Katy Poulsom

The lovely Katy Poulsom from Capital FM’s breakfast show on her favourite parts of the City

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I am Katy Poulsom, co-host of the Capital Breakfast show, waking the people of Brum up with tunes and a bit of banter. Before I started at Capital FM I worked in TV. I was right at the bottom of the ladder and it didn’t pay very well so I lived in my campervan by Brighton beach.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN?

Capital is in Brindleyplace so I usually drive. When it is lighter in the mornings I hop on my bike – cycling to work is a bit of a struggle at 5am but great going home via Canon Hill Park.

HOW’S THE COMMUTE?

Easy. Not many people are up at the stupid hour of the morning that I am.

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN?

It’s great as there’s always so much going on, festivals, theatre, gigs, sporting competitions, etc. It’s great for us at Capital as it means some amazing artists will drop by the station for a chat.

COFFEE BREAK?

A new coffee shop called Friska has just opened super close to work. It’s always important to have strong coffee at hand at that time in the morning! Cafephilia in Moseley is another good place to grab a coffee and people watch.

LUNCHTIME?

There are some fantastic places to sit and scoff – one of my favourites is Ju Ju’s along the canal, near Brindleyplace. You can’t beat sitting out watching the canal boats go by with a glass of Pimm’s on a warm summer day.

POWERWALKING?

I can often be found running, walking or skipping around Canon Hill Park, Kings Heath Park, Highbury Park or my ‘secret’ park in Moseley. I also exercise at Hotpod Yoga, Solihull and Smethwick Leisure Centre, where they are whipping me into shape for my wedding in July.

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY?

I love everything about Moseley. I’m a member of POW writers group (which is at the Prince of Wales pub on Tuesday evenings.) Its great meeting fellow writers and an important way of getting feedback on my own book, which is almost complete. I also love the theatre – especially the Royal Ballet at the Hippodrome. And the REP continues to blow my mind with its wonderful performances.

AFTERWORK PINT?

The Fighting Cocks for a fruli (strawberry beer) or the Prince of Wales for a glass of wine.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER?

Bicycle lanes would be a nice addition to the city and encourage more people to get out and about on their bikes. I’m a mad festival lover, so can’t wait for the summer to cover myself in glitter, kick off my shoes and bounce about at the likes of the Lunar festival, Mostly Jazz, Funk and Soul and Moseley Folk festival. I stumbled across a performance outside the Library last year which twisted and warped my mind, in a great way. It was by Maudits Sonnants, was free to attend and unforgettable. Things like this need shouting about more.