Community News

The official naming of the ‘Black Sabbath Bridge’ in honour of Birmingham’s legendary heavy metal rockers is taking place in the heart of the city’s entertainment district later this month. Two of the band's founder members will be attending the extraordinary event at the road bridge which crosses the canal on Broad Street on Wednesday 26 June.

Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler will be cruising onto the scene aboard a narrow boat to unveil the new bridge signage from the canal below the bridge, with hundreds of Black Sabbath fans expected to flock to the city to watch.

Tribute band Sabbra Cadabra will be based on a nearby canal island to provide heavy metal entertainment throughout the event.

Westside Business Improvement District (BID) has worked closely with the Canal & River Trust charity and Birmingham City Council to have the bridge renamed as ‘Black Sabbath Bridge’.

As well as the new bridge name, a uniquely designed ‘heavy metal bench’ incorporating images of the band’s original four members will be permanently based on the bridge, and this is expected to become a major new tourist attraction for the city.

Westside BID originally unveiled the bench to fans at a private ceremony at St Luke’s Gas Street Church in February, which means the bridge-naming event will also be its public launch.

Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “We’re grateful to the Canal & River Trust and Birmingham City Council for helping us to realise our ambition to pay this special tribute to Black Sabbath.

“On 26 June, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and other VIPs will board the narrow boat which will sail down to the canal island opposite the National Sea Life Centre where the Sabbra Cadabra tribute band will be playing.

“The barge will be hooked up to the sound system on the island so that Tony and Geezer can say a few words to all the fans watching.

“They will then sail down beneath the bridge to pull the cords to unveil both the new Black Sabbath Bridge signage and the heavy metal bench.

“It’s going to be a wonderful event, and there is plenty of space on the canal footpaths, nearby bars and the bridge itself for all the Black Sabbath fans we are expecting to come to watch.”

Ani Sutton, community engagement manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “We’re thrilled to be involved and look forward to seeing hundreds of people enjoying this event on the canal in Birmingham – which is also celebrating its 250th birthday this year.

“The bench looks fabulous and by working closely with Westside BID we have created a new location on a renamed bridge that not only can Brummies be proud of, but which will also draw tens of thousands of tourists to the city and the canal in the years to come.”

Tony Iommi said: “The bridge name and commemorative bench are both terrific and we’re thrilled that everyone can now enjoy what has become a special location for Black Sabbath history.”

Geezer Butler said: “I can’t wait for what’s going to be such a memorable event, and one where I can once again thank the loyalty of our great fans.”

Councillor Waseem Zaffar, the cabinet member for Transport and the Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “We are delighted to name this new bridge in honour of Black Sabbath, one of the greatest bands to come from Birmingham.”

The unveiling coincides with a major Home of Metal exhibition celebrating Black Sabbath and the band’s legacy, which runs from 26 June to 29 September at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Ramadan began in early May and we're now marking Eid al-Fitr - the end of the holy month of Ramadan – which translates from Arabic to "the feast of the breaking of the fast" and refers to the festivities that signal the end of the month of daily fasting through Ramadan.

Now that the fast has ended, Muslims are celebrating the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the first day of the Shawwal moon.

This year celebrations will commence from today and end tomorrow (Wednesday June 5).

Eid is a way of Muslims saying thanks to their God following their month of abstinence. Families who have observed Ramadan will get together and indulge with a feast, which will include plenty of sweet treats.

The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle.

The start of a month is determined by an official sighting of the first crescent of the full moon.

Experts look for the moon on the evening of the 29th day of a month. If it's seen, then the month is said to have ended and the next month begins.

If it's not seen, the month goes on for another day.

In the case of Eid at the start of Shawwal, experts look again for the moon on the 30th day to give official confirmation.

However in some cases, organisations use astronomical charts so they can plan a long way ahead.

The Umm al-Qura Calendar, used by the government of Saudi Arabia, had already stated the date of Eid al-Fitr 2019 as today (Tuesday, June 4).

In some Middle Eastern countries, Eid is celebrated as a national bank holiday. Unfortunately, this isn't the case for Muslims in Greater Manchester.

But that doesn't mean to say there won't be plenty of things to do.

Eid, in the Small Heath Park, in Birmingham, starts at 9:30am on June 4 and promises to be a family-fun event with a funfair and a bazaar hosting food and drink.

A busy city centre underpass will be close for two years to allow tram extension works to take place.

The underpass beneath the busy Five Ways roundabout in Birmingham links Broad Street and Hagley Road - a route in and out of the city.

Its closure is part of the Midland Metro tram extension, which is expected to be completed in 2021.

While the roundabout itself will remain open, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has warned of increased traffic.

The underpass was closed yesterday (June 3) and TfWM has issued a guidance to people travelling into Birmingham using the Five Ways roundabout.

Drivers are advised to allow longer for journeys, use public transport where necessary and consider alternative routes.

TfWM said the expanded tram service will improve transport links to the city centre and help cut down on traffic pollution.

The extension of tram services from Grand Central to Centenary Square on Broad Street is expected to be completed later this year.

The new line heading towards Edgbaston should be completed in time for Birmingham to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and TfWM hopes the tram will go as far as Birmingham Airport if funding can be found in the future.

Phil Hewitt, from Midland Metro Alliance, said the extension will "really transform the accessibility from Birmingham to the Black Country".

"The opportunities for people to access jobs, to access leisure, will be fundamentally different to where we are today," he said.

"It will be well worth waiting for."

As the U.S. Virgin Islands announces the return of hotels and resorts to the accommodations landscape over the next few months, the leader of the U.S. Territory committed his government to securing increased airlift to fill those rooms.

Speaking after a successful meeting with Delta Air Lines' leadership team in Atlanta on Thursday, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said a strong aerial highway policy was critically important to the Territory's future, and his administration was exploring every avenue to boost relations with airline partners.

"We have been meeting and talking with airline officials since we took office, and this session here in Atlanta was no different - getting important feedback on the performance of routes into St. Croix and St. Thomas and giving our partners at Delta an update on our tourism rebound and recovery," said Governor Bryan.

Governor Bryan, who was accompanied by Tourism Commissioner nominee Joseph Boschulte, reported that Delta was generally satisfied with the performance of its routes into both of the Territory's airports, and committed his teams at both the Department of Tourism and the Virgin Islands Port Authority to identify opportunities for capacity increases with the airline.

"It was encouraging to hear how confident Delta's team is about our product, and that they are keen to work with us to bolster Atlanta-St. Croix flights to pre-storm levels, when we were experiencing an uptick in demand to the 'Big Island'," the Governor stated.

"The St. Croix airport has been underutilized for years, so we are looking forward to exploring new ways to put people into seats to St. Croix," said Governor Bryan, explaining that with Divi Carina Bay Resort expected to come back online later this year, with the expansion in sharing accommodations, and robust business travel demand returning with the resumption of activity at the oil refinery, the conditions looked favorable for increasing flights to St. Croix.

The governor said the airline was encouraged by a very strong uptick in traffic to St. Croix this past March and was satisfied with the performance of its routes from Atlanta and New York to St. Thomas.

Governor Bryan told the airline executives that legislation would soon be introduced to attract investors to new hotel and resort projects across the Territory.

He briefed the investment community on the administration's business-friendly approach to hotel development at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) in Miami next week.

While in Atlanta, the governor and commissioner nominee also met the Department of Tourism's advertising agency of record, J. Walter Thompson Atlanta, where they explored the importance of leveraging data to differentiate audiences and improve storytelling.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is asking business professionals to swap their suits for cycle gear this June, so that they can get pedalling for vital hospice care.

Working in collaboration with the West Midlands Combined Authority and as part of the Mayor’s Giving Day, the Selly Park-based charity is calling on corporates to take part in its ‘City Cycle Challenge’ – an exhilarating static bike event which will see teams from different businesses compete with one another.

Taking place on Friday 28 June at Millennium Point, team members will have just 40 minutes to take it in turns and cycle as quickly and as far as they can – with the team that collectively completes the longest distance being named the winner.

There can be up to five people per team, with a live leaderboard on display so that professionals can keep track on how they are doing against their closest business rivals.

Already signed up to take part is a team of five from Birmingham’s John Lewis & Partners department store. Lisa Williams, the shop’s head of branch, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved in the Mayor’s Giving Day by taking on Birmingham St Mary’s City Cycle Challenge. Supporting the communities in which we trade is second-nature to us and this event is a great way of showing our commitment to the local community. The team are determined to do their best and to raise as much as they can for this excellent charity, and we wish all competitors well on what should be a great day for the city.”

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is running the City Cycle Challenge event as part of the Mayor’s Giving Day – an initiative set up by Andy Street which aims to encourage businesses to give more to charities and think about the impact they can have on local communities.

All of the vital sponsorship raised for the City Cycle Challenge will go towards the Hospice, which provides vital care to local people and their loved ones who are living with life-limiting illness.

Lucy Watkins, head of fundraising at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “The Mayor’s Giving Day is a fantastic way to bring together businesses and charities from across the region. We know from our own corporate partnerships that working in collaboration with local businesses can have mutual benefits – not only can businesses help raise vital awareness and funds for the Hospice but we can also support an organisation to meet its CSR objectives.

“That’s why we wanted to support the Mayor’s Giving Day by hosting our own event. The City Cycle Challenge will be a really fun way to encourage team building, networking and support for the Hospice, all whilst adding a hearty dose of competition into the mix.”

This year, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is celebrating 40 years of care across Birmingham and Sandwell. When the Hospice first opened in 1979, it could care for 25 people on any given day. Four decades later and the Hospice is supporting over 400 people every day, providing care in people’s homes, in the community, at its Day Hospice facility and at the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit.

Birmingham St Mary’s is the largest hospice in Birmingham and it will cost £8 million to run its crucial services this year – over 60 per cent of which must come from generous voluntary funding. Corporate partnerships and events like the City Cycle Challenge, are vital in enabling it to continue to care for people when they need it most, wherever and whenever they need it.

Compton Care – a hospice based in Wolverhampton – is also running a ‘City Cycle Challenge’ event in the Black Country, in collaboration with Birmingham St Mary’s.

Have you ever wondered why some dogs react to fireworks and some don’t? Or why some dogs respond more strongly to being separated from their owners than others? These and many other questions are being explored in a ground-breaking study by Dogs Trust.

The UK’s largest dog welfare charity is calling on all new puppy owners to sign up to its landmark ‘Generation Pup’ study to help Dogs Trust learn more about our four-legged friends and improve dog welfare for future generations. The study is tracking puppies through to adulthood, to learn how their early experiences and environment affect the development of health and behaviour issues in later years. Participants will also be able to keep a record of their dog’s journey.

Says Dr Rachel Casey, Dogs Trust Director of Canine Behaviour and Research:

“Generation Pup is the first study of this nature and breadth, enabling us to gain multiple new insights and understanding about our canine companions. We are tracking each puppy’s early experiences - from the age they joined the family and their first encounters, such as travelling in a car and meeting other dogs, to how they respond to new things they come across, what they eat, how far they walk, and potentially even whether characteristics such as being left or right ‘pawed’ influence behaviour.

We are looking at a whole range of different health and behavioural conditions as puppies grow into adulthood right through to old age – and by collecting lots of information about each pup’s early experiences, we can understand to what extent these influence what happens later in life. Generation Pup includes all breeds of puppies from anywhere in the UK and ROI: our only requirement is that they’re registered on the project before they are 16 weeks old.”

Generation Pup will enable Dogs Trust to get closer to our four-legged friends than ever before. We’ve already learned that a quarter of dogs join their new families before they are eight weeks old and that owners are more likely to ask for help from vets if their dog is insured, and even then, only if a problem persists, instead of having regular health checks irrespective of any warning signs. This study will allow for further analysis of these factors and potentially help us learn how to prevent problem behaviours and issues. From this summer new recruits will also all receive an annual personalised report tracking their dog’s behaviour and development.

So why have people joined up to the study already?

• Nearly three quarters of recruits wanted to help improve the welfare of dogs
• 17% wanted to help with science and knowledge development
• 6% wanted to learn more about dogs

“It is so encouraging that owners are so engaged with the study already – we are massively grateful to all the owners who give up their time to help with the study. Learning when and how dogs are being introduced to certain sights, sounds, smells and situations, and more importantly how they react, gives us incredible insights into factors that influence both behaviour and health as dogs get older. This means we can identify new approaches to prevent problems which impact on dog welfare, as well as inform our work rehoming dogs and in helping owners train their dogs through our Dog School classes.”

Labrador Retriever puppies have so far led the way in numbers registered on the study, followed by Cocker Spaniels, Cockapoos and Border Collies. 17% of puppies had also met a feline house-mate by 16 weeks old, and 74% had been for a doggy paddle.

“The more puppies we have signed up to the study, the greater potential we have for learning about dogs, so if you have a puppy under 16 weeks please get in touch. All the information we collect is used to help dog scientists understand more about the reasons our pets become unhealthy, or develop problem behaviours so these conditions can be prevented, and we can ensure our dogs are happier and healthier.”

Hundreds of Brummies will be coming together to walk in memory of a loved one this June, as part of a special stroll for a local charity.

The ‘Enchanted Midsummer Walk’ – which is organised by Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice – will see local people unite to take on a scenic 10k route across South Birmingham.

Taking place at dusk, participants will be guided along the route by mystical magicians, dazzling fire breathers and impressive aerial acts, creating a truly enchanting experience inspired by Shakespeare.

The walk begins at Rowheath Pavilion – where participants will be able to enjoy music, street food and drinks – before heading off into the leafy suburbs of Bournville, Weoley Hill and Selly Oak. During the route, walkers will be able to visit the Hospice itself at Selly Park and light a candle in memory of their special someone.

As part of the celebrations, walkers will also be treated to an ice cream stop along the route and will be rewarded with a commemorative medal and more enchanting enterrainment once they reach the finish line.

Laura Nash, who is events manager at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice organiser of this year’s walk, said: “Our Enchanted Midsummer Walk is a really magical way to celebrate the lives of loved ones who are sadly no longer with us. This is the fourth time we’ve done the walk and every year, there’s a really upbeat and positive atmosphere – it’s just fantastic to see everyone come together for a similar reason and do something special for the Hospice.

Last year, the Enchanted Midsummer Walk sold out, with over 500 walkers raising £35,000 for the Hospice. All funds raised will go towards Birmingham St Mary’s, which provides vital care to local people and their loved ones who are living with life-limiting illness.

Laura added: “It will cost £8 million to run the Hospice’s crucial services this year, over 60 per cent of which will need to come from voluntary donations. That’s why sponsorship raised at events like the Enchanted Midsummer Walk are vital – it enables us to continue to support people to live well with illness.”

This year, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is celebrating 40 years of care across Birmingham and Sandwell. When the Hospice first opened in 1979, it could care for 25 people on any given day. Four decades later and the Hospice is supporting over 400 people every day, providing care in people’s homes, in the community, at its Day Hospice facility and at the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit.

The Enchanted Midsummer Walk takes place on Saturday 15 June from 6.30 to 11.30pm. Tickets booked in advance cost £16.50 per person or £14.50 per person when booked as a group of five or more.

New laws to crack down on anti-social behaviour on the region’s bus network have moved a step closer after getting overwhelming public support.

The proposed byelaws, which will give enforcement officers added powers to deal with a range of offences including drunkenness, unacceptable behaviour and smoking, were supported by more than 90% of people responding to a consultation.

They were strongly in favour of strengthening powers to deal with rowdy behaviour, intoxication with drink or drugs, smoking and vaping and loud music.

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) leaders are now set to support an application to Government for the byelaws to be introduced on the region’s buses.

Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands and who heads up the WMCA, said: “Our buses are incredibly safe, but no passenger should have to put up with anti-social behaviour.

“These byelaws will add to the range of tools available to our enforcement officers to help deal with and eradicate these problems. Fear of crime can deter people from using public transport, and that is why I am doing everything I can to stamp it out.

“Those found breaking the proposed byelaws and disrupting journeys for other passengers can expect a zero-tolerance approach.”

The proposal for the new byelaws has been drawn up by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the WMCA, and are supported West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson.

Planners have given the green light to a scheme by leading homes developer Lovell to transform the former Stourbridge police station into 31 luxury town centre apartments for sale.

Work will start on site this summer at the redevelopment which will create stylish, contemporary homes whilst retaining many of the original features of the historic police station – part of which dates back to 1885.

Lovell will draw on its extensive experience of creating high-specification new-build homes and of working on historic buildings to bring new life to the town centre location. Station House, which will be the first Lovell Reinspired development, will create a gated community of 29 one and two-bedroom apartments; one penthouse apartment and two two-bedroom maisonettes with 34 parking spaces.

Two of the properties will be created out of the old cells, creating a truly unique place to call home. As well as this, the development will also provide 4 electric vehicle charging points.

The main police station building was built in 1911 as the headquarters of the Worcestershire County Constabulary while the ‘Wendy House’ and an accommodation block, which will also be converted through the scheme, are believed to date from the 1930s. As well as the cells, a former magistrates’ court will be transformed through the redevelopment. Two new-build apartments will also be created facing Court St.

The conversion scheme will retain the original building’s architectural internal and external features wherever possible, including the external blue doors and the stunning barrel ceiling of the old court room which will be shown off to spectacular effect through the creation of two double-height apartments with mezzanine floors.

“We’re excited to be opening a new chapter in the history of the police station and look forward to starting work on this landmark development later this year,” says Lovell regional refurbishment director Carl Yale.

“The scheme will celebrate and preserve many of the original features of the historic building while introducing a contemporary twist. ‘Guilty as charged’, all properties will be built with Lovell Homes’ ‘Gold’ specification as standard, as well as incorporating its inspiring style and exceptional value.

“We predict extremely high demand for these individual luxury apartments and maisonettes where residents will have access to all the amenities of the town centre in a location close to both Stourbridge  railway station and the Stourbridge Interchange bus station.”

Cycle Chain’s instantly recognisable bike repair, sales and hire narrowboat Carina (pictured) may have to  batten down the hatches and close up shop - unless new investment can be found to enable its operations to continue.

Situated below Sea Life Centre at Birmingham’s bustling Brindleyplace, Carina, a historic and decorative 72’ narrowboat “butty” built for towing by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company in 1935, was purchased from the Canal & River Trust, raised from the depths with help from Travel West Midlands in 2012 by not-for-profit organisation Cycle Chain Ltd and fully refitted as a multi-purpose workshop facility. Students from various colleges have been taken on board to learn bike mechanics and life skills from trained staff and volunteers, who themselves have benefited from acquiring the expertise essential for running the business.

Recent financial constraints have suspended teaching, but  Carina still carries out a brisk trade, offering a mix of regulars, passing customer and adventurous out-of-towners reasonably priced bike repairs,and sales.  

Hourly or daily cycle hire, guided tours and led rides may also run from  Carina, which is perfectly placed to exploit both the extensive Birmingham canal network, the city centre, and outlying districts.

The narrowboat's mooring spot across the canal from the Indoor Arena  is right In the heart of Birmingham,and Brindleyplace's management provides much-appreciated on-site support. Carina offers great potential for development as a unique and distinctive cycling hub offering eco-friendly transport options for Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Cycle Chain, founded in 2002, is keen to secure financial and business support to ensure its survival as a social enterprise run by committed and experienced volunteers, and there is the capacity to reinstate on-board teaching immediately.

Although currently a paying its way by trading only two/three days a week, with a small committed group of volunteers, Carina may need to be offered for sale, to clear some past deficits.

Cycle Chain Ltd, a Company Limited by Guarantee is next to Sea Life, B1 2HL, (entrance to Oozells St Canal Loop) and has a Facebook page.

The majority of people believe we can all be kinder to each other, according to a survey of the UK public for the British Red Cross.

About two in every three people surveyed admitted they themselves could do more to be kinder to others, with a staggering 91% agreeing that if we all did one kind thing a day, the UK would be a better place.

Preventing people from feeling lonely ranked top for the difference people would most like to make. Among the small acts of kindness people shared that had a big impact were:

• A stranger at a petrol pump lending them 2p when they had no cash and were just over the £30 limit to use contactless
• Friends who’d only ever met on Twitter sending another Twitter friend a box of goodies to cheer them up when they were ill
• A neighbour nipping next door to re-plant a rose bush that had died, as a surprise
• Coming home to a houseful of happy post-it note messages from a flatmate
• Being met at the door with a... cheesecake after a particularly bad day at work

Alongside the survey, the British Red Cross is launching its One Kind Thing campaign, encouraging everyone in the UK to do something kind to support its vital work.

From donating money, time or unwanted clothes, to taking part in an event, the charity is inviting us all to choose ‘one kind thing’ to ensure its volunteers can keep connecting people in crisis with people’s kindness, across the UK and the world.

Executive Director for Communications and Advocacy at the British Red Cross, Zoë Abrams said:

“The British Red Cross connects people in crisis with people who want to help. We reach out when people need us most so they know they don’t have to face their challenges alone. These survey results show the UK public believe we can all manage to do one kind thing, and it doesn’t have to be grand scale to make a real difference.

“Even the simplest acts of kindness can start to remove some of the fear and anxiety we all feel when faced with adversity, however big or small. That’s as true in refugee camps thousands of miles away as it is on a street here in the UK.  It’s heartening to see how strongly people recognise that; now we must mobilise and empower one other to create a kinder nation.”

Clinical psychologist, Dr Sarah Davidson, heads up a team of British Red Cross staff and volunteers trained to support people wherever they are in the world when crisis hits.

“Increasingly we’re seeing how emotional support is as vital as water, food, shelter and cash, to help people start to recover. And kindness is at the heart of that because it connects us to each other. Whether you’ve lost your home, your relative or your livelihood, having another human being notice your pain and be kind to you helps break through feelings of pain, loneliness and isolation.

“It may not change your situation immediately but it can reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. It’s a two-way process. Whether you’re experiencing kindness or being kind, both of you feel valued and better able to cope.”

The British Red Cross offers practical and emotional support to people in crisis in the UK on average every four hours. From major disasters to looking after people who’ve lost their homes in a fire or flood, it sees every day how small acts of kindness can make a vast difference to how people cope.

Internationally, its volunteers support people in the face of natural disasters and epidemics, as well as those forced from their homes through hunger, poverty, and conflict. Very often those volunteers are victims of the same extreme circumstances themselves.

Find out more about the One Kind Thing campaign by searching online for ‘Red Cross One Kind Thing’. You can also get involved on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Linked In, using the hashtag #OneKindThing.

Visitors are invited to hop along to Birdland Park & Gardens over the May Half Term holidays (May 25th – June 2nd) and join their Penguin Week celebrations.

There's a packed programme of penguin-themed events and activities taking place throughout the holidays.

The Bourton-on-the-Water wildlife attraction looks after England's only breeding colony of king penguins which share their beach-themed home with a group of comical Humboldts.

Head Keeper Alistair Keen said: “This really is the best time to come and see the king penguins as they are just starting to show off their beach bodies in search of a mate.

“They've shed their winter coats and have been busily feeding up to get the extra energy needed to produce a beautifully sleek summer plumage.”

Keepers will be putting visitors penguin know-how to the test with a special quiz about everybody's favourite flightless birds, plus there's the chance to watch the penguin being fed and learn about their favourite foods and individual personalities.

There will be twice daily feeding displays at 11am and 2.30pm with herring on the menu for the king penguins and sprats for the Humboldts.

“Each of the penguins definitely has its own unique personality and they love to play. Our two hand-reared penguins; Spike and Charlotte, are particularly friendly,” said Alistair.

“As the colony is now beginning to pair up we're also likely to see lots of bizarre courtship rituals on display,” he added.

Many of the penguins have appeared on TV and in films and the park is also home to Missy who, at age 40, is believed to be the oldest king penguin in the world.

With its combination of woodland, riverside and gardens, Birdland features more than 500 birds, ranging from birds of prey and parrots to cassowaries and cranes in a mix of free-flying and aviary displays.

To celebrate this year's World Bee Day on Monday 20th May, St Ermin's Hotel and their 350,000 Buckfast honey bees are delighted to gift a free copy of beautifully produced book The Good Bee, A Celebration of Bees – And How to Save Them by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCullum to the first 50 diners who book a table for afternoon tea on that day. With hand-made illustrations throughout, this is a story for our times and a book to treasure…

Continue the celebration of bees and visit the hotel's bees hard at work on the third floor Bee Terrace where they have been happy residents since 2011 or for a real insight into these fascinating creatures attend a popular beekeeping workshop at the hotel!

The delicious new 'Garden Afternoon Tea' features sweet and savoury indulgences that draw inspiration from the season's finest ingredients, many of which are grown in the hotel's rooftop kitchen garden, and uses honey from our bees…

Taking Stratford-upon-Avon by storm, Hotel du Vin is celebrating a successful start to its Warwickshire life as the hotel celebrates a suite of award-wins and top reviews in its first year of opening.

The former registry office and social club was converted into a 46-bedroom boutique hotel with a multimillion investment by Frasers Hospitality, owners of Hotel du Vin and its sister brand, Malmaison. Employing over 50 members of staff, Hotel du Vin Stratford-upon-Avon opened in March last year and has already become a local success story. Voted as one of the top 10 hotels in the area on TripAdvisor and featured in The Sunday Times’ 100 top British hotels, the hotel has also received the AA four-star accreditation.

Nicolas Jefford, who was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, is general manager of the hotel and puts this initial success down to his 53-strong team. What’s more, the nine months since opening have seen several of the original recruits climb the ranks, with the internal promotions of five employees to senior roles.

He commented:

“For us, the staff are the secret to the success we’ve had; the hard-work began long before doors opened, with us striving to find the perfect people to represent the Hotel du Vin brand in Stratford-upon-Avon. Our intensive training programme for our staff and the recruitment of the likes of Arvind Bhardwaj and Laura Ginty, with over 30 years’ experience in the industry, means that we’re confident our team can deliver the highest hospitality standards.”

Hotel du Vin Stratford-upon-Avon’s 46 stunning bedrooms and suites are all based on a contemporary development of the traditional Hotel du Vin style. Guests familiar with the brand will be pleased to know that luxurious roll top baths and large comfy beds still come as standard, and that the Bistro at the hotel retains its focus on home-style French cooking, featuring robust earthy dishes on its menu.

However, this Hotel du Vin is distinctly Stratford-focused, with the attention to detail paid in renovating the 3,557 square metre listed building has also been a huge factor in getting people to check in. Such is the focus on quality, the hotel was even presented with the ‘Hotel of the Year’ accolade in the group-wide award ceremony last weekend. With the original site being built in 1798, the team was determined to retain as much character and charm as possible in the transformation. Having been a doctor’s surgery during and after World War Two, through to a social club, and most recently the town registry office, Hotel du Vin wanted to ensure the site’s cultural significance was preserved for the local people. This can be seen throughout the local references and nods to the area’s heritage throughout the hotel.

With a relaxed bar, al fresco dining and drinking courtesy of the landscaped suntrap of a courtyard, and three versatile event spaces with a capacity of up to 70 people, Hotel du Vin Stratford-upon-Avon is suitable for everything from intimate private dining, through to corporate meeting, training and entertaining.

“Our focus on preserving the character of the site was integral to the building process; I was born and raised in Stratford, so having the chance to bring this beautiful hotel to life in my hometown was a huge honour for me. I hope both locals and visitors to the town alike enjoy experiencing it as much as I do, and I look forward to welcoming them soon,” Nicolas concludes.

After celebrating the anniversary last week, the hotel hopes to continue this initial success by celebrating further award nominations, as well as plans to recruit more team members and launch an extensive events calendar.

Work can often be a main cause of stress and anxiety, but with appropriate wellness interior design, it can be a place to feel relaxed, comfortable and productive. Central to luxury flexible workspace, Uncommon’s wellness strategy is living greenery in the workplace, with over 1,000 plants housed in the new flagship space Liverpool Street, the plants help filter the air and provide a more neutral feel to the space. Uncommon’s spaces also offer al fresco areas, from terraces to roof top gardens, boasting fully functioning WiFi for members to make the most of long summer days whilst making sure all work goals are met.

Research by the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that by adding just one plant per square mile in an office, employees were 15% more productive than those without plants in their workspace. As well as the plants, Uncommon Liverpool Street also features a 5-metre Ficus benjamina tree, situated in the central atrium of the top-floor communal mezzanine space. Surrounding the tree will be hanging chairs, perfect for relaxation or break-out meetings, making sure even on those rainy summer days, members of Uncommon still reap the outdoor space working benefits.

With a strong focus on mental wellbeing in the workplace, Uncommon’s flagship space, Liverpool Street, which will be fully open to members from the 20th May, has collaborated with leading light artist Marcus Lyall, to provide Uncommon’s newest space on Liverpool Street with a spectacular, bespoke light and sound installation. It monitors heart rates and stress levels through the touch of a finger and is designed to promote wellness by making people aware of the signals inside their body and how stress can affect their everyday life.

Uncommon offers luxury flexible workspaces and offices in central locations with an emphasis on design led spaces and a focus on health & wellbeing. Their aim is to promote a healthier way of working in an environment that evokes creativity, as well as productivity. The spaces draw inspiration from a blend of Scandinavian and Italian design with a combination of rich textures and tonal colours to stimulate focus and maintain levels of calmness.