Alexandra Taylor: Writer

“That’s the cell,” says Stuart, indicating a storeroom with a grilled metal security door. “We get put in there if we’re naughty.” Stuart, one of the trustees of the Mosley and Kings Heath Men’s Shed, is giving me a guided tour of their impressive workshop. He’s quick to dispel any misconceptions that it’s a men-only space. “Yes, it is aimed at older people and specifically men, but it’s not exclusive to either of those groups, and several of our members are women. If people can get to us, they’re welcome,” he says. “Even people with physical problems that mean they’re unable to use the equipment, they can supervise the work room, or just come for a chat.” The Men’s Shed movement started in Australia in the mid 1990s in response to concerns over social isolation and depression in older men. It has now spread to dozens of other countries, and there are over 200 sheds in the UK, with more joining the network every week. “It’s a place to spend time, to potter, make someth...

I’m sitting with Carrie and Fran in Loco Lounge, talking about death. A little morbid for a Monday afternoon? Well, no actually. Carrie and Fran run ‘A Natural Undertaking’, and their open and positive approach towards the subject has helped them win several accolades, including the title ‘Green Funeral Director’ in this year’s Good Funeral Awards. “We’re so touched that the families we’ve worked with went out of their way to support and nominate us,” says Fran. “That means the world to us. It’s a big challenge, in the middle of the UK’s second biggest city, to try and put a bit of green in everything, but we do what we can.” Carrie was born in Marston Green Maternity Hospital and, apart from a short stint in Manchester, has lived in the area her whole life. Fran came to university in Birmingham twenty four years ago and never left. They’re passionate about the area and supporting other independent businesses. “We work with a number of florists, celebrants, caterers, venue...

The festive season is when our local pubs come into their own, so what better time to celebrate the entertainment they’ve been providing in our neighbourhoods for hundreds of years.  It was the Romans who first brought taverns to the UK, but the real boom came after the introduction of gin in the 17th century. Now there are around 48,000 pubs across the country, 73 of those within a 5 mile radius of Birmingham city centre. A time traveller going back to experience a 17th century alehouse would perhaps be surprised at how little has changed. Just like the bands that you can enjoy today (Hare and Hounds and The Station in Kings Heath, Patrick Kavanagh and The Bull’s Head in Moseley), live music has always gone hand in hand with the drinks on offer. Many premises also included a card room or a billiard room, and by the end of the 18th century, saloons or lounges were another common feature. This was a room where, for an admission fee or higher drinks prices, singing, dancing,...

Congratulations to Carters of Moseley! They’ve just been awarded a star in the 2016 Michelin Guide. Birmingham now has five Michelin starred restaurants, more than any other English city outside London, and is fast gaining a reputation as a delicious destination for gastro enthusiasts. Our little corner of Birmingham is particularly special. When Carters were awarded the Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year in 2015, the publication’s editor commented, “I wish every town had a restaurant of this standard.” We’re very lucky having such an acclaimed eatery on our doorstep, but posh nosh isn’t the only dish our neighbourhood has to shout about. There’s a smorgasbord of options to suit every palette and pocket, all within a fifteen minute walk. For that all important first date, when you want to impress without breaking the bank, my advice would be to take a trip to the Mediterranean, courtesy of Byzantium in Kings Heath or La Plancha in Moseley. You can share a tempting...

Every December thousands of people flock to Birmingham from all over the country, hoping to find gifts for their loved ones in high profile shopping destinations such as the Frankfurt Christmas Market or the Bullring.   But here in Moseley and Kings Heath, we have no need to brave the heaving crowds or pay over-inflated tourist prices in the city centre. By staying close to home this Christmas we can support our local traders and save a few quid into the bargain. Forget the German-style stalls lining New Street this year. Kings Heath and Moseley will both be holding farmers’ markets and craft markets in December - perfect for picking up locally grown veggies for the Christmas table, a beautiful piece of artisan pottery for your sister, or a jar of something tasty for your best mate. The Moseley Christmas Lights will be switched on, with accompanying stalls, activities and entertainment, on Saturday 5th December and the MAC is also holding craft markets packed with hand mad...

October 31st. Halloween. You’re walking home. It’s dark. You hear a noise behind you and spin round, heart thumping. There’s nothing but the empty street, a crisp packet blowing along the gutter. You pick it up and stuff it in a nearby bin, laughing at your own jumpiness. Halloween is just an excuse for a party, a cultural tradition born out of Pagan superstition and modified by Christian mythology. It’s not real. It’s just another night. But then you catch a movement out of the corner of your eye. Something dark and shadowy which disappears down a side road before you get a proper look. Your first instinct is to run, to seek the warmth and security of home. But, no! You refuse to give in to irrational fear. Humming your favourite tune under your breath for comfort you decide to follow. You find yourself at the entrance to Martineau Gardens, a large sign announcing their Halloween Story Night. Did the creature head in here? Paying the £5 adult entry fee you slip inside, lookin...

For two months this summer Birmingham was invaded by dozens of owls, spreading their wings as far afield as Sutton Coldfield, Winson Green and Bournville. ‘The Big Hoot’ involved 89 fibreglass sculptures, each one decorated by a different artist, and placed all over the city for everyone to discover and enjoy. Three of the owls flew all the way to Kings Heath. One landed in Kings Heath Park, one in the Village Square and one outside the library. The latter was painted by local artist Karoline Rerrie, who lives just down the road in Selly Park. She was delighted that her owl ended up so close to home. “It took me two weeks to paint him,” she says, over tea and cake at Maison Mayci. “I did feel quite attached to him by the time I’d finished. I don’t know how they decided which owls went where, but I didn’t find out where he was until the map went up online.” Originally from Northamptonshire, Karoline settled in Birmingham after completing a degree in Graphic Design at what w...

If you’re a fan of fireworks, then November is the month for you. The pops, bangs and lights in the sky usually start well before Bonfire Night, often featuring at Halloween events from the end of October. But it’s another festival that will keep them going long after Guy Fawkes has been reduced to ashes - Diwali, the festival of lights. Diwali is a five-day religious celebration enjoyed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, of whom there are over 50 thousand in Birmingham. It coincides with the Hindu new year, and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. The date is linked to the Hindu lunar calendar, so changes from year to year. This year it starts on 11th November. The festival is one of the most significant in Indian culture and is celebrated for slightly different reasons by each religion. One of the most popular stories told is the legendary return of King Rama and his wife Sita from exile and imprisonment in the 15th century. On their arrival in their kingd...

It’s inspired a film, a television series, a musical, a game show and a play, as well as numerous books and computer games. But did you know that internationally renowned board game ‘Cluedo’ was invented right here in our little corner of Birmingham? Anthony Ernest Pratt was born on Brighton Road in Balsall Heath in 1903. He worked as a professional musician, travelling all over the world giving piano recitals on cruise ships and in country hotels. He would often have been present at popular ‘murder mystery’ evenings, which were all the rage amongst the landed elite. Dinner guests at sprawling country houses would be entertained by finding a ‘body’ in one of the rooms, and would spend the evening solving clues to discover which one of them was the ‘murderer’. During the Second World War Anthony was living in Kings Heath, and worked in a factory making parts for tanks. "I was leaning on the fence of our King's Heath home and it dawned on me that this wretched war was k...

It’s many a child’s dream to tiptoe downstairs on Christmas morning to find that Santa’s wheeled a shiny new bicycle into the front room. But if, unlike Santa, you have no idea what to look for when choosing a bike for your little angel, fear not! My Moseley and Kings Heath is here to help. Firstly, the frame. Kids are attracted to bright colours, but Sean from Moseley Mechanix on Moseley High Street warns against being dazzled by a funky paint job. “Look at quality not shininess,” he advises. “Some poorer quality, cheaper bikes are made to look attractive, and parents think they’re getting a good deal, but they spend more than they’ve saved having to replace parts over and over again. Kids don’t look after bikes, they chuck them around, so quality and durability are important.” Better quality models will also maintain their resale value, helping you save money as Junior grows. Secondly, safety. “Kids should never use hand-me-down helmets,” says Arif from Bike Pro on Kings Hea...