Twins to revitalise The Boathouse restaurant in Sutton Coldfield

Birmingham twins to revitalise The Boathouse restaurant in Sutton Coldfield

OUT IN BRUM

Twin brothers from Sutton Coldfield who trained under Michelin star chefs are to breathe new life into a landmark local restaurant.

Scott and Steven Lewis, having worked for many years in some of London’s top restaurants including Quaglinos, La Tante Claire and the The Halkin Hotel, are revitalising The Boathouse restaurant in Sutton Park.

The pair, who trained under Michel Roux Jr at infamous Le Gavroche after studying at the Birmingham College of Food (now UCB), say it’s a dream come true to take the helm of the restaurant, which will be renamed The Bracebridge when it opens its doors in November.

Having spent 15 years heading up a company that supplied ingredients to the restaurant and catering sector, the brothers never lost their ambition to open their own restaurant.

“We’re very excited to be handed the keys to the restaurant,” said Scott, who lives in Sutton Coldfield.

“It’s a…

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War memorials of the north: then & now

via War memorials of the north: then & now

War memorials of the north: then & now

This gallery contains 16 photos.

Great War memorials in northern towns…….we will remember them The Historic England Blog The Farthing Collection of 234 negatives and prints was created from original postcards of First World War memorials collected by Mr G Farthing. Who he was; where … Continue reading →

13 things to do in September in Birmingham

Unlucky for Brum…….13 things to do in Birmingham in September…….from theatre to festivals……from art to artisan food……#GettoBrum

#BrumHour Archive 2015-2018

by Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour

From giant bouncy race courses and chocolate rewards to Bollywood theatre and discovering even more about Birmingham’s Heritage. There’s loads to do in September in Birmingham.

No Boundries (Until 15th September)

Birmingham New Street Station, Birmingham B2 4QA

Via Rachael for Network Rail:

“A pop-up exhibition to showcase the work of artists living with disabilities arrives at Birmingham New Street this week, before continuing its tour of Great Britain.

Artist Tania Raabe-Webber with her work at the No Boundaries exhibition

The travelling art exhibition, No Boundaries, which is open to the public until 15th September at Birmingham New Street Station, has been designed to encourage people with disabilities to travel without boundaries.

The 20-piece exhibition is made of artwork created by artists with a range of abilities, disabilities, age and artistic experience. The artists involved…

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Boogie Nights at New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Can’t wait for ‘Motown the Musical’ in October at The Alex……get down!

#BrumHour Archive 2015-2018

by Julie Wallis twitter.com/nicenic63

Boogie Nights at New Alexandra Theatre

Boogie Nights, the 70s musical is a disco extravaganza and is at the New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday.

If you love a great jukebox musical Boogie Nights is the perfect evening out for you and a sure fire hit. With so many classic disco tunes you’re bound to find your toes tapping. In fact, you know you’re in for a treat when Boogie Nights starts with a standing ovation and just continues to get better and better.

Boogie Nights

There is not a huge amount of story, but it’s basically a love story. Roddy (Elliot Gooch) is a bit of a wide boy and womaniser, he has been dating Debs (Isabella Kibble) since their school days. But can Roddy and Debs love survive into adulthood, can Roddy fulfil his dream of becoming a rock star…

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Is this the first of many government ‘step-ins’ as problems with private contractors escalate?

‘Thatcherism’ by any other name……privatisation of Public Services which SHOULD be provided by the state….Just another example of failed Private Sector intervention, just as the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) failed the Citizens of #Birmingham with the failed Midlands Metropolitan Hospital….when will Government learn that Private over Public DOES NOT WORK!!!!! Just look at the Railways too…..Private Sector equals CHAOS IMHO!!!

Our Birmingham

After being awarded a 15-year contract in 2011, as part of a wider move to bring more competition into the prison service, G4S has been stripped of control over ‘failed’ HMP Birmingham jail (details here). This is the latest crisis of the decades-long move towards privatisation of public services.

Following the first ‘takeover’ for a privatised prison contract, David Gauke, justice secretary, is appointing a new governor and management team on the site and has compelled G4S to take on 30 extra staff to instigate various improvements.

300 of HMP Birmingham’s 1,330 inmates will also be moved to other jails

Ministers said that G4S, which had failed to run the prison safely, would continue to run the facility under the direct control of the Ministry of Justice for at least the next six months.

This is government’s first ‘step-in process’.

Though G4S also runs HMP Altcourse, HMP Parc, HMP…

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Dunkirk May / June 1940

Recently Batman film director Christopher Nolan made the film ‘Dunkirk’ starring One Direction’s Harry Styles telling the story of the ‘Little Ships’ that saved the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F) from the beaches of Dunkirk and probably saved Britain from losing the war and succumbing to Nazi tyranny.

Historical Excerpts

The escape of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 was largely due to Hitler’s personal intervention. After his tanks had overrun the north of France and cut off the British army from its base, Hitler held them up just as they were about to sweep into Dunkirk – which was the last remaining port of escape left open to the British. At that moment the bulk of the B.E.F. was still many miles distant from the port. But Hitler kept his tanks halted for three days.
His action preserved the British forces when nothing else could have saved them. By making it possible for them to escape he enabled them to rally in England, continue the war, and man the coasts to defy the threat of invasion. Thereby he produced his own ultimate downfall, and Germany’s five years later. Acutely aware of the narrowness of the escape but ignorant of…

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Birmingham Heritage Week 2018

#Birmingham #Heritage Week 2018 – there are some great events at the Library of Birmingham…..see the Birmingham Heritage Week website for more details.

The Iron Room

It’s not long now until Birmingham Heritage Week 2018, and we’ve got a wide variety of things going on here at the Library of Birmingham!

8^th September

PICTURE BIRMINGHAM

Saturday 8th September 2018, 11:15am-4:15pm

Venue: Heritage Learning Space, Level 4, Library of Birmingham

Booking: Pre-booking essential! To book, click here.   

Birmingham is an ever-changing city, and its changing nature has been documented through Archives in various formats for centuries, a relatively recent format being photography!

This family-friendly workshop is about capturing the city, photographically, on one day (Saturday 8^th September 2018) as seen by you.

After a brief introduction by Michael Hallett, an explanation of the activity, and guidance on how to make the most of using your mobile device (mobile phone or tablet – no “proper” cameras!), and a walk around the Gallery where a photography exhibition will be on display, you will be sent out…

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From Pleasure Park to Villa Park

History of Aston Hall and Villa Park

Notes from 19th Century Birmingham

 

Aston Hall was built in the early seventeenth century by Sir Thomas Holte. Two hundred years later, on the death of Dowager Lady Holte, the 1,530 acre estate was put up for auction and purchased by Warwick bankers, Greenaway, Greaves and Whitehead on July 10th, 1817. They subsequently parcelled up the land and sold it on in suitable lots. James Watt Jnr. bought the Hall, part of what was known as the Upper Grounds of the estate, while a Mr H.G. Quilter bought up the Lower Grounds.

The thirty-one acres bought by Quilter became known locally as the Aston Lower Grounds, and he used the land to establish a popular pleasure gardens with fishponds. Over time, these extended to include a hotel (now The Holte pub), a skating rink and sports ground. In 1879 a large aquarium was opened to the public, Showell’s described it:

The principal room has…

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6 Listed sites that survive from the age of the steam train

via 6 Listed sites that survive from the age of the steam train