With so many reasons to celebrate all things British in 2012 The Jekyll has focused on Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee as the perfect match to their Gin Fest.  With a special Gin Flight menu and a chance for customers to win an array of gin based prizes The Jekyll & Hyde is the place to be between May 30^th – June 2^nd 2012 if you’re a lover of all things gin related.

Customers are invited to the Gin Parlour to order a Gin Flight – a trio of different gins or gin based cocktails.  Different collections will be available from the classic, such as three different gin based Martinis to the more quirky with three cocktails created by The Jekyll team.

The Langley Collection for example will feature three different gins from the Langley group of drinks. Langley are the second biggest producer of gin in England, this will give customers a chance to try the different drinks whist having the chance to ask the “Gin Guru” on hand any questions they may have to broaden their gin knowledge or just pick up a couple of fun facts about gin.

What’s more, for every Gin Flight purchased customers will get a “Flight Ticket” giving them the chance to be entered into a draw to win a gin related prize including – a Gin Master class at The Jekyll & Hyde for two, a bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin and matching gin goblets, a bottle of premium gin and a flight of gin cocktails.

Gin Fest runs from Wednesday May 30^th to Saturday June 2^nd, Flights are available in the Gin Parlour from 5pm each evening.  The Jekyll kitchen will be serving a range of gin based specials and gin flavoured cupcakes will be on sale at the bar.

For more information please visit the website – http://www.thejekyllandhyde.co.uk

Deepti Sastry is a qualified yoga instructor with a wealth of experience.

After recently moving to the Jewellery Quarter she is looking to hold Vinyasa flow and Pregnancy classes for groups (max 6) and also private classes. These will be available for beginners and seasoned practitioners.

If you are interested in setting up a class please call Deepti on 07917403620.

http://www.yogawithdeepti.co.uk/#_

Plus get 10% off hot drinks at The Urban Coffee Company on Saturday with a voucher from one of the workshops.

Hope to see you there!

For more information please visit: http://www.centrepiece-jewellery.co.uk/

St Pauls Physio is professional Physiotherapy consultancy headed up by 2 partners Alexander McCall and Andrew Emms, both Chartered Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Practitioners with over 20 years of experience combined. We both continue to hold prestigious NHS posts at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital where we work as advanced Physiotherapists working alongside Orthopaedic Surgeons and Physicians as well as having our own clinics.

We have the ability to assess, diagnose, investigate with appropriate imaging and treat the whole gamut of musculoskeletal/orthopaedic conditions. Our private practice mirrors this expert service as well as providing services including management of sports injuries, work based injuries/ergonomic problems such as bad backs and necks, and rehabilitation for longer term conditions such as arthritis.

Through our NHS work we have built up a wide network of clinicians so we can direct patient to appropriate Consultants should it be necessary. All of our clinicians are educated to Masters level or equivalent and continue to be actively involved in teaching and research across the country.

We have recently moved to a new practice (just next door from our previous rooms) which now offers spacious consultation rooms and a gym/pilates suite.

For more information please visit our website:

http://www.stpaulsphysio.co.uk/

For more details, see our website:

http://www.rbsa.org.uk/whats-on/events/art-bus-galleries-night/

Fellows auctioneers, based in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, are advising families to have their precious family silver valued for auction before being melted down for scrap value.

UK silver prices currently stand at around £17.00 per ounce. Given the current economic climate it’s unsurprising that people are considering scrapping their silver items as a means of extra income. However, unknown to many, these pieces may in fact be worth substantially more than their scrap value at auction.

Fellows’ latest sale of Silver & Plated Ware held in March this year was a prime example of how smaller silver items can fetch staggering prices. A George IV Newcastle silver pap boat weighing 2.1 ozt was sold for £280 under the hammer – today’s scrap value would be less than £40.

An Edwardian novelty silver vesta case depicting a figurative scene of a golfer in mid swing was also a success at auction. Weighing just 31 grams it sold for an impressive £320 – more than triple its highest estimate. The scrap price of this piece today wouldn’t even meet £20.

Managing Director, Stephen Whittaker said: “The level of craftsmanship and hours of labour that goes into making intricate silverware is incredible. Not only that, these pieces are often passed down from generations thus have great sentimental worth to families.  Knowing these items are being melted down for their scrap value is truly saddening.”

Fellows’ next auction of Silver & Plated Ware will take place on Monday 18th June, which coincides with the Jewellery Quarter’s commemorations of British Silver Week 2012.

www.fellows.co.uk

The Jewellery Quarter BID, which is being led by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) in partnership with Birmingham City Council, aims to attract investment, increase visitor numbers and encourage a more vibrant economy, while making the area a better place in which to work, invest and live.

Over 500 local businesses are being asked to vote to support the initiative, which will see companies with premises with a rateable value of £10,000 and above pay an annual levy of 2% to fund additional investment for the benefit of the whole area. The voting ballot, which commenced on 17^th April 2012, will run for five weeks until 24^th May.

Ray Linforth, who is also a member of the BID Steering Group, said: “The biggest agenda for me is ensuring a cleaner, tidier and safer environment for our staff and students. UCB, which was recently judged outstanding by Ofsted, has a student base of mainly 16-24 year olds, with a large majority of these being female. We also have many international students who come to this huge city. That can often be a quite daunting experience so it’s crucial we make them feel welcome and, more importantly, safe.

“Outlined in the BID Prospectus are plans to employ (?) street ambassadors who would act as helpful guides for people visiting the Quarter A number of students have commented that a similar scheme introduced by the Colmore Row BID was very useful when they asked for information about where to go and suggestions on what to do in the city centre.

Ray also feels that tackling dereliction and improving the connection between the Jewellery Quarter and the city centre – both issues recognised in the BID Prospectus – is imperative.

“UCB currently owns a derelict building in the Jewellery Quarter and we are working with the JQDT and BID committee to change that. We are also continuing to invest heavily in the area by developing a new campus on land bounded by George Street, Holland Street and Charlotte Street.”

Ray added: “I encourage businesses to vote ‘Yes’ to the JQ BID to ensure that the Quarter remains a place that students, particularly international ones, are proud to call home while they are studying.

We need more businesses like us to invest in the Quarter and a BID status will give it more gravitas to encourage companies to open up regional offices or even headquarters in the area.”

The board of the JQDT decided in early-summer 2011 to support the BID proposal and develop the initiative in partnership with Birmingham City Council. Being a Community Interest Company, the JQDT is made up of key community and stakeholder organisations from within the Jewellery Quarter, including the Jewellery Quarter Association, the Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative, the Jewellery Quarter Trade Alliance and the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum.

The Trust Board agreed that a levy of 2% should be set on all properties with a rateable value of £10,000 and above and that the Jewellery Quarter BID area would be defined as the area bounded by the Jewellery Quarter side of Great Charles Street, Livery Street, Great Hampton Street, Key Hill Drive, Icknield Street, Sandpits/The Parade and Summer Row.

The BID would help to improve the Jewellery Quarter in many ways, including providing a welcoming environment for visitors, clean and safer streets, improving marketing to increase footfall and inward investment, and improving connectivity to the city centre.

For more information, visit www.jqdt.org/BIDs.

Did you know?

• UCB’s catering students produce more than 36,000 loaves and 115,000 breads rolls every academic year, which are used in the student café, public restaurants and the ‘Cakes and Bakes’ shop.
• Former UCB pupil, Claire Hutchings, was a finalist in MasterChef 2011. While another, April Bloomfield, has gone on to own a Michelin starred restaurant in New York.
• UCB is visited and held in high regard by many celebrity chefs. In the past 12 months alone, the college has welcomed James Martin, Alain Roux and Brian Turner as well as a host of Birmingham’s own top chefs who support the College’s work.

A new initiative for Jewellery Quarter businesses to fund improvements in their area is music to the ears of a long established local venue.

The Jewellery Quarter BID, which is being led by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) in partnership with Birmingham City Council, aims to attract investment, increase visitor numbers and encourage a more vibrant economy, while making the area a better place in which to work, invest and live.

Over 500 local businesses are being asked to vote to support the initiative, which will see companies with premises with a rateable value of £10,000 or above pay an annual levy of 2% to fund additional investment for the benefit of the whole area. The voting ballot, which commenced on 17^th April 2012, will run for five weeks until 24^th May.

John Bunce, managing director of The Jam House on St Paul’s Square, believes the BID will help to create autonomy in the community and make the area more attractive for people visiting and working in the Quarter.

John, who is also a director of the Jewellery Quarter Association (JQA) and sits on the BID Steering Group, said: “The Jewellery Quarter is a community that is constantly growing and the dynamics are changing on a regular basis. The area, well known for its manufacturing and jewellery industries, is also fast becoming a popular location for creative businesses, such as architects and designers, and residents.

“In the past, I have been frustrated with the lack of support from the City Council, for example when they have left roads and pavements unrepaired or broken signs have not been replaced. By becoming a Business Improvement District (BID), local businesses can set an agenda and priorities that meet their needs and get things done!”

However, John says we can’t just rely on the revenue raised from levy payers to improve the Quarter.

“I think all businesses can do their bit to ensure that the area is kept clean, tidy and presentable. As a bar operator there are times when there is broken glass outside or empty takeaway cartons strewn on the pavement from late night partygoers. We know accidents happen, especially when people have been drinking and having a good time, but I make a real effort to clean up anything that could make the Jam House look uninviting. All businesses need to ensure that the outside of their premises is kept clean from rubbish and cigarette ends, etc. We all have to take some responsibility for the area in which we work and live. Undoubtedly, a successful BID will encourage businesses to work together and take pride in their area.”

Confirmation that the police station will remain in the Jewellery Quarter has also come as a welcome relief to John and other licenced leisure businesses in the area.

“Having a bricks and mortar presence of police in the Quarter is very important as it reassures people that they can have a good night out in safe surroundings. However, if we do have an incident, we know it can be dispersed within minutes of alerting the authorities because they are already patrolling the area, whether it’s on foot, by bike or in the car.

“I’m confident that the BID will help to preserve and enhance the pleasant surroundings and safe environment that we already have in the Jewellery Quarter, to make it a destination that people want to visit – whether it’s for its heritage, jewellery or nightlife.”

The board of the JQDT decided in early-summer 2011 to support the BID proposal and develop the initiative in partnership with Birmingham City Council. Being a Community Interest Company, the JQDT is made up of key community and stakeholder organisations from within the Jewellery Quarter, including the Jewellery Quarter Association, the Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative, the Jewellery Quarter Trade Alliance and the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum.

The Trust Board agreed that a levy of 2% should be set on all properties with a rateable value of £10,000 and above and that the Jewellery Quarter BID area would be defined as the area bounded by the Jewellery Quarter side of Great Charles Street, Livery Street, Great Hampton Street, Key Hill Drive, Icknield Street, Sandpits/The Parade and Summer Row.

The BID would help to improve the Jewellery Quarter in many ways, including providing a welcoming environment for visitors, clean and safer streets, improving marketing to increase footfall and inward investment, and improving connectivity to the city centre.

For more information, visit www.jqdt.org/BIDs.

We are now taking bookings for the first of the city centre Success Workshops – designed to help those in Arts, Crafts & Vintage grow their business by giving practical tips and advice. The workshops are designed so that have a chance to have all your questions answered and come away with a real action plan to help you succeed.  The most popular requests so far are for these three areas:

Saturday 19th May Websites & Domains (bring laptop if you have one)

We solve the mystery of websites and choosing domain names.

• What sort of website do I need?
• How do I set it up?
• Why is the domain name important?
• What about professional email addresses?
• How much does it all cost?
• What if I change my mind?
• How will having a website help increase my business?

Saturday 26th May Blogging (bring laptop if you have one)

This week, we’ll look at the basics of blogging.

• What is a blog?
• Why should I have one?
• What should it be about?
• What shall I call it?
• How often should I publish posts?
• How do I know what to write about?
• How will people know about my blog?

Saturday 2nd June Social Media (bring laptop if you have one)

In this one, we’ll solve the mystery of social media. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn et all and all your questions will be answered plus we’ll work on your chosen site(s) there and then

• What is Social Media for?
• What are the options?
• Which is the best site?
• How do I set up?
• How do I make contacts?
• How do I promote my business?
• How do I get help via social media?
• How do I raise my profile?

Workshops take place in the basement of Six Eight Kafé, Temple Row, Birmingham (near House of Fraser)

Cost is £15 per person which includes a delicious drink and mid-morning snack bought to your seat.

Please book directly by replying to me at rickie@birminghamarts.co.uk or book via Meet Up here

http://birminghamvintage.wordpress.com/workshops/