I was extremely lucky to have played the 2014 Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival with my band…read more Birmingham's Big Bear Music run the festival with an abundance of passion and enthusiasm. This is most clear through Jim (the face of Big Bear) who is just a bundle of excitement for the city's festivities. Big Bear have an interesting history within Birmingham and are most definitely worth a Google! The festival is currently in its 30th year and awesome for a number of reasons; One: The majority of events are free. Two: They make use of some interesting buildings around town. (We played in Birmingham New Street Station and the Museum and Art Gallery among other lovely venues.) Three: Some very talented musicians from all over the world come over to play at the festival. During our stay, we were busy rushing from venue to venue as we had ten sets in six venues over three days, but we did manage to see a little bit of music in our down time. We were not disappointed! Catching gypsy jazz guitarist Remi Harris and his trio's outdoor performance transported us directly to the streets of 1920's Paris. Sublime!

Festival happens over the course of a whole week. Organised by Big Bear Music, this is a festival…read moredeserving of much more support from the City. I've travelled from Glasgow for the weekend and loving the whole thing. A wide and wild variety of acts, both local and international. Tell city is easy to get around and the venues all suitable. And each gig attended so far has been free! Highlight of the Festival? The Humors. All original material, delivered and performed with feeling and real skill. This band don't know yet just how good they are! Thanks Birmingham Jazz and Blues, hope to see you again next year!

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I dont remember Cannon Hill park being so beautiful! Visited here recently as part of a food…read morefestival and was taken back by just how lovely the place is! Now my lack of realisation was probably due to the fact I was trying to avoid being bitten by the aggressive ducks that used to roll round the pond like a carte when I was a child.....but i was young.....and about half the size so they seemed a lot more intimidating at the time. I am happy to confirm I walked past them with ease this time around and had more time to enjoy the picturesque surroundings! The park is pretty huge and boasts a nice pond complete with fountain/water feature to impress even the Charlie Dimmock types....swan boats, a theatre, crazy golf and many walkways and paths to enjoy. Perfect for a day out with the kids....or to keep that inner child satisfied. You will find me here a fair bit over the summer I think....get me to the ice cream van...now!

A large conference centre in the city centre of Birmingham, inside it, is pretty modern and…read morefeatures a few stores including a WHSmith, Subway and Starbucks - do take note of the opening hours of these though as some might not open on Sunday's and/or close early sometimes. It's now served by the Library stop on the West Midlands Metro, following the tram extension which goes onto Broad Street. It is also next to The Library of Birmingham, while the building isn't as stunning as the aforementioned, it still remains rather modern and cool. The conference auditorium has a capacity of 1,500 which is quite impressive. I do think the staff didn't seem too helpful, I originally asked where the Starbucks was and felt the need to explain myself as he seemed rather confused. It is pretty expensive inside with one of the most expensive Starbucks' locations I've seen ever outside of a travel location (airport, station or motorway services). 3*

A well designed events complex with additional pop-up stores including an art gallery.read more

Stokes Croft is a sliver of land between the suburbs Kingsdown and Bishopston and inner city St…read more Pauls. It's definitely not the prettiest of areas. In fact it's pretty grey and depressing, with a fair few boarded up shops and a constant stream of cars roaring through on their way home or into the centre of Bristol. Possibly because people want to counter the dullness of the place some amazing grafitti has popped up here, which the grandly named People's Republic of Stokes Croft have claimed responsibility for. Some of the murals are beautiful (which of course are liable to change or get wiped out by the council without any notice) and I think it's a brave attempt to bring a little colour to what is a drab part of Bristol. There isn't yet a walking tour, but I can imagine one popping up - Bristol's urban art has been attracting a lot of interest recently. It's easy enough to see the sites by one's self though - a wonder along Jamaica Street and the road Stokes Croft itself should mean you see a few interesting sites. Their website reveals them as a fairly serious bunch. They have maps, ambitions to be some sort of official community group, and a mission statement that says they want to promote Stokes Croft as a 'cultural quarter'. I hope they go from strength to strength and continue to brighten up Stokes Croft. That their chairman Chris Chalkley was arrested for painting a 'Welcome to Stokes Croft' sign shows they've got a way to go before everyone comes round to this view.

Stokes Croft: a gift and a curse to Bristol's culture. On one hand, this area of town is dodgy as…read morethey come, with antisocial behaviour and crime, this is a threatening place to be if you're alone and feeling vulnerable, especially towards the St James Roundabout. On the other hand, Stokes Croft is a gem. Full of artists and musicians, businesses like venues, cafes and arts centres are rapidly growing, what with Hamilton House, the Left Bank Centre, Metropolis and Cafe Kino all newly developing. When I miss Bristol, I miss places like Stokes Croft, but also can feel a little unsafe walking around there. It's definitely worth a visit. This is Bristol as much as Clifton is.

Viva Brazillian BBQ!! I absolutely loved this event. I didn't get to come to the last garden party…read moreat the Lord Clifden and felt sorely missed out. This was one heck of a party. I think the chefs at Lord Clifden have found a real treasure trove of new dishes. The spice blends, salsas and aioli were perfect. The garden is ideal for lounging with friends and listening to great music. The DJs really knew how to keep the upbeat, cool tropical vibes going. Seth S and I got there right when the event started and stayed on for nearly 4 hours. I enjoyed the spiced chicken drum, granita, tropical drinks, and a cider slushie for good measure. The staff were welcoming and friendly as always. You just can't go wrong with the Lord Clifden.

Dan did again. The weather gods were shining down on another fab Lord Clifden garden party…read more The BBQ food was really tasty! I had the beef which came medium rare (how it should be!!) so I was happy. It had a great kick to it too. The Beer was really interesting too (it's name has escaped me) but was a smooth session beer, great for a sunny afternoon. The vibes and music for the event was bang on. Great bands and singers, made for a perfect British day chilling in the sun.

Make no mistake: this is a prominent student pub, with deals and happy hours and loud music in the…read moreevenings. Large groups of students will be here night after night sloshing back pints and taking over the outdoor picnic tables. That's what this pub is all about. A friend of mine once brought her parents along with us after we'd all been to see one of the student drama productions; their slightly concerned faces confirmed that it wasn't the ideal pub for a parent visit. That's the evening time, though, and in the daytime it's really just as good a pub as any other for good pub food and drinks. The "famously large" (according to their website) Sunday roast is one of the real draws of the place: you can have just the roast for £7.50, two courses for £10.50 or three whole courses for just £13.50 and it's served all the way from noon to 6pm. With its dramatic decor - oh, I should mention there's a whopping great white bear hanging above the door; you can't miss it - and lively, youthful atmosphere, give it a try, but choose the time of day/night carefully for your visit to get what you want from the place.

Someone, once, decided to get a lifesize model of a polar bear and put it about the entrance to…read morethis pub. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding it as a result, and it looks pretty awesome, standing over St. Michael's hill below. A bit studenty (which is unsurprising given its location), the White Bear's a pretty good pub. Not shiny and new but not lots of ornate wood furniture either, the best bit is the big pool table out the front. Although it can get a little rowdy here, they've succeeded in keeping it free of beer stains. The pub in general is well kept up, an achievement when you consider the clientèle. The White Bear is comfortable drinking with a giant bear glaring down at you.

Est. in 1242, the oldest pub in Oxford did not disappoint. Enter into a cozy, low-ceilinged old…read morewood bar with plenty of character. There is indoor seating in the room next to the bar, along with outdoor seating resembling a beer garden that also has a covered outdoor section. I enjoyed my sirloin English roast while having a few beers with friends. Will definitely come back if I'm ever back in Oxford.

Great to check out while in Oxford. Opens at noon. Sat in the patio and had fish and chips. Service…read morewas friendly. Inside the pub is tiny and quaint with low ceiling: it makes sense given its 700+ years old.

Nice pub great for a quick pint or just a two for a tenner meal . When we feel its just to much…read morebother to cook off we go to the Black Horse. Never had a bad meal always hot and plenty of it.If we need a meal for a group of us just a quick call to Oly ( Manager) for a table and its fixed . We go because we like it

didn't have a meal, but seems a nice pub with smashing beer,…read morealso a great car park ! especially for the disabled, will be back soon !!