This place kicked us out from the ice rink because we fell over twice DO NOT recommend this place.read more

The Tamworth Snowdome was the first indoor ski facility in the UK, opening in 1994. There are now…read morequite a few more in the UK but Tamworth is still good fun. It's also handily placed for my ski group's annual UK reunion as it's in the middle of England and we live all over the UK. Tamworth is just NE of Birmingham, a few minutes off junction 10 of the M42. It's located just outside town in a complex of leisure facilities including a swimming pool. Parking space is sufficient unless there's a big event on in town as people then park at the snowboarding centre and walk into town. The snow quality is good and certainly beats skiing on dry slopes. At lunchtime, they close the slope and groom it, which makes conditions for afternoon skiing also good. You an pre-book your ski session and the booking process is easy and painless. Your skiing time is determined by a swipecard that activates your access to the ski lift. The changing area is a little small and the floors can get wet but it's adequate. I have my own boots and the process for getting skis is quite efficient. I definitely recommend using the hire skis as indoor slopes can damage your own skis. They do take some care to make sure that your skis are on the right DIN settings. The slopes are accessed by a set of 2 travellators on one side and a shorter rope tow on the left. One possible problem is that there is a right angle bend halfway up the slope and once you get on the first travellator, you're committed to go to the top, whichn you can't see and nervous first time skiers may be a bit worried. At the top, it can get a bit icy but the gradient isn't too bad - a decent blue run. It's just long enough to have some fun and it's possible to get slight air near the bottom of the run but it's never going to be as long as a mountain run. The main issue for me is that they do a lot of teaching on the main slope and when they run lessons on both sides, the main run becomes dangerously narrow, especially with skiers coming round the right angle bend blind at high speed. There is a bar/restaurant which serves pub style lunches. Worth a leisure trip especially with other leisure facilities like Drayton Manor Park theme park and bowling nearby.

This location has had various different names and guises over the sixteen years or so since I have…read morebeen going 'Out on the town'. Bonds got it about right for Tamworth plugging in to the alternative 'Indie'scene at a time when it was just exploding. At the time there were really no other venues that any of this demographic would be seen dead in - the other being very trendy and mainstream dance/pop based. Not sure quite what the new name is all about 'Club Vertigo' - but I am hoping it will not mean that the management team will be straying too far from the successful 'Bonds' formula. The thing I like about this place is that it does not take itself at all seriously. All ages drink in here from 18 right up to couples in their 50s, and its just so laid back. It has a long thin layout, with 2 bars and plenty of seating - also a couple of Pool tables tucked away at the back. Think Irish bar type decor - big sturdy wooden tables and amusing signs/adverts on the walls. Since the smoking ban they have built a raised smoking area out the back which is decked and under cover (beware though the metal staircase you have to climb can be daunting when you have had a few!!). The bar service is reasonable and quite efficient and all seem pretty welcome. It has that vibe of being at a youth club or school disco when you were a kid - just really chilled and everyone up for a laugh and having a good crack with each other. I have hardly ever seen trouble here - but the doormen are both friendly and efficient and soon get rid of anyone who attemps any nonsense. Live bands are on upstairs every now and then - but I do think this could be utilised more. Drinks are reasonably priced and there is a good selection. I have to admit that one of the plus points for me is that they are a little over zealous on the whole ID thing and insist on asking me nearly every time I go in .... very amusing at my age and quite flattering too.

Touch FM is Tamworth's "premier" radio station, apparently, but their remit, depending upon where…read morethe dial is, is across the Midlands. The DJs are fairly bland - the kind of people you wouldn't want around the table at a dinner party, let alone listening to while they drone on on the radio. Their saving grace is that Smooth is the other well-known radio station in the Midlands, and the Touch FM DJs are nowhere near as dull as the Smooth DJs, who are the radio equivalent of watching grass grow. You may be wondering why I'm giving two stars to a fairly innocuous thing like a radio station, but I'm of the opinion that owning and operating a radio station should only be done by people who actually know and enjoy music, not just friendly "hey everyone" types who can spout drivel for an hour and play funny farting sounds during their morning show. Oli Galant is the one saving grace, as he's actually funny, and semi-interesting to listen to. The DJs probably don't have that much control over the music they play, so I'll stop slating them so harshly, but the producers or owners of Touch FM need to get their stuff together. Don't just play whatever Simon Cowell tells you is popular at the moment. Give us something (anything) slightly different. Please?

Alison is AH-mazing! I purchased an initial natal chart reading from her on the recommendation of a…read morefriend and was astounded at the clarity, the detail, and the maturity of the reading. The reading (via Skype) lasted 90 minutes and she touched on the subjects I was interested in (career, relationship) and gave thorough and honest answers. Ask all the questions you like, they will be answered plus when you're done she'll email you the file download. I highly recommend getting a reading to set you on the right path and bring more understanding to your life.

From the owner: Life coaching using astropsychology or psychological astrology. The best sort of life coaching…read morethere is. The astrology enables me to look deeply into your personality traits, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. You will know yourself like you never did before and have more meaning and understanding in your life. A session has been found to improve self awareness and your relationships beyond measure.

A Working Men's Club is a strange beast and not particularly my cup of tea but it's a place my dad…read moreand cousins seem to relish. Membership is £5 a year which as clubs go isn't bad. For that there are two large bars, one open all the time with pool and snooker tables and one available for functions and which often plays host to disco's and bingo, neither of which would personally draw me there but The main draw is obviously that it is both a meeting place for those in the locality and that the drinks are very affordable. With things like football shown regularly it's really one for the straights but as there's little else in the area it does serve a purpose.

Swingers is a good place to hit a few balls. You don't need to be a member of anywhere, or even own…read moreyour own clubs. There is a small seating area where you can relax with a hot drink and some snacks, and there's a small golf shop too. Plenty of free parking, and it's just opposite the Darnford Moors course