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The Olympic diver on chasing Commonwealth gold in Scotland

CHRIS MEARS

CAMPER IT UP!JOIN THE VW CAMPER VAN REVOLUTION

PARADISE FOUNDTHE STUNNING ISLES OF SCILLY

SUMMER SORTEDTHE BEST OF THE FESTIVALS

001 Cover FINAL FU42.indd 1 22/04/2014 10:06

08 MAY/JUNE

Eating out with family, friends and business colleagues is one of life’s pleasures and when you can save money at the same time that’s even better. The Gastro Card is the Midlands’ leading dining card – it provides members with unlimited access to exclusive dining offers at more than 200 hand-picked restaurants across the Midlands.

The offers range from 10% to 50% off the food bill to a free glass of champagne for each diner – join in their Summer Tenner£east challenge, pay £10 for four months' membership and see how much you save.

PLUS Save £10 with Gastro Card on a Wine Dinner at Birmingham’s Hotel du Vin.

Gastro Card holders can save £10 on

a special South African Wine Dinner on 6th June at Birmingham Hotel du Vin, hosted by Nigel Wilkinson, Master Sommelier.

You’ll enjoy some of the wonderful wines

produced by this unique landscape and climate which brings sunshine, cool air, rain and strong winds to help create a collection of New World wines bursting with taste and aroma. Chenin Blanc, Carignan, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon will all feature.

Just £65 for Gastro Card holders (usual price £75), inclusive of a four-course dinner with canapés and six wonderful wines.

To book please email events.birmingham@hotelduvin.com quoting your Gastro Card membership or call 08447 364 250

Available in a wireless or USB option, the Wacom Bamboo pad is the fi rst touchpad on the market with an additional stylus. Compatible with Windows 8 (or Windows 7) laptops or desktop computers, adding handwritten signatures and comments into work is as easy as a swipe of a fi nger or fl ick of a pen. Unlike a traditional computer mouse, the new pad offers multi-touch gestures that feel natural when navigating through documents. Great for use in the home offi ce.Price: from £41.99www.wacom.com

This year the Holland Festival will be one of the biggest ever with more than 50 productions and over 140 performances from 1st-29th June, featuring international talent from around the world.

Highlights include Playing Cards: Spades by top Canadian theatre and opera director Robert Lepage, a multimedia theatre spectacle full of illusions, escape art and hypnotising choreography; Vortex Temporum by renowned Flemish choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, based on the musical piece of the same title by the French composer Gérard Grisey; and a suitably-wonderful concert of the works of Venetian composer Luigi Nono, an extraordinary musical genius. www.hollandfestival.nlTickets cost £99

Bamboozled

On your toes

MEMO

"The Gastro card provides members with exclusive dining o� ers at more than 200 restaurants…"

Eat and save with Gastro CardSHINE ON

Monitor your walking, cycling and

swimming fi tness along with sleep patterns with the MisFit Shine. This

elegant, fully-waterproof fi tness activity

monitor feeds that information back to an app so that it can be tracked. You can wear the Shine on

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discreet accessory anywhere on the body and it won’t need charging for

four months. Synchronisation is

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phone or tablet and it will pair within

seconds. Price: £99

Available fromJohn Lewis

FYISuffer from travel

sickness? The Ginger People's new “potion for the

motion” is a delicious, chewy, Gin Gins Caramel

sweet. This potent anti-nausea sweet contains a massive 30% ginger and is

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SHINE ON

Monitor your

The award-winning Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) in Honiton, Devon, has a major new exhibition of the work of the internationally-acclaimed artist Peter Randall-Page. This prolifi c artist and sculptor has undertaken commissions across the world and his work is held in many important collections including the Tate and the British Museum.

Well-known across the South West for his monumental ‘Seed’ sculpture at the Eden Project and recent show in Plymouth, Peter Randall-Page, who is based in Devon, has chosen THG in Honiton, East Devon as an ideal platform for this important new exhibition.

The exhibition, opening on 10th May, will feature a collection of new drawings, prints and sculptures.

“Drawing has always been an important part of my practice as an artist,” explains Randall-Page. “I always carry a sketch book as an aide-memoire for ideas and have always made objective drawings as a way of analysing and studying form. When working with stone, I often draw directly onto the surface prior to carving.” www.thelmahulbert.com

ARTIST AT WORK

you can save money

that’s even better. The

Hotel du Vin, hosted by Nigel Wilkinson, Master Sommelier.

the wonderful wines

Card No: Expiry Date: 31st Aug 2014

Gastro CardTenner£east

How much can you save?

Save Eat Enjoywww.gastrocard.co.uk working in partnership with

Gastro Card £10 Summer v2.qxp_Gastro Card 25/03/2014 08:59 Page 1

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62 MAY > JUNE

Gastro CardTenner£east

Welcome to Birmingham!We invite you to eat,enjoy and save atsome of Birmingham’stop restaurants.

visitwww.gastrocard.co.uk/flybe working in partnership with

£10£10

For just £10 for 4 months membershipwe challenge you to see how much youcan save this Summer when dining outat the Gastro Card’s restaurants.

Gastro Card Summer Advert.qxp_Gastro Card 01/04/2014 12:37 Page 1

Restaurant with RoomsWWW.HAMPTONMANOR.EU @HAMPTONMANOR

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17th Century Nailcote Hall is one of England’smost beautiful small stately homes set in 15 acres

of Warwickshire parkland

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Various Ads.indd 62 16/04/2014 12:07

There is something familiar, reassuring and timeless about Rachel Allen’s style – in her books, on TV or teaching at Ballymaloe Cookery School. And once you’re hooked, you always be hungry for her latest offering

Everyday Kitchen:it’s no chore

A life in the kitchen was never Rachel’s plan but her parents’ suggestion that she leave Dublin and begin a 12-week course at

Darina Allen’s Ballymaloe Cookery School in 1990 set the course for her future. She had her sights set on travelling and fi nding her way to train in shoe or fashion design but the advice was that she should learn to cook fi rst, to support herself on her travels. She enrolled at Ballymaloe and never left. The experience opened her eyes to a whole kind of life she had never imagined, a city girl who never imagined living in the country.

Not only did she meet husband Isaac there –

WORDS AMY GRACE

INTERVIEW

Darina’s son who was also a chef in training; Rachel found a passion for teaching and for inspiring others to cook. This has become her life’s work – be it through TV, writing or teaching. It was a case of history repeating itself, too, as Darina had inherited the cookery school in 1983 from her mother-in-law, Myrtle Allen.

Rachel’s teaching is still her passion and what she considers to be her main occupation. Her latest book, Rachel’s Everyday Kitchen, complements the course she is currently teaching at Ballymoe. What defi nes this and sets it apart from the in-vogue swell of cookery books offering simple solutions for quick, frugal cooking at home? Rachel is fi rst and foremost a

cookery teacher, not a chef. For more than 20 years she has been hearing, fi rst-hand, the questions that people have, she knows what needs explaining properly and when writing, she is very clever about giving instructions. The book is about weekly planning, wasting less, freezing more and preparing ahead – whether it’s meals for two, the family or a dinner party.

Rachel’s other books include Bake, Rachel’s Favourite Food at Home, Easy Meals, Cake and Rachel’s Food for Living, and in September Sweet Treats will be released. In all of her books, Rachel’s focus is on nutritious family cooking, and recipes that are tried and tested; her creativity often begins at the beautiful table

MAY/JUNE 63

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Steak FajitasThis is one of my family’s favourite feasts.

MAKES 8 FAJITAS

1-2 fl ank or skirt steaks (about 400g/I4oz in total) 1-2 tbsp olive oil8 x 20cm (8in) diameter wheat-fl our tortillas

FOR THE MARINADE

Juice of 1 lime 2 tbsp olive oil2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed or fi nely grated

1 tsp freshly-ground cumin1 tsp freshly-ground coriander 1 fresh green chilli pepper, deseeded (optional)and fi nely choppedHandful of fresh coriander (leaves and small stems), chopped

FOR THE REFRIED BLACK BEANS

50g (2oz) butter1 large red onion, peeled and fi nely chopped 2-4 cloves of garlic, peeled and very fi nely chopped1 fresh red chilli pepper, deseeded and fi nely chopped

1 tsp freshly-ground cumin 1x 400g tin of black or pinto beans, drained and rinsed,

or 125g (4½oz) dried beans, soaked and cooked75ml (3fl oz) vegetable or chicken stock or waterSalt and freshly-ground black pepper

TO SERVE

1 quantity of tomato salsa 1 quantity of guacamole 250g (9oz) sour cream or crème frâiche 175g (6oz) Cheddar cheese, gratedLime wedges (optional)

Mix all the ingredients for the marinade in a shallow

bowl, add the steak and coat in the mixture. Cover and

place in the fridge for at least an hour, or up to 3 hours.

Shortly before the steak has fi nished marinating,

prepare the refried black beans. Melt the butter in a

wide saucepan or frying pan on a medium heat, then

add the onion, garlic, chilli and cumin. Gently fry for 6-8

mins or until soft and slightly golden around the edges.

Tip the cooked beans into the pan and continue to cook

the mixture, uncovered, for 3 mins or until hot through.

Using a potato masher or fork, mash the bean

mixture, keeping it chunky and not too smooth. Pour in

the stock, then bring to a simmer and cook for 4-5 mins,

uncovered, until the mixture is quite thick. Season to

taste with salt and pepper and keep in the pan until

you’re ready to serve.

When the steak has fi nished marinating, place a

griddle pan or a frying pan on a high heat for about 5

minutes to heat up. Add the olive oil, then add the steak

with any marinade coating it. Season with salt and

pepper and cook for a few minutes on each side.

Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 mins before

cutting into slices, and dividing the steak slices between

the tortillas, adding a spoonful of refried black beans,

tomato salsa and guacamole, along with a dollop of

sour cream and grated cheese. Fold the tortilla in, then

place two fajitas on each plate!

Steak Fajitas

64 MAY/JUNE

> KITCHEN LIFE

her husband designed, the centrepiece of their family kitchen in County Cork. The family lives in the grounds of the school’s farm and so fresh ingredients are always on hand and wellies are as much part of Rachel’s life as an apron. Always at the ready to collect eggs, pick fruit and tend to vegetables with their three children, Josh, Lukka and Scarlett, it’s all about making the most of what she has and fi nding true satisfaction and enjoyment in cooking.

Has simplicity always been your preferred approach? Is it the Irish approach?When I fi rst started cooking I went through a brief phase of exploring what had been called “nouvelle cuisine.” I was interested in it but I wasn’t sure if that was the path I wanted to follow. Over time, I realised that simple, ingredients-led food was the approach I wanted to take. It’s certainly something we teach here in Ireland at the Ballymaloe Cookery School.

What would feature on your most loved, purely-Irish three-course menu?Hot smoked salmon from the Burren Smokehouse with baby beetroot, Ardsallagh goat’s cheese and a drizzle of our local honey. Then roast pork belly from our pigs at the cookery school with local black pudding, apple sauce from the apples in my garden and some freshly-dug potatoes. Dessert would be a fl uffy meringue with softly-whipped cream and my home-grown raspberries.

Nurturing the experience of cooking and eating seems to be a common theme in your books – do you cook for your wellbeing above and beyond your career?Cooking for my wellbeing and for that of my family is to me much more important than my career.

What style of cooking, or course brings out your creativity the most?I like the restraint needed with starters and carefully creating just a taste. I do adore desserts as well, though, and will happily spend hours making them.

Where do you see your next challenges – are there skills or techniques you still want to learn or perfect?I’m becoming more and more interested in the gardening side of food. I do grow a lot of my own vegetables but I’d really like to grow more and plant new and different crops. We offer a Garden Workshop at Ballymoe now, including compost making and soil management, designing a herb garden and seed saving.

You’re a fan of Nigel Slater but are there any less well-known chefs you follow with interest?

I follow a lot of different people with interest. There’s an inspiring landscape of cooks right now. I’m constantly inspired by other chefs including Dan Lepard, Paul Flynn and so many more.

For those watching cookery demonstrations, surely it’s never easy trying to recreate what you’ve seen a professional do.You might not be able to take in everything but you can usually take at least one thing from a demo, even if it’s just one small element of the dish or a few tips. That way it’s not a waste of time and is still worth your while.

COOKING FOR MY WELLBEING AND FOR THAT OF MY FAMILY IS TO ME MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THANMY CAREER

You can go on Rachel’s ‘Everyday Kitchen’ course at Ballymaloe Cookery Schoolor order any of her booksfrom the website. Visitwww.cookingisfun.ie orwww.rachelallen.co.uk. Rachel’s Everyday Kitchen by Rachel Allen is published by HarperCollins at £25, photography by Tara Fisher.

WIN a copy of Rachel’s Everyday Kitchen!We have fi ve copies to give away. To enter the competition, visit www.streampublishing.net/competitions/fl ybe

063-064 Kitchen Life FU42.indd 64 17/04/2014 12:41

MAY/JUNE 65

Two historic hotels, two amazing locationsTwo historic hotels, two amazing locationsTwo historic hotels, two amazing locationsTwo historic hotels, two amazing locations

both with the same standards of style and service!H O T E L

36 Southernhay East, Exeter EX1 1NX | Tel: +44 (0)1392 435324 www.southernhayhouse.com Follow us on Twitter for our latest offers: @SouthernhayHome

Bigbury-on-Sea, South Devon TQ7 4BG | Tel: +44 (0)1548 810514 www.burghisland.com Follow us on Twitter for our latest offers: @Burgh_Island

standards of style and service!

www.southernhayhouse.com Follow us on Twitter for our latest offers: @Burgh_Island

HelpHarryHelpOtherswould like to

thank you for your kind support

www.facebook.com/harrymoseley7

www.helpharryhelpothers.org.uk To donate £5 text ‘HARRY’ to 70800

Harry Moseley was an incredibly brave boy who sadly lost his battle with cancer on 8th October 2011.

Please read below to find out about Harry and why he started his campaign in his own words;

“My name is Harry, I’m 11 years old and I have an inoperable brain tumour. When my friend Robert Harley became ill because of his brain tumour I set up my campaign Help Harry Help Others.

I started making and selling beaded bracelets to raise money for brain tumour research. Sadly Robert, aged just 55, died shortly after I started my campaign but I am determined to continue in his memory. That’s why I’ve started my campaign, so that the whole of the UK can wear one of my bracelets and help raise money to help others.

Please support me.

Funding vital research projects

Providing financial grants to families with any type of Cancer

Supporting services / charities providing end of life car to Cancer families

Help Harry Help Others is a registered charity in England and Wales 1147859.

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SMART WORKPaul Bullock, Head of M2M at JT, reports on a new tracking device that can tell when and how a car is driven

Venue fi nderPerfect locations for your business events

The whole concept of network-connected ‘Smart’ devices sounds futuristic, but they are appearing all around us, from remote thermometers tracking cattle in New Zealand, to Google Glass in California, to fridges in Germany that order your shopping for you.

Beneath the radar, JT is an innovator in this fi eld and as such is playing a key role in some big changes taking place in the UK. The idea is simple: take a car and add GPS equipment for location, a SIM card to communicate to the cellular network, and accelerometers to measure speed, braking and cornering.

All of that creates a system that can track where, when and how a car is being driven and has allowed insurance companies to create ‘usage-based insurance’ (UBI) – insurance based on how you drive, allowing insurers to offer discounts to drivers who don’t indulge in high-risk behaviour, such as speeding or driving late at night.

It’s estimated that within fi ve years, up to 70% of cars in the UK might have these devices. That’s because UBI can bring down high premiums for young drivers, who in the UK are paying up to £4,000 for insurance. It’s also because it creates mini 'black boxes' that can provide evidence for accident investigators, and data for traffi c engineers and car manufacturers.

JT has partnered with Progressive Platforms, one of the leading providers of vehicle telematics software platforms in order to develop a uniquely UBI solution. JT provides multi-network coverage, manages the global mobile connectivity and hosts Progressive Platforms’ software in JT’s Cloud, where it integrates with the insurance providers’ systems. The company’s vision is to become the partner of choice for global telecommunications innovation and they believe that being at the forefront of delivering innovative products such as this is helping them to achieve that vision.

Nailcote Hall Hotel, Golf & Country Club is located just 10 minutes from Birmingham International Airport and the NEC. Set in 15 acres of Warwickshire countryside, the hotel provides luxury accommodation, leisure facilities, superb function rooms, a luxury marquee and the British Par 3 Championship Golf course. The intimate Oak Room restaurant offers award-winning traditional cuisine in the 17th-century original Hall. Nailcote is ideal for both short meetings and longer workshops, training days, business lunches and presentations.Facilities range from the Library, which can accommodate eight delegates, to the Lante Suite, which can take 150.www.nailcotehall.co.uk

If you’re particularly paranoid about your cyber-security, or just want to feel like a secret agent when you log onto your computer, then the EyeLock myris is for you. The small, circular device connects to your computer via USB and replaces the need to type in your password by scanning your eyes instead. myris’ unique technology uses videos of both eyes to allow access, reducing the likelihood of a false match to one in two trillion. Price: £149, www.eyelock.com

The eyes have it

you log onto your computer, then the EyeLock myris is for you. The small, circular device connects to your computer via USB and replaces the need to type in your password by scanning your eyes instead.

CLEVER CAR TECHNOLOGY...THE PERFECT VENUE...

AGENDA > NEWS

085_090 Agenda FU42.indd 85 17/04/2014 13:32

94 MAY > JUNE

WINING AND DINING WHERE TO ENTERTAIN AND BE ENTERTAINED

AGENDA > HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS

The glorious era of grand country house living has been reinvented with the opening of Cromlix, tennis ace Andy Murray’s Perthshire hotel.

The Victorian mansion, just three miles from Andy’s home town of Dunblane, has been renovated to showcase much of the original heritage, including its own enchanting little private chapel and loch, and furnished with an elegant blend of antique Scottish furniture.

From the sky blue and gold leaf of the bar to the French navy and moss green of the glass-walled Chez Roux dining room and the shimmering hand-painted baths, the house is a feast for the senses.

The accommodation features fi ve suites and 10 bedrooms, all light-fi lled and subtly decorated, many with views over

the manicured grounds and tennis courts. The suites, all named by Andy after famous Scots – Burns, Bowes-Lyon, Bruce, Eden and Ferguson – each have their own individual character, gorgeous freestanding gold, silver and copper baths and 32in televisions screens disguised as mirrors.

The hotel also offers endless possibilities for dining, entertaining and celebrating. Chez Roux restaurant, overseen by legendary French chef Albert Roux, is housed in an elegant conservatory overlooking the grounds and offers diners a ringside view of the chefs at work in the extensive open kitchen.

There is also a snooker room, whisky room, drawing room and a stunning bar.www.cromlix.com

ACE!

Luxury in Cornwall

A feast of fi ne dining

Purnell's is a chic, contemporary fi ne-dining restaurant, awarded its Michelin star in January 2009, located in one of Birmingham city-centre's fi nest conservation areas. Set up by Michelin-starred Birmingham chef, Glynn Purnell in July 2007, the 45-cover restaurant occupies a Victorian redbrick

The Cornwall Hotel Spa and Estate, a luxury four-star hotel in Cornwall, is a must-visit for those looking for an extra special place to stay, play, eat and relax. As well as having a stunning Spa set in 43 acres of Victorian wooded parkland, the hotel boasts fi ve-star woodland holiday homes to rent or buy and is located within touching distance of many of the most popular beaches and attractions in Cornwall.

and terracotta corner building, and has its own bar and lounge area where you can enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail or after-dinner coffee or digestif on comfortable sofas. Glynn Purnell’s bold and innovative menu includes tartare of English asparagus with asparagus custard, crispy ham and truffl e; curry cured salmon with wasabi crumble and cucumber ketchup; and slow-cooked neck of lamb with wild garlic and goats' cheese royale. A real treat.www.purnellsrestaurant.com

At the heart of The Cornwall Estate is The Clearing Spa, an ultimate destination for beauty, health, fi tness and relaxation, and after an afternoon of pampering, guests can also enjoy superb food in the AA Rosette Arboretum Restaurant or in Acorns Brasserie for a hearty breakfast or lighter evening meal. For al fresco dining The Parkland Terrace, overlooking the Pentewan Valley, provides a beautiful setting for a light lunch, Cornish Afternoon Tea or pre-dinner cocktails.www.thecornwall.com

093_094 Books_Hotels FU42.indd 94 17/04/2014 13:35

BirminghamPlan the perfect business trip or event with our guide to the best conference venues and places toeat, drink and sleep

CONFERENCE CENTRESChoose from a range of options for meetings of all sizes

1. (ICC)The ICC sits right in the centre of the city. It welcomes over 300,000 delegates to around 400 events every year with its accommodating layout and fl uid walkways connecting 11 halls and 10 executive meeting rooms. Facilities: With a maximum capacity of 3000 for syndicate or theatre-style events, the ICC can stage the largest events as well as smaller meetings or boardroom-style events. www.theicc.co.uk 2. The National ExhibitionCentre (NEC)The UK’s largest event and exhibition centre has 34 dedicated conference suites offering fl exible space for 20-720 delegates. It has 20 interconnected halls and 186,000sq m of highly-adaptable covered space.Facilities: On-site parking for 16,000 cars, award-winning catering and direct links to Birmingham airport and a rail station make the NEC the perfect place to stage an event www.thenec.co.uk

3.Birmingham Museum& Art GalleryThis Victorian building in the heart of the city’s cultural quarter is home to the world’s largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art. It boasts an outstanding collection of glass and ceramics and makes for an inspiring venue to organise an event.

Facilities: The Edwardian Tea Room can accommodate 120 guests for a sit-down dinner or 95 theatre-style, while the industrial gallery, round room and tea room can be combined to cater for up to 300.www.bmag.org.uk

4. Forest of Arden, A Marriott Hotel & Country ClubThis four-star hotel near Solihull is located within easy access of the M6/M42 and M40, four miles from Birmingham NEC, Birmingham airport and the city’s train stations.Facilities: With two golf courses and a golf academy, tennis courts and a fi tness centre, the hotel is a great leisure destination, but it is also perfect for business, with comprehensive conference facilities including 18 meeting rooms, 1081sq m of total meeting space and a 350-person marquee outdoor space, making the Forest of Arden the ideal Midlands hotel venue. www.marriott.co.uk

5. The Custard FactoryFive minutes’ walk from the Bullring Shopping Centre, The Custard Factory is 15 acres of beautifully-restored Victorian factories which make up a unique collection of buildings, shops, studios and creative spaces, perfect for events.Facilities: Spaces for corporate functions include The Old Library, Space 2, The Factory Club, Kitchen CafB, Ornamental Lake, The Theatre, Vaad Gallery and The Arches, a unique landscaped outdoor event space. Maximum standing capacity is 1200.www.custardfactory.co.uk

BUSINESS TRAVEL

MAY/JUNE 107

Birmingham is a leader in the fi eld of conferences and events. Boasting world-class venues and state-of-the-art facilities, this well-placed city

is easy to get to and in recent years has seen a transformation into an even more dynamic, cosmopolitan and welcoming conference city.

Proud of its distinctive heritage, yet energised by the youngest population in Europe, Birmingham has an enviable location at the centre of the UK for national travel and, with an airport linking over 100 destinations for international visitors, access to the city is never a problem. Birmingham is the defi nition of a modern, connected international city.

An industry leader, Birmingham is home to 31,000 companies including names such as Land Rover Jaguar and Cadbury, and the city accounts for 25% of all British exports.

Birmingham’s conference and events sector contributes £2.3bn per annum and supports 36,000 jobs, which makes it larger than that of the whole of Australia, and provides a depth and breadth of experience as a host that most other cities would be hard-pushed to match.

FLY Flybe has fl ights to Birmingham from Aberdeen, Alicante, Amsterdam, Avignon, Belfast, Bergerac, Brest, Chambéry, Cologne, Dubrovnik, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Florence, Glasgow, Guernsey, Hannover, Inverness, Isle of Man, Jersey, Knock, La Rochelle, Lyon, Milan, Newquay, Paris, Perpignan, Porto, Stuttgart, and from 13th May from Bordeaux, Palma and Toulouse.

The Custard Factory

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2

3

1

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512

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107-108 Business Birmingham_FU42.indd 107 17/04/2014 13:54

ENTERTAININGTreat business clients to a meal at one of these excellent restaurants

1.Adam’sAdam’s is a contemporary fi ne-dining restaurant producing stylish food; a sophisticated blend of familiar fl avour combinations with modern, inventive twists. The intimate restaurant is run by husband and wife team Adam and Natasha, who have been awarded a Michelin star for their efforts.www.adamsrestaurant.co.uk 2. Purnell’s This is a chic, contemporary fi ne-dining restaurant, awarded a Michelin star in January 2009, located in one of the city centre’s fi nest areas, close to St Phillip’s Cathedral. Glynn Purnell’s cooking is bold and innovative and the restaurant can cater for private dining parties of up to 12.www.purnellsrestaurant.com

3. LasanEnjoy exquisite Indian cuisine in thisrenowned restaurant, winner in Gordon Ramsay’s F Word ‘Best Local Restaurant’ and included in The Sunday Times Top 100 UK Restaurants.www.lasan.co.uk

4. Metro Bar & GrillLocated in both Birmingham and Solihull, the Metro Bar & Grills are independent, award-winning bar and restaurants ideal for business or celebration, with a great range of real ales, Champagne and wine.metrobarandgrill.co.uk

AFTER DARKLet your hair down at one of Birmingham’s many nightspots

1. The Old ContemptiblesThis pub in Edmund Street is a traditional place where you can enjoy an eclectic range of real ales, quality pub food and generous hospitality. It has a unique character, as you’d expect from a pub named after First World War heroes.www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

2. The Jam HouseA one-stop destination for food, live music and drinking, The Jam House is a funky jazz-centric venue where guests dine on the balcony above the main stage and soulful musicians play through the evening. Eat, drink and dance to your heart’s content!www.thejamhouse.com/birmingham

3. Risa Birmingham Located on Birmingham’s busiest going-out street, Broad Street, Bar Risa is one of the biggest and most stylish venues, with six rooms, seven bars and the Highlight comedy club.www.risa-birmingham.co.uk

AND SO TO BED…Book in at one of Birmingham’shigh-quality hotels

1. Hyatt Regency BirminghamThis modern, four-star hotel enjoys a prime central location and has 319 luxury rooms and suites all featuring fl oor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views of the canal network or the city. Amala Spa & Club is on hand for beauty treatments and the hotel also has ten event and meetings rooms for corporate guests.Birmingham.regency.hyatt.com

2. Hotel La Tour This modern four-star hotel has 174 stylish bedrooms, Aalto – a brasserie-style restaurant serving exciting, classic British dishes with a modern twist, a sophisticated bar, a lively coffee shop, a gym and The Auden Rooms, a dedicated conference and events fl oor. www.hotel-latour.co.uk

3. Staying Cool at the RotundaThe Rotunda is one of Birmingham’s most iconic buildings and there are 26 serviced apartments on the top four fl oors of this striking glass tube that stretches up into the sky. Each apartment is individually styled with original artwork and bespoke furniture, and named after the famous cars made nearby: Minis, Clubmans, Maxis and Roadsters. As you’d expect, as well as having a wonderful interior, you get magnifi cent views of the city.www.stayingcool.com

4. Hotel Indigo BirminghamOne of Birmingham’s newest hotels, Hotel Indigo is located in the Cube in the heart of the city, less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Bullring Shopping Centre. The chic, contemporary hotel boasts great views over the city, with 52 boutique bedrooms, the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill, plus a spa.www.ihg.com/hotelindigo

> BUSINESS TRAVEL

Bar Risa

108 MAY/JUNE

Rotunda

Hotel IndigoHyatt Regency

Hotel La Tour

The Old Contemptibles

The Jam House

Aktar Islam of Lasan

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DESTINATIONS

122 > > MAY/JUNE

122 MAY/JUNE

BELFAST CITY > BENBECULA > BERGEN > BERGERAC > BIRMINGHAM > BREST...

BELFAST CITYEAT Bia is a real treat, serving great food at a great

price. It also hosts regular traditional music sessions, adding to the authentic Gaelic atmosphere. www.biabelfast.com

SLEEP Benedicts of Belfast is the city's most exciting four-star boutique hotel, with an attention to detail that sets it apart from the large hotel chains. www.benedictshotel.co.uk

GO The Balmoral Show from 14th-16th May is Ireland’s largest agricultural and food show, offering an extravaganza of competition and showmanship along with daily displays of pedigree horses, ponies, cattle, sheep, poultry, pigs and goats at Balmoral Park. www.balmoralshow.co.uk FLY > Flybe has fl ights to Belfast City from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Newquay and Southampton.

BENBECULA OUTER HEBRIDES EAT The Stepping Stone Restaurant is a family-run

restaurant that serves traditional Scottish food, using fresh local produce where possible.www.steppingstone10.tripod.com

SLEEP Kyles Flodda Bed and Breakfast offers stylish and comfortable accommodation. The new-build house is based on a traditional Hebridean design but incorporates many contemporary features to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable stay. www.kylesfl odda.com

GO A very special exhibition at Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Art Gallery affers visitors the chance to see the work of internationally-acclaimed artist Vija Celmins as part of Artists Rooms On Tour. The exhibiton runs until 28th June. www.taigh-chearsabhagh.org FLY > Flybe's franchise partner Loganair has fl ights to Benbecula from Glasgow, Inverness and Stornoway

BERGEN EAT Spisekroken serves excellent food and wine in

its warm and cosy restaurant. The menu is frequently updated, and ingredients are sourced from local farms. The most popular dishes are gourmet veal and goat.www.spisekroken.no

SLEEP The Hanseatic Hotel is in a beautiful location, part of Finnegaarden at Hanseatic Wharf, Bryggen, just a short walk from the city's sights. It has has 37 stylish rooms, three restaurants and a bar.www.dethanseatiskehotel.no

GO Bergen International Festival, from 21st May-4th June, offers an extensive programme of music, theatre and dance with over 150 events in 15 venues across the city. Outdoors, free events ensure that the whole city gets into the festival mood. www.fi b.no FLY > Flybe franchise partner Loganair has fl ights to Bergen from Inverness, Kirkwall and Sumburgh.

BIRMINGHAM EAT Adam’s is a contemporary fi ne-dining restaurant

producing stylish food with modern, inventive twists.www.adamsrestaurant.co.uk

SLEEP Staying Cool apartments at the Rotunda are chic serviced apartments with stunning views of the city.www.stayingcool.com/birmingham

GO Birmingham Gay Pride on 24th and 25th May is a huge party, with a street festival and live entertainment. www.birminghampride.com FLY > Flybe has fl ights to Birmingham from Aberdeen, Alicante, Amsterdam, Avignon, Belfast, Bergerac, Brest, Chambéry, Cologne, Dubrovnik, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Florence, Glasgow, Guernsey, Hannover, Ibiza, Inverness, Isle of Man, Jersey, Knock, La Rochelle, Lyon, Milan, Newquay, Paris, Perpignan, Porto, Reykjavik, Stuttgart and Waterford; to Bordeaux, Palma and Toulouse from 13th May, and to Newquay from 16th May.

BERGERAC EAT In the heart of the Monbazillac vineyards, just

fi ve minutes drive from Bergerac, La Grappe d'Or offers a generous and extensive menu of traditional, regional dishes, using local produce. www.alagrappedor.fr

SLEEP Château les Merles is a boutique hotel with a gourmet restaurant and golf facilities. The charming 18th-century château has been renovated to provide luxury and comfort. www.lesmerles.com

GO Maison des Vins de Bergerac is the place to learn about – and taste – local wines. It’s located in a beautiful monastery and includes an exhibition on the history of the vineyard, a sensory room where visitors can discover the aromas of local wines, and wine-tasting in the cellar. www.vins-bergerac.fr FLY > Flybe has fl ights to Bergerac from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Exeter and Southampton.

BREST EAT Located in the commercial port of Brest, the

restaurant Maison de l'Océan is a seafood institution that stands up to its reputation.www.restaurant-fruit-mer-brest.com

SLEEP Completely renovated in 2007, the four-star Hotel Oceania Brest Centre is located in the heart of the town on the famous Rue de Siam. Rooms are spacious and contemporary, and the hotel's Nautilus restaurant serves innovative international food with a French twist, including meats and fi sh grilled on a Spanish "plancha". www.oceaniahotels.com

GO Foire aux Croûtes from 29th-31st May is an art fair (although the name literally means Fair of the Crusts). Nevertheless, this event, held in Brest's St-Martin quarters, is a must for those looking for unusual artworks by up-and-coming local artists. www.foireauxcroutes.com FLY > Flybe has fl ights to Brest from Birmingham and Southampton.

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