A GORDON Ramsay trained chef has closed his top Michelin Star restaurant in Birmingham.

The Cornwall Street restaurant closed its doors for the final time on Saturday, October 12.

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After serving guests for 17 years, Purnell’s will no longer be open for business.

Chef Glynn Purnell described the flagship restaurant as his “proudest moment”.

Having opened the site in 2007, Chef Glynn had previously trained with Gordon Ramsay, Claude Bosi and Gary Rhodes.

The chef suggested that the closure comes as “things have moved on’” and the pressures faced by the hospitality industry have contributed to the decision.

He added that he was “heartbroken” to be closing the business.

Glynn said: “Purnell’s has been my proudest moment, and I am heartbroken to say that after 17 years we have served our final guest. It fills my heart with pride to say that Purnell’s was a roaring success from day one.

“It won every accolade going, from a Michelin star just a year after opening, to the Craft Guild of Chefs New Restaurant of the Year Award, and the AA Restaurant of the Year Award.

“Purnell’s has been a place where I have had the privilege of working with some of the greatest talent I’ve ever known, and where I have trained people who are now working in some of the best restaurants in the world, from New York to Australia.

“However, the world doesn’t stand still. Things have moved on, and times have changed. In this current climate, no-one is bulletproof.

“I would like to thank everybody who has worked for me over the years. I have always had a team who are like family to me, who have worked with creativity, passion and enthusiasm to make Purnell’s the success it has been for 17 years.

“I’d also like to thank everybody who has ever eaten here and celebrated life here. I’ve raised a glass with guests who have come through our doors to mark birthdays, graduations, first dates, weddings, anniversaries, and many more life events, and I’m thrilled that they chose Purnell’s for all those occasions.

“Plates by Purnell’s on Edmund Street in Birmingham and The Mount by Glynn Purnell in Henley-in-Arden remain open for business as usual, and I will be devoting my time between these two establishments. I’m excited for the future and the next steps in my journey; this isn’t the last you’ve heard of the Yummy Brummie.

“I’m truly honoured to have played my part in the culinary history of this great city.”

After the closure of Carter’s of Moseley last year, Birmingham now has three Michelin Star restaurants – Opheem, which holds two stars, Adam’s and Simpsons, which both hold one.

It comes after a spate of Michelin chefs have been forced to close restaurants due to the high rental costs, staffing issues amongst the long list of other causes.

Earlier this month, celebrity chef, Michael Caines, shocked fans after announcing the sale of Mickeys Beach Bar and Restaurant in Exmouth.

In September, a well-known TV chef, Simon Rimmer, closed his only remaining branch after 33 years in business.

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GLOBAL investors welcomed the Government’s rallying cry that the UK was “open for business” by pumping £63billion into new infrastructure projects yesterday.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed the “shovel-ready investments” as around 200 leaders from various sectors descended on Labour’s first International Investment Summit.

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The Government’s pitch at Guildhall in the City of London was that it could promise a stable economy with a more certain regulatory environment.

PM Sir Keir Starmer pledged an end to “chop-change policies and politics”, which several business leaders applauded.

Bruce Flatt, boss of investment giant Brookfield Asset Management and owner of Canary Wharf, said global funds “don’t need capital, what they need is the right environment”.

Larry Fink, chief executive of Blackrock, one of the world’s biggest funds, said: “When money smells opportunity it runs toward it, and it’s the same when it sniffs a problem, it runs away.”

Andrea Rossi, chief executive of M&G, which has £100billion in UK, said: “The key for investment is confidence.”

Sir Keir argued he would rip-up red tape that acted as a barrier to investment.

It came as former Google boss Eric Schmidt told him such bureaucracy was destroying investment, adding: “The cost of capital and the delay is killing you, and furthermore you’re not going to achieve your 2030 energy goal, which is laudable, without fixing this.”

Greg Jackson, boss of Octopus Energy, said his firm had “been forced to invest in other countries because you can’t build stuff here — there needs to be reform of planning to help us build and invest”.

Investments from pharmaceutical group Eli Lilly, Sensodyne-maker HALEON, Manchester Airport, Southern Water investor Macquarie and wind farm giant Iberdrola were all announced.

The Government trumpeted the total was almost double the Conservatives’ previous investment summits.

After a kerfuffle following Louise Haigh’s “cowboy” jibe at P&O, Dubai owner DP World did commit £1billion to the London Gateway port project.

It had originally threatened to pull its investment and not attend the summit.

However, feverish phonecalls between the Government and bosses secured both.

Ms Haig refused media questions yesterday.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK “respects business, wants to partner with business and is open for business”.

HOLD ME CLOSER, TINY DAVOS…

THE Government showcased Britain as a shining beacon for investment — as grey, thunderous clouds and downpours greeted international guests on their arrival to the City’s Guildhall yesterday.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves quipped: “You don’t come here for the weather!”

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After blunders including leaked email addresses, complaints of shoddy organisation and a diplomatic row with DP World, the summit itself needed to be a success.

The looming black clouds, metaphorically speaking, were concerns over changes to National Insurance, Capital Gains Tax and inheritance tax — all of which “is not very pro-business”, one leader said.

Many privately expressed frustration that it was being held two weeks before the Budget.

However, others saw it as an opportunity for some last-minute lobbying.

One tech boss said they had warned the Chancellor against pressing ahead with tax raids on entrepreneurs.

But one chief exec said the so-called “mini-Davos” summit showed that the UK still had the “pull factor”.

To finish off, guests were whisked off to St Paul’s Cathedral on coaches, like a school trip, to be treated to an audience with the King and a surprise private performance by Sir Elton John, who did it for free.

Perhaps Taylor Swift’s diary was full.

REEVES IN BOOKIE TIP

THE Chancellor yesterday said she is “proud” of UK betting firms — after nearly £2billion was wiped off gambling stocks amid fears of a Budget tax raid of £900million to £3billion.

Shares in Ladbrokes owner Entain slid 8 per cent, with drops by William Hill owner Evoke, Mecca Bingo owner Rank and Paddy Power’s Flutter. 

But Rachel Reeves said she backs gambling firms such as Skybet in her Leeds constituency.

PAGE HAS TO TURN TO CUTS

RECRUITER Pagegroup has become the latest firm to sound the alarm about a weakening jobs market.

It posted a 16.7 per cent profits slump to £201.4million in the third quarter and cut its own workforce again by around 100 jobs.

Page said the usual pick-up in business in September didn’t materialise.

It pointed to weaker business confidence delaying hiring decisions.

Last week, rival recruiter Hays also cut jobs as it warned the jobs market remained tough.

PageGroup has cut about 1,000 jobs in the past year.

It said of the recent slowdown that “conversion of interviews to accepted offers remains the most significant challenge, due to reduced levels of client and candidate confidence”.

GET YOUR HAND OFF

THE biggest shareholder in Mulberry has said it has “no interest” in selling up to Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group.

Fraser launched a sweetened £111million takeover approach on Friday for the luxury handbag-maker.

But Mulberry’s biggest investor, the Singaporean family behind Challice LTD, said it was “an inopportune time for Mulberry to be sold”.

Mulberry’s board said it would consider the new bid, but it is unlikely to succeed without Challice’s approval.

THE UK’s fast food scene is set to welcome another American culinary sensation.

We already know that Chick-fil-A and Dave’s Hot Chicken are opening restaurants in 2025, but a new contender is preparing to make its mark on British shores.

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Tex-Mex brand Velvet Taco will make its UK debut next spring.

As part of a new franchise agreement with Velvet UK, the brand will be opening its first restaurant in Piccadilly Circus, London.

The diner has also confirmed opening more UK sites in the coming years.

The taco brand was first launched in Dallas, Texas, in 2011 and now operates out of nearly 50 restaurants across the US.

The brand’s signature dishes include its spicy tikka chicken taco with tenders, house-made tikka sauce, buttered coriander basmati rice, raita crema, and Thai basil.

Another favourite is the London-inspired fish and chips taco, which includes beer-battered cod, curry aioli, fried vinegar, and Napa slaw.

It also offers a WTF (weekly taco feature), where a new special is featured on the menu each week, along with sides like red curry coconut queso dip and elite guac.

The taco chain is also famed for its double-layered red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting drizzled with house-made cajeta sauce – a slow-cooked Mexican caramel.

The London venue will also serve up the chain’s popular frozen margaritas.

Clay Dover, president and chief executive of Velvet Taco, said: “This is an exciting time for Velvet Taco.

“When I joined the brand, we had just four locations.

“To be a part of not only Velvet Taco’s growth to 50 locations in the U.S. but also our incredible international expansion into London is nothing short of remarkable.

“We’re thrilled to select Piccadilly Circus as our first location, knowing that Velvet Taco will feel right at home in the vibrant, bustling area filled with global influences.

“This growth reflects our commitment to reimagining the humble taco and our dedication to delivering global culinary experiences – now literally on an international scale!”

The opening of the chain’s first UK store is expected to create 40 jobs.

This expansion is part of a broader trend, which has seen several other major US restaurant chains making their way to British shores in recent months.

US FAST FOOD EXPANSION INTO THE UK

American fast food giant Chick-fil-A is crossing the pond and bringing its beloved chicken sandwiches to our high streets next year.

The Sun exclusively revealed the exact locations of their first five permanent UK restaurants.

In July, Dave’s Hot Chicken announced plans to open 60 restaurants across the UK and Ireland.

Popeyes entered the UK market in 2021 and has proved to be a hit with ravenous customers ever since.

In just 30 months, the brand opened over 38 restaurants across the UK.

It has plans to reach the 60-restaurant milestone by the end of 2024.

US burger chain Wendy’s, which already has 31 sites in the UK, will also cut the ribbon on eight new locations this year.

The chain returned to the UK high street in 2021 after a 20-year hiatus.

Wendy’s is most famous for its square-shaped hamburgers, which are designed to maximise the amount of meat in every bite.

Shake Shack, which started out as a hotdog cart, recently opened its first restaurant inside a UK train station.

Brits commuting in St. Pancras International Station can now grab their favourite burgers before jumping onto their train.

The new spot marks the fast food giant’s 16th location in the UK since it was launched in Covent Garden in 2013.

While most of Shake Shack’s UK sites are based in London, bosses have expanded into other locations in recent years, including Essex, Oxford, and Cardiff.

Shake Shack’s humble beginnings trace back to a New York hot dog cart helmed by Randy Garutti.

Wingstop currently operates 39 sites across the UK and will open 15 more in 2024.

Lemon Pepper Holdings, which runs the fast food chain’s UK portfolio, said the move would create up to 750 jobs.

The US hospitality brand said it is its biggest year of expansion since launching Wingstop in the UK six years ago.

Dunkin’ Donuts, which currently has 30 stores in the UK, hopes to open 30 new branches over the next couple of years as part of a major expansion plan.

Dunkin’ Donuts landed in the UK in St John’s in Liverpool in May 2016.

The chain is huge in the US, with almost 9,500 stores spread across the country.

It sells a range of doughnuts, other sweet treats, and hot and cold drinks.

IT’S worth having a dig around your loose change for any rare and valuable 50p coins.

The Royal Mint, the official maker of British coins, regularly puts limited edition pieces into general circulation.

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And because there’s only a limited amount they can sell for multiple times their face value.

In some cases, extremely rare 50p pieces have sold for a whopping £950.

So it’s definitely worth a root around in your purse or wallet to see if you got anything worth potentially hundreds of pounds.

Bear in mind though, you might not always get such a hefty amount for a rare coin.

The design of the coin, its condition and whether or not the coin is in circulation also affects how much it could be worth.

You can easily figure out how rare a coin is, by checking its mintage figures.

This relates to how many coins were produced by The Royal Mint.

If a coin has a low mintage, it means there’s less in circulation and is therefore rarer and it could potentially be worth more than its face value.

Either way, you’ll want to keep an eye out for some in particular which can sell for big numbers.

Salmon – worth up to £120

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Minted in 2023, the Salmon 50p depicts a salmon fish jumping out of the Atlantic ocean and has King Charles III on the other side.

This makes The Atlantic Salmon coin the first to represent the Kings’ face.

There are only 200,000 of the coins in circulation, making this coin quite a rare find.

The highest recent sale we’ve found on eBay recently was £120 on October 14 with 10 bids.

It also sold for £113 on this day with 11 bids.

Kew Gardens – worth up to £700

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Kew Gardens is famous for its stunning gardens and scenery.

But despite the design, it’s not so easy to get a hold of this coin, of which there are just 210,000 in circulation.

We’ve seen the coin which was minted in 2009 sell for as much as £707 before on eBay.

However more recently it sold for £320 with 40 bids on October 13.

Peter Rabbit – worth up to £30

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The Peter Rabbit design originates from the famous children’s books by Beatrice Potter.

The coin was released in 2018 according to Change Checker.

We’ve seen it sell for as much as £26 online so is worth digging around for.

In recent months, one was also sold on eBay for £25 on October 13.

Flopsy Bunny – worth up to £17

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The coin was issued in 2018 to celebrate one of Beatrix Potter’s most loved children’s tales, “The Tale of Flopsy Bunny”.

There are 1,400,000 Flopsy Bunny 50ps in circulation according to Change Checker.

One sold for £16.50 on eBay with three bids on October 14.

That is 33 times its worth at a cashier if you weren’t to catch the design.

Mrs Tittlemouse – worth up to £16

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The coin was issued in 2018 to celebrate one of Beatrix Potter’s most loved children’s tales, “The tale of Mrs Tittlemouse”.

There are 1,700,000 Mrs Tittlemouse 50ps in circulation according to Change Checker.

One recently sold for £15.99 on October 13.

While another sold for £5.20 in June.

How much are other 50p coins worth?

Many coins can be worth much more when sold on eBay as part of a collection.

However, sometimes you’ll get better individual prices if another enthusiast needs your coin to complete their collection.

The rare Blue Peter Olympic 50p has been flogged on eBay for £205 in the past.

The coin shows an athlete doing the high jump and was drawn by nine-year-old Florence Jackson after winning a competition on the kid’s TV show.

Plus, one seller managed to pocket a whopping £63,000 flogging his Battle of Hasting’s 50p too.

So-called ‘error coins’ tend to be worth a lot too, because there’s rarely more than a few thousand of them in circulation.

One 50p that was mistakenly struck twice sold for as much as £510 on eBay because it was rare.

It’s not only 50ps either – a rare error 10p coin sold for over 1,000 times more than its face value on eBay in the past.

Likewise, there are several rare £2 coins in circulation which could be worth just under £50.

Newer versions could be worth a mint too

You might think that old coins go for the most – but new ones can go for some big sums too.

In 2019, the Royal Mint re-released sets of five of the rarest and most popular 50ps to celebrate half a decade of the coin.

The new coins are made with old designs including Kew Gardens, Girl Guides and Scouts, but are stamped with the 2019 date which could make them super valuable among collectors.

The £90 collectors’ proof sets sold out in February 2019, but you can still get uncirculated sets for £45 directly from the Royal Mint.

This year has seen an influx of special edition Harry Potter coins, as well as those with the heads of former monarchs on them too.

Meanwhile, the first commemorative £2 coins featuring King Charles III were released earlier this year.

How do I find out what my coin is worth?

If you’re lucky enough to pick up a rare coin in your spare change, it could go for hundreds of pounds depending on how rare it is.

You should check how much the coin is selling for on eBay.

Search the full name of the coin, select the “sold” listing and then toggle the search to “highest value”.

It will give you an idea of the amount of money that the coin is going for.

But remember, a buyer could always pull out so the coin may not have gone for the price it says it has.

And watch out for fakes too.

You can also use an online tool that gives you an estimate of how much it could be worth on eBay, as well as any other rare coins you have.

Coin Hunter gives you an estimated valuation of your coin based on the average of the most recent sales, as well as a range of how much you can expect it to fetch.

Plus Change Checker’s Scarcity Index will give you a good idea of how rare a coin is.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.

A COUPLE in their 80s have been forced to live in a tent after the council evicted them from the annexe they built in the grounds of their old farmhouse.

Eric Goodman and Penelope Blake built a wooden lodge in the garden of their home in Itteringham, Aylsham.

But becoming homeless and at the centre of a decade-long planning dispute for the next eight years was not what they had in mind.

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The couple built the wooden annexe – a single building detached from the main house which they named Muster – in 2008 to rent out as holiday accommodation.

Despite gaining planning permission at the time of building they have since been told they are in breach of regulations because they no longer own the original house, which they sold in 2016.

The North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) said that when they sold the farmhouse in 2016 the property could no longer be considered an annexe, making the planning permission void.

With no where to go, Eric, a former antiques dealer and property developer and Penelope, an artist, decided to set up camp outside their property instead.

Talking to the Eastern Daily Press, Eric said: “We both have health issues now which have not been helped by what we have had to endure. We are British so have a stiff upper lip, we have just had to go along with it.“

The couple have since moved to a temporary home in North Walsham but it is believed they make frequent returns to the property, often staying overnight.

The ordeal has cost the couple tens of thousands of pounds in their quest to gain planning permission. They are now on their ninth attempt.

These include three appeals to the Planning Inspectorate and one High Court battle, which the judge concluded had no “arguable grounds”.

According to the NNDC, the property’s remote location is in conflict with local plans to reduce car travel but the couple insist it is only a few miles away from town.

The new owners of Robin Farm, who bought the main house from the couple in 2016, told Eastern Daily News: “This long-term dispute and this latest appeal now seems a waste of a lot of people’s energy and effort.

“Can they keep rewriting and appealing their own story every year or so with all the associated effort and legal /council/ government costs etc in perpetuity?”

Another neighbour told the paper: “Villagers have observed smoke coming from the chimney. They are basically putting two fingers up to the authority.”

Government officials from the Planning Inspectorate have now been called to adjudicate and the couple are expected to be issued a ruling later this year on whether they can stay in their annexe.

A spokesperson for the North Norfolk District Council said: “The Council is confident that due process has been followed and notes that it has successfully defended its position on previous appeals relating to the site.

“We await to the decision of the Planning Inspectorate on the latest appeal that was submitted in June 2024.”

This comes after one woman broke the internet after revealing the incredible annexe home her mum built for her at the bottom of their garden.

In a now-viral video of the posh pad, she explained: “So today I moved my things into the coach house.

“This is like an extra building at my mum’s house and it was just being used for if we had friends round….I am absolutely so happy to be all settled in.”

BOOKING days off around bank holidays next year can maximise your leave and even double your time off.

The tactic could give you 58 days off in 2025 while using only 28 days of annual leave (the average for Brits).

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Of course this doesn’t mean you magically get more days off in the year.

It means that you get more days off in a row which allows you to appreciate the break properly.

Whether this means jetting off or just chilling on the sofa – you don’t want to miss out on the opportunity for some extra rest and relaxation.

Here are all the dates you should book off in 2025 to maximise your leave.

NEW YEAR

• Book two days of holiday to get five days off
• OR book four days for nine days off
• OR book seven days for 16 days off

If your bosses are friendly and you’ve still got the chance to book some leave around New Years – then here’s when to do it.

The New Year bank holiday is on a Wednesday which means if you booked the Thursday and Friday (January 2 and 3) you could end up with a total five days off.

This is because you would run into the weekend allowing an entire Wednesday to Sunday free.

If you get really lucky with the rota you could also book December 30 and 31 off which is the Monday and Tuesday beforehand.

This means you’d get a total nine days off from the Saturday (December 28) through to the following Sunday (January 5).

And finally for a whopping 16 days off you could also take December 23, 24 and 27.

If taking from two different years’ leave allowances you might not be using up as much holiday as you think.

EASTER

• Book four days of holiday to get 10 days off
• OR book eight days to get 16 days off

Easter bank holiday falls from April 18 (Good Friday) until April 21 (Easter Monday) next year.

This means if you booked holiday on the Monday to Thursday beforehand (April 14 to 17) then you could get 10 days on the trot.

And even better – if you also claimed the four days after Easter Monday (April 22 to 25) you would get that including the following weekend too.

Which, running from April 12 until 27, is 16 days overall.

MAY

• Book four days of holiday to get nine days off

In May there are two bank holidays on the Monday 5 and 26.

This means by taking the Tuesday to Thursday off on these weeks you could gain a total 9 days holiday.

For example, you would have the Saturday (May 3) til the following Sunday (May 11).

Or the Saturday (May 24) til the following Sunday (June 1).

AUGUST

• Book four days of holiday to get nine days off

In the summer, there’s also a bank holiday on August 25.

This means if you book the Tuesday to Friday off – so August 26 to 29 – you could get a total nine days.

That’s nine days from Saturday, August 23 til the following Sunday, August 31.

DECEMBER

• Book four days of holiday to get 11 days off
• OR book seven days to get 16 days off

2025 Christmas bank holidays will fall on Thursday, December 24 for Christmas Day and Friday, December 26 for Boxing Day.

One option is that you could book off December 22, 23 and 24 to get a nine-day leave from December 20 to Monday, December 29.

Or you could book off December 29, 30 and 31 and January 2 (you don’t need to book the October 1 as this is already a bank holiday).

Then you’ll have a total 11 days including the weekend.

And if you book all seven days as holiday, you’d get 16 days from December 20 right through to January 5.

You could even split this between your 2025/26 annual leaves so it doesn’t feel like you’re throwing too much away in one go.

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS TO TIME OFF?

You’ll usually need to check in with your employer before booking holiday as this is typically arranged around workload and rotas.

Most employers who work a five-day week must get at least 28 days’ paid annual leave a year – which is around 5.6 weeks.

By making sure you maximise your leave dates you could squeeze in holiday much easier.

It’s also always best to ask as early as possible to get more chance of approval – and not to mention that it’ll be cheaper to buy a holiday if you get in early.

Always make sure your holiday is definitely approved before making any purchases – you could risk losing out on a lot of cash.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories