The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition visited the Waterhall in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. This is the second year that I seen WPOTY, and the images were just as impressive as those shown last year at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry. The photographs were incredibly powerful, and the exhibition is a must-see.
A Christmas arch at the entrance to the marketPermanent and temporary architecture.
As we had a late afternoon slot at the museum, we decided to stay in Birmingham for the early evening. Our first stop was The Sun on the Hill. The pub had a lively buzz and offered a selection of interesting beers. However, we were eager to visit The Pigeon in the Park, a pop-up pub within the Cathedral Christmas Market.
Street scene from the market.Helta skeltaAngels singingThe Pigeon
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In my opinion, this Christmas market is a much better option than the Frankfurt German Market, which tends to be overcrowded. While the prices are still high, they are comparable to those at the main German Market. I prefer the area around the Cathedral as it is easier to move around. There are several excellent food stalls, and, of course, the famous pop-up pub.
StreetfoodMaking your mind up.Steam cookingDecisions, decisionsWandering through the stalls
The top floor of The Pigeon in the Park offers a panoramic view of the activity in Cathedral Square. Sipping a pint while people-watching is a great pastime. Groups often gather, hopeful of securing a table on the balcony. Below, the stalls are bustling, and the delicious aroma of cooking wafts up to the pub.
Light movement
The Pigeon in the Park is a fantastic spot to enjoy a drink on a cold winter’s night in Birmingham.
Rob at WPOTYOn the balcony
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If may wish to see what Birmingham looked like last Christmas as I have a blog about it.
Discovering new places for a photography story requires good research. Many times, I have heard other photographers say they’ve exhausted their immediate area for pictures. I would reply that I have barely scratched the surface. So, as I was looking around on Google Maps, Majors Green Aqueduct caught my interest. I had two hours free while Monty, our dog, was being groomed. Yes, our dog is well looked after. I planned to park on Aqueduct Road and explore the structure before walking up to the Drawbridge Inn. Doubling back along the canal would allow me to take pictures of the aqueduct from above. Google Maps tags other people’s pictures to points of interest, so you can check the favoured points of view.
The Majors Green viaduct.
Parking my car near the aqueduct, I quickly gained an appreciation for the scale of the engineering that went into its construction. Many bricks had been used to allow the canal to cross over both the road and the River Cole. The River Cole passes through Birmingham and Coleshill before joining the River Blythe. At the bridge, the river passes underneath, and there are remnants of a walkway. I quickly discovered that the traffic around here moves quickly, and there are no pavements for pedestrians. You cannot access the canal from the bridge, so I carefully took pictures and then set off for the Drawbridge over the canal.
Red car over the Drawbridge Can you read the noticeboard?
The Shirley Drawbridge sits over the northern section of the Stratford Canal. The bridge is always down to let cars pass over, and it will only open with a waterways key. There is a famous public house, the Drawbridge Inn, next to the canal, and the road is a bottleneck for cars as it is a popular shortcut through Majors Green to Shirley. Upon reaching the canal, I turned north and very soon encountered a heron fishing for its dinner. The heron was on the opposite bank, but fortunately, I had my 100-400mm lens with me, and I was able to get some great close-up pictures.
It is rude to stare.Can’t you see I am fishing.Yes I am!
The aqueduct at canal level is covered with colourful graffiti, and there is a steep drop over the bridge. I’ve taken a documentary course, the Stirchley Observation Project, which has tuned me into alternative approaches to photography. I see interesting pictures that others may miss. As you’ll see, there are flamingo statues, abandoned chairs, and remnants of some form of canal gateway. I now appreciate the small things in everyday life, which often have a story attached to them. My time to turn back was approaching, but not before I discovered an abandoned canal boat and a Woodland Trust area.
Looking over the aqueduct.Is that a heron or a flamingo?Slow down, take a seat and watch the world go round.A bus passing along the High Street over the canal.Under the bridge.
I returned the way I had come, and again there were new views to be photographed. The canals are always full of surprises, with wildlife and historical artefacts thrown into the mix. Both dereliction and new projects go hand in hand. All this adds up to a photographic adventure for the camera enthusiast.
Stop
I have several posts on the Stratford-upon-Avon canal and I have included a link to the Kingswood junction which is further south.
Manchester is an old friend who I do not recognise anymore. My undergraduate degree was in dentistry and after a year, I returned to undertake research, obtaining both a masters and my doctorate degree. I then took up a clinical academic appointment at the University of Birmingham. However I still look back on Manchester as a good friend to me during my early years. There were so many good times in the City. Shopping in Kendal Milne, watching Manchester City at Maine Road and nights out on the town when I was a student in the late seventies and early eighties. All that was several decades ago and since 1985, Birmingham has moved on from being a stranger to a very close friend. Birmingham and Solihull are now home. The city of Birmingham has undergone so many positive changes that it is barely recognisable from when we first arrived.
China Lane
Manchester has also changed. All those old haunts are either no longer there or gentrification has changed them beyond recognition. A good friend, Tony Jacobs, invited me up to visit Manchester for the day to take photographs. I know Tony was excited about my visit as he had researched locations and had several plans in place for our walk. We met up at Piccadilly station and our enthusiasm about the day ahead led to our conversation jumping around several subjects. Interestingly dentistry was not one of them and the subject of teeth was only touched upon much later in the day. Once our greetings were completed, we walked down the station approach and set off on our photographic walk.
Overlooking the Rochdale canal from Ducie Street
Tony took me along Ducie Street where we admired the street murals. Tony had planned for us to walk along the Rochdale canal by Piccadilly basin. We marvelled at the renovated warehouses which were now repurposed as either accommodation or businesses. The area was not a place I would have visited as a student and I was enjoying seeing the developments taking place. We selected China street to walk along to gain access to the canal. The day was bright with reflections everywhere. We came across artwork showing the city of Manchester which was created by Mehaart . The mural was colourful and stunning to view. The various iron bridges along the Rochdale canal have been restored with some new additions. All this gives real character to the area.
Manchester mural on the Rochdale canal by MehaArtThe cobbled towpath along the Rochdale CanalThe Kitty bridge central to all the reflections.
The Kitty bridge is a uniquely designed structure which allows access to Redhill street. There the old cotton warehouses blend in with the new surroundings. Tony was taking me to Cotton Field Wharf Marina which leads onto New Islington marina, a recently restored canal basin. All this is in striking distance of the Manchester City Etihad stadium. My camera was working overtime. I had never seen this area of Manchester when I was a student and was amazed at the new developments. It was now lunchtime and our next stop was Hallé St Peter’s where the Café Cotton served up a delicious meal.
I ‘m not a number.New Islington and a part of Manchester that I had not seen before.Artwork outside the Cafe Halle
After lunch, we picked up an Uber that took us to Castle street in Castlefield, an area that I have been to before. The canal basin is under the railway and tramlines which provide an atmospheric feel to the area. We stumbled upon the place being set up for TV/filming. There were local street artists, dndwalls, painting a backdrop to the area. One of the steel supports was being transformed into a surreal covering of various objects as my pictures show. We chatted to Teresa, whose barge had been loaned to the film set that was being prepared. Everyone we met were on non-disclosure agreements but, as we were in a public space, we could take photographs of the installations. I will be interested to see where this filming ends up. We wait and see.
Through the arch, the new world beckons.Underneath the rail and tram tracks at Castlefield.Street artists, Dillon and Dutch (aka @dndwalls)Graffiti backdrop for the film set.Rings and torsoSteel circlesDiscarded dollsThe surreal installation being put on one of the steel bridge supports
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Portrait of Teresa one of the participants helping in the installations being set up.
On the other side of the train and tram tracks is Castlefield basin where the Bridgewater canal passes through onto the Rochdale canal. This area has become a hive of residential property. Overlooking the older buildings are the imposing high rise Deansgate Square residencies. I attempted to get pictures of the old and the new but the buildings are so tall and required sticking two photographs together. We walked around the Castlefield basin and then picked up the river Medlock that flows past the Deansgate Square residencies. I ended up with many pictures of these high-rise buildings. I am not sure what it must be like living in these flats but I expect you have super cityscape views.
A panorama of the Deansgate buildings with the canal basin in the foreground.Tony standing in front of the Tram bridge.An enthusiastic resident says hello.Another view of the old and new buildings.Looking up the Rochdale canal.
A short walk along the river took us to Tony Wilson Place not far from where the Hacienda was situated. So good to see that Manchester remembers Tony who did so much to promote the music scene in the city. I was an avid concert attender in the late seventies and one band that I wish I had seen was Joy Division. Sadly it was not to be. However I do remember their first appearance on Granda reports in 1978 which was hosted by Tony Wilson.
Bridge over Castlefield BasinFuturistic Manchester
I digress and after a coffee with a delicious slice of Pecan Pie in Essy’s coffee shop, we set off past Deansgate back to Piccadilly station. It was nearly time to get the train home but Tony had one last place to visit, Mayfield park. This is another area that has changed and the public park adjacent to the abandoned Mayfield train station was landscaped along the banks of the river Medlock. A glimpse of this area was all that we had time for as my train waited to take me back to Birmingham. Standing on the platform at Piccadilly station, I was already thinking about when I would return.
A bear at Tony Wilson placeA snapshot of the buildings overlooking Mayfield Park.
Thank you to Tony for the insight into the new and old Manchester and making the day so interesting. I found it fascinating to compare the two cities of Manchester and Birmingham.
A last look at Piccadilly station.
So this was my recent view of Manchester and you may wish to view my last visit to the city in 2022. Enjoy
The hottest ticket in town was the reopening of the revamped Birmingham Museum and Art gallery. When I saw the pictures on Instagram of the great and the good of Birmingham at the Museum’s re-opening celebration then I knew I must visit and see the changes myself. The celebrations were followed by the official opening which showed the excitement in the City about this much loved institution. People were worried that any opening may face significant delays, after the recent publicity about the problems with the Birmingham City Council. Fortunately the refurbishment of BMAG as it is affectionately known went ahead and the museum opened again on the 25th October 2024 having closed in 2019, although there was a brief reopening for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
The re-imagined round room with the imposing statue of Lucifer.
A great deal of work has taken place behind the scenes in renovating the museum. Slowly the reopening happened in stages. First there was an art display on Victorian Radicals at the Gas street gallery. This celebrates the artwork from the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood. I had visited the virtual reality installation In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats in the summer of 2024. This took place in the Waterhall in August. However my last visit to see the City centre musuem was in 2019.
Made in Birmingham
The entrance to BMAG is from Chamberlain square and here I bumped into a friend, Stephen Lowe, on the entrance steps. As someone who works at BMAG, Stephen gave me a quick recap of what was happening and how the next phases of reopening will happen. We climbed the steps and entered the round room of BMAG. There I was greeted by Sir Jacob Epstein’s Lucifer. This imposing statue has a menacing stance but still looks magnificent with the outstretched wings and the hands reaching out towards you. You cannot do anything but meet the eyes and then quickly look away! The walls around the room have many new pictures from before. I have a picture from 2012 which shows the difference in approach over a decade with the changing styles of artwork being displayed. Steve pulled me over to view Joe Lycett’s The Mona Lisa Scott-Lee painting which is a mimic of the famous de Vinci picture. I love the round room so spent some time there before entering the Made in Birmingham display room.
The round room looks bright and inviting. A fresh take.A view of the Round room in 2013. This was the more traditional look for the last decade.Joe Lycett’s The Mona Lisa Scott-Lee painting
The upper veranda featured the Deviance & Difference display that was curated by a good friend Osman Yousefzada. Osman had organised for artwork by graduates from Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Art, to be arranged alongside items from Birmingham’s art collection. There were displays from the following artists, Francis Bacon, Donald Rodney and Barbara Hepworth. I was pleased to see the Queen Victoria statues that were once part of a re-imagining of the Queen Victoria Statue by Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke. Originally, the five statues of Queen Victoria were placed in a boat. This was then joined with the oringial Queen Victoria statue in Victoria square. This public art was on display during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Festival. Hew Lock donated the 5 mini statues to Birmingham Museum and I had a chance to see them up close when I visited the BMAG collections facility last year.
A vaseHealthy EatingQueen VictoriaA row of Victorias
There was so much to see in the Made in Birmingham section, and highlights included the HP factory sign, contributions from local school children and models of what Birmingham may have looked like if various civic projects had gone ahead. ‘Made in Birmingham’ is a snapshot of how the city rose to prominence and highlights people and places using different iconic objects which are distinctly Birmingham made. Overlooking the hall is a large impressive neon sign of Made in Birmingham. I was thinking of a bite to eat in the Edwardian Tea rooms but as my picture shows, this is as popular as it was before closure. Arriving just before opening is required to beat the crowds.
A tricky picture to take as the sign was behind other exhibits.The Edwardian Tea Rooms
The first floor of the museum is open and there are several themed rooms to visit. The first encounter was the Modern Muse by Arpita Shah. This is a corridor of compelling pictures of young South Asian women from Birmingham and the West Midlands. The aim is to celebrate their identities and experiences of living in the West Midlands. My background is dentistry and whilst I appreciate the approach and the pictures, I would wish to have seen more young professional young women displayed in this corridor from the demographic being portrayed. Maybe there will be a continuation of the project that was commissioned by Grain projects.
Modern Muse by Arpita Shah in the corridor leading from the Round room.
I missed the Pixel Studio which is the new digital gallery and activity space as I was captivated by the display that celebrated the life and work of Birmingham-born poet, Benjamin Zephaniah (958 – 2023). The picture by Pogus Caesar captures Benjamin so well and I stood around taking pictures of people who were passing through with the reflections on the wall.
Benjamin Zephaniah
There are two new galleries named the Wild City which highlights nature in the City of Birmingham. These are designed primarily for interaction with children and families but the stories of nature are for everyone to enjoy.
Not an exhibit but part of the shop. Stacey Barnfield and colours of Brum
Then that was the end of the tour. The Victorian Radicals exhibition that highlights the paintings and art work of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood has to be pre-booked. I will be returning to view the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition later this month. So what did I think? I was so pleased to be able to visit the museum again and even though it was only one floor, seeing old familiar rooms and new artwork was very rewarding. I look forward to more rooms being opened in the future.
You may wish to see my previous adventures when visiting BMAG
The shop designers at Selfridges Birmingham are always ahead of the game when Christmas arrives. Yes I know Christmas is arriving earlier and earlier each year. These pictures were taken on 4th November when we went in for a shopping expedition. I love the ground floor of Selfridges and the attention to detail is wonderful to see. Seeing the Christmas decorations reminds me of when I was growing up in Manchester as a young boy, my parents took me into Kendals department store on Deansgate. I was so excited to see the store’s decorations and the feeling of expectation of what Father Christmas may bring me.
The Selfridges’ Christmas TreeThe lights and the reflective spheres.
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When we visited, the first port of call was the ground floor to see the various shops all set up for Christmas. I enjoy seeing the Lego sets (yes the boy in me is still there), looking at the Christmas cards and this time checking out the extensive Jellycats stand. I also visited the White company as I know that is the place Sandy likes. I was planning ahead for her birthday and Christmas in the next few months.
Having a marmalade sandwich with Paddington.
We had brunch at the Medicine Bakery. Before Covid, I had a dental clinic at Boots every Monday. I used to spend an hour taking photographs before arriving at the Medicine Bakery for a coffee and a croissant. Then I hotfooted across town to Boots to start the day. Their pastries are wonderfully light and the filling is delicious. Just outside the café, Paddington was on a bench eating marmalade sandwiches. It would be rude not to have a picture of Siân and Mason with Paddington.
The Bull at Selfridges.
The Selfridges Bull, not to be confused with the Bullring bull, was sporting some splendid Christmas decorations. The rest of the shopping centre was also getting into the spirit of Christmas and I am sure that I will be back again several times over the festive period.
The Bull Ring shopping Centre is quiet on a Monday morning before the Christmas Shopping begins.
There will be many more blog posts before Christmas but if you wish to revisit Christmas 2023 then I have the following link for you to visit.
The Jewellery Quarter is a picturesque part of Birmingham. In the centre of the neighbourhood are two cemeteries, Warstone Lane and Key Hill. Both graveyards are the resting place to the great and the good of Birmingham. During the day they are a quiet tranquil place where the peace is occasionally interrupted by workers from the Jewellery Quarter taking their lunch break. At weekends, there are groups of people touring the cemeteries. At night, the place is an ideal setting for more ghostly happenings.
The candlelit path to the catacombsThe Warstone Lane catacombs with lights and pumpkins.The pumpkins on display with the different carvings.
The JQ BID put together a Pumpkin Extravaganza which was centred around the catacombs at Warstone Lane Cemetery. IgersbirminghamUK were invited to take photographs of the event. The evening included visiting the various stalls that had set out their Halloween displays. Activities included the opportunity to carve your own pumpkin. The Friends of Warstone Lane and Key Hill cemeteries had put out a display of skulls and other interesting spooky objects. The Coffin Works were demonstrating how to make badges using techniques normally used on coffins.
A hearse on displayMake your own medalFriends
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A frightened pumpkin
There were tours of the catacombs and our guide, Josie, gave us a historical background to the area plus a few ghost stories as well. The low light made photography difficult but there were still many opportunities for pictures from the lights of the Pumpkins which were arranged in front of the doors of the catacombs. A spooky night was enjoyed by all as the pictures show. Thank you JQ BID for your organisation of the event.
Josie, our guide, in the Catacombs.Spooky atmosphereGhosts walking amongst us.
If you enjoyed this blog about the IgersbirminghamUK photographic meetings then follow the link below and look out for details of our meetings on the IgersbirminghamUK Instagram page.
The winter months are an ideal time to photograph Digbeth. The lights that criss-cross the main streets are a feature of the area and are turned off around 8am. Just before this happens, the white lights stand out against the “blue hour” sky. At this time of the day, the colourful streets are enriched by the light of the dawn. The next ingredient for a good photograph in Digbeth is when rainfall has happened in the previous few days. Digbeth has several large puddles which provide ideal opportunities for reflections. Over the years, I have learnt where these puddles are likely to occur.
Floodgate street in the blue hour.Fancy a game?Classic puddle photography in Gibb Street.More classic views of Gibb Street.Green lights
My urban photography is done with wither my iPhone or Fujifilm x100vi. The pictures in this blog are from both cameras and you should be able to distinguish between the two picture styles that they produce. The iPhone gives vibrant colours whilst the Fujifilm gives a grittier feel to the pictures. I like both effects.
The colourful smiley by Tempo33 on Hack StreetMore Hack Street graffiti.This art by Golden Boy is still there on Hack Street.
Arriving in Digbeth, I plan to walk around the following streets, Lower Trinity, Gibb and Floodgate. I do visit other streets that lead off from the crucial three as these pictures show. The street art in Digbeth constantly changes. Newer pieces appear, older artwork gets tagged whilst some of the murals remain untouched. When photographing in Digbeth, I try to capture the interactions of the locals with the street activities. There are a few people moving around on their way to work at the Custard Factory or the industry units around the area. Pre pandemic the area was very busy but post pandemic people are working from home so the footfall is less. However I am still able to capture people on the street. I am building up a large portfolio of images from Digbeth although I am not alone and many other photographers pitch up on the streets. The area still retains its charms and I see the slow but persistent march of gentrification which is changing the Digbeth scene. I hope the area still retains the charm that makes Digbeth a place to visit in Birmingham.
Your friendly neighbourhood……Follow the leader.Seen on Adderley Street (part 1)Seen on Adderley Street (part 2)Easy Rider on Upper Trinity Street.Trainvaders, Lower Trinity StreetMade in Digbeth, Lower Trinity Street
Technique used for my puddle photography
The iPhone is ideal for this style of reflective photography. The lenses can be placed close to the surface of the puddle to provide a perfect reflection. The technique I employ, once I have located an ideal puddle, is to orientate the phone in landscape with the 3 lenses placed to the bottom right for the picture. The iPhone has no flip out screen so bending down is necessary which may be difficult when you are standing in a large puddle. I generally use the standard view or the wide angled setting. Care is needed not to place the iPhone lenes so low that they touch the water. The focus may start jumping to the nearest point in the puddle which will leads to blurring of the background. Looking at the screen is difficult, so some guesswork of where you are focussing and handling the phone is necessary. I must keep remembering to toggle the RAW setting although the resulting pictures on standard Live View are of sufficient quality to withstand the post editing.
Sticker wall still going strong.More views of Floodgate Street with only a few cars around.
If you want more views of Digbeth then follow my links through the blog posts below.
Last year a BBC weather watcher picture caught my eye. The featured photograph showed multi coloured beach huts lined up in rows. The caption gave the name of the place as Walton-on-the-Naze. The picture was fascinating and I said to myself “I must visit this place one day”. When the opportunity arose to speak at a conference in Colchester, I planned a visit to the seaside towns in Essex before arriving at the conference. The idea was to take pictures of these colourful beach huts starting at Walton-on-the-Naze.
Taking time out in the sun.
Arriving in the town, I went to the viewpoint on the cliff that overlooked the pier. Behind me was the Victorian architecture of the town and in front the rooftops of the Beach huts lined up along the promenade. Walton-on-the-Naze is a picturesque seaside resort. In early October, the holiday season was at an end, and the doors of the beach huts were shut. I went down to the promenade walked past the pier and immediately came face to face with the colourful fronts of the numerous beach huts.
Rows and rows of Beach huts at Walton-on-the-NazeLooking back from the promenade at the beach huts.Walking the promenade.
As a photographer, I just self-indulged in taking pictures with all those vibrant pastel colours. I walked around them and even climbed up the cliff steps taking in all the different rows. As well as their colourful designs, people had called their beach huts various names. I walked for a good half a mile along the promenade admiring the various huts. The tide was in and the sea was splashing upwards and I had to take care of the camera. The sun was shining and there were countless opportunities to take pictures of the people who were out and about walking up and down the promenade.
The design of the huts changed as I moved towards Frinton-on-sea and some of the beach houses were on struts with walkways leading up to the door. Looking at my pictures you can see the different varieties.
The changing style of beach hut.Pastel colours
Next stop was Frinton-by-the-sea and here the cliff wall was higher but I went down and once again came across a long row of the beach huts facing the sea. I even found one couple had opened the doors of their hut. They were enjoying the sun and catching up with what looked like work.
Beach Huts along the Essex coast, Frinton-on-sea, Essex, 2004Enjoying the sun in October.The beach is in easy reach.Frinton-on-sea.
Following my visit to Frinton-on-sea, my next stop was Clacton-on-sea or simply Clacton. The town was busier and whilst there are only a few beach huts, there was a very grand pier which was open to the public. The pier was quiet and none of the amusements were working but there were some good views of the coast. I walked along the promenade and visited the area where Butlins used to be situated. The area is now a new housing estate and the information boards gave details of what the place would have looked like in post war times.
Clacton pier was quiet.Roller coaster against a clear blue sky.A few of the beach huts at Clacton.The wall of the Martello Tower in the foreground and in the background the housing estate built on the former Butlins holiday camp.Where to find your beach toys.
The tide was going out and so I was able to get on the beach and take in the sea air. This visit has satisfied my desire to see beach huts. I did enjoy the colours in each town and all the different characters of these charming seaside resorts. There was the cleanliness and gentility of Frenton-on-Sea to the brash busy streets of Clacton. Walton on the Naze enjoys a beautiful coastal location with the added attraction of the Neze Tower. A lovely day out at the Seaside.
I was attending a conference in Colchester and whilst it is a long drive from Birmingham to Colchester, I planned a visit to the seaside. My aim was to complete a circular route starting at Walton-on-the-Naze, onto Frinton-on-Sea and then finally Clacton-on-Sea before heading back to Colchester. My visit to the beach huts and the sea fronts of these towns forms the basis of another post.
A beautiful dayView towards Walton on the Naze
My drive from Birmingham was long and tiring and my first port of call was Walton upon Naze. I drove through the town looking for a place to park and carried on until I found myself at the Naze tower. Here there was ample parking and a place to have lunch. Stretching my legs after the long drive, I began to investigate the Naze tower. The architecture is in the form of a pillar and the tower is a prominent structure on the headland overlooking the container terminal of Harwich. I took several pictures and then went inside the tower climbing up to the observation platform.
A window and the spiral staircase.Art in the Tower
The structure has had many uses throughout the years and one of them was the installation of a radar dish during the Second World War. The tower was first used to guide ships into the area acting as a landmark to the ports and river estuary. There is a circular steel staircase that climbs through several floors. Some of the floors are part of the tea room whilst others house museum items and then the upper floors act as an art gallery. Each room is small and circular with a window overlooking the area. Each floor contains curious museum objects or fascinating works of art as my pictures show. Some of the objects are very random but also fun to view. Once I had reached the observation platform, there were views out towards the sea and the surrounding landscape. The weather was glorious and there was not a cloud in the sky. This was remarkable considering the rain that we have had in recent weeks. Then it was back down the steel staircase and another chance to admire those items that I had seen on my way up. I had a good lunch at the visitor centre after the climb. I was glad that I had stumbled upon the Naze tower. The future of the structure is a worrying one. Once the tower was a quarter of a mile inland, but now they estimate that it only has a lifespan possibly of 20 years until the sea claims the tower. This would be a great shame and work is being done to stop the loss of the tower.
Art work of the local churchA ship passing a lighthouse.Artwork details in the room.Map showing the area around the Naze Tou made itWindow details
Orelle restaurant is 24 floors up on the top floor of 103 Colmore Rd. As part of the IgersbirminghamUK team, we were invited to take photographs in 2022 just before the restaurant was open to the public. The views from the restaurant were outstanding. At the time, I remember saying one day “I will be back for a meal”. Fast forward to our 40th wedding anniversary and our three daughters gave us money as a gift to use for a meal out. Reading the reviews, I noted that Orelle was voted the best restaurant in Birmingham in 2024. Furthermore, the reviews for the Sunday lunch menu have been consistently rated as good. Therefore, we booked and looked forward to our day at Orelle.
Sandy and Damien celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary
Leaving the lift on the 24th floor, the view of Birmingham takes your breath away. The view of the city is spectacular and I immediately spotted the Rotunda and Moor Street. The restaurant has a convivial ambiance and the staff are polite and courteous. We were shown to our table by the north window which gave us an uninterrupted view over St Phillip’s Cathedral and Snow Hill . Our waiter was very attentive to our needs, and we ordered our drinks and then reviewed the menu. Sandy is allergic to shellfish and the waiter explained that he would alert the kitchen and as a check we would notice a pink sticker on our order. This indicated that the kitchen were aware of the allergy and ensured that no utensils or plates were mixed.
The view over St Philip’s cathedral.
Sandy chose the warmed sourdough bread with salted French butter. The bread roll was generous and there was plenty for both of us. This was useful as I selected the Ham hock terrine with pickled vegetables, pineapple and toasted sourdough. I used the remaining bread with my starter. The food was well presented and the terrine had a pleasing flavour.
Our lunch prior to adding the vegetables.
For our Sunday lunch main course, we both selected the Surlonge rôtie which was 35 day aged Cumbrian sirloin. There was a generous sized Yorkshire pudding and the vegetables came in small pans placed in the centre of the table. If I had one criticism then it must be the gravy. There could have been a more generous serving. Luckily the amount of gravy was just sufficient for both us and we did not have to ask for more. The meat was cooked to our preference of medium with little fat and we tucked into a good lunch.
For drinks, I chose a beer and selected the excellent 21 Pale Ale Citra made by Brew by numbers. I saw that there was an excellent range of wines. Sandy chose a non-alcoholic cocktail which was not to her taste. She persevered with it but then reverted to water. We should have exchanged the cocktail for a more pleasing one.
Following on from the main course there was space for dessert. Sandy and I parted ways. Sandy chose the Chocolat et Yuzu which was a milk chocolate mousse, walnut brownie, yuzu caramel and vanilla ice cream. I went for the Crème brûlée consisting of spiced orange, macerated berries and vanilla sable. Both were nicely presented and were lovely end to the lunch.
Chocolat et YuzuCrème brûlée
Throughout the meal, we admired the view and watched the clouds move through the landscape. We saw the trams and trains pass through Snow Hill. When we started, the restaurant was relatively quiet but when we finished by late afternoon, the place was full and there were one or two parties waiting to sit down. Not once did we feel rushed or interrupted by the activities of a busy restaurant.
Looking up to the top of 103 Colmore Row
Overall impressions
Sunday lunch at Orelle is all about the experience. The view from the top floor is unparalleled and provides a super backdrop whilst you are enjoying your food. The meal was very good. Service was of a high standard and we both enjoyed our Sunday lunch menu. One may say that the place is expensive but this was a special occasion. The expense was worth it as we had a marvellous time. We reflected over coffee that whilst we would not be making Sunday lunch a regular pursuit at Orelle, we would come back again. I would recommend a visit and you will understand why the restaurant is voted as the best in Birmingham.
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