Things to do in Birmingham

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  Baby rays!

  Baby rays!

  Staff at the National Sea Life Centre in Brindleyplace are celebrating the surprise arrival of three tropical baby rays.

  The three infants appeared overnight in the centre’s Amazonian display and are the first Amazon River stingrays to be born at the attraction.

  “Unlike the hundreds of baby saltwater rays that have hatched out of eggs at the centre, these three were born free-swimming,” said senior aquarist Tom Prakash.

  “We had a suspicion their mum might be expecting, but it was still a very pleasant surprise to find three new additions to the Sea Life family when we did our morning rounds,” he said.

  Curiously, the triplets are all different sizes, ranging from 8 to 12cms diameter.

  “We scooped them up and moved them to a behind-the-scenes nursery tank just to make sure they weren’t snaffled by any of the Amazonian tanks larger occupants,” said Tom.

  “They’re all now feeding hungrily on tiny worms and we expect them to grow quite quickly.”

  Two boys and a girl, the baby rays could reach about 70 cms long when fully grown.

  “Any new births are always a happy event for us, because we work hard to make conditions ideal for our residents and breeding successes are the surest sign that we’ve got things right,” said Tom.  “But a first breeding success with a new species is always a bit special.”

  To find out more about Sea Life Centre’s fascinating aquatic range or to book tickets visit sealifeeurope.com

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  Bannatyne’s Health Club

  3 Brunswick Arcade, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2JF
  T: 0121 633 4645 W: bannatyne.co.uk

  This five star health club has two fitness studios, a two tier superbly equipped gymnasium, sauna and steam rooms and a 21 metre pool with a spa.

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  Cocktail School

  The Theory

  It’s not often that you go to a bar and become the Bartender.  Unless of course, that bar is Nuvo in Brindleyplace.  Now you can join Nuvo’s world class bartenders for a lesson on how to shake, build and create some of our most luscious & enjoyable Cocktails at Nuvo’s Cocktail School.

  The Practical

  For the Cocktail Masterclass, Nuvo have selected three classic cocktails for wannabe mixologists to create, although if you have a favourite you would like to mix instead the team will be happy to show you how.  Cocktails currently being taught at the Masterclass are:

  COSMOPOLITIAN:

  Made famous by the hit series Sex And The City, this beautiful blend of vodka and cranberry (along with other goodies), is a definite thumbs up for the 21^st Century woman.  Learn the trick of bringing out that lovely pinkish haze to this tangy tantalizer.

  LONG ISLAND ICED-TEA:

  This is one long drink that will have your tongue and body swaying.  With its blend of five…yes, five spirits, the Long Island has without doubt made its mark in bars worldwide as one of the more potent, yet smooth cocktails out there. At Nuvo, you can master the art of making it appealing to the eye as well as pallet.

  FRENCH MARTINI:

  Silky smooth, fruity and with just a bit of a kick. The French Martini will have your mind swimming with visions of the Eiffel Tower, or even put your senses in Moulin Rouge mode (or so we’re told!). This vodka based cocktail is elegant and quirky at the same time, and will surely make you smile.

  Tuition Fee

  £20 per person or £25 with school lunch: a selection of canapés can be served after your lesson for an additional £5 per person.

  To sign up for the Cocktail School call 0121 631 1600 or visit nuvobar.com

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  Ikon Gallery

  1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HS
  T: 0121 248 0708 W: ikon-gallery.co.uk

  Ikon is an internationally renowned, award winning contemporary art gallery situated in the neo-gothic Oozells Street School.

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  The Crescent Theatre

  Sheepcote Street, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B16 8AE
  T: Box Office 0121 643 5858 T: Admin 0121 643 5859
  W: crescent-theatre.co.uk

  One of Birmingham’s most modern theatre buildings, Crescent Theatre has a superb 340 seat auditorium, studio theatre, rehearsal room, meeting room and bar area overlooking the canal.

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  The National Sea Life Centre

  The Water’s Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HL
  T: 0121 643 6777 W: sealifeeurope.com

  The National Sea Life Centre in Brindleyplace, takes visitors on a marine voyage beneath the waves with over 60 spectacular displays and a 4-D cinema.

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  Things to do in Birmingham this summer…

  If you’re looking for interesting things to do in Birmingham over the coming months now is the perfect time to take a fresh look at Brindleyplace.  With a full live events calendar and a plethora of things to see and do, here’s our top five activities to get into this summer…

  1. Live Music
  Brindleyplace’s live music is local, lively and best of all 100% free!  Whether it is enjoying alfresco after hours drinks with your own melodic soundtrack or bringing the family down at the weekend to boogie to some live jazz, The Water’s Edge will be offering something to suit every musical taste this summer.

  2. Get fit
  With the warm weather upon us, now is the ideal time to make the most of the great outdoors right here in the city centre.  A run, jog, or even just a brisk stroll down the canal towpath will do wonders for your health while also opening your eyes to all of the fantastic venues and activities on the waterfront.  If you are already feeling fit, why not enter a team into this year’s Dragonboat Race and beat the competition in a frantic race down the canal?

  3. Keep it local
  At Brindleyplace we’re big fans of fresh local produce so are delighted that our Local Produce Market is now back in Central Square on the last Friday of every month.  From yummy home baked cupcakes, to freshly picked fruit and vegetables and even locally created curry sauces – the market is the perfect place to pick up something delicious and help contribute to our local economy.

  4. Dine outdoors
  Come the warmer weather there is nothing nicer than enjoying a meal outside and watching the world go by.  Brindleyplace offers a number of opportunities to drink and dine outdoors from a quick coffee in Central Square, to alfresco drinks at The Water’s Edge and even sumptuous three course dinners available outside a number of our fantastic restaurants.  As if that wasn’t enticing enough, our latest restaurant offers and restaurant vouchers provide even more of an excuse to dine outdoors this summer!

  5. Experience culture
  With the award-winning Ikon Gallery and inspirational Number Nine The Gallery both located on the estate, Brindleyplace offers the ideal location to experience the arts and get involved in numerous art led activities.  What’s more, the Crescent Theatre provides the perfect place to see live local theatre and, while it may not be strictly a ‘cultural experience’, the SEA LIFE Centre is a great place to expand your aquatic education!