EmB's Qype profile

Although you don't have to be a student to register with this practice, there is a distinctly studenty 'feel' to the place. Once you've got past the bizarre entrance (ring the bell and wait to be let in!) you find yourself in a small, strangely shaped waiting area. The glass door will slide open revealing a receptionist to take your details, then the door will rapidly slide shut again leaving you feeling a little bit intimated! These are minor points in the great scheme of things - the GPs I have seen there tend to be average - no better or worse than at other practices really. You don't have to wait particularly long on a good day, and if you ring up in the morning you can often get a same-day appointment. Parking is tricky - there are side roads off the Bristol road, but you tend to have to walk a fair way as the residents will invariably have their cars parked. There is a chemist nearby just a bit further up the Bristol Road which can be handy.

The Beehive Inn is located in Beehive Lane, just off Coleshill Road in Curdworth. It is a locals pub, so beware - although people are invariably friendly you might feel a bit of a curiousity if you venture in as an 'outsider'. The interior is strangely bland - a bit like a community hall - but certainly spacious. There is a selection of real ales, and prices are good. A range of food is also available. You won't struggle to find somewhere to sit.

The White Horse is about half way up York Street from the Clock Tower, so fairly centrally located in Harborne. It is small and inviting, and offers a range of draught beers and real ales. Sport is a prominent feature - with a large plasma screen showing all the football you could wish for. In the Summer months people sit outside on rustic looking tables made from beer kegs, and often on the wall and pavement - such is the crowd that tends to gather outside. The pub is friendly, welcoming and offers reasonably priced ale.

Henry Wong is situated at the top of Harborne High Street, and offers really high quality Cantonese food in sedate surroundings. This isn't really the kind of place you'd book for a leaving 'do' or a works night out - more a kind of couple/close friends/come with the in-laws type of place. It feels very hushed, a little uncomfortable at times perhaps, and as such lacks a bit of atmosphere, but this is more than made up for by the quality of the food - a real treat. The staff are reserved, but attentive. A little pricey perhaps, but as I say, well worth it!

Situated just behind Waterlinks House (the big glass fronted office block you see as you approach Birmingham along the Expressway) this slightly hard to find garage offer the usual range of services - I've had my MOT done here twice. Standard practice for me was to drop the car in in the morning, and it would be ready by close of play that day - I don't know whether or not they can turn things around quicker, or whether they offer courtesy cars I'm afraid.

I did get a detailed report of how my car fared in its MOT test, and wasn't charged over the odds for the standard windscreen wiper replacement, so left feeling that Lodge Tyre are honest, decent folk.

BJ Bannings is a family-run business that is very well established, situated just a stones throw from Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham. They offer tyres at really good prices, and there is a separate battery business as well, located at the same site on the Lichfield Road.

The interior of the building is old, but that doesn't matter much when you're getting a tyre fitted. What you will appreciate is the old-fashioned courtesy and excellent service. Your car will be in and out in no time, and that annoying task of having to get a new tyre/tyres can be ticked off your to-do list without too much anguish, and without having to shell out too much cash. I return time and time again and am never disappointed.

Cadbury World is in Bournville, to the south of the city centre, and is well worth a visit if you love chocolate. Booking is advisable beforehand, and queues can be long at peak times (e.g. school holidays) so be prepared. Your visit will be at your own pace - you follow a trail through the history of Cadbury's chocolate which is quite interesting, then through a part of the factory enabling you to see the goodies on the production line although it is not quite Willy Wonka! There are a few other surprise treats, like a sit-in train ride that is great for little children. The best bit was being given a pot of melted chocolate to taste, and a goody bag with three or four bars of Cadbury's finest in. Cynically you might feel that the whole thing is geared to getting you to spend in the Cadbury's shop, but I guess you wouldn't have come if you didn't want chocolate, so where's the harm?

Cannon Hill Park is a large municipal park in the South of the Birmingham. There is plenty to do here - walking, cycling, tennis, boat hire, picnics... The Midland Arts Centre (MAC) is within the park, so there are always arts exhibitions, and theatre productions to take in. There is also a cafe within the MAC, and refreshments are available at the refreshments pavillion too.

For a pleasant walk follow the tarmacadam path (the old carriage drive) around the central pools and you'll end up doing quite a large circuit taking you past the bandstand, the old Cannon Hill House, over a bridge, past a fountain, past formal flowers beds, the aboretum, Boer War memorial, refreshments pavillion and more.

The central area of the park is laid to lawn, so plenty of space for ball games, for kids to run around, and for general picnicking. The flower beds provide a riot of colour, and the various mature trees provide welcome shade on those rare hot Summer days.

As you amble around the park you can't help but feel a sense of well-being. It might be the beautiful, tranquil surroundings, or it might be being surrounded by families and couples walking, running, cycling, boating and playing, or more probably a combination of both.

Admission is free, but parking can be tricky near to the entrances and exits of the park, although a larger parking area (on grass) is available - you just have to walk that bit further though!

The White Horse is a chain pub - a Vintage Inn operated by Mitchells and Butler - but one with character and a friendly atmosphere. There is a roaring log fire in the Winter months, and lots of cosy nooks and crannies for you to pull up a table and chat in comfort. The food is reasonably priced and hearty - of the steak and ale pie variety. There are newspapers to read, and a beer garden for the Summer months although looking out onto the busy Kingsbury Road isn't perhaps the best view in the world. Despite its somewhat 'out of the way' location in Curdworth, it welcomes quite a lot of passing trade - the Kingsbury Road being a busy route in to Birmingham from the M42 and Toll Road, so don't expect to find just a handful of people there. Staff are invariably helpful and friendly, and a good range of beers and wines are sold, in addition to some great thirst-quenching juice combinations for the drivers. A lovely pub - ideal for a Sunday lunch, or a weekday evening drink/meal.

I am used to the kind of Indian restaurant where the decor is rather dated - all dark red with flocked wallpaper and chintz, tropical fish in tanks and the like - so the Spice Exchange came as a very pleasant surprise when I first visited. The decor is modern and vibrant, and the food is fresh and fabulous! The staff are polite and attentive, and able to accommodate requests - for example if you are tentative about a more spicy dish they will take the edge off it with some yogurt. Again having tasted pre-prepared Indian cuisine for many years I was somewhat surprised to taste the range of fresh spices and flavours - a real eye-opener!

Over the years I've been many, many times to the Spice Exchange and have never been disappointed. It is the kind of place that you return to time and time again for a reassuringly good meal, but it is also the type of place you are happy to take visiting friends to to 'show off' something a bit different.