Hello 2025!
As imagined by Thomas Attwood, Birmingham’s first Member of Parliament and current resident of Chamberlain Square
I know I’ve been a little quiet of late, but with all the work going on around me – not to mention the cold winds – I’ve been a bit lost for words. Like the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, sitting still all day long does make one a little creaky at times, yet I am definitely looking forward to all of the activity going on this year in and around my home here at Paradise.
The recent work on Three Chamberlain Square, for example, which will complete in the summer, is replete with a stunning series of gothic-influenced ogee arches (I for one love the ornamental curves of a good ogee arch!) which serve to show off the earthy colours of the terracotta stonework beautifully.
The Octagon – the tallest pure octagonal shaped residential building in the world – will also be completed this year and begin to welcome residents to its sublime views across the city along with an abundance of amenities.
But as well as how Paradise looks, I’ve also noticed there’s been some new restaurant activity going on around me, if my sense of smell isn’t playing tricks on me!
Just behind my right shoulder sits the boldly-titled La Bellezza – Italian for ‘Beauty’. And a more suitable name they truly could not have come up with! As well as the waft of fresh cheese and tomato toppings coming from the giant round flat breads they create – pizza, I believe they’re called – there are also some aromatic examples of richly-sauced pasta dishes reaching my nostrils.
This restaurant also produces some amazing looking puddings. At this particular abode of delight, I’m told they serve up an entire cornucopia of delectable Italian fayre fit for… well, fit for an Italian king (or queen).
There’s some incredible prodotti available, all sourced directly from more than 170 individual Italian producers, such as Puglian burrata from Salvatore Montrone and 22-month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano DOP from Paolo Gennari (some of the Italian terms here I’m familiar with because in my day studying foreign languages was all about one language and one language only – Latin).
Filled with warmth, this cosy trattoria is set in the abundant scenery of my domicile, Chamberlain Square, complete with its very own 25-cover outdoor terrace which I am sure will be a lovely spot come spring.
Then, there is the equally well-named Cow & Sow on Congreve Street which is just as exciting for my palate. The calm and muted styling, which features highly polished wood and lots of tasteful dark reds and greens, reminds me of my days in the Palace of Westminster when I was a Member of Parliament.
The offer of wonderful slices of beef and pork I am sure are going down well, and the ‘Chophouse’ approach is always going to be a winner in my book. The wine list is described as ‘extensive’, and even features Cow & Sow’s very own Malbec (sounds truly delicious).
There’s also a huge range of cocktails on the menu, while puddings include salty dark chocolate delice with zesty mandarin gel and tangerine crisps (Tangerine! Crisps!), salted caramel tart with honeycomb and vanilla ice cream, burnt Basque cheesecake and affogato – another slice of Latin creeping in there, I’m happy to see!
The beef is to die for, as is the pork belly (one of my very favourite dishes) so I am well pleased to have this new venue on my doorstep – please let the manager Jordan know I’ve sent you if you visit – he’s promised me my very own ‘take-out’ service if I pass on a few recommendations to my compatriots…
Joining the existing cafés, bars and restaurants already established across Paradise, the latest venues are also complemented by Yorks Café – a very welcome local coffee house that smells from here as good as any essence I’ve ever captured.
With an eye on sustainability and provenance, Yorks not only roasts its own coffee beans and prepares everything in-house, it also offers a welcoming, social space for meeting up, hooking up and catching up. The all day menu includes highlights such as Arabian buttered eggs, Korean beans, Avocado toast and Persian shakshuka – it makes my mouth water just writing these words!
Yorks defines itself as a new-generation coffee shop, and with a huge choice of fresh cakes and pastries, hot drinks as well as beers and wines, plus a wide choice of sharing plates and lots of other top notch food, it is set to be another winning combination of quality produce and our well-renowned Brummie welcome.
If you add in Dishoom, Albert’s Schloss, Rosa’s Thai and F1®Arcade, there is now a grand total of seven leisure operators active across the estate.
Paradise is proving to live up to its illustrious and literal name, with much more still to come. And I for one can’t wait to see what’s coming next!