Well, it was a busy time leading up to Christmas with the launch of the new Website and Tourism Guide at the School of Jewellery, the Christmas lights switch on and charity Santa Race finally culminating with a Christmas TV and radio campaign. We also organised a Shopping Day in conjunction with Brilliantly Birmingham with open workshops and events.  As usual in the Jewellery Quarter, it depends who you speak to  as some of the shops were doom and gloom merchants which in fairness is not surprising considering the credit crunch. However, a surprising number have been upbeat and have had some very good trading days which they tend to put down to the uniqueness of their product and also the fact that people are so depressed about the overall financial situation in the country that maybe they are treating themselves, just to drive away the depression.

Unfortunately the shopping day, when we organised free buses from Frankfurt Market, was typically the day when it rained cats and dogs although it did clear up a little bit later on. Anybody who organises events knows there is always some sort of glitch however well you prepare and, in our case, our much vaunted ‘Vintage’ Bus provided through Aston Manor Bus Museum was unavailable and instead of the traditional London red bus which is always a talking point, we had to use an old WMPTE blue and cream bus – I wouldn’t have minded if it had been really old but, in fact, it was from the 1970s and only a card carrying anorak would have been intrigued by a design which looked pretty similar to the present day version.

Overall I noticed that there were not so many Christmas events but that didn’t stop our small staff going out for our Christmas meal. The chosen venue was ‘The Vaults’ in Newhall Hill which is rumoured to have been anything from a Women’s Prison to a Workhouse – probably one and the same thing in some ways. Either way it is a really atmospheric venue with a subterranean feel and I have to say it was an excellent meal – and in my time I have had some pretty unspectacular Christmas meals which are obviously mass produced. I had a terrine starter which was comprised mainly of coarsely cut ham and cranberry which was absolutely delicious – not the normal anaemic ‘sardine paste’ style usually billed as pate which masquerades as a starter for many Christmas meals.  My main course was slow roasted beef in some gravy (or should I say jus?!) and it had a superbly rich taste and just melted in the mouth.  Christmas pudding and mince pies were equally delicious and the highest compliment that I can pay is that the food was as interesting and enjoyable as the surroundings.

Afterwards (from what I recall from through the alcohol induced mist), we visited the Rectory in St Paul’s Square which is always a lively and buzzy venue and we finally stopped off at the Queen’s in Newhall Street – aptly named but a great atmosphere with good beer.

Of course, this is what makes the Quarter such a great place to have a meal or a drink because the offer is so varied and many of the buildings have a unique ambience because of their age and history. Unfortunately on the subject of evening entertainment, there is a problem in Vyse Street,  (opposite their tram station) where a newly launched club (Terminal) has upset businesses and residents alike. It’s a bit of a shame because the building in which it is housed has been lovingly restored by David Keay from Worksecond who has previously undertaken some excellent refurbishments in the Quarter. However the planning permission was for a restaurant and bar – the noise emanating from it, and their website publicity, blatantly shows it is a nightclub. Apart from the obvious fact that they haven’t got planning permission, from a Regeneration point of view we need to ensure the music is within reasonable levels so as not to disturb nearby residents and that it is properly policed – with the best will in the world 500 clubbers coming out into a deserted Quarter at 5 o’clock in the morning needs proper policing to prevent vandalism especially when many of the clubbers will be (to use an old fashioned term) well oiled or worse. I am certainly not a kill joy and generally am very pleased to see the increasing number of entertainment venues but they have to be properly managed, at the very least, to protect the local jewellery industry and the growing number of residents in the area.

Finally, I went to an Christmas networking event at the Blues ground hosted by Marketing Birmingham and they were telling me they were looking to do something on the FA Cup. Unfortunately being a Blues fan, my acquaintance with the FA Cup every year is fairly passing but from a Jewellery Quarter perspective it is interesting to note the history.  The original FA Cup was made around 1872 but was eventually stolen from a Birmingham shop window to be melted down to half crown coins.  At the time it was in the ‘safe’ keeping of the Villa but then again you can’t really trust the boys in claret and blue can you? A second version was made by Vaughtons whose old factory can still be seen in Livery Street and now houses the new Hatters Hostel – more about that on a future blog. That cup was eventually given away and Fattorinis (well known in the Jewellery Quarter) made a new one around 1911 and, when it was almost falling to pieces in the early 1990s, they then made a replica which is the one seen and used today. A further connection was the first time a whistle was used instead of a handkerchief was in an FA cup tie in the late 1870s and, guess what, the whistle supplied was by Acme Whistles in Great Barr Street. All in all a great example of the part the Jewellery Quarter has played in sporting history.

Here’s hoping you all had a great Christmas and New Year, I went off to Llandudno to see my daughter star in a panto opposite ‘Boycie’ from Only Fools and Horses!

Andy Munro