Marketing Birmingham Press Releases

Find your way around Birmingham

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:36:32 GMT

Marketing Birmingham has launched a new on-line service designed to improve accessibility in the city of Birmingham and its attractions.

The web pages, at www.visitbirmingham.com/navigatebirmingham, feature a route planner graphically displaying accessible routes from drop off points such as the nearest bus stop or car park.

Disabled and first time visitors, parents with pushchairs and those carrying luggage can benefit from photographs and detailed directions that can be printed off in advance, or accessed via a 3G phone connection using the free WiFi in the city centre.

Tim Manson, Director of Operations & Policy at Marketing Birmingham said: “Large cities and major tourist attractions can feel confusing, not only for disabled and older people, but also if it’s the first time you have visited. We have developed this new facility to illustrate how convenient and accessible the city is and encourage everyone to come and experience it.”

“We are now working across the city to encourage more businesses to get involved. The majority have been very receptive; particularly those with a strong sense of corporate and social responsibility. It has a positive impact on the way the city is perceived and we are particularly keen to involve hotels over the coming months.”

The service is available through the Information section of visitbirmingham.com and includes venues such as Cadbury World, The ICC and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It also includes a complete cross-city route and an assessment of many city centre shopping areas including Bullring.

The access information has been compiled by researchers at Direct Enquiries and takes into account a number of potential obstacles including steps, road crossings and widths of pathways. The Direct Enquiries service also provides a wider service detailing access information for services including banks and public toilets.

Grant Kennedy, Chief Executive, Direct Enquiries commented: “One in four Europeans are directly affected by a disability, add to that families with pushchairs and older visitors with mobility difficulties and you are looking at a significant proportion of the population. This service enables people to make informed decisions before leaving home and helps to avoid any potential inconvenience.”

Download 031Navigate_Birmingham (.pdf 117.63 KB)

Cruise along in Birmingham

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:15:58 GMT

Dinner with a difference
Enjoy a meal with an ever changing view aboard Away2dine. This luxury cruising restaurant will take you on a three-hour cruise along Birmingham’s canals waterways while you enjoy a freshly prepared three course meal.

Birmingham’s very own ‘floating restaurant’ launched in October 2007. Diners can enjoy a three hour cruise around the city and receive perfect views through the large panoramic windows by each table, helping guests to take in the heritage and sites not normally seen by the passer by.

The restaurant can accommodate up to 26 people has a Captain’s Table at the bow seating 4-6 people for those special occasions. Away2 dine is based in the city centre outside The Mailbox, a distinctive location which features the best names in retail together with a host of restaurants and bars.

Room with a view
Away2stay is a Bed & Breakfast venue in the heart of the city with a twist – it floats. Complete with home comforts including power showers, and central hearing, a overnight stay on board the cosy canal boat is rounded off with a slap up breakfast the next day.
Away2stay makes a wonderfully quiet retreat from the city - yet is a few steps away from Birmingham's best night life.

Brindleyplace
This stunning canalside development in the centre of Birmingham plays host to an array of trendy shops, bars, restaurants, galleries and even a theatre. Brindleyplace is also home to the National Sea Life Centre and the Ikon Gallery, a modern art gallery complete with pavement art trail. Brindleyplace covers 17 acres and backs onto the National Indoor Arena, International Convention Centre and bustling bars of Broad Street.
Its neighbours are the acclaimed Birmingham Rep theatre and the Symphony Hall, a venue with amazing acoustics which frequently hosts the international renowned orchestra, CBSO.

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Triumphant winners of the 2008 Taste of Birmingham Restaurant Awards announced at celebrity shrouded Gala Evening

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

EThe third annual Taste of Birmingham festival has announced the winners of the prestigious Restaurant Awards at the exclusive Gala Evening hosted by celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson and ITV’s Jo Malin.

The anticipation is finally over, as the winners of the competitive 2008 Taste of Birmingham Restaurant Awards, sponsored by Marketing Birmingham, were revealed at last night’s celebrity filled Gala Evening, held in the VIP enclosure at Cannon Hill Park to mark the beginning of the weekend long festival.

A glamorous host of guests including Big Brother 3 winner Kate Lawler, celebrity
chef Aldo Zilli and Britain’s Got Talent flair junkies Bar Wizards, presented awards including Best Newcomer and Best Family Restaurant, at the Gala Evening sponsored by Eversheds. This year’s Outstanding Personal Contribution Award went to Bill Farnsworth, the retired Director of Catering Studies at the world renowned Birmingham College of Food.
The prize of ‘Best Restaurant 2008’ presented by the first female winner of Big Brother, and radio presenter Kate Lawler, went to Michelin-starred restaurant Simpsons, who won a total of four awards on the night.

Dave Hodgson, Marketing Director at Marketing Birmingham said:

“The standard of Birmingham’s food and drink offering goes from strength to strength, and this was reflected in the quality of entries into this year’s Restaurant Awards. A big congratulations to the winners and all those involved.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors to Taste of Birmingham over the next few days to find out for themselves what gives these restaurants such recognition.”

The full list of winners included:

Best Newcomer - Purnells, presented by Heart FM’s tasty breakfast duo; Ed James and Rachel New.

Best Service - Aria at the Hyatt, presented by the exciting ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ finalists and master flair bartenders; Bar Wizards.

Best Use of Seasonal Produce - Simpsons, presented by Director of Catering at University College Birmingham, Bill Farnsworth.

Best Out of Town Restaurant - Saffron (Oldbury), presented by Richard Prowse, Partner at Eversheds and sponsors of the opulent Gala Evening.

Best Family Restaurant - Jimmy Spices, presented by our Poet Laureate and Radio Broadcaster, Charlie Jordan, as voted for by the people of the West Midlands, through the Birmingham Mail.

Best Business Lunch - Simpsons, presented by Glen Sturley from Lloyds TSB, as voted for by the readers of Birmingham Post.

Rising Star - Aktar Islam (Lasan), presented by former England footballer and Sky Sports commentator, Don Goodman.

Chef’s Chef - Luke Tipping (Simpsons), presented by the multi-award-winning chef, who graced England at the tender age of 19 to channel his passion for Italian food; the legendary, Aldo Zilli. This award was in fact voted for by the Taste of Birmingham chef’s, to recognise the chef who has epitomised personal achievement and culinary skills in their cuisine.

Outstanding Personal Contribution - Bill Farnsworth, presented by the familiar face of exceptional chef; Martin Blunos.

Best Restaurant 2008 – Simpsons, presented by the first female winner of Big Brother, television and radio presenter Kate Lawler.

The 2008 Taste of Birmingham Festival is now officially under way, and will be taking place all weekend at Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston. Tickets start from £12 and can be bought from the box office 0871 230 5581 or through the website www.channel4.com/taste
Visitors can enjoy demonstrations from celebrity chefs Antony Worrall Thompson and Aldo Zilli, along with sampling opportunities at the special Sainsbury’s Taste Kitchen, and taster menus from the finest restaurants in Birmingham and the region

Let the battle commence: Atul Kochhar launches Taste of Birmingham Restaurant Awards in an al fresco cook-off with the city’s top chefs

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:27:14 GMT

As July draws closer, Taste of Birmingham looks set to enrich your culinary senses with four days of foodie festivities in the al fresco surroundings of Cannon Hill Park, 10-13 July. For the third consecutive year, Taste of Birmingham will be the only ‘Taste’ festival to host the coveted Restaurant Awards, which will take place in a star-studded Gala Evening on Thursday 10th July.

Atul Kochhar joins Aktar Islam, Surachet Patpun and Chris Duffy
in a culinary contest to launch the Restaurant Awards

Founder of Benares Restaurant, and the first Indian chef to receive a coveted Michelin-star, Atul Kochhar, joined three of Birmingham’s top chefs; Aktar Islam, head chef at Lasan; Chris Duffy, Radisson; and Surachet Patpun of Thai Edge; on Tuesday 10th June to launch the 2008 Restaurant Awards.

Guests were treated to delicious nibbles at Thai Edge, one of the twelve restaurants involved in this year’s Taste of Birmingham festival, before heading outside to witness the chefs demonstrate their BBQ skills. First to take to the griddle was Surachet Patpun of Thai Edge who cooked Thai-style grilled sea bass with garlic marinade; he was then followed by Aktar Islam who served up amazing Malai mutton chop. Finally, Chris Duffy, head chef at Filini brought the BBQ to a climax with steamed sea bass with Lingurian and Panzella salad.

After sampling the three dishes Kochhar said, "They were all beautiful so it was very hard to judge but I think my favourite was the Thai dish… I have a weakness for Thai."

As well as this display of culinary perfection, details of this year’s Awards were announced. Head of the Judging Panel, Paul Fulford, Birmingham Mail, announced the ten award categories: Best Newcomer, Best Restaurant 2008, Rising Star, Best Out of Town Restaurant, Best Use of Seasonal Produce, Best Family Restaurant, Best Service, Best Business Lunch, Outstanding Personal Contribution and Chef’s Chef Award. Fulford also announced that two of this year’s awards, Best Family Restaurant and Best Business Lunch, would be decided through a public vote in Birmingham Mail and Post.

Paul Fulford said, “I am extremely proud of the Birmingham restaurant scene which has improved beyond measure in the last ten to fifteen years.

Through events like this I’m pleased the city is finally getting the culinary recognition it deserves."

The 2008 Awards, sponsored by Marketing Birmingham, will be hosted by Antony Worrall Thompson on Thursday 10 July, and will celebrate the best of the Midlands’ cuisine.

Dave Hodgson of Marketing Birmingham also spoke at the launch, “Taste of Birmingham Restaurant Awards are all about celebrating the region’s talent. We’re really pleased that Birmingham and the Midlands as a whole are fully established as foodie hotspots.

Birmingham was the first city outside London to host a Taste Festival, and Taste of Birmingham is the only one to hold Restaurant Awards. The Awards put the spotlight on the region’s culinary talent and this year is no exception with excellent restaurants such as Opus and Simpsons shortlisted for Awards.”

Details of this year’s shortlist were also announced; Best Newcomer candidates are Turners, Purnells, Jacky’s Kitchen and Pascals; Best Use of Seasonal Produce is Simpsons, Opus, Filini and Hotel du Vin; and Best Restaurant 2008 finalists are Simpsons, Purnells, Lasan and Cielo. The shortlist for another important category this year, Best Out of Town Restaurant, is Liaison (Shirley), Lyttelton Arms (Hagley), Town House (Solihull) and Saffron (Oldbury).

The three chefs from Lasan, Thai Edge and Filini will join other top restaurants such as Simpsons, Malmaison and La Becasse in the four-day food festival, at Cannon Hill Park, 10-13 July, which will also see Antony Worrall Thompson and Aldo Zilli in attendance.

Over 20,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s festival to enjoy features such as the Spice Quarter, Taste Kitchen with Sainsbury’s, delicious. magazine Producers’ Market, ‘Brindleyplace Experience’, and Lavazza’s Aroma Theatre.

Tickets for Taste of Birmingham start from £12 and can be bought from the box office 0871 230 5581 or through the website www.channel4.com/taste.

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It’s hot hot hot in Birmingham this summer

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:42:51 GMT

Visitors to Birmingham over the summer won’t believe their eyes as a cruise ship is launched right in the city centre. The team at the Bullring has created a unique Britannia Cruise Ship that can host up to 200 people for a series of ‘naughtical but nice events, including a fashion show, karaoke competition and raft of free public events throughout the summer. Check out www.bullring.co.uk for info.

The Emirates Beach opens in July for ten weeks. With free admission it’s a chance to relax and watch the world go by whilst sipping fruit cocktails. There will be a series of events around themed weeks and beach volleyball destinations and regular lunchtime keep fit sessions. Keep an eye on www.birmingham.gov.uk for more details.

You can send your holiday postcard from Ikon Eastside. This gallery space is open during the summer months and is home to Soi Project’s Island installation. This 3- dimensional island is an imaginary land mass created using images from Google Earth. Visitors are encouraged to influence the landscape and ‘occupy’ the island by attaching templates of pools, buildings and beach umbrellas. Ikon Eastside is Fazeley Studios, 185 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SE. For more information visit www.ikon-gallery.co.uk

During the summer Ikon will also be beaching a giant life-sized blue whale made of cashmere somewhere in the city. An attraction especially designed for small children. Keep an eye on Ikon’s website for more information. www.ikon-gallery.co.uk

Cool down with a sundae at Morelli’s Gelato, the heavenly ice cream parlour in Selfridges. With over 60 flavours, 20 made each day on the premises there is something for everyone. www.morellis.co.uk

Continue your nautical theme with an overnight say in nitenite whose rooms are fashioned on a luxury yacht cabin. The only one of its kind in the world at present and with rooms from only £44.95 per night you can’t afford not to. www.nitenite.com

Jazz Festival
It’s that time of year again when toes start tapping and fingers drumming and the sound of live Jazz fills the air in Birmingham! Venues across the city will be taking part in the 24th Annual Jazz Festival, showcasing live bands and generally getting into the spirit of things! Most of which are free. The festival kicks off on Friday 4th July and over 10 jazz-packed summer days an nights Birmingham will become Jazz City UK, with more jazz per square metre than has New Orleans. For more festival details, visit the official website www.birminghamjazzfestival.com

Spotted!
Olof Mellberg of Juventus spotted eating in the luxurious Italian San Carlo restaurant in Temple Street.

Gok Wan was seen spending his lunchtime checking out some of the hundreds of shops in the Bullring then quoted as saying “Birmingham has lots of style. And it is even better now, just look at the Bullring.”

Ex-Spice Girl Mel C was having her hair done at Nicky Clarke’s salon in The Mailbox.

Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud was spotted leaving The Mailbox in Bham, closely followed by the others member of the group.

Uber-brand Rock Couture has chosen The Mailbox as home to its first UK full price store. The store, selling premium denim brands, including Rock & Republic, Seven Jeans, Diesel and Iceberg is sure to be a hit in the hometown of British rock. www.mailboxlife.com

Download The_Hub_Summer_2008 (.pdf 3.39 MB)

FLIP FLOP FANTASTIC

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Pack your flip flops for some fantastic summer fun in Birmingham. Despite being a landlocked city, Birmingham will be getting ship shape and in the holiday mood with a new cruise ship, beach and even an island.

Visitors to Birmingham over the summer won’t believe their eyes as a cruise ship is launched right in the city centre. The team at Bullring has created a unique, fully constructed Britannia Cruise Ship in St Martin’s Square that can hold up to 200 people for a host of ‘nautical but nice’ events, including a fashion show and karaoke competition over the holiday period from 4th June. Britannia Cruise Ship is unlike anything ever seen before in the UK, and is expected to prove a huge attraction that will draw people to choose Birmingham as their summer destination. Themed around a love of all things British, Britannia will be open to the public offering free events and activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer.

Your next port of call should be Chamberlain Square, where the Emirates Beach will open on Friday 4th July for ten weeks. With free admission, it’s a chance to relax and watch the world go by from deckchairs whilst sipping on a fruit cocktail. Emirates is planning a series of themed weeks and a changing backdrop will reflect some of the popular and idyllic destinations around the world that they fly to including Dubai, Australia, South Africa, Thailand and Mauritius. There will also be beach volleyball demonstrations and regular lunchtime keep fit sessions.

Send your holiday postcard from Ikon Eastside. The gallery space in the city’s creative quarter will be home to Soi Project Island until they say bon voyage on 22 June.
Japanese architect Jiro Endo and Thai artist Wit Pimkanchanapong Soi have created a three-dimensional island, an imaginary land mass made from a composite of satellite images drawn from Google Earth™. The passage of time on the island is simulated through the use of lighting that gradually shifts from night time darkness through brilliant daylight over a 24 minute cycle. Visitors, and fans of TV programme ‘Lost’, are encouraged to influence the landscape and occupy areas of their choice by attaching templates of buildings, swimming pools and beach umbrellas.

After all your travels, cool down with a Birmingham Sundae at Morelli’s Gelato the heavenly ice cream parlour in Selfridges Foodhall. With its superb repertoire of over 60 ice cream flavours, 20 of which are freshly made on the premises every day, customers will be able to sit back and watch their favourite sundaes, milkshakes or alcoholic sorbetto cocktails being made by Morelli's Gelato Masters. Morelli's has also introduced authentic Italian panninis as well as a delicious range of patisseries. These are ideal for a quick brunch or light lunch and enjoyed with a glass of prosecco or wine shared with friends. A trip would not be complete without one of Morellis creamy cappuccino made with Morelli's specially selected blend of coffee beans.

Keep the nautical theme flowing with an overnight stay at nitenite hotel, whose rooms are fashioned on a luxury yacht cabin. The chic but comfort-conscious interiors include a 42” plasma screen, avant-garde design and a great city centre location next to the Mailbox. Throughout the whole of June, July and August, there’s a special room rate from £44.95 per night.

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OFF PISTE ACTIVITIES FOR ‘SKIERS’

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With time on their hands to spend the kids’ inheritance, ‘skiers’ don’t have to travel overseas for the best off-piste activities. History and heritage, arts and culture, food and drink, shopping, events and festivals, canals and parks are just some of the reasons why 30 million people visited Birmingham last year. Right in the heart of England, Birmingham is a cosmopolitan city that is ideal for a short break this summer.

The annual gardeners' delight BBC Gardeners World Live returns to the NEC from 11 - 15 June. The Celebrity Theatre sees the green fingers of experts such as Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Joe Swift and Pippa Greenwood weaving their magic and imparting invaluable advice to audiences. They will be joined by Ben Fogle and John Craven from Countryfile who will share tales from the past 20 years of the ever-popular programme.

Staying outdoors, Taste of Birmingham from 10 – 13 July is a foodie’s delight. Set in the glorious setting of Cannon Hill Park it is a chance to join the Midlands’ top chefs from 16 restaurants. Enjoy the freshest creations from the nation’s finest culinary talent with a new Taste Kitchen from Sainsbury’s, a new Spice Quarter, Delicious magazine’s Producers’ Market and the new Lavazza Coffee Aroma Zone. To add to the mini festival atmosphere, there will also be live music from Birmingham International Jazz festival. The Taste festivals tour the UK, so Birmingham is your last chance this summer to experience this excellent alfresco weekend.

To accompany good food you need good wine. Wine connoisseurs should note that Birmingham is the only city in the UK to have an Ecole du Vin at the boutique Hotel du Vin. These popular residential weekend courses are designed to create a unique sense of conviviality - informal yet informative. From 18 – 20 July, the Tuscany Ecole will introduce a fabulous range of quality wines, the course aims to unravel and demystify a specific subject, from the classic to the controversial, with learning focusing on the glass, rather than the textbook. Also included is some time at the gym and spa, Health du Vin, for less 'studious' partners.

If you’d like to be more hand-on than just enjoying a Michelin star meal, then Simpsons restaurant hosts an informative and relaxed cookery demonstration and tour of the wine cellar. Held every Saturday these will give you a glimpse of Simpsons behind the scenes.

From fine dining to entertainment, the quality and breadth of the arts and culture offer in Birmingham is world class. Show stopping Liza Minnelli brings her incredible voice and stage presence to Birmingham for one night only on 4 June at Symphony Hall, which is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). In a special programme to celebrate his 25 years as Chorus Director, Simon Halsey conducts a superb pair of English works in the Sea Symphony on 21 June. Composed in 1908, Sea Symphony tells a timeless Indian tale from the Mahabharata translated into a style heavily influenced by English folk-song.

As part of their summer season, Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) will be performing a world premier on their home stage at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Following Giselle from 25 – 28 June, BRB will continue their celebration of Igor Stravinsky's unique musical contribution to the world of ballet with three vividly contrasting works including Petrushka, a brand new version of Le Baiser de la fée and Card Game from 3 – 5 July.

Artistic gems aplenty are held in the collections at The Barber Institute of Fine Arts and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG). The Barber has been described as one of the finest small art galleries in Europe and houses a collection that includes Monet, Rubens, van Dyck, Turner and Picasso. Their major Summer exhibition is ‘Reunited: Gwen John, Mère Poussepin and the Catholic Church’, which opens on 4 July. The exhibition shows the development of the artist’s portrayal of single female figures, the growing importance of her drawings from 1910 onwards, and the inextricable links between her work and her new faith, until September.

‘Aspects of China’ is Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s first permanent gallery of Chinese art. The exhibition features 70 pieces of historic Chinese ceramics from the outstanding Franklin Collection of Chinese art. There is a guided tour of this collection on the last Friday of every month throughout the year at 1pm. From ‘Canton to Guangzhou’, until 10 August, is an exhibition that presents two very different photographic records of Birmingham’s twin city in China. BM&AG's vast collections tell the story of the last 400,000 years of history. The art galleries include the world-famous Pre-Raphaelite collection, which is the largest in the country.

With so much to see and do, making a weekend of it is easy in Birmingham due to the choice of quality hotels and accommodation in the city centre. As a one stop shop, surf visitbirmimgham.com for the city guide to planning and booking your stay in Birmingham.

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The best things in life are free. Birmingham offers the perfect budget break

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:55:07 GMT

In Birmingham, visitors can enjoy a wealth of attractions without having to break the bank. There’s a great city waiting to be discovered for those on a budget. Make your euro, dollars and pounds stretch further with a wallet friendly break in Birmingham.

Birmingham’s food offering is second to none - with over 200 city centre restaurants serving food from around 27 countries, there’s no excuse not to indulge your tastebuds. Foodies can experience the cuisine of Thailand, enjoy authentic Italian dishes and munch on a Malaysian meal – all in one city.

The recently opened Around the World in 80 Dishes restaurants offers an all-you- -can-eat buffet. Your tastebuds can enjoy a worldwide tour with cuisine from Thailand, India, China, Mexico and Italy on offer from just £6.95 per person.

Food fans on a budget can fill up in style without paying Michelin star prices in Birmingham’s unique Balti Triangle. The Balti is widely thought to have originated from this area which boasts around 50 Balti restaurants. In fact, enjoying a traditional Birmingham Balti has been named as one’s of life’s must do experiences according to Rough Guide. Most Balti dishes are priced under £10, and many restaurants allow you to bring your own drinks, cutting the cost even further.

If you’re feeling inspired to create your own slap up feast, head to Birmingham’s Bull Ring market. Recently crowned the UK’s best outdoor market, more than six million people visit the market each year. The fantastic food offering includes Pearce’s shellfish – a family run stall which has which has been trading since the 1840s.

A short walk away is The Custard Factory – the creative hub of Birmingham, home to young fashion designers, artists and jewellers. Every weekend, you’ll find The Flea – an extensive arts and crafts market with a wide range of stalls plus live music and food. The stalls offer vintage clothing and accessories, handmade clothing and handbags, vintage jewellery and much more.

For something truly unique, try Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The area is home to over 400 jewellery businesses and over 100 specialist retailers, so shopping is a must. Jewellery, clocks and watches are all competitively priced and you can even commission your own design.

Find out more about this historic area at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and the Pen Museum which reflects the Quarter’s reputation in the 19th century as the world centre for pen production. Entry to both museums is free.

There’s more culture on offer at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BM&AG) – home to the world’s largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and drawings. Admission is free and you will find everything from Renaissance masterpieces to 9,000-year-old Middle-Eastern treasures. In fact, more than half a million objects fill the cabinets and walls of Birmingham’s museums.

There’s a free History Bus which runs the first Sunday in every month until October taking visitors from BM&AG to other paces of interest - Sarehole Mill, Blakesley Hall, Aston Hall, Soho House and Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.

Just outside the city entre you’ll find one of the finest small art galleries in Europe. The Barber Institute in Edgbaston boasts Monet, Manet, and Magritte; Renoir, Rubens, Rossetti and Rodin; Degas, Delacroix and van Dyck — not to mention Turner, Gainsborough, Gauguin, van Gogh, Picasso, Kokoschka.

Fans of modern art should make the Ikon Gallery in Brindleyplace a must-do. The striking neo-gothic building houses a variety of media including sound, film, mixed media, photography, painting, sculpture and installation.

The chic Mailbox development also has a host of galleries including The Art Lounge, the largest commercial gallery for contemporary art in Birmingham, Three White Walls Gallery and Castle Gallery.

Budding media types can get their fix at The Mailbox thanks to the BBC Public Space, where you can spy on the local radio stations, browse the gift shop and try your hand at being a newsreader.

The Mailbox also boasts bars and restaurants overlooking the canal. The Birmingham Canal Navigation is the world's largest canal system so exploring Birmingham by water is a great way to see the city, and The Mailbox boat allows you to do just that. Hop on for a 30 minute aquatic tour of the city centre for just £3.50. For that special occasion, enjoy gourmet food on away2dine. This floating restaurant offers diners a five course meal and a relaxing three hour cruise of the city.

To sample the great outdoors, head to Cannon Hill Park. Just a short distance from the city centre, Cannon Hill Park is one of the premier parks in Birmingham and has been awarded Green Flag status. With beautiful flowerbeds, lakes, pools and a wonderful collection of trees, it's easy to see why. There's plenty of opportunity for exercise at the park's tennis courts, bowling and putting greens and wildlife enthusiasts can follow the walkways and cycle routes alongside the River Rea. The park also has as its neighbour Birmingham Nature Centre. The Nature Centre homes a wide range of animals from across the world including Red Pandas, Meerkats, Lemurs and Otters. Entry is free for children, accompanied by an adult.

Birmingham has a packed events calendar with many free events throughout the year. These range from Artsfest, a festival of arts held very September in the heart of the city which includes comedians, bands, dance, orchestras and singers; and the Christmas canal boat light parade, where a series of decorated canal boats sparkle throughout the city’s waterways – guaranteed to get you in the festive mood!

Round off your stay in Birmingham at nite nite which has beautifully designed rooms from just £44.95 a night. Alternatively, head to Birmingham Central Backpackers for bargain overnight accommodation just a short walk away from the city centre. The Digbeth-based hostel also has free Wi-Fi, dining facilities and movie nights.

For more ideas of activities and events in Birmingham or to book restaurants and accommodation, go to www.visitbirmingham.com or call 0844 888 3883.

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Make Birmingham the 'Most Musical City'!

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Birmingham has been nominated by Arts Council England to compete for the title of 'Most Musical City'.

RnB star Jamelia is backing Birmingham's bid: "So, why vote for Birmingham?" asks Jamelia "In Black Sabbath and Led Zep we have given birth to two of the unlikeliest biggest bands ever, Duran Duran led the 80’s 'Second American Invasion' and our artists are as diverse as our people."

Kevin Da Costa, Assistant Music Officer, "Birmingham is an amazingly rich city for music. You can find all genres, many of which have really benefited and developed because of the city's unique and fantastically diverse mix of cultures and communities.

"Add to the mix, international venues such as Symphony Hall and the beautifully restored Town Hall, as well as dynamic small venues that are the breeding ground for the next generation, and you've got a fresh and vibrant musical city that consistently offers artists fertile ground to grow and audiences huge variety and quality of experience."

Vote for Birmingham as the Most Musical City at: http://www.mostmusicalcity.co.uk/

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Vote for Birmingham's Brindleyplace as top picnic spot!

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:47:53 GMT

Birmingham’s picturesque Brindleyplace has been named as one of the best picnic spots in the UK. The canalside development has been shortlisted in the Warburtons Picnic Awards.

The bakery brand launched the award to follow National Bread Week (5th – 11th May), and Brindleyplace has secured a place in the Midlands selections.

This stunning development offers a calm oasis in the heart of the city as well as hosting an array of trendy shops, bars, restaurants, galleries and even a theatre. Enjoy authentic Italian food at the newly opened Piccolino’s or modern British food at Bank restaurant, which also has its own cocktail school. Brindleyplace is also home to the Ikon Gallery, a modern art gallery which serves great tapas.

Log onto www.welovebread.co.uk to nominate Birmingham’s Brindleyplace before the 16 May closing date.

ENDS

For further press information and images:
Emma Ward, PR Executive, Marketing Birmingham
T : 0121 202 5075 E: emma.ward@marketingbirmingham.com

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MARKETING BIRMINGHAM AGREES NEW THREE YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY COUNCIL

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Marketing Birmingham has announced that it has entered into a new three year Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Birmingham City Council.

The city’s destination marketing agency made the announcement at its Annual General Meeting today [Tuesday] where it outlined its strong performance over the last three years, having achieved a return on investment of 19:1 against a 10:1 target, measured against key performance indicators including visitor numbers, perceptions scores, media coverage, events and economic impact.

It referenced its annual perceptions survey which has shown an increase in the number of people who consider Birmingham as a great place to visit from 41% - 49% over the three year period, and an increase in the number of people who consider Birmingham as a great place to do business from 47% - 58%.

As a result, the Council has increased the organisation’s funding from £2 million to £4 million per annum, with the aim of attracting more major events to the city.

The meeting was also used to announce the appointment of five new directors to the Marketing Birmingham board since the company’s last AGM. They are Paul Thandi, Chief Executive of The NEC Group, Professor David Tidmarsh, Vice Chancellor at Birmingham City University, Crawford Rix, Managing Director of bmibaby, Rachel Kavanaugh, Artistic Director at Birmingham REP, and Steve Brown, Regional Managing Director of Trinity Mirror North East and Midlands Regions.

Ian Squires, Chairman of Marketing Birmingham said: “The last three years have been very successful for Marketing Birmingham and we have exceeded all targets set by Birmingham City Council.

“We have built a business model that is working well for the city and we start the new financial year with a clear vision of promoting Birmingham as a place to visit and a place to meet.

“In the last twelve months we have secured three major political party conferences for the city, as well as major international association conferences including the Rotary International Convention in its centenary year 2009, demonstrating the importance of our additional funding in supporting such events which bring with them significant economic impact and international media exposure.”

Marketing Birmingham is a Public-Private Partnership, in which Birmingham City Council is a 49% shareholder. The company is also supported by some 360 Commercial Members and Champions, ranging from bars, restaurants and hotels to universities, accountancy firms and commercial property developers.

Cllr Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council said: “People's perception of our city is a hugely important part of our vision of a global city with a local heart and that is why as a partner and major investor we are increasing our funding to £4 million in order for Birmingham City Council and Marketing Birmingham to work together to improve perceptions.”

Business tourism is an essential economic driver in the West Midlands, with the events industry worth an estimated £2.3bn in Birmingham alone, an increase of £3 million from the previous twelve months.

Marketing Birmingham took on the remit of promoting Birmingham and the region for business tourism almost three years ago and delivered on time and within budget. Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has now doubled the budget and re-appointed Marketing Birmingham to run the project for the next three years.

John Edwards, outgoing Chief Executive of AWM said: “Marketing Birmingham has been working closely with regional partners to assist AWM in delivering its visitor economy outputs. The organisation’s input has been invaluable and I have no doubt that the region’s profile and economy will continue to go from strength to strength over the next three years.”

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham said: “We start the next three year period from an excellent position, with a new leisure tourism campaign launching in June and a business tourism campaign launching later this month.

“Events will continue to be an increasingly important focus for us in both the leisure and business arenas, with new concepts such as Taste of Birmingham and Style in the City having set a precedent for Birmingham as a global events city and we are also in discussions to stage a major new sporting event next year.

“I would like to thank the City Council and AWM for their continued support and look forward to improving city perceptions further and attracting more and more people to Birmingham to live, work and visit.”

ENDS

Marketing Birmingham Key Facts

Media – Marketing Birmingham secured media coverage worth in excess of £4 million from April 2007 to March 2008. From Glasgow to Singapore, more than 200 journalists visited Birmingham last year, from eight different countries, in 86 media visits hosted by Marketing Birmingham to promote Birmingham as a premier business and leisure destination.

Awards - In 2007 the company won the Purple Apple Award for ‘Best Strategic Marketing Campaign’ from the British Council of Shopping Centres for the “Unbelievable” Christmas campaign and Gold Award for ‘Best Print Advertising Campaign’ at the Meetings Industry Marketing Awards. The achievements of the PR team were recognised by the professional body Chartered Institute of Public Relations and scooped two awards - gold for ‘Best Integrated Campaign for Birmingham Bites’ and silver for ‘Outstanding In-house PR Team in the Midlands.’

Download Marketing_Birmingham_AGM (.pdf 48.91 KB)

FASHION SHOWPIECE PROVES BIRMINGHAM IS THE UK’S STYLE HOTSPOT

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite freezing temperatures and even three inches of snow, the massive success of Style in the City has helped reinforce Birmingham’s place as one of the UK’s fashion capitals.

The showpiece event took over the entire city centre and attracted nearly 10,000 budding fashionistas – with one travelling all the way from Australia – and an impressive array of A-list celebrities, including Kelly Osbourne, Trinny and Susannah, and This Morning’s fashion guru John Scott.

A host of events staged at malls, stores and purpose-built boutique shopping areas over three days proved a resounding hit and confirmed why Birmingham is now considered to be one of the most fashionable cities in the UK.

Hosted by Retail Birmingham, the style extravaganza saw a giant theatre dominate Centenary Square where five sell-out catwalk shows a day were hosted by international star Kelly Osbourne, while TV favourite dynamic duo Trinny and Susannah presented their first ever Style Academy in St Martin’s Square, with four daily shows and not a spare seat to be found.

“The event even attracted international visitors, with a competition winner travelling all the way from Australia with 24 hours notice to meet her idols Trinny and Susannah,” explained Nigel Godfrey, Retail Birmingham Business Manager. “Ange Stevens has been following the style gurus for years and couldn’t miss the opportunity to meet them in the flesh, even though she had to give up her job and pay for her own flights to be here.”

“We’re thrilled that so many people came from so far a field to experience Style in the City, to meet some of their favourite celebrities, see top designers showcasing their collections on the catwalk and to receive style tips from experts. For many, it was their first visit to Birmingham and we heard a lot comment that they will extend their stay next year as there is so much to see and do here.“

Retailers including Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, House of Fraser, Disorder, Puma, Limeys, Adidas, Joy, The Mailbox and Bullring staged their own fashion-focussed events, with many stores reporting sales increases of as much as 100 per cent.

The Pavilions was transformed into Oasis - a haven of pampering, where 10,000 fingernails were manicured, 1,000 women had their hair styled by Toni & Guy and the same number received makeovers from MAC and consultations from sk:n.

In the Centenary Square exhibition area, tens of thousands of Chambord champagne cocktails were given out and low fat ice-cream producer Skinny Cow gave away more than 8,000 free frozen treats to visitors over the three days, while more than 1,000 people entered the Littlewoodsdirect.com model search as part of the Trinny and Susannah Style Academy.

The presence of top designers Betty Jackson and Osman Yousefzada as well as Vogue editor Emily Zak at Selfridges, along with entertainment from a Cirque du Soleil style aerial trapeze act helped to tot up 3,000 canapes, 2,000 cocktails, 500 free makeovers, 100 free blow-drys and 150 style lunches in just one store.

Complimentary executive coaches transported visitors around the city to ensure everyone got the most out of their style experience, and Jaguar ran a chauffer service for Platinum Pass holders.

“Retail Birmingham and Marketing Birmingham worked closely with Brand Events to stage the show and the city really did itself proud,” said Nigel. “Our aim is to keep Birmingham firmly on the style map and with 1,000 shops to choose from, shopping centres, designer stores, high street brands, elegant Victorian shopping arcades and 100 individual shops, there’s plenty to shout about, and after this weekend almost 10,000 more people know that too.”

Kevin Breese, general manager of Harvey Nichols, one of the event's key partners, said: "Style in the City has proved that Birmingham is undoubtedly one of the UK leaders when it comes to retail. With so many stores and key partners working together we have proved that this city can hold such a massive event - and make a real success of it, putting us at the very forefront of fashion.

"The mix of activities across the board was quite staggering, from independent retailers showing off their often unique clothes to high end stores like Harvey Nichols showcasing the very latest from the world's most famous designers. Everyone I spoke to across the three days was thoroughly impressed by not only the grand scale of this event but also the professionalism across the board."

Style in the City will become an annual event and following the success of the weekend looks set to grow year on year.

For more information please contact:
Charlotte Beeching at Marketing Birmingham
Tel: 0121 202 5143
Email us.

Download Style_in_the_City_round_up_-final (.pdf 90.1 KB)

Birmingham Announces A New Sporting Hero

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Teenager Natalie Hooper has been votes Birmingham’s Real Sporting hero 2008.

Natalie, aged 17 from Redditch, is no ordinary teenager; she spends her spare time
teaching young children and children with disabilities how to swim.

In a competition run by Marketing Birmingham in partnership with bmibaby.com, The
Sunday Mercury and BRMB, the two month search for someone who’s made a real
contribution to sport attracted entries from right across the city.

Natalie spends several hours a week at Woodrow First School’s swimming pool
where she goes straight from a full day at Kingsley Community College.

Marketing Birmingham’s Dave Hodgson says: “Birmingham has an unrivalled sporting
heritage and the city is full of people with a passion for sport. This competition gave
us the chance to promote and recognise the achievements of the region’s local
sporting stars and unsung heroes. It was the perfect way for us to be able to thank
the city’s passionate sports enthusiasts for the contribution they make to their
community.

“We congratulate Natalie on her victory and we are proud to present her and the
swimming club with the trophy and cheque.”

From the wide range of entries received the specialist judging panel unearthed their
top ten grass roots stars following an afternoon of debate and deliberation.

The final ten were put to public vote on Tuesday 4 March and by the close of voting
at midday on Tuesday 25 March 13,415 votes have been received, with almost one
third of the votes going to Natalie.

Jo Hurley, head of marketing, at bmibaby said: “bmibaby are proud to sponsor
Birmingham’s Real Sporting Hero 2008, working along side Marketing Birmingham
this campaign gives us an excellent opportunity to support the community, their
clubs and grass root sports. We have selected a number of people who have all
contributed to sports in the area to make a real difference within the local
community.”

Marketing Birmingham would like to heartily congratulate all the shortlisted entries.
Whether you voted on line or by phone we would like to thank everyone who took
part in helping us to select our city’s sporting hero for 2008.

For details of sporting events, news and competitions, check out
www.visitbirmingham.com/sport.

Sporting facts about Birmingham

The birthplace of lawn tennis, the centre of the world’s largest ever works football
association, the setting for the first world snooker championships, home of the
world’s most popular referee’s whistle - Birmingham has a real sporting heritage.

With more under 15s than any other major European city, Birmingham is dynamic
and full of energy.

Birmingham was the first city to be awarded the title National City of Sport and is
also a European City of Sport for All. Birmingham makes sport accessible for all, and
provides something to suit all age ranges and fitness levels.

There fabulous community sports facilities including seven golf courses, 19
swimming pools and 60 leisure centres offering over 500 fitness classes a week.

There are award-winning canals, 8000 acres of parks and open spaces, orienteering,
skiing and snowboarding.

The National Indoor Arena (NIA) and National Exhibition Centre (NEC) are two of the
busiest, large-scale indoor sporting venues in Europe and 23 World and 14 European
championships in 20 different sports have been staged in Birmingham since 1991.

Birmingham has a proud sporting heritage and historic teams and clubs that still
thrive to the present day.

Four of our six major sporting teams were founded in the 19th century: Aston Villa
(1874), Birmingham City (1875), Moseley Rugby Club (1873) and Warwickshire
County Cricket Club (1882). A testament to Birmingham’s continued sporting
prowess is that our other two clubs have much more recent foundations: our second
rugby union club, Pertemps Bees, was founded in 1989 and our newest Basketball
team, The Birmingham Panthers, came into being last year.

Aston Villa and Birmingham City are actually two of the oldest professional football
teams in the world, and they are both in the Premiership.

There has been a Cricket Club in Birmingham since 1745, and it is believed that a
match was played on the day the Battle of Culloden was fought. Slightly less bloody
but no less competitive, County Cricket and international test matches are now
played at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

Lawn tennis originated in Birmingham in 1865 and the Edgbaston Archery and Lawn
Tennis Society, founded in 1860, is the oldest surviving lawn tennis club in the world.
Today, tennis centres from Moseley to Billesley, Four Oaks to Kings Norton are
developing the next generation of British tennis stars. International tennis is still
played at Edgbaston's Priory Club, which boasts 29 tennis courts and 10 squash
courts, including the DFS Classic.

The Birmingham Athletic Club opened a Gymnasium in King Alfred's Place, in Aug
1865/6, and held their annual display and assault-at-arms in the Town Hall. Today,
the Alexander Stadium plays host to top flight athletics and this year the Norwich
Union Trials and UK Championships will return to the venue. It is also home to The
Birchfield Harriers, the UK’s premier athletics club that has produced international
athletes such as Denise Lewis, Mark Lewis-Francis and Kelly Sotherton.

Golf is a popular sport in Birmingham and there are many local clubs and municipal
pay and play golf courses throughout the city. World renowned golfing venue, The
Belfry, which is on the PGA circuit and has hosted the Ryder Cup four times, is just
north of the city.

Birmingham has a great interest in hockey and has produced two professional teams.
Bournville Hockey Club were founded in 1902 and has produced international hockey
players including David Griffith-Jones.

Our two Rugby Union clubs, Moseley Rugby Football Club, based at Billesley
Common and the Solihull-based Birmingham & Solihull Pertemps Bees. The latter are
still renowned for ‘The Greatest Ever Sporting Upset’, where they overcame odds of
250-1 to beat London Wasps in the quarter final of the Powergen Cup.

Many more sports are represented in the city. For example, last year speedway
returned after a 20 year absence and a new team was created: the ‘Birmingham
Brummies’.

Our volleyball, water polo and City of Birmingham Swimming Club teams all compete
at a national level. There are 12 boxing clubs in the city, that have produced famous
boxers such as Patrick Cowdell and Robert McKracken, who have continued to
support boxing in the UK by turning their skills to coaching new up- and- coming
boxers.

The city also plays host to other sports and pastimes such as Greyhound racing at
Hall Green and Perry Barr, skateboarding in many skate parks including the Epic
Skate Park in Moseley, croquet in Edgbaston and lacrosse at the University of
Birmingham.

The city has a proud tradition of bowling, with greens often attached to public
houses: records show that in 1741 there was a green at the Hen and Chickens in the
High Street.

Birmingham has a serious commitment to sport and the University of Birmingham is
firmly established within the top three universities for competitive sport in Britain.
The University was the first to introduce a sporting option for all students and at the
last Olympics in Athens, six graduates and one current Birmingham student
competed. With the country now gearing up for the London 2012 Olympics,
Birmingham is set to play an active role, both in providing athletes and venues. The
city will accommodate 100,000 spectators and 3000 media for Olympic football at
Villa Park for example. Birmingham will also provide facilities for training and holding
camps.

Birmingham is a true sporting city. From its famous sporting teams, associations and
venues to the hundreds of diverse grass-roots sports clubs, the city has it all.

Check out www.visitbirmingham/sport to find out more.

Download sportingheroes_en (.pdf 56.97 KB)

MARKETING BIRMINGHAM PICKS SEAL

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Marketing Birmingham, the city’s destination marketing agency, has appointed Birmingham-based Seal Communications following a competitive six-way pitch, to design and implement its new leisure tourism campaign.

With an initial value in excess of £300,000 over the next twelve months, Visit Birmingham uses a variety of channels including press, outdoor and literature and will bring together the different aspects of the city’s lifestyle offering with a consistent city message in order to support the visitor economy.

Expressions of interest were received from 75 creative agencies from all around the UK, with four local agencies and two London based agencies being shortlisted.

Dave Hodgson, Marketing Director at Marketing Birmingham said: “Birmingham is a great city with a lot to offer and one of the most difficult parts of marketing it is choosing which bits to single out and promote. In fact, Birmingham has the whole package, from food, drink and shopping to sport, history, entertainment and the arts, and everything in between. The new Visit Birmingham campaign will bring all of this together to promote the city as one destination for all leisure tourists, no matter what you’re looking for.

“We’re thrilled to have appointed Seal as a local agency that really demonstrated its ability to
look at the bigger picture. This campaign is all about tourism, making people stop and think

about coming to Birmingham. The ideas that Seal presented fitted the brief perfectly and I’m looking forward to working with them to bring the campaign to life.”

The campaign will also complement the redevelopment of Birmingham’s official tourism website www.visitbirmingham.com by digital agency TAK! based in Digbeth.

Tourism is a major economic driver in Birmingham, bringing more than 30m visitors to the city in 2006 and contributing £2.5bn in terms of spend.

“It is clearly essential that we continue to develop the tourism industry in Birmingham and the
wider region,” Dave added.

“Tourism supports the hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, theatres, attractions, and other facilities in the city, sustains employment and brings increased wealth into the economy. Perception is vital, and our job is to improve perceptions of Birmingham so that people are more likely to visit.”

Katie Morris, Seal Communications chief executive said: “As a long-established Birmingham
based agency we have been part of the city’s renaissance in recent years having witnessed first hand the amazing transformation that has taken place both culturally and through investment in the retail and leisure offering.

“We are delighted to have been selected as we are passionate about what Birmingham has to
offer as an exciting and vibrant place to be. Our work for Marketing Birmingham will build on our broad experience of working on destination marketing campaigns both in the UK and tourism bodies internationally.”

The Visit Birmingham campaign will present a range of commercial opportunities including the availability of title sponsor. For further information contact Richard Poole on 0121 202 5115 or email richard.poole@marketingbirmingham.com.

Download MarketingBirminghamappointsSeal_en (.pdf 41.55 KB)

PROMOTING BIRMINGHAM AS FIRST CHOICE EVENTS

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Birmingham will launch a new campaign to promote itself as a first choice destination for
meetings, conferences and events at IMEX.

Birmingham Convention Bureau (BCB) will be exhibiting at the show to represent
Birmingham and the wider region and will unveil its new campaign for the first time in
Frankfurt.

With a strong emphasis on experiential marketing, the campaign has been developed to
build on the success that the city has enjoyed in the last twelve months, having secured
three major political party conferences, the Rotary International Convention in its centenary
year in 2009 and the Olympic trials in June to name a few.

This success has been achieved through a partnership approach between BCB, venues,
service providers and other organisations throughout the West Midlands. Partnership is a
key theme of the new campaign and to illustrate this BCB will be joined at IMEX by Coventry
and South Warwickshire CSW, The IEC at Ricoh Arena and The International Convention
Centre (ICC), in order to showcase the best of what the region has to offer to events
organisers.

Ian Taylor, Commercial Director at Marketing Birmingham which operates BCB, said: “We
are very excited about the launch of our new campaign and are unveiling it at IMEX to
demonstrate our international outlook.

“Birmingham is very much in the spotlight at the moment, with major events and
organisations coming to the city and attracting a high media profile. International
associations, political party conferences, major corporations, sporting events and consumer
shows – everyone’s coming to Birmingham. Business tourism has long been an anchor of
Birmingham’s economy and we will continue to work with key partners to grow the sector
further and ensure that major events keep coming back to the city.”

The events industry in the West Midlands is now worth an estimated £6.5bn to the regional
economy, an increase of £3m from the previous twelve months, and employs almost
100,000 people.

“No two events are the same and so we take a region-wide approach in order to engage
with event organisers and demonstrate the breadth of the offer in the West Midlands.
Whether you’re looking for countryside tranquillity, city centre chic, out of town hotels,
historic, academic or unusual venues, you can find it all in the region.

“IMEX is an excellent event and attracts an extremely high calibre of visitors. We are
delighted to be showcasing Birmingham and the West Midlands region at the show and look
forward to meeting event organisers to discuss how we can work together in the future.”

Download IMEX_en (.pdf 54.98 KB)

Kelly Osbourne set to take Birmingham by Storm!!

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Kelly Osbourne is the latest name to be confirmed on the celebrity bill for this years inaugural
Style in the City event in Birmingham, 3-6 April. The sassy and stylish Osbourne will host the event’s Catwalk Show which will showcase a host of international fashion names such as
Alexander McQueen, Chloe, Emilio Pucci, Alice Temperley, Stella McCartney, Philip Lim,
Christian Louboutin and more.

“Kelly is an emerging light in the fashion scene - admired by designers and stylists for her
individual style, forthright views and classic English eccentricity. She is perfect to host this
event”, Tiffanie Darke, Sunday Times Style Magazine Editor.

Alongside Kelly Osbourne, opening and closing each catwalk show, will be home-grown
Birmingham model Gabriella, recently signed to front the latest Agent Provocateur campaign.

These names boost Style in the City’s already glamorous offering which includes the UK launch of Trinny & Susannah’s Style Academy. The new academy will see television duo Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine bring elements of their popular programmes to the stage! Visitors will leave with a foolproof formula for making the most of what they’ve got to look great in any situation.

Darling of the UK fashion scene, Christopher Kane has also designed an exclusive limited
edition fair-trade canvas shopper, which every visitor will receive on the day,

The Sunday Times Style in the City is a sophisticated new event aimed at fashion savvy women that combines glamour, treats, entertainment and retail indulgence.

The concept will be unique in that it will not be located at one venue. A full programme of events, promotions and activities will be scheduled at top retailers and venues across the city. Visitors can expect to be escorted around the city in style, in dedicated transport.

At each of the shopping hot spots, ticket holders will be ushered into private areas, where they will have exclusive access to private fashion shows, makeovers, masterclasses from well-known stylists, spa treatments, live music and dance events.

Tickets will cost £25 for one day pass. A Platinum Pass – which includes exclusive treats, lunch and a glass of champagne – is only £65. Entry to the opening night gala party will be £45.

Tickets can be bought from the website www.styleinthecityevent.co.uk or by calling the hotline on 0871 231 0838.

Download Kelly_en (.pdf 38.16 KB)

FALL IN LOVE WITH BIRMINGHAM THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Fall in love with Birmingham for the perfect Valentine’s Day this year. Whether you’re looking for a gift for your partner, somewhere to take them on the special night, or a short break to mark the occasion, Birmingham has got it all.

You can find the perfect gift, whether you visit the city’s sparkling Jewellery Quarter to choose orcommission a unique necklace, bracelet, or even engagement ring, or head to the chic designerstores of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges to pick up a designer handbag or luxury cosmetics. A Bullring giftcard is a great choice for girls who just love to shop, or go for a pampering gift such as a day at Malmaison’s Le Petit Spa where you can relax and unwind together, or a celebrity makeover at Nicky Clarke’s salon in The Mailbox. You can also give Personal Shopping Breaks at Harvey Nichols and Selfridges as a gift, see www.visitbirmingham.com for further details.

If your partner seems to have everything, show that you’ve really thought about your gift this
year by looking for inspiration in Birmingham’s 100 independent stores where you can find
international designer collections and solid silver Rolos at Helen Hulston Jewellery in Great
Western Arcade, beautiful handmade chocolates at Chouchoute Chocolaterie, stationary and

giftware at Smithsonia in Piccadilly Arcade, or funky vintage clothing at YoYo on Ethel Street.

Perfect gifts
Selfridges’ Food Hall has an excellent selection of heart warming food and wines. Items range from delicious and original Lola’s cupcakes priced at £2.35 to a refined Champagne Henriot at £44.

Harvey Nichols has a fabulous choice of gifts, from Little Venice Valentines Cakes priced from £9.95, Coco Aphrodisiac Chocolates from award-winning Scottish chocolatier Coco of Bruntsfield priced at £10.95, and Tea & Cookies by Today Was Fun at £14.05, to champagnes, his and hers fragrances, and luxurious skincare products such as Crème de la Mer – The Eye Concentrate priced at £120.

It’s not just shopping that Birmingham is great for, there are more than 200 restaurants in the
city centre offering cuisine from 27 countries around the world, providing the ideal romantic
setting for dinner for two whether you like a taste of The Orient, Eastern spice, or French
delicacies worthy of a Michelin star. There’s even a restaurant on board a canal boat if you want to really make a splash.

Where to eat

Away2dine is a canal cruising restaurant boat moored at The Mailbox in Birmingham city centre.

Valentine’s Dinner Cruises are available from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th February, boarding at 7.15pm and including a five course dinner and three hour cruise for £47.95 per person. Visit www.away2dine.co.uk or call 0845 644 5244 for more information.

You can find details of all the city’s top restaurants on www.visitbirmingham.com, and you can now even book many online.

There’s no shortage of luxury hotels either so why not make a night of it. At Radisson SAS
Birmingham all rooms and suites come in three distinct styles: Chic, Fashion and Fresh, and
enjoy far reaching views across the city. Malmaison is situated in the exclusive Mailbox complex, home to designer stores and a selection of bars and restaurants set along the canalside – after all Birmingham does have more canals than Venice. Hotel du Vin is set in the historic building which previously housed an Eye Hospital, whilst for those looking to be in the thick of Birmingham’s nightlife, Hyatt Regency is located on Broad Street, just a short stroll from the attractive Brindleyplace with its collection of bars and restaurants.

Where to stay
Enjoy a lover’s tryst at City Inn in Brindleyplace, with a Romantic Valentine’s break available from £145 including one night stay in a double room, canapés and champagne in the bar, a four- course specially created Valentine’s dinner, full English breakfast and late check out at 2pm.

To book or for more information call 0121 643 1003 and quote ‘VALENTINES’, or email
birmingham.reservations@cityinn.com.

Round off your stay with some fantastic entertainment. Birmingham boasts an exciting array of theatres, music venues and attractions to help make your Valentine’s truly magical.

What to see
Hello Dolly is showing at Birmingham Hippodrome from 12th – 16th February, starring Anita
Dobson, Darren Day, David McAlister and Louise English. www.birminghamhippodrome.co.uk

Valentine’s Day at Town Hall sees the return of the popular Tea Dance (2.30pm – 5.00pm) and Social Ballroom Dance (8.00pm – 11.00pm, tickets £16) events. With live music to set the mood from Gary Allcock and his Midland all Stars band and a gift rose for every lady, the events promise to be the perfect destination for Valentine’s Day this year.

Meanwhile, Symphony Hall will host two wonderful concerts in the afternoon and evening, with CBSO performing Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet in addition to music by Rachmaninov and Brahms at 2.30pm (tickets £9.50), and the London Concert Orchestra present a packed
programme of enchanting and romantic music at 7.30pm (tickets £11).

For those waiting until the weekend to celebrate, The Electric Love Ball at The Electric Cinemawill take place on Friday 15th February at 8.30pm. The event will see the Electric Cinema Film Orchestra return for an evening of late night fun and partying with support from burlesque rockers Vix n the Kix. Award winning comedienne Jo Enright will be hosting a live version ofBlind Date for singles looking to let their hair down and a best dressed couple competition withreal prizes.

For more information, images and media visits, please contact:
Charlotte Beeching, Marketing Birmingham
Tel: 0121 202 5143 Email: charlotte.beeching@marketingbirmingham.com

Download FallinlovewithBirminghamthisValentinesDay_en (.pdf 50.89 KB)

Lyon chefs serve up a first for the UK

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Marketing Birmingham is working with the city’s top restaurants and Birmingham City
Council on a new Europe-wide culinary network called Delice, the Good Food Cities
of the World.

20 European cities, including Barcelona, Milan and Lyon, are part of the Delice
network, and Birmingham is the only city in the UK to have been invited to join.

The aim of the Delice network is to promote city to city sharing of cuisine and good
practice within the catering industry. Delice also encourages and develops young
culinary talent across the network cities.

Marketing Birmingham is working with Birmingham City Council and key city partners
on an exchange event as part of Delice. Birmingham has teamed up with its twin city
Lyon and invited four Michelin-starred chefs from the prestigious “Toques Blanches
Lyonnaises” organisation to visit Birmingham to experience the city’s food offering.
During the visit from 2 – 5 March 2008, there will be exclusive dinners at both Opus
and Simpsons restaurants.

The visit will conclude with the “Lyon and Birmingham Chefs Delice Celebration
Dinner” on Tuesday 4th March. The chefs from Lyon, along with local Birmingham
chefs, will prepare a special dinner at the University College Birmingham for invited
guests.

Councillor Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council says:
“It is an honour that Birmingham is the only city in the UK to become a founder
member of the Delice network and this is testimony to our excellent chefs and first-
class cuisine. I very much look forward to welcoming the chefs from Lyon in March
and showing them what our wonderful city has to offer.”

Neil Rami, chief executive at Marketing Birmingham, says:
“Birmingham is the first of the cities in the Delice network to take part in the
exchange and it is a great opportunity for Birmingham to showcase its wide culinary
offering and position itself as a leading gourmet city in Europe.”

Andreas Antona, owner of Simpsons restaurant is working closely with the chefs to
co-ordinate the event. He said:
“It’s an honour to be working with French chefs of such standing and I’m extremely
proud to have the opportunity to show them what we can do here in Birmingham.
The standard of cuisine and expertise in this city is world-class and the Delice
celebrations will enable us to really shout about it.”

Photo caption: L- R David Colcombe, Opus restaurant; Coun Mike Whitby Leader
Birmingham City Council; Andreas Antona, Simpsons restaurant.

For more information, please contact Emma Ward, PR Executive at Marketing
Birmingham, on 0121 202 5075 or emma.ward@marketingbirmingham.com.

Delice Good Food Cities of the World is a network, created by Lyon, of European
cities committed to the provision of high quality restaurants, regional produce and
the development of educational skills in the catering sector.

Les Toques Blanches is the premier organisation for chefs in and around Lyon. These

chefs share a large number of Michelin stars between them and represent a number of different styles of cuisine. The chefs are as follows:

Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex (L’Auberge de L'ile)
Christophe Marguin (Restaurant Marguin)
Joseph Viola (Restaurant Danielle et Denise)Mathieu Viannay (Restaurant Mathieu Viannay).

Bagged salad brand Florette is sponsoring the “Lyon and Birmingham Chefs Delice
Celebration Dinner” on Tuesday 4th Match at University College Birmingham.

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HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A galaxy of sporting stars gathered in Birmingham yesterday (Wednesday 6th
February) in search of an unsung hero to join their illustrious ranks.

David Beckham (who has some unexpected spare time this week), Lewis Hamilton,
Paula Radcliffe, Tiger Woods and Anna Kournikova were on show to launch
bmibaby.com Sporting Heroes in association with 1Birmingham – We love our sport.

Dave Hodgson, Marketing Director of Marketing Birmingham, said: "Our sporting
look-a-likes have signed up to help us find the real thing. Over the next two months
we will be searching high and low across the entire city and beyond for those people
who make a real and raw contribution to sport in Birmingham.

“The city is full of people with a passion for sport and we are setting out to find the
one person who stands out from the crowd, someone who has made a real
difference within their local community. With a £2,000 prize, split between the
winner and their sport or club, we are hoping to attract entries from right across the
sporting sphere.”

Perhaps you know a mum who has washed the local kid’s Sunday league shirts for
20 years (even though her son is now 32!), the guy who gives up every Saturday to
teach kids for free, or the child who has overcome adversity to take part in their
sport.

David Hodge, commercial director, bmibaby, said: “As headline sponsor of 1Birmingham: We love our sport, we are extremely pleased to launch the sporting heroes campaign with Marketing Birmingham. This is the perfect vehicle to promote and recognise the achievements of the region’s local sporting stars and unsung
heroes.

“The £2,000 prize is also a great way to thank the city’s passionate sports
enthusiasts for the contribution they make to the community. We look forward to
seeing the many entries.”

We all know someone who is a hero to us – think about why your sporting hero
should be considered and visit www.visitbirmingham.com/sport for entry details.

The shortlist will be published on Monday 3 March, and the winner will be chosen by
public vote and announced on 29 March. The prize of £1,000 will be paid directly to
the winner and they can choose how to use the other £1,000 to benefit their
sporting club or sport.

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MARKETING BIRMINGHAM APPOINTS TAK!

press_releases@marketingbirmingham.com — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A Digbeth based digital agency has been enlisted to redevelop Birmingham’s official tourism website.

Marketing Birmingham has appointed TAK!, located in the Custard Factory, to give www.visitbirmingham.com a £55,000 makeover following a four way pitch. The website provides information on things to see and do, places to eat and drink, and where to stay in Birmingham and will be relaunched in June.

Dave Hodgson, Marketing Director at Marketing Birmingham said: “TAK! was the smallest of the agencies to pitch for the contract, but presented by far the most innovative ideas. We loved their approach and their focus on making the website relevant and user centric.

“They are clearly experts in their field and had thought about the long term development of the site, not just a quick fix. They incorporated Web 2.0 technologies in their proposals as it is an important way of facilitating user generated content but did not overload on gimmicks just for the sake of it. They also proposed future extensions of their ideas to really add value and ensure that the website will be flexible enough to keep evolving.”

The Visit Birmingham website was created to encourage people to come to the city, make it easy for them to do so and ensure they make the most of what Birmingham has to offer while they’re here. The new design will aim to place Birmingham at the forefront of digital technology. It will be stylish yet simple and will incorporate a fresh look with an innovative content strategy to engage with, retain and guide users.

The project will also see Marketing Birmingham’s corporate website www.marketingbirmingham.com being refreshed, to reflect the dynamics of the organisation and provide a valuable resource for the company’s Champions and Commercial Members as well as national and international media with an interest in the city.

Lisa Smith, Online Campaign Manager at Marketing Birmingham said: “The online team at
Marketing Birmingham was created towards the end of last year and has enabled the company to
take a more focused approach to an ever growing channel within tourism – the internet. We will be working closely with TAK! to position Birmingham at the cutting edge of technology and promote the city to a global online audience.”

TAK! is an independent digital agency based in central Birmingham. A direct and honest
approach coupled with over 10 years industry acumen has resulted in a portfolio of creative work which excels both visually and technically. TAK! is regularly featured in national and international publications and its work was recently recognised with a Webby Official Honoree Award and SWSW Award. Recent clients include Thomas Tallis School, Ikon Gallery, Tesco/THQ, LG, Orange, Red Bull and Topshop.

Dom Murphy, Creative Director at TAK! said: “We are proud to be chosen as the digital agency to deliver the Visit Birmingham experience. Marketing Birmingham saw the potential and passion in our ideas and we’re excited to work with such a forward thinking team to represent and promote this grand city.”

For more information please contact:
Charlotte Beeching, Marketing Birmingham
Tel: 0121 202 5143 Email: charlotte.beeching@marketingbirmingham.com

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