Birmingham Mail Special Features

Shock on Valentine’s: women revealed to be slightly less romantic than men Feb 15 2012

• Some women admit to having affairs in hotels• Tight-fisted Brits shun Valentine’s hotel stays• Men and women have different images relating to Valentine’s DayEurobookings conducted a poll which showed some surprising results relating to how men and women view using hotels in Edinburgh and other UK locations on Valentine’s Day.One key statistic is that 8.4% of those who took part answered ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Have you ever used a hotel for an affair on Valentine’s Day?’, but 67% of that total were women, while 32% were 35+ year-old men.Two in three also stated they wouldn’t book a room at a hotel when answering the question “How much would you spend on a hotel room for Valentine’s Day” in a separate poll by the travel website.Other statistics coming from the poll state that 19.2% said that they were willing to spend just £51-£100 on booking a hotel room. 11.5% answered that they could stretch to a miserly £25-£50, while 0% would splash out upwards of £200 on a hotel room. Another finding from Eurobookings revealed that of those who wouldn’t pay for a hotel room on February 14th, 50% were women, compared to just 15.3% of the total being men.Although the results from the polls may suggest that women in the UK may have given up on romance, 30.8% who responded said that despite not wanting to book a hotel room for Valentine’s Day, they would celebrate the day differently. Unfortunately, just 11.5% of men said that they would do the same.Chewing over the details of the polls’ findings, Eurobookings’ Business Development Manager Chad Conlon said: “We did the polls out of curiosity, but were surprised by the results we found.“When we saw that the female respondents were more likely to have an affair and that men were more romantic when it came to spending their hard-earned money on staying in Edinburgh hotels for Valentine’s Day, we were shocked. Maybe they’re in two minds when they’re about to book a hotel room!” As Europe’s best budget hotel specialist, Eurobookings provide a range of hotels across Europe and the rest of the world at the cheapest prices around, giving customers all the information they need to choose their hotel of choice through their search tools, regional information pages and their distinctive strand of hotel videos.Read

Will Birmingham property values be impacted by the new High Speed 2 Rail link? Feb 13 2012

The first phase of the planned High Speed 2 Rail link will run from London to Birmingham. There has been untold controversy about the proposed route, and the UK Government recently amended their original plans to take into account the protests of many campaigners, particularly those whose properties lie in the effected regions of the Chiltern Valleys. Read

Update your wardrobe for this spring – literally Feb 10 2012

With the cold weather almost over and spring soon to approach, now is the perfect time to start updating your wardrobe online or on the high street for the warmer months of the year!The fashion world has spoken, and this spring/summer it’s all about bold, bright, vivid colours, cheery pastels and expressive printed patterns. Graphic prints are also set to be big, so we can expect to see lots of photo-quality images on t-shirts and tops.In what’s being seen as a reaction to the grim economic climate, bright colours are going to be everywhere this summer, with stylistic nods to the 60s such as mod styling or block-coloured, airy maxi-dresses (and mini-dresses!) with white-rimmed, circular shades and silk scarves. Even if the weather lets us down, styles this spring and summer are certain to give us all a lift and put a smile on even the grumpiest face!But whilst you’re seeking that must-have item to update your wardrobe, why not literally do just that? Update your actual wardrobe? Year in, year out, people change their clothes and styles with the wind, yet their prized jackets and shoes sit in a rickety old flat-pack cupboard picked up in the discount aisle of a hardware store 15 years ago! Style needn’t stop with the contents, and with beautiful, high quality wardrobes becoming increasingly more affordable there’s no need to put up with the awful rattling of cheap wood on wood every time you pull out a dress to wear.There’s not even any need to drive out to the homeware store, because you can easily find a wardrobe in the UK online. With a quick search you’ll be able to find an array of wardrobes: from traditional, homely builds to more sleek, modern contemporary designs – you’ll feel all the more excited to wear your new summer purchases as you approach your brand new wardrobe.Read

Metroprint: Tailor-made Photographic Printing Feb 09 2012

Whether you are a photographer, a keen amateur or just looking for a fast and affordable solution for your professional photo printing needs, Metro-print.co.uk has you covered. If their service for printing colour, black and white, Giclée, kiosk, large format printing, digital or film was not enough, Metroprint offer several specialised services to ensure that all your needs are catered for. Ordering prints online or booking a one to one appointment with some of the most experienced printers in the industry has never been easier or more pleasantly-priced than this.Read

No Better Time to Visit Italy’s Fashion City Feb 08 2012

In these tough times while we continue to monitor our finances, holidays are the one area in which many people are unwilling to cut back. And with more and more cheap flights and late deals to be had within Europe, why not pick up a flight to milan?Read

Grab a sneak peek at athletic superstars before the games begin Feb 08 2012

With Olympic fever sweeping the country, and the impending influx of sports fanatics fromevery corner of the globe descending on London, this year we are a nation completelypreoccupied with sport.Read

Car Leasing For Business – What Are Your Options? Jan 31 2012

Business car leasing, or commercial leasing as it is otherwise known, remains popular with businesses due to the obvious advantage of being a cheaper than buying cars outright. Keeping transport spending to a minimum allows businesses to allocate resources to other core areas of the business and also provides substantial tax benefits.Read

Payment Protection Insurance: Start making your claim Jan 24 2012

If you think payment protection insurance is a minefield, then you are not the first.You may have taken it out with all good intentions the last time you applied for a loan or new credit card in which case it is causing you no problems.Read

Home insurance facts: three things you didn’t know Jan 24 2012

The largest insurance market in the whole of Europe, the UK has a range of insurance products available to its residents. In fact, the industry is so large that it is also said to be the third largest in the world, demonstrating how Brits are offered numerous ways in which to protect themselves, their family and their possessions.Read

Solicitors in Birmingham: no need to look too far Jan 23 2012

After any major traumatic event, whether suffered by you personally or by a member of your family, the road to recovery can be difficult. Many people are uncertain what steps to take and who to contact for the best legal and financial advice, and it’s not always easy to work out where to go for even the most basic advice. Depending on what has happened, you will need to contact a different legal team or solicitor to ensure you get the most dedicated and knowledgeable representative for your case. Many legal firms specialise in certain areas of practice law, including medical negligence, transport issues, divorce or family law, business law or personal injury. Choosing a specific law firm will help your claim or case as they will be able to provide effective representation within a given field, and therefore have a full working knowledge of previous cases, types of evidence and legal processes.Where your solicitor is based is also important for your case. For peace of mind and easy access to your solicitor at any time, it is better to choose a legal firm that has a local branch so that you can gain effective representation without the stresses of travelling outside your local area. In and around Birmingham, there is an abundance of solicitors and legal firms with local offices that are able to provide years of experience and knowledge in order to aid your case. Solicitors in Birmingham aren’t hard to come by, but it’s still important to find one that suits you. Visiting different solicitors in Birmingham and using their websites to find out more information is a great start, but one of the best ways to find out about them is by reading customer testimonials or asking for case studies.Case studies and customer testimonials of solicitors in Birmingham will help you understand the sort of legal practices that legal firms undertake, as well as their relationships with clients and the legal processes they go through. Most websites will offer a specific page of client testimonials; if not, ask around friends and family to see their opinions on different solicitors or contact local online forums. The most important thing to remember is to find a local lawyer, from the range of solicitors in Birmingham, who is perfect for your legal needs and will help you create the best case possible.Read

Why a Birmingham Solicitor could answer all your prayers Jan 20 2012

Unfortunately, at some stage in everybody’s lives, legal assistance is required. Many people feel hiring a solicitor is something which should be avoided where possible, fearing the hassle and cost of the process. Some people are also unsure as to when it may be necessary to consult a lawyer, leaving them without adequate services.Read

Visit the Isle of Wight Jan 18 2012

Holidaying in England can be a great opportunity to get all the family together, whether it be a last minute holiday, or a planned holiday, there is a caravan holiday out there for you.Read

Why Is It Important For Business To Reduce Their Energy Consumption Jan 09 2012

As an increasing focus is put on energy conservative and environmental benefits, it is more important than ever for businesses to reduce their energy consumption and their costs. By addressing their use of this service businesses can give themselves a more secure financial situation, allowing them to improve their profits whilst benefiting the environment.Read

Why You Should Learn To Ski This Winter Jan 04 2012

With the colder weather settling in, thinking of a fun activity to enjoy with your family can be difficult. Luckily, all inclusive ski holidays can provide the perfect solution – giving you an enjoyable family activity and a break away from the stresses and pressures associated with the end of the year. If you are new to ski holidays read on to learn more.Read

A Guide to Savings Accounts Jan 03 2012

Many people have made a fair amount of money out of various financial instruments; this article has been written to give you advice on how to take advantage of high interest savings accounts. When dealing with financial products available, most consumers are intimidated by the number of different options available, as well as many of the technical terms used to describe those products. You should not be intimidated, most high street banks have simple offers which are easy to understand.Read

How to Become a Copy Trader Dec 13 2011

The skilled trades act like guides to the ones who have less or no knowledge at all about performing profitable online trading activities. In order to become a copy trader all you need to do is open a trading account and begin using the expertise and advice of others to direct your forex trading. Read

Fighting Winter Burglary with Advanced Security and Cheap House Insurance Dec 12 2011

The deteriorating economy has acted as a constant catalyst for burglaries in the UK and the issue more than peaked during the London riots in August. Advanced home security is a now a must for every homeowner and beyond that, cheap building insurance is a solid line of defence.Read

Tips for Selecting Broadband Dec 01 2011

When talking about choosing home broadband services, it is highly important to think about some serious tips that will help in picking a good broadband service. Many net providing firms have appeared where big telecommunication corporations are also offering broadband services. Selecting a broadband service is therefore an important consideration for households – so how can you make sure you select the best service?Read

When can I make an industrial accident claim? Dec 01 2011

Claims can be made in many different situations where you have had an industrial accident or contracted an industrial disease. Also known as occupational or work-related accident or illness claims, they protect your right to justice.Read

How To Choose The Right HD-TV This Christmas Nov 29 2011

Investing in a new TV could be the perfect way to embrace the Christmas spirit. Televisions come in a number of different forms and HDTVs are one of the most popular, so how can people make sure they choose the right one for them this ChristmasRead