Brum

Drove to Birmingham this afternoon for a car event tomorrow. We met at a car dealership on the edge of town for a briefing before heading into the heart of the city. We are staying in an edgy hotel that is part of The Cube. This dramatic skyscraper in the centre of 'Brum',with spectacular 360 deg views, is regarded as a symbol of the new Birmingham after its transformation from a historic manufacturing centre into a modern commercial hub.

Long ago, I used to spend a lot of time in Birmingham when I worked for Top Gear at the old BBC Midlands centre, Pebble Mill. That is long gone, demolished as part of the city's updating, and modern Top Gear is based at Dunsfold in Surrey.

Dinner tonight was in the Marco Pierre White restaurant on the 25th floor of the hotel. Had an interesting discussion with the new managing director of Peugeot UK, a personable Breton who looks rather like Richard Gere. Tomorrow will be spent driving and photographing the new Peugeot 108 supermini and 308 SW estate car in rural Warwickshire.