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J'AIME DECEMBER 2018

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8<br />

J’AIME<br />

Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E<br />

Festive fever:<br />

your essential<br />

Christmas guide<br />

WIN<br />

A HAMPER OF SEASONAL<br />

GOODIES WORTH<br />

£120<br />

SHOOTING STARS:<br />

THE SUTTON COLDFIELD<br />

PHOTOGRAPHER WHO SWAPPED<br />

CELEBRITIES FOR WEDDINGS


Audiology is at the heart<br />

of everything we do<br />

Call today to book a consultation<br />

www.stevenhalehearing.co.uk | 0121 308 2550


Welcome to J’AIME<br />

As December rolls around, we’re well and<br />

truly into the festive spirit here at J’AIME<br />

HQ. if you need any last-minute gift<br />

inspiration, we’ve got an amazing array of<br />

goodies for him, her and home so you’re<br />

sure to find some ideas, plus we’ve got the<br />

latest trends in festive decor, and the experts<br />

at Arthur Price share the secrets of setting<br />

the perfect Christmas table.<br />

Party season is wrapped up with our expert<br />

fashion and beauty advice, and we’ve got a<br />

host of festive tipples which are sure to make<br />

any occasion one to remember. Need some<br />

entertainment ideas? Check out our guide<br />

to the best of what’s on in the area over the<br />

holiday season.<br />

Elsewhere, we chat to inspirational Sutton<br />

Coldfield photographer Lisa Carpenter<br />

about why she swapped snapping celebs<br />

in New York for shooting weddings in the<br />

Midlands, plus RB Collection director Oliver<br />

shares his top tips for creating a Northern<br />

Lights-chasing holiday of a lifetime.<br />

Christmas is a time of giving, and in keeping<br />

with the spirit of the season we’ve got a<br />

couple of cracking competitions lined up<br />

for you this month; a hamper of delectable<br />

Christmas goodies worth £120 courtesy<br />

of Forage will ensure you and your guests<br />

can enjoy some tasty treats, while a hair<br />

makeover and lunch for two courtesy of The<br />

Tier and The Bank Coffeehouse in Alrewas<br />

means one lucky winner will start off the<br />

new year in style!<br />

From all of us here at J’AIME, wishing you<br />

the merriest Christmas and a cracking festive<br />

season.<br />

EDITOR: AMY NORBURY<br />

EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY<br />

ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

07388 335 931<br />

DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

CONTRIBUTORS: MARTIN PLOWMAN, OLIVER<br />

BROAD, LISA PIDDINGTON, PATRICK GAUNT,<br />

JILL HARTLEY, JACK REGAN, STEVE SMALL<br />

J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY<br />

PUBLICATIONS LIMITED AND PRINTED<br />

BY KEP LIMITED, TAMWORTH.<br />

Check us out online at:<br />

WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

Find us on<br />

/JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />

@JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />

@JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />

3


CONTENTS<br />

InsideJ’aime this month...<br />

6 Lisa Carpenter Photography - The Sutton<br />

Coldfield snapper who swapped celebrities for<br />

weddings<br />

12 Property - Property of the month<br />

14 Property - A record-breaking sale<br />

16 Interiors - The perfect Christmas table<br />

20 Interiors - Festive sparkle<br />

24 Christmas - Gifts for her<br />

26 Christmas - Something for the boys<br />

30 Christmas - Homeware to love<br />

34 Food & drink - Reviewing The Green House,<br />

Sutton Coldfield<br />

36 Food & drink - Cocktail of the month from<br />

Lichfield’s The Wine House<br />

38 Competition - Win a festive foodie hamper from<br />

Forage<br />

40 Food and drink - Christmas gift ideas from Ital<br />

Sardo<br />

42 Food and drink - A stylish new dining concept<br />

for Birmingham<br />

44 Travel - Chasing the Northern Lights<br />

48 Richard Winterton Antiques - Experts Heather<br />

Callaway and Louise Ludlam-Snook talk all<br />

things jewellery<br />

52 Man on the edge - J’AIME’s columnist Jack<br />

Regan gets to grips with stunt driving<br />

56 What’s On - Our pick of events around our<br />

area this month<br />

60 What’s On - The hottest tickets around<br />

Birmingham<br />

62 Fashion - Jump to it for festive party style<br />

64 Fashion - Maternity wear from Nero e Bianco<br />

68 Competition - Win a pampering spa ritual at<br />

The Spa at Moor Hall<br />

69 Beauty - Festive fragrances from Harvey<br />

Nichols Birmingham<br />

70 Competition - WIn a hair makeover and<br />

lunch for two at The Tier and The Bank<br />

Coffeehouse, Alrewas<br />

71 In the news - An audiology revolution; a festive<br />

makeover for a Sutton Coldfield landmark;<br />

and diamond delights at a new Birmingham<br />

boutique<br />

73 Motors - J’AIME’s expert Martin Plowman puts<br />

the new Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4<br />

through its paces<br />

4


ENJOY MASSIVE SAVINGS<br />

IN OUR PRE-CHRISTMAS<br />

Loose<br />

cutlery is<br />

back<br />

Sale starts 9am Saturday 1 st December<br />

Offers<br />

in store<br />

only<br />

Ends 5pm Saturday 22 nd December<br />

Bead 32 Piece<br />

Was £180.00 Now £59.00<br />

Minions 2 Piece Set<br />

Was £17.95 Now £5.95<br />

Even<br />

more in<br />

store!<br />

Willow 58 Piece Canteen<br />

Was £299 Now £129<br />

Set of 3 covered dishes<br />

Was £35.00 Now £12.50<br />

Christmas Mug<br />

Was £7.95 Now £4.95<br />

FREE PARKING<br />

OPENING HOURS:<br />

MONDAY TO SATURDAY<br />

9AM - 5PM<br />

EXTRA SALE OPENING DAY<br />

SUNDAY 2 ND <strong>DECEMBER</strong><br />

10AM - 4PM<br />

ARTHUR PRICE, BRITANNIA WAY,<br />

LICHFIELD WS14 9UY<br />

WWW.ARTHURPRICE.COM<br />

01543 267324<br />

Proud<br />

supporters of<br />

Please be aware that the shop<br />

is located on the first floor via<br />

a staircase. If access is an issue<br />

we have a ground floor room<br />

available where products can<br />

be brought down for viewing<br />

by our dedicated customer<br />

service team.


FEATURE<br />

Shooting stars<br />

AFTER A DECADE IN NEW YORK SHOOTING PORTRAITS OF THE VERY RICH AND UBER FAMOUS, LISA<br />

CARPENTER RETURNED HOME TO SUTTON COLDFIELD TO MAKE HAPPY COUPLES THE STAR OF THE<br />

SHOW AS ONE OF THE UK’S TOP WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS. AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS MORE<br />

BIRMINGHAM’S CANALS<br />

PROVIDE PHOTOGRAPHER A SETTING FOR<br />

HELEN’S LISA CARPENTER NOVELS<br />

High among the rooftops of New York city, Lisa<br />

Carpenter perched, camera in hand. In front of her,<br />

magician David Blaine balanced precariously on a<br />

slender railing with nothing but air between him and<br />

the frenetic streets below.<br />

Snapping away as quickly as she could manage, Lisa<br />

was torn between the desire to capture the perfect<br />

shot and the deathly fear of seeing her subject slip<br />

and plunge to his doom.<br />

“I was absolutely terrified for him,” laughs Lisa when<br />

we catch up over coffee and bacon butties in her<br />

Sutton Coldfield local.<br />

“We were up on his rooftop and he kept saying ‘have<br />

you got it yet, have you got it yet’ and I was just<br />

thinking ‘God, I hope so!’ Then he took us off for the<br />

day, just driving around to capture a day in the life of<br />

David Blaine.<br />

“I loved shooting him; he’d just come off that<br />

Eamonn Holmes interview where he refused to talk<br />

and then showed the eye he’d drawn on his palm, so<br />

I was a bit worried about it. But he was so lovely.”<br />

Death-defying stunts aside, of course.<br />

Today, life for Lisa is a far cry from the movie-set<br />

glamour of Manhattan. After a decade working<br />

as a photojournalist in the States, shooting A-list<br />

superstars, musicians and politicians for magazines<br />

and newspapers all over the world, Lisa now counts<br />

herself among the most sought-after wedding<br />

photographers in the country.<br />

As the go-to girl for cool weddings around the<br />

Midlands and beyond, Lisa spends her days<br />

capturing those magic moments which make every<br />

big day that little bit extraordinary.<br />

“I would always get starstruck by famous people, and<br />

I would have hated to have got to the point where I<br />

didn’t, where it was just a run-of-the-mill thing,” says<br />

6


Lisa. “And I get like that with weddings now. I still<br />

get really nervous in the run-up to a wedding, and<br />

I’m nervous because I want to do a really good job.<br />

“And you don’t get a second chance with weddings;<br />

it’s a hell of a lot of responsibility to photograph<br />

someone’s wedding. But then I wake up on the day<br />

and I’m a sea of calm, and I love being that calm<br />

among all the mayhem.<br />

“As a wedding photographer, you’re not just doing<br />

photos; I’ve stuck false eyelashes back on, I’ve danced<br />

with the flower girls, I’ve cleared the dance floor for<br />

the first dance, picked up drunken grannies! You get<br />

stuck in wherever you’re needed and become a part<br />

of the day.”<br />

A career in newspaper photography began at home<br />

in Sutton Coldfield on the local papers, before Lisa<br />

jetted off to the States for the adventure of a lifetime.<br />

“It was a really interesting time,” she says with a<br />

smile. “It was different people every week; normally<br />

you get pigeonholed as a music photographer or a<br />

political photographer but I was lucky enough to do<br />

a bit of everything.<br />

“I did photograph the politicians; I did Hillary<br />

Clinton and Al Gore, and, of course Donald Trump.<br />

I don’t even think of him as photographing the<br />

President; when I photographed him he was the<br />

guy on The Apprentice! It was only about a month<br />

after he came into office that I thought ‘wow, I’ve<br />

photographed the President’.”<br />

While Lisa has taken shots of some of the most<br />

beautiful people in the world, including Nicole<br />

Kidman and Isabella Rossellini, as well as Javier<br />

Bardem and Heath Ledger before his untimely<br />

death - “Heath Ledger was such a lovely guy; it was<br />

just after he’d had his daughter Matilda and he was<br />

amazing,” - there is one<br />

famous face which stands<br />

head and shoulders above<br />

the rest.<br />

“It has to be Sharon Stone,”<br />

she says. “I remember<br />

photographing her at an<br />

event and I think I managed<br />

to take one photo and then<br />

just looked at her! She<br />

is stunning; she has this<br />

amazing glow about her<br />

and I’d love to photograph<br />

her again properly.”<br />

Rapper Ice T proved to be<br />

a particularly interesting<br />

shoot.<br />

“I sat in his apartment and<br />

his wife Coco was a sight to behold - she’s all boobs<br />

and bum and you just couldn’t take your eyes off<br />

her! - and throughout the interview she just sat there<br />

casually scratching his back, because he needed his<br />

back scratching,” laughs Lisa.<br />

“He had these guys with him who were part of a<br />

band he was putting together and whatever he said,<br />

A HAIR-RAISING PHOTO<br />

SHOOT WITH MAGICIAN<br />

DAVID BLAINE<br />

7


whether it was funny or not, they would laugh, and<br />

they would say ‘yes’ to everything.<br />

“And he was wearing this huge, blingy dollar-sign<br />

jewellery and telling us that actually he’d got it from<br />

Canal Street for about five dollars. But nobody’s<br />

going to think Ice T is wearing knock-off jewellery!”<br />

Capturing musical icons was all in a day’s work for<br />

Lisa, who counts New York hotshots The Strokes,<br />

cool kids The Bravery and CSS, and an up-andcoming<br />

Franz Ferdinand, not to mention big names<br />

like Jon Bon Jovi, among her subjects. But it was a<br />

rock ‘n’ roll legend who really made a big impression<br />

- none other than Guns ‘n’s Roses superstar Slash.<br />

“He was one of my favourite music stars to do,<br />

because he’s Slash,” says Lisa. “I was terrified to<br />

meet him and thought he was going to be a scary,<br />

intimidating character but my god, he was the nicest<br />

guy I think I’ve ever photographed.<br />

“It was such a relief to see that he was just a<br />

normal guy who happens to be a really, really good<br />

musician.”<br />

Lisa photographed the Guns ‘n’ Roses star during a<br />

show with his band Velvet Revolver in Atlantic City.<br />

“The band were late going on stage and the crowd<br />

were throwing bottles, I was at the side of the stage<br />

waiting for them, standing next to the road manager<br />

and hiding behind amps,” she says.<br />

“Then midway through the concert Slash came over<br />

and actually played his guitar for me to take photos;<br />

I think I managed about four shots before just hiding<br />

behind my camera going ‘oh my god, oh my god!’”<br />

After a decade of bright lights and big city living<br />

Lisa and husband Jason - a Glaswegian journalist<br />

Lisa met during her first week in New York when<br />

the couple were hired by a newspaper for a story on<br />

“some bad guys” - decided it was time for a quieter<br />

pace of life.<br />

“We wanted to move away from New York to start<br />

a family, the newspaper business was changing and,<br />

although I was riding a bit of a<br />

LISA SCOOPED A FEARLESS<br />

AWARD FOR THIS INCREDIBLE<br />

BRIDAL PARTY PHOTO<br />

ROCK LEGEND SLASH<br />

career high, I knew it wouldn’t<br />

last,” Lisa explains.<br />

At the time, Lisa was The<br />

Guardian’s go-to girl on the East<br />

Coast, work which she found<br />

immensely satisfying and which<br />

she continued after she landed<br />

on these shores - until the lure of<br />

wedding bells came a-calling.<br />

“I dipped my toe in the wedding<br />

world in New York, but not with<br />

any serious desires to be a wedding<br />

photographer. Then I got asked to<br />

shoot a wedding and thought I’d<br />

give it a go,” Lisa says.<br />

“I remember standing at my first<br />

wedding, with so much going on<br />

all around me, and just deciding to<br />

8


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shoot everything.”<br />

It was this snap decision which helped to shape Lisa’s<br />

signature documentary style, and her taste of the<br />

rock ‘n’ roll, A-list lifestyle still plays an influence<br />

in her work today. Lisa’s background means her<br />

photography is slightly edgier than the norm, and<br />

she loves all things quirky when it comes to weddings.<br />

“New York seems like such a long time ago, but<br />

when it’s part of your story it’s always there, and it<br />

definitely influences my wedding work,” she explains.<br />

“I tend to attract people who want something a little<br />

bit different from the norm.”<br />

But, says Lisa, the most important thing is having a<br />

connection with each of the couples whose days she<br />

gets to document.<br />

“I do engagement shoots a lot of the time so I can<br />

get to know my couples beforehand, which is as<br />

much for me as it is for them,” she explains. “The<br />

bride and groom are going to be spending one of<br />

the most important days of their lives with me, so it’s<br />

important that they’re comfortable with me.<br />

“Maybe the one thing they all my couples have in<br />

common is that they’re relaxed, no matter what<br />

their style of wedding is; I tend to get couples who<br />

want their day to be relaxed, a good party and a<br />

good old knees-up with all their mates. Weddings are<br />

such happy occasions and I just love seeing people<br />

laughing and having a good time.<br />

“I get a lot of people coming up to me at weddings<br />

saying that I’m the smiliest photographer they’ve<br />

ever met and that’s really nice.<br />

“And I’ve had circles of friends who have passed<br />

me around as their wedding photographer, which<br />

is amazing. It’s so lovely when you connect with a<br />

couple and build a relationship with them so they<br />

recommend you to their<br />

friends and then have<br />

you to do their newborn<br />

shoot when they start their<br />

families.”<br />

After five years of shooting<br />

weddings full-time, Lisa<br />

has earned an enviable<br />

reputation. And she has the<br />

awards to prove it.<br />

“I don’t enter many awards<br />

but the Fearless Awards<br />

are a bit different,” she<br />

explains.<br />

Based in America, the<br />

Fearless community brings<br />

together the most creative<br />

and exciting wedding photographers from around<br />

the world. Every two months, a new collection of<br />

around 150 Fearless Award-winning photographs is<br />

chosen and, with around 10,000 submissions each<br />

time, earning the Fearless accolade is no mean feat.<br />

Lisa is the UK’s top female Fearless photographer,<br />

with an impressive five Fearless Awards to her name.<br />

“When I got my first one, I’d said at the start of that<br />

year that my main ambition was to win a Fearless<br />

Award. But I was slightly surprised that the first one I<br />

won was for a picture of shoes, with no bride in it!”<br />

As well as weddings, Lisa’s specialises in portrait<br />

shoots capturing happy families and new parents<br />

with their little bundles of joy. It makes a change<br />

from portraits of Trump, Slash, Kidman et al. But<br />

Lisa couldn’t be happier.<br />

“When I was working for newspapers I never<br />

thought I’d be photographing weddings,” she admits.<br />

“But now, some of the best photographers I know<br />

of any genre are wedding photographers. The work<br />

that people produce is amazing.<br />

“We get to be so creative now, it’s not just people<br />

standing in a line. I love the documentary side of<br />

things, and being able to record the day for my<br />

couples.<br />

“A 12-hour day is full of so many variables. There’s<br />

never a wedding where something doesn’t go<br />

wrong, whether it’s the ring not going on the finger,<br />

screaming flower girls going the wrong way or doggy<br />

ring bearers not doing as they’re told, but those are<br />

some of my favourite parts. They definitely make for<br />

some great photos.”<br />

For more details of Lisa’s work, or to find out<br />

how to book a wedding or portrait shoot, visit<br />

www.lisacarpenterphotos.com<br />

10


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PROPERTY<br />

Property of the Month<br />

WE TAKE A SNEAKY PEEK AT SOME OF THE HOTTEST PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET IN<br />

THE AREA EACH MONTH. THIS MONTH’S PROPERTY IS AN HISTORIC MANOR HOUSE<br />

WITH ITS OWN CHAPEL SET IN TEN BEAUTIFUL ACRES<br />

Haselour Hall, Haselour Lane, Tamworth: £2,995,000<br />

On the market with Aston Knowles: 0121 362 7878<br />

THE AGENT SAYS: Haselour Hall, Manor and Chapel has<br />

been described as perhaps the most charming half-timbered<br />

house in the county. It is a beautiful five gabled, Elizabethan<br />

residence with stunning original features including the oak<br />

panelled reception hall and dining room, a fabulous Norman<br />

oak front door, stained glass leaded windows and magnificent<br />

oak fire surrounds depicting scenes from the battle of Hastings.<br />

The property is set over four storeys with 11 main bedrooms.<br />

The hall is beautifully grand, having been well maintained<br />

by the current owners. The land that the hall now sits on is<br />

thought to have provided accommodation to Henry Tudor the<br />

night before the battle of Bosworth Field; the last significant<br />

battle in the War of the Roses, and the chapel is thought to<br />

date back to the twelfth or thirteenth century.<br />

Four centuries on, the hall still stands regally in its grounds,<br />

with many sensitive additions and improvements, and now<br />

providing a magnificent family home to the present owners.<br />

The hall offers potential purchasers a range of possibilities in<br />

terms of its uses, having extensive accommodation within the<br />

hall itself, as well as a separate annexe, numerous stables and<br />

outbuildings, and the private chapel within the grounds, and<br />

now linked to the main hall.<br />

The name Haselour is Saxon in origin and derives from<br />

hazelnut due to the large number of trees grown on and<br />

around the land.<br />

W E L O V E :<br />

THE HISTORIC SPLENDOUR OF THIS<br />

TRULY REMARKABLE PROPERTY<br />

12


PROPERTY<br />

A record-breaking sale<br />

AN IMPRESSIVE HOME IN ONE OF SUTTON COLDFIELD’S MOST DESIRABLE<br />

LOCATIONS HAS MADE HISTORY FOR ESTATE AGENTS ASTON KNOWLES<br />

A property on the highly regarded Four<br />

Oaks Estate has recently been sold for<br />

the record-breaking sum of £3,425,000.<br />

This makes it the most expensive house<br />

to have transacted in Sutton Coldfield<br />

since 2010 and it is also the most<br />

expensive house to have ever sold on the<br />

beautiful Four Oaks Estate.<br />

Four Oaks House, on Ladywood<br />

Road, was only on the market for an<br />

exceptionally short time before the<br />

team at Aston Knowles, thanks to<br />

their modern methods and marketing<br />

experience, found a buyer. A sale was<br />

agreed and contracts were exchanged<br />

within the short span of only 14 days.<br />

The stunning Arts and Crafts residence, which<br />

takes up more than 8,000 square feet on a plot of<br />

approximately two thirds of an acre, features six<br />

bedrooms as well as an extensive leisure complex and<br />

is finished to the highest of specifications.<br />

The heart of the ground floor consists of an amazing<br />

open plan kitchen/family/dining room, perfect for<br />

entertaining guests as well as family living.<br />

In the cold winter months residents can make use<br />

of the underfloor heating throughout the property<br />

as well as the fireplaces in the stunning drawing and<br />

dining rooms.<br />

The elegant master bedroom is fully equipped with<br />

a luxurious en suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and<br />

a dressing area. All of the remaining five bedrooms<br />

boast modern en suite bathrooms, and three even<br />

come with a dressing area of their own.<br />

The lavish leisure complex, connected to the house<br />

by a glass walkway, consists of a swimming pool of<br />

considerable size, a spa pool, a private gymnasium,<br />

and a changing room with shower and WC.<br />

On top of that, a cinema room is located on the<br />

ground floor, adding an extra bit of luxury.<br />

A courtyard to the rear of the house makes for a<br />

perfect summertime entertaining area with a brickbuilt<br />

barbecue area set in the privacy of the treelined<br />

Four Oaks Estate.<br />

At Aston Knowles, results speak for themselves.<br />

The agency is well-established in their iconic<br />

High Street office in the Royal Town of Sutton<br />

Coldfield and the experienced team with their<br />

local market knowledge, good ethics, and<br />

in-house marketing expertise stand out in the<br />

prestigious Sutton Coldfield property market,<br />

traditionally as well as digitally.<br />

If you have a premium property that you are<br />

interested in selling, or if you are perhaps<br />

looking for your next home, Aston Knowles<br />

offers a free consultation with office head and<br />

director Sophie Bullock.<br />

14


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01606 261 021<br />

The Help to Buy Equity Scheme has specific terms and conditions and is be subject to affordability criteria as prescribed by the homes and communities agency. Subject to specific mortgage lender conditions and qualifications. Smooth Move subject to specific<br />

terms and conditions, an upfront fee of £500 is required – all of which is refundable against the reservation fee and purchase price of your new Bovis Home. If you choose not to purchase a Bovis Home you may only be refunded £250 of the upfront fee of £500.<br />

Smooth Move is available on selected plots only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. Photograph depicts a typical Bovis Home interior. Elevation may differ to that shown. Internal images may include optional upgrades at an<br />

additional cost. Price & availability correct at time of going to print/broadcast. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.


INTERIORS<br />

Eat, drink<br />

and be merry<br />

WHAT’S the one time you pull out all the stops<br />

and cover your dining room table with the best of<br />

everything? Christmas of course, when you have friends<br />

and family around and eat, drink and be merry. But<br />

what are the secrets to a successful Christmas dinner?<br />

How can you wow? We asked the team at cutlery firm<br />

Arthur Price for their hints and tips on creating the<br />

perfect Christmas table.<br />

Arthur Price CEO Simon Price said: “In the lead up<br />

to Christmas we are often asked for our thoughts on<br />

how to create the perfect Christmas table. I say enjoy<br />

creating the wow factor but don’t forget it’s not about<br />

the using the right knife or fork – it’s the three Fs: family,<br />

friendship and fun. There is no better place than to<br />

celebrate all of this than having everyone around a big<br />

dinner table and seeing smiling faces, glasses raised and<br />

loud laughter.<br />

“With my wife Lesley we always pull out all the stops.<br />

I love a pristine table. All shiny cutlery offering the<br />

promise of food and fun. I’m a creature of habit; I<br />

always prepare the table at home on Christmas Eve. I<br />

polish the cutlery, the glassware. The children usually<br />

arrive with their girlfriends and boyfriends in the middle<br />

of my preparation as they stay the night. I then close the<br />

dining room door leaving the place ready for Christmas<br />

morning.”<br />

SHINY CUTLERY IS KEY TO A<br />

PRISTINE TABLE, SAYS SIMON PRICE<br />

£60<br />

£145<br />

ICE BUCKET AND STRAINER, ARTHUR PRICE<br />

OF LICHFIELD. WWW.ARTHURPRICE.COM<br />

£7.99<br />

DARK BLUE DINNERWARE<br />

SET, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

GOLD RECTANGULAR TRAY,<br />

HOMESENSE. WWW.HOMESENSE.COM<br />

16


BROADWAY KITCHENS<br />

MANUFACTURER OF LUXURY BESPOKE KITCHENS<br />

Visit our Birmingham showroom to see and feel the quality.<br />

Call to discuss your kitchen project and book a FREE,<br />

no-obligation design consultation today!<br />

SUTTON COLDFIELD 0121 353 4999<br />

www.bespokekitchensbybroadway.com


So, grab some baubles, get your favourite food<br />

in, dress your table with fun and laughter and<br />

get festive feasting! Here are our five top tips<br />

for the best Christmas tables...<br />

1. Don’t leave it to the last minute<br />

It’s best to dress the table the night before Christmas.<br />

This gives you plenty of time to hunt down missing<br />

cutlery and crockery, to check glasses are free of<br />

watermarks, and means you won’t be thrown off if<br />

your guests arrive early.<br />

2. Give the table a theme<br />

Having a definitive colour scheme or theme makes the<br />

table look extra special and refined. Start with a simple<br />

base – a plain table cloth or runner is best. Then work<br />

with a handful of tones.<br />

John Lewis are claiming a ‘rainbow of colours’ will be<br />

the big trend this year. Or stick with the traditional<br />

setting, opting for festive colours red and green and<br />

complement with raw materials such as woodenhandled<br />

cutlery or wicker placemats.<br />

£7<br />

GEOMETRIC GOLD CHARGER,<br />

LAURA ASHLEY. WWW.LAURAASHLEY.COM<br />

£50<br />

12-PIECE CARRINGTON DINNER SET,<br />

NEXT. WWW.NEXT.CO.UK<br />

3. Get your place settings right<br />

Firstly, work out how many courses you are serving.<br />

Put the plate for the main course at the centre of the<br />

setting. Then stack the starter plate and soup bowl on<br />

top. Cutlery should be placed either side of the dishes,<br />

arranged in the order in which it will be used – first<br />

course on the outside working inward with knives and<br />

spoons on the right and forks on the left.<br />

Where your napkin sits will depend on how intricately<br />

you plan to fold it. If it’s just a simple arrangement,<br />

place it to the left, ideally on a side plate that you can<br />

also use for bread. If you plan on some serious napkin<br />

origami, pop your effort in the middle of the place<br />

setting.<br />

GOLD LINES WATER DECANTER,<br />

HOMESENSE. WWW.HOMESENSE.COM<br />

£8<br />

£7.99<br />

4. Create an eye-catching centrepiece<br />

Every table needs a focal point and there’s so much<br />

you could try - a glass bowl filled with candles<br />

or baubles, a beautiful silver candelabra, a mini<br />

Christmas tree or a festive floral display (just make sure<br />

it’s not too tall to block anyone’s view when seated!).<br />

HEXAGON TAPER CANDLE STICKS,<br />

NEXT. WWW.NEXT.CO.UK<br />

5. Make it personal<br />

Make sure everyone is welcomed to the table with<br />

a place setting, so there’s a seat reserved for granny<br />

and you can add a personal touch. Place cards can<br />

be tucked into a fancy folded napkin or resting on the<br />

edge of a wine glass, and you could even add a present<br />

or a few sprigs of rosemary to add to the theme and<br />

the aroma.<br />

SET OF FOUR STAR NAPKIN RINGS,<br />

DEBENHAMS. WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

£12<br />

18


REACTIVE DINNER PLATE, £6, SIDE PLATE,<br />

£5, BOWL, £5, GOLD CUTLERY 16-PIECE<br />

SET, £35, NORDIC SMOKE WINE GLASS,<br />

£7, AND NORDIC SMOKE FLUTE, £7, ALL<br />

DEBENHAMS. WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

SELECTION OF CUTLERY INCLUDING<br />

CAKE KNIFE, CAKE SERVER AND CHEESE<br />

KNIFE, ARTHUR PRICE OF LICHFIELD.<br />

WWW.ARTHURPRICE.COM<br />

CLASSIC DUAL PURPOSE THREE-LIGHT<br />

CANDELABRA, £235, ARTHUR PRICE OF<br />

LICHFIELD. WWW.ARTHURPRICE.COM<br />

TABLEWARE, CUTLERY AND GLASSES<br />

FROM A SELECTION BY AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

LUSTRE EFFECT GIN GLASSES, £24 FOR<br />

FOUR, WINE GLASSES, £20 FOR FOUR, AND<br />

CHAMPAGNE SAUCERS, £24 FOR FOUR,<br />

NEXT. WWW.NEXT.CO.UK<br />

CREATE AN EYECATCHING CENTREPIECE,<br />

SUCH AS THESE BAUBLES IN A GLASS CASE,<br />

TO GIVE YOUR TABLE A WOW FACTOR


I N T E R I O R S<br />

MULTI COLOURED POMPOM<br />

GARLAND, £20, RAINBOW EGG<br />

HANGER, £8, GLASS STRAWBERRY<br />

HANGER, £5, JOHN LEWIS.<br />

WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM<br />

Kitsch<br />

Christmas<br />

CHRISTMAS is the one time of year where you get to<br />

change up your decor, indulge and, most of all, have<br />

fun with it as you trim your tree, hang your garlands<br />

and generally go to town with festive touches. It’s all<br />

about creating a feeling of warmth throughout your<br />

home, as you prepare to welcome visitors aplenty for<br />

fun and festivities over the Christmas season.<br />

While traditional colour schemes of red and green,<br />

or uber-glam black and gold or navy and copper<br />

combinations remain popular with the discerning<br />

festive decorator, we’re seeing a heavy dose of kitsch<br />

creeping into Christmas. Those enduring summer<br />

motifs - think all things cactus, flamingo, pineapple<br />

and this year’s favourite, the llama - have all had<br />

a seasonal makeover, influencing everything from<br />

tree baubles to wreaths, advent calendars and more.<br />

Colours, too, are bright and bold; think hot pink, lime<br />

green and sunshine yellow for a festive season with<br />

added pop.<br />

Tinsel may have had its moment in the spotlight this<br />

time last year, but for <strong>2018</strong> swathes of fluffy metallic<br />

glitter have been replaced by multicoloured pom pom<br />

garlands; use them to dress the tree, add a dash of<br />

festive fun to the fireplace or drape around window<br />

displays. Want to make it even more kitsch? Just add<br />

fairy lights!<br />

CHRISTMAS PUDDING BAUBLE,<br />

BLACKBROOK INTERIORS.<br />

WWW.BLACKBROOK-INTERIORS.CO.UK<br />

GISELA GRAHAM FANTAIL<br />

PEACOCK TREE DECORATIONS<br />

SET OF TWO, £10, AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

20<br />

STANDING GOLD SNOWMAN AND<br />

SANTA, COOKES FURNITURE.<br />

WWW.COOKESFURNITURE.CO.UK<br />

A BY AMARA FOAM BEADED<br />

GLITTER BAUBLE SET OF 12, £36.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM


CHRISTMAS<br />

OPENING HOURS:<br />

CLOSING 21ST <strong>DECEMBER</strong><br />

RE-OPEN 2ND JANUARY<br />

B E S P O K E S O F A M A N U F A C T U R E<br />

& R E - U P H O L S T E R Y S P E C I A L I S T<br />

Our team of highly skilled professional craftsmen, create and manufacture<br />

sofa’s from design, for a living space that is truly unique. Coupled with our huge<br />

selection of fabrics we have the ability to create almost any type of bespoke design.<br />

Using traditional skills, we can also strip down your old suite or sofa and re-create the original<br />

design with our superior re-upholstery which is highly renowned for its finish and meticulous detail.<br />

‘For a truly unique and individual lounge setting we welcome<br />

you to our factory showroom to see what we can create for you.’<br />

Unit 19, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 7XN<br />

Contact Simon Edwards or Chris Edwards on 01543 505539<br />

Email: sales@ralvernupholstery.co.uk - www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk


BAUBLES SET, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS,COM<br />

MACKENZIE-CHILDS<br />

BIJOU STRIPE<br />

STOCKING, AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

WHITE KNITTED STOCKING<br />

WITH POM POMS, HOMESENSE.<br />

WWW.HOMESENSE.COM<br />

£14.99<br />

VONDELS PANTHER TREE<br />

DECORATION, AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

£12<br />

£107<br />

£20<br />

TEQUILA DONKEY MARIACHI<br />

BAUBLE SET OF FOUR, HOMESENSE.<br />

WWW.HOMESENSE.COM<br />

£12<br />

£15<br />

£9.99<br />

£6<br />

FLAMINGO SNOWGLOBE, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

BRIGHT PARROT, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

GISELA GRAHAM TREE, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

JAN CONSTANTINE MARCHING<br />

GUARDS STOCKING, AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

£8.99<br />

KURT S. ADLER RETRO ROADSTER TREE<br />

DECORATION, AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

£55<br />

£19<br />

CHRISTMAS CACTUS,<br />

HOMESENSE. WWW.HOMESENSE.COM<br />

MULTI SET OF FOUR POM POM BAUBLES,<br />

£14, NEXT. WWW.NEXT.CO.UK<br />

NOEL NEON WALL LIGHT, £59.99,<br />

LIGHTS4FUN. WWW.LIGHTS4FUN.CO.UK


GLASS SILVER GOLD GLITTER OWL BAUBLE,<br />

M&CO. WWW.MANDCO.COM<br />

£10<br />

MERRY CHRISTMAS GARLAND,<br />

DEBENHAMS. WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

£4<br />

ANGEL SAUSAGE DOG BAUBLE,<br />

FLYING TIGER. WWW.FLYINGTIGER.COM<br />

RUBY POMEGRANATE BAUBLE,<br />

JOHN LEWIS. WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM<br />

PINK HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS BAUBLE,<br />

RIVER ISLAND. WWW.RIVERISLAND.COM<br />

£2<br />

£8<br />

£6<br />

£6<br />

£18<br />

RAINBOW INDENTED<br />

BAUBLE, JOHN LEWIS.<br />

WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM<br />

TURTLE CHRISTMAS TREE BAUBLE,<br />

FLYING TIGER. WWW.FLYINGTIGER.COM<br />

HEAVENSENDS POM POM WREATH,<br />

DEBENHAMS. WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

KURT S. ADLER ELVIS TREE<br />

DECORATION, AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

£30<br />

TURQUOISE PEACOCK<br />

BAUBLE, RIVER ISLAND.<br />

WWW.RIVERISLAND.COM<br />

£30<br />

JAN CONSTANTINE GLAM ROCK ZIGGY TREE<br />

DECORATION, AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

£5<br />

£2<br />

GLASS PETROL IRIDESCENT<br />

BAUBLE, £2, WILKO.<br />

WWW.WILKO.COM<br />

RAINBOW WREATH, £25, BANANA<br />

HANGER, £6, HOT PINK HIBISCUS, £6,<br />

STRAWBERRY HANGER, £5, PINEAPPLE<br />

HANGER, £5, ALL JOHN LEWIS.<br />

WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM


G I F T G U I D E<br />

A gift she’ll love<br />

IS THERE A LADY IN YOUR LIFE WHO TRULY DESERVES SPOILING AT THIS MOST WONDERFUL TIME<br />

OF YEAR? WHETHER SHE’S A FABULOUS FASHIONISTA, A BEAUTY ADDICT OR A MAGPIE FOR THAT<br />

LITTLE SPARKLY SOMETHING, OUR PICK OF GIFTS ROUNDS UP SOME EXTRAVAGANT GESTURES AND<br />

THOUGHTFUL TOKENS WHICH ARE SURE TO DELIGHT. WHAT GIRL WOULDN’T LOVE TO FIND THESE<br />

UNDER THE TREE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING?<br />

£140<br />

GUCCI LADIES LEATHER STRAP<br />

WATCH, SALLOWAYS LICHFIELD.<br />

WWW.SALLOWAYS.CO.UK<br />

£920<br />

I AM ACE KEYRING,<br />

OLIVER BONAS.<br />

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM<br />

B BY TED BAKER WATER BOTTLE<br />

AND EYE MASK, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

£4.50<br />

ACNE STUDIOS CANADA ROSE<br />

WOOL SCARF, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

£2,978<br />

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN RING,<br />

SALLOWAYS LICHFIELD.<br />

WWW.SALLOWAYS.CO.UK<br />

JIMMY CHOOS CASSIE<br />

BACKPACK, FROM SELFRIDGES.<br />

WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM<br />

£25<br />

£105<br />

£895<br />

£1,295<br />

REISS SHEARLING JACKET, SELFRIDGES.<br />

WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM<br />

OLIVIA BURTON CELESTIAL DEMI<br />

DIAL WATCH, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

KINRARA DISTILLERY HIBISCUS<br />

ESTATE EDITION HIGHLAND DRY<br />

GIN 500ML, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

24<br />

£37.50<br />

SILVER AND 18CT GOLD PLATED<br />

BANGLE AND RING SET, £POA,<br />

ALLEN BROWN JEWELLERY.<br />

WWW.ALLENBROWNJEWELLERY.CO.UK


£6<br />

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD GRACE<br />

BRACELET, SELFRIDGES.<br />

WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM<br />

£85<br />

£42<br />

UP TO NO GOOD SOCKS, OLIVER<br />

BONAS. WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM<br />

£1,690<br />

B BY TED BAKER KIMONO,<br />

DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

£18<br />

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN THE<br />

BUCKET IVORY LEATHER BAG,<br />

HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

THE GREAT OUTDOORS<br />

HIP FLASK, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

£POA<br />

JIMMY CHOO CASH METALLIC<br />

NAPPA COARSE GLITTER<br />

TRAINERS, SELFRIDGES.<br />

WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM<br />

LA MER THE SPA COLLECTION,<br />

HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

£265<br />

NEOM SCENTED CANDLE<br />

COLLECTION,<br />

WWW.NEOMORGANICS.COM<br />

£80<br />

MANCHESTER GIN WILD<br />

SPIRIT GIN, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

£35<br />

25


G I F T G U I D E<br />

Time to treat him<br />

IS THE MAN IN YOUR LIFE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO BUY FOR? OR DOES HE JUST HAVE<br />

EVERYTHING ALREADY? NEVER FEAR; WE’VE ROUNDED UP SOME TOP NOTCH TREATS, FROM<br />

SAVVY TECH TO SARTORIAL STYLE, WHICH ARE BOUND TO PLEASE COME <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 25<br />

LEXON MIAMI SOUND<br />

BLUETOOTH SPEAKER,<br />

AMARA, WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

DENTS HENLEY LEATHER<br />

TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES,<br />

HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

£75<br />

£375<br />

£70<br />

CZECH & SPEAKE OXFORD AND<br />

CAMBRIDGE SHAVE SET AND<br />

STAND, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

JASPER SHEEPSKIN SLIPPERS,<br />

FATFACE. WWW.FATFACE.COM<br />

£46<br />

£17<br />

RAY-BAN GOLD TONE G-15<br />

SUNGLASSES, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

CRAB MULTI TOOL, NOT ANOTHER BILL.<br />

WWW.NOTANOTHERBILL.COM<br />

£40<br />

MEN’S SOCIETY WHISKY LOVER’S KIT,<br />

AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

£127<br />

£14.95<br />

£1,160<br />

STOJO BIGGIE CUP,<br />

HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

LONGINES CONQUEST VHP GMT,<br />

£1,160, SALLOWAYS LICHFIELD.<br />

WWW.SALLOWAYS.CO.UK<br />

26


LET’S SALSA CHILLI JALAPENO<br />

HOT SAUCE, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

£200<br />

£65<br />

£5.95<br />

EXCLUSIVE LAUNER WALLET, SELFRIDGES.<br />

WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM<br />

POLO RALPH LAUREN CHARCOAL WOOL<br />

CHECK SCARF, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

£95<br />

AT CROSS TRACKING PEN,<br />

SALLOWAYS LICHFIELD.<br />

WWW.SALLOWAYS.CO.UK<br />

£89<br />

MENS SANDAL WOOD<br />

HAND BALM, FATFACE.<br />

WWW.FATFACE.COM<br />

£82<br />

£6.50<br />

£129.99<br />

TOM FORD EAU DE PARFUM SET<br />

50ML, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

BRANDY WARMER AND GLASS,<br />

ARTHUR PRICE OF LICHFIELD.<br />

WWW.ARTHURPRICE.COM<br />

DOWN RADAR MIX QUILT JACKET,<br />

SUPERDRY. WWW.SUPERDRY.COM<br />

£325<br />

BRIC’S LIFE SMALL CLIPPER<br />

HOLDALL, AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

28


G I F T G U I D E<br />

A gift for the home<br />

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW YOU CARE THIS CHRISTMAS<br />

THAN A THOUGHTFULLY CHOSEN TOKEN TO COMPLEMENT THEIR INTERIOR STYLE.<br />

THESE HANDPICKED ACCESSORIES, FRAGRANCES AND HOMEWARE PIECES ARE THE PERFECT<br />

MATCH FOR A STYLISH INTERIOR SCHEME AND WOULD MAKE SHOW-STOPPING PRESENTS;<br />

THAT’S IF YOU CAN BARE TO GIVE THEM UP.<br />

£4.50<br />

£149<br />

KEF MUO GOLD TONE BLUETOOTH<br />

SPEAKER, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

£305<br />

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT TUMBLER,<br />

MARKS AND SPENCER.<br />

WWW.MARKSANDSPENCER.COM<br />

LITTLE SCAMP BY AAMINAH<br />

SNOWDON, FRAMED, EDEN GALLERY,<br />

CURBOROUGH, LICHFIELD.<br />

WWW.EDENARTANDFRAMING.CO.UK<br />

GOLD CAKE STAND WITH<br />

GLASS LID, HOMESENSE.<br />

WWW.HOMESENSE.COM<br />

£70<br />

£68<br />

£24.99<br />

WACACO NANOPRESSO<br />

PORTABLE ESPRESSO<br />

MACHINE, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

SILVER COCKTAIL SHAKER,<br />

ARTHUR PRICE OF LICHFIELD.<br />

WWW.ARTHURPRICE.COM<br />

KINSHIP MARBLE CHEESE BOARD<br />

WITH KNIVES, OLIVER BONAS.<br />

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM<br />

£89<br />

£40<br />

£375<br />

WARREN BLACK COCKTAIL<br />

SHAKER, DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE BY PAUL<br />

HORTON, FROM BLUEBIRD FINE<br />

ART, MERCIA MARINA.<br />

WWW.BLUEBIRDFINEART.CO.UK<br />

30


£25<br />

£4<br />

£185<br />

JOHN LEWIS CHEESE KNIVES,<br />

WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM<br />

COFFEE KEEPS ME GOING MUG,<br />

SAINSBURY’S HOME.<br />

WWW.SAINSBURYSHOME.CO.UK<br />

£35<br />

LILLE VELVET COCKTAIL CHAIR IN<br />

BORDEAUX, PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,<br />

BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.<br />

WWW.PEPPERMILLINTERIORS.COM<br />

MARBLE SHOT GLASSES.<br />

DEBENHAMS.<br />

WWW.DEBENHAMS.COM<br />

£90<br />

£140<br />

£119<br />

DESIGN HOUSE STOCKHOLM GREY<br />

KNOT CUSHION, HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

FORNASETTI DON GIOVANNI<br />

ROSE PATCHOULI CANDLE,<br />

HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

REINDEER SUEDE FOOTSTOOL,<br />

BLACKBROOK INTERIORS.<br />

WWW.BLACKBROOK-INTERIORS.CO.UK<br />

CHAMBERY VELVET ARMCHAIR,<br />

PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,<br />

BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.<br />

WWW.PEPPERMILLINTERIORS.COM<br />

£395 £69<br />

POM POM THROW, MARKS AND SPENCER.<br />

WWW.MARKSANDSPENCER.COM<br />

£28<br />

HONEYCOMB CARAFE WITH<br />

TUMBLER, OLIVER BONAS.<br />

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM<br />

32


OUR NEW BROCHURE IS NOW AVAILABLE<br />

P R E N T I C E<br />

Quality Furniture<br />

01827 287387<br />

enquiry@prentice.co.uk<br />

www.prentice.co.uk


F O O D & D R I N K<br />

oozing with style<br />

A SERIOUSLY STYLISH MAKEOVER HAS TRANSFORMED THE GREEN HOUSE IN SUTTON COLDFIELD<br />

INTO ONE OF THE HOTTEST DINING AND DRINKING SPOTS IN TOWN, AS AMY NORBURY DISCOVERED<br />

A firm favourite on the Sutton Coldfield dining scene<br />

closed its doors at the end of October for a stylish<br />

refurbishment.<br />

The Green House, located on Lichfield Road, has<br />

undergone a significant investment that has given the<br />

popular eating and drinking spot a more modern,<br />

stylish and contemporary feel.<br />

General manager Alan said: “The Green House is a<br />

hugely popular pub and provides a hub for the local<br />

community so we’re really excited to be part of the<br />

team as it begins its next chapter.<br />

“We have made some stunning changes that have<br />

allowed us to create a modern, open and stylish<br />

look and feel to the pub - making it the ideal spot<br />

for friends and family to get together. We have loved<br />

unveiling the brand new pub to guests!”<br />

The J’AIME team were among the first to experience<br />

the new-look pub, invited along for dinner ahead of<br />

the official reopening.<br />

First impressions were that The Green House is an<br />

interior design buff’s dream. From the swathes of<br />

plush velvet to the luxuriously dark and cosy colour<br />

scheme in the bar area - enhanced by a beautiful<br />

fireplace which makes the ideal winter relaxation<br />

spot - the elegant lighting to the statement wall which<br />

is alive with flowers and foliage, the decor certainly<br />

makes its mark. Insta-worthy? Most definitely.<br />

We were greeted at the bar by a friendly bartender<br />

who was busy shaking up an array of signature<br />

cocktails and crafting the specialist range of gin and<br />

tonic serves. As the drink du jour, gin is big business<br />

everywhere, and The Green House’s selection is<br />

certainly enough to impress any gin fan.<br />

Drinks in hand, we made our way to the stylish<br />

bar area for a spot of pre-dinner relaxation,<br />

accompanied by a platter of nibbles which<br />

showcased some of the menu’s highlights ahead of<br />

the main event.<br />

Morsels of the lobster and king prawn pot, sweet<br />

chilli king prawn roll and<br />

deep-fried brie were all<br />

rather delightful, while the<br />

chargrilled lamb koftas<br />

were a particular hit among<br />

the J’AIME team. Tiny<br />

toasts topped with slivers<br />

of smoked salmon or duck<br />

liver pâté rounded off an<br />

excellent selection.<br />

The spacious dining room<br />

oozes contemporary chic,<br />

while the refurbishment has<br />

34


also added a private dining area for a more intimate<br />

experience.<br />

We selected a cosy table at the heart of the action<br />

and settled down to enjoy the best of what The<br />

Green House has to offer.<br />

To start, I opted for the scallops of the day (priced<br />

daily), while my dining companions chose the salt<br />

and Szechuan pepper squid with cooling aioli<br />

(£6.95), the thyme-roasted portobello mushrooms in<br />

Cropwell Bishop sauce with rustic toast (£6.95) and<br />

those lamb koftas (£6.95) which had already proved<br />

a hit.<br />

The scallops were beautifully plump and tender, with<br />

a nice hint of caramelisation on top, accompanied<br />

by a sweet butternut squash puree and piled atop<br />

a flavourful, meaty mound. The rest of the starters<br />

proved equally delicious, with the meltingly tender<br />

koftas complemented by a tangy goat’s curd and<br />

sweet plum tomato, while the squid provided just the<br />

right amount of spicy bite.<br />

Onto the main event, and we opted for a selection of<br />

dishes which gave a rounded flavour of The Green<br />

House’s eclectic menu.<br />

My roasted rack of lamb with aubergines, red<br />

peppers potatoes dauphinoise and red wine jus<br />

(£21.95) was a sizeable<br />

platter indeed. The hefty<br />

hunks of lamb were cooked<br />

to a perfect pink while the<br />

garlicky dauphinoise was<br />

rich and indulgent. It may<br />

not have looked as elegant<br />

as some of the plates being<br />

turned out of the kitchen,<br />

but it was certainly a<br />

satisfying dish.<br />

The pork belly with seared<br />

scallops and dauphinoise<br />

(£18.95) was a slightly<br />

more refined affair, offering<br />

a good combination of<br />

flavours and excellent,<br />

crispy crackling, while<br />

the fillet steak with twicecooked<br />

chunky chips<br />

(£24.95) was a delicious<br />

example of a classic, if<br />

ever-so-slightly over the<br />

requested medium-rare.<br />

The accompanying aleglazed<br />

shallot tart topped<br />

with Cropwell Bishop<br />

custard was a real delight,<br />

with beautiful pastry and<br />

a punchy hit from the blue<br />

cheese marrying with the<br />

sweet shallots perfectly.<br />

For a lighter option, the lobster and Devon crab<br />

fishcakes with asparagus, pea and truffle oil veloute<br />

and topped with crispy seaweed (£13.95) really hit<br />

the spot.<br />

The rather generous portion sizes meant dessert was<br />

by no means a foregone conclusion - until we spied<br />

the menu, that is. The Green House’s signature pud<br />

is the impressive melting chocolate bomb (£7.95).<br />

The delicate chocolate sphere is filled with sticky<br />

toffee pudding and peanut butter cream, which is<br />

revealed when the accompanying hot salted caramel<br />

sauce is poured over, creating a dreamy, melty puddle<br />

of sweet indulgence.<br />

It certainly looks the part, and for anyone with a<br />

particularly sweet tooth it’s a must-try.<br />

The chocolate and raspberry pudding with Bourbon<br />

vanilla ice cream (£6.95) went down a treat, as did<br />

the ice cream and home-baked triple chocolate<br />

cookie combo (£5.25).<br />

The Green House has been transformed into a<br />

seriously stylish place to drink and dine. With an<br />

eclectic menu packed with something for everyone,<br />

it really is a great place to indulge, relax, and spend<br />

quality time with friends and family.<br />

35


F O O D & D R I N K<br />

Cocktail of the month<br />

THE TEAM AT THE WINE HOUSE IN LICHFIELD SERVE UP A FABULOUSLY<br />

FUN AND FESTIVE AFFAIR, PERFECT FOR ANY CHRISTMAS BASH<br />

- 25ml Chambord<br />

- 25ml Grey Goose vodka<br />

- 50ml cranberry juice<br />

- 50ml pomegranate juice<br />

- A sprig of rosemary<br />

- A vine of redcurrants<br />

- Clear bauble (you can<br />

purchase these from<br />

most craft shops)<br />

- Small straws<br />

Cham-bauble<br />

This easy-to-make<br />

Christmas cocktail will get<br />

any festive party started<br />

with style; a wow factor<br />

for your guests in your<br />

own home.<br />

Start off by shaking all the<br />

liquid ingredients over<br />

ice using a Boston shaker<br />

until there is condensation<br />

on the outside of the<br />

shaker. Take the top off<br />

the clear bauble and<br />

pour the contents inside.<br />

Decorate a martini glass<br />

with redcurrants and a<br />

sprig of rosemary and<br />

place the bauble inside<br />

the glass and enjoy!<br />

This cocktail will also be<br />

available inside our bar<br />

throughout the Christmas<br />

period.<br />

36


THIS YEAR<br />

OUR CHRISTMAS<br />

MENU GOES<br />

BOTTOMLESS<br />

Monday to<br />

Sunday lunch<br />

(12 Noon till 5pm)<br />

(Sunday 12 till 6pm)<br />

Monday to<br />

Thursday<br />

evening<br />

(5pm till 9:30pm)<br />

£30 £40<br />

Enjoy a two hour sitting with your party<br />

with a three course menu<br />

and unlimited Prosecco and festive cocktails.<br />

THIS YEAR<br />

OUR CHRISTMAS<br />

MENU GOES<br />

Bottomless<br />

£30 Sunday Monday lunch<br />

to Monday to<br />

£40<br />

(12 Noon till 5pm)<br />

Thursday<br />

evening<br />

(Sunday 12 till 8pm) (5pm till 9:30pm)<br />

Enjoy a two hour sitting with your party<br />

with a three course menu<br />

and unlimited Prosecco and festive cocktails.<br />

Follow us<br />

on Facebook<br />

Terms and conditions apply.<br />

Visit www.thewinehouselichfield.co.uk or<br />

call 01543 419999 for further details.<br />

Follow us<br />

on Facebook<br />

Terms and conditions apply.<br />

Visit www.thetrooperwall.co.uk or<br />

call 01543 480413 for further details.<br />

COPPICE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENT<br />

SATURDAY 1ST <strong>DECEMBER</strong> , <strong>2018</strong> FROM 9AM-5.30PM<br />

• OVER 20 SUPPLIERS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE<br />

• COME ALONG AND SAMPLE THEIR SEASONAL DELIGHTS<br />

FROM ARTISAN BAKERY GOODS TO FREE RANGE MEATS<br />

AND UNUSUAL CHEESES. LEARN ALL THE PERFECT<br />

ACCOMPANIMENTS TO ALL YOUR FESTIVE DISHES.<br />

• THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL FOOD AND DRINK OPTIONS<br />

AVAILABLE IN THE GLASS HOUSE SHOWCASING SOME OF<br />

THE DELICIOUS PRODUCE AVAILABLE IN FORAGE FOOD<br />

HALL AND THE FIG & OLIVE.<br />

• COPPICE WILL HAVE WREATH MAKING & GIFT WRAPPING<br />

DEMONSTRATIONS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY.<br />

• THE FIG & OLIVE WILL BE OPEN AS USUAL -<br />

PLEASE BOOK ON 0121 308 6102<br />

COPPICE GARDEN CENTRE, COPPICE LANE, MIDDLETON, NR SUTTON COLDFIELD, B78 2BU<br />

WWW.COPPICEGC.COM - 0121 308 7197 - INFO@COPPICEGC.COM


CO M P E T I T I O N<br />

Get foraging<br />

BASED AT COPPICE GARDEN CENTRE, FORAGE IS HOME TO SOME OF THE BEST QUALITY FOOD AND DRINK IN THE<br />

MIDLANDS AND BEYOND - AND YOU COULD WIN A SPECIALLY SELECTED FORAGE CHRISTMAS HAMPER, WORTH £120<br />

Forage brings a totally different food shopping<br />

experience, helping customers to discover and explore<br />

new, seasonal produce.<br />

Nestled in the outskirts of Middleton, near Sutton<br />

Coldfield, and as part of the expanding Coppice group,<br />

the butchery, bakery and deli was created to deliver an<br />

inspiring and quality range of unique food and drink,<br />

catering for those who really care about where their food<br />

comes from.<br />

The Forage ethos is to find the very best fresh produce<br />

from across Britain and house it under one roof, with<br />

much of the delectable produce on offer being locally<br />

sourced or even hand crafted in-house.<br />

Forage opened in June <strong>2018</strong> and was born out of a<br />

passion for great food and drink, and with the aim of<br />

inspiring customers to taste and create their very own<br />

delicious dishes at home.<br />

One of the main goals for Forage was to source fantastic<br />

suppliers with great produce, and they have teamed<br />

up with companies small and large, near and far, all of<br />

which share the same motivations and values. Forage are<br />

passionate about promoting the world of wonderful food<br />

and drink, which is economically sourced and created by<br />

real people with a passion for their food and craft.<br />

The small but friendly team, headed up by Danny<br />

Beardmore, is passionate and knowledgeable about all<br />

products on offer in Forage, which adds to the whole<br />

customer experience. The inspiring head butcher Chris<br />

Baines and his team have a wealth of experience in<br />

the trade sourcing their produce from only the best<br />

local farmers, from Packington Free Range just down<br />

the road to Tori and Ben’s Farm from Melbourne,<br />

Derbyshire. The very best homemade bakes and pastries<br />

YOU COULD WIN A DELICIOUS<br />

FORAGE HAMPER OF GOODIES<br />

are whipped up in-house by the talented team of chefs<br />

and bakers.<br />

Why not join pop along to the Christmas shopping<br />

event at Forage on Saturday, December 1, <strong>2018</strong> from<br />

9am until 5pm. Come along and sample seasonal<br />

delights from artisan bakery goods to free range<br />

meats and unusual cheeses. Learn all of the perfect<br />

accompaniments to all festive dishes. Coppice Shop<br />

will also have a range of suppliers and will have several<br />

wreath-making and gift-wrapping demonstrations going<br />

on throughout the day.<br />

For more information visit the website at<br />

www.coppicegc.com or check out everything on<br />

offer at Coppice Lifestyle, Coppice Lane, Middleton,<br />

near Sutton Coldfield, B78 2BU.<br />

The competition<br />

J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH FORAGE AT COPPICE<br />

GARDEN CENTRE TO OFFER LUCKY READERS<br />

THE CHANCE TO WIN A SPECIALLY SELECTED<br />

HAMPER OF FOOD AND DRINK GOODIES,<br />

WORTH £120, READY FOR COLLECTION ON<br />

SATURDAY, <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 22. PUT TOGETHER BY THE<br />

TEAM, IT WILL INCLUDE A SELECTION OF FRESH<br />

CHEESES AND MEATS, CHEESE BISCUITS, FORAGE<br />

CHOCOLATES, CHRISTMAS PUDDING, TWO<br />

BOTTLES OF WINE AND A FESTIVE LIQUEUR.<br />

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN, SIMPLY<br />

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:<br />

WHEN DID FORAGE OPEN?<br />

SEND YOUR ANSWER, ALONG WITH YOUR NAME,<br />

ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, BY EMAIL TO<br />

COMPETITIONS@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM WITH FORAGE<br />

HAMPER COMPETITION AS THE EMAIL SUBJECT. ENTRIES<br />

MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5PM ON FRIDAY, <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 14,<br />

AND OUR WINNER WILL BE NOTIFIED BY WEDNESDAY,<br />

<strong>DECEMBER</strong> 19. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. VISIT<br />

WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM FOR FURTHER DETAILS.<br />

38


J ••• ·,; .<br />

MAIN COURSES<br />

{) ()<br />

SHORTCRUST BEEF & ALE PIE<br />

8 PORTIONS - £40.00<br />

.<br />

•<br />

.. •..<br />

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CHRISTMAS TAKEAWAY MENU<br />

SHORTCRUST CHICKEN & MUSHROOM PIE<br />

8 PORTIONS - £40.00<br />

TRADITIONAL FISH PIE TOPPED WITH<br />

CREAMY MASHED POTATO<br />

8 PORTIONS - £40<br />

BEEF LASAGNE<br />

8 PORTIONS - £40.00<br />

CHICKEN CASSEROLE<br />

8 PORTIONS - £40.00<br />

LAMB MOUSSAKA<br />

8 PORTIONS - £40.00<br />

WINTER VEGETABLE STRUDEL<br />

8 PORTIONS - £40.00<br />

...·,;<br />

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DESSERTS<br />

TRADITIONAL WHISKY TRIFLE<br />

12 PORTIONS - £25.00<br />

LEMON TART<br />

12 PORTIONS - £25.00<br />

QUANTITY<br />

□<br />

□<br />

□<br />

0<br />

VEGETABLES<br />

CREAMY MASHED<br />

POTATOES<br />

6 PORTIONS - £10.00<br />

SALADS<br />

••• o •<br />

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• 0<br />

.. •.<br />

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QUANTITY<br />

CLASSIC COLESLAW<br />

□ 8 PORTIONS - £15.00<br />

QUANTITY<br />

□<br />

□<br />

ORZO PASTA, BASIL<br />

PESTQ SUN BLUSHED<br />

□<br />

TOMATOES PARMESAN<br />

8 PORTIONS - £15.00<br />

6 PORTIONS - £10.00 CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD □<br />

ROAST POTATOES<br />

6 PORTIONS - £10.00<br />

DAUPHINOISE POTATOES □<br />

8 PORTIONS - £15.00<br />

HONEY ROAST PARSNIPS<br />

AND CARROTS □<br />

PANZANELLA<br />

6 PORTIONS - £10.00 8 PORTIONS - £15.00<br />

COLSTON BASSET BLUE STILTON<br />

WINTER FRUIT PAVLOVA<br />

12 PORTIONS - £25.00<br />

GORGONZOLA DOLCE<br />

BLACK BOMBER<br />

CHOCOLATE & SALTED CARAMEL TART □<br />

12 PORTIONS - £25.00 CORNISH Y ARG<br />

BERKSWELL<br />

WENSLEYDALE CRANBERRIES<br />

THANK YOU FOR YOUR<br />

CONTINUING CUSTOM & SUPPORT.<br />

MERRY CHRISTMAS<br />

AND A HAPPY NEW<br />

YEAR FROM EVERYONE<br />

AT FORAGE<br />

□<br />

□<br />

□<br />

□<br />

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE<br />

6 PORTIONS - £10.00<br />

FINGER FOOD<br />

□<br />

S0<br />

HOME MADE PORK MINI SAUSAGE ROLLS<br />

£1.25 - EACH<br />

MINI GOATS CHEESE ONION TARTLETS<br />

£2.25 - EACH<br />

QUANTITY COURGETTE & HALLOUMI FRITTERS<br />

£2.25 - EACH<br />

9<br />

□<br />

MINI LEEK & MUSHROOM QUICHE<br />

£2.75 - EACH<br />

□ CHEESE COUNTER<br />

□<br />

0.5 KG (lLB) SERVES 8<br />

• • ·,;<br />

.. •..<br />

:-:,/<br />

.... ,;<br />

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FORAGE AT COPPICE<br />

Coppice Lane, Middleton, Nr Sutton Coldfield, Staffordshire,<br />

B78 2BU T: 0121 308 7197 E: shop@forageatcoppice.com<br />

WWWFORAGEATCOPPICE.CO.UK<br />

.<br />

• 0<br />

Woodburning &<br />

multifuel stoves<br />

□<br />

QUANTITY<br />

□<br />

□<br />

□<br />

□<br />

□<br />

QUANTITY<br />

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FORAGE<br />

BUTCHERY - DELI - BAKERY<br />

WE ARE NOW TAKING<br />

ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS<br />

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WE SOURCE AS MUCH OF OUR PRODUCE<br />

AS POSSIBLE FROM LOCAL SUPPLIERS<br />

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WE HAVE A FABULOUS RANGE OF BESPOKE<br />

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS PERFECT GIFT IDEAS<br />

.<br />

•<br />

0<br />

FORAGE, COPPICE LANE, MIDDLETON, STAFFORDSHIRE, B78 2BU<br />

WWW.COPPICEGC.COM - 0121 308 7197 - SHOP@FORAGEATCOPPICE.COM<br />

t he heart of t he home...<br />

Visit our showroom to be amazed by the choice -<br />

from traditional to modern<br />

With such a wide range of fires, fireplaces and stoves<br />

there is sure to be a style to suit you & your home<br />

WE OF F ER<br />

A C OMP LE T E<br />

INST ALLA T ION<br />

SERV ICE<br />

Visit our showroom and be amazed by the choice! With such a wide range from traditional to modern, there’s sure to be a style to suit you!<br />

CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS:<br />

CLOSING 1PM ON 21/12 -<br />

RE-OPEN 2ND JANUARY.<br />

5 Stafford Road, Lichfield WS13 7BZ - Tel: 01543 263 383 • www.thefireplacelichfield.co.uk • Email: sales@thefireplacelichfield.co.uk<br />

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm • Sat 10am - 4pm. Closed Sundays and bank holidays. FREE ON-SITE PARKING.


F O O D & D R I N K<br />

Festive cheers<br />

PATRICK GAUNT, OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR SPECIALIST WINE COMPANY<br />

ITAL SARDO, SHARES SOME OF HIS CHRISTMAS GIFT RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

This year, we thought we would make it easier for<br />

our customers and have put together a gift box of<br />

exclusive wines, ideal for the festive period. We have<br />

packed wine in pairs, giving you the opportunity to<br />

try a bottle yourself and also bring the second bottle<br />

as a gift.<br />

Our mixed case contains two bottles of sparkling,<br />

two bottles of white and two bottles of red, all from<br />

the island of Sardinia. We have chosen these as they<br />

are diverse enough to be consumed on their own,<br />

as well as pairing very well with many dishes served<br />

over this winter period.<br />

Our selected sparkling, Aragosta Spumante Brut,<br />

is our best-selling sparkling wine. Many of our<br />

customers love the idea of an exclusive Italian<br />

sparkling that is different from a Prosecco. It is made<br />

with the Vermentino grapes, providing more layers<br />

of flavour, while still being crisp and refreshing.<br />

Cheja is made up of the highest quality white grapes<br />

on the vineyard estate of Cantina di Mogoro. This<br />

white wine is slightly fruity, producing a fresh taste<br />

which can be enjoyed on its own, or with a light fish<br />

starter. Our customers are drawn to the label first,<br />

and its intriguing look has not disappointed yet!<br />

The red wine that we have ready for you is perfect<br />

to take the chill of anything this winter. Cabirol is a<br />

blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cagnulari. It is<br />

warm, well-balanced with a great sense of mulled<br />

fruits. This caters for many different types of red<br />

wine drinkers. Customers who prefer lighter style<br />

reds really appreciate the ripe red fruit flavours. On<br />

the other hand, if you are in to the heavier wines, the<br />

warming length and slight spice is sure to go down a<br />

treat.<br />

We are offering this case on our website for £80, and<br />

for a little thank you from us, we would like to offer<br />

a five per cent discount to our J’AIME readers. For<br />

this, please enter JaimeChristmas in the discount<br />

code box on checkout.<br />

Our full range of wines are available to view on our<br />

website at www.italsardo.com<br />

As a small company, we believe in offering a<br />

personal and professional service to all of customers.<br />

Therefore, we welcome any requests and look<br />

forward to hearing from you. You can contact us via<br />

email wine@italsardo.com or call our office<br />

01283 711588<br />

ARAGOSTA<br />

SPUMANTE<br />

CHEJA<br />

CABIROL<br />

40


Join in the Festive Celebrations<br />

Family Lunch<br />

with Santa<br />

Enjoy a family lunch, magic show<br />

and visit from Santa!<br />

Sun 2nd, Sun 9th, Sat 22nd,<br />

& Mon 24th December<br />

Christmas Carols<br />

& Afternoon Tea<br />

Enjoy a festive afternoon tea<br />

and traditional carols with choir<br />

Tue 24th Nov, Tue 4th, Tue 11th,<br />

mon 17th & Tue 18th December<br />

Join in the Festive Celebrations<br />

Christmas Voices<br />

An evening of light-hearted poetry,<br />

music & drama for the festive season.<br />

Sun 2nd, Mon 3rd & Tue 4th December<br />

Christmas Carols<br />

& Afternoon Tea<br />

Enjoy a festive afternoon tea<br />

and traditional carols with choir<br />

Fri 7th & Fri 14th December<br />

Starlight Christmas<br />

Party Nights<br />

Glass of Prosecco, 3 course dinner<br />

& Disco until 12.30am<br />

Limited dates available<br />

Murder Mystery<br />

Evenings<br />

A 3 course dinner and see if you<br />

can work out ‘whodunnit’!<br />

Tue 11th, Mon 17th & Tue 18th December<br />

Christmas<br />

Party Nights<br />

3 course dinner with crackers & novelties<br />

& Disco until 12.30am<br />

Limited dates available<br />

Santa Sunday Lunch<br />

A 3 course festive lunch, magic show<br />

and visit from Santa with a<br />

gift for all the children!<br />

Sun 9th & Sun 23rd December<br />

Moor Hall Drive, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B75 6LN<br />

0121 308 3751 www.moorhallhotel.co.uk<br />

Bird Street, Lichfield WS13 6PR<br />

01543 414822 www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk<br />

A Lichfield family firm ~ the Winterton name<br />

has been synonymous with auctioneering<br />

throughout Staffordshire since 1864<br />

'A Sale In A Generation'<br />

Free Valuations Every Tuesday 9.30am - 4pm<br />

THE LICHFIELD AUCTION CENTRE WOOD END LANE FRADLEY PARK WS13 8NF<br />

Tel: 01543 251081 Email: office@richardwinterton.co.uk www.richardwinterton.co.uk


F O O D & D R I N K<br />

Stylish dining for 2019<br />

MODERN CHINESE RESTAURANT TATTU REVEALS A UNIQUE DESIGN<br />

CONCEPT FOR BIRMINGHAM AHEAD OF ITS JANUARY LAUNCH<br />

Tattu has announced it will open the doors to its<br />

third venue in Birmingham city centre in January<br />

2019, as works progress at the new site on Barwick<br />

Street.<br />

The 150-cover, split-level restaurant will occupy<br />

a charming space within the historic Grand<br />

development. The restaurant will serve its renowned<br />

Chinese-inspired cuisine, taking traditional<br />

ingredients and classic flavours, combined with<br />

new ideas and cooking techniques. The result is a<br />

distinctive and contemporary take on the much-loved<br />

style of food, with innovative dim sum and delicious<br />

sharing plates that encourage an interactive dining<br />

experience.<br />

Diners can look forward to a selection of Tattu’s<br />

signature dishes such as Beef Fillet and Caramel<br />

Soy and the delicate Saffron Black Cod. New menu<br />

additions, developed by executive chef Andrew<br />

Lassetter and his team, include Chilli and Sesame<br />

Roasted Scallops served with Chinese sausage,<br />

crushed edamame and mint, as well as an Asian<br />

Pear Crumble with green apple, almond and a pink<br />

custard.<br />

Tattu Birmingham will also offer a dedicated<br />

lunchtime menu, Taste of Tattu, providing guests<br />

with a premium express lunch of two or three<br />

courses priced at £23 or £28. Taste of Tattu features<br />

a selection of the restaurant’s best-selling small plates<br />

combined with innovative dishes from the wok and<br />

YIN<br />

grill alongside its stunning desserts. The special<br />

menu will run daily and delivers all the quality and<br />

creativity of Tattu’s à la carte menu.<br />

The brothers behind the brand, Adam and Drew<br />

Jones, are incredibly excited about the regeneration<br />

of The Grand development recognising its place<br />

within the city’s rich history. Tattu Birmingham<br />

is the first restaurant in the group that’s located<br />

within a heritage space and this has played a key<br />

role in creating a unique concept for the site. With a<br />

strong focus on stunning interiors, the brothers are<br />

embarking on what will be their most detailed and<br />

bespoke fit out to date.<br />

“Each Tattu restaurant has its own identity and style<br />

that takes customers on a sensory journey as they<br />

dine. We recognise the historic importance of The<br />

Grand to the city and wanted to reflect that in our<br />

concept,” explains Adam Jones, managing director.<br />

He continues: “Being situated underneath the<br />

stunning Grosvenor Suite we knew we would need to<br />

carefully consider our restaurant layout and design.<br />

With the grandeur of the space, the challenge was<br />

to provide flow through the ground and basement<br />

levels. We explored the Chinese philosophy of Yin<br />

Yang and fell in love with the idea of two different<br />

entities that blend together to create something<br />

harmonious. Working with this concept we are<br />

hoping to create a restaurant that complements the<br />

outstanding features of the space, the results should<br />

be beautiful and deliver a unique<br />

customer experience that is<br />

exclusive to Birmingham.”<br />

The site will create a total of 80<br />

jobs for the city with recruitment<br />

now underway for all positions<br />

including front of house, kitchen<br />

and bar.<br />

There will be a two-week soft<br />

launch period with 50 per cent<br />

off food for a limited number<br />

of tables. For more information<br />

on how to attend and official<br />

opening dates, sign up at www.<br />

tattu.co.uk/birmingham<br />

and follow @TattuRestaurant<br />

on Instagram for updates.<br />

42


The<br />

Boat Inn<br />

Michelin recommended<br />

Home made Christmas Hampers being prepared now...<br />

a perfect Christmas present! pre orders only.<br />

There is a limited supply so please reserve yours<br />

now at info@theboatinnlichfield.com<br />

Due to popular demand, we are holding another<br />

6 Course Game Dinner £55. Wine flight of £35 optional.<br />

Book your table at The Boat Inn. Tuesday 4th December<br />

Cheese & Wine Evening. 3 wines from Clos Ventas plus a<br />

selection of cheeses. Wednesday 12th December...7.30/8.00. £25 pp.<br />

Christmas Vouchers available now<br />

please see website for details.<br />

Call for details - 01543 361692<br />

Open Wednesday - Sunday<br />

Open Tuesday - Sunday during December<br />

and now taking Christmas bookings<br />

www.theboatinnlichfield.com<br />

Walsall Road, Lichfield WS14 0BU<br />

Christmas at<br />

Lichfield Garrick Pantomime<br />

DICK WHITTINGTON<br />

ELF & REINDEERS<br />

CHRISTMAS CRACKER<br />

5 DEC<br />

TO<br />

24 DEC<br />

29 NOV<br />

TO<br />

5 JAN<br />

I N G L E W O O D<br />

R E S I D E N T I A L R E S T H O M E<br />

FROM HOME TO HOME C ARE<br />

Inglewood is a beautiful purpose-built home providing a high standard of residential care in a<br />

pleasant atmosphere. Located in the Sutton Coldfield, our home is only a short distance from<br />

local shops, a retail park and many other amenities.<br />

Our highly trained and dedicated team is committed to providing the highest standards of care<br />

in a comfortable ‘home from home’ environment.<br />

T: 0121 352 1113 | 330 CHESTER RD | SUTTON COLDFIELD | WEST MIDLANDS | B 7 4 3 E D


T R AV E L<br />

Catching the Northern Lights<br />

RB COLLECTION DIRECTOR OLIVER SHARES HIS TOP TIPS FOR<br />

PLANNING A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME NORTHERN LIGHTS TRIP<br />

A HUSKY SLED RIDE<br />

IN TROMSO<br />

The Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as<br />

the Northern Lights, are one of the Earth’s most<br />

mesmerising phenomenons. With winter now upon<br />

us we are giving you our suggestions to make the<br />

most of this magical wonder and experience them<br />

for yourself<br />

Our top Northern Lights holidays<br />

Ice Hotel, Sweden<br />

We have operated the specialist website IceHotels.<br />

co.uk for nearly ten years and know this amazing,<br />

unique hotel inside out. We have some special<br />

packages that include a wonderful Northern Lights<br />

by snowmobile excursion, as well as a husky trip<br />

where you learn to mush the sleigh yourselves.<br />

We also upgrade our clients to the special Art<br />

Suite. Prices start from around £1,200 per person<br />

with flights, one night on ice, three nights’ warm<br />

accommodation, transfers, breakfast daily and two<br />

special excursions. You can visit all-year-round<br />

now with the special Ice Hotel 365, but the main<br />

winter season is from mid-December to March. Visit<br />

IceHotels.co.uk for more details.<br />

Tree Hotel, Sweden<br />

Another unique hotel in Sweden is the Tree Hotel.<br />

Each tree house room is completely different. Our<br />

favourite is the UFO (like something out of the 80s<br />

film Flight of the Navigator). The surroundings are<br />

picturesque, and Britta’s Guest House is a 1950s<br />

themed home where you take meals, and certainly<br />

adds a unique, quirky element to your stay . Activities<br />

include snowmobiling, ice fishing and more. Threenight<br />

packages from £1,445 per person. The Tree<br />

Hotel and Ice Hotel can be easily combined to make<br />

a twin-centre holiday, with a lovely train journey<br />

between the two hotels.<br />

Land of the Northern Lights tour<br />

Follow in Joanna Lumley’s footsteps on this special<br />

44


independent tour. This<br />

touring holiday using<br />

local transport begins in<br />

Trondheim, Norway’s<br />

former ancient capital. You<br />

then travel by rail across the<br />

Arctic Circle to the pretty<br />

little port of Bodø. Embark<br />

on a short flight to the great<br />

Vestfjord and the magical<br />

Lofted Islands. Continue<br />

on an overnight mini-cruise<br />

to the Arctic capital itself,<br />

Tromsø. Eight days costs<br />

from £1,985 per person.<br />

CATCH THE NORTHERN<br />

LIGHTS FROM THE ICE<br />

HOTEL<br />

Iceland<br />

One the best value for<br />

money places to see the<br />

Northern Lights is Iceland. A three-night break to<br />

Reykjavik with flights and accommodation starts<br />

from £695 per person. You can then pick and choose<br />

various excursions to add on - our top tip would be<br />

the Super Jeep Northern Lights trip.<br />

Hurtigruten coastal cruises, Norway<br />

Cruising along the Norwegian Coast is a great way<br />

to see the beautiful fjords and of course the Northern<br />

Lights. A popular option is a eight-day tour from the<br />

south of the Norwegian coast to the north. It offers<br />

great value for money with flight inclusive packages<br />

starting from £995 per person. This even includes a<br />

night staying at the Snow Hotel in Kirkenes too!<br />

Abisko Sky Station, Sweden<br />

Voted by National Geographic as the best place in<br />

the world to see the lights, The Aurora Sky Station<br />

at Abisko is a mountain top viewing lodge. Accessed<br />

by a chairlift, we arrange for our clients to have a<br />

traditional dinner earlier in the evening before the<br />

rest of the visitors arrive. This intimate experience<br />

adds something special to the night. You can stay<br />

at the station until 1am to ensure you get a lot of<br />

opportunities to see the lights. We often combine this<br />

with a stay at the Ice Hotel which is in the same area.<br />

Tromsø, Norway<br />

At a latitude of nearly 70 degrees north, Tromsø is<br />

the largest city in the Nordic countries north of the<br />

Arctic Circle. Surrounded by the Lyngen Alps, vast<br />

forests, blue fjords and an archipelago of hundreds<br />

of islands, this lively university city has much to offer<br />

the visitor whether summer or winter. The winter<br />

months, with its moderate arctic climate of c. -4°C,<br />

brings the natural phenomena of the Polar Nights<br />

(November 21 and January 21) and Northern Lights<br />

(September to April) as well as a host of activities to<br />

suit all interests from dog-sledding, glacial walking,<br />

snowmobile safaris and snow shoe excursions. Threenight<br />

short breaks with flights and private transfers<br />

cost from £530 per person.<br />

WILDERNESS HOTEL,<br />

NANGU, FINLAND<br />

Polar Express to Swedish<br />

Lapland<br />

This truly wonderful holiday<br />

begins in Stockholm, before<br />

taking the overnight journey<br />

by rail northwards into<br />

Swedish Lapland. You’ll love<br />

exploring Sweden’s capital<br />

city which is beautifully<br />

situated over 14 islands<br />

connected together by 57<br />

bridges. Your overnight train,<br />

or ‘norrlandståget’ (northern<br />

train), from Stockholm to<br />

Luleå is a romantic way<br />

45


of making your long<br />

journey northwards to<br />

TROMSO, NORWAY<br />

Lapland. Your train leaves<br />

Stockholm during the<br />

early evening and arrives<br />

into Luleå the following<br />

morning. But don’t worry,<br />

you don’t have to sleep in<br />

your seat - we will reserved<br />

a comfortable two-berth<br />

sleeper compartment<br />

especially for you with<br />

shower and WC either<br />

in the compartment<br />

itself or available in the<br />

corridor. Luleå is truly a<br />

place of contrasts. You<br />

will be surprised by the<br />

international atmosphere<br />

of the town which has a bustling centre with an<br />

excellent selection of quality restaurants, bars and<br />

cafes from which to sit and experience everyday<br />

Arctic life. The city’s Ice Road offers further<br />

opportunity to meet the locals as they ice skate, ski,<br />

walk, promenade with prams or simply walk the<br />

dog! The beautiful Luleå archipelago has a total of<br />

1,300 islands and only 100 residents and is a unique<br />

wilderness environment where the sea around the<br />

island freezes up to a metre thick in winter and<br />

enormous ice statues, created by the build-up of pack<br />

ice, can be seen out in the furthermost parts of the<br />

archipelago. This is a spectacular place to explore by<br />

snowmobile and dog-sled, experiencing a true Arctic<br />

wilderness during the day and returning to the city<br />

for the evening to mix with the locals and share their<br />

lifestyle. A Northern Lights hunt is included in your<br />

SKÓGAFOSS, ICELAND<br />

holiday as we know viewing these ethereal wonders<br />

is likely to be on your wishlist. From £1,395 per<br />

person.<br />

Adults-only Finland luxury lodges<br />

This newly transformed adults-only wilderness hotel<br />

is just a total haven of peace and quiet and is tucked<br />

in the most incredible lakeside location in the depths<br />

of the wild. It is small scale and just oozes comfort<br />

and charm with its high-end décor and stunning<br />

log-built construction. With this as your base, we<br />

can assure you that every free moment you have<br />

can be savoured and enjoyed. The hotel’s proximity<br />

to Lake Inari means that, by night, there is a vast<br />

expanse of dark sky above you, ideal for Northern<br />

Lights hunting. The lake and surrounding area<br />

also offer a base for a myriad of activities during<br />

your time here. Despite the short length of this trip,<br />

we have included all the ‘must-dos’<br />

when visiting northern Finland. You<br />

will visit the village of Nellim for an<br />

incredible day which combines reindeer<br />

encounters and dog sledding, you’ll<br />

explore the wilds on snowshoes and will<br />

have the chance to try snowmobiling.<br />

We have also included two Northern<br />

Lights hunts. Three nights costs from<br />

£1,495 per person including flights,<br />

transfers, accommodation with full<br />

board basis, dog sledding, visiting a<br />

reindeer farm, snowshoeing, aurora<br />

camp, snowmobiling lesson and aurora<br />

snowshoeing, fully qualified guides<br />

and instructors during activities, cold<br />

weather clothing for the duration<br />

of your stay and aurora alert until<br />

approximately 1am!<br />

46


WILDERNESS HOTEL,<br />

NANGU, FINLAND<br />

TOP NORTHERN LIGHTS TIPS<br />

• Think ‘off-season’ - in far-north Scandinavia, the<br />

lights start to come out to play as early as the<br />

end of August with specific late summer/autumn<br />

excursions offered. Some locals near the Ice Hotel<br />

in Swedish Lapland say October is, in fact, one of<br />

the best times to see them, as well as March when<br />

it is quieter and cheaper to visit, even though<br />

most expect it to be January and February.<br />

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS<br />

IN AUTUMN<br />

• Join a photo tour - while modern phones and<br />

cameras are great at capturing day to day life, the<br />

illusive Northern Lights with their dancing pattern,<br />

dark night conditions and cold temperatures can<br />

make getting the perfect picture a challenge.<br />

Many trips offer a taster photo tour, suitable for all<br />

levels of experience.<br />

• Maximise your opportunities - the lights can be<br />

illusive at times, and weather conditions could<br />

prevent sightings. Our advice is not to rely on just<br />

one opportunity to see them. For example, on the<br />

Super Jeep trip in Iceland, if you don’t see them<br />

on your first excursion, you can go again the next<br />

night for free. A longer trip, travelling around<br />

Scandinavia may also be a good idea giving you<br />

extra opportunities in different areas.<br />

• Beyond the lights - there are so many fantastic<br />

places to visit and activities to enjoy on these<br />

kind of trips, we always manage our clients’<br />

expectations by arranging other experiences to<br />

create more and more memories, and then if the<br />

worst happens and the lights don’t come out<br />

to play for you, it was still be a fantastic trip all<br />

round!<br />

• Don’t cut corners - there are companies out there<br />

offering very cheap short trips, or even just oneoff<br />

flights. In our experience, these can be in large<br />

groups and also give you limited opportunities<br />

to see the lights. For such a once-in-a-lifetime<br />

trip, do you really want to compromise and risk<br />

wasting your money? Investing a little more can<br />

take it from a mediocre experience to one which<br />

will stay with you forever.<br />

Exclusive J’AIME magazine reader offer<br />

BOOK ANY OF THESE NORTHERN LIGHTS THEMED HOLIDAYS WITH RB COLLECTION<br />

BEFORE <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 31, <strong>2018</strong> AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY NORTHERN LIGHTS<br />

COFFEE TABLE BOOK. MENTION J’AIME MAGAZINE WHEN YOU BOOK.<br />

TO BOOK, CALL RB COLLECTION ON 01543 258631 OR EMAIL VIP@RBCOLLECTION.<br />

COM. ONLY ON BOLEY PARK, OUTSIDE OF LICHFIELD, NICOLA HAS VISITED ICELAND<br />

AND OLIVER HAS VISITED SWEDEN FOR FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE AND ADVICE<br />

WHEN BOOKING.<br />

47


F E AT U R E<br />

Finding treasures<br />

AMY NORBURY CHATS TO EXPERTS HEATHER CALLAWAY AND LOUISE LUDLAM-SNOOK ABOUT<br />

BUYING JEWELLERY AT AUCTION AHEAD OF THIS MONTH’S EXCITING FINE AND DECORATIVE ARTS<br />

SALE AT RICHARD WINTERTON AUCTIONEERS<br />

As consultant jewellery valuers for Richard<br />

Winterton Auctioneers, Heather Callaway and<br />

Louise Ludlam-Snook often have enviable treasures<br />

cross their path. And none more so than one<br />

particularly sparkly piece which is set to go under the<br />

hammer this month.<br />

A stunning 4ct natural yellow diamond cluster ring,<br />

with a tentative guide price of some £20,000 to<br />

£30,000, will be the star lot at the forthcoming Fine<br />

and Decorative Arts sale, which takes place at The<br />

Lichfield Auction House on December 12.<br />

“We couldn’t tell with our hand-held instruments<br />

whether the colour was natural or induced, which<br />

makes a huge difference to the price, so we took the<br />

ring to the Gemmological Laboratory in Mayfair to<br />

be properly assessed,” says Heather.<br />

Happily, the diamond was certified as a natural<br />

yellow stone, with the lab issuing a ‘natural fancy<br />

intense yellow’ colour grade.<br />

The beautiful natural yellow modern round brilliant<br />

cut diamond is bordered by 16 smaller modern<br />

round brilliant cut diamonds and flanked by two<br />

tapered baguette diamonds to the shoulders, all set<br />

into a hallmarked 18ct gold band. A breath-taking<br />

lot, it is sure to attract plenty of attention from buyers<br />

looking to bag such a statement jewellery piece.<br />

With some 25 years in the jewellery trade under<br />

her belt, Heather is a certified gemmologist and<br />

diamond grader, as well as a Fellow of the Institute<br />

of Registered Valuers. As chairman of the Education<br />

Steering group for the National Association of<br />

Jewellers, Heather is passionate about supporting<br />

education within the jewellery industry.<br />

As well as being consultant valuer at Richard<br />

Winterton Auctioneers, Heather carries out valuation<br />

work for the Assay Office in Birmingham, which<br />

is responsible for hallmarking, and is the in-house<br />

valuer for Garrards in Mayfair, London - better<br />

known as the Crown jewellers.<br />

Also a diamond grader and gemmologist, Louise<br />

is the chairman of the Midlands branch of the<br />

Gemmological Association. She previously ran<br />

the vintage department at an auctioneers in<br />

Birmingham, and has also worked in high-end<br />

jewellery retail.<br />

JEWELLERY EXPERTS<br />

HEATHER CALLAWAY AND<br />

LOUISE LUDLAM-SNOOK<br />

“We’re just jewellery nerds really,’ laughs Heather.<br />

“I actually got into the trade by accident; I had a<br />

Saturday job in a jewellery shop and that’s where I<br />

got the bug. I was very fortunate to be inspired by<br />

having a really good employer and, by the age of 20,<br />

I became one of the youngest registered valuers in<br />

the UK.”<br />

Auctions, say Heather and Louise, can throw up<br />

jewellery bargains, with customers seeing a much<br />

greater return for their money than buying retail.<br />

In fact, the retail value can often be as much as four<br />

times the price paid at auction.<br />

“We love auctions; it’s really exciting because you<br />

never know what’s going to come in,” says Heather.<br />

“Much of the jewellery we come across here is from<br />

house clearances so people don’t know what they’ve<br />

got,” adds Louise. “And it’s always the things which<br />

people don’t think are worth anything that are the<br />

real treasures.<br />

“Recently, we’ve had a Roman intaglio - which is a<br />

hardstone cameo - set into a signet ring, and some<br />

lovely Georgian pieces, posy rings which are really<br />

nice, and we also get a lot of Victorian jewellery.<br />

48


There’s a lot of that around but there are a lot of<br />

collectors out there so it keeps its value; Americans<br />

are particularly fond of Victorian jewellery.<br />

“Mourning jewellery, which often has hair in it, is<br />

a particular favourite and a lot of that was made in<br />

Birmingham, in the Jewellery Quarter. We’re very<br />

lucky here in the Midlands to have such a historic<br />

centre for jewellery on our doorstep.”<br />

The fast-paced auction world can bring its fair share<br />

of surprises and, say Heather and Louise, it’s always<br />

exciting to see which lots really strike a chord with<br />

buyers.<br />

“At auction, everyone has their own specific thing<br />

that they go for,” says Heather. “Art deco and art<br />

nouveau are always popular, then you’ve got your<br />

brands - such as Tiffany, Piaget, Boucheron, Cartier<br />

and Rolex - and those will always go well because of<br />

the name.”<br />

Natural, untreated amber, says Louise, is another<br />

style which is finding a big market, driven by the<br />

demands of overseas buyers.<br />

“It’s gone crazy over the past five years or so,” she<br />

says. “It’s come down slightly now but it was up to<br />

around the same price as gold. It was the Asian and<br />

Arab markets which drove up the price.<br />

“A lot of people have natural amber pieces which<br />

have been passed down through the family and they<br />

don’t realise quite what they’re worth.”<br />

Other precious materials which are seeing a price<br />

increase due to foreign buyers include old jade -<br />

which is reaching record prices - and antique coral.<br />

“The foreign market has a huge influence on the<br />

jewellery trade,” says Louise. “There’s a lot of wealth<br />

out there which pushes the prices up. From our<br />

point of view, it’s great that the auctions are open to<br />

international buyers through the internet; it makes<br />

things very exciting, and it’s great news for our sellers<br />

too.”<br />

While each and every piece which comes through the<br />

doors is carefully assessed and catalogued, Heather<br />

and Louise have their own particular favourites.<br />

THERE ARE TREASURES APLENTY<br />

TO BE FOUND AT AUCTION<br />

THIS<br />

STUNNING<br />

4CT NATURAL<br />

YELLOW<br />

DIAMOND<br />

RING IS SET<br />

TO STAR AT<br />

AUCTION<br />

“I’m a jewellery magpie, I love so much,” says<br />

Heather. “Belle Époque is one of my favourite<br />

periods, and I love art deco, and Victorian serpent<br />

snake jewellery too.”<br />

Louise, on the other hand, is a huge fan of<br />

Scandinavian jewellery.<br />

“It’s more simplistic, really high quality silver, well<br />

made and well-designed jewellery,” she says. “A<br />

particular name is Georg Jensen and, while we don’t<br />

get a lot of it here, when we do we know it will sell<br />

well.”<br />

One of the more difficult aspects of the job is<br />

dashing people’s hopes when they bring in treasures<br />

only to discover things are not what they seem.<br />

“We have to assess all of the gems we come across,<br />

to check they’re not simulants or synthetics,” says<br />

Heather. “There are also a lot of treated stones out<br />

there; you might have, for example, a big ruby and<br />

the customer thinks it’s a natural ruby when in fact<br />

it’s filled with glass and pretty much worthless.”<br />

“Jewellery is a really personal thing, and people do<br />

get really sentimental about it,” adds Louise.<br />

“It’s a sensitive situation; we do deal with people<br />

who are grieving the loss of someone close, and they<br />

sometimes find the process of parting with items<br />

difficult,” adds Heather.<br />

“It’s quite overwhelming for people when they<br />

inherit pieces and they have no idea what they<br />

have. Jewellery tells a story too; often<br />

people won’t know whether a piece<br />

was grandma’s or passed down from<br />

great-grandma and we can look at a<br />

hallmark or style and help them to<br />

decipher the story.<br />

“Jewellery does talk to you.”<br />

Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ Fine<br />

and Decorative Arts sale takes place<br />

at The Lichfield Auction Centre,<br />

Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, on<br />

Wednesday, December 12. Free<br />

jewellery valuations take place at The<br />

Lichfield Auction Centre every Friday<br />

from 9.30am to 4pm. For more details<br />

visit www.richardwinterton.co.uk<br />

49


F E AT U R E<br />

Maxing out a mighty Mini<br />

JACK REGAN, A CREATIVE AT TITAN. THE ADVERTISING AGENCY IN BIRMINGHAM,<br />

TAKES IT TO THE MAX ON A STUNT DRIVING COURSE<br />

I’ve got a little MINI Cooper S’s engine screaming<br />

and caterwauling at over 7000 rpm. It feels like<br />

a horrific end-of-the-world moment and there’s<br />

enough smoke belching out of this wee car to terrify<br />

Red Adair. A crowd of people are quaking and<br />

cowering behind barriers in terror and then, just<br />

out of a sense of mercilessness, I dump the clutch<br />

and thrash it malevolently towards them at utterly<br />

breakneck MPH.<br />

This is a great moment to be alive.<br />

The MINI smashes over ruts and grooves and<br />

shatters puddles into the air, sending up apocalyptic<br />

rooster tails of rain and debris, the car careening<br />

towards the crowd’s doom, me wearing a magnificent<br />

snarl and all hell is breaking loose, Lucifer is at the<br />

gates and my life flashes before my very eyes.<br />

Vivid, irresistible flashes of action scenes spark and<br />

disappear in nanoseconds - Jack Regan’s Sweeney<br />

Jag ploughing along the pavement, Bodie and<br />

Doyle’s TR7 thrashed to within an inch of its life,<br />

Starsky and Hutch smash through alleyway boxes,<br />

Popeye Doyle flooring the big American motor, Fast,<br />

Furious, Kowalski, Cannonball running, Keanu in<br />

Speed, it is all zipping past in a breathless, blinding<br />

blink of an eye.<br />

And here’s me living the dream.<br />

I am almost on top of the crowd now and I can see<br />

the whites of their eyes, the desperate pleas for me<br />

to hit the anchors and stop all this hateful nonsense<br />

and I am sweating uncontrollably and have this<br />

incredible, monstrous sensation of power to myself<br />

for the few short seconds this experience has lasted.<br />

Which is probably not a good sensation for a man<br />

to go exploring in the deepest darkest depths of his<br />

soul.<br />

Not at this particular moment in time, anyway.<br />

Then, through the dense, near impenetrable fog<br />

of my flashbacks and manic acceleration, I feel the<br />

instructor hit my left arm and, as prescribed, I yank<br />

ferociously on the little MINI’s handbrake, haul the<br />

steering wheel hard to starboard and feel the car<br />

lurch and screech and spin around backwards, utterly<br />

discombobulating me.<br />

My head is bouncing around uncontrollably but<br />

50


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I cling to the wheel, my other hand stretching the<br />

handbrake to snapping point and I curse like a sailor<br />

on shore leave, outside the only bar in the port, just<br />

as they are closing for the night.<br />

I catch a tiny glimpse of the crowd, their eyes<br />

bulging even further out of their heads as the car<br />

whizzes past them now, only a couple of feet away,<br />

sideways for ten feet and then BANG! We come<br />

to a complete, astonishing, full stop, all anchors on<br />

H.A.L.T. between two parked cars.<br />

We are unscathed, the crowd groans with relief, a<br />

few clap, I breathe hard, kids whimper, the car stalls<br />

and my instructor chuckles quietly to me and says, “I<br />

think you took that a bit too far, mate.”<br />

Which, okay, yes, okay, is fair, I guess. I did hammer<br />

it, but I got a full 10 outta 10 for my first ever<br />

handbrake parking stunt and I am just sat here, my<br />

mind swimming in a huge, overwhelming mix of<br />

emotions ranging from triumph to shame to horror<br />

at the enormity of what just happened.<br />

I’m on a stunt driving course and I expected it<br />

all to just be a bit of fun on a Sunday afternoon,<br />

rather than like being strapped and shackled to the<br />

psychoanalyst’s couch for a few manic moments.<br />

But here I am, nonetheless.<br />

Power wielded. Power spent.<br />

I climb out of the MINI and listen to it hiss and<br />

steam demonically from every orifice and I’m<br />

immediately struck by how very liberating a thing<br />

it is to be able to properly thrash a car. Ninety-nine<br />

per cent of us wouldn’t dream of doing something<br />

as depraved as this to our own car - often such a<br />

cherished and respected object in our lives.<br />

So to be able to get into someone else’s car (in this<br />

case the stunt course organiser’s) and hammer<br />

the absolute turbo nutter bastard out of it, to the<br />

point of clapped out exhaustion, is all a bit weird.<br />

Whisper this now... it’s a wee bit like a friend giving<br />

you permission to slip between the sheets with their<br />

spouse and give them a jolly good rogering. No<br />

strings. No harm. No foul. No lawyer’s letter.<br />

It’s instinctually just deeply, deeply wrong... and, of<br />

course, simultaneously quite the most delicious thing<br />

imaginable.<br />

I take my helmet off and am ashamed to admit I am<br />

smirking. Some of the crowd boo me. Like I’m some<br />

kind of a pantomime baddie. I don’t care. I strut<br />

past them, my head held high and on to the next<br />

ridiculously fast challenge at this stunt driving course<br />

at Wolverhampton Airport (I know, who knew?!).<br />

The event is run by StuntDriveUk.com and lets you<br />

give their cars a variety of different “rogerings” and<br />

they are a proper bunch of imaginative rascals these<br />

fellas, as illustrated by the drive they just made me<br />

take and the monster they just unleashed from deep<br />

within me.<br />

So what happened after all<br />

this satanic thought and<br />

unbridled release of angst,<br />

aggression, adultery, abuse<br />

and undiluted machismo?!<br />

What did all that get me? A<br />

stern rebuke from the highest<br />

authorities? A visit from the<br />

constabulary? A late night<br />

knuckledragger’s knock on<br />

my front door? No, of course<br />

not. I got a certificate, of<br />

course. A certificate. Has my<br />

name on it and everything.<br />

Have had it hanging on my<br />

mum’s wall since last Friday.<br />

52


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LO CA L A R E A<br />

Lichfield’s festive fun<br />

LICHFIELD’S BEACON PARK IS SET TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO A FESTIVE PARADISE AS<br />

WINTER WONDERLAND COMES TO THE CITY FROM <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 14 TO JANUARY 4<br />

Grab your skates, wrap up warm and get ready for<br />

a whole heap of festive fun this month as Lichfield’s<br />

Beacon Park welcomes the first Lichfield Winter<br />

Wonderland, a three-week extravaganza of events and<br />

party nights for the whole family to enjoy.<br />

Lichfield Winter Wonderland is the brainchild of<br />

Stefan Siekierski and Nicola Clark, who run Cathedral<br />

Crepes in the city and are the driving force behind<br />

the popular Café International and Lichfield Comedy<br />

Festival, which saw people flocking in their droves to<br />

Beacon Park over the summer.<br />

The star of the Winter Wonderland show will be<br />

the 300 sqm artificial ice rink, which boasts enough<br />

space for 100 skaters and will be open every day until<br />

9.30pm. Fair rides, live music and DJs will keep visitors<br />

entertained while they take in everything the Christmas<br />

market has to offer.<br />

This month, the Café International concept gets a<br />

festive twist as street food traders bring everything from<br />

beer and bratwurst to mulled wine and stollen to the<br />

park every day - with the exception of Christmas Day<br />

itself. Craft stalls will also sell handmade festive goodies<br />

galore.<br />

There will be plenty of indoor seating in three spacious<br />

heated marquees, including the VIP marquee with<br />

bar, dance floor and starlit roof, which will host various<br />

events throughout the duration of Winter Wonderland.<br />

A takeover by Lichfield Comedy Festival, will see an<br />

eclectic line-up of acts including Jon Wagstaffe, Mickey<br />

Sharma, Ingrid Dahle, Paul Revill, The Kagools,<br />

Andrew Bird and Howard Read take to the stage on<br />

December 17 and 18.<br />

There will also be a Ladies’ Night with bottomless<br />

prosecco, casino nights, a cocktail club night and<br />

German-themed beer and bratwurst nights, as well<br />

as family discos where the who family can party the<br />

evening away. All event nights include skating time on<br />

the ice rink, and there will be street food aplenty to<br />

ensure guests can really make the most of their night<br />

out.<br />

During the day, the festivities continue with a<br />

Christmas cinema showing some of the best festive<br />

family films including Elf, Arthur Christmas, Frozen<br />

and The polar Express. Guests are invited to dress up<br />

as characters from the films, and there<br />

will also be a visit from Santa himself at<br />

the end of the film.<br />

Lichfield Winter Wonderland opens<br />

to the public at 5pm on December 14,<br />

and will be open daily from 11am from<br />

December 15 to January 4, with the<br />

exception of Christmas Day.<br />

For more details or to book a Winter<br />

Wonderland event, visit www.<br />

lichfieldwinterwonderland.co.uk<br />

or find Lichfield Winter Wonderland on<br />

Facebook.<br />

54


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LO CA L A R E A<br />

What’s On Local<br />

A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST<br />

EVENTS TO COME TO BIRMINGHAM THIS MONTH<br />

WHAT: DICK WHITTINGTON<br />

WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK<br />

WHEN: NOVEMBER 29 TO JANUARY 5<br />

The Lichfield Garrick has revealed<br />

a star-studded cast for its hugely<br />

popular Christmas pantomime, Dick<br />

Whittington. As well as returning<br />

Garrick favourites Sam Rabone as<br />

Dolly the Cook and Ben Thornton<br />

as Silly Billy, Katrina Bryan<br />

(CBeebies’ Nina and the Neurons)<br />

will play the magical Fairy Bowbells<br />

in this year’s festive extravaganza.<br />

They are joined by seasoned<br />

professionals Ashley Emerson as<br />

Dick Whittington, Ieuan Rhys<br />

as Alderman Fitzwarren, Joanne<br />

Heywood as the baddie Queen Rat,<br />

Becca Lane as Alice Fitzwarren, and<br />

Lucy Parry as Tommy the Cat. They<br />

will be supported by The Garrick’s<br />

juvenile company which gives<br />

local young people the chance to<br />

perform in an all-singing, all-dancing<br />

professional production.<br />

Dick Whittington is the third<br />

Pantomime at the Lichfield Garrick<br />

to be co-produced with Evolution<br />

Pantomimes following on from last<br />

year’s critically acclaimed Aladdin.<br />

For more details call the box office<br />

on 01543 412121 or visit<br />

www.lichfieldgarrick.com<br />

WHAT: CRIMES OF THE CHRISTMAS<br />

PUDDING<br />

WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK STUDIO<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 5 TO JANUARY 5,<br />

VARIOUS DATES<br />

The award-winning New Old Friends,<br />

the company behind the sell-out shows<br />

Crimes Against Christmas, Crimes<br />

on the Christmas Express and Crimes<br />

Under The Sun, return to the Lichfield<br />

Garrick with a brand new Crimes<br />

Christmas comedy and an all new cast.<br />

Lady detective Artemis Arinae finds<br />

herself in the midst of a steamy seasonal<br />

crime caper set in high society. Lord<br />

and Lady Lorde’s traditional family<br />

Christmas looks set to be overwhelmed<br />

by lust, greed and a very paranoid<br />

butler. Can she place the Prince’s<br />

priceless possession and puzzling<br />

paramour before anyone gets stabbed<br />

in the back? A fast paced, gag-filled,<br />

daft romp of a show, with 13 characters<br />

played by a cast of<br />

just four. What could possibly go wrong?<br />

For more details call the box office<br />

on 01543 412121 or visit<br />

www.lichfieldgarrick.com<br />

WHAT: ELF AND REINDEER’S<br />

CHRISTMAS CRACKER<br />

WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK STUDIO<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 6 TO 24<br />

A naughty elf has lost his job for<br />

being very silly at the North Pole and<br />

a hardworking reindeer is sad she<br />

didn't make Santa's sleigh-pulling<br />

team. Join them on their fun filled<br />

journey to see if both the elf and the<br />

reindeer can fulfil their Christmas<br />

wishes this winter-time.<br />

Meet two charming magical<br />

characters and share their story of<br />

friendship and determination as<br />

they try to become Santa's very best<br />

little helpers in this delightful new<br />

seasonal story of generosity, kindness<br />

and perseverance. This original<br />

production, full of imaginative<br />

magical storytelling, comedy and<br />

festive cheer is especially designed<br />

to engage and inspire the young<br />

audience members and is a cracking<br />

great experience for all the family.<br />

For more details call the box office<br />

on 01543 412121 or visit<br />

www.lichfieldgarrick.com<br />

56


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WHAT: SLEEPING BEAUTY<br />

WHERE: WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 8 TO JANUARY 13<br />

Don’t get caught snoozing this festive<br />

season as pantomime returns to<br />

the Grand in a spectacular, mustsee<br />

production of Sleeping Beauty,<br />

starring the lovely Debbie McGee<br />

direct from the Strictly Come<br />

Dancing ballroom, and Richard<br />

Cadell and Sooty. Panto favourites<br />

Doreen Tipton and Ian Adams, both<br />

back by popular demand, return for<br />

a third consecutive season.<br />

By pricking her finger on an<br />

enchanted spinning wheel a beautiful<br />

Princess is placed under a curse and<br />

forced to sleep for 100 years. Can the<br />

Princess’ friends help save her? Who<br />

will outwit the evil Carabosse and<br />

foil her wicked plans? Will Doreen<br />

cope with having a job for once?<br />

With magic, music, comedy and<br />

special effects, make Sleeping<br />

Beauty the pantomime of your<br />

dreams and book your tickets now.<br />

For more details call the box office<br />

on 01902 429212 or visit<br />

www.grandtheatre.co.uk<br />

WHAT: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - THE PANTO<br />

WHERE: SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN HALL<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 11 TO 31<br />

In the Frenchest part of French France,<br />

a humongously handsome Prince falls<br />

in love with the beautiful daughter of<br />

the merchant, Monsieur Bertrand.<br />

The evil enchantress, Sybil, hates all<br />

that is beautiful and so she turns the<br />

Prince into a hideous, hairy Beast!!<br />

Beauty is captured by the Beast and all<br />

looks like it’s going to be grossly grim<br />

and gruesomely ghastly – but there is<br />

something about the Beast that isn’t<br />

all bad… Will they fall in love and<br />

break Sybil’s wicked spell? Will Dame<br />

Dominique Derriere and her son<br />

‘Potty’ Pascal help save the day? Will it<br />

be the greatest love story ever told, or<br />

will it all end very unhappily?<br />

Featuring a cast of incredibly talented<br />

actors, singers and musicians,<br />

Beauty and the Beast brings a great,<br />

professional pantomime to Sutton<br />

Coldfield. For more details visit www.<br />

townhallsuttoncoldfield.co.uk<br />

WHAT: CATHEDRAL ILLUMINATED<br />

WHERE: LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 17 TO 22, EXCEPT<br />

<strong>DECEMBER</strong> 19<br />

The multi-award winning Cathedral<br />

Illuminated is back at Lichfield for<br />

the festive season. Each year the<br />

team at Luxmuralis create a bespoke<br />

stunning set of illuminations all<br />

around the Cathedral, both outside<br />

and inside.<br />

In keeping with the Cathedral’s<br />

year long theme of ‘Imagine Peace’,<br />

this Christmas Luxmuralis presents<br />

‘Peace on Earth’. 2017 was a sell out<br />

so be sure to book your tickets early<br />

to avoid disappointment.<br />

Advance tickets are priced £6 for<br />

adults, £4 for children with under<br />

threes going free. Family tickets for<br />

two adults and two children are £15.<br />

For more details visit<br />

www.lichfield-cathedral.org<br />

WHAT: THE SNOWMAN<br />

WHERE: LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 19<br />

Treat the family to a music box of<br />

delights as they witness the magic of<br />

The Snowman film on a big screen<br />

with the original score brought to life<br />

by a live orchestra of some of the<br />

UK's finest musicians.<br />

Brought to Lichfield Cathedral<br />

by Carrot Productions, visitors<br />

will experience the magic of The<br />

Snowman in a whole new way this<br />

Christmas.<br />

The concert will open with a<br />

toe-tapping Christmas Medley<br />

followed by a fun introduction to the<br />

orchestra. All the instruments are<br />

presented in a fun and approachable<br />

way, offering the young audience<br />

members the valuable experience<br />

of seeing – and hearing – the<br />

instruments individually.<br />

The showing also features a world<br />

exclusive; an animated film of<br />

David Litchfield's award-winning<br />

book The Bear and The Piano, with<br />

the unmistakable voice of Joanna<br />

Lumley. For more details visit<br />

www.carrotproductions.com<br />

58


Millarde Fashions<br />

of Sutton Coldfield<br />

SALE STARTS SATURDAY 1ST <strong>DECEMBER</strong><br />

REDUCTIONS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS<br />

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0121 373 4834 - www.millardefashions.co.uk - enquiries@millardefashions.co.uk<br />

THE TEAM AT J’AIME WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL<br />

OF OUR ADVERTISERS, READERS AND SUPPLIERS<br />

FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT IN <strong>2018</strong> - WISHING<br />

YOU ALL THE BEST FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON.<br />

Happy Christmas!<br />

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN THE JANUARY<br />

ISSUE CONTACT JAN ASHLEY ON 07388 335931 OR<br />

EMAIL ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

J’AIME<br />

/jaimemagazine<br />

@jaimemagazine<br />

www.jaimemagazine.com


LO CA L A R E A<br />

What’s on Second City<br />

A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST<br />

EVENTS TO COME TO BIRMINGHAM THIS MONTH<br />

WHAT: THE WIZARD OF OZ<br />

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM REP<br />

WHEN: NOVEMBER 24 TO<br />

JANUARY 13<br />

See Oz like you've never seen it<br />

before this festive season at the REP.<br />

When farm girl Dorothy Gale runs<br />

away from the evil Miss Gulch, she<br />

finds herself lost in a strange and<br />

wonderful new world. With her<br />

faithful dog Toto at her side, she sets<br />

off on an adventure to find her way<br />

back home.<br />

Along the way she meets some<br />

peculiar but loveable characters<br />

who are also in search of something<br />

special – a Scarecrow needing a<br />

brain, a Tin Man looking for a<br />

heart and a Lion lacking in courage.<br />

Together they follow the yellow brick<br />

road to the Emerald City in search<br />

of answers from the mysterious and<br />

all-powerful Wizard of Oz.<br />

In a bold yet faithful reimagining,<br />

directed by Liam Steel, this<br />

spectacular production features<br />

your favourite songs and characters<br />

from the classic film with an added<br />

sprinkle of REP magic. For more<br />

details visit www.birminghamrep.co.uk<br />

WHAT: BENIDORM<br />

WHERE: NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 3 TO 29<br />

ITV’s award-winning comedy celebrates<br />

more than a decade of all-inclusive<br />

hilarity, having followed the ensemble<br />

cast of holiday makers and staff for ten<br />

series since it first broadcast in 2007.<br />

Creator Derren Litten has now written<br />

an all new set of Alicante escapades for<br />

the much-loved cast members as they<br />

swap sangria for the stage - after a quick<br />

spruce up at the Blow ‘n’ Go!<br />

Starring Jake Canuso (Mateo), Janine<br />

Duvitski (Jacqueline), Adam Gillen<br />

(Liam), Sherrie Hewson (Joyce Temple-<br />

Savage), Shelley Longworth (Sam),<br />

Tony Maudsley (Kenneth) and featuring<br />

Neptune’s very own Asa Elliott, and<br />

- hold on to your sombreros amigos<br />

- Derren Litten as Derek, appearing<br />

exclusively in Birmingham as a special<br />

festive treat!<br />

Book now for a dose of Benidorm<br />

sunshine and see your favourite stars<br />

from the Solana live on stage for the<br />

very first time. For more details visit<br />

www.atgtickets.com/birmingham<br />

WHAT: JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS<br />

RHYTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA<br />

WHERE: SYMPHONY HALL<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 5 AND 6<br />

Musical master of ceremonies Jools<br />

Holland and his acclaimed Rhythm<br />

and Blues Orchestra return to<br />

Birmingham this month with special<br />

guest Marc Almond.<br />

In his 36-year career, Marc has sold<br />

over 30 million records worldwide<br />

with his list of hit songs including<br />

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, Touch<br />

and, of course, Tainted Love. Marc<br />

has also collaborated with the likes<br />

of Gene Pitney, Tony Visconti and<br />

Burt Bacharach, and previously<br />

toured with Jools in 2014.<br />

Also performing with Jools will be<br />

the supremely talented vocalists<br />

Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall<br />

as well as original Squeeze member<br />

Gilson Lavis on drums with the<br />

Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. With<br />

a tremendous collection of Jools<br />

compositions and boogie-woogie<br />

classics to choose from, Jools’ annual<br />

visit is set to be an unforgettable<br />

night out. For more details visit<br />

www.thsh.co.uk<br />

60


WHAT: LEA MICHELE AND DARREN<br />

CRISS<br />

WHERE: ARENA BIRMINGHAM<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 7<br />

Following the demand of fans and<br />

rave reviews, actors and musicians<br />

Lea Michele and Darren Criss will<br />

continue their wildly successful LM/<br />

DC Tour with a date in Birmingham<br />

this month.<br />

Lea Michele last hit the road in<br />

the spring of 2017 for a string of<br />

sold out shows on her ‘Intimate<br />

Evening With’ North America tour,<br />

performing songs from her albums<br />

Louder and Places. Darren Criss<br />

most recently released a five-track<br />

indie EP entitled Homework, his<br />

first solo project in more than seven<br />

years. It debuted at #1 on Billboard’s<br />

Heatseekers Chart while SiriusXM<br />

described it as a ‘Nice hybrid of<br />

early Elton John and Ben Folds’.<br />

A dazzling evening of laughs, chills,<br />

and spellbindingly good music, Lea<br />

Michele and Darren Criss in concert<br />

are a musical celebration to believe<br />

in. For more details visit<br />

www.arenabham.co.uk<br />

WHAT: CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR<br />

WHERE: SYMPHONY HALL<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 15<br />

Christmas Spectacular is a cracker<br />

of a show with music, dance, lights,<br />

spectacle and a snow-filled finale. This<br />

year’s special guest Kimberley Walsh<br />

will be joined by the nation’s favourite<br />

ballroom dancing couple Anton du<br />

Beke and Erin Boag, as well as guest<br />

singers Kerry Ellis and Tim Howar.<br />

Symphony Hall will spring to life<br />

with high kicks, festive fun and special<br />

effects plus all the trimmings in the<br />

company of a full show band, West<br />

End vocalists and the all-star Jingle<br />

Belle Dancers. Join in with toe-tapping<br />

tunes from the London Concert<br />

Orchestra conducted by John Rigby<br />

and sing along to seasonal songs<br />

including Merry Christmas Everyone,<br />

Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bell Rock<br />

plus many more. It’s the ultimate,<br />

unmissable Christmas party. For more<br />

information visit www.thsh.co.uk<br />

WHAT: PETER PAN<br />

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 19 TO JANUARY 27<br />

This Christmas, set sail to Neverland<br />

with the swashbuckling Pantomime<br />

adventure, Peter Pan which files into<br />

the Hippodrome later this month.<br />

The all-star line-up is led by singing<br />

sensation Jimmy Osmond, comedyactress<br />

and TV star Meera Syal,<br />

Hippodrome favourite Matt Slack,<br />

Union J’s Jaymi Hensley, Britain’s<br />

Got Talent semi-finalist Sascha<br />

Williams and amazing acrobatictroupe<br />

The Timbuktu Tumblers<br />

With amazing flying effects, barrels<br />

of laughter, magic and fairy dust,<br />

be sure to join Peter and the Lost<br />

Boys as they set sail in the ultimate<br />

pirate Pantomime adventure. Hook<br />

your seats now! For more details visit<br />

www.birminghamhippodrome.com<br />

WHAT: ELF - A CHRISTMAS<br />

SPECTACULAR<br />

WHERE: RESORTS WORLD ARENA<br />

(FORMERLY GENTING ARENA)<br />

WHEN: <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 20 TO 24<br />

ELF, the hit West End and Broadway<br />

musical based on the Hollywood<br />

blockbuster movie, is to be supersized<br />

into a Christmas spectacular in<br />

Birmingham this December.<br />

Starring pop legend David Essex as<br />

Buddy the Elf ’s father; Love Actually<br />

star and singer Martine McCutcheon<br />

as Buddy’s girlfriend, Jovie; plus,<br />

comedy actor Tam Ryan as Buddy,<br />

this will be a festive treat like no<br />

other.<br />

Featuring a book written by Bob<br />

Martin and Thomas Meehan (Annie,<br />

The Producers and Hairspray), this<br />

new Christmas spectacular will also<br />

include an original score of great<br />

new songs. Added to this, there are<br />

some special effects lined up that<br />

will take your family’s breath away,<br />

including a giant sleigh that flies<br />

across the arena, an indoor snow<br />

blizzard and lots of skating. This will<br />

all be teamed with giant screens and<br />

a humongous stage so you can catch<br />

all of the action.<br />

61


FA S H I O N<br />

Jump to it<br />

DITCH THE PRETTY PARTY DRESS AND OPT FOR SERIOUS GLAM IN ONE OF THE SEASON’S HOTTEST<br />

JUMPSUITS, SAYS AMY NORBURY. IT’S YOUR TICKET TO WOW THIS FESTIVE PARTY SEASON<br />

AS December rolls around, the race is on to<br />

pin down the perfect Christmas party outfit.<br />

Glittering crystals, whimsical feathers and disco<br />

metallics comprise the key ingredients of the late<br />

shift this party season; after all, it’s the time of<br />

year to sparkle and shine. Whichever look you<br />

choose, more is most certainly more.<br />

For a more glamorous, grown-up take on party<br />

dressing, this season swap your trusty little<br />

black dress - or sparkly festive equivalent - for a<br />

jumpsuit.<br />

While the jumpsuit has been a fashion favourite<br />

for numerous seasons now, the latest offerings<br />

incorporate some of AW18’s hottest trend to<br />

create a masterclass in uber-chic style for every<br />

festive party occasion.<br />

Make like a disco glitterball and inject some<br />

Seventies flair with a wide-legged, sequin number<br />

- perfect for wowing on the dancefloor, or tap into<br />

the futuristic trend with head-to-toe silver lamé,<br />

as seen on the Balmain catwalk at Paris Fashion<br />

Week.<br />

Velvet is another fabric having a festive fashion<br />

moment, perfect for adding a more subtle glam<br />

feel when the occasion calls for something<br />

less extra than all-over sequins and crystal<br />

embellishments.<br />

Meanwhile, those seeking to make a scenestealing<br />

entrance should plump for head-to-toe<br />

white as the eye-catching palette of the moment<br />

– who wouldn't want to semaphore chic serenity<br />

amidst the festive chaos in ice white?<br />

Killer accessories are key to making the most of<br />

your party look. To balance out your silhouette,<br />

a pair of vertiginous heels is a must, particularly<br />

if you’re opting for a more billowing rather<br />

than form-fitting jumpsuit. Add some dramatic<br />

chandelier earrings and a sparkly clutch just big<br />

enough to hold your lippy and phone, and voila!<br />

Party perfection.<br />

Your RSVP is no longer in doubt – say yes<br />

to everything while wearing one of the best<br />

Christmas party pieces of <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

LIPSY BANDEAU SEQUIN<br />

WAIST JUMPSUIT, £68,<br />

NEXT<br />

62


BELLE EARRINGS, HOBBS<br />

£75<br />

£12<br />

GOLD STATEMENT<br />

EARRINGS, OASIS<br />

£19<br />

SILVER SEQUIN JUMPSUIT,<br />

DOROTHY PERKINS<br />

£70<br />

MIXED METAL<br />

EARRINGS, NEXT<br />

STAR BY JULIEN MACDONALD<br />

JUMPSUIT, DEBENHAMS<br />

BEAUTY BAG,<br />

DUNE LONDON<br />

£40<br />

£12<br />

SAINT LAURENT MANSOUR<br />

FEATHER-TRIMMED LEATHER<br />

SANDALS, HARVEY NICHOLS<br />

£855<br />

MIGNIGHTE SANDALS,<br />

DUNE LONDON<br />

BURGUNDY TASSEL<br />

EARRINGS, NEXT<br />

£45<br />

£75<br />

£10<br />

SILVER SEQUIN SLEEVED<br />

JUMPSUIT, NEXT<br />

£250<br />

AIDAN TUXEDO SEQUIN<br />

JUMPSUIT, HARVEY NICHOLS<br />

MW BY MATTHEW WILLIAMSON<br />

FEATHER CAPE, DEBENHAMS<br />

£39<br />

£69<br />

FAITH GLITTER COURTS,<br />

DEBENHAMS<br />

63


FA S H I O N<br />

Blooming marvellous<br />

JILL HARTLEY, CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF NERO E BIANCO EXCLUSIVE FASHION AND<br />

BRIDAL BOUTIQUE AT BARTON MARINA, TAKES A LOOK AT SUPER STYLISH MATERNITY WEAR<br />

We have some very exciting news this month; Nero e<br />

Bianco are expanding (excuse the pun) into maternity<br />

wear.<br />

We are opening a maternity and childrenswear shop<br />

at Barton Marina, just two doors down from our<br />

ladieswear shop.<br />

With the passion I have for empowering women<br />

through clothing, whatever shape or size, it feels<br />

right to incorporate maternity wear into our brand.<br />

Pregnancy can be an amazing time but also it can<br />

be difficult for many reasons. As an ex-midwife<br />

and health visitor, I understand the complexities of<br />

pregnancy and parenthood so in line with Nero e<br />

Bianco’s philosophy the natural step for us is to help<br />

women feel amazing throughout their pregnancy.<br />

Offering the outstanding quality of Italian fabric,<br />

manufacturing and design, we have brought together<br />

a range that is effortlessly chic and totally exclusive.<br />

An added bonus is that many of the pieces are<br />

structured so they can be worn after baby is born too.<br />

So here is a sneaky preview, a few things to give you a<br />

taste of our maternity range...<br />

Just for fun, these cute jumpers<br />

will make the big gender reveal<br />

announcement for you!<br />

Simple yet effective, this A-line dress<br />

with the very feminine cuff detail is<br />

so versatile throughout pregnancy.<br />

Beautiful velvet, easy to wear with a detail at the<br />

shoulder to balance your silhouette. A perfect dress<br />

for festive season and beyond.<br />

64


Nero e Bianco<br />

Exclusive Fashion & Bridal<br />

Bar ton Marina<br />

Bur ton upon Trent<br />

DE13 8AS<br />

01283 346704<br />

Nero e Bianco<br />

Maternity & Childrenswear<br />

Bar ton Marina<br />

(Opening December)<br />

www.neroebianco.co.uk<br />

Indulgence<br />

by Nero e Bianco<br />

Bar ton Marina<br />

(Opening December)<br />

www.indulgenceshop.co.uk<br />

Our new wine tasting store opens<br />

December <strong>2018</strong> featuring an<br />

Enomatic wine dispensing machine<br />

allowing customers to sample a range<br />

of elegant Italian wines.<br />

Plus…<br />

Irresistible Italian Chocolates<br />

Italian Craft Beers<br />

and more…<br />

N E R O e B I A N C O<br />

M A T E R N I T Y & C H I L D R E N S W E A R<br />

(Opening December)<br />

M A T E R N I T Y & C H I L D R E N S W E A R


Chic, stylish and comfortable. this is most definitely<br />

a ‘dress up, dress down’ type of dress. Wear with heels<br />

(if your ankles aren’t too swollen) for an occasion<br />

and wear with thick tights and chunky boots for the<br />

everyday look. Amazing!<br />

A chunky knit with the detail semi puff sleeves.<br />

Again, this creates balance to the silhouette.<br />

Worn here with jeans and a chunky heel – great<br />

for lunch with friends. Alternatively pop on a<br />

pair of flats and a warm coat ready for a brisk<br />

Sunday afternoon walk!<br />

Classy and sophisticated, this dress will take you<br />

through pregnancy and afterwards also. Super for<br />

work wear and, as seen here, dressed for an occasion.<br />

We look forward to looking after all you lovely ladies in<br />

creating an amazing maternity look just for you.<br />

66


The hair destination for<br />

fabulous, wearable looks<br />

THE SALON EXPERIENCE<br />

Set in a haven of luxury and relaxation<br />

we have the perfect environment to<br />

achieve the style you really want.<br />

Our award winning team of stylists will give you their<br />

undivided attention - our priority is to make every<br />

client look and feel fantastic.<br />

Call or visit to experience it for yourself,<br />

we would love to take care of you.<br />

T: 01543 481900 www.anthonyjohn-salons.co.uk<br />

Heart of the Country Shopping Village, Swinfen, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS14 9QR


CO M P E T I T I O N<br />

Pampering bliss<br />

MOOR HALL SPA IS EXCITED TO OFFER A NEW RANGE OF LUXURIOUS THALGO BODY RITUALS -<br />

AND ONE LUCKY READER WILL BE ABLE TO TRY THE PAMPERING EXPERIENCE FOR THEMSELVES<br />

Surrounded by beautiful parkland yet only minutes<br />

from Sutton Coldfield, The Spa at Moor Hall is<br />

the perfect place to relax and forget the stresses of<br />

modern living for an hour or two. Whether you're<br />

looking to enjoy some pampering, some ‘me-time’<br />

or to catch up with friends on a spa day or a break,<br />

you'll love the traditional country house atmosphere<br />

combined with friendly staff and the best of facilities.<br />

There are four treatment rooms, including a double<br />

where you and a friend or partner can enjoy a<br />

treatment at the same time, subject to availability,<br />

and the experienced therapists offer an unrivalled<br />

range of wonderful Thalgo facial and body<br />

treatments suitable for all, plus Indian head massage<br />

and reflexology.<br />

The new range of Thalgo body rituals offers more<br />

than just a treatment; they provide a luxurious<br />

journey for the ultimate in relaxation. J’AIME has<br />

teamed up with The Spa at Moor Hall to offer one<br />

lucky reader a seriously pampering spa experience<br />

with the new Polynesian Spa Ritual.<br />

This 90-minute exotic spa ritual, inspired by the<br />

islands of Polynesia, begins with a Manihi Lagooninspired<br />

azure foot bath to protect and hydrate the<br />

skin. A vanilla-scented body scrub, blended with pure<br />

Bora Bora white sand, sea salt, coconut shell and<br />

algo-monoi, gently exfoliates, before the Mahana<br />

massage loosens muscles and nourishes the skin with<br />

a rhythmic massage with warm sand pouches. An<br />

application of golden oil leaves a sunkissed glow and<br />

a delicate scent of flowers and monoi.<br />

For more details visit www.moorhallhotel.co.uk/<br />

spa or call the spa on 0121 334 2323 to book a<br />

treatment.<br />

The competition<br />

J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH MOOR HALL HOTEL AND SPA TO OFFER READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN AN<br />

INDULGENT THALGO POLYNESIAN SPA RITUAL, WORTH £95. OUR LUCKY WINNER WILL EXPERIENCE THE<br />

90-MINUTE LUXURIOUS RELAXATION TREATMENT IN THE COMFORT OF MOOR HALL’S RELAXING SPA.<br />

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN, SIMPLY<br />

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:<br />

HOW MANY TREATMENT ROOMS DOES THE SPA AT MOOR HALL HAVE?<br />

SEND YOUR ANSWER, ALONG WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, BY EMAIL TO COMPETITIONS@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM WITH MOOR<br />

HALL SPA COMPETITION AS THE EMAIL SUBJECT. ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5PM ON FRIDAY, <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 28, AND OUR WINNER WILL BE NOTIFIED BY<br />

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. VISIT WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM FOR FURTHER DETAILS.<br />

68


B E AU T Y<br />

Festive fragrances<br />

IF IN DOUBT, PERFUMES WILL SOLVE THOSE LAST-MINUTE PRESENT PANICS. WHETHER YOU’RE PLANNING<br />

TO SURPRISE WITH A SIGNATURE GIFT SET OR DELIGHT WITH A BOTTLE OF SOMETHING NEW, YOU CAN’T<br />

GO WRONG WITH ONE OF THESE FASHION-FORWARD FRAGRANCES. LISA PIDDINGTON, FROM HARVEY<br />

NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM, SELECTS THE SCENT SHE’D LOVE TO SEE UNDER THE TREE THIS CHRISTMAS<br />

For Her Eau De Toilette by<br />

Narciso Rodriguez, £55<br />

(50ml) is a sensual and delicate<br />

fragrance. Three notes enhance<br />

the heart of musk – floral, amber<br />

and woody notes. The stylish<br />

black bottle makes it perfect for<br />

the elegant woman in your life.<br />

Surprise her with this Estée<br />

Lauder Fragrance<br />

Treasure Set, £38,<br />

containing four<br />

favourite scents.<br />

This limited-edition<br />

collection includes<br />

mini eau de parfum<br />

purse sprays in an<br />

exclusive gift box<br />

– there’s a 4.7ml<br />

Beautiful, 4ml Pleasures,<br />

4ml Modern Muse and<br />

4ml Modern Muse Le Rouge.<br />

The latest<br />

fragrance to<br />

be added to<br />

Jimmy Choo’s<br />

portfolio,<br />

Illicit Eau de<br />

Parfum, £57<br />

(60ml) is a<br />

modern floral<br />

scent that’s<br />

punchy, provocative and<br />

feminine with its blend of<br />

addictive notes including<br />

ginger, rose, jasmine, and<br />

sandalwood. The ideal s<br />

cent for the party season.<br />

Sisley’s Eau de Campagne<br />

is a perfect harmony of citrus<br />

and grassy notes with a chypre<br />

base mixed with a fresh and<br />

stimulating bouquet. This gift<br />

set, £90, is presented in<br />

a stylish spotted box and<br />

includes a 100ml Eau<br />

de Toilette and a 250ml<br />

shower gel.<br />

Blended by master perfumer Alberto Morillas, Gucci<br />

Bloom captures the rich scent of a thriving garden<br />

filled with an abundance of flowers, including<br />

tuberose and jasmine. This Gucci Bloom Acqua<br />

di Fiori Gift Set, £62, contains a 50ml Eau de<br />

Toilette and a 7.4ml rollerball.<br />

Elie Saab’s Nuit Noor Eau De Parfum,<br />

£112 (90ml) is a scent of contrasts. This radiant,<br />

oriental fragrance is bursting with sophisticated<br />

florals – with rose at its heart – while lingering<br />

patchouli and incense lie at the base.<br />

FRAGRANCES FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE BEAUTY HALL AT<br />

HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM OR ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM.<br />

69


CO M P E T I T I O N<br />

A cut above<br />

NEW TO ALREWAS, THE TIER IS HOPING TO BRING CUTTING EDGE HAIR DESIGN AND EXCELLENT<br />

CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE MIDLANDS - AND YOU COULD WIN A HAIR MAKEOVER WORTH £150<br />

A high quality, vibrant and creative hair salon, The<br />

Tier aims to provide beautiful and contemporary<br />

hair, styled with care and attention to detail.<br />

Passionate about customer service, the team believe<br />

that is important to establish a strong relationship<br />

with the client and offer them the whole ‘salon<br />

experience’.<br />

The Tier Hairdressing is one of Nottingham's<br />

premier hair salons, offering up-to-date technical<br />

expertise and creative hair design, specialising in<br />

colouring and cutting using L'Oreal Professionnel<br />

products. The new venture in Alrewas combines that<br />

creative experience with a beautiful rural location.<br />

Tracey Taylor started the Nottingham salon in<br />

2002 as creative director and wedding specialist.<br />

Tracey began her career in a local Nottingham<br />

salon in 1983. She went on to work for many<br />

leading salons and with Mary Dunn alongside the<br />

British Hairdressing Team. During this time Tracey<br />

also trained as an image consultant and became a<br />

professional makeup artist.<br />

She has twice been a finalist at the L’Oreal Colour<br />

Trophy, as well as a finalist for British Hairdressing<br />

Awards for the Eastern region and has been involved<br />

with a number of shows and seminars over the years.<br />

The Tier’s next event is the Reiss fashion show,<br />

which the team regularly participates in.<br />

Looking to next year, Tracey hopes to enter the<br />

British Hairdressing Awards and is looking for<br />

talented stylists to join the team at Alrewas.<br />

As well as ladies styling, The Tier offers expert<br />

barbering from Simon Shelton. Simon has 19 years<br />

of professional barbering experience and since<br />

relocating to The Tier Alrewas, Simon’s artistic and<br />

creative flair has gained him a loyal client base, as<br />

well as a reputation for exceptional barbering.<br />

The Tier is situated above The Bank Coffeehouse,<br />

a specialty coffee house which offers the very best<br />

brews alongside delicious home-cooked food and<br />

delectable cakes, using the freshest local produce.<br />

Opened in May, owner Jane Reilly has created a true<br />

community feel in the stylish coffee shop, housed in<br />

what was once Midland Bank, a hub of the Alrewas<br />

community.<br />

Why not combine a pampering visit to The Tier<br />

with a bite to eat and a specialty coffee at The Bank<br />

Coffeehouse?<br />

For more information pop into The Tier and The<br />

Bank Coffeehouse at 57 Main Street, Alrewas,<br />

or find The Tier Alrewas and The Bank Coffeehouse<br />

on Facebook.<br />

The competition<br />

J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH THE TIER ALREWAS TO OFFER READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN A HAIR MAKEOVER<br />

WORTH UP TO £150, AS WELL AS LUNCH FOR TWO, INCLUDING MAIN COURSE, DRINK AND CAKE, AT THE BANK<br />

COFFEEHOUSE IN THE SAME PREMISES.<br />

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN, SIMPLY ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:<br />

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SEND YOUR ANSWER, ALONG WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, BY EMAIL TO COMPETITIONS@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM WITH THE<br />

TIER HAIR COMPETITION AS THE EMAIL SUBJECT. ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5PM ON FRIDAY, <strong>DECEMBER</strong> 28, AND OUR WINNER WILL BE NOTIFIED BY<br />

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. VISIT WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM FOR FURTHER DETAILS.<br />

70


I N T H E N E W S<br />

A revolution in hearing<br />

A SUTTON COLDFIELD AUDIOLOGIST IS LEADING THE WAY<br />

WITH A REVOLUTIONARY NEW HEARING AID SOLUTION.<br />

Steven Hale Hearing are now offering the<br />

new Marvel hearing aids innovated by the<br />

industry-leading manufacturer, Sonova.<br />

Experience great hearing performance,<br />

multi-functionality, direct connectivity, and<br />

so much more from these marvellous hearing<br />

aids. It’s not just a great hearing aid. It’s a<br />

multifunctional marvel.<br />

It’s an age in which we all need the technology<br />

that makes our lives easier to work effortlessly,<br />

automatically and seamlessly. Turn on your<br />

smartphone, computer, television and other<br />

devices and they should work flawlessly with<br />

minimum effort.<br />

So shouldn’t the same apply to hearing aids?<br />

The fact, with the new Marvel, it does. The new, allin-one<br />

hearing solution from Phonak improves your<br />

hearing in everyday life and even the noisiest sound<br />

environments. Packed with technology and features<br />

that adapt to your life, look no further than Phonak<br />

AudéoTM Marvel hearing aids to deliver incredible<br />

hearing performance, direct connectivity to all your<br />

gadgets, rechargeability, and even remote support for<br />

your hearing aids.<br />

Based on a sophisticated operating system called<br />

AutoSense OSTM 3.0, Audéo Marvel hearing aids<br />

adapt to any listening environment you’re in. Plus,<br />

the same system provides top rated sound quality<br />

while watching TV, streaming music or podcasts –<br />

the possibilities are endless.<br />

AUDIOLOGIST STEVEN HALE AT WORK<br />

As a Made-For-All solution, Audéo Marvel hearing<br />

aids can connect to Bluetooth-enabled devices, such<br />

as an iPhone or Android-based smartphone or tablet,<br />

allowing hands-free calls through both ears.<br />

The hearing aids can also be fine-tuned remotely<br />

using a smartphone app. With the myPhonak app,<br />

you are provided the freedom to contact your<br />

hearing professional without having to visit their<br />

office. Spend more time enjoying life and less time in<br />

appointments.<br />

With all these highly advanced features, delivering<br />

exceptional speech understanding and high quality<br />

sound, even in the most challenging sound situations,<br />

is at the core of the Audéo Marvel hearing aids.<br />

You can forget the hassle of needing an additional<br />

receiver to hear over distance and noise thanks to<br />

RogerTM technology. By analysing<br />

sounds in real-time, automatically and<br />

seamlessly, the Audéo Marvel creates<br />

an exceptional listening experience. In<br />

addition, with industry leading lithiumion<br />

rechargeable technology, it also<br />

means enjoying your hearing all day<br />

long.<br />

Whether you have mild or severe<br />

hearing loss, Phonak Audéo Marvel<br />

hearing aids are packed with everything<br />

you need for better hearing. For<br />

more information, call Steven Hale<br />

Hearing on 0121 308 2550 to<br />

arrange a consultation, or visit<br />

www.stevenhalehearing.co.uk<br />

71


I N T H E N E W S<br />

A festive landmark<br />

Sutton Coldfield's most famous new landmark looks<br />

marvellous wearing his first ever Christmas outfit this<br />

month.<br />

Trunky McTrunkface, as he's now known, is the<br />

world's biggest 3D printed animal, standing all of four<br />

metres tall. He permanently resides as an amazing<br />

public work of street sculpture, smashing through<br />

the walls at his creators’ premises in Forge Lane,<br />

Minworth, out onto the road for passers by to gaze at<br />

in awe.<br />

The record-breaking, utterly lifelike beast is an exact<br />

replica of an African elephant in the wild and is the<br />

brainchild of specialist printing company, Andesign,<br />

who invested heavily in the world's most advanced<br />

3D printer and wanted to show exactly what could be<br />

achieved with it.<br />

The sculpture is created by taking a digital scan and<br />

then printing layer after layer of a special resin, which<br />

hardens to allow it to withstand almost any pressure.<br />

Trunky now braves all weathers and welcomes daily<br />

visits from people of all ages from all over the West<br />

Midlands and even manages to do his bit for real<br />

elephants in the wild while doing so.<br />

For every new piece of 3D design work Andesign<br />

receives, the company makes a donation to the David<br />

Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, one of the world's<br />

greatest defenders of elephants in the wild.<br />

"We worried that Trunky might get a little cold over<br />

Christmas, so I knitted his woolly festive hat for him<br />

myself," said Andesign's George Christou.<br />

Diamond delights<br />

Diamond jewellery brand VASHI brings its unique<br />

luxury concept to Birmingham with the opening of its<br />

new store in Selfridges at the Bullring.<br />

Midlands customers now have the opportunity to<br />

experience its innovative offering in customisable<br />

diamond jewellery, in time for the busy festive season.<br />

VASHI presents an alternative to traditional boutiques,<br />

offering clients a truly personal yet relaxed and easily<br />

accessible experience. Assisted by craftsmen, known<br />

as Alchemists, customers create their own piece<br />

of jewellery in-store, from initial design through<br />

to diamond and stone selection and setting. The<br />

process allows customers to explore not only craft and<br />

innovation but also to create a truly unique and deeply<br />

meaningful piece. Driven by the notion of ‘I made this<br />

for you’, the VASHI experience is designed to be as<br />

individual as the wearer.<br />

The VASHI store at the Bullring occupies 700 sq ft<br />

on the fourth floor of Selfridges Birmingham, situated<br />

among some of the world’s leading luxury brands.<br />

Clients of VASHI at Birmingham can expect a full<br />

immersion in the creation process of a customised or<br />

bespoke piece of diamond jewellery. The jewellery is<br />

transparently showcased, encouraging customers to<br />

engage with the product. Alchemists are positioned<br />

centrally at the Diamond Bar where the customisation<br />

process is brought to life.<br />

Sam Watts, general manager, Selfridges Birmingham<br />

said: "At Selfridges, we always try to add an element<br />

of surprise to elevate the shopping experience. Each<br />

new brand that joins our luxury lineup must be unique<br />

in its offering and VASHI is sure to add that extra<br />

bit of sparkle to Selfridges Birmingham. Whether<br />

you are buying a Christmas gift for a loved one or an<br />

engagement ring for the one, I can assure you that<br />

VASHI diamonds will be more than just a girl's best<br />

friend."<br />

72


M OTO R S<br />

Life in the fast lane<br />

THIS MONTH, J’AIME’S MOTORING EXPERT AND RESIDENT RACING DRIVER MARTIN PLOWMAN<br />

PUTS THE NEW ASTON MARTIN RACING VANTAGE GT4 TO THE TEST<br />

The racing season may be well<br />

and truly be over, but focus<br />

has already shifted to 2019<br />

and work typically begins the<br />

second the chequered flag<br />

drops at the end of the year.<br />

Last week I got a call from<br />

Aston Martin to ask if I was<br />

available to sample their latest<br />

offering; the new Aston Martin<br />

Racing Vantage GT4. The<br />

answer was, of course, yes!<br />

I arrived early on a cold, damp<br />

and dreary November morning<br />

at Oulton Park in Cheshire.<br />

There was a touch of frost in<br />

the air that chilled you right<br />

to the bones, but very quickly<br />

I warmed up with the sound<br />

of the new car. Before even laying eyes on it, I could<br />

hear that it meant business. The distinctive Aston<br />

Martin growl was aggressive, intimidating and louder<br />

than ever. I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel...<br />

The Vantage GT4 retains most of the gorgeous<br />

styling elements and curves of the road car version,<br />

while cleverly adding in trick aerodynamic pieces to<br />

boost downforce without upsetting the car’s aesthetic.<br />

It looks the part, sounds mean as hell, but how did it<br />

drive?<br />

I set off for two five-lap sessions and straight out of<br />

the box the car gave me the confidence to push. The<br />

thing that hit me straight away was just how much<br />

more mechanical grip I had then with other GT4<br />

cars. The chassis was very stiff and not a lot of body<br />

roll that you would expect from a big heavy GT car.<br />

In essence, this felt more like a true racing car.<br />

Fast, very nimble, great at changing direction. The<br />

traction out of the corner was incredible! The track<br />

conditions were not the best with damp patches still<br />

on the circuit, but no matter how hard I pushed I<br />

struggled to get the rear to slide, and even if I did<br />

overstep the mark, it was very, very easy to catch and<br />

manage the slide in a controlled drift; no dramas<br />

at all. My first impressions were that this will be a<br />

PUTTING THE ASTON<br />

MARTIN THROUGH ITS<br />

PACES ON THE TRACK<br />

car to be reckoned with. In the right hands, this has<br />

championship winner written all over it.<br />

An awful lot of development has already gone<br />

into this car. Reliability has been a big focus for<br />

improvement for Aston Martin. Long gone are<br />

the standard road car electronics, replaced by<br />

bespoke motorsport engine wiring looms and Bosch<br />

Motorsport ABS and traction control systems.<br />

The new Vantage retains the old tried and tested<br />

ZF paddle-shift gearbox of the old shape Vantage,<br />

but with the new electronics the gear shifts are<br />

noticeably smoother and a lot more efficient which<br />

is crucial, especially when downshifting as you need<br />

smooth gear changes to keep a car stable entering a<br />

corner. This particular car has already undergone<br />

36 vigorous hours of testing at the hands of Aston<br />

Martin's factory drivers and, so far, has come through<br />

unscathed with only a few minor teething problems,<br />

which is to be expected with a brand new car.<br />

The Vantage GT4 racing car uses the same AMG<br />

4.0 twin turbo engine that can be found in the<br />

standard road car but is actually detuned from<br />

its regular 520bhp to about 470bhp. Why would<br />

a racing car detune an engine you may ask? The<br />

answer is pretty simple; all GT4 and GT3 racing cars<br />

undergo BoP testing (Balance of Performance). This<br />

73


BoP testing performed by the<br />

SRO, the world governing body<br />

of GT racing, is to ensure that<br />

cars from all manufacturers can<br />

compete on a level playing field<br />

by either adding extra ballast or<br />

adding a restrictor to the engines<br />

air intake to reduce power.<br />

By self-restricting their own<br />

engine performance to a<br />

BHP number in-line with the<br />

majority of the competition,<br />

they hope to avoid heavy weight<br />

penalties that will hurt the car’s<br />

cornering speed. The Balance<br />

of Performance formula is a<br />

dark art that requires delicate<br />

navigating through the politics<br />

of GT racing and is quite the<br />

balancing act to get right (no pun intended!).<br />

I feel that Aston Martin's approach is onto a winner;<br />

build a fast car that is very balanced between top<br />

speed and cornering ability so that any attempt<br />

to equalise it by the championship won't heavily<br />

penalise it compared to its opposition if they were to<br />

just rely on one strength.<br />

GT4 racing has seen an explosion in popularity<br />

in recent years. It's the global entry-level class into<br />

GT racing and where many amateurs and up-andcoming<br />

young drivers start their racing journey.<br />

The new Vantage is the latest car to hit the GT4<br />

marketplace, with hopes of taking on McLaren,<br />

BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes in championships all<br />

around the world. With that in mind, Aston Martin<br />

has engineered a car that is both very forgiving for<br />

an amateur, yet rewards bravery when driven hard<br />

MARTIN GETS READY<br />

TO TEST THE NEW<br />

ASTON MARTIN RACING<br />

VANTAGE GT4<br />

by a professional driver. The driveability of the car<br />

is arguably more critical than outright performance<br />

especially in endurance racing, as driver-errors can<br />

be very costly deep into a three-hour race or in<br />

the middle of the night at Le Mans, so the more<br />

comfortable a car is to drive on its limit, the more<br />

consistent a driver can be and not make mistakes.<br />

Of course, as with anything in racing, the faster you<br />

want to go the more money you have to spend, so<br />

don't expect it to be cheap. The Vantage starts from<br />

a cool £175,000 in its baseline racing spec, but if<br />

you want to add on all of the bells and whistles like<br />

the quick refuel rig and rear view cameras needed<br />

to cope with the demands of fast pit stops and<br />

close quarter racing the price creeps up to around<br />

£215,000. While that sounds like a big chunk of<br />

money (which of course it is), I cannot stress enough<br />

how much of a great deal that is for what you are<br />

getting. Win the lottery or sell your<br />

house and buy this car. You can<br />

thank me later!<br />

Conclusion:<br />

The AMR Vantage GT4 is the result<br />

of what happens when you leave an<br />

already very, very fast Vantage road<br />

car in the hands of the guys and girls<br />

at Prodrive. Prodrive, for the nonmotorsport<br />

reader, are juggernauts of<br />

the motorsport world, currently the<br />

brains behind Aston Martin’s Factory<br />

race team; they have helped deliver<br />

countless World Championships<br />

for manufacturers like BMW and<br />

Subaru in BTCC, F1, WRC and the<br />

World Endurance Championship. In<br />

a nutshell, these guys know how to<br />

build fast cars. And the Vantage GT4<br />

is just that. Fast.<br />

74


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