About

Issue 471

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SALVAGE THE PAST,
SAVE THE FUTURE

'Hidden gem'. Perhaps the most over-parrotted catchprase in hyperlocal publishing but, here and now, absolutely apt. Squirreled away in Kings Heath a one-man band is breathing life back into forgotten treasures. Peter Grimshaw is the mind and body behind Unearthed, the sort of backyard business I Choose Birmingham was founded to put the spotlight on.

If you want an idea of the sort of person Pete is, well, when he worked in a coffee shop near the then I Choose Birmingham offices, in the Custard Factory, he labelled a flapjack "The Flapjack" and priced it at £100, just for his own amusement. He's got rather more serious over pricing items, of late.

Pete came to Brum 12 years ago to study Jazz trombone at the Conservatoire and his musician name, Zyggurat, is an obvious a nod to a long lost Birmingham icon. But this little hobby of his, restoring once loved furniture, is growing. And growing.

You'll find Unearthed at 147 Station Road, Kings Heath (B14 7TA) — tucked away in the gardens of the Victorian terraced houses — and you'll only find it open, publicly, at weekends.

"I've lived and worked in Kings Heath for the last 9 years," says Pete. "And although I had a couple of months of storage and a shop in Digbeth, I really love the growing independent scene here. Initially I moved to Kings Heath with musician mates pretty much entirely to be near the best music venue in Birmingham — the Hare & Hounds. And here I settled."

Pete started Unearthed as an Instagram business — without a shop front, which is still sort of lacks — back in October 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. It was an immediate hit with the locals, Pete cycling around and delivering small items to the locked down folks of South Birmingham.

"I've always been quite sentimental about various inherited or gifted items and traditionally I’ve been a bit of a hoarder," he tells me. "During the early COVID-era I thought I’d better create an outlet for it all and so I started this up. Jump forward a few years and business is great, and growing all the time. I work at the shop during the day and on my music at night and have found a good balance between the two."

As a one-man business Pete has to be flexible during the week to be able to work around buying, delivering and the sometimes messy process of restoration. Hence the shop proper is only open at weekends, but Pete does offer appointments during weekdays to view specific items. Appointments can be made via Instagram and Facebook, email or telephone. The stuff you see here is probably long gone, but there's always new items arriving. And by 'new' I mean old.

"Of course I'm always looking to sell items, wouldn't be much of a business if I wasn't, but equally I’m always looking to acquire items that need fixing or refurbing. Lots of members of the public get in touch with offers to let me raid their lofts and garages and buy their old furniture or clothes off them. I'm usually happy to oblige."

So what does he do with them these items once he's got them? "It varies at lot. Some items will need lots of work — repairs, restoration and upcycling. Some items may just need a good scrub and spruce. I often have "nice" surprise problems with items, lurking beneath the surface which I hadn’t initially spotted. All worthwhile once finished, though.

"Fairly early on I found a tubular steel and leather cantilever chair in pile in a warehouse in Walsall. Turned out to be a rare boardroom chair from BBC Broadcasting House designed by the Russian designer Serge Chermayeff. It sold on the shop on the opening day.

"One of my favourite restorations was a mid-century dining set by Sutcliffe of Todmorden, which had black seat pads [above]. I stained the table top black during the restoration. I thought that was pretty cool. Can’t remember exactly what it sold for, but it think it went for around £600."

That seems a bargain. But if £600 is outside of your current price bracket, worry not. His current cheapest item is a 50p dead-stock beer mat. A top of the range, mint condition restored dining set or a super rare sideboard might fetch £1000, and all price points in between are represented. What Im saying is, it's well worth a mooch one weekend.

"Everything is a one-off item," says Pete. "And it all appears in the shop at weekends, first. So many of items sell before being published to Instagram. If they don't sell right away, though, that's when they go on the Instagram account, giving followers the opportunity to get dibs on anything they see. I always encourage customers to drop a message or phone call about anything they spot, as any viewing appointments, payments, reservations and delivery quotes can be made remotely. I’m always happy to provide more photos and info."

Pete, quite rightly, puts a lot of stock in the eco-friendly ethos of his work. He is, after all, salvaging quality furniture from yesteryear and giving it a new lease of life. "It's so important for our future," he says. "To rescue things from our past."

Unearthed is open Saturdays 11am to 4pm and Sundays 11am to 3pm
www.unearthedobject.co

HALF A WORLD AWAY

I used to live in Dubai and although I can recommend against doing that (I found the place to be faker than The Truman Show) there were some obvious perks. One was that I used to review hotel spa treatments for What's On UAE. For over a year I was pampered and polished, pummelled and even walked upon, experiencing every possible, mad concoction that claims to lead to ever-lasting youth. So I know a thing or two about the good treatments and the more, shall we say, hocus-pocus options.

It's fitting then that here, in Birmingham, where nothing is fake (if anything things can get too real) Lush is on to the most real and wonderful massage I've ever had. And it's not even close.

On Rotunda Square, which isn't a square at all, and a stone's throw from the often heated verbal battleground of religious preachers and power punch bag competitions, Lush is very much in the shopping maelstrom. So it's with an almost eerie calm that just two doors deep into bowels of the store, from the top floor where you'll find the spa reception area, you are plunged into absolute silence. A serene oasis of tranquility where, geographically, you'd least expect one.

I've come to try their flagship Synaesthesia treatment and I've brought my dad with me because he's the coolest cat in town. On arrival and after some refreshing mint water you're invited to pick one of 11 ‘intentions’ depending on how you want to feel – from energetic, to soothed. I plumped for 'Mischief' and Dad went for 'Peace' — a man who's been retired for many years and only knows peace!

Anyway, this choice alters your massage to some extent and also dictates which oil bar is used on you, throughout. You're next asked to pick a scent from a tray of options (above). This scent is used throughout your massage too, and used in a wonderful piece of pre-massage theatre, which I shan't ruin. I went for 'Tranquility' and Dad went for 'Indulgence'.

Mercifully in separate rooms (yes, I've done the awful dual massage thing, too, not with my dad, though) you're then treated to a uniquely choreographed, 80-minute full body massage which stimulates all five senses. That might sound like a long time, on paper, but it won't when you're in there.

Can scents and sounds set your mood? This spa treatment attempts to do just that, based on a perceptual phenomenon called ‘synaesthesia’ which has been found to affect around 4% of the UK’s population. So synaesthesia is both the name of the treatment, and of a rare trait during which the stimulation of one sense triggers another; for example seeing a colour and experiencing a taste, or smelling a fragrance and seeing a shape. I'm not saying I'm one of those 4%, but what I am saying is I'm now very much open to the idea of it.

Harnessing the power of touch, colour, scent and taste, while integrating a powerful piece of music specifically made for the treatment, featuring a 52-piece orchestra and English bird song, this is a unique take on fragrance therapy. At times I was transported to Cafe Del Mar watching the sunset, at other times I was in snoozing in a park in Brussels — all the while a delightful massage going on about me. I was there, of course I was, but only in body.

Eyes closed you're welcome to drift off ("we see that as a huge compliment" we were told) but although I don't think I snoozed, I did reach an ethereal state of absolute relaxation that I wasn't aware I was capable of. It's funny, sometimes you don't realise how stressed or tense you are until you do something about it.

At one point hot and cold stones (I think they were stones, I don't know because I was half in La La Land) are gently stroked across your face — that warm and cool sensation combining to a point where you're not even sure which one is hot and which is cold. Instead it's just one dream-like feeling. And the therapists? Well both were absolutely bloody lovely. Lush staff are famed for the kindly ways and these two were exemplary examples of that, thank you Lydia and Sam.

Of course you can ask for parts of your body to be left untouched, I steered Lydia clear of my crazy ticklish feet and you can also give some guidance on firmness — every section of the massage done with a level of professionalism I'd never experienced before, even in a seven star Dubai hotel.

It's very a British massage in a way, and I say that as a very British person. By that I mean any part of your body that isn't being worked on is covered by a well placed, super soft towel, the heated table you are laying on adding to the cocooned comfort. This is the massage for people who might feel awkward about a massage, so expertly and methodically thought out has it been. That night I slept like I've never slept before.

"The problem with massages that good," said my old man as we walked back into the chaos of the Christmas Market, "is that you have to keep booking them."

Lush has 8 spas across the UK and vouchers can be bought as gifts. Synaesthesia is the best seller. lush.com

WALKING IN A JQ WONDERLAND

Last week's Christmas Lights switch extravaganza was another reminder that the JQ just does Christmas better than everyone else. It's with that in mind that excitement mounts over this year’s Jewellery Quarter Christmas Window Trail.

The trail features over 60 businesses mapped out for residents and visitors alike to explore during the festive season, with many pubs, eateries and shops offering ace deals to keep you motivated and moving. It's all about getting people to explore the area and to shine a spotlight on the city’s homeless, raising much-needed funds for Change into Action, a charity that helps rough sleepers across the region.

The JQ hit the headlines in 2019 after a mural by Banksy appeared on the railway bridge outside Vyse Street station. Depicting the reality of homelessness in Brum, Banksy uploaded this video to Instagram — which has now been viewed nearly 7.5 million times — of a man named Ryan bedding down for the night on a bench as a pair of reindeers lifted him into the night sky. The world famous mural is now a key part of the trail.

The Chocolate Quarter, Oliver James (above), The Borrow Shop and The Coffin Works are just four of the 64 venues taking part, and the beaut JQ Xmas Lights will, of course, light the way for parts of the trail. More

🎵 SIMPLY HAVING A COLOURFUL CHRISTMAS TIME 🎶

As your gift buying graph is set to commence on an upward trajectory that's steeper than a Peppa Pig hil, now might be a fortuitous time to mention Craftspace’s online shop.

With a focus on artist designed and handmade products there's a wealth of unique pressie options, and by purchasing from them you support the great work they do in Brum and beyond. Craftspace is a charity, you see, that's worked in Birmingham for over 30 years delivering creative craft programmes linking professional artists with communities.

Bringing people together around the pursuit of 'making' they build relationships, skills and harness creativity for social good. You may have seen their 4600 Gifts project as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, which brought together over 3700 people to make gifts to welcome the competing Commonwealth Games athletes.

Below are just some of their shop highlights and they're offering a 10% discount over 10 days starting today (November 23) and expiring at the end of December 3. Use the code 10for10 to claim.

For someone who likes to make: Brooch making kits designed by artist Melanie Tomlinson (Only £8)

For the eco conscious:
Nurture Collection — Designs crafted from sustainable materials

For the colour lovers:
The Migrating Birds range — visually striking pendants, earrings and brooches are easy to wear.

For the deep thinker / campaigner
Commons Sense bag or enamel pin badge. The badges are made in Brum by Fattorini’s in the JQ.

AMY WINEHOUSE: A TRIBUTE

Amy Winehouse's original band will celebrate her era-defining album Frank (plus much more) with a one-off live performance at Birmingham Town Hall, December 21.

Fronted by the incredible young singer Bronte Shandé (check the trailer out to get a blast on her vocals) and led by Amy's long term Musical Director and Bass player, Dale Davis, this unique show promises to be a completely authentic reimagining of the Winehouse sound.

Complete with onscreen visuals from moments from Amy’s short but extraordinary career, Brum will be the only UK stop-off point where the band will play Frank in its entirety. After the interval the audience will also be treated to a second half featuring best loved songs from Back To Black, Lioness and more.

The show, which has a maximum ticket price of just £32.50, precedes next year's highly anticipated Amy Winehouse movie biopic directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy) and starring Marisa Abela, best known for her role as Yasmin Kara-Hanani in HBO's Industry. The brilliant character actor Eddie Marsan will play Winehouse's father, Mitch.

A LICENCE TO KILN

Bond never did any pottery. Perhaps had he tried his hand at some clay creations he'd have been a little more chill, such is the relaxing and therapeutic qualities of the process. Whether you’re a throwdown fanatic or are completely new to the world of pottery, you won’t want to miss Pavlov Ceramics wheel throwing workshops.

Based in the JQ, this serene pottery studio is a creative haven. During Pavlov’s Wheel Throwing Taster Session, you'll delve into some essential theory while learning how to prepare the clay. After a detailed demonstration, you'll then have the opportunity to craft your own unique pots on the potter's wheel.

Workshops are capped at a maximum of six, so you’re sure to receive plenty of help and guidance from your experienced tutor. Your pots will also be fired and glazed, ready for you to collect after the workshop and display with pride at home, or in M's office.

Book pottery workshops on Yuup.

UPGRADE YOUR SUNDAY

One of Brum's most inspirational regular events, Soul City Arts' Soul Fire Sundays is back, this weekend, November 26, and looking better than ever.

Expect live-art, top food, curated sounds and conversation as Soul Fire Sundays takes over a vast and beautiful Sparkbrook warehouse, their first return since COVID. This Sunday's event brings with it the usual music, art and food-fuelled format but into a new venue; a 4000 sq ft warehouse called 'Port Hope'.

There will be food from the great Raja Monkey, as well as ice cream parlour doyens, LA Pop, whose gelato lollies are, by some distance, the best in Brum. There are also three guest live-artists who will be responding to the theme of 'Freedom’.

Lucy McLauchlan (who has done notable street art across Birmingham including the Black & White Birds that graced the Central Library in its latter months), Sok and Epod will be painting live throughout the day — with prints available to buy — and audiences will also be invited to respond by drawing on tabletops. There will be an opportunity to sit with others to discuss and exchange thoughts over food.

Bring your friends and neighbours — this is a space to connect, heal and grow together. Entry fee is £5 with food costing extra. Tickets

To mark the ongoing digital hell that is Black Friday, all I Choose Birmingham pin badges are just £8 — yes, even that one. The Mr Egg badge combination (two different badges for £11) is mad value. Shop
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Bigmouth Catering will be popping up at Stirchley's Birmingham Brewing Co. this Sunday (Nov 26) doing Sunday roast crusty cobs. Menu includes 15-hour slow cooked pork cob with apple sauce, scratchings, gravy and stuffing, all served with salty fries. There's also an harissa-spiced turkey with provolone and cranberry option, plus vegan and veg. More
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Bearwood's brilliant A La Mexicana will be doing their fist ever Mexican buffet event this Sunday (Nov 26). Booking recommended
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The Muppets Christmas Carol with a live orchestra shows at Symphony Hall, Dec 4, and that's the kind of madness that can kickstart the Christmas countdown. Book
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Bournville Christmas Festival and Lights Switch On is this Saturday (Nov 25) on Bournville Village Green and will run from 1pm-6pm, with the much-loved lights switch on set for 5pm. It coincides with Selly Manor Museum’s Handmade Christmas Craft Fair. Full details
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Black Friday: Artist James Allen, the guy behind these excellent prints of Brum indy restaurants, is offering 20% off for a limited time only, on is Etsy store. Shop

WORDS: Tom Cullen

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—

Amy Winehouse

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I Choose Birmingham is the award-winning creation of Birmingham-born writer and editor, Tom Cullen. Tom was Associate Editor at the UK’s biggest upmarket men’s magazine, ShortList, before becoming editor of ShortList.com and Editor-In-Chief of London-focused e-magazine, Mr Hyde.

Tom won the Periodical Training Council’s New Editor Of The Year 2012 and the Association Of Online Publishers One To Watch, 2013, during his 12 years in the London magazine industry. Having moved to Birmingham to launch his own title: I Choose Birmingham, he promptly won the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year award in Communications, 2015. The e-Magazine also won Small Business of the Year 2021 at the Birmingham Awards and Regional Publisher of the Year 2022 at the Midlands Enterprise Awards

I Choose Birmingham is a high-end magazine for men and women that’s emailed to its 19,000 readers once a week, bringing the very best things to do in and around this incredible city.

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