Sophie Milligan

As the nights draw in and we start digging around for woolly layers before leaving the house, we're getting to that time of the year where we start craving comfort foods. Sure, a warm coffee on a chilly morning can do wonders - but, with their extravagant toppings, flavoured syrups and dollops of whipped cream, a hot chocolate on a cold day is hard to beat. So, why not try a tempting treat from one of these independent Birmingham coffee shops to cast away away any creeping winter blues?   Centenary Lounge   Best hot chocolate, blackberry syrup, marshmallows, chocolate curls and the best cream I've ever tasted! 🙊💕☕🍫 #heaven #in #a #cup A photo posted by Emma🎀 (@emmabone_x) on May 13, 2015 at 5:25am PDT   Centenary Lounge offers the perfect hot chocolate for a weary traveller within its vintage art deco cafe at Moor Street Station. You can top your choc with lavish extras, including chocolate flakes, marshmallows and cream - or, you could pick a flavoured hot chocolate, such as mint, hazelnut, praline or cherry. Alternatively, there is the tempting raspberry white hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and drizzled in chocolate sauce. Mmmmm. Centenary Lounge, Birmingham Moor St Station, Birmingham, B4 7UL.Cen   Six Eight Kafé   A photo posted by Ewan (@thenameisfraser) on Apr 1, 2014 at 4:02am PDT   The Six Eight Kafe is the perfect spot to take a date, whether they enjoy a hot chocolate or not. Voted as one of the Independent's top 50 coffee shops in the co

Christmas is a great time of year to stick two fingers up at calories and really indulge. But even those with a larger appetite will eventually tire of too many mince pieces and start to feel sluggish after the fiftieth turkey sandwich. Conveniently, delivery service Deliveroo has recently come to Birmingham, meaning you can take a break from the sprouts and enjoy something delicious from one of the many restaurants in the city centre, Moseley, Harborne and Edgbaston. So, to help you pick an alternative takeaway treat on the run up to Christmas, here are 12 of the most outstanding and delicious meals you can get sent straight to your door, without having to lift a finger in the kitchen: Dirty Cow Burger Co   Our Christmas Burger, 'Rudolf's Nose' 🔴 Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pigs in blankets!! #dirtycowburgers #gourmet #burger #igers #cheese #bacon #instagood #birmingham #uk #weekend #amazing #foodporn #foodcoma #yummy #nomnom #happysunday #sunday #sundayfunday #tasty #foodphotography #delicious #getinmybelly #likes #love #instamood #hungry #yummyinmytummy #foodblogger #instafood #instagram A photo posted by The Dirty Cow Burger Company (@dirtycowburgers) on Nov 22, 2015 at 7:56am PST   Kicking off our 12 days of food is the Flaming Doom from Dirty Cow Burger Co, a burger that claims to be the spiciest in Birmingham. Alternatively, you can stay seasonal and grab yourself a special Christmas burger, the Rudolf's Nose.   The Dirty Cow Burger Company, The O Bar, 264

Whether you're looking for a bleary eyed all-nighter in a warehouse, to rave it up covered in glitter, a cheap and cheerful student night out, or simply the chance to experience the best DJs on the scene right now, Brum's got you covered. In fact, it feels like a new party pops up almost every week. So, where to go? To help you with the decision, we bring you a run-down of some of the biggest, loudest, and most unusual nights out in town... GLAS   A photo posted by GLAS (@glasparty) on May 11, 2014 at 7:45am PDT   Set up in 2008, GLAS aims to bring together people from many walks of life – as you'd expect from a name that means 'Gay, Lesbian and Straight'. Promising good music, great crowds and even better atmospheres, GLAS events have previously included carnivals, '80s raves, SuperPrides and street closures, packed with pyrotechnics, light shows, entertainers and global DJ talent, with crowds ranging from 400 to 4,000 people.  Lab 11, Trent Street, Birmingham, B5 5NL    TRMNL   A photo posted by Kiel Fitzsimons (@dougssssss) on Jul 27, 2015 at 4:32am PDT   Promoting Brum's underground sounds, over the last eight years TRMNL has booked some massive house artists, including Dewalta, Davide Squillace, Nic Fanciulli, Guti and Hector.  This year's autumn/winter TRMNL series kicked off on LAB11's winter terrace, with the promise of more great parties to come in the months ahead. Lab 11, Trent Street, Birmingham, B5 5NL    Magic Door   A photo posted by Magic Door (@ma

September 19 saw the launch of Germany's annual Oktoberfest – the world's largest beer festival. Every year, millions of people flood into Munich for the 16-day festival, a tradition that started over two centuries ago. Celebrations consist of drinking beer, eating bratwurst and schnitzel, and dancing on tables to popular music the Germans refer to as 'schlager'. Gute zeiten.  The festival ends on the first Sunday in October, but that doesn't mean the Oktoberfest celebrations are completely over. In fact, those without the luxury of sampling the beer-fuelled tomfoolery in Munich will still be able to get royally sloshed in Bavarian fashion at one of Birmingham's two major Oktoberfest events - Digbeth Oktoberfest and Birmingham Oktoberfest. Both are incredibly popular events, though. As such, we've included a few alternatives in our guide to Oktoberfest in Brum, so you should have no trouble getting into the beer festival spirit!    Digbeth Oktoberfest    Good times at the bier tent #Deutschland #München #oktoberfest #bier A photo posted by Jeff Runyan (@jefeviajero) on Sep 28, 2015 at 12:17am PDT   Kicking off the city's celebrations is Digbeth's first ever Oktoberfest. The Old Crown has teamed up with the organisers of Digbeth's Spring Market to open a German Beer Hall between October 2-10. Space is limited to 250 people per night and tickets are selling quick. Grab the last few remaining tickets – which include entrance and a full stein – at the Digbeth Oktoberfest web

From Thursday September 10, some of the city's most inspiring examples of architecture will be opening their doors to the public, allowing a rare chance to get an exciting glimpse behind the scenes. Birmingham's first ever Heritage Week (part of the country-wide Heritage Open Days festival) is taking place September 10-17, with many of the city's cathedrals, museums and other places of cultural interest running tours, workshops and talks – completely free of charge. To find out everything that's happening over the course of the week, check the full brochure here. It's a huge programme of events, though, so we've put together a selection that are well worth paying a visit:   The Rotunda    Est. 1965 ⛅ #Rotunda #Birmingham #BeautifulDay #ilovebrum #Blueskies #clouds #ListedBuilding #thisisbrum #igersbirmingham #architecture #urban #cityscape #Building #Travel A photo posted by Jess Lee 💕 (@xjessleex) on Aug 27, 2015 at 10:09am PDT   Surround yourself with Birmingham's skyline by taking a tour of The Rotunda, arguably Birmingham's most iconic building, which turns 50 this year. Some will remember the tower as the site of the Birmingham bombings back in 1974, but few are aware that this is also a grade II listed building. During the tour, you can learn more about the building's architecture and how it's recently been transformed from offices to awesome one-of-a-kind apartments. Rotunda, Moor St, Birmingham, West Midlands B5 4BL.   Ikon gallery   Happy weekend! #architectu

As the home of Britain's most tattooed man – the elegantly named King of Inkland King Body Art the Extreme Ink-ite (previously Matthew Whelan, but his friends call him Mr Body Art) – Birmingham is clearly a great place to get inked.  Here are five studios in the city where talented artists can create all manner of designs to be cherished forever. Not that you have a huge amount of choice but to cherish them, of course...   Body Garden Tattoo   ? A photo posted by Tom Adolph (@tomadolph) on Jul 7, 2015 at 7:19am PDT Along Liberty Place is Body Garden Tattoo. Cesar De Cesaro is the big dog behind this joint, an artist who has been tattooing since 1998.   Cesar has several artistic preferences including the extremely popular Mandala (spritual Indian) designs, along with dotwork, floral and traditional tattoos. His trademark designs are bold and solid.   6 Liberty Place, 26-38 Sheepcote St, Birmingham, West Midlands B16 8JB     Modern Body Art   I finished these #bluebirds a little while ago and just got a healed photo. The feather was already there, I just touched it up a bit. A photo posted by Matt Hunt Tattoos (@matthuntmba) on Jan 7, 2014 at 9:10am PST Established in 1999, Modern Body Art (MBA) is owned and run by Matt Hunt and Jo Harrison.   With international guest artists visiting the studio, MBA regularly graces UK and international tattoo magazines and conventions. As one of the very first UK studios to offer laser tattoo removal, MBA is possibly the most d

Most would agree that the on-going regeneration of Digbeth has helped turn the district into the city's home for all things cool and edgy. It's increasingly becoming the go-to place for the best in street food, art, culture and, of course, music. In amongst the DIY workshops and graffiti-strewn walls, many of the old Victorian factories in this once heavily industrialised area have undergone exciting transformations. From derelict and disused, they've been resurrected to form a new part of city's creative scene.  Here are just some of the spaces that have been reborn and are helping to push forward the future of Birmingham’s culture.    The Custard Factory   #thecustardfactory #birmingham #streetart A serial place. A photo posted by @mrwanderlost on Aug 3, 2015 at 11:13am PDT   Just five minutes walk from the Bullring is the now famous Custard Factory. A restored Victorian factory like most venues in Digbeth, the Custard Factory is well known for once being the home to custard powder makers, Bird’s Custard.  After its renovation in 1992, it became a hub for creatives and independent businesses, as well as a home to vintage clothes stores, skate shops, cafes and bars (such as Alfie Bird's). There's also the small central lake where the loading bay originally was, and two permanent art installations – the iron dragon in the exterior of the Medicine Bar, and the huge sculpture by Tawny Gray made out of stone and vegetation.  The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9

Birmingham and the Midlands can boast a rich literary history, and the area has been the home of several of the country's most famous writers. This includes John Rogers – the first man to compile an authorised edition of the Bible in English – poets W.H. Auden and Benjamin Zephaniah, and of course the legendary playwright from Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare. The city continues to inspire writers today. Here are just a few examples of how Birmingham fits into the world of literary fiction:  Sarehole Mill – 'The Lord of the Rings' (1954) and 'The Hobbit' (1937)   The millpond A photo posted by Hannah Fathers (@urbanfox_uk) on Aug 3, 2015 at 10:15pm PDT   It’s well know that J.R.R. Tolkien was born in Kings Heath and identified strongly with the West Midlands, preferring to be considered a Mercian than an Englishman. Sarehole Mill is just one of the Brummie spots that the famous fantasy writer used for inspiration for the Shire in his novel 'The Hobbit'. Another feature of the city he used was the Joseph Chamberlain Clocktower (known affectionately as 'Old Joe') at the University of Birmingham. The tower is said to have inspired the Tower of Isengard in the 'Lord of the Rings' Trilogies. You can take a look here at some of the other places in Birmingham that Tolkien drew inspiration from.   University of Birmingham – 'Changing Places: A Tale of Two Campuses' (1975)   A photo posted by University of Birmingham (@unibirmingham) on Aug 4, 2015 at 8:27am PDT   All th

Birmingham is home to some fantastic local distilleries and microbreweries, creating alcoholic delights that we can enjoy in any number of brilliant bars, pubs and clubs. But sometimes, nothing beats having a drink in the comfort of your own home, without marked-up prices or queues. Still, while you could simply pick up a six pack or beers or a cheap bottle of red from the corner shop, where's the fun in that? Why not treat yourself to something extra special? Here's a selection of some of Birmingham's specialist off licences, selling a mind-boggling array of wines, beers and spirits to help you get sozzled in style:   For the largest collection – Wine Lord   A photo posted by Wine Lord Specialist Off Licence (@wine_lord) on May 31, 2014 at 9:58am PDT   Family business Wine Lord is approaching its thirtieth anniversary and, over the decades, this specialist off licence has gone from strength to strength. Stocking drinks from around the globe, the shop has a reputation for excellent customer service. Wine Lord has 2,000 whiskeys available to order in store and online, as well as specialist rums, vodkas, gins, tequila, and liquors. If you're looking for vodka shaped like a fire extinguisher, a bottle of champagne that looks like a hookah pipe or tequila that comes in a Dia de Muertos painted skull, this is the place to go.  Wine Lord, 106 Constitution Hill, Hockley, Birmingham.   For the wealthy collector – Hard to Find Whisky   A photo posted by hardtofindwhisky (@hardt

With Wimbledon recently drawing to a close and Great Britain playing in the semi-final against Australia for the Davis Cup this September, many have been inspired to pick up a racket and find the nearest court to try their hand at tennis. But if this is the first time you've wanted to play  – where do you start? Here's all you need to know about playing tennis in Birmingham...   Where to learn     A photo posted by Rabia Raza (@rabiaraza_) on Jun 21, 2015 at 11:13am PDT   If you've never played tennis before but have caught the Wimbledon bug it's definitely worth joining one of your local Tennis Clubs. Benefits of doing so normally include discounted lessons, access to other facilities – such as an onsite gym and squash courts. Plus, if you become a member of the British Tennis Association, you have the chance to win tickets to watch Wimbledon the following year too! Perhaps the most famous tennis club in Birmingham is the Edgbaston Priory Club. Known for its world renowned competition The Aegon Classic Birmingham, it has trained some of Britain's most promising young tennis players. Alternatively, you could try the Moseley Tennis Club, which was opened by American tennis start Melanie Oudin in 2013, or the Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society – the oldest lawn tennis club in the world! If your enthusiasm for the sport continues into the colder months, two of the 12 courts at Sutton Coldfied Tennis Club are indoors. Just a couple of miles away is the Sutton United T