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by Karen Jones

The enduring popularity of the Metro Bar and Grill: the place to be seen

It’s no surprise that Metro Bar and Grill continues to be one of the most popular venues in Birmingham, says Karen Jones.

The Metro Bar and Grill in Birmingham has long been a favourite meeting place for the business community.

Whether it’s for lunch, or after-work drinks or dinner, there is always an air of anticipation as you walk through the door as you wonder who you will bump into. It’s no surprise, then, that it continues to be one of the places in the city centre where you should be seen.

When we visited, the atmosphere in this classic yet contemporary restaurant was buzzing.

The Metro Bar has recently undergone a refurbishment and is now even more stylish, with a wall of floor-to-ceiling mirrors. It is spacious anyway, but this design trick lends itself to making it look even bigger.

We had booked a table for our lunchtime visit and I’m glad we had, as the restaurant was very busy. Daylight streamed through the glass atrium, which created a lovely light in the dining area.

The tables are well spaced and it is always a delight to see pristine white linen tablecloths and napkins. The navy blue velvet seating and the tan leather chairs offer the diner comfort and style combined.

The three of us ordered a glass of the house Sauvignon Blanc, which was very good, as we perused the excellent spring menu.

We ordered some delicious rustic bread, roasted garlic, and olive oil with aged balsamic vinegar while we read though the menu and made our choices.

The starters were very good. The twice-baked cheese soufflé, served with mixed leaves to cut through the richness, was light and tasty. The baked butternut squash, spinach and mushroom pancakes with Gruyere sauce sounded quite hearty but was, in fact, perfectly proportioned for a starter and the flavours were excellent. We also had the very comforting corned beef hash with poached egg; it is an old favourite on the menu and it is not hard to see why.

There’s a great choice of main courses, including the old favourite of seared scallops, pea purée and crispy pancetta, chargrilled chicken Caesar salad with parmesan croutons, and the excellent chargrilled steaks, served with homemade chips and peppercorn sauce or herb butter. These never fail to please.

We wanted something fairly light, so chose from the fish dishes. We were not disappointed.

The fillet of Norwegian Skrei cod with braised lentils, celeriac purée and tempura chicory was a delight, while the sea bass from the specials menu was beautifully presented and cooked to perfection.

We were in the mood to treat ourselves, so didn’t refuse the puddings menu – and the desserts at Metro are always wonderfully tempting and fabulous.

We tried the Bakewell tart, which was light, while the stem ginger ice cream that accompanied it was deliciously creamy and offset the sweetness of the tart. Those with a sweet tooth would also be tempted by the Keylime pie and Cointreau satsumas, sticky toffee pudding with caramelised pear and vanilla ice cream, and the ultimate white chocolate cheesecake with pineapple carpaccio.

It is not hard to see why this stylish venue continues to draw in the regulars and attracts new diners. Our meal was perfectly judged and the staff also ensure that customers are well looked after. In fact, all the staff are very professional and attentive here, which enhances the whole dining experience. Whether for business or pleasure, Metro Bar and Grill is consistently good.

Metro Bar & Grill,

73 Cornwall St

Birmingham

West Midlands

B3 2DF

Tel: 0121 200 1911

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New Restaurant opens Knowle

Luna Rosa

Spanish & Italian Cuisine

Diners wanting to try something new and exciting should head to Knowle,  where a new Spanish/Italian restaurant has opened.

Luna Rosa is a stylish new venue that brings together the experience of Paco and Skender, and their passion for excellent Mediterranean cuisine, under one roof in St John’s Way.

Paco worked in Madrid as a professional entertainer before romance brought him  to Birmingham more than 30 years ago.  Since his arrival here, he has enjoyed success with restaurants in Birmingham, Lichfield  and Streetly.

Now he is opening a new venture with friend and business partner Skender Ajeti.

Skender also boasts years of experience in the high-class hospitality environment and is well-known in the Solihull area for his superb customer service skills.

Luna Rosa is the perfect venue for a fabulous evening with friends. Dishes such as calamari fritti, gamberoni al aglio, cannellone Siciliana, and coda di Rospo, cooked by a team of chefs, headed by Alex, will tempt the most discerning of diners. Paco and Skender promise a great atmosphere and excellent service for all diners at Luna Rosa.

Luna Rosa, 5 St John’s Way, Knowle. Tel: 01564 739395.

www.lunarosaknowle.com

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Hatching Success In Stratford-Upon-Avon

A gap in the market for high-quality chicken restaurants is the inspiration behind the recent successful opening of The Flat Chicken, which is proving popular at its new roost in Guild Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.

This fun new eatery is dedicated to serving the finest rotisserie chicken using only free-range chickens, bred locally in the Cotswolds.  Half or whole free range chickens priced from £9.95 - £17.95 are lightly steamed to lock in the moisture, then smothered with a secret BBQ sauce, before being cooked to perfection in the French rotisserie.

This latest venture mirrors a new trend of chicken speciality restaurants in London, but it is not just the chicken which is gaining rave views on Trip Advisor.

Trendy casual dining and the concept of sharing plates is also at the heart of what The Flat Chicken offers with its range of Peckings – tapas style starters priced from £2.00 - £4.50.  These include such temptations as baked camembert in the box, sun blushed tomatoes with baby mozzarella, confit baby chorizo and rustic breads with garlic … all designed to whet the appetite for a feast to come.

Creatively carved, the chicken is accompanied by generous portions of homemade chips, presenting a challenge for that empty plate, particularly when combined with one of the succulent Aubrey Allen steaks.  Vegetarians are equally well catered for and freshly-prepared, non-meat dishes are also available.

However help is to hand with the opportunity to take home any leftovers in The Flat Chicken’s heatproof ‘doggy bags’, which also service popular ‘take-away’ orders.  For seriously hungry diners with room for something sweet, then some tempting treats await with a choice of desserts for £4.

Diners are also welcome to pop in for just a coffee, a drink or a light bite either before or after theatre performances, and during the summer months the spectacular garden roof terrace will be the place to be.

Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11.00 am to 11.00 pm, The Flat Chicken is licensed to thrill and an ideal place for a quick bite with family or friends, as well as for celebratory occasions.

www.theflatchicken.com

Tel: 01789 415542  Twitter@theflatchicken

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by Karen Jones

Karen Jones discovers the delights of the Regency Restaurant, the 2AA Rosette restaurant at the Manor Hotel, which is in the picturesque village of Meriden

When a restaurant has 2 AA Rosettes, expectations are high.

So when we dined at the Regency Restaurant at The Best Western Plus Manor Hotel in Meriden, we knew we should not be disappointed.

The restaurant is nestled inside this elegant Georgian building, which has been extended to include additional bedrooms and conference facilities, making it a lovely venue to enjoy a party, wedding or conference.

It is a relaxed, but classy dining area that overlooks a beautiful courtyard and patio, which will undoubtedly look picturesque in the spring and summer.

We enjoyed pre-dinner drinks and complimentary appetisers in the Regency Bar before moving to our table by the huge windows and looking forward to our meal.

Chef Darion Smethurst has created an excellent menu and champions local produce and seasonal ingredients whenever he can.

We began our 2AA Rosette experience with smoked haddock risotto and bacon ravioli with crispy local free-range egg, and duck, mushroom and pistachio terrine, which was served with smoked garlic, sweet pickled pears and soda bread.

Both dishes surpassed our expectations, with superb presentation complementing by incredible flavours.

The terrine was coarse and flavoursome. It was a wonderful combination of slowly cooked duck, slightly poached mushrooms, subtly smoked garlic and pungent thyme that provided complementary, yet distinct flavours.

My dining companion’s risotto and ravioli were perfectly cooked and, again, full of flavour. The crispy egg that accompanied the dish gave it an added depth.

Other starters included such tempting dishes as the oak-smoked cheese panacotta with quince jelly, chicory and beetroot and potato mousseline; parsnip soup with apple and cinnamon compote and curried crème fraîche; and escabache of red mullet with tomato and basil concasse with guacamole and lemon jelly.

Our incredibly helpful waiter Karl helped us to choose our main courses and we are pleased he recommended the dishes, for they were out of this world.

I had the lemon sole fillet served with sweet potato purée, baby carrots, cauliflower, caramelised red onion, cresses and a bisque dressing. The fish was the main attraction and was beautifully cooked, but the accompaniments were also fantastic.

The Blind House farm Worcestershire lamb was a revelation. The shoulder, cutlet and the cannon were served, providing a wonderful combination of textures and flavours. The dish was enhanced with Jerusalem artichoke purée, parsnip boulangère, braised salsify, mint aioli and port jus. It was simply superb.

An additional side dish of buttered green beans with toasted almonds was also excellent.

The menu, which also included Staffordshire blade of beef with horseradish mashed potato, was incredibly creative. It was good to see how local produce was championed and the quality of ingredients was evident in every dish.

If you dine here do not pass on the desserts because they are absolutely superb.

I chose the popcorn brulée, which was served with salted caramel ice cream. Such an unusual and clever combination of flavours – it was very moreish indeed.

My partner decided to have the lemon curd treacle tart with sorbet and said it was perfect. The pastry was buttery and light, while the lemon curd had just the right tang.

I couldn’t recommend the Manor Hotel enough. Both front of house staff and the chefs deserve praise for the attention to detail, the excellent customer service and, of course, the quality of the food.

For more informal dining at the hotel, diners can try the New York-inspired Houston’s, which serves fantastic grills in more informal surroundings, but for formal and fine dining, it has to be the Regency.

The Best Western Plus Manor Hotel, Main Road, Meriden, Solihull, West Midlands CV7 7NH

Tel: 01676 522735   Fax: 01676 522186   www.manorhotelmeriden.co.uk

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Brockencote Hall Chef wins  UK Visionary Chef of the Year 2012

Adam Brown’s 10 Hour Tangerine Snowball Wins National Chefs Title

Adam Brown, 2 AA Rosette Head Chef at Brockencote Hall in Worcestershire, wowed an audience of 90 selected guests and a table of professional judges headed up by Mark Sargeant of ITV’s Saturday Cookbook as he went head to head against other top UK chefs in a competition dinner.

Brown, mentor for candidate Braden Charlesworth of Flemings Mayfair who cooked alongside him, fought off competition from chefs familiar with the pressures of live TV and maintaining Michelin stars to walk away with the victor’s title.

The winning partnership was decided by votes that included an internet ballot that attracted 19,000 votes sourced from the fan base of competing chefs.

Gordon Cartwright, Managing Director of Visionary Dining who organised the event, was one of ten professional judges on the night. He commented,

“The winning dish (a Tangerine Snowball with Buttermilk and Carrot) was stunning on several levels, delivering a unanimous vote from the judges table. Flavours and textures were refined and delicate whilst the overall technical execution was flawless, despite being at the very cutting edge of what’s out there at the moment.”

The winning chefs spent an incredible 10 hours crafting the dessert that was served at the end of the five hour dinner. Remarking on their success Adam Brown added,

“I’m incredibly proud and happy. It was amazing to be involved in such a prestigious event, let alone win. Working in the kitchen with these legends was really inspirational! It’s not only been a great opportunity to network and catch up with some chefs I haven’t seen in a while, but it’s been brilliant mentoring Braden and seeing him achieve.”

He added, “It’s been a great way to showcase the food we produce at Brockencote Hall, giving us the opportunity to spread the word. Being handed ‘Ice’ as a course was a big challenge but we pushed it all the way and ended up with the award for innovation as well as the title which was incredible”.

The theme of the menu was Mother Nature and the elements with other dishes including ‘Sunlight’ by Kenny Atkinson, twice Great British Menu winner, who caramelised an orange brûlée with red wine poached pears.

The annual competition is widely respected in the industry and firmly cements Head Chef Adam Brown as one to watch. Try out his food at a visit to Brockencote Hall Hotel, a luxury Victorian Mansion set in the heart of Worcestershire, with this exclusive break!

Newly refurbished Victorian mansion scoops  ‘Hotel of the Year’ in Worcestershire Welcome Awards

Brockencote Hall Hotel, a Victorian country estate in Worcestershire, has scooped the award for ‘Hotel of the Year’ at the Worcestershire Welcome Awards following a 6 million investment in the local area by small luxury group, the Eden Hotel Collection.

Every year visitors to Worcestershire nominate their favourite business to be put forward for the Worcestershire Welcome Awards.  These annual tourism awards are the only ones of their kind where visitors to the county can independently nominate businesses that are a credit to their local area. The winners of the Worcestershire Welcome Awards are then put forward into the National VisitEngland awards.

Brockencote Hall Hotel, sold to the Eden Hotel Collection in August 2011, was becoming tired and dated but the combined vision and skills of the Eden team headed up by Creative Director Marian Cartter and award-winning interior designers Nicholas Hollinshead have breathed new life into the country house estate and put the hotel on the map. Head Chef Adam Brown, recently crowned victor of The Battle of Eden who has trained at Restaurant Gordon Ramsey and Le Champignon Savage, is taking an already award-winning establishment to new heights, using his forward thinking and innovative style to showcase seasonal produce and create fresh, exciting dishes for Brockencote’s dedicated diners.

General Manager Dean Gunston commented,

‘The team at Brockencote are absolutely delighted to have won this award. Our aim was to restore Brockencote Hall to her former glory and create a classic, high end dining and accommodation destination for visitors to the county.

We are extremely proud to be a part of the close communities within Worcestershire and are thrilled that visitors to the area recognise how fantastic Brockencote Hall is. Well done to my team! ’

Mark Chambers, Managing Director  for Eden Hotel Collection added,

‘This firmly cements Brockencote’s place as best hotel in Worcestershire. To be independently recognised as such is a great achievement and a testament to the entire team’s efforts to deliver the highest levels of customer service and hospitality, as well as Eden Hotel Collection’s commitment to investing in the local area and engaging with our local communities.’

To find out more about Brockencote Hall Hotel and to plan your visit go to  www.brockencotehall.com.

Visionary Chef of  The Year Experience

Two nights stay only £210.00 per person!

We have put together this very special break to celebrate Brockencote Hall winning the prestigious Visionary Chef of The Year 2012. Judge for yourself with a two night stay at our luxury Victorian mansion. Enjoy a cream tea on arrival in our library, then toast our success with a glass of Champagne in the lounge before experiencing our award-winning restaurant at its finest with a seven course taster menu on the first evening, and a full English breakfast each morning.

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by David Baldwin

Feb - March 2013

David Baldwin from The Electric Cinema in Birmingham gives us a taste of the latest Spring releases.

Flight - Feb 1st

Denzel Washington has bagged himself another Oscar nomination for this high stakes drama, and deservedly so, playing a commercial pilot whose heroic deed of saving a plane from crashing comes under scrutiny when it’s revealed he had a high level of alcohol in his blood on the day in question. Flight is also director Robert Zemeckis’s first live action film for years, Zemeckis perhaps finally realising all that motion capture CGI nonsense will never be quite as good as having a brilliant actor like Washington delivering the lines.

February

Hitchcock - 8th

Most biopics go the whole hog and feature a subject’s entire life, but this spirited look at legendary director Alfred Hitchcock chooses to focus on one particular moment on his life – namely the stress and pressure Hitch came under whilst trying to bring the now iconic horror Psycho to the silver screen. Anthony Hopkins dons the latex to play the man himself, while Helen Mirren inhabits the role of his loyal wife Alma, the film focusing on both their romantic and creative partnership.

Cloud Atlas - 22nd

To even try and condense the plot of Cloud Atlas into a paragraph is insane folly. Suffice to say that this adaptation of David Mitchell’s epic novel jumps between five different places/times – including a 19th century ocean journey and a futuristic Korea – and features actors such as Tom Hanks and Halle Berry playing different roles in each section. Despite some negative reviews, you have to admire ambition, and the creation of co-directors Tom Tykwer & the Wachowski siblings sure has plenty of that.

March

Stoker - 1st

When acclaimed Asian directors head to Hollywood, the results are often a little underwhelming, but hopes are high for Stoker, the English language debut of Oldboy director Park Chan-wook. You’ve got a suitably creepy story as Mia Wasikowska’s morose teenager finds herself infatuated with her possibly homicidal new stepfather Matthew Goode, and then you’ve got Park’s typically luscious visuals to frame the perverse narrative. Certainly not one for the faint of heart, one particular depiction of budding female sexuality practically guaranteeing Stoker an 18 certificate.

The Paperboy - 15th

If you saw the Oscar-winning 2009 film Precious, then you’ll know that the work of writer-director Lee Daniels often hangs precariously between serious social issues drama and cheap exploitation flick. The Paperboy is no different, giving you a journalist (Matthew McConaughey) trying to prove the innocence of a death row inmate (John Cusack), but also throwing in Nicole Kidman’s slutty fiancée and some sleazy Southern US sultriness. A guilty pleasure then, but you needn’t feel too guilty.

The Host - 29th

The Twilight Saga is over! And boy, it sure was an endless saga. But before parents sick and tired of sparkly vampires and weirdly buff teenagers crack open the champers, there is still yet more to come from the pen of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, whose standalone novel The Host is here given the cinematic treatment.

It’s all got something to do with alien souls possessing human bodies, but it’s essentially just another B movie framework to hang a soppy romance off. Sigh.

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What’s  On Feb/Mar 2013

micky flanagan

NIA 16th March and 7th,  8th & 9th November

Micky Flanagan, one of British comedy’s biggest stars, will be bringing his new tour ‘Back in the Game’ to the NIA.

The London-born stand-up comedian has announced his new tour following huge critical and commercial success after last year’s ‘Out Out’ tour where over 200,000 tickets were sold and all 150 dates completely sold out.

X FACTOR

LG Arena, Sunday 10th February 2013 –  2.30pm and 7.30pm

You’ve watched them in your living room, voted for your favourite on your phone, clapped along to their performances on the tap to clap app, now you have the chance to see the final seven stars of The X Factor perform live as they embark on The X Factor 2013 Live Tour at the LG Arena.

The top seven finalists performing on the tour, who will appear at the arena next February, are James Arthur, Ella Henderson, Jahmene Douglas, Rylan Clark, Christopher Maloney and groups Union J and District3

GIRLS ALOUD

LG Arena, 26th & 27th February 2013

The girls are back in town…! After months of speculation the UK’s number one girl band have announced their return and the LG Arena is set to welcome them next year as part of their ‘Ten’ arena tour. Undoubtedly one of the biggest girl bands in the world, the tour will see Cheryl, Kimberley, Nadine, Nicola and Sarah take to the stage to celebrate 10 years in music.

alfie boe

NIA, 22 March 2013

‘The Nation’s Tenor’ Alfie Boe is one of 2011’s huge success stories; having sold nearly 700,000 copies of his albums ‘Bring Him Home’ and ‘Alfie’, whilst also fitting in a critically acclaimed West End run as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. His new tour dates will follow the release of his new studio album ‘Storyteller’.

biffy clyro

LG Arena 21st March 2013

Festival favourites Biffy Clyro have confirmed their biggest arena tour to date, bringing their famous Scottish rock sounds to the Midlands as part of next year’s tour.

The trio shot to fame in 2007 with album ‘Puzzle’, followed by ‘Only Revolutions’ in 2009; both of which made top five in the UK Album Charts. ‘Only Revolutions’ reached number three in the charts and went gold within days of its release, and in 2010 achieved platinum status. As well being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, the album includes two of the band’s best-known hits, ‘Mountains’ and ‘That Golden Rule’, which both reached top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. Also on the album is the track ‘Many of Horror’ which was covered by The X Factor 2010 winner, Matt Cardle.

one direction

LG Arena, 22nd & 23rd March, 17th April

Zayn, Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are preparing to wow fans when they head to the LG Arena next spring.  Undoubtedly one of the most popular bands around, they have been number one in 15 countries with their Debut Album ‘Up All Night’, won a BRIT Award for Best Single 2012 and have conquered America, making them the first UK group to debut at No. 1 in USA with a debut album.

The Script

Saturday,  16th March 2013

As the band have reached superstar status, they’ve toured with U2, Take That and Paul McCartney, sailed through the second album syndrome that sinks so many bands, played to a 55,000-strong crowd at an historic hometown show in Dublin, amassed almost four million followers on Facebook and 1.5 million on Twitter, sold four million albums, nine million singles, and saw their singer star Danny O’Donoghue on TV talent show The Voice UK.

OLLY MURS

LG Arena 12th March, NIA 20th March 2013

Olly, who has recently released his latest album ‘Right Place Right Time’ is set to get fans’ hearts skipping a beat when he embarks on his 2013 tour. The cheeky Essex chap sold out at his last appearance at the LG Arena, back in February of this year, so fans are urged to book tickets fast!

MICHAEL JACKSON

NIA, 26th March

Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil is the highest grossing show in America and has confirmed that it will be visiting Birmingham’s NIA on Tuesday 26 March 2013. A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour unfolds Michael Jackson’s artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing Michael’s creative genius for the first time, the show captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop - celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations.

Tickets for all gigs available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

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Rachel New

from the Heart FM breakfast show

Olly Murs

LG Arena 12 March and NIA 20 March

I’m very excited about March, because Olly Murs is coming to the West Midlands, not once, but twice! Since finishing second in the X Factor in 2009 (bonus points if you can name who actually won that year?!) He’s proved himself as TV presenter, doing a sterling job on The Xtra Factor, as well as a hugely successful pop act, his third album selling very nicely thank you.

But having met Olly on several occasions (lovely and down to earth) I know he had his eyes set very firmly on a prize he wasn’t sure he could he’d ever get. A stadium tour of his own. Now he’s finally got his wish and like a kid in a sweetshop he’s playing both the NIA and the LG Arena, bless him. If you’ve not seen him live you are in for such a treat. It’s a big show, with a great band, a kind of carnival vibe and his covers (Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’ among them) are inspired and full of soul. He’s a little gem is Olly Murs, oh and he knows how to wear a hat! (It was Joe McElderry btw, in case you’re still trying to work it out!)

www.heart.co.uk

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by Laurence McCoy

A delightful stroll from Weston Subedge in the Cotswolds, taking in some dramatic views from the top of Dover’s Hill – and a memorable meeting!

The Old Fella’s been moaning about how wet it has been underfoot lately, so when he started talking about our next walk, “We’re heading for the hills,” he said.

Out came the maps and after an hour of muttering and scribbling with pencils he declared: “That’ll do nicely. A handy pub and a circular walk along a high ridge to keep out of the mud.”

As it happened, when we set off a couple of days later it had snowed so that was an extra bonus for the four-legged strollers. As we pulled up at Weston Subedge, near Chipping Campden, Dylan was fairly shivering with anticipation. Or it might have been the cold...he’s a bit of a woos for a so-called sheepdog. Max kept his counsel, as usual.

Start off facing the village pub, the Seagrave Arms, and head left, past the wooden bus shelter and then right into Church Street. Keep going for a couple of hundred metres then turn right into Parson’s Lane, crossing over a stream and past a manor house on the right. Look out for a footpath sign on the left which takes you past a picture-book Cotswold golden stone cottage.

The footpath has a low stone wall on the right. At a footpath sign on the left go into an open field and carry along the edge, heading away from the village. You’ll hear a stream on your left as you reach the corner of the field. Cross a wooden bridge over the stream and through a kissing gate and immediately in front is a church. Go straight ahead, following the footpath across the field, keeping the church on your left. You’ll hear another stream (or it may be the same one!) on your right.

Keep going to the corner of the field, leaving the church behind, over your left shoulder. There’s a footpath sign at the corner of the field, over a stile, next to the stream. Tempting, but just a little bit too cold to jump in for a splash.

So we go over a stile, then another stile immediately. Cross the farm track to where there’s a footpath marker through a wooden five bar gate. Pass by a large wooden circular structure. and keep to the track until the stream reappears on your left. Where a tarmac track bears right, look ahead and you’ll see a stile. Cross over into an open field, keeping the stream on your left and along the edge of the field. Phew, at last there’s plenty of space here so it’s off the leads for a romp – as long as there are no sheep.

Keep to the edge of the field, with the stream on your left. Ignore a gate on your left and walk gently uphill to the corner of the field where there’s a stile and a small wooden bridge and the footpath bears right. This time keep the stream on your right until you get to two bridges. Ignore them and bear left in front of the stream and head uphill, keeping the stream on your right. Head for a marker post in the middle of the field and then all the way to the top of the field.

It was getting exciting now, the views all around start to open up and that keeps the Old Fella happy, while Dylan, Max and I can hare around to our hearts’ content. At the top of the field there are some smart wooden steps and gate. Perfect to stop for a breather here and a  look back over the Vale of Evesham stretching away to the distance.

Go through the gate and the views get even more spectacular as you come to the brow of the hill. Follow the line of the straight fence. Go through a double gate and straight ahead, hug the fence to your left, squeezing between an old oak tree at the top of the field and then you come to a gate, past a stone water tough. Go through the gate and head straight across a field to another similar wooden gate that opens out onto a road. Cross the road and go through a gate and turn directly right towards the top of the hill.

The competition was hotting up between we three dogs. “Last one to the top is a chihauhua,” barked Dylan as he shot off ahead. Leaving Max puffing away with the Old Fella, I was off. At the top is a wide open space, a dog paradise. But what attracted me wasn’t the splendid views, it was the sight of a very pretty terrier. Minxie was her name and we got on like a house on fire.

So when the Old Fella managed to get to the top and called for us, I was tempted to do a bunk and hang out with Minxie for the rest of the day. But what would he do without my sense of direction, I reasoned, as I sadly barked a last goodbye to Minxie.

We set off around the crest of the hill, keeping the views to the left, past a National Trust stone beacon and bearing left past a footpath marker post. Minxie had told me where she lived but a dog’s memory is a bit short and to be honest, when Max chased something feathery out of a bush all thoughts of Minxie faded. Live for the moment is my motto. Needless to say we didn’t catch it. So it was onward, passing a small copse on the right with a stone wall and a gate, and a marker saying Cotswold Way Circular. Ignore it and carry on downhill to some wooden steps. Go down, ignore another footpath marker on a stile ahead. Instead turn left, downhill towards woods, following a well-marked path. A sheep alert meant leads on at this point but at the bottom of the field there are some welcoming woods.

Look out for a wooden gate and kissing gate into the wood and then simply follow the path through the wood. More dog heaven, especially since I’d put Minxie behind me and was able to fully concentrate on the important things that Max was chasing out from behind the trees.

Go through the wood and cross a smart wooden walkway (obviously built for humans, who need all the help they can get). It was a little muddy here, despite the Old Fella’s hopes to stay dry. But that’s just a bonus for us and a roll around in a puddle never did any dog any harm. At a T-junction take the right turn which leads out of the wood, with Weston Subedge appearing ahead. Cross a stile and go straight down a narrow field.

When it opens out turn left at a path marker on the left. Look out for another marker post which sends you towards a stile at the edge of the field. Jump over and go through a small tree-lined section, cross a stile onto a narrow path between two fields with a hedge on the left and a fence on the right. This eventually pops out at the village football pitch. Carry on out into the road with the church of St John the Baptist and St Lawrence ahead. Cross over and turn right down the footpath towards the village. To avoid walking along the road look out for a footpath sign that points between two stone houses and out into the field which should be recognisable from earlier. Retrace your steps back to the Seagrave Arms and a welcome rest.

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Automobili Lamborghini announces its 50th Anniversary Celebration Plans (1963-2013)

Grande Giro Lamborghini 50° Anniversario

In 2013, the ‘house of the raging bull celebrates fifty incredible years: 100 years of innovation in half the time. Lamborghini Birmingham is  excited and proud, as the local marque representative, to be part of these celebrations.

Since Ferruccio Lamborghini developed his first car, believing that he could build a better car than his competitors, Automobili Lamborghini has produced extraordinary super sports cars, from the 350GT to the iconic Miura, V12 ‘pin ups’ such as Countach, Diablo and more recently the Murciélago and  the best-selling Lamborghini of all-time, the V10 Gallardo. Today, the ground-breaking Lamborghini Aventador, a car two generations ahead of its time and the Aventador Roadster launched this spring, are illustrations of the innovative technological and engineering prowess that Lamborghini has become recognised for today.

From 7th to 11th May, many of Lamborghini’s iconic cars will return to their homeland. A Grande Giro (grand tour), will start in Milan, with 300 cars, their owners and VIPs from across the world joining together to drive through Italian landscapes and cities, staying in locations from Rome to  Orvieto. The tour culminates in Bologna, with a concours event celebrating the heritage of Lamborghini cars, and a gala celebration at Lamborghini’s home in Sant’Agata Bolognese.  Further events throughout the year will continue the celebrations of Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary, internationally and, of course at home with Lamborghini Birmingham.

Lamborghini: extreme, uncompromising and Italian. Celebrating 50 years, across the globe and at Lamborghini Birmingham.

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