HELLO and welcome! I’m Paul Cole and I’ve been a journalist for 50 years, writing for a range of newspapers, magazines and websites.

For many years I was Travel Editor for all of Reach plc’s regional titles across the UK including the likes of the Birmingham Mail, Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, South Wales Echo and many, many more.

But in August 2020 I decided to strike out on my own and savour the challenge of being my own boss for a change. A couple of months later I launched my blog – paulcoletravels.com – which is now read in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Although I’m writing primarily for the blog, my travel and music features continue to appear in both national and regional newspapers, with recent work running in titles including the Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Daily Express, Sunday Mercury, Wales On Sunday, Birmingham Mail, Birmingham Live and BirminghamWorld.

I’m also a member of the @LoveBooksTours team of influencers, posting reviews both on my own blog and on social media.

I started out as a cub reporter on the Stockport Express back in 1974 and since then there’s been hardly a dull moment working for the likes of the Birmingham Mail, Sunday Mercury, South Wales Echo, Sandwell Evening Mail, Birmingham Post and others.

I’ve worked not just as a travel writer but also as a rock and roll journalist, showbiz columnist, crime correspondent and feature writer on the way to becoming Print Editor of both the Birmingham Mail and Sunday Mercury.

My work has also been published in Melody Maker, Record Mirror, Billboard and other magazines. I edited the official Gladiators News for LWT, an official Radio 1 25th anniversary magazine and editions of Press Pack for the BBC, and Music Power for BRMB Radio.

Most recently, I’ve devised, written and edited two Mirror special editions on the 40th anniversary of Live Aid and Black Sabbath’s hometown reunion, the latter named Supplement of the Year at the prestigious Midlands Media Awards 2025.

I’ve also contributed to two books: Rock Gazeteer and New Rock Record, the latter of which has currently run to seven editions published over the years.

Along the way I’ve picked up around 20 awards for news, features and travel, including six Newspaper of the Year trophies for titles where I have been Editor, Deputy Editor or Features Editor.

I was a judge on the BRIT Awards for ten years, and editorial head of the Pride of Birmingham Awards, which fed into the Mirror’s Pride of Britain. I was also a trustee of the Give A Child Health charity, and served on the Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity committee.

My passions are travel, music and good wine – preferably all at the same time. I’ve spent time with The Who in New York, with Tina Turner in Chicago, with Duran Duran in Rotterdam, Jon Bon Jovi in Palma and Neil Diamond in Dublin. Most memorably I dined with Michael Jackson, took ZZ Top to the barbers and once babysat for Meat Loaf!

My favourite places? Tough to choose but any list would have to include New Zealand’s South Island, Alaska’s Denali National Park, Iceland, Norway, the Scottish Highlands, the island of Jersey and the city of Chicago.

I look forward to seeing you on my travels.