Sadler’s, owners of the award winning Peaky Blinder spirits range made in the Black Country, have officially registered July 2 as ‘National Peaky Blinder Day’. To celebrate, a whole host of prizes will be up for grabs via the Sadler’s website, including a year’s supply of Sadler’s Peaky Blinder lager and range of spirits.

The original Peaky Blinder gang had direct links to the Sadler’s family back in the 1800s, and were regular visitors to their well-known Birmingham pubs and establishments during that period. With the creation of the Peaky Blinder Spirits range in 2017, each spirit was named after founding members of the Sadler family business, as well as real Peaky Blinder gang members as a tribute.

Andy Wallace, International Marketing Manager, Whisky, comments: “Speaking to social historian Professor Carl Chinn MBE, we’ve delved into the stories of the original Peaky Blinder gang and those who adorn our bottles.

“Henry Lightfoot, the first recognised member of the gang, was well-known in the Birmingham area for his misdemeanours, yet in 1916 he signed up to the British Army to fight for his country at the Battle of the Somme. After two days in battle he was injured, and discharged from the army on July 2.

“We wanted to celebrate the hard graft and toil displayed by the founders of Sadler’s and the people of the Black Country area during this period and beyond, which is really what the brand is all about. Launching National Peaky Blinder Day on July 2 felt like a fitting tribute – we’ll be raising a glass on the day, and encouraging fans to get involved with the range of offers available on our website”. The Sadler’s Peaky Blinder Distillery and Bar in Lye are now also open for visitors, with a host of specials events coming up this summer.

After being inundated with orders from the USA, dynamic British vegan entrepreneur Lorri Delahunty decided to jump in at the deep end and launch her clothing brand VEGAN Happy in the USA. 

"We realised that due to massively increased postage costs because of the pandemic, we were not looking after our USA clients very well, so we set up in the USA a couple of months ago, with our base just outside of Boston, MA." 

"We are very excited about this huge expansion to VEGAN Happy - and rather nervous too! It has only been a couple of years since I was sat at my kitchen table in the British countryside with small selection of t shirts and joggers.  Now we are worn by celebrities in the UK and have a base in America. It is a dream come true." 

"I love the USA and whenever I visit it feels like a home from home - and as my son lives near Boston now, I have another excuse to visit more often too." 

"The vegan scene is vibrant, and our USA clients are wonderful. My dream is to be walking in a mall or vegan café and see someone wearing a VEGAN Happy sweatshirt!" 

Again VEGAN Happy is working with ethical supply partners, and their garment decoration is made with ethical and vegan threads and inks, as you would expect. 

"Our second aim when setting up VEGAN Happy, apart from the entirely selfish reason of us wanting to clothe ourselves in gorgeous vegan clothing that worked with our style, was to raise money for vegan activism and animal rescue projects." 

The VEGAN Happy promise is that they donate 10% of their profits away to animal rescue and shelters, however in reality it can be a lot more than this. 

"We have already teamed up with a fantastic USA based animal sanctuary who we are supporting: www.angelheartsrescue.org - a Kansas City-based non-profit organization that assists the homeless people in KC provide basic medical care, food and supplies for their pets. 

As well as donating to www.mockingbirdfarmny.com - a historic farm nestled in the small town of Byron, NY has become a place of refuge for all human and non-human beings who visit. 

VEGAN Happy has created a growing range of affordable and stylish vegan friendly clothes. Great quality, 100% animal cruelty free, and with a subtle vegan message or logo that suits all age ranges and genders. 

A range of wardrobe staples for vegan men, women and kids that could easily be paired with the rest of your clothes and would look good at home, at work, in the gym, or casual out-and-about with friends. 

The range is constantly evolving from input from clients and of course, we always aim to keep on-trend as well as keeping that balance with timeless classic style. 

"We are hugely proud of VEGAN Happy so far and every time an order comes in we have a jig around the office to celebrate as we know our clients can promote a positive vegan message with style." 

A new business has opened its doors at the city’s award-winning i10 office and retail development.

Pronto Pasta offers hot pasta, paninis, pizza slices, wafflepops, and Italian coffees for takeaway, and there is also a small seating area in its ground floor unit. Five jobs have been created by the business, which is currently open 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday, and neighbours Greene King’s Sunbeam pub.

It also sits below three floors of top-grade office space fully occupied by Ovivo, Countryside and Tarmac’s Building Products division. The showpiece i10 building next to the railway and bus stations forms part of the city’s £150million Interchange.

Pronto Pasta owner, Baiant Nota, said: “When I see this part of the city it reminds me of places like Birmingham and Manchester - and I think Pronto Pasta will enhance the offer.

“Pasta is a huge cuisine but I don’t see many places where you can get hot pasta takeaway. When Covid restrictions are lifted further we will also be offering a breakfast bar and extensive salad bar. I’ve enjoyed good support from the council in Wolverhampton and I’m aiming to grow the business and branch out.”

City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “These have been tough times for small businesses and I am delighted to see a new one springing up in our city centre as we look to relight after the impact of the pandemic. Pronto Pasta brings new jobs to the area and the owner has identified i10 as a location where he believes his business can grow.

“The business is in the heart of the Interchange, right next to our new, award winning railway station and - with the MHCLG set to occupy the new i9 office development directly opposite our established commercial businesses in i10 – I’m sure it will prove a popular eating destination. This is all part of around £1billion of investment in the city centre that is either on site or planned.”

As well as encouraging more investment and boosting jobs in the city, i10 forms part of the gateway to Wolverhampton for people arriving off the national rail network or by bus, cycle or tram. Wider development has seen the completion of a new state-of-the-art railway station, works on a Metro line extension which will include a new stop at the station, and the new i9 office building, which will this year become home to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s joint headquarters.

This July, founder of ‘New Russian Cuisine’ food movement Konstantin Ivlev will treat Amilla Maldives guests to his experimental, reinterpretations of undeservedly forgotten traditional ingredients, plucked from Russia’s vast expanses and reinvented as modern, outward-looking dishes packed with flavour. The award-winning Russian culinary innovator and TV chef will take residency at Amilla’s signature overwater restaurant, Feeling Koi, between 17 to 27 July to host three spectacular evenings of gastronomic delights.

One of Russia’s most acclaimed chefs, Ivlev has worked at some of Moscow’s most prestigious restaurants, earning them two and three Michelin stars along the way. He is founder of the Ivlev Group – creator of Café Siren, E11even and Culture Park, amongst others, and has appeared on popular culinary TV shows such as ‘Ask the Chef’, ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ and the ‘Na Knives’ project, for which he won the prestigious Taffy television award in 2019.

His impressive repertoire also includes concept chief of the Capital Business Group, part of the French gastronomy guild Chaine des Rotissers and heading the Federation of Professional Chefs and Confectioners of Russia.  In 2004, Ivlev published his first book, My Cooking Philosophy, followed by Kitchen for Real Men (2011), and Cooking at Home in 2013. Part of a new generation of chefs spearheading a movement in Russian gastronomy to valorise local production, Ivlev uses traditional ingredients and modern techniques to push boundaries and change perceptions of the country’s cuisine.

Exclusively for Amilla Maldives’ guests, Ivlev will be showcasing prime examples of New Russian Cuisine through a curated five-course menu over three nights at Amilla’s signature overwater restaurant, Feeling Koi. Dishes will celebrate Russian delicacies, such as birch sap sauce and lecho, alongside the resort’s fresh, nutritional island-grown produce, like cucumber noodles.

The residency will underpin Amilla’s pioneering new garden-to-table philosophy where overlooked ingredients are showcased alongside the homemade, homegrown and homebrewed, to bring personality and vigour to the resort’s menus. Guests will also have the opportunity to attend a culinary masterclass by the eminent chef, during which he will share the secrets of ‘New Russian Cuisine’. The immersive experience comes hot on the heels of Amilla Maldives’ recent successful Easter pop-up with award-winning Sri Lankan restaurant brand Ministry of Crab.

Open to vegans, vegetarians, and meat reducers aged 65 and over, the club offers attendees the chance to learn new dishes, get tips from an experienced vegan chef, and meet like-minded people from across the UK.

The club takes places through Zoom video-conferencing on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Recipes are provided in advance, so you have plenty of time to get the ingredients. Cook that morning and then join Vegetarian for Life Chef Justina, along with attendees from across the UK, at 1pm.

Justina is a Culinary Arts Management graduate who brings knowledge and passion for sustainable, plant-based eating. She has managed a variety of groups of chefs and created her own menus, working in both Italian and theatre restaurants. Justina is passionate about experimenting with different/unusual flavours and baking. She enjoys travelling and seeking inspiration in cuisines around the globe.

Justina says: "The virtual lunch club is not only a place for food lovers, but also for like-minded people to share their stories and laugh. It cannot be easier to meet friendly faces than in the comfort of your own home with a plate of warm food in front of you. It might sound strange at first, but I promise that it is really fun when we all get to enjoy the same food as if we are sitting at the same table".

Recipes take a different theme each month - from a Pies & Pastries Week, boasting Mushroom & Ale Pies and Puff Pastry Tartlets, through to One-Pot Wonders such as Carrot, Ginger & Orange Soup and Versatile Stew - you'll get to make and enjoy a wide variety of tasty dishes.

The next club on 22nd June was delicious garden picnic ideas

Followed by:

27th July - meat free BBQing

24th August - cooking with tofu ahead of national tofu day 1st September

28th September - brunch ideas such as pancakes and scrambled tofu,

26th October - bake off themed in line with the Great British Bake off. Encouraging viewers to cook their favourite vegan bake.

23rd November - meat free pot luck dinner - individuals will cook their favourite meal and tell the group about it.

December - a vegan Christmas meal - brought forward due to Christmas! 14th December

"As always, there is no need to cook all of the recipes. You can choose just one or two, or simply join the lunch club with a cup of tea or what you're having for your lunch that day".

Attendees have told the charity, which supports older vegans and vegetarians: "It was a lovely lunchtime meet up, with lots of pie!" and: "It was really nice to attend for the first time yesterday. Thank you."

A new case study done by JustCBD – one of the favourite CBD brands in the industry – revealed the most popular CBD products in the UK and USA during Covid-19. The case study was conducted by performing a statistical analysis of the company's sales data during the pandemic. As the results show – edibles, in particular gummies, have been the most common choice. The vegan alternative of the delicious snack has been a loved product in Florida, Arizona, Virginia and other states.

Interestingly, during the pandemic taking care of our four-legged friends has become more important in the UK. The case study shows – citizens of Hereford, Kingston upon Hull, Lancaster and London have bought oils for their cats and dogs, while in the USA, for example, Utah, Montana, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, a close favourite has been the CBD tincture.

As the previously conducted poll revealed, one of the biggest reasons for using CBD products is pain. The case study shows that pain cream has been the top product for California, Minnesota, and other states. The full-spectrum oil is also a favourite both in the UK and the USA.

“People are looking for different ways of consuming CBD oil. What the case study shows – edibles have become popular, as they are very accessible for virtually everyone and can be consumed on the go without any stigma attached to CBD products,” said Nataly Komova, a certified nutritionist working for JustCBD.

JustCBD, one of the industry’s favourite brands, headquartered in Florida, was founded on the basis that Cannabidiol is Mother Nature’s secret miracle. Looking around, the company has found that the CBD business was consistently misrepresented. At JustCBD, we believe that you have the right to know what is inside your CBD products. It is our mission and promise never to misrepresent the content of our products. With the help of world-class labs to test our products, we are confident that JustCBD is made with industry-leading quality, honesty, and love.