street, and is described 

as “a new hub for global street food, cultural festivals and 

diverse community events.” 

Having launched eighteen months ago, Taste and Liquor has 

been a great success. They’re now back, with a new venue, 

weekly street-food parties and monthly experimental events. 

After outgrowing its original home on Essex Street, streetfood 

and festival organisers, has upped its sticks to a bigger, 

better site in Digbeth, launching on Friday, 27 January 

(2017). 

The opening launch will capture the essence of the brand’s 

mirror inspiration, as the venue transforms into a weekly 

Indoor Street Food Hub across Winter and Spring, made up 

of a range of international flavours paired with contemporary 

traders, to create novel future classics. 

With Birmingham’s landscape constantly evolving, Taste and 

Liquor wanted to provide an offering that was as unique 

as the city itself. With an every changing line-up featuring 

glorious food - from marinated and slow cooked Brazilian 

BBQ & Turkish Grills to Sticky Indian Pigs Cheeks Naan 

Sliders - the town is set to get a taste of the best food 

producers and traders in the region. 

Friday’s also shows support to New and Emerging Talent, 

by giving new traders the chance to experiment and really 

play with ideas without the pressure of having to take on a 

restaurant. With new chefs starting up whole new pop-up 

experience, Taste and Liquor aims to support new chefs 

throughout the year and plans are also in the pipeline for 

plenty of surprises along the way 

emerging stars of 2017. This exciting platform launches 

with “one of the West Midlands' most exciting talents” 

(BBC Introducing) Ed Geater. Birmingham born singersongwriter 

and beatboxer Ed Geater, rhythmical dexterity is 

complemented by lyrical prowess. 

Every Friday, also welcomes The Digbeth After Work Club, 

between 5pm-7pm local residents are invited to start their 

weekend early, with specials two-for-one offers on all drinks. 

Head towards the main bar, featuring bespoke cocktails, 

craft beer, wines and a vase range of bespoke tonics and 

sprits. 

Monthly themed events will be also hosted every last 

Saturday of the month. Highlights include Gin & Meat 

Festival (February), Best of British Street Food (March), 

Brum’s Big Fat Pizza Festival (April), Mr Hyde’s National 

Burger Day Festival (August) and the launch more foodie 

festivals. 

Future plans are also in the pipeline for street-closures, 

cultural celebrations and festivals. Highlights include: 

Holi Rave Colour Festival (April), Taste and Liquor 1st 

Birthday Party Weekender (May), Asian Indepen-Dance – a 

celebration of 70 Years of Indian Independence and Pakistani 

Partition (August), Digbeth Mela (October), and much, much 

more. 

Taste and Liquor at No 21 Digbeth will launch on Friday 

27 January, and will be hosted every week. Friday Entry 

is free from 5.00pm. Last food orders 10.30pm. For more 

information log onto www.tasteandliquor.com or Whatsapp: 

07968260276 Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat: Taste and 

Liquor, Address: 21 Milk Street, Birmingham B5 

Taste and Liquor Friday’s will be championing live music, 

emerging bands and DJs with an exclusive platform 

showcasing the regions hottest act acts every week. 

Speakerbox, a showcase produced by Sharnita K Athwal, 

will present the best of the regions raw talent and hottest

FOOD & DRINK // SPONSORED BY HEINEKEN 

23 

every friday 

HEATED & SEATED 

FREE ENTRY (5-11PM) 

NO21DIGBETH 

21 MILK ST.B5 5TR


Non-stop 

from 

Birmingham 

to India 

every day. 

Now that’s 

pukka. 

Or as we Brummies say: Bostin! 

Why not fly direct from our 

Balti Triangle to India’s Golden 

Triangle. Formed by three cities, 

Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, it’s one 

of the most popular tourist 

circuits in the world. 

Agra is home to the Taj Mahal, 

probably the most photographed 

monument on earth - and here 

it is again. Air India flies non-stop 

to Delhi and also to Amritsar. 

From Delhi you can get connecting 

flights to several other destinations 

including Mumbai, Goa and Kerala. 

So whether you’re going to visit 

relatives, attend a wedding or 

simply to soak up the sun, one 

thing’s for sure, you’re on your 

way to holiday nirvana.

Bookings 

0121 643 2233 

Pre - Theatre Menu 

Mon - Sat 

4-7pm 

2 for 1 Cocktails 

Mon - Fri from 5pm 

Saturday 12-8pm 

Club Sandwich Deal - £4.50 

Available Weekdays 

12pm - 9pm 

Sharing is Caring - £20 

Sharing platter and a bottle of Prosecco 

Weekdays 12pm - 9pm 

Bottle of house Wine - £9.99 

Weekdays 12pm - 9pm 

Live Music Every Thursday Night 

Club Nights Every Friday & Saturday 

VIP Booths 

The Chameleon Restaurant & Bar 

1 Victoria Square, Hill Street, Birmingham, B1 1BD 

Email: info@thechameleonbam.com Website: www.thechameleonbham.co.uk 

The Chameleon Restaurant & Bar chameleonbham @chameleonbham


BEET THE 

SICKNESS BUG 

LEFTOVER LUNCHES 

It’s safe to say that around Christmas we buy with our eyes, 

and there’s always some leftovers. Instead of repeating your 

roast for days on end, use those delicious bits and pieces to 

try a variety of leftover lunches! 

But how long can your leftovers really last? Most Christmas 

leftovers will stay fresh and tasty for at least a few days in the 

refrigerator and a month or more in the freezer. Use our helpful 

guide to know the best way to store your festive feast and how 

long it can last! 

Tupperware tips: 

• Refrigerate leftover meats, stuffing, gravy and other cooked 

dishes within 2 hours of serving. 

• Carve any meat off the bones before refrigerating and keep it 

separate to all over elements of the meal. 

• Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or 

freeze in covered shallow containers for quicker cooling. 

BY HUMA 

Beetroot have a whole host of health benefits, so adding 

these bright purple veg to your daily diet will leave you 

feeling fit as fiddle. If you’re trying to keep your calories 

down and embarking on a New Year diet, beets are low 

calorie and taste great. Beetroot Juice has a high level of 

anti-oxidants and nitrates that can help improve blood 

pressure and blood flow through the body. Patients 

with blood pressure issues are often encouraged to 

drink beetroot juice weekly. Beets will also keep you 

raring to go, as they are high in carbohydrates- perfect 

as a pre-workout treat. These wonder veggies can are 

also a great source of iron and help to boost immunity 

and guard against diseases like Cancer. With so many 

health benefits, its no wonder this underrated food is a 

supersaver for the body. 

Item Pantry Fridge Freezer* Tips 

Turkey, or other Meats Fridge 2-3 months 

Ham — baked at home 3-4 days 3-4 months 

homemade Gravy 3-4 days 2-3 months 

Cranberry Sauce 1-2 days 1-2 months 

Cut whole bird into smaller pieces before refrigerating 

and bring out in the new year for some turkey and 

leek pie. 

It is important that this meat is covered correctly 

in airtight containers or in sealable freezer bags or 

aluminium foil for the freezer. 

Bring leftover gravy to a full boil before using on a 

number of dishes, or even in a casserole. 

Store leftovers in covered plastic or glass container. 

Cranberry sauce is great as a jam, a yoghurt topping 

or as a sweet and sticky glaze for meat. 

Cooked Stuffing 10-14 days 1 month Remove stuffing from turkey before refrigerating. 

Mashed Potatoes 3-4 days 10-12 months 

Apple Pie (Baked) 2 days 6 months 1-2 months 

Mashed potatoes freeze well; whole baked potatoes 

don’t. 

To freeze, wrap pie tightly with aluminium foil or 

plastic freezer wrap, or place in heavy-duty freezer 

bag. 

Wine, red or white (Opened Bottle) 

2-3 days 

after pantry 

storage 

1-2 months 

Freeze leftover wine for use in cooked dishes such as 

sauces and stews. 

Soft Crust Bread 4 -5 days 3-5 days 2-3 months 

Refrigerator storage is not recommended, as bread 

will quickly dry out and become stale — for longer 

term storage, freeze bread instead. 

Storing your leftover correctly means you can enjoy your festive feast well into the New Year!

FOOD & DRINK // SPONSORED BY HEINEKEN 

29 

•1 tbsp. olive oil 

•1 onion, finely chopped 

•1 garlic clove, chopped 

•680g/1lb 8oz leftover turkey, diced 

•6 tomatoes, seeds removed, diced 

•150ml/ 1/2 pint chicken stock 

•1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 

•225g/8oz diced leftover vegetables (carrots, 

parsnips and sprouts) 

•115g/4oz frozen peas 

•Salt and freshly ground black pepper 

•450g/1lb roast potatoes 

•25g/1oz melted butter 

(SERVES 8) 

LEFTOVER 

TURKEY & 

POTATO PIE 

BY HUMA 

Method 

1. Heat the oil in a large pan and add the onion 

and chopped garlic. Cook until softened but not 

coloured. 

2. Add the chopped turkey meat and cook until 

lightly coloured. 

3. Add the diced tomatoes, pour in the stock and 

Worcestershire sauce and bring to the boil 

4. Simmer until it starts to thicken, then add the 

diced vegetables and peas and bring up to the boil 

5. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper 

and pour into a large pie dish. Allow to cool. 

6. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. 

7. Slice the roast potatoes and lay carefully on top of 

the turkey mixture. 

8. Brush with melted butter and bake until hot in 

the middle and the potatoes are coloured, about 30 

minutes. 





THE NIGHT OWL 




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SPOTLIGHT 

ENTERTAINMENT 


TOWN & COUNTRY INNS PLC 

WWW.TOWNANDCOUNTRY.CO.UK

32 ENTERTAINMENT // SPONSORED BY TOWN & COUNTRY INNS PLC 

2017: NEW YEAR, 

NEW GIGS 

It doesn’t matter if it’s Black Sabbath or UB40 in the 70s, 

Judas Priest or Duran Duran in the 1980s, Birmingham’s 

musical history is illustrious with a wealth of acts arising 

from genres as diverse as Heavy Metal, Reggae, Pop and 

Indie. A scene can’t be sustained on big-name acts alone, 

however; the Midlands’ biggest triumph is in its continued 

support for emergent acts across the board, supported by 

a diversity of venues both in and out of Birmingham city 

centre. Those venues are in turn supported by another pillar 

vital to the sustenance of a healthy music scene; promoters. 

With 2017 in its dawning days, we here at In The City 

Magazine couldn’t think of a better way to look at both the 

year behind us and the acts yet to come than by contacting 

some of the city’s best independent promoters for their 

forecast on 2017... 

The Stone Broken 

Hils’ Ovation 

As the officially recognised “Home of Metal”, it fits that the 

Midlands should have a promoter dedicated to the genre 

and its emergent acts. Enter Hilary Plimmer, of Hils Ovation, 

the Midlands primo Metal specialist. 

Hil’s Ovation’s 2016 in a nutshell: 

“There have been so many highlights in 2016 but I think for 

me, the fact that the West Midlands, especially Birmingham, 

has been bucking the trend with more and more people 

coming back to support local bands. We all know it's 

been a difficult few years for live music... so many venues 

around the country have disappeared and so many bands 

have thrown in the towel too, but numbers last year have 

continued to grow. Not just my shows either; Birmingham as 

a whole seems to be buzzing again which is fantastic! “

ENTERTAINMENT // SPONSORED BY TOWN & COUNTRY INNS PLC 

33 

The high points of 2016: 

It's so hard to pick just one... In fact, the more I think about 

it, it's impossible! But, one that stood out has to be when 

Stone Broken played Birmingham Academy back in July. 

The show sold out Academy 3 within a few weeks so had to 

be upgraded to Academy 2 and the night itself will be one 

that will stay with me for a very long time. The atmosphere 

in that room was electric, not just for Stone Broken but for 

supports Sonata Fall, Cower Hounds and Theia too. Standing 

in the wings watching hundreds of dedicated fans singing 

lyrics back to Stone Broken (every band's dream) was 

amazing, and quite emotional. I'm sure 2017 will see Stone 

Broken continue to grow and achieve great things and that's 

good for ALL local bands; it gives them the incentive they 

need to succeed too. 

I can't miss out November's Midlands Metal Crusade at 

Wolves Slade Rooms either; I love that venue. There's no 

other place like it, it really has become my second home 

(and that's coming from a born and bred Brummie). The 

people are the most supportive and dedicated music fans 

and the Crusade really has become my favourite event to 

organise – it's like one huge family reunion. November's 

Crusade was particularly emotional as it was West Midlands 

giants Martyr De Mona’s farewell show. The crowd did them 

proud, they were brilliant and the guys couldn't have asked 

for a better swansong. What stood out for me though was 

the comradery between ALL the bands on the bill. That's 

what it's all about for me and the Midlands metal scene has 

it by the bucketful. 

The low points of 2016: 

April 1st 2016 was the final show for my beloved Destroyed 

Beyond Belief. Those guys were (and still are) more than 

just a band I worked with, they were family. I’ve never known 

a band that had such a bond. You can’t manufacture that, 

it just happens when the right people come together and 

it’s incredibly rare. I don’t think I’ve ever cried as much at a 

gig than that night – I still get emotional just thinking about 

it. The West Midlands metal scene lost a very important 

component that night, and it’s still suffering the after-effects. 

Marching into 2017: 

The exciting thing about a new year is you never quite know 

what’s going to happen, and that’s the same for me with 

forthcoming shows. I still have plenty to arrange but the one 

I’m most excited about right now is my first ever show at O2 

Institute. It’s on March 4th in Institute 2. It’s a big step up for 

me and a massive opportunity for local bands, but it also 

shows the confidence corporate venues like Academy Group 

have in the local music scene right now. Metal maestros 

Hostile (another success story from the West Midlands) 

headline March’s show and it will also feature some young 

emerging bands that showcase just how much talent we still 

have coming out of the “home of metal”. I’m hoping this will 

be the first of many at The Institute. 

Birmingham O 2 Academy 

My monthly shows at O2 Academy Birmingham will continue 

and I still plan to do a few Ovation nights at Wolves Slade 

Rooms too. Though, these won’t be as frequent as previous 

years purely because demand for dates there is so high while 

the Civic and Wulfrun Halls remain closed for refurbishment. 

Crusade VII will return towards the end of the year (though 

how I’m going to top the last one, I’m not sure). And of 

course, getting local bands opportunities to play with major 

touring bands will be my main priority. Wolves Civic Halls 

have always been really supportive with this and thankfully 

more and more booking agents are coming round to the 

idea too.


Baddies Boogie 

Stalwarts of the Birmingham Indie scene, brothers 

Tom and James Amphlett of Baddies Boogie work 

with some of the freshest faces on the gigging 

circuit. 

BADDIES BOOGIE FIRST BOOKING - THE SHERLOCKS 

Baddies Boogie’s 2016 in a nutshell: 

“2016 was a year where we continued to grow as a company. 

We held many sold out shows and added more shows 

each month, with regular nights at The Victoria and The 

Sunflower Lounge now taking place, as well as shows at 

the O2 Institute, The Flapper and Dares Bar (in addition to 

our weekly shows at The Rainbow Venues). The standard of 

these venues is really important to us and our expansion has 

allowed us to offer our bands more venue options to play 

across the city. We also launched our brand new quarterly 

show "The Magic Garden" with local legendary producer 

Gavin Monaghan. The aim of the show is to mix the most 

promising bands from our shows with the most impressive 

bands that Gavin has recorded from across the UK. The first 

night was a great success in November and we can't wait for 

the next one in February 2017! 

Baddies Boogie’s Gig of 2016: 

“We mainly host shows for local talent but over the last 

two years we have booked exciting bands from around the 

country to headline some of our shows. Our favourites are 

The Sherlocks – a band we first booked in 2014 - who have 

now signed their first record deal! Their shows have been 

absolutely mental every time we've booked them. What 

lovely lads too! They really do deserve all the success and 

credit they've been getting. 

Marching into 2017: 

“In 2017 we are mainly excited about finding new bands who 

make us excited about watching them. It's important to us 

that we offer help and guidance to the bands that we book 

and we are excited to see the development of bands in 2017 

who we've booked over the past couple of years. We will 

host four "Magic Garden" events and we just want them to 

get bigger and better. So keep your eyes peeled for those!” 

Keep your eyes peeled on our Entertainment section going 

into 2017, as we speak to more artists and promoters to get 

their inside tips on what they think you should expect of 

2016...


No More 

No New More Years? 

New Years? 

No More 

New Years? 

It’s no small secret that 2016 claimed some of the biggest 

innovators and geniuses within the music industry. Whilst 

popular culture will mourn the loss of the likes of David 

Bowie and Prince, in the world of Rock Prog and Metal it’s the 

news that Mathcore mavericks The Dillinger Escape Plan will 

be calling it a day in 2017 that hit the hardest. 

Formed in 1997 and hailing from New Jersey to say that it 

was unlikely that a Prog-tinged Metalcore act would make 

waves on a global scale is an understatement. And yet, global 

waves have most definitely been made across the bands’ 

two decade career. Spurning the stadium inclinations of 

their fellow New Jerseyans Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen, 

the band peddled entirely in their own market with a 

tremendously technical aural assault that took the best parts 

of Post Hardcore, Mathcore, Prog and Metalcore and mixed 

them into one very noisy brew. 

Ever the innovators, The Dillinger Escape Plan haven’t 

compromised one iota of musical integrity across their career, 

a move fittingly encapsulated with their decision to go out 

on a high during their 20th year. The band’s sixth (and final) 

album Dissocation was released to huge critical acclaim 

in 2016, a final installation in a musical journey which had 

seen the band tour the world and massively influence the 

landscape of modern Post Hardcore, Metalcore and Mathcore. 

From Heck to Gallows and beyond, the ripples cast by The 

Dillinger Escape Plan range far and wide. Influencing not 

just the sound of future bands, but also introducing ideas of 

creativity and experimentalism seldom seen outside of the 

Jazz and Prog genres (even less amongst musicians whose 

last name isn’t “Zappa”), the band haven’t so much created 

a blueprint for what should come next, as induce mass 

musically creative hysteria. 

And then, there’s the live shows. Notorious for taking the 

conflict ridden atmosphere of Black Flag, early Stooges 

and GG Allin and replicating it for audiences in the new 

millennium, the band’s most infamous moment came with 

their critically acclaimed set at Reading Festival 2002 when 

vocalist Greg Puciato defecated on-stage as a form of protest 

against the festival’s programming. Though stool-related 

incidents have since been kept to a minimum, the band’s live 

shows remain some of the most energetic and chaotic in the 

industry, notorious for their anarchic nature. 

With their final album landing them a Top-50 position (not 

bad for a band with less identikit Pop appeal than a hand 

grenade and twice the aural potency), you can be sure that 

the band’s final UK tour will be truly spectacular. Playing at 

the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Sunday 22nd January, you 

can be sure this show will be one of the hottest gigs of the 

year (both physically and metaphorically!). 

A true “must-not-miss” event, tickets for The Dillinger Escape 

Plan are still available on the O2 Institute Website (www. 

academymusicgroup.com) at the time of writing. See you 

there!

BOTTOMLESS 

PROSECCO 

L I F T Y O U R J A N U A R Y B L U E S 

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ENTS 

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SPOTLIGHT 

ARTS & 

CULTURE 


BRIGHTLET 

WWW.BRIGHTLET.COM

40 ARTS & CULTURE // SPONSORED BY BRIGHTLET 

Verve 

Festival: 

Birmingham’s first 

& only poetry and 

spoken word festival 

in 2017 

A 

perfect festival event for the 

winter, the Verve Festival of 

poetry and spoken word is set to 

make its exciting debut in 2017. Hosted 

at the Birmingham Waterstones store 

(after all, who knows warm winter reads 

more than Waterstones?) the event 

will be held between 16th and 19th of 

February and will bring together arts 

greats, enthusiasts and the curious alike 

for four fun days of activities. 

Surprising though it might seem, Verve 

Festival is currently the first and only 

poetry festival in Birmingham on the 

2017 calendar. Set up by arts lovers with 

an eye to encouraging interaction with 

both poetry and spoken word, the event 

is both a perfect way to engage with 

the arts or become first acquainted. 

Unlike other arts festivals which seek to 

take their audience to the theatre, Verve 

works in reverse, bringing the theatre to 

their audience. 

Held in Birmingham city centre, Verve 

Festival hopes to fully take advantage 

of the city’s vibrant cosmopolitan 

environment to craft a vivid and exciting 

atmosphere of its very own. Among the 

types of activities and events guests can 

enjoy are; 

- Exciting children’s events (the perfect 

way to get children engaging with the 

arts) 

- Invigorating and thought provoking 

spoken word sets 

- Engaging poetry/theatre performances 

- Readings and workshops by awardwinning 

poets 

Kicking the event off with masterful 

poetry in the poetry parlour, will be 

Daljit Nagra at 7pm on Thursday 16th 

February. To close the festival, organisers 

have brought in the acclaimed “Anti- 

Slam” tournament. Hugely popular at the 

Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Anti-Slam 

turns the idea of slam poetry on its head 

by crowning the worst poet the winner. 

That’s not to say that the poetry is bad, 

more that it is poetry that is so trashy 

and cringe-worthy that it transcends 

the art form (not unlike a poetry version 

of cult trash movie The Room). Held 

between 9 and 11pm on Sunday 19th, 

the event is a perfect way to subvert 

the traditional idea of poetry and bring 

plenty of smiles to faces. 

Verve Festival is aimed at engaging 

everybody, from the seasoned 

wordsmith to the tentative lyricist. All 

ages are welcome at the event and Verve 

promises to be plenty of fun for the 

whole family. Tickets for the event range 

in price from £4 (for individual events) to 

£25 up for a full festival pass. Tickets are 

available to book through Eventbrite 

(www.eventbrite.co.uk). 

Waterstones, 24-26 High Street, 

Birmingham, B4 7SL

ARTS & CULTURE // SPONSORED BY BRIGHTLET 

What’s on at the theatre in Birmingham 

Panto season might be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t catch some great theatre shows in 2017! 

In The City Magazine has gathered all the information you need for what shows you should see this January. 

41 

The Moscow State Circus 

A globally renowned phenomenon, 

the Moscow State Circus offers 

one of the biggest spectacles on 

Earth. Returning to Birmingham for 

a Christmas Circus Spectacular, this 

is an event that the whole family 

will marvel at. The perfect way to 

brighten your family, you’ll find few 

better shows than when the circus 

comes to town. 

Where? Star City, Birmingham 

When? January 1st - 8th 

How Much? £11 - £33, available on 

www.ticketmaster.co.uk 

Gaslight 

An exciting and tense thriller to 

see in the New Year, Gaslight pulls 

together an acclaimed star-studded 

cast for a show that puts the edge 

back into theatre seats. Written 

by one of Britain’s most renowned 

playwrights (Patrick Hamilton) and 

starring the likes of Kara Tointon, 

Rupert Young and Keith Allen, 

Gaslight takes the twists and turns 

of the psychological horror and 

transports them to the theatre. Sure 

to be a gripping event, this show is 

not to be missed! 

Where? Alexandra Theatre, 


When? January 6th and 14th 

How Much? £18 - £45.50, available 

on www.atgtickets.com 

Strictly Come Dancing Live 

The hit TV sensation is transported 

from the BBC to venues around 

the UK, including Birmingham’s 

Barclaycard Arena. A live tour unlike 

any other, Strictly Come Dancing 

Live allows fans to get close and 

personal with the show. Famous 

faces like Daisy Lowe, Ore Oduba 

and Louise Redknapp dance it 

out to try and dazzle judges Len 

Goodman, Karen Hardy and Craig 

Revel Horwood. Hosted by Anita 

Rani, Strictly Come Dancing Live is 

a great way to celebrate the start of 

the New Year. 

Where? Barclaycard Arena 

When? 20th – 22nd January 

How Much? £40.18 - £73.93, through 

The Ticket Factory (www. 

theticketfactory.com)

0844 870 0000 (24hr) 

Ticketing solutions 

Online box offices 

Event management 

24hr customer service 

On-site accreditation

SPOTLIGHT 

NIGHTLIFE 


THETICKETSELLERS 

WWW.THETICKETSELLERS.CO.UK

44 NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THE TICKETSELLERS 

Welcome back to the 

Nightlife section of 

In The City Magazine, 

presented by 

Welcome to January, billed as the most depressing 

month of the year - but not for us! This year we 

are rebelling against this idea, we are challenging 

ourselves (New Year resolutions if you will) to discover new 

music that we wouldn’t normally listen to and try events / 

venues that are not our usual haunts. Feel free to join us at 

any events across the West Midlands, trying to broaden our 

horizons to discover new, exciting and fun things to go to in 

order to kick start the brand new year in style. 

We also have a little tradition here at TTS; we hold our 

Christmas party in January! Often people look at us in shock 

when we tell them this, but it helps us extend the festive period, 

gives us a reason to party in January, and we can usually get 

better discounts :) For this year, we headed over to the Resorts 

World Birmingham by the NEC and the lovely team at Genting 

taught us how to play poker and helped us celebrate our 

January Christmas. 

Enjoy the madness of the January sales and we hope to see 

you at an event real soon. 

TheTicketSellers team X 

Backstage 

Nozstock has evolved from a gathering of 50 

friends into an intimate musical odyssey joining 

the dots between pop, ska, folk, funk, soul, indie, 

drum’n’bass, psytrance, house and a whole lot 

more. For this month’s backstage we caught up 

with Rob, one of the Directors to find out a little 

more about the event. 

When did Nozstock start and how has it grown / changed? 

Nozstock started in 1998 on the family farm. It was a BBQ for 

around 25 of the families friends with a folk musician called Will 

Kileen playing on the lawn up a sheet of tarpaulin! After that 

initial party we decided to do it again and the following year 

used a bale trailer as a stage and had 3 local bands on. To our 

surprise over 100 people came along and it that was the real 

beginning of the family garden party that it has grown steadily 

and organically into over the last 18 years. It now has 10 stage 

multi genre stages and a plethora of crafts, workshops and other 

distractions. We really feel that because of our controlled growth 

we have managed to retain that original family garden party 

vibe. 

When did you start putting on events? 

I guess putting on events found us rather than us trying to find 

It. Over the years we've put on other events in pubs and clubs 

but they are always under the umbrella of Nozstock. 

What made you decide to be a Festival organiser? 

My Dad made me!

NIGHTLIFE // SPONSORED BY THE TICKETSELLERS 

45 

NOT THE 

ROLLING STONES 

Saturday 21st January 

Not The Rolling Stones have been rocking ever since 

Keef Le Reef spotted Mike Jagger (the greatest Mick 

Jagger lookalike in the world!) starring in BBC2’s 

Double Take, and tracked him down to darkest 

Wales. Picture the scene as their jaded eyes finally 

met over a cold Soho pizza. 

Numbers, olives and anchovies were exchanged, and 

the legend that is Not The Rolling Stones was born. 

The dream that had kept Keef alive through the long 

years of stalking the music biz was now a reality. He 

had found the perfect band to perform ‘The Golden 

Age of the Stones’. 

Seasoned players all (ex One The Juggler, Mick 

Ronson, Splodgeness-abounds etc) the line-up 

includes Charlie Whatnot on drums, Darryl ‘Honky’ 

Clones on bass, Mick ‘Trash’ Trailer on lead guitar 

and Ronnie Weed on miscellaneous stimulants - 

sorry, instruments. Not to mention the vocal and 

(very) percussive talents of Mary Unfaithful aka 

Kristina Shaguilera! 

Capturing the authentic sound and spirit of The 

Greatest Rock’n’Roll Band In The World, Not The 

Rolling Stones have headed festivals and played for 

private clients all over Europe and the UK. Their set 

list includes all the classics of The Rolling Stones: 

Paint It Black, Honky Tonk Women, Jumping Jack 

Flash, Gimme Shelter, 19th Nervous Breakdown, 

Satisfaction, Sympathy For The Devil, Wild Horses 

and many more.


How did you come up with your event name? 

The Nozstock part of it came from its early beginnings 

of a party. It was a way of showing people it a little more 

than a normal party with the "stock" on the end. We added 

the Hidden Valley after as we felt it help give people an 

understanding of what to expect. We are tucked away in a 

lovely little valley that you don't see until you enter the festival 

site. 

What's your favorite event (not your own)? 

I think the best festival I've been to in the last few years must 

be Shambala but my all time favorite must be Glastonbury. 

We used to go as a family when ours was first starting up and 

would go our separate ways in the morning to see completely 

different things then report back around the campfire the next 

morning. It's where the heart of our own festival lies really. We 

can all find something we love here even though our tastes are 

so different. 

What was the first festival you ever attended? 

Glastonbury, before the fence went up! Crazy and dangerous, 

but eye opening and beautiful. 

If you could have anyone headline your event who would you 

choose? 

Radiohead. 100%. Or maybe Hendrix. 

What is the craziest request you've had from an artist? 

A top DJ/Producer once asked for 3 fridge magnets of the 

local area and a framed picture of the word c**t in any font 

except Times New Roman. I think he wanted to make sure 

we had read his rider properly as there was some important 

technical specifications and I guess if you have queried these 

items there's a good chance you've read it all. 

If you weren't putting on festivals, what would you be doing? 

I guess a mix of working on the family farm and doing green 

wood carpentry as these are the things I do in the quiet parts 

of the winter. 

What's your number 1 tip for surviving your festival? 

Bring wellies and suncream. 

What are your 3 must have festival promoter essentials? 

Knowledgeable friends. A willingness to risk. The Internet. 

What makes your event stand out from all the rest? 

The way we've retained the family garden party vibe. We try 

very hard to build as much as we can ourselves so you don't 

see it at other festivals. Our bars are in old crook frame barns 

or old lambing shelters. Some of our more dance genre venues 

are old cattle sheds. I'm pretty certain there's not another 

festival like us in the country. 

Where would we find you on the last night of your festival? 

With my family and friends just in front of the viewing platform 

of our Orchard Stage. We all work so hard over the weekend 

and it has become a tradition to all get together for a few 

songs of the Sunday headliner. 

Finally - Do you ever get used to portaloos? 

I prefer to use the compost toilets if I'm out on the site but if i 

can I'll still nip home to the farm house. I can watch one of the 

stages from the bathroom window, so it's not too bad!

Who are FP? 

We have over 23,000 customers in the UK and 96% rate us either 

excellent or very good at what we do, we have national field service 

technicians and a UK call centre. 

Our priority is looking after our customers and making sure that we 

exceed their expectations and listen to their feedback so we can 

continuously improve our products and services. 

So why not join our 23,000 customers today who already benefit from 

franking. 

Contact Us 

FP Midshires 

1 Victoria Square 

Birmingham, B1 1BD 

Phone: 0121 314 1445 

Mobile: 07962 652 262 

Fax: 0121 616 0555 

Email: peter@fp-wmid.com 

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Arches Venue, Coventry 

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The Red Lion, Jewellery Quarter 

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10:30pm - 3:30am 


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Alex Hutton - Magna Carta 


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Motorheadache 


8pm - 12:30am 


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Le Freak: Soul Train Special 

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9pm - 4am 

The Night Owl, Birmingham 

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10:30pm - 3:30am 


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Saturday 28th January 

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Evening - 7:30pm - 10:15pm 


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Evening - 7:30pm - 10:15pm 



Family 

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FPS Fitness Studio, Yardley Wood 

£7.50 Child, £15 Standard 

Not the Rolling Stones 


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From £11 

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From £4 

Big Wednesday 

Wednesday 25th January 

10:30pm - 3:30am 


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O2 Academy 3, Birmingham 

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The SkaStuds 


7pm - 11:30pm 

The Windsor Theatre bar, 

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Beauty 


7:30pm - 10:15pm 



Family 

Scooby’s Tosh 


7:30pm - 10:30pm 

The Night Owl, Birmingham 

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8pm - 12:30am 


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Quadrophenia Night with The 

Atlantics and Guests 


8pm - 1am 

O2 Academy 2, Birmingham 

From £14.65 

Jeremy Healy 


9pm - 2am 

The Swan, Stourbridge 

From £9 

Soul Nostalgia Night 


9pm - 3am 

The Hilton Hotel, Coventry 

From £6.50 

Ravers Reunited: January Sales 

2017 


9pm - 6am 

The Emporium, Leicester 

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Lose Control - 10 Years of 

Bassline 


10pm - 5am 

Streetlife, Leicester 

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Playaz: Birmingham 


10pm - 6am 

The Rainbow Venues, 


From £19.50 

Bass Jam Birmingham 


10pm - 6am 

Central Hall, Birmingham 

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Loaded Saturday 


10:30pm - 4am 


From £4 

Good Gas Podcast 

Sunday 29th January 

7pm - 11pm 

Comedy Loft (6 on 

Broadstreet), Birmingham 

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WWE Royal Rumble 

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55 

In the article this month I caught up 

with Dale Sampey, the owner of the 

sublime men’s grooming parlour, The 

Barber House, located in the centre of 

Birmingham’s Colmore Row district. Dale 

and I go way back, he was the guy who 

first took the plunge to stock Gruhme, 

a business I had only just started a few 

months earlier when we met. His bravery 

that day sums up the guy that he is as 

it’s been one brave more after another 

for Dale. Here is a bit more of his story. 

You run a highly successful business, 

picking up the top ranking for 

Birmingham when GQ ran an article a 

few years back, where did it all begin 

for you? 

It all started in a little Italian barbershop 

back in 1991. My first role was how 

it begins for most of us in the trade 

today: sweeping floors, clearing up, 

welcoming the customers and listening 

in on the conversations of the older 

guys in the barbershop whilst enjoying 

their particular styles of banter too. I 

knew from a young age it was what I 

always wanted to be, a respected gent’s 

hairdresser giving the best styles and 

service of my trade. My dad was not 

keen on the idea back then, barbering 

was not as trendy as today and he had 

expected me to follow a more “manly” 

profession. But there is little else more 

manly than barbering in my opinion, 

it takes great skill to make a customer 

return time and again, cutting their 

hair is only a part of that experience, it 

starts from the second they walk in (the 

handshake, the drinks, the conversation 

- all part of what makes them a loyal 

customer). When I started out most 

barbers were not giving their customers 

much choice or thought in terms of style 

and service so I have always set about 

to create a more tailored approach and 

that remains the case today too. Despite 

my father’s reservations I felt such a 

connection to the work I knew I could 

master it and make a living from it too. 

Wasn’t easy going against the old man’s 

wishes but I have never looked back! 

In your time at the chair you'll have 

seen some trends come and go but your 

shop seems more popular than ever 

with queues out the door, does it seem 

that way to you too? 

We've seen all sorts of styles come 

and go over the years, and not all need 

a comeback either! There have been 

Flattops, French crops, V cuts and many 

more. The latest David Beckham style 

always caused a spike in demand over 

the years and now we have the best of 

all: the Pompadours are back! (Ed: thinks 

Elvis and Bruno Mars for the Pompadour 

look). The Pompadour is lovely style to 

cut and we are all thoroughly enjoying 

it being so popular, I also think it will 

be around for a long time to come. The 

first 20 years were certainly hard graft 

to get established but the next 20 years 

will certainly be my best, it has all come 

together brilliantly. Having my own shop 

in the centre of Birmingham means we 

can attract plenty of customers and 

that provides a great opportunity to set 

my own style and influence to a wider 

market. The popularity of The Barber 

House is due to the way we give the men 

a chance to experience the very latest 

and best in men’s cuts. Barbering is very 

much in fashion these days and we are 

all having a great time - but we should all 

remember that fashions don't last so I'm 

going to make the most of this upward 

shift in popularity! 

There's been no mistaking the boom in 

men’s beards and the products to look 

after them. Any tips for those growing, 

or thinking of growing a beard? 

If you are going to grow a beard there's 

never been a better time to show it 

off, the choice of styles and products 

has just never been so good. There 

has been so much of it over the past 

few years that you can find plenty of 

experience in keeping that beard in 

tiptop condition too. This the first time in 

my career where the beard has been so 

mainstream and so fashionable, including 

in the corporate workplace too. We can 

certainly give advice to any starting out 

or wanting to launch that new look for 

2017 – and suggest the best products 

to help you keep that beard in the ideal 

style and condition for you too. We pride 

ourselves on being experts in beards 

and shaving and making sure you can 

learn something new on each visit too, 

we only sell what we believe is right for 

the job. 

Is the day of the clean cutthroat shave 

likely to make a more mainstream 

appearance in 2017? 

I think beards are going to be around for 

quite a few years but maybe the style of 

the beard will change. Expect we may 

see beards being longer on the chin and 

shorter on the sides but it's certainly 

still here for the foreseeable future as a 

popular look. The clean shave is far from 

beaten though; the appearance it made 

in Skyfall with Bond using a cutthroat 

shave certainly gave it a shot in the arm. 

The safety razor and brush combo is 

gaining popularity all the time too. We


still get a very satisfying feedback from 

our customers who come in for the full 

clean shave, especially when it is the 

first time, nothing compares to it for a 

feel good shave. For the uninitiated on 

cutthroat shaves I suggest they come in 

and let the experts give them the experience 

they won’t forget, it’s as close to 

pampering as us guys get. 

Does the Birmingham scene have its 

own favourite style or does it follow 

general trends? 

Birmingham certainly has its share of 

unique beards, and the guys wear them 

well (certainly our customers!). In terms 

of hair, the Pompadour had not been 

seen much for around 20 to 30 years 

and now it's everywhere and Birmingham 

has been amongst the first to adopt 

it for sure. The side parting Pompadour 

may be making a greater appearance 

next year and we’ll be doing more of 

those for the local scene too. The trend 

for a more fashionable style is going to 

stay around and we love that, the more 

the guys are keen to look the part the 

more fun our work is each day. 

Q6 You work long hours each day and 

you have a young family at home. What 

advice do you want to share about coping 

with and working in a business but 

having time for a home life too? 

What is the thing you like most about 

having a business in Birmingham? 

Birmingham really is the place to be 

right now, it’s got the perfect mix of 

a City vibe but a place you can get to 

know the locals properly too. There is 

so much development going on which 

is continuously helping bring in a more 

lively and interesting atmosphere. In the 

past few years since we opened there 

are so many new restaurants, bars and 

businesses coming to the area. It's great 

to be in the Colmore Row area and we 

are hoping to grow and do more here as 

a business ourselves too. 

What would be your advice for someone 

looking to up their game in 2017 

and go for a bold new look, which cut 

and style would you suggest? Any In 

The City promotions for January (wink, 

wink!)? 

A new look and a new style is a great 

way to start the New Year. Pop in and 

have a chat, we love giving people ideas 

for how they can adopt a new look. 

There's never been a better time to 

experiment too, combine some expert 

advice and our great choice of products 

and you can’t go wrong. January will be 

a good time to visit as we are running 

the January promotion on our online 

shop for 10% off all orders purchased by 

our new customers. I’m sure if you mention 

you saw this article we can throw in 

an extra free drink and maybe a deal if 

you’re lucky too! 

Would you do it all again? 

Absolutely. I wouldn't change a thing I 

did to get to where I am today either. 

At the right time, in the right place they 

often say you need a little bit of luck and 

some good timing, I've waited a lot of 

years for this but we definitely had the 

luck when we needed it - right when we 

opened the doors to The Barber House 

and it certainly feels we will be able to 

keep the positive momentum going for a 

long while yet! 

I've always worked hard but I actually 

work harder now I’m in my 40s then I've 

ever worked! I work 12 hours plus each 

day and travel either side of that as well. 

One thing I always make sure is I have 

a decent amount of quality time at the 

weekend with my family (the guys do a 

great job taking care of the shop over 

the weekends for me). Another way 

we keep close as a family is they all get 

involved in the business. We each have a 

role and my wife helps me a great deal, 

even drops by on the occasional Friday 

and we try and grab a drink together 

after closing too - my daughter is hoping 

to join in full time one day and has also 

been working Fridays with me and the 

guys. The good news with the family 

working together is it’s easier to not talk 

about the business at the weekends, as 

we’ve all seen enough of it during the 

week! (I'm laughing at this particular 

point because I still talk about the business 

far too much I bet!). 

If you take time off where is your favourite 

place to go? 

Holidays with the family are so important. 

We normally head somewhere 

warm and relax as much possible. We 

went to Ibiza this summer and had a 

great time. A good holiday makes all 

the hard work worthwhile, so time out is 

certainly important if you have to do the 

long hours needed to run a business.

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TAKE CHARGE 

OF YOUR HEALTH 

IN 2017 

Article by Tony Kelly 

As one of the Diabetes UK “Community Champions” 

for the West Midlands since the summer of 2012, 

it is my great pleasure to have been afforded this 

opportunity to write about health and wellbeing in the 

New Year edition of In The City Magazine. We must aim to 

improve our diet and lifestyle for the New Year and beyond... 

And more importantly, stick to it! 

As someone who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 

twelve years ago (mine is hereditary) I have never taken 

any medication to keep this medical condition from getting 

worse. The complications associated with diabetes that 

I have witnessed amongst family members in Jamaica 

include heart attacks, blindness, strokes, limb amputations 

and kidney disease. However, if managed properly and kept 

under control these can all be avoided. 

Having disciplined myself by way of a healthy diet and 

physical activity, will power, motivation and determination 

keep me going. Some people struggle on their own, so 

joining a voluntary support group for diabetics can be 

highly effective. Diabetes UK, a well known charity who 

have an excellent website and produce every quarter a 

magazine called “Balance”, are highly recommended. 

This advice is meant not only for people diagnosed with 

diabetes, but prevention is also a key element of what I 

and others proactively aim to accomplish. At the start of 

2016, just a year ago, there were over 4 million people in 

the UK diagnosed with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, 

along with a further half a million who have the condition 

but are unaware due to not being screened or assessed. 

90% of diabetics have Type 2 which is mainly preventable 

if one eats sensibly, controls their weight (if needs be) and 

exercises regularly. It must be stressed that people of an 

average weight can also develop diabetes. 

Diabetes is a condition which occurs when the pancreas 

which makes insulin is not functioning properly and 

therefore cannot use glucose as it should. With diabetes 

your blood glucose levels stay up because your body 

cannot use it properly for the energy it needs. Glucose 

comes from some of the food and drinks that we consume 

especially carbohydrates such as rice, biscuits, cakes , 

bread and fries along with sweets, fizzy drinks and fruit 

juices to name but a few. Aim for more fresh fruits and 

vegetables, oats and beans commonly known as “pulses”. 

The only exception to this is baked beans which tend to be 

packed with a lot of sugar. 

Contrary to popular belief, diabetes cannot be cured but 

can be kept under control or reversed. Some ethnic groups 

are more at risk of developing diabetes due to factors such 

as their DNA/genetics, metabolism, diet and sedentary/ 

couch potato lifestyle.

Symptoms of diabetes include: 

1. Feeling thirsty more often 

2. Going to the toilet more often to pass urine 

3. Feeling tired/lethargic more often 

4. Losing unexplained weight, i.e. getting thinner 

5. Blurred vision 

6. Slow healing of cuts and wounds 

Nb. Sometimes one can have the medical condition for up to 

ten years and display no symptoms at all. I would therefore 

urge everyone to have a diabetes risk assessment done by 

your doctor or diabetic nurse. 

Any of the contacts below can signpost readers to training 

events or health care professionals to learn more about 

diabetes. 

Tony Kelly 

Diabetes UK Community Champion in the West Midlands 

Contact address: jubahead@hotmail.com 

Walsall Diabetes UK Regional Office 

Tameway Tower 

Bridge Street 

Walsall, WS1 1JZ 

01922614500 

or 

Diabetes UK website 

0345 123 2399 

www.diabetes.org.uk

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62 TRAVEL // SPONSORED BY CALTOURS 

Chasing The Northern Lights 

You need look no further than David Attenborough’s fantastic show Planet Earth to see that the natural world is full of 

astounding sights and experiences. Though the animal kingdom provides much of the entertainment on Planet Earth, 

there’s no denying that the natural world is the unspoken star of the show, with stunning natural backdrops providing a vivid 

canvas for the action onscreen. When it comes to tourism, few natural sights quite capture the imagination as much as aurora 

borealis – the Northern Lights. Here is In The City Magazine’s guide to chasing the Northern Lights... 

How can I see the 

Northern Lights? 

Sadly, this is a question without any definitive answer. Much 

like other weather phenomena, the Northern Lights aren’t 

guaranteed to be located in any one place at any particular 

time. A wealth of online meteorology websites have popped 

up tracking patterns to try and inform users of the best 

times to try and seek out the Northern Lights, but ultimately 

it often comes down to a combination of luck and picking 

the right time of year/night to best seek them out. 

Traditionally, most tourists will travel somewhere in the 

far Northern Hemisphere to try and track down the lights. 

Destinations like Iceland and Scandinavian countries 

like Finland and Norway have proved hugely popular for 

tourists, yielding the highest possibility of catching the 

lights. As a result of this interest, tour companies have 

popped up across the board offering expeditions out to try 

and find the best spot to see the lights – these can be night 

excursions from your hotel, right the way through to full 

camping adventures in high-end glamping facilities. 

What are the 

Northern Lights? 

A spectacular explosion of colour caused by electrically 

charged particles from the sun crashing against the Earth’s 

atmosphere, aurora borealis is (rightfully) seen as one of 

nature’s most vivid and exciting natural phenomena. 

The lights down 

under 

Though we might know the phenomena as “The Northern 

Lights”, in truth this exceptional experience also has a 

southern hemisphere counterpart. Named Aurora Australis, 

the lights in the Southern Hemisphere are every bit as 

elusive as their northern cousins, but can be found in 

southernmost points including Patagonia (in Argentina) 

and Australia, offering adventurers a chance to see the 

dazzling lights in slightly more temperate climes.

TRAVEL // SPONSORED BY CALTOURS 

63 

Where is best to see 

the Northern Lights? 

As mentioned above, there isn’t necessarily a guaranteed 

place to see the lights, but there are some ways you 

can optimise your chances. In terms of geographical 

positioning, the further north a person is the better chance 

they will have of seeing the lights on display if conditions 

are right. As previously mentioned, many Scandinavian 

countries have an entire economy based around aurora 

borealis tourism. These offer tourists not just higher 

chances of seeing the lights than at home, but also more 

options to suit any kind of traveller, allowing holidaymakers 

the opportunity to tailor-make their own experiences. 

However, you needn’t go abroad to see the lights. Sightings 

of the Northern Lights in the UK are comparatively rare 

compared to the likes of Norway or Iceland, but they aren’t 

entirely unheard of. One rule that remains crucial amidst 

lights hunters is that sightings are much more common 

in rural areas. As such, in the UK most common northern 

lights sightings happen in hugely rural areas, especially 

countryside areas. If you can’t afford/justify a trip overseas 

to Scandinavia to see the lights, a domestic trip out into the 

Welsh/Scottish countryside could be just as productive and 

has added bonuses of being able to sort out at (almost) 

last minute, meaning you can use online sites to potentially 

optimise your chances. 

One of the UK’s more popular areas for northern lights 

tourism tends to be the north of Scotland, with cities 

and towns like Aberdeen or Stonehaven making a good 

home-base for rural trips out to potentially see the lights. 

Scotland’s geographical positioning in the Northern 

hemisphere might mean it suffers more from dismal British 

weather, but it certainly reaps the rewards of stunning 

visual displays! 

For truly intrepid travellers, a trip off-coast could also be a 

great way to seek out the lights without leaving the greater 

UK. Trips up to the Shetland Islands (including Skaw, on the 

island of Unst, the northernmost settlement in the United 

Kingdom) run from Scotland via both boat and plane – 

subject to availability. Though not necessarily the best idea 

in winter, trips up this way in milder weather can yield some 

fascinating sights. With the Northern Lights, a combination 

of good planning, luck and a sense of adventure can make 

all the difference. 

By sea, land or air? 

It’s no small surprise that the fervent nature of northern 

lights tourism has created a wealth of options for 

travellers seeking out the lights. The most cost effective 

method would be by land – hiking expeditions to natural 

high spots can be entirely self-organised and offer a 

personal way to try and seek out the lights. Of course, if 

you worry that you’ll miss the lights and the crowds will 

have better look, hiking expeditions are also often run by 

tour companies and guides in areas that see lots of solar 

activity. 

As previously mentioned, rural areas tend to yield more 

sightings of the lights, in no small part due to the fact 

they aren’t affected by high levels of light pollution in 

towns and cities. As such, an increasingly popular option 

for tourists has been to take to the sky in a northern 

lights flight expedition. Flights run from as far afield as 

Birmingham and London and often travel overnight to the 

reaches of the northern hemisphere to try and spot the 

lights. Costs vary greatly, but the uncertain nature of the 

lights can make this a risky proposition. 

A final hugely popular option has been to undertake 

a cruise – offering all the luxuries and amenities of 

transport alongside the freedom to get directly under the 

stars and engage with the phenomenon unfettered, this 

option generally costs the most but yields some of the 

best results and experiences.

SPOTLIGHT 

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66 HOME & PROPERTY // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURAL & BUILDING SERVICES 

brightLET 

Blog – The 

Importance of 

Saving 

Between bills, groceries and rent, it can often seem 

impossible to even start thinking about putting money 

aside for savings. And yet, it should be the first thing 

on all of our minds, regardless of wage. Though it might seem 

redundant to put small amounts aside, the cliché of “every 

penny counts” rings especially true with savings. After all, 

an amount as small as £25 a month can see you hitting the 

hundreds in no time at all. 

So, why save? The obvious reason given would be for a home 

and certainly, even with government schemes dropping house 

deposits as low as 5%, you’ll want a strong deposit on any 

home you look at, especially if you want a good mortgage. 

Luckily, saving for a first home currently offers up a wealth 

of options for the discerning saver with plenty of First-Time 

Buyer ISAs (both commercial and government-run) available 

to explore. These can see investors get annual bonuses on 

the money they save and are a great way to be rewarded for 

frugality (as well as secure some financial stability for a future 

home). 

Of course, saving for a house isn’t the only reason you might 

want to put money aside. Personal savings can be hugely 

useful as a safety net. Whether you’re looking to rent for the 

first time, or just looking for a new place, having a buffer in the 

form of savings can make all the difference. 

It’s easy to forget when looking at a prospective new home 

all of the unforeseen costs that can hit our wallets the hardest. 

Whilst we will account for costs like deposits and fees, all too 

often we don’t consider the other factors that make up the 

difference between moving into a new house and making 

a new home. Furniture alone can take a heavy toll on the 

bank account, but simple things like toiletries and first-shop 

groceries can also prove to be hugely costly. 

The easiest way to work out how much you can afford to save 

is to create a budget. Whilst it’s not the most glamorous task, 

programmes like Excel make creating a budget a fairly painless 

task. Once you have accounted for each of your monthly 

spends (for example; rent, bills, luxury amenities like internet 

or a mobile phone contract, travel expenses for work etc.) you 

can start to draw up a picture of how much money you have 

left available on each pay check. From there, figure out how 

much you want to save each month; a good rule of thumb is 

to either have a set amount you want to put aside (e.g. £100 

a month), or possibly get creative and save a set amount (e.g. 

10% of your wage) plus “bonuses” if you stay within budget 

(e.g. 50% of remaining money each month). 

As with First Time Buyer accounts, there are plenty of options 

available to savers looking to cash in on frugality. Popular 

options like ISAs can see you get small cash bonuses on the 

money saved, but can also come with drawbacks – e.g. a set 

period before any money can be withdrawn without penalty. 

The trick is to shop around and find the deal best for you, 

though it always advisable to keep savings separate from a 

general expenses account.

HOME & PROPERTY // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURAL & BUILDING SERVICES 

67 

DECORATING 

ON A BUDGET 

With Christmas and New Year’s now out of the way, it’s high time to start thinking 

about what you want to do with your house in the year ahead. Of course it’s 

never as easy as it may seem on paper. Certainly, with the Christmas period only 

just behind us, bank accounts will be tight in January. But, that doesn’t mean you 

can’t look to sprucing your house up, it just requires a little creative budgetary 

innovation. With that in mind, In The City Magazine looks at the best tips for 

turning your house into a personal home without breaking the bank... 

Set a budget (and stick to it!) 

It might seem like an obvious starting 

point, but it is all too common that we’ll 

try to avoid spending too much in any 

shopping scenario yet somehow go well 

over budget. An easy way to avoid this 

is to simply set a hard budget from the 

get-go and then stick to it religiously. Of 

course, it might not be just that easy. If 

you’re just looking to do a spot of light 

decorating, it can be fairly easy to set 

a low budget that you will be able to 

stick to, but try not to stick an abritrary 

figure on your budget before you have a 

good idea of how much the things you 

will need are going to cost. After all, you 

won’t get far if you set a budget of £20 

but need a new settee or living room 

set! 

Every little helps (but can also hinder!) 

We can often be led astray by making 

numerous small purchases when 

shopping around, things that aren’t 

necessarily tied to the project but seem 

like good purchase ideas at the time. 

Enough of these and it is exceptionally 

easy to go overbudget, so a good rule of 

thumb is to keep note of everything you 

pick up. One of the easiest ways to do 

this is using a smartphone (or handheld 

calculator) and deduct everything you 

pick up from your overall budget; that 

way you have a constant goal in mind. 

Less can be more 

Remember, a decorating project doesn’t 

have to be a complete overhaul of 

your surroundings. Doing something 

as simple as re-painting the walls can 

refresh how you see a room and make 

it feel different, not to mention stop 

the walls from appearing dull or faded. 

As well as repainting, you might also 

consider ways to improve how you 

use space in your home. A few nifty 

purchases of items like door racks 

(perfect for keeping toilettries in the 

bathroom) or cupboard nets can not 

only increase the amount of space you 

have in a room, but also keep clutter to 

a minimum. 

Shop around (and don’t get suckered 

by “deals”!) 

January might feel like the best time to 

start updating the design of your home, 

especially as the January sales set in. 

As mentioned above however, don’t 

fall into the trap of picking up every 

reduced item you see when shopping 

for new materials – that lamp might be 

reduced from £30 to just £9.99 but if it 

doesn’t fit with the rest of your furniture, 

or you already have plenty of lighting in 

your rooms it’s just another expenditure 

eating into your budget.

68 HOME & PROPERTY // SPONSORED BY ALPS ARCHITECTURAL & BUILDING SERVICES 

YES - 

PROPERTY 

IS BETTER 

THAN A 

PENSION 

BY Andrew & Peter Founders of PIRC 

NOW OPEN 

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Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Boxes Made to Order 

Open Tuesday to Saturday 9am till 4pm 

Tel: 0121 427 2567 

18 Lonsdale Rd, Birmingham B17 9RA 

www.organiceverything.co.uk 

Happy New Year and with a new year 

comes resolutions to make changes and 

improvements to our life for the year ahead. 

The New Year is an ideal time to review our 

short medium and long term financial objectives. 

It may come as a surprise to you, when last year the 

Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane stated 

‘Property is better bet’ than a pension. Stating pensions 

are too complicated and property is better due to 

continuously rising prices. 

As an investor in property this came as no surprise to 

us. When you consider average pension returns after 

fees over the last 10 years have delivered less than 

inflation returns, whilst Property has enjoyed average 

growth of 8% per annum excluding any rental income, 

which when taken into account average returns gives 

13%. Surely Property is complicated we hear you say 

and you require lots of money don’t you! Andy Haldane 

states property is a lot simpler than pensions and like 

any investment property is as complicated as you wish 

to make it. We ask you is your own home complicated 

to own and maintain? 

The added bonus with property is that unlike pensions 

the banks will lend you most of the money you need 

to buy your investment property this can increase the 

returns quoted above as you leverage your money. 

So we hear you say ask – How do I get into property? 

We recommend going along to a local independent 

property network meeting, most towns have one on 

www.meetup.com where you will find people just like 

you who already own property. The vast majority of 

landlords invest in property instead of a pension have 

regular day jobs and want to provide quality, safe 

homes for people contrary to what the press would 

have you believe. 

You will find those who invest in property are open 

to helping and supporting you answering questions, 

sharing best practice and suppliers. A great resource 

used by most investors that we recommend is the 

Property Investor Reward Club, www.PIRC-Card.co.uk 

They offer contract prices for all the goods and services 

you need to run your property business and also list 

suitable properties. 

If you would like to meet Peter and Andrew to discuss 

a property problem email info@great-properties.co.uk 

or if you want to meet us in person we are at the 

www.GreatPropertyMeet.co.uk every 3rd Monday of 

the month in Rugby at 7pm where property experts 

share knowledge on a monthly basis, this is a great 

property networking event . Come along for a chat if 

you are in the area.

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72 MOTORS // SPONSORED BY MOTORBODIES UK 

SHIFTING GEARS ON THE NEW YEAR: 

The Performance Car Show 2017 

What? The Performance Car Show 

Where? NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT 

When? 12th - 15th January 

How Much? Tickets start at £33 in advance for Adults, £21 for children. Family tickets are also available. 

The roads might not be optimised for driving, but 

that doesn’t mean you can’t dream of sunnier climes 

and the long road trips to come this January. So 

how best to look to the future (and possibly get a 

perspective on changing your own wheels) than to head to 

The Performance Car Show, hosted at Birmingham’s NEC this 

January. 

Hosted in association with Autocar and PistonHeads.com, you 

can be sure that The Performance Car Show will prove to be 

the perfect way to kick off the year for any excitable motoring 

enthusiast. Expect the automotive greats to be out in full force 

at the show, with the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren 

out to strut their stuff in the New Year. With some of the most 

recognisable and esteemed manufacturers in performance car 

history appearing at the event, you can be sure that the show 

will be the definitive article in getting to grips with the best 

performance cars of 2017. 

The event is set to take place alongside the principle preseason 

motorsport event, Autosport International (which you 

can read about overleaf). Combined, these two events make 

the NEC the go-to place for motoring aficionados this January. 

Gear heads can look forward to dedicated displays by Autocar 

Supercar and PistonHeads, as well as Car Clubs and Hand 

Built British Sports Cars. Also among the attractions at The 

Performance Car Show will be high octane precision driving 

displays, utilising the talents of drift teams and stunt drivers 

for adrenaline-inducing excitement. As if this weren’t enough, 

visitors can also get involved in wheel-to-wheel racing in the 

UK’s largest indoor race circuit and take part in high speed 

action with Caterham driving experiences. The event will also 

host an “arrive-and-drive karting” attraction. 

The 2016 Performance Car Show hosted a massive 87,800 

visitors (a combination of 27,500 industry professionals and 

60,300 members of the general public). The 2017 event 

looks set to be even bigger, potentially topping last year’s 

attendance with visitors flying from all over the globe to 

attend. In 2016 alone visitors from over 60 different countries 

visited the event. Much more than just window shoppers, 59% 

of all visitors made a purchase either at the show, or shortly 

afterwards. This proves that The Performance Car Show is an 

event truly catering to the motoring enthusiast, offering not 

just great entertainment opportunities but also chances for 

networking and commercial interest. 

The event runs from 9am until 6pm daily. The event caters to 

both traders and the general public, with two trader-only days 

and two public days. Attendees of The Performance Car Show 

will also be given access to Autosport International. 

Read our Autosport International feature to find out more 

about this event.

MOTORS // SPONSORED BY MOTORBODIES UK 

73 

SHIFTING GEARS FOR THE NEW YEAR: 

AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL 2017 

What? Autosport International 

Where? NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT 

When? 12th - 15th January 

How Much? Tickets start at £33 in advance for Adults, £21 

for children. Family tickets are also available. 

A 

sister event to The Performance Car Show (also 

hosted at the NEC on the same dates), the 

Autosport International 2017 is the grand master 

event that will see the automotive world rev its 

engines and get in gear for the New Year. Europe’s largest 

pre-season motorsports event, the Autosport International is a 

great way to kick off the motoring calendar, catering perfectly 

to traders and the general public alike. Whether you’re a 

professional in the automotive industry, a motoring enthusiast 

or just enjoy getting close and personal with some of the 

world’s greatest motors, Autosport International is sure to be 

the motoring event for you. 

Now celebrating its 27th year, Autosport International has 

firmly entrenched itself as a fixture of the motorsports 

calendar – a perfect build up to the high octane thrills of race 

season. Split between two trade-only days and two days open 

to the general public, the event perfectly balances both the 

professional and public worlds of motorsports. 

The definitive article when it comes to automotive exhibitions, 

Autosport International brings all the very latest developments 

in the world of motorsports to the show room for a fascinating 

and exciting exhibition. The event explores the inter-connected 

(but vastly different) worlds of motorsports and automotives, 

as well as cutting edge performance engineering technology 

to allow visitors to explore all aspects of automotives past, 

present and future. 

Cars and exhibitors from every level of motor racing are 

featured at the event, meaning the true petrol head won’t 

struggle to indulge their passion and interests. By perfectly 

striking a balance between professional and personal interests 

in the automotive industry, Autosport International can 

perfectly cater both to visitors who arrive looking to network 

and do business, as well as visitors who are just coming to 

engage with the very best in the motoring world. 

Doors to the Autosport International 2017 event open to the 

general public on Saturday 14th January, letting guests enjoy 

a weekend amongst some of the brightest stars and brands in 

the motoring world. The public event allows visitors to engage 

with a variety of exhibitions and features. Among these are; 

- The Trade and Technical Area: A who’s who line-up of 

technical motorsports suppliers and businesses, a gateway to 

the commercial aspect of the motoring world. 

- National Motorsports Area: A gateway to the world of 

entry-level motorsports, offering advice and opportunities to 

enthusiasts who aren’t content to just watch. 

- Historic Motorsports Area: Just as the name suggests, a hall 

of fame/museum type attraction that chronicles the best and 

most important moments in motorsports history. 

- Fitness and Preparation Area: A perfect New Year’s 

attraction, the fitness and preparation area is designed to 

give visitors the best advice, products and training regimens 

to help them succeed. 

- Experience Zone: VR is certainly one of the hottest 

properties in tech at the moment, so it makes perfect sense 

that the motorsports world would adapt its use with stateof-the-art 

simulators and other tech completely immersing 

visitors in their own motorsports experiences. 

With all of the above plus many, many others, Autosport 

International is set to be one of the biggest motosports events 

of 2017, right at the start of the year.

74 MOTORS // SPONSORED BY MOTORBODIES UK 

The Continental Connection 

There’s no denying that electric vehicles represent one 

of the biggest and most important developments in 

the motoring world. Between government incentives 

designed to reward prospective car buyers for going green and 

the announcement that as of 2017 only fully electric vehicles 

will be exempt of road tax (where previously more eco-friendly 

hybrids could also be considered exempt), the fact is that the 

electric vehicle is here to stay. 

It shouldn’t be any surprise then, that some of the biggest 

names in the vehicular manufacturing world have announced 

plans to greatly expand the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) 

friendliness. Some of the world’s largest car manufacturers 

have announced joint plans to create a Europe-wide charging 

network for electric cars, finally putting paid to the rangebetween-charges 

concern of most fuel-to-electric sceptics. 

With over 400 charging stations set to be built across Europe 

by BMV, Ford, Daimler and VW Group, the project is set to 

be one of the world’s biggest ever international automotive 

developments. The route is set to make it easy for EV drivers to 

drive long distances across the continent. Due to be deployed 

along major routes in almost all major European countries, the 

network will offer up to 350kW charging facilities – more than 

double the wattage of current market leader, Tesla. 

Whilst no current EV has the capacity for these station’s 

maximum wattage, the manufacturers assure that the 

development is an investment into the future and the everevolving 

nature of electric vehicles. The stations are expected 

to be completed by 2020, with the long-term goal being to 

make charging at an electric station as easy as refuelling at a 

traditional petrol station. 

These plans represent something of a revolution in the electric 

vehicle market. The idea of a commercially open charging 

network standing as a stark contrast to the Tesla network’s 

proprietary system which only allows Tesla vehicles to recharge 

using Tesla stations. 





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78 OUT IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY TASC 

Hello, Auf Wiedersehen 

After what feels like an eternity, the Birmingham Frankfurt Market has finally left Birmingham for another year (or, 11 

months at least!). Don’t let that fool you into thinking that Birmingham hasn’t got anywhere to offer to the discerning 

partier though; In The City Magazine has all the information you might need to explore Birmingham City Centre post- 

German Market... 

The Victoria 

48 John Bright Street, B1 1BN 

Why go clubbing when you can enjoy some great music 

and tastebud tickling cocktails in The Victoria? With a 

litany of events held throughout the week, including pub 

quiz nights and performances by live bands, The Victoria is 

held in high esteem as a city centre nightspot. But, the bar 

doesn’t just operate by moonlight; during the day visitors 

can treat themselves to a tasty selection from bar’s menu. 

In particular, The Victoria’s pizza is something of a foodie 

revelation, the perfect dish for many a night (or day) out in 

Birmingham. 

Nuvo 

11 Brindley Place, 2 Brunswick Square, B1 2LP 

One of Birmingham’s most illustrious (and exclusive) 

bars, Nuvo is the primo destination for those who 

seek class. Services like private rooms and extensive 

cocktail, champagne and wine lists help build a sense 

of VIP treatment for all of Nuvo’s clientelle, offering an 

atmosphere of endearing indulgence to guarantee that 

all customers feel fully catered to. Facilities like cocktail 

masterclasses, a late lounge and a gourmet on-site 

restaurant act as final flourishes on the Nuvo recipe, 

a gleaming gemstone amongst Birmingham’s already 

illustrious nightlife scene.

OUT IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY TASC 

79 

Island Bar 

14-16 Suffolk Street Queensway, B1 1LT 

Just because it is January, that doesn’t mean you 

can’t enjoy a taste of Hawaiian Tiki goodness in 

Birmingham city centre. Serving up lashings of fine 

rum and refreshing cocktails all year round, Island 

Bar is a premier nightlife spot. With a massive and 

diverse drinks menu (including an impressive array of 

colourful and fruity cocktails), Island Bar is a perfect 

place for a night out on the town. 

The Trocadero 

Temple Street, B2 5BG 

Located on one of the many side streets leading away 

from New Street, The Trocadero is a gem tucked 

away from the bustle of the high street. Serving up a 

sumptuous menu of pub grub classics with premier 

twists, the bar is a perfect resting spot when visiting 

Birmingham city centre. The Trocadero has become 

a beloved watering hole in the city centre; open until 

midnight most nights, the bar is particularly popular 

as a post-work/pre-club refresher spot. 

Sunflower Lounge 

76 Smallbrook Queensway, B5 4EG 

Most commonly recognised as the venue that 

launched a thousand bands, the Sunflower Lounge is 

among Birmingham’s hottest nightlife fixtures. Live 

bands provide a lively soundtrack to most evenings, 

with the likes of local heroes God Damn, Youth Man 

and Dirty Jane all honing their live prowess in the 

bar’s basement venue. Upstairs, the Sunflower Lounge 

is a chic spot to grab a drink and enjoy a dance; what 

the bar lacks in size it more than makes up for in lively 

atmosphere. 

Snobs 

51 Smallbrook Queensway, B5 4HX 

Quite possibly Birmingham’s biggest nightlife legacy, 

Snobs has been a clubbing institution since 1972. In 

the (almost) five decades sinc e it first opened, the 

club has been beloved for its huge parties which see 

DJs play everything from contemporary Pop and RnB 

to Soul and Mowtown classics. Since 2014 the bar has 

resided in new premises on Smallbrook Queensway, 

upgrading its facilities to allow for larger numbers of 

revellers, proving that even as it approaches its 50th 

year, Snobs is just getting bigger and bigger.

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LIGHTS - P63 

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SPOTLIGHT 

BUSINESS & 

COMMUNITY 


ALPS PRINT & DESIGN 

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84 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY // SPONSORED BY ALPS PRINT & DESIGN 

WHAT DOES THE 

NEW YEAR REALLY 

MEAN TO YOU? 

What does the New Year REALLY mean to you? New 

beginnings? New chapter in life? A fresh start? All of the 

above? 

Guilty as charged for using such a cliché but you can’t 

ignore the fact that for a lot of people 2017 really could 

mean ‘New Year, New You’. Taking on a fresh set of 

challenges a new year brings could mean the difference from 

feeling fulfilled, satisfied and content and feeling the opposite 

on the other end of the scale. This is true in life, business and 

in career. We spend all our lives working so it's important to 

find something that excites you every time you wake up in the 

morning and embrace the challenges each new day brings. 

I have met a few people who would say that they fell into their 

current role or opportunity and despite plodding away at it for 

many years they haven’t taken the courage to trying something 

new. Most of the time they are stuck in a rut or comfort zone or 

not willing to try new and different things, take that risk in life. 

Naturally, it’s important to earn a living to keep the roof over 

your head and put food on the table. However, hear me out, the 

idea of facing work that you don’t enjoy and denying yourself 

new challenges and opportunities just feels sad to me. 

I appreciate it’s not for everyone, not everyone can wake up in 

the morning and think that I don’t want to be where I am, I want 

to follow my dreams and passions in life. To explore something 

new, different and challenging. 

We all work to better ourselves and lead a better life but one 

thing is always key to remember when reflecting and assessing 

your career – is the act of setting personal goals, development 

and working towards them. 

We all want to feel as if we are making a difference, doing 

something worthwhile, get some form of job satisfaction and 

appreciation for what you do at work. 

I threw myself into a journey of personal development to better 

myself so that I can perform better at work and adopt a better 

positive mindset. It’s the small changes that made the biggest 

differences sometimes. As a result, I am looking forward to new 

opportunities in the new year, which I wouldn’t have got hadn’t I 

invested in myself and my own personal development. 

Think of 2017 as a new year of opportunities. If you’ve always 

wanted to learn a new skill, what are you waiting for? Just Do 

It! With technology theses days and the Internet, it's so much 

easier to up skill and this can only be beneficial for you in the 

long term. Who knows what the year will bring you. The only 

thing we do know for certain is without determination and 

focus, without some get up and go, things will remain the same. 

Embrace change and challenge yourself. 

BY KHALID KARIM, PATHWAY GROUP

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY // SPONSORED BY ALPS PRINT & DESIGN 

85 

TELL“FRED” 

TO SHUT UP 

BY MERISHA STEVENSON, FINANCIAL STYLE RADIO SHOW 

The most powerful voice you hear is your own. What 

you say to yourself has a greater influence on you than 

anything anyone else can say. But, how often do you 

stop to ask yourself what your self-chatter sounds like? 

Thinking is like breathing; it’s automatic. The constant 

chatter in our minds is the voice of our sub-conscious which 

is then interpreted by our conscious mind. Buddhists refer 

to it as ‘monkey mind’: thoughts in constant motion, jumping 

from branch to branch and chattering continuously in order 

to help us make sense of the world around us. 

The rhetoric of that voice could make you feel a range of 

emotions: depressed, worried, anxious, optimistic, upbeat. 

The first time I thought about this was during a management 

training course I completed several years ago. I forget the 

actual subject of the training, but I remember taking away a 

phrase that changed my life. It was, “tell ‘Fred’ to shut up”! 

‘Fred’ is the voice of doom and gloom. He is the voice of 

doubt, worry and pessimism. “I’m going to have a really bad 

day”, “It’s not going to work” and “They are going to let me 

down” are all things that Fred might say. 

The famous quote, usually attributed to the ancient Chinese 

philosopher Laozi (Lao Tzu), sums up the impact of our inner 

voices/thoughts. 

“Watch your thoughts, they 

become words; watch your words, 

they become actions; watch your 

actions, they become habits; 

watch your habits, they become 

character; watch your character, 

for it becomes your destiny.” 

So, we must be careful that we are not giving too much 

power to negative ‘Fred’. 

Over the years, ‘Fred’ has told me many things. He told me 

not to leave my job to start a business. He told not to pursue 

my passion in media as there was no way I would get a 

media job without formal qualifications. Yet, I have achieved 

steady growth and success in business and have been 

offered a production job in media. 

I believe that anything is possible and whilst I still hear 

‘Fred’s’ voice from time to time, I have learned to be swift in 

my instruction to him to just shut up! 

Fred will not dictate my future; he will not hamper the 

amazing opportunities that will come to bear in 2017. This is 

going to be the best year of my life, and it can be the best 

year of yours too. 

So just remember to keep ‘Fred’ at bay, and when he tries to 

take over, be swift and firm in telling him to, “SHUT UP!” 

BY MERISHA STEVENSON, FINANCIAL STYLE RADIO SHOW

86 SECTION // SPONSORED BY COMPANY 

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Meeting Your Direct Marketing Needs 

Comprehensive Reporting 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

OR A COMPETITIVE QUOTE PLEASE CONTACT: 

0121 230 8333 | darren@letterboxdirectuk.com

DIRECTORY 

WHERE? 

IN THE 

CITY 

PLACES TO 

EAT, DRINK, 

PARTY, SLEEP 


LETTERBOX DIRECT UK 

WWW.LETTERBOXDIRECTUK.COM

88 WHERE IN THE CITY // SPONSORED BY LETTERBOX DIRECT UK 

RESTAURANTS 

British Restaurants 

Purnells 

55 Cornwall St, 

Birmingham B3 2DH 

0121 212 9799 

FSK Mere Green 

1-5 The Highgate Centre, 

Mere Green, Sutton 

Coldfield, B74 4AB 

0121 323 2565 

Opus Restaurants 

54 Cornwall St, 

Birmingham, B3 2DE 

0121 200 2323 

opusrestaurant.co.uk 

Simpsons 

20 Highfield Road 

Edgbaston B15 3DU 

0121 454 3434 

Marco Pierre White's 

Hotel La Tour, Albert St, 

Birmingham B5 5JE 

0121 718 8000 

The Rectory Bar 

50-54 St Paul's Square, 

Birmingham B3 1QS 

0121 605 1001 

The Botanist 

14-16 Temple St, 

Birmingham B2 5BG 

0121 600 7430 

The Vaults 

Newhall Place, Newhall 

Hill, Birmingham B1 3JH 

0121 212 9837 

Bank 

Brindleyplace, 4 Brindley 

Birmingham B1 2JB 

0121 633 4466 





THE NIGHT OWL 




LIGHTS - P63 

Oriental Restaurants 

Chung Ying 

16-18 Wrottesley St, 

Birmingham, B5 4RT 

0121 622 5669 

Ming Moon Chinese 

Restaurant & Bar 

16 Hurst St, 

Birmingham, B5 4BN 

0121 622 5588 

Shogun Sushi & Noodle 

Bar 

The Mailbox, 27-29, 

Wharfside St, 

Birmingham, B1 1RS 

0121 632 1253 

Teppanyaki 

Unit E1, The Arcadian, 70, 

Hurst St, Birmingham, 

B5 4TD 

0121 622 5183 

Spanish Restaurants 

Amantia 

Apartment 9, Sun House, 

9-10, Bennetts Hill, 


0121 643 3647 

El Borracho 

65 - 67 Harborne 

Birmingham, B!5 3BU 

0121 454 3568 

Don diego 

5 Manor Rd, Sutton 

Coldfield B73 6EJ 

0121 355 5354 

Bar Estilo 

110-114 Wharfside St, 

Birmingham B1 1RF 

0121 643 3443 

Italian Restaurants 

Bella italia 

102 New St, 

Birmingham B2 4HS 

0121 643 1548 

Zizzi 

The Mailbox, 

Birmingham, B1 1RL 

0121 643 5605 

Cielo 

6 Oozells Square 

Brindley Place, 

Birmingham, B1 2JB 

0121 632 6882 

cielobirmingham.com 

Cucina Rustina Ltd 

24 Ludgate Hill, 

Birmingham, B3 1DX 

0121 233 2277 

French Restaurants 

le monde 

Brindleyplace, 

Birmingham B1 2HL 

0121 271 0600 

Annexxe 

220 Corporation St, 

Birmingham, B4 6QB 

0121 236 1171 

Edmunds' s Bar 

Brindleyplace, 6 Brindley 


0121 633 4944 

edmundsrestaurant.co.uk 

Cafe Rounge 

Bullring Shopping Centre, 

Birmingham, B5 4BG 

0121 616 1463 

EVENT 

PROMOTION 




available 


t: 0121 230 8333 

e: sales@inthecitymag.com 

American Restaurants 

Ed's Easy Diner 

Barclaycard Arena 

King Edwards Rd 

Birmingham, B1 2AA 

0121 233 4005 

TGI Fridays 

180 Hagley Rd 

Birmingham, B16 9NY 

0844 6920 0225 

Buffalo & Rye 

11 Bennetts Hill, 


0121 643 3312 

Five Guys Burger & Fries 


Birmingham, B5 8BU 

0121 643 0215 

Indian Restaurants 

Blue Mango 

Unit 5, Regency Wharf, 

Broad St, 

Birmingham, B1 2DS 

0121 633 4422 

Celebrity Indian 

Restaurant 

44 Broad St, 

Birmingham, B1 2HP 

0121 643 8969 

Eastzeast Restaurant 

197 Broad St, 

Birmingham B15 1AY 

0121 643 4808 

Asha's Birmingham 

12-22 Newhall St, 

Birmingham B3 3LX 

0121 200 2767 

ashasuk.co.uk 

Maharaja Restaurant 

23-25, Hurst St, 

Birmingham, B5 4BP 

0121 622 2641 

Jojolapa Nepalese 

Restaurant 

55-59, Newhall St, 

Birmingham, B3 3RB 

0121 212 2511 

Praza 

94 - 96 Hagley Road 

Birmingham B16 8LU 

0121 456 4500 

Pushkar Cocktail Bar & 

Dining 

245 Broad St, 

Birmingham, B1 2HQ 

0121 643 7978


Gastropubs 

The Victoria 

48 John Bright St, 

Birmingham B1 1BN 

0121 633 9439 

The High Field 

22 Highfield Rd, 

Birmingham B15 3DP 

0121 227 7068 

highfieldedgbaston. 

co.uk 

The New Inn 

74 Vivian Rd, 

Birmingham, B17 0DJ 

0121 426 3373 

The Brasshouse 

44 Broad St, 

Birmingham, B1 2HP 

0121 633 3383 

The Plough 

21 High St, 

Birmingham, B17 9NT 

0121 427 3678 

theploughharborne. 

co.uk 

The White Swan 

Harborne Rd, 

Birmingham B15 3TT 

0121 454 2359 

Bacchus Bar 

Burlington Arcade, New 

St, Birmingham B2 4JH 

0121 632 5445 

The Country Girl 

1 Raddlebarn Rd, 

Birmingham B29 6HJ 

0121 472 7639 





THE NIGHT OWL 




LIGHTS - P63 

Other Restaurants 

Turtle Bay 

Carribean Restaurant 

81-91, John Bright St, 

Birmingham, B1 1BL 

0121 643 1303 

Carat Bistro 

Carribean Restaurant 

27 Warstone Lane, 

Birmingham, B18 6QJ, 

0121 236 0519 

Red Peppers 

Greek Restaurant 

The Mailbox, 117, 

Wharfside St, 

Birmingham, B1 1RF 

0121 643 4202 

Byzantium 

Mediterranean 

Restaurant 

11 York Rd, 

Birmingham, B14 7SA 

0121 444 5444 

Auntie Agatha’s 

Caribbean Takeaway 

17A High St, 

Kings Heath, B14 7BB 

0121 441 2562 

auntieagathas.co.uk 

Fiesta Del Asado 

Latin American 

Restaurant 

229 Hagley Rd, 

Birmingham, B16 9RP 

0121 455 9331 

Al Bader Restaurant 

Middle Eastern 

178-182 Ladypool Rd, 

Birmingham, B12 

0121 773 9818 

Arabian Nites 

Middle Eastern 

Restaurant 

54-76 Bissell Street, 

Digbeth, B5 7HP 

0121 622 2845 

The Wilderness 

1 Dudley St, 

Birmingham B5 

0121 643 2673 

Sabai Sabai 

Thai Restaurant 

25 Woodbridge Rd, 

Birmingham, B13 8EH 

0121 449 4498 

Chaophraya 


Thai Restaurant 

Spiceal St, Bullring, 

Birmingham, B5 4BW 

0121 643 2424 

Istanbul Restaurant 

Turkish Restaurant 

2 Stockwell Rd, 

Birmingham, B21 9RJ 

0121 448 5223 

Lokman Sofrasi 

Turkish Restaurant 

381 Dudley Rd, 

Birmingham, B18 4HB 

0121 454 4999 

EVENT 

PROMOTION 




available 


t: 0121 230 8333 

e: sales@inthecitymag.com 

Blue Piano 

South-East Asian 

Restaurant 

26 Harborne Road 

Birmingham, B15 

0121 454 6877 

Selfridges 

English Restaurant 

Upper Mall East, 

Birmingham, B5 4PJ 

0121 600 6869 

Stageside Bar & 

Restaurant 

Deli Bar & Restaurant 

Thorp St, 

Birmingham, B5 4AU 

0844 338 9000 

Las Iguanas 


Restaurant 

The Arcadian, 70, 

Hurst St, Birmingham, 

B5 4TD 

0121 622 4466 

Rodizo Rico 


Restaurant 

207 Wharfside St, 

Birmingham, B1 1RN 

0121 285 2856 

Athens Café Bar Ltd 

Greek Restaurant 

31 Paradise Circus 

Queensway, 

Birmingham, B1 2BJ 

0121 661 8182 

Himalaya Restaurant 

Asian Restaurant 

1716 Bristol Road 

Birmingham, B45 9QD 

0121 453 4336 

Wagamama 

Japanese Restaurant 

The Water's Edge, 66, 

Broad St,Birmingham, 

B1 2HL 

0121 643 7656 

Malsian Restaurants 


Bugis Street Brasserie 

Paradise Place, 

Birmingham, B3 3HJ 

0121 200 2727 

Rofuto 


160 Broad St, 

Paradise Place, 

Birmingham, B15 1DT 

0121 369 8888


Nightclubs 

Entertainment 

Hotels 

Bars 

Nightingale Club 

Essex House, Kent St, 

Birmingham, B5 6RD 

0121 622 1718 

Bushwackers 

103 Edmund Street, 

Birmingham B3 2HZ 

0121 236 4992 

The Chameleon 


1 Victoria Square, Hill St, 

Birmingham B1 1BD 

0121 643 2233 

thechameleonbham.co.uk 

Legs 11 

193 Broad St, 

Birmingham, B15 1AY 

0121 665 6660 

Mechu 

59 Summer Row 

Birmingham, B3 1JJ 

0121 212 1661 

Medusa Gentlemans Club 

142 Suffolk St, 

Queensway, 

Birmingham B1 1LN 

0121 643 2442 

Spearmint Rhino 

64 Hagley Rd, 

Birmingham, B16 8PF 

0121 455 7656 

Nuvo 

11 Brindley place, 

2 Brunswicksquare, 

Birmingham, B1 2LP 

0121 631 1600 

nuvobar.com 

Bambu 

Kotwall House, 

1 Wrottesley St, 

Birmingham B5 4RT 

0121 622 4124 

Myyst 

Unit A304, The Arcadian, 

70 Hurst Street, 

Birmingham B5 4TD 

0121 695 1191 

Pryzm 

182 Broad St, 

Birmingham B15 1DA 

0121 667 4535 

The Rainbow 

160 Digbeth, 

Birmingham B12 0LD 

0121 753 1818 

New Alexandra Threatre 

Suffolk St, Queensway, 

Birmingham, B5 4DS 

0844 871 3011 

The Crescent Theatre 


Birmingham, B16 8AE 

0121 643 5858 

Hippodrome Theatre 

Hurst St, Southside, 

Birmingham, B5 4TB 

0844 338 5000 

Bowlplex Birmingham 

Bowling alley 

Broadway Plaza, 

Birmingham B16 8LP 

0844 477 0491 

Cineworld Cinema 

Resorts World 

Birmingham, 181 Broad 

St, Birmingham B15 1DA 

0871 200 2000 

Odeon Cinema 

220 Ladywood 

Middleway, 


0333 006 7777 

Boutique Hotels 

4* 

The Edgbaston Boutique 

Hotel 

18 Highfield Rd, 

Birmingham B15 3DU 

0121 454 5212 

Saint Pauls House 

14 St Paul's Square, 

Birmingham B3 1RB 

0121 272 0999 

saintpaulshouse.com 

Hotel Indigo Birmingham 

The Cube, Wharfside St, 

Birmingham B1 1RS 

0121 643 2010 

Hotel La Tour 

Albert St, 

Birmingham B5 5JE 

0121 718 8000 

Malmaison 

The Mailbox, 1, Wharfside, 

Birmingham, B1 1RD 

0131 468 5000 

Hotel Du Vin 

25 Church St, 

Birmingham, B3 2NR 

0121 794 3005 

4* 

Ramada Hotel 

160, Wharfside St, The 

Mailbox, 

Birmingham, B1 1RL 

0121 643 9344 

The Grand Hotel 

Hortons Estate Ltd 

33-34 Paradise Street 


B1 2AJ 

0121 236 6481 

Macdonald Burlington 

Hotel 

Burlington Arcade, 

Birmingham, B2 4JQ 

0344 879 9019 

Hyatt Regency 


2 Bridge St, Birmingham, 

B1 2JZ 

0121 643 1234 

Radisson Blu Hotel 

12 Holloway Circus 

Queensway, 

Birmingham, B1 1BT 

0121 654 6000 

Marriott 

12, Hagley Rd, Fiveways, 

Birmingham, B16 8SJ 

0121 452 1144 

The Hilton Hotel 

The NEC Birmingham, 

Pendigo Way, Birmingham 

B40 1PP 

0121 780 4242 

The Belfry 

Sutton Coldfield, 


B76 9PP 

01675 238 600 

Crowne Plaza 

Holliday Street, 

Birmingham, B1 1HH 

0871 4234828 

Penthotel Birmingham 

Holloway Head, 

Birmingham, B1 1NS 

0121 622 8800 

Copthorne Hotel 


Paradise Circus 

Queensway, 

Birmingham, B3 3HJ 

0121 200 2727 

Zaras 

80 Broad St, Five Ways, 

Birmingham, B15 1AU 

0121 643 3334 

zara bar.co.uk 

The Alchemist 

Colmore Row, 

Birmingham B3 2DA 

0121 200 2377 

Browns 


7 Spiceal Street, 

Birmingham B5 4BH 

0121 643 8708 

The Chameleon 

Restaurants & Bar 

1 Victoria Square, 

Birmingham, B1 1BD 

0121 643 2233 

thechameleonbham.co.uk 

All Bar One 

12G-13G, Water's Edge, 


Birmingham, B1 2HL 

0121 644 5861 

Harvey Nichols 


65 The Mailbox, Wharfside 

St, Birmingham, B1 1RE 

0121 616 6000 

Gingers Bar 

11 Newhall St, 

Birmingham, B3 3NY 

0121 200 1588 

Jekyll & Hyde 

28 Steelhouse Lane, 

Birmingham, B4 6BJ 

0121 236 0345 

Nuvo 

11, Brindleyplace, 

2 Brunswick Square, 


0121 631 1600 

nuvobar.com 

Viva Brazil 

7 Bennets Hill, 

Birmingham, B2 5ST 

0121 212 1020 

Pitcher & Piano 

The Water’s Edge, 


Birmingham B1 2HP 

0121 643 0214 

Bank 

4 Brindleyplace 


0121 633 4466 

The Botanist 

14-16 Temple St, 

Birmingham, B2 5BG 

0121 600 7430

EdmundsAdDec16_Layout 1 25/11/2016 17:41 Page 1 

CHEF DE CUISINE 

Didier Philipot 

“Food is our passion, 

Wine is our pleasure” 

Christmas Lunch £29.50 

Christmas Dinner £49.50 

Christmas Tasting Menu £70.00 

New Years Eve Tasting Menu £85.00 

WINNER OF 2 AA Rosettes 2016 

All Christmas diners will receive a Voucher for 

up to 30% off to spend on food in January 

6 Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2JB 

T: 0121 633 4944 

E: info@edmundsrestaurant.com W: edmundsrestaurant.com

105 Vyse Street 

Jewellery Quarter 


B18 6LP 

Tel: 0121 236 2426 

info@sonnysjewellery.com 

sonnysjewellery.com

ITC_Birmingham_Jan_2017

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