Duckers & Diving: BOBS a job for Broad Street crowd
THIS week our scandal-monger gets the inside track on the annual awards bash for the great and the good of Broad Street – better known as the BOBS.
Stripping, smashing, sailing – here’s the inside track on the recent Best of Broad Street Awards.
The annual bash, in its eighth year, celebrates the pubs, clubs, venues and people of Birmingham’s golden mile.
A nautical theme this time with Capt Mike Olley assisted by First Shipmate Nichole Samuels welcoming revellers aboard HMS BOBS.
Yes, 400 of Birmingham’s night time economy tribe snowed in at the ICC, plus a late license … what could possibly go wrong?
Snapper to the stars Jas Sansi grabs newly-appointed Police and Crime Commissioner Bob Jones who, asked if the picture should be captioned Commissioner Bob or just Bob, retorts that he doesn’t believe in posh titles and immediately hands our man a business card replete with CBE FRSA BA(Hons)!
But, with pea shooters and peas supplied, Mr Modesty, sitting with a West Midlands Police ‘guard’, found himself tasered from all sides.
Make that man swab the decks … Cllr Ray Hassle must have been feeling sea sick when he presented O Bar with their Best Cocktails Award – he promptly dropped and broke the thing.
Cllr Tim Huxtable meanwhile proved that all the nice girls love a sailor, managing to get himself pictured with dancer/singers The Pin Ups, fresh from appearing in the Grand final of Open Mic UK. The Pin Ups that is, not Tim.
Guests were greeted by life size cut outs of some of Broad Street’s personalities including Pushkar’s Rai Singh – his was later seen in the window of his restaurant.
There was a roll call of radio DJs in attendance, Free Radio’s Russ Morris, Capital’s Dan and Kelly who were co-hosts, and BBC WM’s Pete Morgan.
Hollywood Monster’s mascot plus managing director Tim Andrews were walking around assisting in the chosen charity, Help Harry Help Others. Big, clumsy and frightening to look at … but the mascot was a belter!
And a new phenomenon emerged on the night – gate-crashing the award picture. Normally one or two individuals collect the award on behalf of the winning venue but the BOBS has a tradition of welcoming upwards of 30 on stage.
As the groups walked up, they would acquire passengers like a train. Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Chair, Ian Cooke, scammed it and O’Neills crashed Figure of Eight’s award.
Yes, there’s nothing quite like the BOBS.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, Figure of Eight’s Tim Donovan strips on stage whilst collecting the Best Casual Dining Award – revealing a Borat-style lime green mankini.
Not a pretty sight!
