J'AIME September 2017

s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7
J’aime
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
Win!
a cocktail
masterclass
worth
£200
Discover
Croatia
your next luxury
destination
Stylish
Autumn
trends for
your home
Feel good heels from a
lichfield shoe designer

Welcome to J’AIME
Wow! What can we say? The first month of
J’AIME has certainly been a hectic one, and
we’ve been overwhelmed by the response
to the first issue from you, our wonderful
readers. As we’ve been out delivering the
magazine - yes, you may well have spotted
us pounding the streets near you with our
flashy trolleys in tow! - it has been lovely to
chat to so many people and to share our
story. The genuine interest in the magazine
has been fantastic, and we’ve received some
heartwarming comments over social media
and from people who have taken the time to
drop us an email with their thoughts. Thank
you to everyone who has been in touch, and
if you have any feedback then we’d love to
hear it.
The support from our advertisers has also
been fantastic; it is them, after all, who
enable us to bring the magazine to you each
month, so it’s great to know that what we’re
doing is working for them.
This month, as we head into autumn, we
take a look at some of the season’s most
stylish trends for your home, as well as the
hottest wardrobe updates for the coming
months. We’re delighted to welcome Harvey
Nichols Birmingham on board as our
resident beauty experts; check out their picks
for post-summer skin rescue.
Elsewhere we take a look at an awardwinning
local gin maker, and fashion with
a heart from a Lichfield shoe designer, plus
there’s the chance to win a fantastic cocktail
masterclass for eight people, worth £200.
We hope there’s plenty here to keep you
entertained!
Editor: Amy Norbury
editor@jaimemagazine.com
Advertising: Jan Ashley
advertising@jaimemagazine.com
07388 335 931
Design: design@jaimemagazine.com
Contributors: Martin Plowman,
James Pomlett, Oliver Broad, Jill
Hartley, Helen Gough
J’AIME is published by Ashbury
Publications Limited and printed
by KEP Limited, Tamworth.
Check us out online at:
www.jaimemagazine.com
Find us on
/jaimemagazine
@jaimemagazine
3

CONTENTS
InsideJ’aime this month...
6 Fifth Spire - The award-winning gin -
created in a Lichfield spare bedroom
12 Property - Property of the month
14 Property - Three of the best brand new homes
18 Interiors - Make a statement with lighting
22 Interiors - Create calm with muted tones
24 Interiors - The marvel of marble
28 18 Hour Heels - We chat to shoe designer
Shaherazad Umbreen, whose stylish heels
are making a difference
34 Food and drink - Reviewing San Carlo,
Birmingham
36 Food and drink - An autumnal recipe from
Pom’s Kitchen
38 Food and drink - Cocktail of the month from
Le Rêve
40 Competition - Win a cocktail masterclass for
eight, worth £200
42 Food and drink - A food festival haven in
Tamworth
44 Travel - Looking at Croatia, land of a
thousand islands
48 What’s On - Our pick of events around our
area this month
52 What’s On - The hottest tickets around
Birmingham
56 Fashion - Check out autumn’s favourite print
58 Fashion - Revamp your workwear with
Nero e Bianco
61 Beauty - Post-summer skin rescue from
Harvey Nichols Birmingham
62 In the news - A top stylist returns; a charity
coffee morning; and creating beautiful
bathrooms
64 In the news - A vintage day of fun
65 Motors - Tamworth racing driver Martin
Plowman tastes success in Spa
4

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FEATURE
Gin it to win it
A gin-making duo are rivalling the best in the business with their
hand-crafted Lichfield dry. Amy Norbury discovers more
A small spare bedroom on a Lichfield housing
estate may not be the most obvious place to start a
gin empire. But with a view of all five of the spires
which pepper Lichfield’s skyline visible from the tiny
distillery, it’s a rather poetic place to create a spirit
which brands itself proudly as a ‘Lichfield dry’.
And it’s that very view which gives the gin its name;
Fifth Spire.
The brainchild of longtime friends Tom Lindsey and
Rory McKerrell, Fifth Spire has defied the odds and
proven that you don’t need to be an established big
brand to be a world beater.
With a mutual passion for quality spirits and a desire
to work for themselves doing something they loved,
30-year-old Tom and Rory, who’s 31, turned to gin
- quite literally - as a business option. And the more
they investigated, the more it seemed like an idea
which just might work. And so their micro distillery,
Greywood Distillery, was born, based in Tom’s spare
bedroom.
“The process for making gin is pretty basic; you get
your selection of botanicals, soak it in the spirit and
run it through the still, but it was getting the right
recipe which took us at least a year,” says Tom.
“The ratios, the different botanicals you use, their
origins, the maceration times, the alcohol strengths,
the speed you run the still at, the top temperature
you push it to all affect the product.
“We use traditional Portuguese copper stills, which
a lot of people who are making gin are using. One
of our stills runs most of the dry botanicals which
creates a London dry, while the second still is run a
lot quicker and has all the fresh fruit in it to add a
very distinctive citrus character to our dry gin.
“It’s something that not many of the big guys do
because it’s so hands-on; we have to buy all the fruit,
do all the peeling and then run it through the still
very quickly so it doesn’t overcook.
“Then we mix the two together to create out
product. That’s our thing - big, fresh citrus flavours,
and it makes ours that bit different.”
But it wasn’t always gin. In fact the duo’s first passion
was for another spirit entirely.
“Our interest has always been with whisky; we’ve
done a lot of camping trips up in Scotland which
have usually involved stop-offs at whisky distilleries
up there,” says Tom.
It was holidays to Spain which really sparked a
passion for this most English of spirits. Over on
the continent the craze for the elaborate gin tonic -
6

there’s no ‘and’ in the Spanish version, which sees
premium spirits garnished with herbs, spices and
flowers to amplify the botanicals in the gin - has
seen Spain become one of the top gin-consuming
countries in the world.
“There’s such a variety over there, and even things
which you probably wouldn’t classify as gin in this
country,” says Rory. “It made it such an interesting
area to start learning about, and to start tasting and
testing.”
“We were trying to work out what we wanted to do
differently,” adds Tom. “A a lot of companies tend
to pick on a bizarre, very exotic botanical, like a
random flower only grown on top of a mountain
in Japan, which is great but it can be seen as a bit
gimmicky and pretentious. We just wanted to do
something really simple and good.
“We needed to nail the basics so we made a typical
London dry, and somewhere along the way we got
fascinated with the idea of creating a citrusy flavour
because we just like the nice, simple, strong citrusy
gins and we wanted to get that flavour as fresh as
possible.
“We realised that by splitting the recipe and running
the fruit and the dry botanicals separately it made it
much easier to work with because the two need to be
distilled differently; it became evident quite quickly
that this was the case.”
The main botanical bill includes juniper berries,
coriander seed, cassia bark, angelica root, orris root,
liquorice root, pink peppercorns, sweet almonds
and Seville orange peel, while the fresh citrus fruits
are lemons, limes and grapefruit - all peeled and
prepared on site by Tom and Rory. The result is
a luxuriously smooth spirit with a classic gin taste
riding on a big wave of fresh citrus.
“We wanted it to be clean and crisp, no-nonsense
and avoiding any unnecessary frills,” says Rory.
While the botanicals are sourced from all over the
world, the two other main components of the gin -
the water and the alcohol - are as local as can be.
“We source high quality alcohol from Langley
Distillery near Birmingham, which is the nearest
place you can get your base spirit, and the water we
use is from Elmhurst spring, which is pretty much in
the same postcode as us,” says Tom.
Without any experience in distilling - Tom’s an
engineer by trade while Rory worked for a wind farm
- the process of creating their recipe involved much
trial and error.
“Getting the right mix of botanicals involved a lot of
playing around; we started out looking at what other
people were doing and what they were mentioning,
doing a lot of digging around on the internet to
see what’s available and what’s typically used in the
industry,” says Tom.
“We just bought lots of different things and
tried them out; at one point we were soaking the
botanicals in the spirit and and putting them into
sealed boxes, seeing what they tasted like and smelled
like, then changing them around, changing the ratios
fairly systematically over a long period of time.
“If you made more than one change at a time it
was so difficult to see what was actually making the
The gin-making process is carried
out in Tom’s spare bedroom
7

Fifth Spire is distilled using traditional
Portuguese copper stills
difference, so we had to do everything individually.
And the different botanicals interact differently in
the still; when you change the ratios it affected what
came out at the end, so we had to be meticulous in
our approach and record everything.”
Hitting on the right alcohol percentage was another
challenge, made more difficult by the duo’s use of
fresh fruit.
“Because there are so many oils in the citrus fruit
we use it has to be above 46 per cent to stay stable
so that it doesn’t go cloudy when it gets cold,” Rory
explains. “We don’t want to filter that out, we want
all of that flavour to stay in there.”
Tom adds: “In the whisky industry it’s a common
problem because of all the oils from the wood, so you
often see non chill filtered on whisky bottled which
means it’s over 46 per cent. A lot of the cheaper
whiskies will be chill filtered which people argue
takes out flavour, and there’s not many people doing
it with gin because it will take out the flavour so you
have to up the strength to compensate.
“It’s got to stay crystal clear in the bottle, which is
why our gin is 47 per cent.”
When you see the very contemporary, minimal
design of the bottle - which was created by Tom’s
graphic designer brother James Sutton - you can
understand why the duo were so concerned with
keeping their gin completely clear; there’s no big
label or coloured glass to hide any imperfections in
the spirit.
Fifth Spire officially launched at a Lichfield gin
festival at The George Hotel back in November last
year, and the duo haven’t looked back.
“We had the home advantage because we were
the new local gin, but we outsold and out-served
everyone on the day,” says Tom. “The feedback was
great, and it’s been hugely supportive ever since.”
Tom and Rory’s gin has, indeed, hit the spot with
everyone from casual gin drinkers trying it for the
first time right up to world-renowned experts. In
April, just five months after launching, Fifth Spire
was awarded a gold medal at the San Francisco
World Spirits Competition, the most prestigious
competition of its kind across the globe; an
incredible feat for a spirit crafted in tiny batches in a
Lichfield bedroom.
“The competition is judged by a whole panel of
experts so we figured we must be doing something
right,” says Tom.
“I’d heard about the awards and seen the label on
various bottles of whisky, and gins we were sampling
during the research phase, so we decided to give it a
go. We didn’t expect anything from it.
“The amount of paperwork involved to get alcohol
in a glass bottle over to the States is crazy - it took so
much time that we actually missed the initial day of
judging so we thought that was it.
“But apparently a lot of people from different
8

Rory McKerrell and Tom Lindsey
in their distillery
countries had problems getting their products over
there so they set up a second day of judging a couple
of weeks later, and we were deemed worthy of a gold
medal.”
At the moment, Fifth Spire is available to buy
online and in “a handful” of shops, as well as by the
measure in discerning pubs, bars, restaurants and
hotels across the area. However, it seems like they are
on the verge of a distribution breakthrough - retail
giant Selfridges will soon be stocking the gin in their
Birmingham store, which will play a sizeable role in
bringing Lichfield’s finest to the masses.
“That’s where we are at the minute, just trying to
make that leap to get us further afield,” says Tom.
“Hopefully off the back of Selfridges we’ll be able
to generate more sales and get more distribution
involved. Getting the bigger distribution companies
to take us on is the aim, and the gold medal will
certainly help in that respect as people know what
that means.
“It’s nice that companies like Selfridges are taking us
seriously, knowing exactly the scale we’re operating
on - it’s great.”
And that scale is definitely on the small side, with
each batch hand-crafted by the duo.
“We can do a single batch from start to finish in a
week, which is about 160 bottles,” says Tom.
“We’re in talks with a bottling plant at the moment
so they can take sterilising and filling off our hands,
which would leave us with more time to distill and
enable us to do a couple of batches a week easily.”
“We’ll always maintain the distilling and the drinks
designing in-house,” adds Rory. “But at the moment
we look after the entire process
which can get quite tricky to juggle.
When we’ve got an extra table set
up in the distillery room and we’re
busy washing and sterilising as well
as distilling things can get a bit
hectic.”
With their core product perfected,
the duo are not content to rest
on their laurels, and are always
experimenting with ideas which just
might be the next big thing in the
world of premium spirits.
“We’re trialling other things and
have got recipes and tests on the
go,” says Rory. “There’s one that
Selfridges particularly like the sound
of and which we may do as an
initial exclusive release with them in
the run-up to Christmas - so watch
this space.”
One of the new products which has already made
it to the production stage is a bold coffee liqueur
created in collaboration with Shenstone artisan
coffee roasters Shining Stone, which launched at
Lichfield Food Festival over the August bank holiday
weekend.
With gin and tonic being enduringly popular the
world over, there’s much debate around what goes to
9

make the very best beverage. After all, the
gin itself is only the beginning.
“Tonic is the majority of the drink so you
need to make sure you use a good one,”
says Rory.
“The main thing to look out for with tonic
is that it has all natural ingredients; it’s
sweetened naturally and it has natural
quinine. You don’t want to spend a fairly
large amount of money on a bottle of
gin which someone’s spent a lot of time
making, then ruin it with something fake.”
So which tonic would the duo recommend
to partner with their gin to create the perfect serve?
“There are loads of great tonics out there, but very
few that you can just go to the shop and get easily,”
says Tom. “We’re huge fans of Franklin and Sons,
which used to be quite hard to get hold of but now
it’s stocked in Sainsburys; it has more fizz than some
of the competitors which really lifts the gin and it
doesn’t taste quite as sweet which is definitely a good
thing.
“We’ve also drank plenty of our gin with Fever Tree,
which is available in pretty much every supermarket
and works really well too.”
Incidentally, Franklin and Sons is made with
Staffordshire spring water meaning that, when paired
with Fifth Spire, you have a truly local G and T.
Fresh citrus fruit gives Fifth
Spire its unique flavour
And what about the all-important garnish?
“We used dried Seville orange peel where we can,
but we know it’s not that easy to get and it’s very
seasonal, so otherwise a piece of pink grapefruit
works very nicely,” says Rory.
“The fresh citrus in the gin itself is actually
grapefruit, lemon and lime in that order. It definitely
doesn’t need any extra lemon or lime; both of those
can be very overpowering in a gin and tonic if you
leave them in too long, whereas grapefruit is a lot
more subtle in that respect.
“And as much ice as you can fit in the glass, for sure;
the more ice you get in there, the slower it melts.”
With a premium look and feel, and a taste which is
steadily winning over gin aficionados in their droves,
Fifth Spire is flying the flag for Lichfield, and for
local producers in general.
“We spent a long time
deliberating over names. We
wanted a name which harks
back to Lichfield and has a
connection, but which isn’t too
specific and you don’t need
to know about Lichfield to
understand it,” says Rory.
“Fifth Spire gives it a really local
feel, and locals know what it
means, while further afield it just
sounds nice! From the top of the
house you can see all of the five
spires across town.
“And we always wanted to have
Lichfield written on the bottle, so
we call ourselves a Lichfield dry
gin rather than a London dry.”
For more information visit
www.fifthspire.com or find
Fifth Spire on Facebook and
Instagram.
10

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PROPERTY
Property of the Month
We take a sneaky peek at some of the hottest properties on the market in the area
each month. This month’s selection is a stunning period home with outstanding
leisure facilities and set in picturesque grounds.
Leomansley Manor, Walsall Road, Lichfield: £2,495,000
On the market with Aston Knowles: 0121 362 7878
The agent says: Leomansley Manor is a substantial
country house providing luxurious accommodation and leisure
facilities within delightful private grounds benefiting from open
countryside views and waterside scenes.
The property was restored some 10 years ago from the remains
of the original Leomansley Manor. The original property
comprised of a mill house and three very small cottages. The
careful creation of the modern day Leomansley Manor used the
original mill house as the main inspiration, creating a mirror-like
extension off the existing building providing the much desirable
double fronted design. The house won Federation of Master
Builders. Category 4: Best large renovation 2007.
The property has been re-designed, renovated and furnished to
a superb standard creating spacious and flexible accommodation
ideal for family living. The interior boasts high quality fittings,
luxurious furnishing and state of the art technology throughout.
The superb ground floor accommodation enjoys under floor
heating throughout together with surround sound from ceiling
flush speakers.
The grounds to the front and rear have recently been expensively
landscaped which includes the wildlife pools with various seating
and view points.
W e l o v e :
The amazing indoor pool and the stunning
grounds - including children’s play area
and tennis court!
12

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PROPERTY
Three of the best... brand new homes
We round up some of the best properties on the market in the area
each month. This month we choose three of the very best new build
homes, just ready for you to put your own stamp on.
Luttrell Road, Four Oaks Estate, Sutton Coldfield: £3,200,000
On the market with Quantrills: 0121 396 0744
The agent says: A spectacular recently completed arts and
crafts style family residence which occupies a mature secluded
setting with south westerly rear gardens. The internal finish
incorporates a high specification with an extensive use of natural
materials and extensive technological features. The extensive
accommodation arranged over three floors offers elegant family
accommodation radiating from a ground central hall with full
height staircase and will include guest cloaks, four first floor
bedroom suites, a master bedroom with lounge and dressing
room, two further second floor bedroom suites with dressing
rooms, drawing room, snug/study, dining room, kitchen/
breakfast room and family room. A utility, garage for five cars,
home cinema/entertainment room, seventh bedroom/office
and loft room/potential eighth bedroom, bring the total space to
approximately 8,000 sq.ft.
W e l o v e :
We love: The immense sense of space,
and the seriously sleek kitchen.
14

The Penthouse, St Paul’s Chambers, Birmingham: £1,750,000
On the market with Knight Frank: 0121 396 0557
The agent says: This breathtaking three-bedroom
duplex apartment demonstrates impeccable attention to detail,
combined with an incredibly high specification across several
impressive features that are unique to this property. With more
than 3,400 square feet of living space the penthouse is the
crowning glory of Chord Development’s impressive St Paul’s
Chambers.
It features three good-sized bathrooms, including a master suite
complete with its own steam room.
With three outdoor terraces totalling 500 square feet to enjoy
views across the idyllic St Paul’s Square, the penthouse is a
central Birmingham living space unlike any other. There is
plenty of practical and cleverly designed living space, including a
kitchen-diner and very useful utility room. This super-cool home
will be the perfect temperature all year round, thanks to an air
source heat pump for hot water and a summer cooling system,
both of which keep energy consumption and costs to a minimum
while offering complete comfort in every season.
W e l o v e :
The amazing terraces offering
stunning views over the city.
The Knightsbridge, St Peter’s Walk, King Street, Yoxall: £625,000
On the market with Connells: 01543 737034
The agent says: The Knightsbridge is a stunning five
bedroom detached family home complete with a double garage,
open plan kitchen/family room with French doors to the garden,
separate dining room with French doors to garden, living room
with walk-in bay and en suites to both bedrooms one and two.
St. Peters Walk is a small development of 35 new homes in
the delightful and picturesque village of Yoxall. This new
development offers excellent access to local amenities including
local schools, leisure facilities, pubs and restaurants and nearby
hospitals. This is a particularly attractive site due to its location
near to the National Forest, Lichfield and Stafford as well as
offering excellent transport links via the nearby A38, A50, M6
Toll and M42.
W e l o v e :
The stylish family home feel and the
picturesque location.
16

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INTERIORS
Let there
be light
FROM the tiniest tealight to the most ostentatious
chandelier, lighting can make a huge difference to your
home.
Statement lighting is a great way to add impact to
your interior decor scheme and you can have great
fun hunting down the perfect style to create the right
vibe for each room. Looking for overblown elegance?
Go for an extravagant chandelier in crystal, and soft
metallic hues such as gold, copper and bronze. After
a more industrial vibe? Exposed vintage-style Edison
bulbs, brushed steel and black work perfectly. Pendants
with striking shades make for a quick style change,
while horizontal fittings which cover more ceiling
space create impact without dominating the space.
See your main light feature as a work of art - a real
focal point for the room - and add ambient lighting
from alternative sources such as lamps and candles to
create a cosy feel as the nights draw in.
Showshell globe hanging lamp,
£695, Out There Interiors.
www.outthereinteriors.com
Symbol six light pendant,
dar Lighting Group.
www.darlighting.co.uk
Academy five light pendant,
dar Lighting Group.
www.darlighting.co.uk
£534
£354
Cotton string lights,
Kikkerland.
www.kikkerlandeu.com
£10
18

Gubi brass pendant, Rume.
www.rume.co.uk
£696
Gold Starburst
chandelier, Persora.
www.persora.com
£645
£629
Atticus five light pendant,
dar Lighting Group.
www.darlighting.co.uk
J’aime
lo ves
Tom Raffield Urchin light,
£245, Rume.
www.rume.co.uk

Tower pendant, £126,
dar Lighting Group.
www.darlighting.co.uk
Newton suspension lamp,
£POA, Boca do Lobo.
www.bocadolobo.com
Goldie table lamp,
£135, Lime and Lace.
www.limelace.co.uk
Black Hurricane metal
floor lamp, £295,
www,cuckooland.com
18

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INTERIORS
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overstimulate the senses, or gelato toned pastels that
are sickly sweet; latest trend predictions are that this
autumn it’s about soft neutrals and muted colours for
a gentle, sophisticated palette.
We’re talking pale greys, blush pink, dusty pale
greens and blues, light camel, smokey peach - all
either working harmoniously together or introduce
just a hint among neutrals. Pair these tones with
blonde timber, luxurious fabrics like linen, velvet and
leather and lots of natural, heavily textured elements
to create a fully soothing environment in which to
relax in style.
£28
£25
Oslo vase, Marks and Spencer.
www.marksandspencer.com
Grey suede leather strap side table,
around £89, H and G Designs.
www.handgdesigns.com
Terry taupe velvet tassel
cushion, Ragged Rose.
www.raggedrose.com
£1,275
Erin tub chair,
Sweetpea and Willow.
www.sweetpeaandwillow.com
22

£959
Muuto Ambit dusty green
pendant light, Rume.
www.rume.co.uk
Toros chair, Content by
Conran at Darlings of Chelsea.
www.darlingsofchelsae.co.uk
£249
£235
Lazy Linen bedlinen
bundle in dusty pink, Loaf.
www.loaf.com
£49.50
Loft throw, Marks and Spencer.
www.marksandspencer.com
£10
Grey pressed bamboo lacquer
salad servers, ALSO Home.
www.alsohome.com
j’aime
lo ves
Darlings of Chelsea Olivia sofa, £1,118.23
www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk

INTERIORS
Marvellous
marble
Once relegated to the design dustbin for being too
flashy, marble is back in a big way. And we don’t just
mean in bathrooms and kitchens, where this most
luxurious of stones is transforming worktops, sinks,
baths and more; the marble influence can now be
seen all over the home, and its march as a design
favourite shows no signs of slowing down.
Paired with metallics - in particular brass and gold
hues - marble creates an elegant sense of luxury for
furniture and accessories. And we’re not just talking
pure white; blacks, greens and browns are particularly
on trend for a bolder approach.
As well as using the material itself, look out for marble
prints on everything from textiles to wallpaper and
tableware; an easy way to incorporate a touch of
the look into your current interior decor scheme.
J’aime
lo ves
£449
Menu Pepe green
marble mirror.
www.Nest.co.uk
Green marble coffee table
with brass base, £180,
www.cuckooland.com
£199
A by Amara Orbis lamp.
www.amara.com
JUST SLATE marble serving tray,
Black By Design.
www.black-by-design.co.uk
£110
£55
Ava green marble side table,
Marks and Spencer.
www.marksandspencer.com
24

Celebrate this Autumn
with Cookes!
Here at Cookes you’ll find everything you
need to keep your home cosy with our
brand new autumn collection– from the
widest selection of furniture and styles
in inspiring room sets, to the finishing
touches. Plus, discover our brand new
range of award-winning bathrooms and
our exclusive new Ligne Roset collection.
Whatever your taste, we’ve got a huge
range of the highest quality brands to
make your interior perfect for hibernating
this autumn.
28 Goosemoor Lane, Erdington,
Birmingham B23 5PN
0121 222 7541
www.cookesfurniture.co.uk
BATHROOMS
CLICK
FINANCE
RELAX
STORAGE SERVICE
New Bathrooms Department
Call 0121 250 5056
birmingham@ripples.ltd.uk
We’re open 24/7 at
cookesfurniture.co.uk
Finance packages available
with flexible deposits and
low monthly payments
Enjoy a drink or meal from
our new menu in Edwards
Café Bar
Call 0121 250 5055
info@cookesstorage.co.uk

£23
£345
Swirl marble salad bowl,
by Blisshome from Amara.
www.amara.com
Low Jinks coffee table, Loaf.
www.loaf.com
£219
MENU marble wall
clock, Black By Design.
www.black-by-design.co.uk
Brown marble
tray table, TK Maxx.
www.tkmaxx.com
£129.99
Amare teapot,
by Anna New York
at Amara.
www.amara.com
Style
s t eal
Brass marble letter rack,
£38, Oliver Bonas.
www.oliverbonas.com
£450
£22
Marble storage pot,
Not-Another-Bill.
www.notanotherbill.com
26

oadway Kitchens
A fAmily business of three generAtions
We design, manufacture and install bespoke traditional and modern kitchens to suit you and your lifestyle.
CALL to arrange a design consultation - VISIT our showroom - VIEW our kitchens online
0121 353 4999 - www.kitchensbybroadway.co.uk - 54-56 Thornhill Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, B74 3EN
Mitc
Weefo
Sutton
B7
eefo
Mitc 012
A family run business offering bespoke
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uPVC Hardwood Timber Aluminium
Come and see our show room at
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Mitchells
Weeford Road
Sutton Coldfield
B75 6NA
0121 308 5094
www.heritageglassroomsltd.co.uk
Heritage glass rooms
a family run business offering bespoke orangeries
upVC - Hardwood timber - aluminium
orangeries
orangeries
Heritage Gl
Heritage Gl
Come and see our showroom at: Mitchells, Weeford Road, Sutton Coldfield B75 6NA
Telephone: 0121 308 5094 or 07957480121 - www.heritageglassroomsltd.co.uk
A family run business offering bespoke
orangeries
uPVC Hardwood Timber Aluminium
A family run business offering besp
orangeries
uPVC Hardwood Timber Alum
Come and see our show room at
Heritage Glass Rooms
Mitchells
Weeford Road
Sutton Coldfield
B75 6NA
0121 308 5094
www.heritageglassroomsltd.co.uk
A family run business offering besp
orangeries
uPVC Hardwood Timber Alum
A family run business offering besp
orangeries
uPVC Hardwood
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Timber
and see our
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tag
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orangeries

F E AT U R E
Feel good heels
Lichfield shoe designer Shaherazad Umbreen has the answer to every girl’s shoe
dilemma; gorgeous heels which are actually comfortable to wear. And her business is
helping women worldwide on a much more in-depth level. Amy Norbury discovers more
It’s a problem faced by women the world over; the
eternal struggle between your favourite pair of heels
- you know, the ones which elongate your legs with
their super slender and precariously high heel and
make you feel like a million dollars despite the fact
that you can barely walk ten paces in them - and
the ones you can actually wear for more than a few
minutes without feeling the pinch of squished toes
and the burn of sore soles, but you just don’t love?
A stylish heel which feels as good as it looks is the
holy grail of shoes, coveted by every footwear-loving
fashionista.
The answer? Well, it’s all down to flamingos. It
was these most elegant of birds, seen perching
precariously on spindle-like legs with ease, which
provided the inspiration for Lichfield businesswoman
Shaherazad Umbreen’s revolutionary heels, which
guarantee 18 hours of pain-free wear - enough
to take you from the boardroom to the bar while
looking seriously stylish in the process.
“Flamingos are able to stand for hours on end, often
balanced on one leg, with grace and elegance,” says
Shaherazad.
“I discovered that this is to do with balance and body
weight distribution; flamingos are unique in how they
stand, and I was inspired to capture their secret in a
pair of shoes. It’s all about the maths, but no-one has
applied that to shoes before.
“I’ve always loved shoes, and I’ve been guilty of
buying so many pairs which I don’t wear. So I
thought, what if you could buy less, but buy better?
And if you’re going to buy less, how can one pair of
shoes have a different style for different times of the
day?”
And so, Shoes by Shaherazad was born. Skilfully
hand-crafted using the finest leather right here in
Britain and then “sealed with a machine kiss”, as
Shaherazad puts it, to ensure durability, these shoes
28

offer a real taste of luxury while achieving that allimportant
comfort.
With no experience in design, 40-year-old
Shaherazad enrolled at the London College of
Fashion, studying every weekend for months while
working full time as head of marketing at the Coop
headquarters in Lichfield - all of which involved
travelling cross-country on a weekly basis.
“I actually hand-crafted the first few pairs myself,
to make sure I understood the process,” says
Shaherazad.
“The very first one was a flat, which I made so I
could learn how to mould the leather; I was so proud
of it I was running around the Co-op office showing
everyone!
“Then the first pair of heels I made broke - you
couldn’t have stood on those! It takes practice, time
and understanding to get it right. I went to look
round the factory to see how it’s done; shoes aren’t
hand-crafted very often any more, they’re made by
robots, but because of the price point and the luxury
element, and because I didn’t want to waste the
beautiful leather, mine are hand-crafted.
“In the factory I was taught what I needed to do, and
they used my design and my mathematics to come
up with the eventual shoe and the eventual concept.”
And so, after much research and development, the
18 Hour Heel was born. A classic Mary Jane-style
court shoe available in black, red and blush pink, it
offers the perfect dynamic for comfort in terms of
heel height and shape.
And it doesn’t stop there. Once customers have
chosen their base shoe, they can add a range of
gorgeous ‘shoellery’ - clip-on accessories which
change the look of their heels in an instant, perfect
for jazzing up your workday shoes ready for an
evening on the tiles.
The embellishments are created by Barry Abbotts,
a specialist metal worker in Birmingham’s Jewellery
Quarter, who brings Shaherazad’s innovative
creations to life.
“The shoellery clips are a really exciting addition to
the 18 hour heels,” says Shaherazad, who lives in
Birmingham. “They are a completely new concept
and mean you can wear your heels in the day and
then add a new design created here in Birmingham
to make them look like a different pair of heels for
the evening.”
Shoes by Shaherazad launched online in April last
year to critical acclaim from fashionistas and shoe
lovers looking for a comfy heel. Shaherazad has
swiftly built up a celebrity following too; British
model and television presenter Alexa Chung,
Coronation Street actress Jane Danson and
acclaimed make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury have all
been spotted in their 18 Hour Heels.
“We’ve had a lot of customers coming back for
more too,” says Shaherazad. “Around 60 per cent of
29

Shoe designer
Shaherazad Umbreen
women who have bought a pair have then gone onto
buy a second pair in a different colour. And people
then buy extra shoellery, which is fantastic.”
But there’s so much more to Shoes by Shaherazad
than just fashion; the business was set up with the
empowerment of women firmly at the forefront. And
not just by providing a pain-free heel.
Shaherazad says: “I wanted to bring together my
passion for women’s rights, my
love of shoes and my experience in
business. The essence of it is very
much to empower women; women
who can afford to spend £200 or
£250 on a pair of shoes can then
empower other women who can’t
afford to do that.
“Women have been held back
throughout history; yes we’ve
moved forwards but in the grand
scheme of things it’s not been
that long that women have had
the vote, and in a lot of countries
across the world women still can’t
go to school. I wanted to find a
way to change that.”
Every pair of shoes sold supports a
woman or girl living in poverty. Shoes
by Shaherazad has partnered with
Global Giving, which is based in
London, to source worthy causes to
get directly involved with, rather than
just donating to charity.
“At the moment we’ve got five projects
which we support,” says Shaherazad.
“One project in Kenya is a sewing
room and a computer room so
teenage girls, often who are pregnant
and have been kicked out of their
homes, can learn how to sew and can
learn basic business skills. The money
we gave funded the sewing machines
and the school, and the girls go on to
set up their own businesses which they
can get a grant for.”
Other projects include an
entrepreneur project in Kenya, which
helps girls who have received some
education to develop that into a
career; a primary education project in
Pakistan which funds costs associated
with getting girls from poverty-stricken
families to school, such as food and
transport; and an entrepreneur project
in Palestine which helps girls to learn business skills
and computer skills.
Shaherazad’s latest involvement in Peru is a
particularly poignant project.
“In Peru, a huge amount of the female population
end up in domestic labour from the age of four years
old,” says Shaherazad. “A family will have a young
Shaherazad’s latest charitable
project is a skills school in Peru
30

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girl doing all the chores and all they
get in return is a roof over their
heads; a lot of them get beaten and
abused, but because they grow up
in that environment they don’t have
the skills to challenge the situation
or change their lives. We fund a
skills Sunday school where girls can
learn life skills to enable them to
break out of that cycle.
“I gave 100 per cent of the profits
last year and helped 700 women
through our projects,” adds
Shaherazad. “Ultimately, my aim
is to give 10 per cent of the profits
and invest everything else back
into the business to ensure it is
sustainable and we can keep helping more women.
“Eventually we want to work in every country where
women and girls live in poverty or need educational
support, including this one.”
Shaherazad refers to herself as a “philoshoepher”,
someone who believes in good deeds and good shoes,
which perfectly sums up her business.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved and how many
women we’ve helped already,” says Shaherazad. “We
see the photos and know the names of all the girls
we’ve worked with and get letters and emails, which
Beautiful shoellery adds
an extra dimension to
the shoes
makes it all feel more real than just donating money
to charity.
“These shoes are made to bring happiness to the
women who wear them; and it’s these women who
will then go on and bring happiness to other women
in the world.”
For more information visit
www.shoesbyshaherazad.com or find
18 Hour Heels and Shoes by Shaherazad on
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
32

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BEFORE
Citma at Pom’s 2017
AFTER
Introducing Bottomless Party Night with live music
from Keegan Hammond on Selected Dates
Santa’s Sunday Lunch perfect for all the Family
Sunday 17th December 12 noon till 6pm
Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Brunch
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01543 250 085 info@pomskitchen.uk
POM’S KITCHEN & LICHFIELD, 20-22 BIRD STREET, LICHFIELD, WS13 6PR
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F O O D & D R I N K
Go Italian in style
After 25 years in business, Birmingham’s San Carlo restaurant is still leading the
way when it comes to authentic Italian fayre. Amy Norbury discovers more
When it comes to Italian food here in the Midlands, one
Birmingham restaurant has paved the way and set the
bar for dining in true Italian style. San Carlo has earned
its reputation over the years by pioneering exceptional
ingredients, with fresh, seasonal delights flown in
from the best produce markets across Italy to ensure
authenticity of flavour.
As the original Birmingham restaurant - which has
spawned sites nationwide and even internationally over
the years - celebrates its 25th anniversary, J’AIME was
invited along to discover exactly what it is which keeps
diners coming back for more.
The restaurant enjoys a prime spot in the heart of the
city centre, and on the Friday evening of our visit the
atmosphere was buzzing as diners packed in to enjoy
what is billed as the best Italian cuisine for miles around.
We were shown to a quiet table for two downstairs,
near to the kitchen and with a little more breathing
space than many of the tables, which are packed tightly
together in true convivial Italian style.
Aperitifs were duly ordered - a classic peach Bellini,
£8.90, for me and a Birra Moretti, £3.30, for my
husband - to sip while we perused the menus. It was
definitely a wise move to get the drinks ordered swiftly
as the menus - that’s plural - are some of
the heftiest tomes I’ve ever encountered in a
restaurant. The whistlestop tour of the best
in Italian regional cuisine takes in antipasti,
grill specialities such as the tomahawk steak
and a broad range of mouth-watering meat,
pizza and pasta recipes. And that’s before
you get onto the separate daily specials menu
which includes a further 15 starters, chef’s
recommendations and a wide selection
of seafood dishes including fresh lobster. I
have to confess that I didn’t even look at the
extra blackboard specials, for fear of menu
blindness.
If you can’t find a dozen dishes to tickle the
tastebuds here then you never will - and that’s
the problem. There were so many delicioussounding
options that narrowing it down to just the one
was a task in itself.
But we persevered and, after much deliberation over the
merits of each individual dish, decisions were made.
To start, I had toyed with both the lobster ravioli
and the fegatini di pollo - chicken livers sauteed with
chestnuts and marsala - but plumped for the gnocchi
34

al tartufo, at £8.50, from the specials menu. This was
gnocchi unlike any I’d tasted before; coated in a crispy
crumb, rather like a gnocchi croquette, and lounging in
a decadent pool of parmesan fondue adorned with a
generous scattering of black truffle, this was indulgently
rich and packed a huge truffle punch. A great start, and
every single morsel was polished off.
My husband’s melanzane al forno, £7.70, was another
triumph. He’s not normally a huge fan of aubergine but
fell in love with this particular dish when he sampled it
at another Italian eatery. And he was delighted that San
Carlo’s version lived up to expectations; with a topping
heavy on the parmesan and a flavourful tomato sauce,
this baked aubergine dish really showcased simple
ingredients to their very best.
We happily sipped on our wine, a rather delightful
bottle of montepulciano, £27.20, which was smooth
and soft with lovely berry notes, while we waited for our
main courses to arrive. However, as the wine started
to run out and with no food in sight, we had to ask a
waiter to enquire as to the whereabouts of our meal.
Service had been haphazard throughout the evening,
ranging from friendly and attentive
to a little brusque and quite slow as
the evening progressed.
So it had been a rather long wait,
but once again the food didn’t
disappoint. My halibut with lobster
sauce, £19,50, was cooked to
perfection; the fish firm and meaty
and the accompanying sauce -
served in its own miniature copper
saucepan, no less - was delicately
infused with lovely lobster goodness
and complemented the halibut
beautifully. Side dishes of sauteed
potatoes with bacon, onion and rosemary, £3.20, as
well as zucchine fritte - deep-fried courgettes, £3.80,
which were presented in a sizeable mound - were well
executed and worthy accompaniments.
My husband had been tempted by the various steak
options, including the decadent fillet steak and lobster
version of surf ‘n’ turf, but the lure of a hearty pasta
dish won the day. His tagliolini con granchio - thin
ribbons of egg pasta with hand-picked Cornish crab,
sweet Sicilian cherry tomatoes, saffron and a touch of
cream, £14.95 - was satisfying comfort food at its finest,
with the sweetness of the crab and tomatoes balancing
the richness of the cream nicely.
It had been a rather long evening and, with time not on
our side, we nearly didn’t order dessert. But only nearly.
Luckily the final event was much swifter in arriving
than our main course and we were soon tucking into
our puds; a perfectly wobbly panna cotta, £4.90, with a
sharply sweet fruits of the forest sauce for my husband,
and a huge portion of caramel ice cream topped with
crushed nuts and caramel sauce, £5.30, for me.
The quality of food, above all, it what San Carlo has
built its reputation on, and what sets it apart. And
whether you’re after lobster and Champagne or
pasta and wine, there’s something for every diner. If
you’re looking for a true taste of Italy, you won’t be
disappointed.
35

F O O D & D R I N K
Classic cuisine
As autumn rolls around, James Pomlett, owner of Pom’s Kitchen in Lichfield,
shares a seasonal comfort food classic which is sure to become a firm favourite
Local, seasonal produce is king at Pom’s Kitchen; local
suppliers are championed and ingredients are freerange
and top quality.
As a family-run restaurant, the team at Pom’s are
passionate about amazing hospitality and the best
quality food. James says: “We have a modern and
relaxed approach to dining - our guests experience great
hospitality in a stylish and contemporary environment.
“We are proud to have redeveloped 20-22 Bird Street
and brought its unique character back to life with a
modern twist.
“We believe it is important to sell free-range ingredients
and proudly source our eggs from local free-range
farms. Our local suppliers, such as Russell’s butchers,
supply us with the best quality produce.”
Enjoy!
Beef bourguignon with mash
potato and parsnip crisps
Ingredients - serves four
4 feather steaks
20g silverskin onions
20g field mushrooms, diced to same size as silverskin
onions
20g pancetta, cut into lardons
100ml red wine
1 litre water
250g Maris Piper potatoes, peeled
100g butter
30g parsnip, peeled to the core
Oil, for frying
50g gravy thickener
In a pan, seal the feather steaks on each side. Remove
from the pan and seal the lardons.
Remove from the heat and add the steaks back to the
pan then add the onions, mushrooms, and red wine.
Add the water to the pan, cover with tin foil and cook
in the oven for four hours on 120C.
Place potatoes into the pan and cover with water, cook
until soft and ready for mashing. Mash the potatoes
with the butter and season to your desired flavour
Make the crisps by frying the thinly peeled parsnips
until golden brown and crispy.
Remove and drain the oil from the crisps.
Once steaks are cooked, remove from the pan and
place the pan on the stove to boil. Once boiling,
thicken the sauce with your desired thickening agent.
Place mash in a bowl, add the steak and sauce, top
with parsnip crisps and serve.
36

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F O O D & D R I N K
Dreaming of cocktails
Lichfield bar Le Rêve has earned a reputation for serving the finest cocktails in
town, and here owner Shaun Craven serves up our very own mouth-watering
cocktail of the month for you to try at home
Situated in the heart of Lichfield’s restaurant district
on Bird Street, Le Rêve is a haven for those looking
for an exclusive bar offering the finest drinks in the
city. Serving only the best cocktails created by the
talented team of in-house mixologists using the
freshest ingredients, alongside a selection of craft
beers and fine wines, Le Rêve offers the theatre and
standards of a big city bar coupled with exemplary
service, all in a seriously stylish setting.
The busy bar has a buzzing atmosphere, enhanced
by showcasing amazing home-grown acoustic
talent alongside a handpicked team of passionate
DJs. Expect musicality and vocals from across the
spectrum with music from past and present to give
you the best night possible.
Le Rêve is the brainchild of Shaun Craven. Since
getting his first job in a pub at the tender age of 17,
it had been Shaun’s dream to open his own exclusive
bar. So it only seemed fitting that his venture, when
it finally became a reality, should be called Le Rêve -
which is French for ‘the dream’.
Le Reve cocktail
masterclass
Shaun had spent years searching for the perfect spot
to open his bar, and when the Bird Street premises
became available he thought it would be ideal,
enabling him to offer all the flair and theatre of a
major city bar right here in Lichfield, without the
need to travel into Birmingham or beyond.
With help from his parents, who remortgaged their
home in order to raise capital to put towards the bar,
as well as a grant awarded by The Prince’s Trust,
Shaun’s dream was realised when Le Rêve opened in
2013.
Shaun says: “I was only 24 years old and a one-man
band; I did every job under the sun to make it work.
Now it has gone from strength to strength and grown
into a constantly busy bar, with a great team behind
it all contributing to its success.”
Customer service is key to Le Rêve’s success; the
team - led by manager Juliette Key who is Shaun’s
right-hand woman and has played a huge role in
helping to build the bar into the established, exclusive
venue it is today - pride themselves on going the
extra mile to offer the very best service and
experience for every customer. Attention to
detail is paramount, and from the spirits to
the fresh ingredients and even the glassware,
each cocktail is carefully crafted to create a
drinking experience which is second to none.
The cocktails are all original and thought
up in-house, and all bar staff go through
Le Rêve’s rigorous training to ensure they
are knowledgeable about the drinks they
serve. The managers are all involved in a
profit-share scheme and the bartenders earn
commission of what they take, which gives the
team a real ethos of togetherness.
With a successful four years under his belt,
Shaun is looking to expand his Le Rêve
empire with the opening of a second bar
by the end of the year, and hopes that the
growing brand will have four sites by the end
of 2018.
38

J’adore
3 fresh raspberries
25ml rose syrup
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
12.5ml lychee liqueur
Prosecco
1 rose petal
Muddle the fresh raspberries in your boston tin and add
a generous amount of ice. Then add 25ml rose syrup,
12.5ml fresh lemon juice and 12.5ml lychee liqueur.
Shake, then fine strain into your chilled glass and top up
with Prosecco and finally add your rose petal garnish.

CO M P E T I T I O N
Master the art of cocktails
J’AIME has teamed up with exclusive Lichfield bar Le Rêve to offer readers the
chance to win a fantastic cocktail masterclass for eight people, worth £200
Have you ever fancied yourself shaking up a storm like
Tom Cruise in Cocktail? Well, now’s your chance to
learn the tricks of the trade from the team of talented
mixologists at Lichfield’s Le Rêve bar.
Our lucky winner and seven friends will be treated
to a cocktail masterclass, where the expert mixologist
will guide you through the dazzling world of cocktails,
teaching you all the tricks of the trade so you can create
your own mouth-watering drinks at home, like a pro.
This unique experience lasts for around an hour and
is a perfect for any occasion, whether it be a hen party,
networking event, a team-building event or just a day
with friends. It’s fun, interactive and a great way to get
the party started.
With bubbly on arrival, you’ll then discover all the
secrets to Le Rêve’s expertly handcrafted cocktails,
learning how to mix, muddle and mash your way
through a selection of three cocktails - and, of course,
get to taste the results of your handiwork. You will then
be shown to a private table where you can enjoy the rest
of the evening in style.
For more information visit www.lereve-bar.com.
Competition
For your chance to win this fantastic cocktail masterclass for
yourself and seven friends, simply answer the following question:
What does Le Rêve mean?
• The dream • The bar • The cocktail
Send your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number, by email to
competitions@jaimemagazine.com with Le Rêve cocktail competition as the email subject. Entries
must be received by 5pm on Friday, September 29, and our winner will be notified by Wednesday,
October 4. No cash alternative is available. Due to the nature of the prize the competition is open
to over 18s only and identification will be required if any member of the winning group appears to
be under 18. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.jaimemagazine.com for further details.
40

LE RÊVE COCKTAIL BAR - 26 BIRD STREET - LICHFIELD
PHONE: 01543 253 663 - WWW.LEREVE-BAR.COM
FACEBOOK: LE REVE COCKTAIL BAR LICHFIELD - INSTAGRAM: LE_REVE_BAR
Serving fresh fruit cocktails with passion and flare
- COCKTAIL MASTERCLASSES AVAILABLE - PRIVATE TABLES/AREAS FOR ALL OCCASIONS
- DJ’s EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY - LIVE MUSIC EVERY SUNDAY - OPEN EVERY EVENING
- OPEN TILL 1AM EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY - OVER 21’s ONLY

F O O D & D R I N K
Culinary delights
The third annual Tamworth Gusto Food and Drink Festival brings some of the
region’s best food and drink, as well as entertainment galore, to Tamworth
Castle Pleasure Grounds on September 9 and 10
If you’re looking for a little something to whet
your appetite this month, then venture over to
Tamworth Castle, where the Pleasure Grounds will
be transformed into a haven for foodies when the
Tamworth Gusto Food and Drink Festival comes to
town.
There will be a wide range of food, drink and artisan
stalls with live entertainment and demonstrations.
Packed with stands from local and regional producers
it promises to be a great day out for all the family.
With culinary delights such as a juicy hog roast, beef
burgers and artisan pizza on offer, there is sure to be
plenty to satisfy your hunger.
Local producers will be selling hams, sausages, organic
meat, handmade cheese, creamy ice cream, fudge,
exotic mushrooms, vegetables, jams, pickles, pates,
herbs, handmade crisps and much, much more. If
that isn’t enough, you can quench your thirst with
locally brewed beer from the beer tent, local English
wines, all followed by a smooth espresso, cappuccino
or simply a cup of select tea with an artisan cookie or
a slice of cake.
As well as enjoying the great local and regional
produce, you can relax to some live music and enjoy
the comprehensive entertainment programme. For
younger children there will be activities including face
painting, bouncy castle and rides, meaning there’s
plenty for the whole family to love.
Top local chef Simon Smith will be making an
appearance with some scrumptious food demos from
his demonstration kitchen, with one every two hours
from 11am till 3pm both days. If you want to learn
some of the tricks of the trade, then his demos are a
must.
Gates open at 10.30am until 5pm both
days. Entry costs £2, with Kids under
12 going free. For more details visit
www.tamworthfestival.co.uk.
42

• The best in care and assessed in 2017 as Good In All Categories by the CQC •
• Restaurant quality dining with professional kitchens led by our award-wining chef, Martin McKee •
• All-inclusive and excellent value for money for the quality care and services provided •
• Sector-leading Well-being Programme to support mind, body and soul •
• Monthly Coffee Mornings on the first Wednesday of every month •
S H O W R O O M S A L W A Y S O P E N T O V I E W
Call 01922 262692
or Search ‘Hawthorns Aldridge’
See our lovely home life at facebook.com/TheHawthornsAldridge
The Hawthorns Aldridge | Erdington Road | Aldridge | West Midlands | WS9 8UH

T R AV E L
Land of a thousand islands
Travel expert Kirsty Taylor, from RB Collection, heads to Cavtat in Croatia
for a multi-generation summer break, and discovers the natural beauty of
one of Europe’s fastest growing holiday hotspots
Kolocep, Croatia
As travel trends go, I think it’s fair to say that Croatia
is currently right up there as one of the places to
visit. Its popularity has soared over the last few years,
with the local tourism press reporting an increase
of ten per cent in visitor numbers for the first half
of 2017. It was an easy decision, therefore, that this
would be the destination I would visit on my annual
family holiday.
Having briefly visited Dubrovnik and Cavtat some
17 years ago on - believe it or not! - a day trip from
Manchester, and being wowed by their beauty, I
concluded that it would be good to return many
years later to see how (or if) the area had changed.
On my initial visit Cavtat, which is located in the
south of Croatia, had particularly appealed to me.
Not only because of its breath taking natural beauty,
but because of its laid back atmosphere and close
proximity to Dubrovnik. Based on my previous first
impressions, it was decided by myself, my daughter
and my parents that Cavtat would be our holiday
destination of choice.
Originally a Greek settlement founded in the
4th century BC named Epidaurum, the Romans
took over Cavtat in 225 BC and renamed the
area Epidaurus. There are many reminders of
Roman rule, including the remains of city walls,
amphitheatres, and tombs. Due to its history, Cavtat
is home to several museums and galleries, with the
most popular being the house of one of Croatia’s
most famous painters, Vlaho Bukovac.
Located just ten minutes from Dubrovnik airport,
we were swiftly transferred to our chosen hotel, and
settled into our rooms. Set in an elevated position
surrounded by stunning woodland, the property
is perfectly positioned to enjoy some of the most
wonderful views I have ever seen – the sunsets
here are truly magical. Even Dubrovnik, which
is 18 kilometres from Cavtat, can be seen across
the sparkling sea in the distance, as well as the
Hotel Croatia_Cavtat
view from breakfast
44

Kayaks in Dubrovnik,
Croatia
neighbouring resorts along the coastline.
The resort of Cavtat was just how I had remembered
it all of those years ago. In fact, I think it was even
better than I had remembered! The pretty little
town, which is the most southern of Croatia’s
tourist resorts, is set around a chic harbour lined
with numerous restaurants and small shops, and is
probably one of the most pristine, well-kept holiday
resorts you could visit for your summer holiday.
Popular as a port of call for boating holidays,
watching the luxury yachts sailing in and out of the
harbour only added to the ambience of this truly
beautiful town.
For anyone who enjoys a leisurely walk, there
are a choice of peninsula pathways to take
in Cavtat, all surrounded by stunning pine
and cypress trees offering fantastic sea views.
While enjoying a walk one afternoon, we
stumbled upon many hidden little beaches
and bathing areas which were just begging
to be enjoyed! The beaches are pebbly, and
the waters are the clearest I have ever seen –
even in May it was a delight to swim in the
crystal clear Adriatic Sea.
A great way to explore the surrounding
areas is to take a day trip by boat. Seeing the
picturesque coastline from the sea is a sight
not to be missed. I spent the most wonderful
day aboard a wooden galleon boat on a visit
to the beautiful Elafiti islands. Situated northwest of
Dubrovnik, there are six islands in the archipelago,
with the most popular ones being Sipan, Lopud and
Kolocep. In years gone by, the islands are thought
to have been inhabited by deer, which is where the
name Elafiti originates from (elafos is the Greek word
for deer).
A unique feature of two of the islands (Lopud and
Kolocep) is that they are completely car-free, making
for a truly away-from-it-all peaceful holiday, escaping
the hustle and bustle of daily life. My personal
favourite island was Lopud, which is home to one of
the best beaches in the Dubrovnik region. Rare for
Croatia, the beach has beautiful white sand and is
backed by lush green hills, making it a firm favourite
with day trippers throughout the summer months.
I however, found my haven in the town’s park. A
family park founded by the Venetian baron Augusto
Mayneri, the winding pathways and hidden ruins are
simply stunning, and the various types of trees offer
welcome shade from the summer sun. I could have
quite happily whiled away an afternoon here with
a good book and a cold drink. Our day trip aboard
the galleon gave us a glimpse of the Elafiti islands,
accompanied by traditional Croatian music and a
simple lunch consisting of fresh fish and salad.
However, it’s so easy to tour the islands in a more
tailor-made way, as my colleague Nathan did on
his recent visit with his wife and son. Nathan based
his holiday in the pretty village of Orasac, which
is located 11 kilometres north of Dubrovnik, but
has a much slower pace of life. A Leading Hotels
of the World property, Sun Gardens offers elegant
accommodation with an enviable sea front location,
and boasts a wide range of facilities. From here,
Nathan hired a private boat with a crew member,
and enjoyed a tour of the Elafiti islands, specifically
tailored to his requirements. Just imagine kicking
Cavtat Sunset
back while someone takes the helm and guides you
along some of Europe’s most stunning coastline,
stopping here and there for a dip in the glistening
blue water with the sun shining down – pure bliss!
This is also something we can arrange for your own
holiday to make your stay in Croatia extra special, so
please ask us for more information.
The must-see destination on a visit to this truly
stunning part of the world has to be the impressive
45

Dubrovnik old town
harbour, Croatia
walled city of Dubrovnik. I caught my first glimpse
of the breath-taking red rooftops from above in the
aeroplane while descending to the airport – I arrange
for my clients to sit on the left hand side of the
aircraft on their outward journey to Dubrovnik, and
the right hand side on their return; all part of the RB
‘VIP’ experience.
The famous city walls of Dubrovnik are 1,940 metres
long and include five forts, as well as 16 towers and
bastions. Originally constructed in the 13th century,
I felt an overwhelming sense of stepping back in time
inside the impressive city walls.
The best way to get a true feel for the city, and from
a different perspective, is to walk the walls – the
views are without doubt some of the best I have
seen anywhere in the world; totally and utterly
jaw dropping and something you can easily do at
a relaxed pace. For any avid photographers, the
opportunities here are endless with constantly
changing views from all angles. There are even cafes,
shops and ice cream parlours dotted along the wall
– the latter being particularly welcomed in the hot
Croatian sunshine!
Another popular area within Dubrovnik’s city walls is
Stradun Placa, the main thoroughfare, which is lined
with restaurants and bars. There are some amazing
restaurants in the city, with seafood being particularly
good. My colleague Nathan ate at some fantastic
restaurants while here, and he will happily advise
you of the best restaurants to suit your taste; another
service we like to offer our clients. We also have
our own concierge service – R.Bespoke – to make
restaurant reservations for you to ensure you are able
to dine at your first choices. Some establishments in
Croatia have waiting lists over a month long , so it’s
important for us to book you in ahead of time!
Twin centre holidays are the perfect way to see as
much of an area as possible in one trip, and Croatia
is a fantastic choice to be twinned
with numerous other destinations.
We can tailor make your holiday
to suit you, whether you would
like to see two or more areas
of Croatia, or combine it with
another country. My colleague
Nicola did just this on her own
holiday earlier in the year. She
decided to visit both Montenegro
and Croatia at the beginning
of April – a great time to avoid
the crowds and hotter weather,
making it perfect for sightseeing.
Montenegro is a small country
of much beauty, with more than
100 unspoilt beaches, rugged
mountains and beautiful lakes.
As well as being filled with an abundance of history,
and having its own walled towns, Montenegro is a
great choice of destination for an active holiday too.
Hiking, mountain biking and whitewater rafting are
all extremely popular, and nature lovers are also
catered for with an abundance of flora and fauna
and wildlife, including bear and an array of bird
species.
Nicola chose to spend her time in Montenegro at
the UNESCO listed town of Kotor which boasts a
spectacular bay with Venetian architecture. Located
a two-hour car journey from Dubrovnik, Kotor
makes the perfect two-centre destination of choice.
The five-star property she stayed in is located on a
chic marina attracting visitors from around the world
to enjoy the cosmopolitan lifestyle and local cuisine;
something you wouldn’t normally expect from this
part of the world.
Rooftops of
Dubrovnik old
town, Croatia
46

Travel facts
Flights: Seasonal departures from regional airports
including Birmingham and East Midlands to Dubrovnik,
around 3 hours flying time.
Currency: Croatian Kuna
Time Zone: GMT + 1
Best time to go: The Summer season is from May to
October with July & August the busiest and hottest. Kirsty
travelled in May and experienced very pleasant weather
with fewer crowds. Oliver visited in February when the
temperatures were cooler; perfect for a short break and
sightseeing.
Kirsty’s Dad, daughter
and Kirsty - City Walls
of Dubrovnik
You are not only limited to Montenegro however
- Croatia can also be combined with Italy. This is
particularly convenient if you are staying in the north
of the country, as Venice is so close. Concluding your
Croatian holiday in Venice even means you could
travel back to the UK in the most luxurious of styles
aboard the Venice Simplon Orient Express.
Not all holidays to Croatia have to be land-based.
Coastal cruises are becoming increasingly popular,
and are a much more casual affair than most ocean
cruises. As the Croatian coastline and islands are so
truly spectacular, admiring such wonderful views
from the sea (which is also amazing with the most
crystal clear blue water) gives a totally different
aspect to your holiday. Calling in at various hidden
coves, historical towns, and unspoilt areas only
discovered by boat gives a sense of discovering the
true Croatia. Most cruises are aboard small vessels
with around 18 cabins, and include breakfast and
lunch, giving you the chance to explore a different
daily port of call for dinner at a restaurant of your
choice. You can book onto them individually or
charter the entire vessel; perfect for larger groups or
multi-generational families seeking something unique
and special.
I think it’s safe to say that Croatia is a firm favourite
with all of the team here at RB Collection, with myself,
Nathan, Oliver, Nicola and Alan all having visited
different areas of this breathtakingly beautiful country.
If you are in need of a last-minute autumn break or
want to plan ahead for next summer, we look forward
to creating your special Croatia travel memories.
Accommodation options: A good variety of hotels
including boutique luxury hotels to larger family-orientated
resorts. Small yachts and traditional sailing boats also offer
an alternative way of seeing the country by sailing along
the coast.
Example packages: Seven nights at the Hotel Croatia,
Cavtat, where Kirsty stayed from £999 per person, or the
Sun Gardens near Dubrovnik where Nathan stayed from
£1,159 per person. Prices include security fast-track and
VIP Lounge access at Birmingham airport, return flights
with extra legroom seats, private return airport transfers,
accommodation with breakfast (half board at Hotel
Croatia) and local representative service.
Visit www.rbcollection.com/croatia for details of these
special packages.
Reader offer
Mention this article when you
book your holiday to Croatia with
RB Collection before September 30,
2017, and receive complimentary VIP
Lounge access at your departure
airport, conditions apply – see
www.rbcollection.com/jaime
for details.

LO CA L A R E A
What’s On Local
Your guide to the best of what’s on in and around
Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Walsall and beyond
What:
Goodnight
Mr Tom
Where:
Sutton Arts
Theatre
When:
August 31 to September 9
Set during the dangerous build up to the Second
World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows young
William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English
countryside and forges a remarkable and heart-warming
friendship with the elderly recluse, Tom Oakley. All
is perfect until William is suddenly summoned by his
mother back to London.
Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize,
commended for the Carnegie Medal, a worldwide
literary favourite and BAFTA-winning TV film starring
John Thaw, Goodnight Mister Tom is a magical and
uplifting tale that continues to inspire audiences and
bring generations together. For more details visit
www.suttonartstheatre.co.uk.
What:
Lichfield Proms
in the Park
Where:
Beacon Park
When:
September 2
The Lichfield Proms is Lichfield District Council’s
free annual outdoor concert that takes place in the
beautiful surroundings of Beacon Park. Now in its
19 year, Lichfield Proms brings thousands of people
together from across the region to enjoy an evening of
music, picnicking and a firework finale. Expect all the
proms anthems, from Land of Hope and Glory to Rule
Britannia. The night is free entry, although donations
are very welcome. There’s also the chance to reserve
prime seating at tables in front of the stage. So, grab
your picnic blankets, Union flags and end the summer
in style at Beacon Park. For more details visit
www.lichfieldhistoricparks.co.uk.
What:
Murder on the Terrace
Where:
Walsall Arboretum
When:
September 3
The scene is set: a respectable garden party
to celebrate Lord Cava’s retirement and the
handing over of his sparkling wine empire
to his nephew, Charles. It is no secret that
Charles intends to shut down the business
and convert Lord Cava’s Manor into a
conference centre. Unsurprisingly, Charles is
later found dead, poisoned, clutching Hercule – Lord Cava’s beloved pet parrot. The garden party is
thrown into disarray and the sardonic Inspector Back arrives to investigate - can you solve the mystery?
Bring your picnic, your chair and come armed with your sleuthing skills to see if you can figure out
‘whodunit’! Tickets can be booked in person at the Arboretum visitors centre or at
www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk.
48

COME AND MEET
DANIELLE O’CONNOR AKIYAMA
THURSDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER
FROM 6.30PM TO 8.30PM
To celebrate a recent landmark birthday, Danielle and her husband Denis enjoyed an inspirational
trip to Bali, Bangkok and Burma. Her new collection has been profoundly influenced by the
culture, heritage and above all, the spirit of these three remarkable places.
CONTACT THE GALLERY TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE GUEST LIST
RSVP Barton Marina, Barton-under-Needwood, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 8AS
01283 712 900 info@gallerythree.co.uk www.gallerythree.co.uk

What: Gordon Giltrap
Where: St James Church,
Mere Green
When: September 16
A charity evening with guitar
legend Gordon Giltrap in
beautiful St James Church, with
all proceeds going to St James
Scout Group and Teenage
Cancer Trust.
Over the past 40 years, Gordon Giltrap has graced
the music business with his dedication to his craft and
his affection for his audience. As one of the UK’s most
respected guitarists, he has consistently proved the adage
that respect cannot be bought. It must be earned.
Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple and Blackmore’s
Night says: “Anyone who asks me knows that I think
Gordon Giltrap is one of the best acoustic guitar players
in the world. His concerts and playing are breathtaking.
He’s also very witty, and I love the fact that he has not
cut his hair!” For more details and to buy tickets, which
are priced at £10, contact St James’ Church or Artifex
Gallery at Mitchell Centre on 0121 323 3776.
What:
Paul Zerdin -
All Mouth
Where:
Lichfield Garrick
When:
September 20
America’s Got Talent 2015 winner ventriloquist Paul
Zerdin returns home to the UK fresh from headlining
the world-famous Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, with a
sparkling new show featuring his all-star cast of (in)famous
puppets. Join Paul, Sam, Albert and Baby plus two crazy
brand new characters for an evening of laugh-out-loud
stand-up comedy and ventriloquism.
With more than 22 million hits on You Tube, Paul is a
regular on The Royal Variety Show and has been seen on
BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show and, last
Christmas, at The London Palladium. For more details
visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com.
What: Eco Festival
Where:
Streetly Methodist Church
When: September 23
Join in with a day of family
fun and learning to love our
environment, especially our
country’s trees, at Streetly
Methodist Church’s Eco Festival.
Venture outside for woodland craft activities, survival
skills training and rides on a miniature railway, as well as
presentations by the RSPB, National Trust and Sutton
Beekeepers. Indoors there will be art and music and flower
displays, and the church’s scout group will be serving
barbecued food all afternoon. All are welcome; entrance
for children is free, with voluntary donation for adults.
Visitors can also take part in a photography competition on
the theme of Trees. More details can be found at
www.streetlymethodistchurch.org.uk and on the
Streetly Methodist Church Facebook page.
What: Lichfield Heritage Weekend
Where: Lichfield city centre
When: September 23 and 24
Heritage Weekend takes place every year on Samuel
Johnson’s Birthday to celebrate Lichfield’s rich and
varied history. Heritage attractions throw their
doors open for free, together with some historical
buildings that aren’t usually open to the public.
This year, the celebrations are centred around 300
years of David Garrick, actor, theatre manager and
playwright. Highlights include Dr Samuel Johnson’s
308th birthday celebrations at The Samuel Johnson
Birthplace Museum, a Georgian garden party at
Erasmus Darwin House, and Intimate Theatre’s look
at the life of David Garrick at The George Hotel.
For more details visit www.visitlichfield.co.uk.
Get involved: Have you got a local
event you’d like to promote? Then we’d
love to hear from you. From charity nights
to local theatre productions and more,
send details to editor@jaimemagazine.
com and you could see your event on
these pages.
50

What our advertisers said...
As a local, family business it’s really important for us to work with suitable publications who understand our
target market. J’aime have worked hard to target the most relevant areas to deliver to and we are excited to
work with this new local magazine.
Oliver Broad of Robert Broad Travel at lichfield.
We as a company advertise a lot with a number of different magazines, but our response from J’aime has been
the largest return we have ever seen from one advert. Since the magazine has been distributed, our phone
hasn’t stop ringing, and our showroom is always full of people. This is so fresh. Thank you Jan and Amy.
simon edwards - Ralvern Upholstery.
I was given a copy of J’AIME to read and instantly it got my attention. I was
very impressed with the content of the magazine, the layout and the style
and how it looked. After reading it I knew my business would sit perfectly
in this magazine and hit the type of customers I’m trying to attract.
shaun Craven - le Reve Cocktail Bar. lichfield.
The new magazine looks great and its most definitely a good fit for Pom’s.
James - Poms Kitchen, lichfield
Love J’aime. Good quality, well written and a fantastic response
to the competition I ran. I received response from all the areas that
this magazine goes to. Happily recommend advertising in it to
other companies. allen Brown - allen Brown Jewellery -
heart of the Country, swinfen.
if you want to promote your business
in J’aime then contact Jan ashley
Tel: 07388 335931 - email: advertising@jaimemagazine.com
J’aime
Win!
DeSigner
Jewellery
worTh up To
£1,000
Fabulous fooD
Summer
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
anD Drink delights
faShion
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The STreeTly
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Mr Birmingham
broadway Kitchens
A fAmily business of three generAtions
We design, manufacture and install bespoke traditional and modern kitchens to suit you and your lifestyle.
CALL to arrange a design consultation - VISIT our showroom - VIEW our kitchens online
0121 353 4999 - www.kitchensbybroadway.co.uk - 54-56 Thornhill Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, B74 3EN

LO CA L A R E A
What’s on Second City
A look at some of the biggest and best events
taking place across Birmingham this month
What:
Moseley Folk Festival
Where:
Moseley Park
When:
September 1 to 3
Moseley Folk Festival returns to the leafy suburb of
Moseley for the 11th year, bringing a stellar line-up
of folk favourites to the city. Set in the idyllic setting
of Moseley Private Park, the festival has become
a stalwart of the Birmingham summer calendar
with festival goers travelling from all over the world
to catch some of the world’s biggest artists in this
beautifully intimate setting. Showcasing unsigned
acts right next to well established international artists
makes for a really exciting bill, and some of the
biggest artists to grace the stage this year include
Laura Marling, Amy MacDonald, The Magic
Numbers, Kate Rusby and Seth Lakeman. For more
details visit www.moseleyfolk.co.uk.
What:
Jane Eyre
Where:
Birmingham REP
When:
September 4 to 16
Following a critically acclaimed season at the
National Theatre, Jane Eyre visits The REP this
month. This innovative re-imagining of Charlotte
Brontë’s masterpiece is a collaboration between the
National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic, and is directed
by Sally Cookson.
The classic story of the trailblazing Jane is as inspiring
as ever. This bold and dynamic production uncovers
one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfilment on her
own terms. Jane Eyre’s spirited heroine faces life’s
obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the
discovery of bitter betrayal, before taking the ultimate
decision to follow her heart. For more details visit
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk.
What:
Tango Moderno
Where: New Alexandra Theatre
When:
September 19 to 23
Tango is the rhythm of the city, the heat of the streets
and the pulse of life. Tango Moderno is the irresistible
hot new stage spectacular from tango superstars
Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace. Dance partners
for more than two decades, world champions, Strictly
favourites and West End stage stars Vincent and Flavia
fuse together ballroom, latin, and Argentine tango to
give you a performance that smoulders with desire.
With classic steps, they create a tango for today.
Vincent and Flavia return with their new production
following the incredible successes of Midnight Tango,
Dance Til Dawn and The Last Tango, promising you
a classic yet fresh and modern show. For more details
visit www.atgtickets.com/birmingham.
52

H e a r t o f t H e C o u n t r y S H o p p i n g V i l l a g e
tHe Barn
The Barn at Swinfen is an independent cafe/bistro.
We serve a wide range of locally sourced food
in a relaxed, rural setting. Join us for breakfast,
lunch, coffee and cake or Afternoon Tea. We serve
breakfast until noon and lunch from 12-4pm.
Enjoy a delicious 2 or 3 course Traditional Sunday
lunch (booking advised). Treat yourself to a glass
of wine from our carefully selected wine list.
Call us on 01543 480307 to make a reservation.
Open Tues - Sunday 10am - 5pm
pear tree Creperie
Our galettes are gluten free containing only
buckwheat flour which is ideal for celiacs. We
have a new specials board which will run through
September for example barbecue meat feast with
cheese and also pulled beef with chilli sauce and
cheese plus the summer fruit specials.
On Friday 29th September we have live music
with accordionist Barry Smith at 7.15pm. It’s
FREE entry but booking is essential. We are also
hosting a Macmillan coffee morning on the 29th
September with home made sponge cakes made
by one of our customers.
Tel: 01543 481807
www.peartreecreperie.co.uk
paul Martyn furniture
Paul Martyn Furniture are celebrating their 30th
Anniversary with a fantastic promotion on all
dining and kitchen tables.
Choose from their range of solid timbers, from
rustic or new hand waxed pine to oak in a wide
selection of colours and finishes.
Traditional, artisan and contemporary styles are
available in a selection of sizes.
Their made to measure service is what makes
them stand out from other companies, and most
tables can be ordered in any size.
Open on Mondays.
www.paulmartynfurniture.co.uk
info@paulmartynfurniture.co.uk
01543 481592
la Belle CuiSine
La Belle Cuisine - is a family run
business established for over 30
years, specialising in designing,
making and installing modern,
traditional and contemporary
kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.
Working in partnership with clients
to create a truly bespoke and
exclusive interior project.
Tel 01543 481000 or visit
www.labellecuisine-kitchens.co.uk
FRAMED
PRICE
£695
Heart gallerieS
We are committed to offering only
the highest quality Limited Edition
prints, sculptures and original
artwork by today’s leading artists.
We offer a wide choice of styles
to suit every taste and regularly
introduce new artists and artwork to
our collection.
Tel: 01543 480994
Email: art@heartgalleries.co.uk
www.heartgalleries.co.uk
Boutique eleVen
We are proud to be an independent
business stocking sought after
brands like The Masai Clothing Co,
Sandwich, Mama B & much more.
At the moment we have all of our
Autumn deliveries arriving with
some gorgeous prints and colours
for the coming season ahead.
01543 480971
www.boutiqueeleven.co.uk
twitter.com/boutiqueeleven
facebook.com/BoutiqueElevenLichfield
allen BroWn
Allen has been making bespoke
jewellery for 30 years and has
one of the largest collections of
contemporary fine jewellery. He also
specialises in designing, making,
remodelling and refurbishing.
Call 01543 481948 or visit
www.allenbrownjewellery.co.uk
Closed on Mondays.
Heart of the Country Shopping Village, Swinfen, lichfield WS14 9qr
www.heartofthecountryvillage.com - 01543 481612
open tuesday - Sunday & Bank Holiday Mondays. 10am - 5pm.
Closed Monday (except paul Martyn)

What:
John Legend
Where:
Barclaycard Arena
When:
September 20
Acclaimed, multi-platinum selling, Oscar, Golden
Globe, and 10-times Grammy Award-winning singersongwriter
John Legend will return to the UK to
embark on his biggest tour yet this month including
a date at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena.
John’s latest album Darkness and Light was released to
critical acclaim in December 2016, following on from
2013’s Love in the Future, which spawned worldwide
smash hit All Of Me. Since the release of Darkness
and Light, John Legend has co-executive produced and
starred in the box office smash La La Land, which has
gone on to win seven Golden Globe Awards and six
Academy Awards, and performed the title track to the
recent remake of Beauty and the Beast with Ariana
Grande. For more details visit
www.barclaycardarena.co.uk.
What:
Birmingham
Weekender
Where:
Birmingham city
centre various
When:
September
22 to 24
Birmingham Weekender returns in 2017 with three
great days out for all the family. This free weekend
festival sees Birmingham city-centre filled with
performances from world-class musicians, dancers
and artists. This is the chance to see Birmingham’s
major arts organisations alongside shining lights
from the city’s independent scene, plus invited
international artists. By day, the streets are alive with
free performances, music, street theatre and plenty of
opportunities for all the family to join in. As the sun
sets, the atmosphere changes with an after dark fire-lit
procession, drumming spectacular, late-night dance
party and light show. For more details visit
www.birminghamweekender.com.
What:
La La Land
in Concert
Where:
Birmingham
Symphony
Hall
When:
September 24
Winner of six Academy Awards including Best Original
Score, Best Original Song and Best Director, La La
Land is being described as the film of its generation,
capturing the hearts of everyone while breaking records
around the world. Now La La Land will be brought
to audiences like never before, the ultimate immersive
experience via a huge screen accompanied by a 60-piece
orchestra.
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, La La
Land tells the story of Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring
actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz
musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a
city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set
in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about
everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your
dreams. For more details visit www.thsh.co.uk.
What:
Rob Brydon - I
Am Standing Up
Where:
Birmingham
Symphony Hall
When:
September 28 and November 5
Acclaimed Welsh comedian Rob Brydon is hitting
the road for his first stand-up tour since his sell-out
national tour and West End run of 2009, taking to the
stage in Birmingham at Symphony Hall this month.
Rob Brydon is perhaps best known for the television
shows Gavin and Stacey, Would I Lie To You? and
The Trip, as well as Marion and Geoff, Human
Remains, Little Britain, The Rob Brydon Show, Best
of Men, Gangster Granny and Q.I. His film work
includes The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Cinderellaand
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Earlier this
year in London’s West End he starred opposite Sir
Kenneth Branagh in The Painkiller. His other theatre
credits include Future Conditional at The Old Vic
and A Chorus of Disapproval at The Harold Pinter
Theatre. Due to phenomenal demand, a second
Birmingham date has been added on Sunday,
November 5. For more details visit www.thsh.co.uk.
54

at The Hart Spa
Emma would like to welcome clients
old and new to The Hart Spa
SEptEmbEr offErS:
• Free products with every cut and blowdry
• 30% off all colours and cuts
Mention J’AImE when booking
to book your appointment call Emma on
077791 311098 or contact: the Hart Spa,
Coppice Garden Centre, Coppice Lane, near Sutton
Coldfield B78 2BU. tel: 0121 308 6052
Emma can also be found at Andrea Beers
Salon, Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6XG,
tel: 01562 754545.
book now to secure your appointment.

FA S H I O N
Check mate
This season it’s all about discovering your checks appeal as tartan
prints and heritage fabrics take over the catwalks, says Amy Norbury
Maybe it’s the association with the chilly
Highlands, or maybe it’s the spark of return-toschool
nostalgia, but there’s something inherently
autumnal about checks and tartan.
A perennial favourite as we head into the cooler
months, this season checks tap into some of
the hottest trends around, as well as being a
style statement all by themselves. And there’s a
veritable feast of colours, textures and styles, from
classic plaids to couture minimal grids, meaning
the heritage reference is well and truly refreshed.
The lesson here is that, this autumn, there’s a
tartan out there for every clan.
One of the greatest thing about checks is that
they’re such a versatile wardrobe addition,
depending on how they’re styled. Classic
houndstooth and dogtooth prints scream country
glamour, while checked jackets with cinched
waists and matching pencil skirts imbue the fabric
with ladylike elegance. Add a ruffled blouse for a
playful touch, and make sure the heels are slender
and suitably high without being skyscraper-ish.
Power dressing was huge across the AW17
catwalks, with trouser suits making the move
from serious workwear to day-to-night staple.
And here, autumn’s print of choice once again
reign supreme, with double-breasted jackets and
wide-legged trousers in monochrome and grey
heritage checks seen everywhere from Max Mara
to Victoria Beckham.
But it’s not all smart sophistication - styled down
with jeans and one of this season’s slogan T-shirts
or jumpers (yes, slogans are back in a big way), a
checked coat takes on an oh-so-cool edge, while
a flirty checked mini skirt makes the perfect
partner to a chunky knit and knee boots in tan or
burgundy leather - an outfit which will keep you
cosy and stylish well into winter.
Autograph
coat, £99, M&S
Collection jumper,
£75, Per Una skirt,
£45, bag, £39.50,
and shoes £35, all
Marks and Spencer.
56

Pause check
metallic mini skirt,
Oliver Bonas.
£59.50
Nebit cape,
Barbour.
£179
j’aime
lo ves
£79
£38
Gingham
shirt dress,
Sosandar.
Flippy skirt,
Oasis
Pippa oneshoulder
top,
River Island
£159
Large hobo bag,
Biba at House of
Fraser.
£35
Red Herring jacket,
£75, tee, £12, jeans,
£22, bag, £29, and
boots, £55, all
from Debenhams.

FA S H I O N
Back to school - back to work!
Jill Hartley, Co-owner and director of Nero e Bianco exclusive fashion boutique at Barton
Marina, takes a look at some stylish options to freshen up your workwear wardrobe
September suddenly arrives and is all go getting
children back to school, back into a routine of
work, family and/or whatever commitments you
have… so we think it’s time for a refresh in the
wardrobe to help.
The beginning of autumn is always an exciting
time in the world of fashion; making the seamless
transition from the vibrant trends of summer and
looking ahead to the key styles which will keep us
looking great right through until winter is over and
the freshness of spring hits.
With London Fashion week this month all eyes will
be on the great designers, looking for the next look
and how we can take a little bit of that into our
everyday lives.
So while we wait, let’s look at stepping out of the
usual autumn options of blacks and those ever
faithful trousers and shirts; many of us want to
break out and go for something different, the
problem is what?
Here’s a taste of some of my suggestions for that
little bit of something different without needing a
completely new wardrobe.
St ylish c o-ords
This little two-piece will brighten any work
day; the cotton blend material has elastin
which gives comfort while staying in shape,
the zip detail gives a modern edge while the
colour is a winner this season. This outfit
works as separates too; team up the top with
wide leg palazzo trousers for a great soft
feminine look and pop a white shirt with the
skirt for a traditional look with a twist.
Purple zip top and
matching zip skirt
available from nero
e bianco
58

www.neroebianco.co.uk
Nero e Bianco
Exclusive Fashion & Bridal
Barton Marina
Burton upon Trent
DE13 8AS
01283 346704

Dress t o
imp ress
Trendy
transi t ional
Wow! This is the coolest look
for transition into autumn - the
colour is exciting and new,
the fine knit of the top is so
easy to wear and teamed with
a superb cut trouser makes
this very classy and chic.
Accessorising with the lime
green is perfect, creating the
edge that we all love.
This simple yet effective dress
(cuff separate) is perfect for
everyday work wear, lunch
meetings or dinner dates. The
grey with the aubergine hue
is such a fresh colour that
works with all skin tones, and
the style is worn effortlessly
complementing most figures.
The neckline is one to look
out for; this style flatters all
age groups and is going to be
around for longer than this
autumn.
60

B E AU T Y
Post-summer rescue
Once the tan fades it’s time to call in the hardest working beauty products
to restore, refresh and rejuvenate. We asked HELEN GOUGH, from Harvey
Nichols Birmingham, to share her favourite skincare saviours
Your summer holiday may well have left you
feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, but chances are
that gorgeous summer glow hides a multitude
of sins. Too much sun, sea and soaring
temperatures can have quite a drying effect on
our skin. So once the colour starts to fade, it’s
time to pull out beauty’s big guns to face up to
those post-holiday issues.
The multi-tasking
Nourishing
Cleansing Oil from
Skin Laundry, £26,
removes stubborn dirt
and impurities leaving
your skin clean, healthy
and hydrated. Tea tree
oil helps fight breakouts
and blemishes.
ESPA’s Skin Rescue Balm, £28,
soothes, protects and strengthens dry or
sensitive skin. Blackcurrant seed, vine
extract and essential oils replenish while
sea fennel restores and protects.
Refreshingly lush
and lightweight,
Estée Lauder
NightWear Plus
Anti-Oxidant
Detox Crème,
£48, helps detox
your skin; purifying
and refinishing, and
visibly reducing
pores.
Give your skin a deep down
cleanse with Rodial Super
Acids X-treme After Party
Scrub, £45. Purifying clay
beads buff away dead skin and
unclog pores while glycolic and
salicylic acids work to deeply
cleanse.
The powerful La Mer
Brilliance Brightening
Mask, £200, brightens and
softens skin to reveal a more
luminous look. Tone is more
even, texture smoother and
pores are minimised.
A holistic toner and serum in one, Orveda’s
The Healing Sap, £125, improves hydration
for up to eight hours, illuminates, smoothes and
brightens, while re-balancing skin tones.
All products are available from the Beauty
department at Harvey Nichols Birmingham
or online at harveynichols.com
Exfoliate and soothe skin as you
sleep with Pixi Overnight
Glow Serum, £26. It’s
formulated with 10% glycolic
acid and arginine to reduce the
appearance of fine lines and
fade sun spots.
61

I N T H E N E W S
Leading hairdresser joins hideaway spa
A top hairdresser has joined forces with a boutique spa to bring her services
back to Sutton Coldfield after a brief absence.
Multi award-winning stylist and colour expert Emma Steven can now be
found in the salon at The Hart Spa, a luxuriously bijou spa in the grounds of
the Coppice Garden Centre in Middleton.
Emma previously ran her eponymous salon in Walmley for ten years and was
a protege of renowned colour specialist Lisa Shepherd. As a rising star in
the prestigious Lisa Shepherd team, Emma was named both Newcomer of
the Year and Midlands Hairdresser of the Year at the hair industry Oscars,
the British Hairdressing Awards. She made her mark in Sutton Coldfield as
director of the Lisa Shepherd salon before striking out on her own.
As an expert colourist, Emma has a fantastic eye for creating beautiful and
exciting colours which really complement her clients’ skin tones and styles. She is also a whizz at colour corrections,
using her skills to put right any colour mishaps clients may have as a result of previous dye disasters.
Wedding hair is another of Emma’s passions, and she has gained a reputation for her innovative, creative and
elegant wedding hair styling for brides and bridal parties around the Midlands and beyond. She loves nothing more
than transforming a bride for her big day, whether in-salon or at the bride’s home or wedding venue. Emma says:
“I’m delighted to be back in the area and am looking forward to seeing clients old and new at The Hart Spa.”
C offee for a cause
Have your morning cuppa and splurge on a slice of cake too, and all in
the knowledge that you’re contributing to a fantastic cause at the Pear Tree
Creperie’s Macmillan Coffee Morning this month.
Taking place on September 29 at the popular eatery at the Heart of the
Country Shopping Village, Swinfen, customers will be able to enjoy their
favourite brew alongside a hearty piece of homemade sponge cake, with
cakes donated by one of the Creperie’s regular diners.
The event is being held as part of Macmillan’s annual World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, where people all over the UK
host their own coffee mornings and donations on the day are made to Macmillan. Last year alone the events raised
£27.5 million, which all goes towards helping people battling cancer.
Offering that bit extra
A leading bathroom specialist is hoping to help customers boost their
|bathrooms with a special offer.
Luxury bathroom studio Bathart, based at the Mitchells Centre in Sutton
Coldfield, is offering a free designer Hugo heated towel rail with every full
bathroom installation booked in August and September.
With a range of sizes and colours available, there is sure to be something to
complement your new bathroom perfectly.
Bathart have earned a reputation for designing and creating bespoke, beautiful
spaces tailored to each customer’s individual needs. The showroom showcases
the most exclusive bathrooms and tiles, with ranges and designs to suit any
budget. For more details call 0121 439 4884 or visit www.bathart.co.uk.
62

We are
looking
for
distributors
We are recruiting people to
distribute J’AIME to higher
value homes in Sutton
Coldfield, Lichfield and
Walsall.
If you are reliable and can
commit to working at the
end of each month then
we’d love to hear from you.
For more details
please call Jan Ashley
on 07388 335931.
J’aime
The Pear
Tree
c r ê p e r i e
Good Morning
Summer Fruit Crêpes
Enjoy outside in the
sun!
Choose from 5 summer fruits:
Enjoy the rest of summer with
our summer special Crêpes.
Perfect for families outside
with a refreshing cool drink.
10-11.30am daily
With FREE Tea or Coffee
Sunny Noon
Fresh Berries & Fromage
Frais, Salmon & Cream
Cheese or for larger appetites
we have Smokey Bacon,
Cheese & Mushrooms.
From £5.90
Relaxed Evening
Mushroom Stroganoff with extra salad
See our specials board
or enjoy our full menu
including 3 course
evening set meals:
Set meal sample: French Onion
Soup & Bread. Followed by a
savoury Chicken Tikka Galette
with a salad. Followed by a
Lemon & Sugar Crêpe.
£12.95 per person.
Call to book on 01543 481807
or email: enquiries@peartreecreperie.co.uk
Live music with accordionist Barry Smith on Friday
29th September 7.15pm. FREE entry - Booking essential
We are hosting a Macmillan coffee morning on the
29th September with home made sponge cakes made
by one of our customers.
Find us just off the A38 at the Heart of the Country
Shopping Village, Swinfen, Lichfield WS14 9QR
Daytime opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10am-4.30pm
Evening opening hours: Friday & Saturday: 7.15pm-11pm
peartreecreperie.co.uk

I N T H E N E W S
Strictly vintage at the Hawthorns Aldridge
An amazing day for Aldridge
was held at The Hawthorns
Care and Retirement home, next
to Aldridge Croft, on Sunday,
July 30 when more than 200
visitors and neighbours from
the village and surrounding
community came along to join
with the residents, staff and their
respective family and friends to
enjoy live music, dancing, fizz
and food at The Hawthorn’s
Strictly Vintage Day.
This was all set against the
backdrop of a fabulous display
of classic cars from Sunningdale
Classics from Little Aston in the
gardens of The Hawthorns, along with the live music
and dancing on the stunning third floor roof gardens
of the home, with its lovely views over the Croft and
the village.
The Hawthorns’ award-winning chef Martin McKee
and his team served up delicious canapes which the
guests all enjoyed with plenty of prosecco and other
refreshments. Live swing music was provided by the
Kal’s Kats band, and a Lindy Hop dance session was
led by Sing Xpress, all of which can be seen on the
home’s Facebook page.
Sunningdale Classics displayed some of their current
stock of beautifully presented and restored classic cars,
including such favourites as a Morris Minor, Fiat 500,
a Mini cabriolet and a brace of MGs, as well as some
more exotic cars such as a Jaguar, a Packard and an
AC Royal.
David Wellman of Sunningdale said: “It was a
pleasure to display the cars at this lovely home, and
in particular to speak with some of the residents who
had worked in the Midlands car industry in the past.
In fact, a few were interested to visit our showrooms
and to have their pictures taken with their favourite
cars, evoking great memories for them.”
The event also managed to raise more than £1,000
for the charity Walsall Age UK.
Strictly Vintage is just one of the many events
regularly held at The Hawthorns Aldridge as part
of its comprehensive well-being programme to keep
residents active and supported in mind,
body and soul. The dedicated well-being
co-ordinator arranges a wide variety of
stimulating and interesting social events and
activities, including cultural and sporting
pursuits, both within the home itself as
well as on days out in the home’s private
minibus. Residents’ families and friends are
also made welcome and encouraged to join
in.
For more information on The
Hawthorns Aldridge search
‘Hawthorns Aldridge’ online or
on Facebook, or call 01922 451882.
64

Life in the fast lane
M OTO R S
We catch up with our resident racing driver Martin Plowman after what has
been a busy month for the Tamworth-based Le Mans winner, collecting more
racing silverware, taking a trip down memory lane and filming with TV stars
Team UltraTek in action
The month started with the biggest race on the
British GT calendar; all 30 prestige British GT cars
crossed the channel to the legendary Belgian circuit,
Spa Francorchamps. Martin and his team mate,
Birmingham-based businessman Richard Taffinder,
were fired up and ready for a strong race weekend in
their Nissan 370Z GT4 car.
The weekend was split into two one-hour races, With
the usual practice sessions which went well for the
drivers. They were not as fortunate when it came
to qualifying however when traffic came into play
compromising their starting positions for Saturday’s
races.
Amateur driver, Taffinder made a great start to the
day by getting off the line well, avoiding any on-track
incidents and capitalising on his opportunities to gain
three places by the end of the first lap, illustrating
just how much progress he has made under Martin’s
tuition. Minutes later saw the first safety car of the
day after a competitor hit the barrier which bunched
the field behind while the car was moved and racing
could resume. The green flag was barely back behind
the wall when contact between a
Porsche and a Ginetta brought
the safety car back out curtailing
Taffinder’s stint, preventing him
from making any further progress
but enabling him to hand the
#53 Nissan over in a strong
position for Martin to work with.
The green flag was waved just
as the pit lane window opened
and Taffinder darted into the pits
to change places with PMartin.
Thanks to a sterling pit stop by
the team, the #53 Nissan made
up another three crucial positions
in the pits and gave platinum
graded Martin an excellent
platform from which to work.
Spurred on by the smell of
success, the young Le Mans
winner quickly made his mark, marching up the
field, gaining position after position. Showing his
usual artistic style of driving, Martin was fast and
clean, and his perseverance paid off as he crossed
the line P5 in the GT4 category. More importantly,
car #53 was the highest placed pro/am car for race
one meaning the pair could make their first trip up
the podium steps at the iconic Spa Francorchamps
circuit.
A winning weekend for
Plowman and Taffinder
65

the development his client needed
Martin and Kelvin Fletcher and was also suitably sore having
talk race tactics
forgotten just how unforgiving
sitting on a hard plastic seat with a
plastic rib protector is as opposed
to the padded race seat he is now
used to.
Following a few days downtime,
we caught up with Martin again a
little closer to home at Donington
Park Race Circuit. Martin and
his friend and former Emmerdale
actor Kelvin Fletcher are partowners
in a GT4 track car that
is used for corporate track days
with their track company, Velocity
Track Days. It is also hired out
to the film industry, and the pair
were on a movie shoot for one
of Kelvin’s clothing sponsors, 11
Martin has put in a tremendous amount of work to
Degrees.
help coach Richard Taffinder towards his goal of The premise of the film was Kelvin taking Geordie
racing at Le Mans and for the pair to get their first Shore star Gaz Beadle and internet celebrity Dapper
ever trophy is a significant milestone on the journey Laughs for fast passenger laps. Both have social
and one that will not be forgotten in a hurry. media following in the millions, so it’s not surprising
Almost before Martin’s suit had dried from the that the location was kept under wraps. With
previous day’s champagne-spraying on the podium, exclusive hire of the circuit, Martin worked with
Martin was on a plane to Italy to coach another of Kelvin to define the best run strategy for the car, the
his clients, a high-end International businessman pair agreed on how best to maximise the use of the
who has asked us to respect his right to remain car for the camera and as goes with all film shoots,
anonymous.
consumed copious amounts of coffee as the cameras
Martin has been working with this accomplished set and reset. The filming and the car ran faultlessly,
driver since the start of the year, and the latest part and the final film can be found on Martin’s twitter
of their racing programme involved taking a trip feed.
back to where Martin began his racing career, the July was also a monumental month for Martin as he
world of Karting. Martin had many happy and buried his grandmother Sheila. Sheila played a big
fruitful years in karts and was crowned CIK/FIA part in Martin’s childhood and was regularly present
Formula A Asia Pacific Champion in 2004. Martin at his races, often supporting from the refinement of
and his client travelled back to his roots visiting his hospitality. She is missed greatly by Martin and the
friends and former team at ChiesaCorse just south of whole family.
Venice.
Martin developed many of his racing skills
in karting; the unforgiving nature of karts
means that it helps hone a drivers talent and
skill which made it such a reliable training
tool for Martin’s client. Martin raced in the
same team as other racing greats including
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and a
chance to go back to his roots and meet the
same faces that helped start his successful
career was not only nostalgic but useful.
After two days’ karting, Martin had achieved
66
Martin was victorious at the
prestigious Spa Francorchamps circuit

TRACK DAYS
REDEFINED
Velocity is a new breed of track day company offering the chance to race real racing cars on the UK’s finest
circuits, tutored by Le Mans Winner Martin Plowman and BTCC and Emmerdale Star Kelvin Fletcher.
There’s no better way to engage with clients or reward loyal teams. Choose from one of our great packages
or let us build you a bespoke day.
GET IN TOUCH TODAY AND LET US BUILD
THE PERFECT EXPERIENCE
www.velocitytrackdays.co.uk 0115 888 3288 info@velocitytrackdays.co.uk

B e s p o k e S o f a M a n u f a c t u r e
& r e - u p h o l S t e r y s p e c i a l i s t
Our team of highly skilled professional craftsmen, create and manufacture sofa’s
from design, for a living space that is truly unique. Coupled with our huge selection
of fabrics we have the ability to create almost any type of bespoke design.
Using traditional skills, we can also strip down your old suite or sofa and re-create
the original design with our superior re-upholstery which is highly renowned for
its finish and meticulous detail.
‘For a truly unique and individual lounge setting we welcome
you to our factory showroom to see what we can create for you.’
Unit 19, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 7XN
Contact Simon Edwards or Chris Edwards on 01543 505539
Email: sales@ralvernupholstery.co.uk - www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk