‘Boutique’ gym to open in Sutton Coldfield

A Sutton Coldfield business consortium has hailed a ‘new era’ for fitness lovers in the town after investing almost £250,000 in an innovative new concept.

Built Unique Co is set to open on the former Birmingham Road Blockbuster Video site by the end of November and will be the new home of functional fitness and bodybuilding for the Greater Birmingham area.

Functional fitness means doing movements that mimic everyday actions, engaging multiple muscle groups at the same time. The activity builds strength, stability, and mobility across the whole body, supporting comfortable living both inside and outside the gym environment. 

The boutique gym is the evolution of the CrossFit B76 concept, with ex-partner Gary Smith, heading up operations at Built Unique Co as managing director.

Gary said “I have always had a passion for fitness and in particular functional fitness – it’s how I met many of Built Unique Co’s investors. We’ve always talked about opening a gym and with Sutton Coldfield’s vibrancy and ‘being on the up’, it felt like the perfect town to trial our ‘high street gym’ concept.

“Everyone knows how challenging the high street environment currently is, but we are excited to play a role in driving footfall back to the town center.

With a career spanning over 15 years in the fitness industry, MD Gary has first hand seen the benefits that fitness can bring to the lives of many.

“In addition to supporting people with their fitness and health, it’s great to be bringing jobs to the area. We have already employed six people and we are still on the lookout for other roles such as front of house. We are also keen to speak to personal trainers looking for space to hire out and who essentially want to run their own fitness business.

“Whilst the gym is situated in Sutton Coldfield, we know the calibre of our staff and the programme we are offering will attract function fitness fanatics far and wide.

“We are hoping to gain fame as the home of small classes with a PT focus, as well as making a big impact on the local community. We are keen to help as many people as possible, which is why we will be offering opportunities for schools, clubs, and families to get involved.

“We shall also be running mentoring programs and ensuring that we provide facilities for people with disabilities. Many people think the Co stands for company, but it actually stands for community.

In addition to people benefiting physically from the new gym, Built Unique Co is keen that other businesses benefit from the new venture and really believes this could be a new era for people looking for a gym membership.

“We are also looking to partner with local suppliers and businesses to create a real hub of mutual benefits that are exciting for our members and provide opportunities for people in the area to come to together.”

Built Unique Co is set to offer many different membership options including trial months and a limited number of Founding Memberships. For anyone interested in joining Built Unique Co and the membership packages should registered their interest at https://www.builtuniqueco.com/. For all other enquiries, please email Gary on gary@builtunique.co.uk.

Sutton Coldfield’s Giggling Squid offers home delivery to customers

Food lovers of Mere Green can now get their favourite dishes delivered as Thai restaurant Giggling Squid announces that it has launched its delivery service, with partner Deliveroo.

Allowing more residents to indulge in their favourite Giggling Squid dishes from the comfort of home, the launch means Sutton Coldfield diners can now tuck into a tasty Thai takeaway at the click of a button or pop to the restaurant and pick up their tasty takeaway. 

Remaining true to Giggling Squid’s spirit of Thai mealtimes – great food to share, full of flavour and cooked by expert Thai chefs – Giggling Squid’s delivery menu offers guest favourites, packed full of bold flavours and Thailand’s exciting and exotic ingredients, including the hugely popular Pad Thai and tastebud tantalising Soft Shell Pranee Prawns.  

Giggling Squid CEO Andy Laurillard, comments, “We are delighted that we can now give our guests the option to enjoy a Giggling experience at home. The local community have been so welcoming since we opened – it’s been an amazing few months.”

Giggling Squid Mere Green is located at 9 Mulberry Walk, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield B75 5BS. As well as delivery, a wide takeaway menu will also be available for click & collect or telephone orders.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu: 12:00 – 22:00, Fri-Sat:12:00 – 22:30, Sun:12:00 – 21:30

Follow Giggling Squid on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for all the latest news.

Delivery can be ordered on www.gigglingsquid.com

• Founded by Pranee and Andrew Laurillard with its first restaurant in Brighton, Giggling Squid now operates 40 venues across the UK: Bath, Beaconsfield, Berkhamsted, Billericay, Bishop’s Stortford, Brentwood, Brighton, Bury, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Chichester, Chislehurst, Clifton, Esher, Farnham, Guildford, Harborne, Harpenden, Henley, Hornchurch, Horsham, Hove, Kingston, Leamington Spa, Leicester, Marlow, Mere Green, Norwich, Oxford, Reigate, Salisbury, Sevenoaks, Stratford, Tunbridge Wells, Warwick, West Bridgford, Weybridge, Wimbledon, Windsor and Wokingham.

Giggling Squid has established a strong reputation for bold Thai cuisine, complemented by a stylish and relaxed setting. The varied menu comprises a competitively priced lunch menu and a more extensive evening offer, as well as separate children and vegan menus.

Halloween is creeping closer and many of you will be eager to make up for missing out on celebrating last year during lockdown.

Residents in Sutton Coldfield are reminded by police that if you are planning to go out trick or treating with your children, we hope that you will have fun while being considerate of your neighbours.  Please don’t be too rowdy and don’t leave too much of a mess for other people to have to clean up.

Homes with Halloween decorations on display are best for you to call at, as they are most likely to be entering into the spirit of the occasion. 
Some people may feel vulnerable about opening their doors after dark, so if they don’t have any decorations, please take it as a sign your visit might be too frightening for them and leave them undisturbed.

No trick-or-treaters

Are you worried about people knocking your door? Download our trick or treat card to let people know you don’t want any unknown visitors. You can print them out for elderly or vulnerable neighbours if you know they’re worried about unknown callers too.
Remember, don’t call at homes with the ‘no trick or treat’ sign up.

Dealing with anti-social behaviour

In the days between Halloween and Bonfire Night, we sometimes see an increase in anti-social behaviour. This is something we anticipate and we put additional measures in place at this time of year.
You can support us in dealing with anti-social behaviour by:
• Reporting anti-social behaviour on our website via live chat between 8am-midnight
• Keeping a diary of incidents of anti-social behaviour.  This gives us a history of events and can be used as part of the evidence gathering process
Even small amounts of information can help us identify common issues, hotspot locations, repeat offenders and patterns of behaviour.
We also work closely with partner agencies, such as local councils, housing providers and schools, to tackle issues jointly, giving us greater powers to improve people’s lives.
Visit our website for crime prevention advice and safety tips.

To report a crime or incident, please contact us via Live Chat on our website www.west-midlands.police.uk between 8am – midnight or call 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Daughter of hospice patient calls on community to support Christmas event

A Sutton Coldfield woman whose Mum was admitted to St Giles Hospice on Christmas Eve for end of life care is calling on people to support the charity by playing its festive raffle.

Rebecca Horton-Worby, aged 35, from Boldmere, said that her Mum Sandra Horton, who had bladder cancer, was so relieved to get the news that there was a space for her at St Giles.

She said: “We got a call on Christmas Eve morning. It was such a relief as St Giles was where she wanted to be. Christmas is a particularly difficult time to go into a hospice – but St Giles made it feel special and like a home from home.”

Mum-of-one Rebecca and her family first encountered St Giles in 1995 when her nan’s husband, Ken Rose, received end of life care at the hospice. In 2011, her nan Cynthia Rose was also supported by the hospice after becoming ill with pancreatic cancer.

“When mum was in hospital and they were discussing her options she knew she wanted to go to St Giles,” added Rebecca. “She had heard such good things about it from family and friends and people in the community.

“We were met by such caring and compassionate staff. We sat down to discuss mum’s final wishes, which were all met thanks to these wonderful people. They did everything they could to make the situation easier.

“As a family, we always love the anticipation of Christmas Eve. I’d bought Mum, my sister Abbie and I matching bracelets with ‘Mum’ and a little flower on. It was such a nice atmosphere on Christmas Eve that I decided to hand out the bracelets while it was just the three of us – it’s a moment I’ll cherish forever.

“Christmas Day was lovely too, as you could hear Christmas carols playing and the joy of people opening presents.”

Rebecca began fundraising for St Giles as a child after her Uncle Ken died. When she got married, she asked for donations to the hospice instead of presents and has taken part in a number of fundraising events, as well as organising a charity ball at the George Hotel in Lichfield. Since her mum died she has also started volunteering to help out at hospice events.

“The care my family got from St Giles has been absolutely phenomenal,” said Rebecca. “They weren’t just caring for mum, they were caring for us too. Having St Giles Hospice in our community is a true blessing for people with a terminal illness and for their families.

“I hope people will support St Giles this Christmas by playing the Christmas Raffle.  The money raised will help give other families the care, space and support that St Giles provides both at Christmas time and throughout the year.”

It costs more than £10 million to provide the care St Giles offers every year and the hospice needs to raise £850,000 each month to keep its services going and continue to support more local people.

Tickets for the hospice Christmas raffle are now on sale at £1 each and prizes up for grabs include a jackpot of £8,000, a second prize of £2,000 and other cash prizes.

Elinor Eustace, Income Generation Director at St Giles Hospice, said: “Every ticket sold in our raffle will help to ensure we can continue to be there for people like Rebecca and her family when they need us most – your generosity makes such a difference to the care we can provide. 

“Playing our Christmas raffle is an easy way to support St Giles while also having a bit of fun, with the chance to win some fabulous cash prizes. Hitting our jackpot could really put a smile on your face to start off the new year!

“Tickets are now on sale and we are so grateful to our community for continuing to support us.”

Anyone wanting to enter the draw (18+ and GB residents only) can find out more or buy raffle tickets online until midnight on Wednesday, January 5 at www.stgileshospice.com/raffle or by calling the St Giles fundraising team on 01543 434020. The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday, January 19.

For more information about St Giles Hospice and the expert care it provides, please visit www.stgileshospice.com 

Please gamble responsibly.  For practical help and support with gambling contact GamCare on 0808 802 0133 or visit www.begambleaware.org

Police hunting the rapist who attacked a woman at a Sutton Coldfield park have thanked the council for safety work in the area.

Officers say the work Birmingham City Council has undertaken in the area has helped make people using Princess Alice Park in Sutton Coldfield, feel a bit safer.
 
Park staff were out last week tidying up and cutting back overgrowth. People had told police they were scared that someone could be hiding in the bushes following the rape that happened at the start of the month.

West Midlands Police officers say the are working to find the attacker and have had lots of information from people in the area that detectives are still assessing and developing.

They say they have been inundated with messages of support for the woman too and want to say a massive thank you to the Banners Gate Rovers Street Watch volunteers who been carrying out their patrols in the park.

The kind residents usually cover where they live, but they offered to help out in the park too.

A spokesperson said: “They knew that they could make people feel safer and that they could help our investigation by reporting suspicious activity. Let us know if you want to join them so we can get you the training and uniform you need.
 
“So far we’ve reviewed 792 hours of CCTV but it’s still not too late to tell us what you know or to share CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage of the rapist. You can do that here now: https://bit.ly/3ARhxQe.”

Curtain goes up at Sutton Town Hall for family favourite

Panto returns to Sutton Coldfield in December with a spectaccular performance of fantasy favourite Cinderella. The curtain goes up for the first time on December 7.

The setting is Russia, and imagine a time of ice-cold winters with the snow laying deep on the frozen hard ground….

Imagine a palace where the fountains spouted icicles and Russian bears hibernated in the forests…

Now imagine a draughty old country house with the only warmth from a sooty fireplace … and that it was your job to keep the fire burning! Out in all weathers collecting wood and sleeping in the cinders of the fireplace, because your wicked stepmother and your ugly stepsisters were too mean to let you sleep in a bed.

That’s what happened to poor Cinderella and this is the story of how she dreamed of escape, of being warm and of meeting a handsome Prince who could save her from this miserable life.

After the huge success of Aladdin in 2019, the Production Exchange comes back to the Town Hall with a great cast of actor musicians, beautiful scenery, stunning costumes and a talented young ensemble to perform the ultimate family classic.

With support from the government’s Cultural Recovery Fund, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall is excited to welcome the cast and crew to the Royal Town for a limited run before Christmas and a thrilling return to traditional family entertainment.

Curtain goes up for the first time on December 7 with shows running through until Christmas Eve.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased online, or over the telephone. The telephone box office service is available between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday.  Our in-person box office is closed until further notice.

St Giles Hospice Light up a Life Christmas services return to Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield people will be able to come together once more next month (November) to remember their loved ones at St Giles Hospice’s Light up a Life services.

The special services, which traditionally take place across the St Giles Hospice region each year before Christmas, are returning as normal for 2021 after they had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Light up a Life offers families the opportunity to remember loved ones they have lost and to celebrate their lives. The events will include a service at Four Oaks Methodist Church, Sutton Coldfield, on Sunday 28th November, at 6.30pm.

Everyone is welcome at the Light up a Life services, where the community and those that have made a dedication for a loved one are invited to join in a moment of reflection as our Christmas trees are illuminated and to view the messages in the Book of Memories. Dedications can also be viewed online on the Light up a Life virtual Christmas tree.

Jennie Davies, from Lichfield, and her family support Light up a Life each year after her mum Christine Harrison, from Fisherwick, died of lung cancer at the hospice in 2010 and her Auntie Pam died there in 2018 after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

Jennie said: “When Auntie Pam knew the end was coming it was her last wish to go to St Giles because she remembered how well Mum had been looked after. Her care was just the same – absolutely wonderful. We are so fortunate that she ended up at St Giles and had the best care you could possibly get. Our family is so grateful.”

Jennie, her sister Jackie Harrison and niece Jade Allen now support Light up a Life every year. 

“Light up a Life feels like a part of Christmas that we can still celebrate with Mum and Auntie Pam; we’re still sharing it with them,” she said. “Christmas is such a hectic time but Light up a Life is perfect – it’s so personal and very touching. It’s like a little moment of calm in the middle of all the running around.

“Jade’s just had a little daughter and when she gets a little older she will be coming with us – it’s a family tradition.”

Director of Income Generation for St Giles Hospice, Elinor (corr) Eustace said: “Although Christmas is a time to celebrate, we understand that it can be a difficult time of year for some as we remember the family, friends or colleagues who can’t be with us. 

“Our Light Up a Life services give families like Jennie’s the opportunity to come together to remember the lives of their loved ones and support the work of the hospice so that we can continue caring for those people in the local community who need us, when they need us most.

“We are delighted that Light up a Life services can return this Christmas because we know that they mean so much to people in our local community, and the services are open to anyone, not just those people who have been supported by St Giles.

“Last year’s services had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic so this year’s services will be particularly poignant for everyone. We will be following the latest Government guidelines to ensure that they can go ahead safely.”

Dedications can be made online at www.stgileshospice.com/lightupalife and will feature on the hospice’s virtual Light up a Life Christmas tree, which is filled with shining stars and sparkling lights. Dedications made before Thursday, 11th November will also be included in the Book of Memories.

The Book of Memories will be available to view at all Light up a Life services and on the hospice website from 1st December. It will also be available to view in St Giles Hospice and some service locations throughout December.

Everyone who dedicates a light will receive a special Light up a Life keepsake card to display at Christmas time featuring the name of their loved one, their personal message and a bookmark along with a poignant poem of remembrance.

For more information about Light up a Life services or to make a dedication, please visit www.stgileshospice.com/lightupalife

Light up a Life services 2021

• Four Oaks Methodist Church, Sutton Coldfield
• Thursday 2nd December, 6.30pm
• Saturday 27th November, 4pm
• Aldridge Methodist Church
• Sunday 28th November, 6pm
• St Modwen’s Church, Burton upon Trent
• Sunday 28th November, 3pm
• St Mary the Virgin Church, Uttoxeter
• Sunday 28th November, 6.30pm
• Outdoor service at St Giles Hospice, Whittington
• Saturday 4th December, 6pm
• St Editha’s Church, Tamworth
• Sunday 5th December, 6pm
• St Luke’s Church, Cannock
• Sunday 5th December, 8pm
• Lichfield Cathedral

For further information or for any media enquiries please contact gary.young@stgileshospice.com or Gary Young on 07855 926123.

St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality specialist care free of charge for people living with diseases which are terminal or incurable as well as providing support for their families and carers.Patients come from across the hospice’s catchment area, which ranges from Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock in the west – and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south. Care is offered at the hospice’s centres in Whittington and Sutton Coldfield and in patients’ own homes across the region.St Giles spends over £10 million a year providing its specialist services and with little more than a third of this funded by the Government, the registered charity relies heavily on donations and income generation from the local community.