Absolute magazine autumn issue 136 by Absolute Magazine Group

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Index 06 14 26 32 37 42 46 48 52 56 59 60 62 66 70 76 80 86 94 102 110 114 118 120

CITY NEWS FASHION BLONDIE WARHORSE BEAUTY HEADMASTERS FIZZ & FOOD BARS & BEATS COFFEE & CAKE FRANCO MANCO - ABSOLUTE HOMES SUPPLEMENT SOUL FOO LA CHOZA WALRUS BRIGHTON GIRL PROBLEM FASHION BY KASIA LONDON LIFE BALI TRAVEL BURNING MAN BRIGHTON PICTURES FONTWELL PARK SUSSEX SIGNS EAGLE LABS BOHO GELATO

Contributing Editors - Charlie McBrien | Matt Parr | Shelley Louise Welti Victoria Marie Emerson | Lindsay Katherine Hills Pete Hayward | Kasia (The Styling Agency) Tony Shattell (food reviewer) Brighton Girl Problems Blogger Fashion, Beauty & Interior Styling Editor - Kasia (The Styling Agency) Features Editor - Victoria Marie Emerson - info@absolutemagazine.co.uk Designer - Pete Hayward - Southbeachmedia.co.uk Owners - Publishers Simon Darcy Abbott - simon@absolutemagazine.co.uk David Camici - dcamici@absolutemagazine.co.uk

Cover Shot Photography – Robin Bradshaw | bullitphotography.co.uk Model – Amandeep Dhami Styling & Art direction – Kasia Kash | stylingagency.co.uk Hair & Make Up – Justyna Wojdak | promakeupstyle.com Location – Brighton Harbour Hotel

ABSOLUTE is owned and produced by Make a Difference Media Ltd Absolute offices 1 Preston Road, Brighton, BN1 4QU

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The Editor

s the summer days draw to a close and the trees start to show

those classic signs of autumn colours, winter weather is on the way and we can look back at another classic British summer,

possibly one of the best for many years! As always, there is still a great

buzz across the city and in this issue, we have an exclusive interview

with music legends BLONDIE ahead of their Brighton gigs. We also

speak to the creators of WAR HORSE that is set to grace the stage of the Brighton Centre in the new year.

In our travel features this issue we take you to two very different

locations, sure to inspire the mind and set those travel thoughts in motion for 2018. Firstly we escape to a stunning luxury resort in Bali and

bring you a guide to all the best places to see offering the ultimate in far east experiences. We then whisk you to the unique and crazy BURNING MAN festival in the US with our roaming style guru Kalee Hewlett.

Looking at our city, our food team checks out the fun and very lively SOUL FOO on St James Street, with its amazing African street food inspired

menu. New boys on the block THE WALRUS and pizza aficionados FRANCO MANCO at the Marina impressed us with their unique blends

of service and menus adding more diversity to the already bubbling

Brighton dining scene. Add to that our regular favourites from London Life to Coffee & Cake, plus a welcome return of ABSOLUTE HOMES

following a break for our birthday edition and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another jam-packed

issue of the very best on offer from those in the know in our super stylish city. Absolute

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News

Halloween Shriek Week

Brighton Digital Festival 2017

If you are bored of all your local haunts, stake out the fun at Drusillas Park over the Halloween period. They’ve conjured up some fang-tastically spooky surprises to keep your little horrors half term happy. Put your nerves to the test and prepare yourself for a whole host of spine-tingling surprises and bone chilling entertainment this Halloween. Allow your wicked side to show as you stake out Shriek Week and take part in all the eerie events between Saturday 21st and Sunday 29th October; you’re sure to have a fang-tasic time!

Brighton Digital Festival is an annual programme of events, taking place over four weeks across the city. The festival explores digital culture and celebrates Brighton's creativity and digital talent. It supports the community to produce an open programme of independent events, augmented by high-quality commissioned arts and education programming. For 2017, the festival runs from 14 September to 13 October in various venues across Brighton and Hove. Events include a selection of exhibitions, workshops, community meetups, outdoor events, performances and education initiatives and conferences.

Watch your step as you venture through the creepy cobwebbed corridors of Haunted Heights and stray into the terror-tory of sin sisters, Hocus & Pocus, as they play hide and shriek with the unsuspecting public! The derelict castle towers high above the skyline of Drusillas but deep at the heart of Haunted Heights lies a ghostly secret... Thrill seekers are invited to knock on the trap door and discover the spooktacular surprise within. Will you dare to get into the spirit of things? Or perhaps you would rather take your chances in Eden’s Eye? Missing from the tomb of Eden’s Eye, an ancient Mummy has been seen wandering through the shadowy pathways of the twisted terror maze. Enter through the old temple ruins and unravel the mystery within…but take heed you don’t come to a dead end!

You can even pay a visit to the crime solving Scooby-Doo on Wednesday 25th October. The cowardly detective will be meeting all you meddling kids at various intervals throughout the day. Plus there are Creepy Crawly encounters in the Discovery Centre all week.

Brighton Lions Fireworks Display Possibly the biggest and best fireworks display on the south coast. Brighton Lions give more bang for your bucks! Bonfire Night, 5th November, at Brighton Racecourse. Gates will be opened at 6.00pm and the display is scheduled to start at 7.30. Admission prices will be £10 for adults, £5 for children under 16 and free for the under-5s. A family ticket for two adults and two children will cost £25. Refreshments will be available, including a licensed bar, and there is plenty of free parking. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.brightonlions.org.uk

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Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra Coming to the Brighton Dome on November 12th, the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra bring you an evening of the greats, including Bach’s Toccata & Fugue which was orchestrated by Leopold Stokowski in 1927 and later featured in the opening sequence of the Disney film Fantasia, where Stokowski as The Conductor shakes hands with Mickey Mouse! Britten's Violin Concerto was written in 1939 and is heavily influenced by the escalation of hostilities in Europe. Violinist Matthew Trusler makes a welcome return as the virtuosic soloist in this emotional and technically demanding work. Butterworth wrote A Shropshire Lad in 1913 based on poems by E Housman. He was a great friend of Vaughan Williams (they collected folk tunes together) and this evocative orchestral work heralds the end of a particularly idyllic time for Butterworth who was to lose his life in the trenches of the First World War. Vaughan Williams's craggy and ferocious Fourth Symphony was written in 1935 as the storm clouds of war gathered over Europe. He always maintained he wasn't influenced by war but the symphony does copy the form of Beethoven's Fifth, written when Napoleon invaded Austria.

Tickets £12, 17, £23, £28, £34, £38 Under 18s & students half price Family ticket: up to 2 children @ £1 each when full price adult ticket purchased Group discounts of 10% for groups of 10-19 people and 20% for groups of 20 or more Save between 20-25% by purchasing a season ticket for the whole, or part of the, season interaction with neurodiverse artists and makers at their studios in Hastings.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHT INSPIRED BY DIWALI This autumn, Robin Hill’s popular electric woods event, Festival of Light inspired by Diwali, will be celebrating the 70th Anniversary of India’s independence with stunning, creatively themed light, colour, sound and entertainment that captures the many aspects of Indian culture: wild India, modern India, decorative India, historical India, urban India, celebration and spiritual India. Every evening from 30th September – 4th November, 6pm – 10pm, visitors can experience the lush colours, flavours and magic of the Asian sub-continent set in Robin Hill’s glorious autumnal ancient woodland as they venture on a journey of discovery of India.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary, this unique outdoor event takes on a fresh approach which will immerse visitors in different experiences within each woodland area, transformed by innovative, contrasting themes and lighting effects. From the bright lights and digital feel of modern India, venture into the wild and enchanting forests, discover elephants, tigers, monkeys … creatively brought to life. Walk down the highway and find yourself amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life and Indian bazaars … absorb the aromas of Indian cuisine. Then escape to a spiritual, more serene setting in our Woodland ponds where you can relax and enjoy quiet contemplation before taking part in the celebrations; party to Bollywood music and enjoy colourful kaliedoscopic fun!

Emeli Sandé Emeli Sandé will be embarking on a UK and Ireland arena tour in 2017, coming to the Brighton Centre on Thursday 19 October.

The tour will be in support of Emeli’s hugely acclaimed second studio album Long Live The Angels; the stunning record achieved the biggest week one sales for a British female solo artist in 2016! Long Live The Angels is a mesmerising journey through the triumphs and tragedies of the last four years of Emeli Sandé’s extraordinary life. Exultant in its delivery and bold in its intent, the record is steeped in an unreserved sense of freedom and self-discovery. A lot has happened to Sandé in the four years since the resounding success of her critically acclaimed number one record, Our Version Of Events. Not only was it the biggest selling album of 2012 and second biggest selling album of 2013, but it was also certified 7x platinum, spent seven non-consecutive weeks at No.1 and exceeded The Beatles' previous record by spending 63 consecutive weeks in the top 10 and selling over 4.6 million copies worldwide. The Aberdonian scored three UK number 1 singles including ‘Next to Me’ which is certified platinum in the U.S., with over 1.5 million singles sold. Sandé has won numerous accolades including 3 X Brit Awards (Critics Choice, Best Album, Female Solo) as well as awards from Q Magazine, Elle, Harpers and GQ.

Royal Blood How did we get so dark? Home boys Royal Blood have announced details of their first major UK and European tour; concluding with a homecoming gig here at the Brighton Centre on Wednesday 29 November. From £24.75 including booking fee. Royal Blood are an English rock duo formed in Brighton in 2013. The band's sound is reminiscent of and rooted in modern blues rock, hard rock, garage rock, stoner rock and psychedelic rock. Their first album Royal Blood was released in August 2014.

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Your journey continues through decorative India where you’ll discover beautiful examples of art, murals and light shows and then to draw your cultural journey to a close, take a nostalgic look back at India’s history creatively curated through light and sound. No electric woods Festival of Light event would be the same without the magic of Holi powder, which will be a highlight for many visitors! Get colourful again this year, with a free bag of coloured powder for all first-time visitors. Amidst all this exciting activity, take time to enjoy the enhanced authentic Indian menu of curries and kebabs, Asian sweets, and traditional teas; providing a true ‘taste of India’ in the exciting setting of an Indian bazaar. During October half term, 21st October – 4th November, Robin Hill Country Park will be open during the day from 10am and continue into the evening with Festival of Light inspired by Diwali. Additional evening entertainment is planned. For more information please visit www.electricwoods.co.uk.

News

Wicked at the Apollo Victoria

Autumn Afternoon Racing at Royal Windsor Racecourse Visit Brighton Racecourse for great racing this October. The gates, bars and Castle Restaurant will be open two hours before the start of the first race so why not go along early, and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere whilst selecting your winners from the racecard. Entrance is FREE for racegoers under the age of 18 when accompanied by an adult! Adults can be responsible for up to three children under 18 each at Royal Windsor Racecourse. Buy your tickets in advance online and save £3 per adult on Club and Grandstand Enclosure tickets!

Natural History Museum Ice Rink Skate in the magical atmosphere of the Natural History Museum’s open-air ice rink. Nestled in front of the iconic South Kensington museum, the spectacular rink is surrounded by thousands of fairy lights and features a glittering 30ft (9m) Christmas tree. Visit the museum’s Café Bar for winter warmers, and watch the skaters glide on the ice from the cafe’s balcony. Or visit Hotel Chocolat’s rinkside stand for luxurious hot chocolates and a range of chocolatey festive gifts. Opening Times: Opening times vary, but most ice skating sessions run between 11am and 10pm, with extended opening hours on weekends. The ice rink is closed on Christmas Day.

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Wicked is a dazzling, smash-hit musical about the early life of the legendary witches from L Frank Baum's classic story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This fantastic prequel is based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire, which re-imagines the stories and characters created by Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Wicked tells the incredible, previously untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Experience this unforgettable, awardwinning musical and discover that you've not been told the whole story about the land of Oz... Acclaimed as "one of the most popular West End musicals ever" by the London Evening Standard, the London production of the global musical phenomenon has now been seen by more than five million theatregoers since its West End premiere in 2006. There are currently productions of Wicked running around the world and it has won 90 international awards. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and is directed by Joe Mantello.

Christmas lights in London This is London at its most bling. There's nothing like the twinkle of London Christmas lights to give the city an instant festive makeover. Get planning your wintery outing with our guide to all the main lights in London for Christmas 2017. Perhaps make a day of it, by visiting a festive market, arranging a spot of ice skating or starting your Christmas shopping.

Skate at Somerset House A glorious backdrop and special events help make a trip to this outdoor rink one of the capital's most festive outings. Get your skates on. Somerset House's grand 18th-century courtyard is the stunning setting for an ice rink again this winter. No matter how unimpressive your skating skills a trip to this 900-square-metre outdoor rink will be the very definition of festive fun. There are lots of tempting extras too: the Fortnum's Lodge offers champagne, mulled wine and winter dining; and Skate Lates will feature Peckham-based radio station Balamii, Field Day founders Eat Your Own Ears and Supa Dupa Fly. The Fortnum’s Lodge menu features winter classics like raclette, cheese fondue, smoked salmon and mince pies. The Christmas Arcade will bring posh shopping from Fortnum & Mason - this year with a focus on all things chocolate - and guests can admire the skaters with drink in hand at the Skate Lounge, both of which can be accessed without a ticket. Tickets are available from September 14.

The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre The Lion King is a hugely popular London musical set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains, to the evocative rhythms of Africa.

The show brings the characters from the animated Disney film to life with imaginative costumes and amazing special effects. The Lion King has 25 species of animal, insect, fish and bird in its cast, represented by actors and puppets. You'll be astonished by the herds of full-size zebras and giraffes majestically filling the stage! The Lion King features the music of Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, including the Academy Award-nominated song Circle Of Life. This uplifting adventure follows a fearless young lion cub called Simba as he learns about life on his journey to become King of the lions. It's a great show that's perfect for the whole family.

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mademoiselle.

Fashion Shoot PHOTOGRAPHY Robin Bradshaw | bullitphotography.co.uk STYLING & ART DIRECTION Kasia Kash | stylingagency.co.uk MODEL Amandeep Dhami MAKE UP & HAIR Justyna Wojdak | promakeupstyle.com LOCATION: Brighton Harbour Hotel

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food is art Introducing Chez Mal at Malmaison Brighton. A beautiful collision of artistry and obsession. A contemporary dining experience carefully curated by executive chef John Woodward, combined with a collection of the finest, most potent cocktails, created by our master mixologists. Honouring the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients, Chez Mal transforms food into art. To book, call or go online 01273 041 482 malmaison.com brasserie.brighton@malmaison.com

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leopard jumpsuit www.worldfamilyibiza.com Sunglasses reVOLVER www.revolveribiza.com Jewells by www.Natashadahlberg.com

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MUSIC A BAND CALLED

Blondie Out of all the artists that emerged from the mid 70s punk scene of Manhatten's lower east side, Blondie was considered the band least likely to break into the big time. Some 40 years later, the band have not only long surpassed their peers, they continue to be every bit a relevant, vibrant band. This year saw the release of their new 'Pollinator' album and with U.K. tour dates selling fast, Absolute's Pete Hayward speaks to drummer Clem Burke...

ast back to the mid-70s. The darlings of New York's downtown scene were arguably The Ramones, Television and Patti Smith. Blondie didn't sit high up on the barometer of respect. No one then could envisage Blondie to be the future bona fide international ambassadors of New York cool, never mind the millions of sold albums along the way. The Blondie world is some 4 decades counting and the clock shows no sign of faltering. The punk band (although it's a questionable label beyond the very early days) from New York City have carried and influenced the worlds of music, fashion and even art. Whilst building a solid catalogue of pure pop hits, the band originally pulled punk onto the hip dancefloor as the dawn of the new wave evolved. Debbie Harry and partner Chris Stein opened up an audience to the then new sound of street hip-hop and disco. Effortlessly taking the styles into the studio, from one record to the next Blondie delighted the radio waves and nightclubs with rap, disco, dancefloor and Carribean grooves. Wind into 2017, the new 11th album Pollinator re-affirms their status as supreme rock hierarchy. The band sound slick, cutting-edge and vital. This is qualified in no small means with contributions from Sia, Charli XCX, the Strokes' Nick Valensi and our own guitar hero Johnny Marr. Producer John Congleton helps recreate the classic era band sound with a sonic depth they could have only dreamt of back then. The distinctive powerhouse drumming of original drummer Clem Burke fires through the rock tapestry mix of hooks, choruses and fired up energy. He punctuates and holds the sound together in a distinctive

style that was Blondie from the start. I spoke with Clem in L.A. via phone. We talked about the early days, Blondie style, drummers and designers. In the mid-1970’s Clem answered an ad in the New York paper Village Voice where a band was seeking a ‘Freak energy’ rock drummer. The band, of course, was Blondie and fronted by Debbie Harry. The band played the legendary New York downtown circuit of CBGB’s, Max’s Kansas City and Mother’s, they recorded their first album Blondie in 1976 for the Private Stock label. Clem: "Probably the most profound influence on the Big Apple's burgeoning punk/new wave scene came from the UK band Dr Feelgood. The clothes, the onstage demeanour, the stripped to the bone primitivism of their high-energy rock was a major inspiration to the direction of New York bands. The fact that they packed the Hammersmith Odeon, sold records, made the charts gave many New York band faith in what they were doing." Blondie went on to tour in support of Television and stole the show. Commercial success followed in Australia with the single 'In The Flesh'. Switching record labels to Chrysalis, the band then released the album Plastic Letters. Earning a mixed and somewhat negative review by Julie Burchill of the New Music Express in 1978, the single 'Denis' (a cover of ‘Denise’ by [New York doo-wop group] Randy and the Rainbows) just missed the No.1 spot in the U.K. A-list pop stardom was around the corner. Clem: "When we arrived in the U.K. we were very aware of the power of the image. We had been soaking up the style of the early Beatles, Yardbirds, the Who

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and such, this probably made us stand out in the then scene where music goes hand-in-hand with image. In 1976, I was wearing much the same clothes that became de rigueur in 1979. The skinny ties had a lot to do with it, we're sure this led to a measure of the success of the multi-platinum Parallel Lines." (The band feature in black suits and skinny ties in a throwback to vintage Beatles.) "I was asked why I dressed in a such a way earlier and explained I was preparing for '79. We became aware that in America, Blondie became an innovative force. We had become the biggest selling new wave group in the world and instigated a lot of trends which a lot of groups were quick to pick up on... like suddenly, it became very hip to recycle all this trashpop stuff which were Blondie's roots. Back in the day, nobody from the labels encouraged bands like us, just the people on the scene. I'm certain that had it not been for Britain, in all probability bands like Talking Heads, the Ramones and quite possibly Blondie would not have survived. I didn't expect to go beyond the first album! The band were also one of the 1st generation using analogue video to promote their music." Interestingly, Blondie is casting an eye back to their earlier work. I put it to Clem: "It's really a case of re-invention. Debbie calls it a celebration of recycling" Pollinator brims with inspiration, enter Johnny Marr who co-writes and adds guitar to 'My Monster'. Recent single 'Fun' adds a 21st-century electronic dynamic to the almost glossy 70s new wave Chic-style disco-funk with which they made their name. The list goes on.

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If you liked anything by Blondie, you'll love Pollinator. Clem: "We went into the studio with a plan and rehearsed it. John Congleton recorded us as a band as much as possible. It was a fun and very satisfying album to make." If you liked anything by Blondie, you'll love Pollinator. Clem: "We went into the studio with a plan and rehearsed it. John Congleton recorded us as a band as much as possible. It was a fun and very satisfying album to make." I ask about the roll call of contrbutors. "Our door remains open to other collaborators and we certainly have some interesting names in mind. I think the general consensus is we still have two more good albums in us." The band now feature Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Leigh Foxx, Matt Katz-Bohen and Tommy Kessler. Debbie has featured as vocalist and songwriter on the ten Blondie studio albums and five solo releases. The girl from folk-rock band Wind In The Willows gravitated towards the excitement of Manhattan’s downtown music scene, joining combo the Stillettoes, which also included Chris Stein on guitar. The Stillettoes disbanded, but her collaboration with Stein endured, and the pair launched Blondie in 1974, which quickly became a fixture at such downtown clubs as CBGB and Max’s Kansas City. Her Blondie career is well documented. Outside Blondie, she has featured as a guest vocalist on numerous projects as well as acting in feature films and television gaining critical acclaim. Throughout her dazzling career, she has broken new ground whilst introducing elements of disco, hip-hop and art into her persona. Who can forget that classic rap in 'Rapture', allegedly recorded in one take and was the first no.1 record to feature a rap. Debbie Harry says that a lot of rappers - including members

Wu-Tang Clan - told her it was the first rap song they ever heard. The Blondie reformation in the latter part of the 1990's has seen her reclaim her position in rock royalty not to mention her input into a revitalised band. Chris Stein has retained the same relentless drive and instincts that originally pushed him forward as the band's cofounder, guitarist and co-writer. His work and input have helped generate sales of over 40 million albums. As well as a record producer, acclaimed photographer, record-label chief, he has written or co-written such classics as 'Heart Of Glass', 'Rapture' and 'Sunday Girl'. Clem Burke, drummer and core original band member, Grammy award winner, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first started playing drums at age 14 in the School orchestra. His remaining teenage years were spent playing in High School bands learning his craft. During periods of inactivity with Blondie during the 1980s and 1990s, Clem played with a number of well-respected artists and bands, including Bob Dylan, Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Chequered Past, The Romantics, and Joan Jett. He also collaborated with Eurythmics Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart who he helped record the Grammy-winning hit “Missionary Man”. Clem also appeared as part of the Eurythmics at the ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ concert in 1988. In 1998, Clem was instrumental in Blondie reforming and recording a new album, which contained the number 1 hit single “Maria”. Over recent years Clem has been able to combine working with Blondie and other artists including Nancy Sinatra,

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Kathy Valentine, Miss Derringer, Slinky Vagabond, Magic Christian, and Hugh Cornwell of the Stranglers. In 2006, along with the other original members of Blondie, Clem was inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I decided to dig a little deeper; who are his favourite drummers? Clem; "That would have to be Earl Palmer, the late legendary New Orleans drummer. Hal Blain, who was all about the music - he certainly played on more hit records than any drummer in the rock era. Booker T & the MGs drummer and Stax session musician Al Jackson, Jr. Scott Ashton from the Stooges and not forgetting Ringo Starr, naturally." This prompts me to ask his favourite tune? "Little Richard 'Tutti Frutti'". And the first record bought? "the Beatles - 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', I sent my mother out to buy it." What was the most enjoyable Blondie track to make in the studio? "Hands down my favourite was 'X Offender', the debut single from the debut album, Blondie, the song was released as the album's lead single on Private Stock in 1976." Clem keeps himself very busy out of Blondie hours, he plays with side projects The Split Squad, The IntSwingers & The Empty Hearts. Busy Man! Pete Hayward Blondie hit Brighton for the fast-selling show on Wednesday 08 November at the Brighton Centre. New album Pollinator out now www. blondie.net/

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to receive a glass of fizz with every main ordered at the Jetty restaurant

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War Horse

he War Horse, UK tour is about to gallop off out of the starting gates this autumn and arrives at the Brighton Centre from 25 January 2018. Don’t be left behind, so make sure you get your tickets fast.

The National Theatre’s production of War Horse is the ground-breaking theatrical event, in association with the Handspring Puppet Company, directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, and adapted by Nick Stafford. The production tells Michael Morpurgo's unforgettable story of courage, friendship and loyalty between a boy called Albert and the relationship with his beloved horse Joey during the First World War. The story follows Albert’s mission to be reunited with his horse after Joey is sold to French Calvary. Prepare to be swept from away from the tranquil Devon countryside to the harsh trenches of war-torn France as we follow them on their unforgettable journey.

The critically acclaimed War Horse stage adaptation is based on the magical and inspiring 1982 novel by Morpurgo. The National Theatre UK tour follows eight record-breaking years in London’s West End, and productions in 10 countries across the world to over seven million people in 97 cities worldwide. This moving, imaginative, dramatic story was also created into an epic motion picture by Steven Spielberg in 2011.

Michael Morpurgo said: ‘After a few months rest, out at pasture, Joey, the War Horse and his great team from the National Theatre, will be touring the UK again, from 2017 through

to 2019 and the centenary of the end of the First World War, taking their show all over the country, to towns and cities, many of them places War Horse has not been seen before. I am so pleased this is happening; that so many more people will have the chance to enjoy this unique theatrical event. Steady boy, steady Joey. Trot on!'

The National Theatre’s magical production of War Horse features ground-breaking puppetry work from South Africa’s Handspring Puppetry Company, plus a stellar 34-strong cast with awardwinning performances from Thomas Dennis and Jo Castleton from ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’. The first stage production of War Horse opened in London in 2007 at the National Theatre for two seasons before opening at the New London Theatre in March 2009 and is the most successful production in the history of the National Theatre, and winner of 25 awards including a Tony Award for Best Play on Broadway. The acclaimed National Theatre UK, War House tour, is not to be missed, and runs from September 2017 to February 2019. Find tickets available for shows at the Brighton Centre from 25 January to 10 February 2018 at: www.warhorseonstage.com

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Prepare to be swept from away from the tranquil Devon countryside to the harsh trenches of war-torn France as we follow them on their unforgettable journey.

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kirkandkirk.com #kirkandkirk

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WELCOME TO THE CLUB The Barber Club was founded by Dimitri Loizi, previously a partner of the UK’s largest growing hair dressing group. Dimitri has formed The Barber Club with an experienced team of barber’s to provide the best quality haircuts, cut throat shaves and beard trims. They are here for their exceptional skills and are carefully trained to guarantee you always receive the best experience possible, whilst within a warm and welcoming environment.

BOOK NOW OR JUST WALK IN.

T: 01273 271 660 | W: thebarberclub.net A: 4 Bartholomew’s, Brighton, BN1 1HG

get the look

BEAUTY Compiled by KASIA AT THE STYLING AGENCY

Infuse the fusion. With the onset of damper weather, our cosmetic products need variation. For endless face perfection, we look here at some beauty picks. Long-wearing, high resistance makeup gives good medium coverage, still allowing your skin to breathe.

La Prairie is a premium choice but can be a worthwhile special treat. Creamy lipsticks in elegant, moody undertones both nourish and beautify. Lily Lolo has got it covered. Frame and refine your brows without fuss with hair-fibre enhanced gels. Smudge free.

Kasia X

Lips

Inspired by middle eastern hues and tones we have picked Hudabeauty Desert Dusk shadow palette as our product of the month. The deep earth and purple shades compliment the autumn fashion and beauty looks seen on the catwalks and streets.

LA PRAIRIE Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation, £154 NYX finishing powder £11

BARDOU Booster Brow 100ml £25

Eyes

HUDA BEAUTY Desert Dusk Eyeshadow Palette, £56; Selfridges

Lily Lolo Natural Lipstick, £9.50 Feelunique

Face

OLIVER CUNNINGHAM CUCKFIELD “His colouring is flawless” Leona Lewis

“My favourite hairdressers, I can’t recommend then highly enough’” Lottie Moss

MEET THE TEAM

Oliver Cunningham

Richard Humphreys

Morgan Rhodes

Jon Moore

Louise Brown

Oliver Cunningham is currently offering new positions for stylists and trainees

skin care

ESSENTIALS Compiled by KASIA AT THE STYLING AGENCY

The benefits of collagen are well known. A powerful protein which provides strength, firmness and elasticity to skin cells and beyond. This ingredient is regarded as a key beauty wonder for a youthful looking skin. Here are some selected collagen products to restore your skin's vitality. Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion, £65

Kasia X

COLLAGEN

Powerful serums provide a rich all-day hydration. Designed to tackle multiskin concerns in one, serums can be mixed in with other products to support natural collagen production.

Elemis Breast Cancer Care Pro-Collagen Marine Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream, £99

Prevent skin ageing and soothe tired skin with the help of these anti-wrinkle creams. Equally suitable for normal or sensitive skin that provides a great solution for dull and uneven texture. Fast absorbing and energising.

DR DENNIS GROSS C + Collagen Deep Cream, £70

Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester 15 Collagen Booster, £109

skin

gel

Sarah Chapman Stem Cell Collagen Activator, £149

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DR DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE C + Collagen Brighten & Firm Eye Cream, £63

DR. SEBAGH Serum Repair, £69

serum

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10 Bond St Brighton BN11RD www.prettyeccentric.co.uk

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Headmasters

Head & Shoulders Above The Rest Located in the trendy heart of the city’s iconic North Laine, Headmasters Brighton has tamed and beautified the tresses of vintage-lovers, city slickers and fashionistas alike, for almost a decade. Absolute’s Shelley Welti chatted to Hugo Ratzel, owner of Headmasters Brighton to hear about his creative team, head-turning trends we should be trying for AW17 and how the vibrant city inspires their creations…

Hi Hugo! Tell us about your talented team

I have a very experienced team whose skills are constantly being updated to keep them ahead of the latest trends and techniques.

We are proud to say Headmasters (which now has 56 salons nationwide) has the highest number of L’Oreal Master Colour Experts per salon than any other salon group. This is the highest colour qualification in the industry, meaning that we can confidently create bespoke colour for each of our clients. We also have a member of the creative art team based in Brighton, Alfie Preffer, and men’s specialist Vanessa Koeb.

We bet your men’s grooming services are popular – what do these include?

All Headmasters stylists are trained in men’s hair but our men’s specialists have undergone an extra six months of intensive training exclusively in men’s grooming. Their cutting, clippering and grooming expertise is of the very highest standard, giving you the sharpest of cuts, which just like a bespoke suit, is perfectly tailored to you. Services include eyebrow tidy and trims, grey blending and scalp treatments for sensitivity, dandruff and hair loss.

Headmasters Brighton has been creating new looks for clients since 2008, what do you think makes your salon so popular?

As well as the amazing hairdressing skills we have in the salon, we also pride ourselves on our customer service and want all of our clients to walk out the door feeling confident

and looking forward to their next trip to Headmasters Brighton.

What do you enjoy most about working for Headmasters?

Headmasters are constantly keeping our clients ahead on trends, introducing new blow-dries and colouring techniques to ensure that we produce beautiful hair. Not only is training and education provided throughout our careers at Headmasters but our talent is rewarded through competitions. January is when our annual Headmasters Awards Ceremony takes place. It’s a night where we can celebrate the team’s success over the year and when everyone can have fun with their teams.

Speaking of fun, with autumn approaching, which styles should we be asking for? Any new, exciting trends we need to try for AW17?

Metallic hair was seen all over the AW17 catwalks during fashion week and the trend is not stopping there. Shades of silver and platinum are being favoured by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Cara Delevingne. The shine and glossy effect from metallic colours is what this season is all about leaving brassy tones behind. For clients looking to achieve that metallic shine, they can book in to see one of Brighton’s six L’Oreal master colour specialists.

Another trend to watch out for is red hair! When you think of this time of year, you think rich, warm, autumnal colour and with #redhair being one of the most used hair hashtags of the season, there is no time

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like the present. Ask for a bespoke red colour to work with your skin tone and eye colour; whether it's a burnt copper or cool burgundy. Book your free colour consultation today.

Headmasters are especially renowned for their amazing colour services. Your Colour Sale starts soon – is it true clients can get 50% off a new look? Our legendary Colour Sale will be taking place from Saturday 21st October until Saturday 18th November, offering 50% off all colour services.

Whether you want to get back to your natural looking shine or go for something more striking, our expert colourists will be able to find a bespoke colour to suit you through the use of our colour capes and detailed consultations.

Finally, how does Brighton inspire your and the team’s creativity?

I think being situated in the heart of Brighton allows us to be surrounded by vibrancy and diversity which opens up the opportunity to push our boundaries in terms of creativity and with our clientele.

To book your free colour consultation or next restyle, visit Headmasters Brighton at Unit 7 Jubilee Street, Brighton or call the team on 0345 459 7730. Don’t forget to take advantage of the 50% off Colour Sale (21st October - 18th November) too!

www.headmasters.com/salons/brighton/

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Headmasters are constantly keeping our clients ahead on trends, introducing new blow-dries and colouring techniques to ensure that we produce beautiful hair."

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FIZZ & FOOD Nuposto Pizzeria & Bar

The Bali Brasserie

The Victory

1| Nuposto pizzeria serves gluten free pizzas as well gluten free beer called ‘Blonde’. In fact almost everything there is gluten free including starters such as mozzarella, burrata, fine sliced and meats and even affogato (ice-cream companion to espresso). If you’re someone who suffers with food intolerance, Nuposta can cater for you. There is a huge range of delicious Italian meals on the menu.

5| The Bali Brasserie is proud to present vegan, vegetarian and dairy free dining as well as gluten free. The restaurant inside, ‘Rijsttafe’, (the rice table) is Indonesian themed food on a set menu, but they are able to adapt a meal to almost any dietary requirements. Meaning there is no reason to not go and enjoy yourself. There is something for everyone at The Bali Brasserie.

10| Established in 1766 making it one of Brighton’s oldest pubs, The Victory on Duke Street has kept most of it’s original features giving it a really authentic and traditional feel. Think beer kegs for high tops and book cases embedded into brick walls. The food is simple but quality featuring simple bar snacks such as Scotch eggs, casual baguettes, burgers and salads and more substantial dishes such as the Jack and Coke Pork Ribs.

Silo

2| Douglas McMaster, owner and head chef has spent many years working in some of the UK’s and Europe’s top restaurants. You can expect to see a fair sized menu created with seasonal foraged ingredients that come together to give you a unique dinning experience. Some of the dishes so far have been Sea Buckthorn and Elderberry fool for dessert and potato steak, elephant garlic, alliums and herbs.

Curry Leaf Cafe

3| The original Curry Leaf Cafe is located in the heart of Brighton's bustling Lanes, just a couple of minutes' walk from the beach. This colourful, laid-back 75-seat dining space – decked out with exposed brick walls, wooden tables and vintage Indian design touches – operates as a cafe-cum-lunch spot during the day, offering a range of coffees, teas, snacks and traditional South Indian street food, as well as more substantial meals such as thali platters, dosas and Masala-battered fish 'n chips. In the evenings diners can experience the cafe’s small but diverse dinner menu of tandoor-grilled meats, street food dishes and expertly spiced curries, accompanied by Brighton's best range of craft beers and spiced cocktails.

Eatalio

4| Eatalio is a recently new addition to Brighton’s food scene, and is located on Queens Road, abouta 5 min walk from the station near Brighton’s clock tower. Inspired by the simple, yet healthy food served from the street carts in Italy, Eatalio provides affordable, grab and go food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A great venue to pop into and dogs are most welcome. No servicesfor dogs, they just allow them in the venue.

Riddle & Finns

6| Another favourite in the restaurant scene, Riddle & Finns offer wonderful seafood platter as well as shellfish too, they do also cater for gluten free. Reservations are not Necessary unexpectedly, however it is recommended on the weekends as it can be very busy. Riddle & Finns also own a second venue on the seafront, both perfect for a special occasion.

Memories of India

7| Offering traditional Indian food in a variety of flavours from all over the continent. If you’re gluten intolerant then you will be pleased to know that gluten is very rare in all Indian food due to the lack of wheat flour. On Tuesdays, you can enjoy a five-course buffet menu for £12.95

Wolfies of Hove

8| Family run business that pride themselves in serving the finest, sustainable fish alongside locally sourced potatoes. Having served the Brighton & Hove area for over 25 years we know that quality is of the utmost importance, with carefully selected suppliers so that they can provide you good quality, fresh ingredients. Boosting The best fish in Brighton & Hove. The fish is the freshest sustainable fish available in Brighton & Hove, and our handmade pies using all local ingredients. They challenge anyone to serve up tastier, fresher & more wholesome fish.

Terre a terre

9| Terre a Terre is an iconic, award winning restaurant where being vegetarian is about more than just not eating meat. You can expect a variety of flavours and foods to try when you arrive. Much more interesting than the standard stuffed mushroom.

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The Urchin Pub in Hove

11| One of Brighton’s newest offerings, the Urchin craft beer and shellfish pub is a wholly unique concept. Entirely dedicated to shellfish, matched with a range of over 100 craft beers The Urchin is something Brighton and Hove has never seen before. Seats 30 covers in the restaurant, the menu predominantly features prawns, lobster, crab and scallops.

Better Half Pub, Hove

12| Conveniently located just off Hove seafront, this is an ideal venue if you want to take the dog for a stroll along the front. The Better Half is situated slightly west of Hove Lawns on Hove Place. Known as your friendly neighbourhood local, this great food pub offers a gastro style menu along with a great selection of wines and ales.

Coach House Brighton

13| A lively and unique Brighton venue, the Coach House is known for its informal and friendly atmosphere as well as it’s outstanding food. Situated in the heart of the lanes, but still only a stone’s throw from the seafront, it’s an ideal place for a quality relaxed lunch. The menu features classic dishes with a twist and all made with local and seasonal produce where possible. Inviting roaring fire for the colder months. Dogs welcome.

Senor Buddha

14| Senor Buddha is a contemporary restaurant located in the up and coming area of London Road in the quirky coastal town of Brighton. Since its opening in 2015 it quickly became a popular destination for food-loving locals as well as tourists. The restaurant has won several awards and was featured in the dining out section of the Financial Times.

Busby and Wilds, Kemp Town Village 15| Tucked away in the quiet back streets of Kemptown, Busby and Wilds is a family ownedneighbourhood pub which serves great food in a friendly environment. They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create a range of delicious, satisfying dishes. Family and dog friendly, it’s a great place to go for lunch with your clan. There’s a lovely courtyard outside for the warmer months. Booking recommended on weekends.

Battle of Trafalgar

16| A cosy little pub near to Brighton station, the wonders of Lyndsay’s kitchen can be experienced here too. Keen to keep their menu evolving to reflect the seasons and local produce, they offer high quality home-made pub classics. In fact the only thing you’ll find which isn’t made in house is the bread. They have special offer nights such as two burgers for £12 on a Monday. Bargain. Suitable for gluten-free.

Crafty Chooks

17| Crafty Chooks is the latest member to join the family owned pub group Golden Lion. They are named after their love for craft beers and free range chickens! Their menu focuses solely on high quality, locally sourced, free range rotisserie chickens. Crafty Chooks serves many poultry dishes as well as plenty of other innovative meals to try on the menu too.

Block.

18| Block. is a bar with a great wine list, bringing you lots of new young wineries / vineyards, the people who, in wine that are pushing the envelope a bit. The wine is supported with great craft on draft and Brighton's first and currently only charcoal and wood burning oven, working with only the best produce from local farms, fisherman and suppliers they offer you a local meat and fish menu with a basque influence coming through, the garden at block has also recently been improved even after being voted Brighton's best garden for the last two years. So if you want gourmet restaurant quality food, but enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a bar. BLOCK is the place for you.

BARS & BEATS Bohemia 1| If you are looking for a premier cocktail bar with lots of atmosphere then this the place for you. Bohemia is a great place to spend your evening. Spread over three floors it has a large central bar on the ground floor with bar staff on hand to mix cocktails. They are a bit pricey but definitely worth it. The first floor has a late lounge, specialising in champagne and even has a cigar menu. The lounge opens Friday and Saturdays till late and has DJs every e vening if y ouf ancy a dance. The top floor e ven has a beautiful g lass walled Veuve Clicquot Champagn er oof garden complete with Astr oTurf.

BYOC

2| Bring Your Own Cocktail is the newest bar to join the ever expanding plethora of drinking establishments popping up. This type of bar is the first of its kind in Brighton as alcohol is not available to buy on the premises and there is no drinks menu. You and your friends are invited to bring your favourite spirits and hire one of the expert bartenders to mix whatever drink you desire. The cocktails are prepared and served in front of you from a trolley with a selection of cocktail acompliments. You pay a flat fee for a set amount of time with the mixologist. This is great idea if you love cocktails and are on a budget and its lots of fun getting the staff to create your favourite tipple.

32 Duke Street

3| Those with a party penchant wont be hard pushed to get your late night fix at this naughty, Brighton number. While a cracking destination for eating out in the day, get stuck into the confines of the quirky Brighton bar as the lights go down and the sound-system goes up for a fun loving, seaside crowd.

My Hotel

4| If you’re after a Sex and the City venue then look no further. My Hotel is a beautifully crafted bar with curved walls, gilding pewter surfaces and low lighting, reflecting a warm and spacious cocoon. As part of the My Hotel franchise, the bar is open to non-guests to enjoy some beautifully made cocktails, a sophisticated atmosphere

and an altogether glamorous night out. The bar staff are knowledgeable and helpful. This is a good place for special occasions. Everyone gets super dressed up so if you are looking to get your glad rags on and feel special this could be the place for you.

Legends

5| Legends is a gay bar and hotel located on Marine Parade just a minute away from Palace Pier. It has a fantastic selection of rooms with stunning sea views. The venue itself is very spacious and has a large bar upstairs with outside terrace and huge dance floor downstairs. There is always plenty going on with drag acts during the week and great music played by a diverse r ange of DJs at the weekends.

Lion & Lobster

6| If you are looking for a good, old fashioned, comfy pub with a great atmosphere then this is the place for you. The Lion and Lobster is very popular with the locals and has become a bit of a Brighton institution. It is a good venue to start your night before going out on the town. The pub is spread over three floors with a main bar downstairs complete with cosy real fires in winter. The second floor has a small bar within a beautiful dining room and the third floor is the outside smoker’s area complete with mini bar and outside heaters. The Sunday roasts are very popular but make sure you get there early.

The Font

7| This is an ideal venue for pre-drinks if you are out on a hen or stag night or with a big groups of friends. The drinks are cheap with lots of offers on shots. The bar staff are very friendly and service is speedy. There is always a DJ downstairs playing popular tunes to get your night started. The atmosphere is fun but cheesy.

Hotel Du Vin

8| A lovely start to your evening in a classy venue. The bar is part of the Hotel Du Vin chain and is open to non-guests to come in and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. It is a little on the pricey side but if it is sophistication you are after then look no

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further. The bar has an extensive list of wines and a wide selection of whiskies, rums and countless spirits. As well as relaxing in the main bar you can also enjoy a game of billiards located on the balcony above.

Fortune of War

9| This lovely pub has been open since 1882, making it the oldest pub on the seafront. It is a good meeting place if you are going clubbing on the seafront. There are DJs playing at the weekends and it always has a friendly atmosphere and is never too crowded. The décor has a maritime theme and the pub provides beautiful views over the seafront. It has an outside seating area and a buzzy atmosphere during the summer months.

Lucky Voice Karaoke

10| Bringing the jazzy style of some of Japan’s most infamous karaoke bars, Lucky Voice is a playground for the amateur performer, the ignorant out of tuner or the stage stunner. Whether you can sing or not, grab your mates, get a booth and wait for the classic tunes to roll out for a feel good night like no other. There’s a cocktail bar lined with sofas for lounging and boozing too.

The Tempest Inn

11| With scenic views from the beer garden at this washed up bar along the beach front, enjoy the fresh sea air and the beautiful rolling waves from your dainty picnic bench. If you can drag yourself away from this alfresco seating, you’ll be just as impressed by the coastal coves set into the walls. Enjoy a frothy pint and a tempting tipple in your very own seafront cave at this quirky little cavern.

MEAT liquor

12| Hailing from the success of their London counterpart, Brighton’s MEATLiquour is a wonderment of carnivore feasts and locally inspired artwork. Based around the carnival days of Brighton gone by, doused in neons and brimming with urban regalia, MEATLiquour is a unique restaurant bar in Brighton where the burgers come hearty and the cocktails come laced in awesome.

FunFair Club

13| Of all the things that you thought you’d be doing when you went for a drink tonight, would watching a lady hammer a nail into her nose be one of them? Nope, we didn’t think so either. A fun fair themed club inspired by Brighton’s hedonistic days, the FunFair Club is brimming with vintage flair and fun filled party people, be them lashing around in the ball pit or taking in the bed of nails table in one of the VIP rooms.

Proud Cabaret Brighton 3

14| Proud Cabaret is the ultimate in evening indulgence for your late night drinking antics. A den of 1920s lusting and vintage charm, Proud are champions of sumptuous décor, beautiful babes and cabaret cavorts where you can delight in entertainment, jazzy lights and delicious drinks. Gilded interiors, burlesque romps and a stunning show guaranteed on your visit here.

Gin Tub

15| The exciting tastes of international gins in a superb interior of our newly opened Gin Tub Cocktail bar. Finally somewhere to drink after all the great Hove restaurants. With well over 80 gins – bespoke cocktails – craft beers and ales. We have also created flight boards to try new spirits. Bespoke Cocktails, craft beers, IPA’s and all the normal beers and spirits too. Under The Tub Welcome to the Rum Cage, where the spirits and specifically the rum never dry out. With a bar selection of some of the best rums, oh and of course some of our favourite gins.

Cocktail Shack

16| A unique and innovative bar hidden within the tall walls of Regency Square. They pride themselves on drinks as creative and bespoke as the Artist Residence itself, offering playful service and a passion for the product. We would urge everyone to check them out at The Shack for a taste of something new.

H Bar

17| Recently awarded Brighton’s ‘Best New Bar’ at the 2016 Brighton Bartender Awards, is Brighton’s ultimate destination bar with an inspired drinks menu alongside stylish décor and design. With sweeping views across the seafront, the bar features a stunning marble top bar, lined with plush stools and surrounded by relaxed furnishings. A great place to head to for pre-dinner drinks and catch up with friends, enjoy great music and an enticing cocktail menu, as well as an eclectic mix of wines and microbrewery beers. The expert mixologists showcase daily changing innovative cocktails, perfectly accompanied by a selection of Jetty bites and sharing platters.

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MADE IN BRIGHTON DELIVERIES FROM

Â£2.25

COFFEE

CAKE

Best roast in town? Small Batch Coffee Roasters has had a successful growth and strives to work and improve the quality of their coffee. Pete Hayward sat down with managing director Alan Tomlins to discuss the fascinating background process of raw berry to perfect espresso.

The Cappuccino Kid

When did Small Batch open for business? We started the company as a wholesale roasting business in 2007 and opened our first café in Goldstone Villas, Hove in 2009. Ok, you are now running nine Small Batch sites. The quality of the coffee is second to none. Can you enlighten us on the coffee source buying process? Our sourcing works slightly differently in each country we work in but essentially we travel 3-4 times a year to Latin America and East Africa to meet with coffee producers, visit their farms and do extensive tastings and quality research. When we find a coffee, we want to buy we then agree a price with the producer then use an importer to finance the purchase of the coffee for us and handle the logistics of the import itself. Everybody’s costs and profit margins are fully transparent and we believe this is the best way for us to ensure the producer is paid a price that is profitable and sustainable for them, reflects the coffee's value and ensure the relationship is sustainable and beneficial for all parties involved. We try as much as possible to build these relationships with all of our coffees and then work with the same farms and producers year on year. We have been working with several farms more than five years now and these long-term relationships are hugely beneficial to everyone. The prices we pay the producers are far higher than both the commodity market and FairTrade minimum prices. In your experience, which are the best Coffee producing countries? We work primarily in Central America, South America and East Africa. These are the regions where the best Arabica coffees are grown. Coffee requires a moderate, consistent climate, altitude above 1500m and mineral-rich soil. Specifically, in my mind, the very best coffees in the world come from Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, Rwanda and Guatemala. Are there differences in the way farmers from different regions grow and process beans? There is a huge amount of difference in the way coffee is grown and processed across the coffee growing world. Like wine, there are

hundreds of different varieties of Arabica coffee which all have a different taste profile. Again like wine, there are certain regional flavours or terroir that represent distinct regions. Ethiopian coffees, for example, are very easy to spot as Ethiopian. Finally, the way we process coffee, ie turn from a freshly harvested coffee cherry to a dry coffee bean ready to export has the most distinct effect on the final cup. There are a million variations on how to do this but there are three main styles of processing: Washed, Natural and Honey. The difference between these three styles is as defined as the difference between White, Red and Rose wine. Do you perform regular tasting before wholesale bean purchase? What does this entail? We taste coffee every single day. Structured coffee tasting is called cupping and we cup coffees for a variety of reasons. On visits to producing countries, we will cup several hundred coffees a day to assess the quality and find the farms we want to work with. Back at the roastery in Portslade, we might cup coffee to see if we are roasting as well as we can, or to see if the green coffee is getting old. You are currently running a 12-kilo roaster. With the business growing do you have plans to expand on the machinery? We have big plans to expand our roastery and wholesale business. We have recently moved our roastery from the original café in Hove to our news site in Portslade. As well as our existing 12kg roaster we are currently renovating a vintage 1950’s German roaster that will massively increase our roasting capacity and allow us to buy a lot more coffee from the producers we have sent the last ten years relationships with. It’s very exciting! Could you tell us the history of the newly acquired huge, old roaster? There are a few reasons we wanted to take on the headache of buying and restoring a classic roaster rather than simply buying an off the shelf new one. Firstly we’re pretty handson and like to do things ourselves but also

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heat retention is really important in roasting coffee and the quality of the metal is key to good heat retention. The drum and casing of a coffee roaster are made of Iron and they quite literally don’t make iron like they used to. Roasters manufactured before the 1960’s have a different composite Iron in them and have much better heat retention than newer drums. It all comes to chemistry and results in a better, more even roast for our coffees. Do you use a specific designer for the shop interiors? The Worthing branch has an interesting and minimal feel. All our shops are designed by our friends at Chalk Architecture. They’ve done a great job of creating a unique look and feel at each site that still clearly retains the Small Batch vibe and are all clearly related. The wall artwork in the Portslade roastery is quite fetching, can you give me a little background on the art? With the café being located in the roastery which is quite a big warehouse, we wanted to add some colour and life to separate the café from the roasting area and add some light to the building. We were lucky enough to get our friends Art + Believe to do a bespoke mural for the wall channelling the street art and geography of the coffee lands in Central and South America. It feels like a natural connection as so much of our coffee starts life in those areas and Art + Believe have done a ton of street art projects in South America previously. What are your expansion plans in general and the ethos of growth? We want to keep growing the business through both opening new cafes and expanding the wholesale roasting operation. The two things go hand in hand, and the more coffee we can buy, the more positive impact we can have at the origin and the more sustainable, beneficial relationships we can build with producers. Small Batch Coffee Roasters, Wellington House, Camden Street, Portslade BN41 1DU www.facebook.com/ smallbatchcoffeewellington

Alan Tomlins

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We travel 3-4 times a year to Latin America and East Africa to meet with coffee producers, visit their farms and do extensive tastings and quality research.â&#x20AC;?

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SHARING OUR PASSION FOR BRAZILIAN CUISINE

Autentic Brazilien steakhouse Carvery &

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020 8417 1714 44 The Broadway London SW19 1RQ 54

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The Stoneham Pub Portland road . Hove . BN3 5QJ 01273 383840 www.thestoneham.co.uk55

A pizza the action of the buzzing new Marina food scene

Franco Manca

“

Hands down the most delicious Pizza Dough I have ever tasted! In fact hands down the best Pizza, and a wonderful dining experience to boot!"

was once told on one of my many trips to Italy that in the villages a Pizzaiolo (Pizza chef/dough maker) is highly respected if he is a master of his art! In fact villagers are more loyal to the pizzaiolo than the restaurant he works in, and will follow him/ her to different restaurants if they decide to move on. The founder of Franco Manca Pizza, Giuseppe Mascoli took years perfecting his art, and every member of staff, regardless of whether they are a chef, a manager or a waiter, has to learn Mr Mascoli’s perfected recipe and method to make what can only be described as hands down the most delicious Pizza Dough I have ever tasted! In fact hands down the best Pizza, and a wonderful dining experience to boot! We visited Franco Manca in Brighton Marina, a superb location for a restaurant with panoramic views of the beautiful harbour. We immediately felt as though we were in a real Italian Pizza restaurant! It had an air of casualness and simplicity with elegant décor, and felt modern and airy,

and was dominated by a humungous wood burning oven to the rear of the room, with the chefs in full view of the restaurant busily going about their art! We were warmly greeted by Serafino, the manager of the branch who took great pleasure in talking to us about the menu, and describing how the pizzas are made – his passion for the art of pizza making was obvious and his enthusiasm, infectious. He described how from start to finish the handmade pizza dough takes a whole month to be ready to use as the yeast takes this long to mature, and in this time the dough is kneaded and shaped daily to give it a unique flavour and texture. As well as this only fresh organic toppings are used, arriving daily, with the mozzarella traditionally made with hand presses on site! The menu itself consisted of a few traditional Italian starters and a set of seven deliciously described speciality pizzas (with the seventh recently added), and a specials board, which is updated with speciality pizzas daily, and according to Serafino, if

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you came to the restaurant every day for two months you would not see the same pizzas here! I decided on the newest addition to the menu, spicy lamb sausage, Mozzarella, Buffalo Ricotta, yellow piennolo tomato and fresh basil, and my dining companion went for the “meat special” from the specials board, consisting of cured ham, with burrata (a more delicate and creamier mozzarella) and ricotta. To drink we selected a vino rosso from the drinks menu that contains nothing but organically produced own label beverages! A minute later our Pizza arrived!!! The Pizza itself only takes 4o seconds to cook in the 500 degree oven! This intense cooking locks in the flavour of the delicious sour dough, and gives it a soft yet ever so slightly crisp, charred crust, sensational! The toppings were beyond delightful! The freshness of each ingredient really stood out! The Yellow Piennelo tomatoes were ripe and sweet,

the Ricotta and Mozzarella so creamy and light (the special had a big burrata in the middle which was a real treat). For desert we were encouraged to try the homemade Tiramisu, which is made daily on site with fresh cream rather than mascarpone. If you still have room left in your belly this cannot be missed! The fresh cream made the Tirimisu scrumptiously light and fluffy, a perfect desert to finish off with a pure roasted Arabica coffee. Verdict: Franco Manca’s at Brighton Marina is the best Pizzaria in Brighton by far! Along with the best Pizzas I have ever tasted, the friendly atmosphere and harbour setting makes this a must visit. We will be heading back soon to try out their Pizza making masterclass held each month on the second Tuesday of the month (watch this space).

Tony Shattell

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Visit our Brighton showroom 123 Address will be positioned here like this, ABC 123. For more information or to book a free design appointment call: 01273 771469 or visit www.intoto.co.uk #myintoto to share yours on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

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INTRODUCTION Think property consultants are just estate agents? Think again. As Stiles Harold Williams rebrands as SHW, Peter Styles argues the firm does just about everything other than sell houses…

What do the words property consultancy mean to you? Probably not much… However, it’s probable a firm such as SHW manages your workplace or set up the deal to bring your favourite shop to the high street. We could well have dealt with the developer allowing your house to be built or been the planning consultant for attractions such as the Brighton Wheel or the new zipwire, which in fact we were. In a residential context, we manage more than 12,000 flats and houses across the south east, ensuring service levels, repairs and trying to ensure both tenants and building owners are happy – which isn’t always easy but we try our damnedest! We also have a Lease Enfranchisement team, helping people whose leases are running short or are being squeezed by spiralling ground rent demands on leasehold property. Whether it’s via business space, residential, retail or marquee new developments, property consultancy has far more of an effect on your life than you probably realised. We can trace our roots back to 1798 and beyond and in that time we’ve been at the forefront of progress and development across the south coast and up the M23 corridor stretching to the capital and further. In that time we’ve auctioned off entire villages and brokered deals on many thousands of offices, warehouses and patches of land, bringing thousands of companies and countless jobs to the region. We’ve lobbied for the economic interests of Sussex and beyond. Recently we’ve been at the forefront of a campaign for more action to be taken against those who mindlessly ‘tag’ buildings causing urban blight. This has been particularly marked in Brighton of late - we are trying to stand up for our beautiful city and against those who would sully it.

It’s highly probable you’ve been to a property which has been renovated by our Building Consultancy, and remained dry under a previously leaking roof – or glanced at a block of flats which had seen better days, only to see it transformed over a period of weeks or months. It’s also likely you’ve bought something for less because our Business Rates team have made savings for a company which would otherwise have passed on this cost to consumers. We are living through an unprecedented land crisis in our region – we all know there is a housing shortage, but there is also an acute lack of office and industrial capacity which, if not dealt with, will have a seriously detrimental effect on the economic prospects of cities like Brighton & Hove. This is especially true in a post-Brexit context, but we also care deeply about the beautiful National Park which helps to define our locality and identity. What we need is optimal use of land, not senseless building on the Greenbelt. We take these issues seriously and have a Sustainability Department to advise on how to reduce the impact property has on the environment.

Elsewhere in this supplement my colleague Emma Hards has written about the changing face of offices and how owners and occupiers alike have been innovating to create diverse C21st working spaces for a new kind of employee with divergent needs and expectations from say two generations ago. So, maybe you know more about property consultancy than a few minutes ago… but we do much more than this – we offer more than 30 services including: Valuation Development Consultancy Commercial & Residential Management Investment & Acquisition Lease events Healthcare & Education. The US poet and philosopher David Henry Thoreau once said: “Our houses are such unwieldy property that we are often imprisoned rather than housed in them.” At SHW we try to ensure this isn’t the case, whether for residential or commercial clients – striving as multi-disciplinary specialists to provide higher service levels and be more efficient and cost-effective and basically better. After 220 years of this kind of activity, Stiles Harold Williams have moved with the times and gone for a rebrand – from now on we’ll be known as SHW, as shown by our new logo… So, when you see our new boards in the future, you’ll know there’s plenty more happening in the sector than simply selling houses.

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Jonathan Sethna Redefining luxury interiors

Absolute talks to local high end designer Jonathan Sethna 1. How did your your business' journey start? Starting my own business was something that I had considered for a number of years, however it had never been a viable prospect. My marriage had broken down in 2011 which left me with hefty Spousal and Child Maintenance payments, not to mention the 300 mile round trip to visit my daughter in Norfolk. I therefore could not afford to take the leap of faith into self-employment at that time, although always kept one eye firmly on the goal.

As a designer I always craved autonomy, however in many instances you would find yourself in a design by committee situation, which in my opinion dilutes the quality of the end product. I also came across a lot of office politics and bureaucracy which I dislike immensely, and at the end of the day my passion was designing and that was the only reason I went to work. It was the Summer of 2014 and I was at that point Designer Manager for a very high end property developer based in Surrey. A typical project could be a ÂŁ35m home on the Wentworth or St George's Hill Estate, or a ÂŁ13m 3 bedroom apartment in Knightsbridge. All of which are incredible projects to be involved with, however in tandem a friend had asked me to design a molecular cocktail bar in Croydon. Designing the bar took me back to the early days of my career, when I used to design back street boozers and JD Wetherspoon pubs. I loved every minute of it and it was a stark reminder of just how much fun and creativity you can ignite within a space. Residential projects can be incredible and highly rewarding, however by their very nature less daring and adventurous.

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Not long after I had commenced work on the cocktail bar, a kitchen manufacturer I had a built a good relationship over the previous 2 or 3 years asked me to get involved with a Private Client's Wine and Games Room in Essex he was involved with. We agreed a fee and it was at this point I decided to hand in my notice and set up Jonathan Sethna Interiors. I spent nearly 2 months working on the project in Essex, only to find out at the point of handing in my first invoice that the project was speculative. Two months prior I had handed in my notice thinking this was a live job and one which I commenced based on trust and good faith, and here I was now with a couple of grand to my name and more outgoings than I dare to mention. Life is never easy and I never pretended to be an astute business man, therefore I have had to learn some very harsh lessons along the way....fast. My younger years were also very challenging to say the least. Selling aftershave from a bag in the West End of London isn't necessarily a career path I would recommend, nor is working on an ice cream van, chip shop, carpet cleaning, double glazing oh and two YTS schemes if you can think back that far, however all of which have taught me how to be resilient and determined in life.

Throughout my career I specifically opted to work within various sectors of the industry, as this would enrich my experience and knowledge for each genre. Fortunately I have had the privilege to work on a variety of projects along the way, however the most memorable for me would be The Dorchester Hotel Spa in Mayfair, The Old Course Hotel Spa in St Andrews, a restaurant in Bratislava and a 600 bedroom hotel in the heart of Manchester. This job has no boundaries or limitations which is why after 18 years I am as passionate as the day I first started.

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2. How has your company grown to be where it is now? What has contributed to your businesses success? I wouldn't say the business has grown per say, however it has certainly become more consistent over the past 3 years. It takes a lot of time to establish new relationships as well as nurturing existing ones and like any new business there will be ups and downs. Luckily for me most of the downs came very early on in the business, which now puts me in better stead for the future. Producing good quality work for clients is the best way forward in my opinion, as this often transfers to business recommendations. However without a doubt you need to believe you can achieve anything in life if you put your mind to it. I believed in myself and so did my partner, therefore having positive uplifting people around is half the battle won. 3. At what point did you recognise the success of your business? Unfortunately or fortunately I am my own worst critic, therefore I do not like to consider myself a success. The industry like many other professions can be ruthless, therefore whilst the work is still available I am very pleased and excited to be involved. However, as I have witnessed throughout my career on several occasions economic issues around the world can affect our industry almost overnight. To consider myself a success at this stage of my career, and only 3 years into self employment would be complacent.

4. Being a recognised company, please name a few of your clients or brands that you do business with? London is a great city with stunning architecture, therefore to be invited to work on projects such as The Law Society in Chancery Lane and The Freemason Head Quarters in Holborn and was an absolute privilege. I have completed several projects for The Freemasons HQ, however I hope to work on the Great Auditorium in the near future and this could potentially be in the pipeline... 5. How has the advent of social media impacted on you? Social media is an excellent medium to reach out to business contacts and prospective clients, however it does take time and effort to maintain the interest levels. I find in many instances however it can be over used, which for me can dilute the impact of the message. I like to keep my Facebook and Twitter pages fairly simple, yet informative as and when there is something of real note to share.

6. The team must be pretty large these days. How many people are now part of the machine? On the contrary, it is mainly myself. I like to keep things compact and personable, however on occasions I will draft in additional assistance depending on the projects I am currently involved with. 7. How do you stay relevant and current and continuously meet your consumer needs? Staying current for me is always looking around and taking in the surroundings. Whenever and wherever possible I will go into Hotels, Bars, Restaurants and Showrooms to take a look at the designs and how people are interacting within the spaces. I also attend Interior Design exhibitions, as far afield as Paris in order to meet new suppliers and to see new products and materials. I tend not to follow trends either as these tire quickly and can become repetitive, instead timeless designs with an individual flair are more appealing to me.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153; I tend not to follow trends

either as these tire quickly and can become repetitive, instead timeless designs with an individual flair are more appealing to me."

My favourite place however to seek inspiration is through nature. Nature very rarely gets it wrong and if you're looking for colour schemes or geometry patterns, nature can often throw up some beautiful combinations or patterns. Give it a try! 8. Which project/s are you really excited about? I recently completed a common parts project within a large red brick mansion building in Marble Arch. One of the residents worked in China and invited me to put together some concept ideas for a VIP Wine and Cigar Lounge in Beijing. The concepts were a blend of English and Chinese styles, and actually looked incredibly harmonious together. China has always been a destination on the radar for me, therefore to have the opportunity to work there would be an unbelievable and enriching experience. 9. Why are you different to other businesses within your industry? What can your clients expect? Many Interior Designers focus largely on the soft furnishing and finishes aspects of the project. I am, however, also very technically minded therefore am equally comfortable producing cross section details through bar counters for example, as I would be specifying furniture, fabrics and wall coverings. This gives greater continuity from concept through to completion, which inevitably gives a more seamless end product.

I am also a male in a heavily dominated female industry. I recall on one occasion I was working for a Surrey based design firm as the only male amongst 20 women. I hadn't been in the position too long, perhaps 3 or 4 months when I had the awkward moment when I realised it was the Director's 80 year old mother, Molly's birthday that they were promptly celebrating in the boardroom. Given it was only about 11:30 in the morning, distracted by the laughs and screams (mainly screams) I was quite surprised to see a young near naked male stripper thrusting his crotch towards Molly's face. At that point I thought it was either more crotch or a pint of Guinness, therefore opted for the latter! 10. How has the city of Brighton helped your business? Do you feel Brighton's high creativity levels have contributed to your success? Although I was brought up in South London, Brighton has always been my spiritual home. I've always loved the place, I love taking my family here. As soon as I see Brighton, I feel like I'm home. Always something to inspire-whether it's the beautiful landscape or the eclectic people, it is a wonderful melting pot of styles, tastes and individuals. I am now pleased to call this home. It has long since been my dream to make my mark on the city.

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SHW GOOD OLD OFFICE BY THE SEA? Stiles Harold Williams’ Emma Hards looks at issues surrounding Brighton & Hove’s prime business spaces and why there’s a chronic shortage…

s we know, Brighton & Hove attracts some of the most innovative businesses and individuals, offering a fantastic worklife balance for those lucky enough to experience it. However, several factors combine resulting in an arguably unique and highly soughtafter business space market within the city. For two years running Hove’s BN3 postcode has been the UK’s #1 sought-after locale when it comes to young professionals wanting to buy a property – and for the record Brighton also features at #7. The reason for the popularity of Hove compared to Brighton is not listed in the study, but perhaps it is something to do with the slightly calmer atmosphere compared to central Brighton, Fatboy Slim’s Lagoon Cafe and the many independent wine bars.

In light of recent and on-going train failure, Brighton & Hove should be favourite locations in terms of dream job locations, but the city ‘suffers’ from being sandwiched between the sea and the South Downs. Ideal in terms of quality of life, but not so great for developers, planners and agents trying to provide business space in a tight, pre-ordained geographical area. The city came first outside London in Property Week’s Hot 100 Office Index 2017, and commercial property consultants like Stiles Harold Williams are working hard to try to match intense demand with tight supply. Out of a total of circa 4.8million sq ft of office

space in Brighton & Hove, only 150,000 sq ft currently lies vacant. To make matters worse, some of this is below the quality demanded by modern businesses and some on the periphery of the city is vulnerable to much-needed residential conversion. Fortunately, a handful of foresighted players have played a vital role in building new speculative space and upgrading existing buildings fit for the twenty-first century. The CityView office development, situated just adjacent to Brighton Station, created headlines as the first speculative office-only development in the city since 2006. This landmark Brighton office development - built by trailblazers McAleer & Rushe - was let very quickly, demonstrating the intense demand for high quality office space. It was swiftly followed by a further 40,000 sq ft refurbishment by Aberdeen Asset Management at Mocatta House, Trafalgar Square which included the creation of a 6th floor terrace with incredible sea views. Brighton’s status as a vibrant, bohemian city attracts a new type of worker: the Millennial. No longer bound by a 9-5 work ethic and with increasing experience in technological innovation, the needs of the millennial office worker differ drastically from the corporate norm. It is predicted that by 2025, almost 75% of all office workers nationwide will have been born between 1980 and the early 2000s , prompting a serious response in the redesign of both the layout and nature of office space to fit these needs.

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“

Our twin city will doubtless continue to lead trends, whether localised, national or global. We just need to ensure talented people have the necessary business infrastructure available in order to thrive."

Offices that double as community-based social spaces are key in crafting company and worker identity and are particularly popular among this millennial generation. This perceived need has recently been met by the likes of Regus ‘Spaces’, who are about to open their doors to the new refurbed floors at Mocatta House, as well as The Werks Group and Platf9rm, servicing the requirements of the freelancer / freeranger as well as start-ups and other non-traditional non-corporate structures. Brighton & Hove have both grown and attracted some great companies, particularly in the tech / gaming / media sectors such as Brandwatch and Crunch Accounting joining existing giants like American Express, BUPA and Legal & General, to the extent that our workers create the most export earnings of any UK city except for London and Edinburgh. We also have the fourth biggest concentration of businesses in the country, despite many thinking it’s merely a seaside town with A-Levels and a jaunty attitude.

So how do we address the shortfall in office space and create new opportunities for economic development and employment? On my personal wish list is reasonably swift decisions and action on currently dormant sites such as Circus Street, Preston Barracks and the former Amex site; as well as developers speculatively building out large office schemes. With Brexit around the corner some aspects of economic forecasting are foolhardy at best, and affected trading relations with the continent could well rock Brighton’s fortunes for a while. However, whether we’re in, out or some hybrid of the two, our twin city will doubtless continue to lead trends, whether localised, national or global. We just need to ensure talented people have the necessary business infrastructure available in order to thrive. Stiles Harold Williams Partnership LLP T: 01273 876267 F: 01273 876299 www.shw.co.uk

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What makes Buddies CafĂŠ Bar special? Our Delicious Food Served 24 2Hours a Day

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Soul Foo Last Friday I stepped into the devine world of soul food with the two positively energising and talented brothers Brian and Aaron George Moyo and eventually left dancing to Marvin Gayes 'How sweet it is'.

oul Food originated from the African, Afro American and Caribbean dishes. Food was for your soul to survive during a dark period in black history when ingredients were scarce and it was so important to put love into each recipe to lift people's spirits. This love and heartfelt emotion continued into family cooking and the name was adapted in the 1960's, around the same time that soul music took the world by storm and everyone was hopping aboard the soul train. Soul food has been enjoyed by many cultures for many years and has been evolving as a cuisine. However, this type of food is often thought of as fried, fatty and unhealthy, yet truly gratifying. Having been engrossed in the city's green juice, gluten free health conscious frenzy this summer, I was intrigued to see how the Mayo brothers could introduce me to the healthier versions of authentic soul food recipes. I must admit I have been craving comfort food since the temperature started to fall and so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to experience this new cuisine. As the brothers say 'Soul Foo, is so good' and since opening in July this family-run business has been producing traditional freshly cooked, warm spicy food. Soul Foo

is a place of emotion, fun and love and you immediately sense the love vibe as you walk through the door. George Mayo was previously the Head Chef at Brighton's much loved and still talked about Momma Cherri's Soul Food Shack which sadly closed due to the economic climate. George then took some time out before joining the well regarded Hotel du Vin kitchen where he continued to cook his heart out. However, with a gift like his it was only fair that he shared the love with his own family recipes and so Soul Foo was born. Brian Mayo, the salsa dancing guru, runs the show from the other side of the oven and is possibly the most welcoming host I have ever encountered. When I arrived I genuinely felt like I was being welcomed into their family home. This dynamic duo have managed to create a casual dining experience that produces warm home cooked food, full of flavour, nourishing, but most of all cooked with soul. The venue is understated, yet cosy. George shares his other passion in the form of art work which is adorned on the walls and his incredibly intricate wooden carvings are quite simply inspired. His creative talent is endless, but as he was telling me

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everything he does comes from the heart and this was most certainly the theme for the evening. I arrived as the dainty food reviewer, yet after one bite of my Suya chicken wings (a west African dish with a mild kick), I dropped my knife and fork and simply got stuck in. The chicken was succulent and the spices teased my tastebuds with a light tingle on the sides of my mouth. Brian was telling me that the dishes he prepares are all made with local ingredients, including the spices which he collects a few hundred yards up the road. Keeping things local is very important to the Mayo brothers as it helps to build relationships and encourages a family friendly vibe that goes hand in hand with the cooking. The dishes are traditional, but the flavours are more refined with cleaner cooking techniques and healthier preparation to drain excess fats. The flavour dimensions are soul-satisfying. Given this was my first soul food experience, I was hooked before I even tried the famous Mayo Ribs cooked with the chef's best kept secret (which of course I tried my hardest to find out and

This dynamic duo have managed to create a casual dining experience that produces warm home cooked food, full of flavour, nourishing, but most of all cooked with soul. all I could gather was the inclusion of lots of fresh herbs and earthy flavours). As a regular to the Caribbean I have never quite understood why people love plantain. That is until I ordered Soul Foo’s Plantain bites and discovered that this popular food that dates back to 500 B.C is actually delicious when prepared correctly. Deep fried and with a sour cream dip and a touch of honey, these moreish bites were light and crispy and worked in perfect harmony with the sharp and sweet dipping sauce. As George continued to produce delights in front of my eyes, the drinks flowed and the scent of herbs and spices filled the air. It was at this moment I found myself feeling happy. A feeling of being revived with love and laughter and for once in my life I was not concerned with counting calories. I was simply enjoying every mouthful and getting so involved that at one point I even had a piece of chicken in my hair! The menu in Soul Foo is simple with the best soothing comfort food to warm you from the inside out. The prices are reasonable, with the most expensive item being the mighty combo at £22, but from what the locals were saying this combination of wings, ribs and corn is fantastic for sharing with a group of friends.

Most dishes average at £8 but the portions are substantial. I was reluctant to have dessert, yet George and Brian insisted on presenting a slice of their sweet potato pie. I insisted on a take away box as I was adamant I only wanted a mouthful to try, but to my surprise and their delight they won me over and once again I chowed down the entire piece of pie and had to hand the unused box back. I love the local community vibe in Soul Foo and guests are encouraged to stay as long as they like. The emphasis is on feeling good and being in a happy environment. Keep your eyes peeled for special events in Soul Foo and with October being black history month, George and Brian will be paying tribute to the rich cultural history of soul food, so pop along and soak up the happy vibes. This restaurant is incredibly new to our city, but it has something unique - the Mayo brothers! Spending time with George and Brian is uplifting and addictive and I am excited to pop in again very soon. Lindsay Katherine Hills www.soulfoo.com/

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La Choza Plotting ways to extend my summer fiesta having just returned from Tijuana Mexico, I jumped at the chance to visit Brighton's newest and most buzzed about Mexican restaurant ‘La Choza’ in Western Road.

he Beauty, vibrancy and the spirit of modern Mexico have been brought to our shores by Aoife Sweeney and Annie Gelpey. In 2012 they launched the original La Choza on the corner of Gloucester Road in the heart of The Laines. Championing the culture and food of Mexico, their mission has been to honour authentic recipes, techniques and open the cities eyes to the delightful, colourful and truly enchanting world of Mexican street food. Mexico is a country rich in tradition, history and an energetic culinary culture. There are seven regions, each having distinctive characteristics, from the crops grown to the particular spices available and each of these regions have created their very own street snacks. These colourful snacks are less taco shack and more mighty bites that give a real taste of the country's finest cuisine. Mexican cuisine is often synonymous with hard shelled tacos, cheesy enchiladas and large bean filled burritos, however there is so much more depth to this culture’s food. This nation is incredibly sociable, with food revolving around the many annual festivities. They eat, drink, play and gather in the street, so portions that are easy to eat without the formality of a sit down meal have resulted in these small plates full of colour, flavour and an almighty fusion of fresh, bright ingredients. La Choza is a great visual feast due to Aoife and Annie's annual adventures in Mexico. Now with the larger venue in Western Road there are two floors adorned with rainbow bunting, religious statues, sugar skulls and

everything bold and beautiful to transport you to the exciting world of Mexico. It's authentic and fun and already has a cult following which I discovered on a bustling Saturday evening. As I walked towards La Choza, the energy from inside was electric. I challenge anyone to walk past this charming Panther pink building and not smile. Its vitality is as intoxicating as a Don Fulano tequila. I was immediately greeted with a warm smile and the first thing I noticed was the relaxed and informal ambience, as well as the genuine harmony of the team as they effortlessly attended to their guests. Downstairs, the wooden tables and neutral chairs are a perfect compliment to the flashy sombreros and Lucha libre masks. The bar seats four and has a tantalising selection of tequilas including one shaped like a gun and of course the obligatory worm in the bottle. I, however, was invited to sit upstairs in the slightly less hectic, but still wonderfully wild and colourful dining room. The menu in the new Western Road venue is slightly more extensive than that of its smaller relation and boasts new and exciting weekly specials thought up by Benji the dedicated and passionate chef and Joe the charismatic mixologist. There is a fantastic variety of 'shack snacks'. I immediately opted for the ceviche tostada or raw seasonal fish cured in citrus juice. This is a dish that I always opt for as it is light, refreshing and full of flavour. Having wet my whistle with one of the

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best margaritas I have had outside of Mexico I was ready to throw down my virtual sombrero and order the Gordita with short rib, queso fresco and tomatillo. Given tacos are the best known street food, it seemed only fitting to order the very traditional Al pastor pork tacos with pineapple. The spices combined with the zesty zing worked well and did not over power my palate. I noted that these light bites would be perfect with an early evening drink after work or, as I had, as an appetiser to warm up the tastebuds. The main menu is a selection process starting with your base of either Burritos, Quesadilla, tostada to name a few. Added to this is an exciting selection of fillings from crispy masa fried chicken to sweet potato squash, feta and roasted seeds. This would not be a Mexican canteen without turning up the heat and selecting your choice of spice, ranging from my mild to the table next to me’s incredibly brave NAGA (XXX HOT). I ordered the crispy local fish tacos from the main menu and decided to try the rib pork chop on the specials menu; succulent piece of pork on a bed of creamed spinach, tamarind and chipotle sauce with the vey traditional crispy beer battered cactus. Simply delicious and whilst the flavours are Mexican, there was not a bean or grain of rice in sight (which was refreshing as my eyes were opened to the other side of this fascinating and exciting cuisine). The desert menu consists of sweet treats such as churros and home made ice cream,

but for me I could not resist the cocktail of the week; 'The Gorge' which seemed rather appropriate after my delicious feast. This divine cocktail was a concoction of burnt pineapple, cider purée, tamarind syrup with smokey pasilla chilli, infused with montelobos mezcal and all topped off with a guajillo chilli rim..... Try repeating that after you've had one!! The prices are incredibly reasonable and it is evident that a lot of time and effort has been invested into creating the most genuine Mexican experience this side of the world. The food is good and the atmosphere sings. Being a guest in La Choza is a weekday tonic taking away those gloomy dark nights and replacing with fun and bright lights. It is the best way of illuminating those seasonal blues and providing an escape to recharge. La Choza or is continuing to take the foodies of Brighton by storm and whilst it has only been five years since they exploded onto the scene, I can completely understand why there is such a cult following; a cult which I plan to join as I am always one for an exotic fiesta and feast. This buzzy urban hotspot will certainly be helping me to get through the 'chili' winter months ahead.

Lindsay Katherine Hills

http://lachoza.co.uk/western-rd/

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---- NEW TO BRIGHTONS FOODIE SCENE ----

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The Walrus (previously the Smugglers)

Having frequented the Smugglers in my youth on many a raucous night, I was intrigued to be invited to try out the menu at the newly renovated and reimagined spot on Ship Street. I was completely taken aback by the transformation. A beautiful behemoth of a venue, poles apart to its predecessor!

nyone who visited the Smugglers inn will appreciate the sheer size of the site, which also housed the loft club above it, and the Jazz rooms below. The transformation to the Walrus is phenomenal! Upon entering I was immediately reeled in to the cosy pub vibe of the entrance bar. Grand in size and beautifully decorated with warm welcoming colours, old photography and nick-nacks, with a selection of comfy booths to sit and chat over a craft beer or gin and tonic. An open mezzanine bar at the back of the room contains big screens for sporting events and private functions. A trip upstairs reveals a giant open two-floored rooftop terrace which would be perfect for summer evenings and alfresco dining, and a striking, immaculately decorated 100 seat dining area, containing a variety of interesting and eclectic furniture which felt spacious, welcoming and grandiose, with crystal chandeliers and immaculately laid tables. Although the food choices are exactly the same whether you choose to eat in the bar, the restaurant, or on the roof terrace we plumped for the restaurant. Even when busy, the vastness of the area meant that it felt un-intrusive and we relaxed into choosing from the menu, which boasted a huge selection of tempting dishes with a variety options including delicious looking gluten free, vegetarian and vegan alternatives. We were spoilt for choice!

We both decided to try one of the locally sourced craft beers they had on offer, I fancied something light and citrusy and was recommended a guest beer called Lost and Found which did not disappoint. Similarly my dining companion was impressed when the waiter brought him a beer to perfectly match his request for something with a more hoppy flavour. To start I opted for the Quail Scotch Eggs, one made with chorizo, on a bed of smoked tomato, one made with Haggis, complimented by a celeriac remoulade. I could not recommend this dish enough, the quails egg yolk was perfectly runny, the chorizo spicy and perfectly neutralised by the smokiness of the tomato, and the Haggis deliciously rich and warming and impeccably matched with the celeriac. My dining companion chose the Langoustine Tempura (gluten free) which he described as perfectly light, fluffy and crispy with the complimenting squid ink aioli and blistered tomato sauce making the dish both fresh tasting and stimulating. Being a lover of seafood I could not resist the Slow Cooked Octopus and Prawn and Herb Crusted Haddock for my main course, it did not disappoint. The Octopus tentacles were divine, perfectly cooked with a soft and juicy texture and bursting with freshness. The Haddock light and flaky with an intense prawn taste coming out in the crust! Served on a bed of butter beans, spinach, and pomegranate and pumpkin seeds which made

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every mouthful an adventure. My companion went for a more traditional option of the Aged Sirloin steak, chips and peppercorn sauce, which he said was perfectly cooked to his specifications, the slab of delicious tender meat melted in his mouth and rivalled any steakhouse he had been to. The chips were pretty spectacular too (I nicked a few from his plate when he wasn’t looking). With just about enough room to force down a desert we decided on sharing the Rosewater, Orange and Cardamom Crème Brulee with almond financier (gluten free), and the Tart Tatin with apple sorbet (Vegan). Both were outstanding. The exciting fresh intense flavours in the Tart Tatin and apple sorbet made the taste buds tingle and ache for more. The deliciously creamy Crème Brulee was a real treat, with each spoonful teasingly revealing the more subtle rosewater orange and cardamom. We will be returning, possibly to sample the superb looking Sunday Roast menu (watch this space). In the meantime, for an extraordinarily fine dining experience visit the Walrus. Get lost in its vast and well imagined Interior and have fun trying the immense drinks menu. You won’t be disappointed. Tony Shattell 10 Ship St, Brighton BN1 1AD

The transformation to the Walrus is phenomenal! Upon entering I was immediately reeled in to the cosy pub vibe of the entrance bar. Grand in size and beautifully decorated with warm welcoming colours

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9b the Boardwalk Brighton Marina

01273600088 www.memoriesoﬁndiabrighton.com @moibrighton

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Best Brighton & Hove Pubs for Colder Days & Nights

Brighton Girl Problems I genuinely believe that Brighton is one of the best cities during winter.

Yes, London may have bigger lights, strung across Oxford Street, and Selfridges window displays that have taken weeks and weeks to craft; but Brighton has something more personal and homely, and during Seasonal times of the year, it truly is an extremely special city to live in.

ith the opening of the Pavilion Ice Rink, Christmas lights strung from building to building, and the German food market that opens up outside Churchill square, it truly is a sight to behold.

Brighton Pubs do Winter well, with slight menu changes, tea lights on the tables, and finally closing the pub door, and putting the doorstop away until late March, meaning you can stay there for hours; warm, full, and nursing a good glass of Malbec.

Aged 18, if you’d of told me that one day I would love nothing more than a quiet evening in the pub with friends or family, I’d have told you there was no way on earth; a booming loud club lit with neon lights and a flashing dancefloor was more my scene, somewhere that wouldn’t know an IPA if it hit them in the face. Many years later, an evening in a pub (good seating provided) is my idea of heaven, as long as there’s good company, a good food menu – and usually a good deal on prosecco too. During the summer, it's all about evenings spent on the beach or in beer gardens, and sat on high stools outside cocktail bars as the sun goes down every night; when September and October start to crawl

in though, socialising becomes a whole different kettle of fish.

You don’t want to head outside into the rain, wind, minus temperatures, and let’s face it, sometimes snow, a lot of the time; you want to stay in, with your Marks & Spencer party food, with Elf on TV, and your dressing gown on. We’ve all been there. However, living in Brighton, a city built on socialising, means that sometimes temptation can get too much and you just want to head out, whatever the weather.

There are some places that I truly believe are best suited to certain seasons, and I’m here to talk about the places that are best for the colder months that are slowly drawing in.

The city is crammed full of cosy pubs, from Brighton and Hove’s oldest to newest builds, that are perfect locations for a winter evening spent indoors when you want to venture outdoors. There are so many, that suit all different tastes, but I wanted to talk about a couple of my favourites, that are ideal for a few drinks on a Winters evening. The Connaught in Hove is one of those that

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just screams Winter to me; it definitely caters to all seasons, with a lovely beer garden outside too, but with leather bound chairs, wooden furniture, and a menu bursting with delicious meals, it is somewhere I will always went to spend a chilly evening. On Fridays they do half price prosecco, meaning it's also a good place if you're on a budget. The menu consists of burgers, steak, fish and vegetarian options too, and everything I've tried has always been fantastic, with the steak being an absolute favourite (their peppercorn sauce is to die for). If you're heading in during the daytime, their soup and sandwich options are just as good too. The Albion Pub on Church Road, has been recently renovated, and I love the ambience in there. The lighting, décor, and the 1940s style flutes they pour your prosecco into are right up my street, and I’m sure they’ll be up yours too. A huge space inside, you won’t be having to share your table with another group (thankfully), and it’s in a brilliant location for heading out after if the mood takes you.

The Preston Park Tavern is a local place for me, and it's been a favourite for years. It's one of my favourite places to be at during the Winter in the evening.

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Best Brighton & Hove Pubs for Colder Days & Nights

Brighton Girl Problems

In Summer, the benches outside are along the pavement, and I prefer a beer garden, so I love it when the temperature drops and it's an excuse to stay inside. Not the cheapest, but I feel like it's worth it; good wine and brilliant food, I absolutely love their burgers and it makes a perfect quiet evening out with a partner, friends or family.

Heading into more central Brighton now, the North Laine pub, probably one of the most spacious in the city, is good value, has plenty of space, a great atmosphere and the menu is full of treats that you won't be able to resist. Their Mac and cheese bites are something you NEED in your life. On a Saturday night, it becomes half pub half club almost, as it does get a lot louder and people always end up dancing, so it's an ideal spot if you want a night out but not somewhere too crazy.

The Lion & Lobster is probably one of the first places that spring to mind when I think 'cold nights'; if you've been there on a weekend night, or even daytime, you'll know it can get very busy and the party atmosphere and busy crowd sets in on a Saturday night, but it's part of its charm.

Everything from the decor to the location gives off a cosy vibe, along with the great roast dinners and pizzas that are available. Normal Brighton prices, friendly staff and somewhere that you can quite literally spend all day or night when the weather is bad if you get a good seat! The Black Lion is one of the most central places you can get; as with the Lion & Lobster, it's more of a party pub on a Friday or Saturday night, but on a Sunday afternoon or evening, this is the ideal Winter venue. Brilliant roast dinners, low lighting

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and candles mean it's another place you want to spend all day when it's blowing a gale outside.

All in all, Brighton is a city that caters well for all seasons, but has some added sparkle during the Winter months. Gay Pride, beach picnics and lazy afternoons spent in a beer garden under the roasting hot sun are a part of Summer we all know and love, but the city from October onwards holds an extra special place in my heart. With a plethora of pubs that are the ultimate venue for spending a cold evening, glass of prosecco in hand and a food menu to rival all food menus in front of you…what could be better?

Brighton Girl Problems Twitter: @btongirlprobs Instagram: @brightongirlprobs Facebook:@BrightonGirlProblems

All in all, Brighton is a city that caters well for all seasons, but has some added sparkle during the winter months.

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AUTUMN

London Lifestyle North London I am a huge fan of autumn, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my favourite time of the year. There I have said it! Summer is great of course, but by the end of August I find myself looking forward to the cooler evenings, the cosy nights, trawling through the new season autumn magazines and lusting after the new season fall fashions, colours and styles

y the time that August has passed us by, the festival season is just a jaded memory, the suntan has faded and it is no longer appropriate to wear flip flops, October sneaks up on us like an old friend. The leaves start to turn gorgeous burnt hues of red and orange, and acorns and conkers adorn the trees like seasonal jewels. We start to dig out our favourite knitted sweaters, turn on the heating and pour ourselves a glass of red. London is fabulous in autumn. The fashion capital has amazing new store windows displaying a plethora of the new season designs. All the shoes and boots have wonderful structured fabrics and colours, replacing the sandals and flimsy foot wear

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that adorned out feet through the warm summer days. Models and mannequins are layered up, making us look forward to wrapping ourselves in cashmere, wool and silk, replacing the light linen and cotton garments of our summer evenings past. This is a wonderful time to pack away your summer uniform and festival wear, and embrace the autumnal tones, seasonal new colours, indulge in wonderful new denim, structured jackets and classic boots for the cooler nights ahead. North London is great for shopping, and Islington has a wonderful range of vintage and second-hand boutiques, with unusual antiques shops dotted along the Camden Passage. Vintage clothes shops, tattoo parlours and retro boutiques are littered throughout trendy Stoke Newington

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and Angel, as well great independent florists, homeware shops and furniture boutiques, ideal for finding unique additions to adorn your home this season.

As well as the shops, the open green spaces of London are a feast for the eyes this autumn. The amazing parks across the city have exploded with colour through the rich foliage and trees. Some of the most wonderful parks and walks to be found in the city are north of the river. Primrose Hill is one of my favourite green spaces of north London, perfect for an autumnal stroll. Walk to the top of Primrose Hill where you will find six protected view points for sights across London where the summit is 63 meters above sea level allowing wonderful views all year round.

Walk down through Primrose Hill, cross Prince Albert Road and you will reach Regents Park. Regents Park is a beautiful park full of landscaped gardens, trails, lakes and sculptures and historical fountains. There are plenty of places in the park to stop off for a bit to eat and drink, including the Regents Park Bar and Kitchen in the centre of the park where you can indulge in great cake and sandwiches, The Smokehouse with a super terraced area serving hot food and ice-creams and the Espresso Bar and The Boathouse Café which serve amazing coffee for your caffeine fix. Further along to the east of Regents Park you will come across Hampstead Heath. Hampstead Heath in north west London is 320 hectares of glorious open space just 6km north of the City of London, where you find amazing panoramic views across London as well as three swimming ponds and a Lido. Walk over the heath to Parliament Hill to spot the famous city landmarks. A stone throw from Hampstead is the beautiful ancient Highgate Wood. This pretty woodland space seems off the beaten tourist track with scenic woodland trails and picturesque open spaces with a quaint café and well worth a visit. Then we must not overlook the pretty Queens Park, a small picturesque green space oasis in the north west of London, which boasts six all weather tennis courts, a pitch and putt course, playground, paddling pool, café and woodland walks, all perfect for an autumnal adventure.

North London has it all, from the open spaces of Hampstead Heath, the traditional pubs along the Camden Lock, the busy atmosphere of Arch Way and Kentish Town, the homely feel of Primrose Hill and the vibrant night life of Chalk Farm and Angel. Travel to these legendary north London areas is easy via main stations Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston, and the tube lines of Piccadilly and Northern.

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London Lifestyle

As usual, Absolute has a few hidden treasures up its new season designer sleeve. Here are some little gems of North London, where you can find the perfect places for eating, drinking, where to relax after a big night out north of the river and where you will find the perfect autumnal pubs, grub and music. A treat for the eyes, ears and taste buds this autumn in London.

The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London

is a grand 5-star hotel with a range of luxurious traditional rooms from Deluxe Queen up to Premier King. Advance rates from £209.

This historic and charming hotel boasts three extraordinary stylish spaces which are the perfect place for dinner and drinks. The Booking Office Bar and Restaurant – serves sumptuous cocktails and British cuisine bursting with flavour. The Hansom Lounge – the perfect destination for drinks and bar food. Mi & Me – a wonderful deli serving an array of unique British cheese and meats. The luxurious and tranquil Victorian inspired spa haven offers a host of divine treatments from facials and massages to manicures and pedicures for the perfect weekend escape. Spa treatments from £60 and packages from £100. The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London. Euston Road, London, NW1 2AR. 0207 841 3640. www.stpancraslondon.com

The Pullman, St Pancras Hotel,

is a family friendly hotel, just a few minutes’ walk from Kings Cross St Pancras and Euston, with rooms from £165 per night. The contemporary and modern rooms are ideal for onward travel, a mini break or business stays. Two children under 12 years can stay for free including breakfast when sharing with two adults in a double room. Golden Arrow is The Pullmans award winning restaurant serving modern European dishes. The Wine Library is a fantastic space where you can enjoy an array of exquisite wines by the glass, and the Fit Lounge hosts a state of the art cardio gym and sauna. The Pullman, St Pancras. 100-110 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AJ. 0207 666 9000. www.pullmanhotels.com/gb/hotel-5309pullman-london-st-pancras/index.shtml

The Swimmer is a vibrant award-

winning pub tucked away just off the Holloway Road. There’s a fantastic outdoor terrace, huge bar area with large mirrors and fireplace, serving great homemade pub food. Well worth a visit. Nearest tube: Holloway Road on Piccadilly Line. Overground: Upper Holloway. 13 Eburne Road, Holloway, London, N7 6AR www.remarkablepubs.co.uk/pubs/theswimmer-at-the-grafton-arms

The St Johns Tavern is a fantastic traditional spacious gastro pub in Archway. They have BYO on Monday evenings and no bottle opening charge, so take along your own bottle of plonk and try out the diverse and ever-changing menu. Nearest tube: Archway on Northern Line. Overground: Upper Holloway. 91 Junction Road, London, N19 5QU www.stjohnstavern.com

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A small, quaint historical pub hidden away on the hill in Hampstead, The Holly Bush is a favourite with locals and visitors looking for a quintessential pub slightly off the beaten track. Its famed for its traditional cosy décor, with a seasonal menu. Nearest tube: Hampstead on Northern Line. Overground: Hampstead Heath 22 Hollymount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG www.hollybushhampstead.co.uk This hidden treasure of a Hampstead pub is traditional, cosy and with a lovely beer garden. The Garden Gate describes itself as the best hang-out in Hampstead, and the ever-changing menu is packed with seasonal ingredients. Wednesday is quiz night and the pretty beer garden is popular all yearround and always packed with people. They serve great roasts and there’s plenty of your favourite board games for lazy Sunday afternoons. Nearest tube: Hampstead on Northern Line. Overground: Hampstead Heath 14 South End Road, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QE www.thegardengatehampstead.co.uk A great venue show-casing fresh new music talent, artists, theatre and popular DJ and club nights, art, culture, media and performance projects. The Round House is a dedicated hub of creative innovation. Go to the website for the latest events and productions lined up for Autumn 2017. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm on the Northern Line Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH www.roundhouse.org.uk

Proud Camden is a super venue for music events and parties. This grade II listed building started life as a horse hospital. It’s now a gallery and bar space by day, and nightclub by night. Book one of the seven stables for you and your friends, which include karaoke, dance poles and HD TVS. Great for birthdays, and hen and stag parties. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm on the Northern Line The Horse Hospital, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AH www.proudcamden.com An adorable pub found in the heart of Hampstead Heath, serving great traditional roasts and it’s a super place to watch all the major rugby matches. The Flask has quiz nights on Tuesday evenings and live music on Thursday evenings. This pub is well worth a visit. Nearest tube: Hampstead on Northern Line. Overground: Hampstead Heath 14 Flask Walk, Hamstead, London, NW3 1HE www.theflaskhampstead.co.uk A pan-Asian restaurant, bar and lounge based in the heart of Camden Market, Gilgamesh is a gorgeous restaurant hosting a bar with a retractable roof, cocktail lounges, and amazing pan-Asian menus. After dinner, head to the stylish nightclub for amazing cocktails created by talented mixologists, brilliant music and a sophisticated atmosphere. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm on the Northern Line Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, London, NW1 8AH www.gilgameshbar.com Charlie McBrien

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The Indonesian tropical paradise.

Bali Since the 1980s, Bali has grown in popularity as a tropical and exotic holiday destination, favoured by honeymooners and backpackers and avid explorers wishing to experience this unique and far flung paradise location.

ali is an enchanting and magical island of Indonesia between the Indian Ocean and Bali Sea. The province of Bali includes the Island of Bali and the surrounding south-eastern islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan separated by the Badung Strait. Bali has a diverse landscape with a combination of dense tropical jungle rainforest and mountainous areas, glorious sandy white coastline in the south and black volcanic beaches in the north. The 75km Ayung river flows through Bali island which is surrounded by crystal clear waters and coral reefs. The island has a variety of rice and padi fields, coffee plantations, sacred religious temple areas, ancient banyans trees, mangroves, and national parks. Bali is 8 degrees south of the equator, therefore has a tropical climate for the whole year round averaging at 30 degrees and the tropical rain season is from November to March, with the dry season between April and September. Even in the rain season, often there are tropical storms that last just a few hours in the evening and then blow over. High season in Bali is July to August and this is the peak cost and travel times for visitors as well as Easter and Christmas breaks. The largest city of Bali is Denpasar which is home to Bali’s main international airport. Kuta is Bali’s other large city and beach resort, while Seminyak is a smaller vibrant, lively resort

close to Kuta, popular with travellers and back-packers with great night-life. The traffic in the cities of Bali is unbelievable with almost every household owning a scooter. Denpasar, Kuta and Seminyak are extreamly busy, packed full of locals and tourists jostling for space on the roads and narrow side streets. If you plan to hire scooters during your trip it’s advisable to do this outside of the cities and busy towns, and wait until you are out in the countryside amongst the smaller villages, or wait until you visit the quieter neighbouring islands to go exploring. Balinese dancing is the ancient traditional dancing of Balinese people, where stories are told though movement, elaborate costumes and drama to beautiful traditional live music. The costumes and makeup are amazing and it’s well worth visiting one of these spectacular shows. Many of the shows will be performed in hotels or in town squares during the evening. Bali volcano trekking is a great experience for all those looking for a day or night of adventure during their trip to Bali. With a tour guide, trek up Mount Batur in Kintamani. Pick a tour that takes you on a trek to Mount Batur during sunset or sunrise. Alternatively, there are treks through Mount Agung via the Besakih Temple. Mount Agung is thought of as the most challenging trek but the views of both treks are unforgettable.

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Ubud Ubud is the town north of Denpasar, renowned for art, culture, yoga retreats, mediation, spa breaks and favoured by anyone training in yoga. Ubud is in central Bali where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more mountainous with rainforests and therefore can be cooler in temperature than the southern coastal areas.

Maya Ubud Resort & Spa. Jalan Gunung Sari Peliatan,PO Box 1001, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, 80571 www.mayaresorts.com/ubud info@mayaubud.com

Ubud is the perfect place to buy original and authentic carvings, jewellery, local fabric and art work as well as the typical souvenirs. Haggling prices is fine and negotiation is expected in the market places, however the shops in Ubud normally have fixed prices.

The Maya Ubud Resort and Spa is the ultimate place to stay during your visit to Ubud. This beautiful luxury resort in central Bali is tucked away in the jungle forest, between the river valley and rice fields of tranquil Ubud, 35km north of Denpasar airport. During your stay, book one of the secluded villas overlooking the jungle. Each exquisite villa has a beautiful private garden bursting with mango trees, towering palms, banana plants and tropical flowers.

Yoga classes are each morning at 7am in the breath-taking open-air yoga studio which stretches over the jungle for amazing views as the sun rises. Each afternoon at 3pm there are more classes of yoga, meditation and Thai Chi. Private classes can be booked with any of the yoga instructors during your stay.

One of the most famous temples to visit in Bali is Tanah Lot Temple. This Hindu shrine is famed for its coastal location with breathtaking views and sunsets. The Tanah Lot Temple is a popular tourist attraction and can get very crowded at peak visiting times. There are temples everywhere in Bali and I would recommend visiting smaller local temples as these are just as beautiful and have less visitors. Book a reputable tour guide for a day through your hotel concierge. They will take you to smaller temples off the beaten track which are worth visiting. Keep in mind when visiting temples, that these are religious places of worship and you may be asked to remove your shoes or put on a sarong if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wearing shorts.

The Spa is the perfect place to treat yourself to a luxurious treatment and the spa offers a huge range of specialist and holistic therapies. Book in for one of their signature full body massage treatments, and afterwards you can relax in a scented pool filled with organic scented oils and frangipani flowers, in a secluded open-air spa room overlooking the jungle and river paradise. The hospitality, service and amenities in this resort are amazing. There are golf buggies on hand to take you to and from your villas, and two idyllic infinity pools, as well as mini golf and tennis courts. The hotel restaurant serves a wonderful buffet breakfast each morning. Make sure you book a table for the Balinese supper evenings which host traditional Balinese dancing shows for a unique dining experience. Each afternoon, a delicious complimentary afternoon tea is served in the palatial colonial style hotel lounge.

One afternoon, take a stroll through the Ubud Monkey Forest and feed bananas to the Macaque monkeys. The monkeys are very friendly so keep an eye on your belongings!

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The surrounding villages in Ubud are home to the picturesque rice or padi fields. These can be reached by car, on bike or by scooter. When hiring scooters make sure you take your driving license and ask to hire out helmets.

The amazing Elephant Safari Park Lodge in Taro should be on the top of your list when visiting Ubud. For 20 years this sanctuary has been dedicated to the care, protection and breeding of over 27 elephants. You can stay in the park at one of the luxurious lodges, but the day visitor passes are a great idea. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a wonderful breakfast, then spend a magical day bathing, feeding, swimming with and riding the elephants. All the elephants roam around the park and are cared for by a large team of park keepers. The park is a beautiful exotic oasis surrounded by the rainforest and all the elephants here have the upmost care an attention.

Elephant Safari Park Lodge. JI. Elephant Park, Taro, 80561, Ubud. www.elephantsafariparklodge.com

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Nus Dua Nusa Dua in southern Bali is 22km south of Denpasar International airport. Nusa Dua is an exclusive area of wonderful 5 star resorts stretching along the coastline. This is a great place to stay to enjoy the beach, the coastline, water sports, join boat trips to neighbouring islands, and is a great contrast to the humid rainforests and jungles of central Bali.

The Laguna Resort and Spa Kawasan Pariwisata Nusa Dua Lot N2, Bali, Bali, 80363, Indonesia www.thelagunabali.com

The Laguna Resort and Spa is a luxurious

5-star beach resort in the southern peninsula of Nusa Dua. This tropical paradise on the Indian Ocean stretches out along pure white sandy beaches, with exotic fragrant gardens and crystal-clear lagoon pools. Each luxurious hotel room looks over the tranquil gardens or has a balcony out to the lagoon pools which weave throughout the resort and gardens. The beautiful Lagoon Spa in the resort boasts an array of luxury holistic, spiritual and healing treatments and a state of the art gym overlooking the lagoon pools.

from the Sanur beach in southern Bali over to Lembongan. Here, spend a day snorkelling or scuba diving off the coast of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida with tropical fish and Manta rays, then in the afternoon kayak through the mangroves. This is also a great place to hire scooters to explore the rest of this tropical island, with less traffic and a slower pace than main Bali.

The Laguna resort has two beach front restaurants serving international cuisine and special beach dining experiences. The beach and pool bars serve amazing cocktails with daily happy hours and outstanding evening performances from traditional Balinese dancers.

The Gili Islands

If lying on a beach bed all day drinking cocktails is not your thing, then there are plenty of activities in Nusa Dua to keep you entertained during your break, such as swimming with dolphins, visits to the neighbouring islands, boat trips, kayaking through mangroves, snorkelling with Manta rays, scuba diving, white water rafting, paddle boarding and jet skiing. Sanur is a great place to watch and swim with dolphins in southern Bali. The company Bali Dolphins ensures you are in small groups and swimming with dolphins in the ocean. www.balidolphins.com. For all tours and trips, its advisable to book reputable tour guides through your hotel concierge for the best rates and availability.

During your visit to Bali, make time in your trip to visit the magnificent Gili Islands. The Gili Islands are three tropical islands on the north-west coast of Lombok. The three islands, Gili Trawaangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air are small, quiet tropical island paradises, with pure white sands surrounded by crystal clear waters. They are popular places to relax, snorkel and dive to explore the perfect coral reefs and beautiful sandy shores.

Travel to the Gili islands is easy, with around seven, 25-minute flights a day from Bali Denpasar International airport to Lombok International airport. From Lombok airport, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s around a 2.5-hour drive over to the islands via a ferry. Alternatively, travel by speed boat from Sanur beach in Bali to the Gili islands in around 4 hours. There are heaps of places to stay in the Gili islands, from 5-star hotels to budget friendly hostels and Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth prebooking in high season.

Nusa Lembongan Island

Take a boat trip to Nusa Lembongan Island which is a small island off the main island of Bali. This island is quieter than Bali with less traffic and tourists. This is the perfect place to snorkel, dive and surf. Get a fast boat trip

Charlie McBrien

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Bali facts

Island - Bali is 95 miles wide and 69 miles north to south.

Language - Balinese and Indonesian. Currency - Indonesian Rupiah. £1 GBP to 17, 348.27 IDR.

Capital City - Denpasar. Time Difference - Bali is 7 hours ahead of UK.

Travel to Bali from London Denpasar is Bali’s international airport. Fly from London Heathrow to Denpasar via Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore or Dubai. Flight time is approximately 15.5 hours. Find great packages on Virgin Holidays or get flights only from Malaysian Airlines for trips in October and November from around £800 depending on availability. Qatar Airlines, Thai Airways and British Airways also fly to Denpasar via Doha and Bangkok.

www.virginholidays.co.uk/destinations/ asia-and-far-east/bali-holidays www.malaysiaairlines.com

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BURNING Man 2017

Radical Ritual by Kalee Hewlett

ased in the hallowed Black Rock City, a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada, Burning Man is an epic annual late summer gathering. The event is hailed as the ultimate experiment in community and art, influenced by ten main principles: "radical" inclusion, self-reliance, and selfexpression, as well as community cooperation, civic responsibility, gifting, decommodification, participation, immediacy, and leaving no trace. Burning Man was first held 31 years ago in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small event put together by a group of mates, this globally-renowned gathering has since been held every year, and now attracts crowds of over 70,000.

Run by the Burning Man Project, a non-profit organisation, Burning Man explores various forms of artistic self-expression, created in celebration for the pleasure of all participants. Participation is a key precept for the community – selfless giving of one's unique talents for the enjoyment of all is encouraged and actively reinforced. Some of these generous outpourings of creativity can include experimental and interactive sculpture, building, performance, and art cars among other media, often inspired by the yearly theme, chosen by organisers. It’s no wonder I felt compelled to attend Burning Man this year when I discovered that the theme was Radical Ritual. Burning Man has become my own yearly ritual for the past seven years. This year was my sixth time attending and everything from the lead up, to the experience itself very much encapsulates ritual.

This year’s theme was an attempt to reinvent ritual in our post postmodern world. It was all about disregarding assertions of belief and

concentrating instead on the immediate experience of ‘play.’ Arguably, beliefs contain, define, and limit meaning. On the contrary, play can free us to envision truths and break down the distinction that divides belief from make-believe. It begs the question, when was the last time you allowed yourself to play? I think this is the crux of why I continue to return to the dust year after year; Burning Man is an adult playground. It’s an opportunity to let your inner child come out to play, a practice encouraged often by many spiritual teachers. It feels so freeing, just being able to let go and be a big kid again. Burning Man really caters for that and it’s incredible to realise what that simple act can do for you. It helps you to get back in touch with who you really are at the core, beyond all of the repressed emotions from societal living.

The desert this year was awash with elaborate images, shrines, icons and temples, all very much signifying the essence of ritual, whilst highlighting the ambiguous ground that lies between faith and belief. The burn this year really made you question and explore the many facets of the human psyche; the desire to belong to a place, to belong to a time, to belong to one another, and to belong to something that is greater than ourselves. Throughout all ages, temples have been built in order to induce these feelings. The desert this year housed 30 different Shrines, all inviting you to play with the sacred and leave offerings; written, spoken or even secret. What I have noticed change over the years is the grand scope of art work being delivered from all around the world. This year, of the 30 Shrine projects, nine were derived from U.S. states and seven from countries that span the globe: Argentina, England, Estonia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and the United States.

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“It’s like holding up

a magnified mirror to your soul and witnessing all parts of it, even those parts that you often don’t wish to see.

What began as an invitation to the Burning Man regionals to contribute community projects, has now grown to incorporate individual artists, and even introducing them to a granting process. This is really exciting. Having been a spectator over the last several years, it suddenly became really apparent for me this year that I no longer want to be just a spectator, but a creator of art. Watch this space…

The one thing that always strikes me year after year, is how different each experience is. You will never get the same experience twice. Last year, I rode what felt like an effortless wave the whole week. I was what you would call ‘in my flow’ and magic was showing up at every corner. This year, of course, was different. What was evident this year, is that whatever it is that you are journeying through in life in general, will feel magnified when you’re out there. Burning Man is so potent with stimulus, that you cannot help but to delve within the layers of yourself. It’s like holding up a magnified mirror to your soul and witnessing all parts of it, even those parts that you often don’t wish to see.

One thing that always becomes really apparent, is your relationships with the people that you spend time with at Burning Man. The essence of the festival brings people together in their truest state of authenticity and so you cannot but help to show up as you really are. Every year, I find myself writing a letter to a loved one at the temple, a ritual I have developed over the years. Every person you encounter you realise in some way is just a mirror of you. Burning Man really does help you to know who you really are and when you become more informed, you are able to share parts of you that you never could before. It’s one of the reasons why I say that everyone should go, even if it’s just once in your life. It provides on so many levels, really beyond what words can describe.

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Two standout highlights for me this year was witnessing the drum circle at the Red Lightning Camp and the ballet performance at the LED Tree joined by Robot Heart. Both were breath taking in their own way. Red Lightning is a beautiful camp, very much centred around spirituality and this year they had many natives from around the world fly in to create a huge circle to harmonise humanity. It was a powerful sacred circle filled with prayer and love. The ballet was another powerful experience. At sunset several ballet dancers formed around a stunning LED Tree art installation, that glowed in the colours of the rainbow as the sun set. Robot Heart, the renowned party bus, pulled up beside the tree and was accompanied by a full live orchestra. Hundreds of people sat around to watch a stunningly beautiful performance. This is one of the most elegant things I’ve experienced at the burn over the years and was a stark and enjoyable contrast to the hedonistic parties that happen throughout the week. The parties though of course cannot be sidelined for they are arguably some of the best in the world. Every year blows my mind. For the partygoer, Burning Man is paradise. Lee Burridge, quite the resident burner DJ, once again took people on a magical journey one sunrise at Robot Heart. This was one of my favourite sunrises throughout the week. One of my favourite camps was Cirque Gitane, hosted by the private rooftop club Petit Ermitage hotel that boasts one of the most magical outdoor spaces in Los Angeles, my current place of residence. I figured living in California serves one great purpose, I’m that much closer to the magic when the time comes back around for the man to burn again… I’m already counting down the days! Kalee Hewlett www.kaleehewlett.com

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"A powerful sacred circle filled with prayer and love."

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Fantastic Fontwell More

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If you think Fontwell Park is just a place for horse racing fans, think again! Steeped in history and with a plethora of events taking place throughout the year, Fontwell has plenty to offer and excite everyone, as Absolute’s Shelley Welti uncovers…

lfred Day came to The Hermitage, on the north side of the Chichester to Arundel road, in 1887 to train racehorses. While researching the history of the area, he found a reference on a 1630 map to “Fontwell”. This was the name of the spring in front of his house, the only watering-hole on this major south coast route, and which the Romans had originally called “Fons”. Passing monks are said to have added the “well” part of the name. Day brought the name Fontwell back into use. Generations of his family had been involved in racing as trainers and jockeys throughout the 19th century. While not training any Derby winners, Alfred Day often managed to get inexpensive horses to win good races. He bought one horse for just over £20 and won a race worth £300 with it. He turned down an offer of £700 for it, but a week later the horse died! His best horse was Master Willie, who held the world record for 6 furlongs for over 25 years. As time went by Day was able to buy more land in the area so that by 1924, with the support of the local gentry, he had obtained a license from the Jockey Club to create a racecourse at Fontwell. The hurdles track was a conventional oval shape, but the steeplechase course was designed as a figure of eight to make best use of the limited space available. There was a huge crowd at the first meeting on 21 May that year. Those who became Club members could enjoy the gardens Day had laid out over many years, which included a maze in the style of the one at Versailles, and relics from other stately homes. What had been the farmhouse became Fontwell House, the members’ restaurant. In keeping with the garden-like setting, the grandstand and the weighing room were built with thatched roofs. The inaugural race was won by the 5/4 favourite Gem, ridden by champion

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jockey Fred Rees. It was a warm, humid day, the first of a two day meeting, and some of the stable lads refreshed themselves so much they had to be put to bed still wearing their boots. There were four days racing in the first year and this slowly increased with a mixture of one and two day meetings, generally in spring and autumn. In 1949 Monaveen won a race at Fontwell. This was the first racehorse owned by the Queen and the Queen Mother, and the only horse they owned jointly. He went on to win good races and to run in the Grand National. A topiary statue in the main enclosure commemorates Monaveen’s triumph and the special bond his owners had with racing. The dual winning Champion Hurdler, National Spirit, won 32 of his 85 starts and five of those were at Fontwell, most notably in the Rank Challenge Cup, which he won 3 years in succession in 1948-50. Since 1965 a prestigious hurdle race has been run in his honour, attracting many equine stars over the years. Its first running saw Salmon Spray winning, who went on to land the Champion Hurdle in 1966. Other top class horses to have won it include the dual Champion Hurdler Comedy of Errors and the top stayer Baracouda, who won the race in 2001. Between 1959 and 1966 Certain Justice won 14 races at Fontwell, and 25 in all. More recently, in 1992-93 St Athans Lad won eleven races at Fontwell in the space of 14 months. They were good examples of the racing adage “horses for courses”. The unusual shape of the steeplechase track with its twists and turns does not suit all horses,

but others thrive on it as there is always something new coming into view up ahead. It is the only figure of eight jumps track left in the country. The course has long been valued by racing fans, many of whom go into the middle to watch the races by one fence and then walk over to the nearest fence on the next stretch of the figure of eight, in good time to see the horses reach it. As the horses go round three times in a three mile chase, spectators get quite a bit of exercise too! Around 1970 it was rumoured that Goodwood might buy the course, but instead it was snapped up by Isidore Kerman, a top London divorce solicitor who already owned Plumpton racecourse. He died in 1998 and his son Andy became the chairman until deciding to sell in 2002 to Northern Racing, who currently own or manage nine courses. Since then there has been a huge investment in the facilities. A new 90 box stable yard has been constructed and in 2007 the parade ring, winners' enclosure and saddling boxes were refurbished. A 40 bedroom hotel and pub/restaurant have also opened on the site. Maximum use has to be made of racecourses nowadays, so there are now over 20 race meetings a year and the course facilities are in use for numerous other events such as weddings, markets and concerts. Speaking of the Queen, actress Judi Dench (who is no stranger to portraying a royal) filmed the Dick Francis story, Dead Cert at Fontwell. The script called for a horse to fall, but despite hiring one that was a poor jumper, it persisted in jumping beautifully whenever it was on camera! Perhaps it was the magical Fontwell Park effect.

There are now over 20 race meetings a year and the course facilities are in use for numerous other events such as weddings, markets and concerts.

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Fantastic Fontwell

Voted Best Small Racecourse for 19 years running, Fontwell continues to delight racegoers, even some 93 years after hosting its first meet. It’s the park’s figure of eight jumps track that delights – as it’s now the only course of its kind in the UK. “Where Fontwell is unique is the configuration of the track,” Max Roberts, Head of Marketing for the racecourse explains. “As it’s the only figure of 8 jumps track in the UK, customers are able to see the horses run past up to three times before a race is finished. This is stark contrast to some other tracks where horses whizz by just the once!” But it’s not just the track that keeps visitors coming back for more, there’s so much more to Fontwell Park than that. It’s the electric atmosphere, the varied events and themed fun that makes people want to return, time and time again. “Fontwell has a fun, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It’s a cliché, but there’s something for everyone; whether you want to bring your family along for a family fun day, have a day out with some mates at Oktoberfest or get glammed up for Ladies Evening, there’s a huge range of events and themes to suit everybody,” Max adds. “The course itself is relatively small and therefore everything is easily located. The Parade Ring and Winning Circle are just a short walk from the Main Grandstand.” As autumn gets fully underway, so too does a busy season of events – including the popular Oktoberfest, fireworks night and the Totepool Southern National. “Autumn is a busy time for Fontwell! We have our big two day race meeting on the 6th and 7th of October (themed as an Oktoberfest).

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Oktoberfest is now in its third year and continues to grow in popularity. It seems Bavarian beers, food and racing are a popular combination!” Fontwell Park’s Head of Marketing tells us. “We also have our fireworks night on Saturday 4th November, a hugely popular night and this year the fireworks will be set to music from Disney!” “Finally, on Sunday 19th November, we have the Totepool Southern National– a real ‘racing’ day that’s always popular with National Hunt fans!” The latter event is one of Fontwell Park’s most spectacular and anticipated days, featuring highly in many a horse racing fan’s calendar. National Hunt racing at its best, this fixture really is the ultimate ride for jockey and horse and is ran over 3 miles of November ground – as Fontwell Park say “the race for the Grand National starts here!”. Of course, we can’t forget to mention the racecourse’s biggest raceday of the year – Boxing Day! The annual event, which has now become a family tradition for many families in Sussex (and beyond!) combines top class racing and hospitality with all the festive fun of Fontwell Park’s winter wonderland.

Aside from racing, Fontwell Park is the perfect destination for a huge range of special events; from weddings to banqueting, exhibitions to Christmas parties and a meeting space for between 2 – 400 guests. From the traditional and elegant Fontwell House, to their Premier Grandstand and Paddock Marquee, they have three great venues to suit your needs. And, as the racecourse offers dedicated event planners, you can rest assured knowing that your event will be planned to perfection. Whether you’re a horse racing fan, brideto-be, the office’s Christmas party planner or a family looking for something fun to do, one thing’s for sure; Fontwell Park can cater for your individual needs – and offer so much more!

Find Fontwell Park Racecourse in Fontwell, Arundel, BN18 0SY. www.fontwellpark.co.uk

Fontwell Park is the perfect destination for a huge range of special events; from weddings to banqueting, exhibitions to Christmas parties and a meeting space for between 2 – 400 guests.

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The Sussex Sign Company The Sussex Sign Company was established in January 1995, and currently operate from a 4,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant on Foredown Drive in Portslade. In addition to producing virtually any kind ofsign you could possibly imagine, the company also deliver nationwide consultancy and support services. Managing Director, Norman Mayhew, popped into the Absolute Brighton offices for a chat.

What kind of services do you provide? “Our team of experts love a challenge and there’s nothing more pleasing than producing a solution that answers the client’s brief. We can design, produce, install and maintain all under one roof, which our clients enjoy as it saves on headaches. Although we do have a first aid box if things get a bit hectic…” How did you start up? “I have always enjoyed the freedom and satisfaction of working for myself and started TSSC 21 years ago with my father and motherin-law, Peter and Pam Lake, and from the outset I had a vision to ‘make signs’. It’s not been an easy ride, and there have been several hair-raising moments, hence the grey hair now… but I wouldn’t change a thing.” What’s the most popular service you provide? “That’s a tough question. We now have such a diverse portfolio of work that incorporates anything from wheelie bin stickers to massive national roll-outs it is hard to select just one. The portfolio covers areas such as retail, leisure, entertainment, estate agents, vehicle livery, the public sector and educational authorities to name but a few… I like to think that one area we do excel in is customer service. Without our clients, I wouldn’t have a business and TSSC prides itself on great customer care. We work really hard to make sure all our clients are treated with the utmost respect, by listening to their needs and making sure projects are completed on time, and on budget. We are so confident about our signs that we offer a 12-month guarantee on all work carried out. I know myself, how great is it to be well looked after, and that’s what TSSC wants to deliver. I suppose currently the most popular service is for vehicle livery, which requires a sharp eye for detail and a thorough understanding of three dimensional objects. Working

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with a wide range of materials, including commercial and digitally printed vinyl, our designers produce concepts where the aesthetic meets functionality, creating high impact solutions.” How much can that cost up to? “Our vehicle livery prices start from £345.00+VAT and, dependent on specification of vehicle, confirmation of artwork and material, costs can rise up to approximately £3,500+VAT.” Who are some of your biggest clients? “In what way do you mean ‘big’? If you mean work that we have manufactured and installed, our team has worked on major UK roll-outs for The Gym Group, Oxygen Freejumping and RED Driving School. If you are talking about large organisations, then we have produced work on behalf of the NHS, the Sussex Police, the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex, but seriously, the list is endless… There are other clients based in London but we have signed a confidentiality agreement so mum’s the word!” What’s been the most challenging job for a client you have ever had? “Locally, we are working on a really exciting project for Sky High Trampoline Park, based in Newhaven. They are a great bunch of people, full of enthusiasm. The initial consultation led to an exciting brief that transformed the shell of a warehouse into a dynamic leisure park, ranging from large banners to window and wall manifestations. Working against tight deadlines and a demanding vision, we managed to produce a quality product, on time and on budget.” Can you explain what the process is for a job? “Ouch!... have you got time?! We have a well-oiled machine that takes a project from concept through to production and

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installation, consulting with the client at every stage.” Do you come up with the design and schemes yourself, or does the client give the input? “Quite simply, both! We can help and advise on all levels of a project, with a designated design department that is the link between the concept, the fabrication and installation. Our design team has the skills and expertise of any quality design agency, which is why clients keep coming back to us. On a daily basis we produce fully annotated, bespoke schematics based upon accurate site surveys along with photographic visuals, to help with planning applications that guarantee that the manufacture, fabrication, and installation are a seamless fit.” How do you make yourselves stand out amongst your competitors? “What competitors? Joking aside, we don’t actually look at the competition. What drives us as individuals is brought together collectively to produce an excellence and commitment that produces the best product we can, and delivering it in the best way possible. Our enthusiasm and energy carries us through the daily running of the company. We simply love what we do and have fun doing it! Winning awards is always great and we have been fortunate to be proud winners of the Sussex Small Business of the Year Award followed by not only being voted Newhaven Business of the Year, but also Federation of Small Business – Southern Region Small Business Champions, and have been finalist in the Sussex business awards ‘Learning Pays’ Award. And, in June 2016 the team were awarded Brighton and Hove Independent Business Awards 2016 – Manufacturing and Construction Business of the Year 2016

“ What drives us

as individuals is brought together collectively to produce an excellence and commitment that produces the best product we can, and delivering it in the best way possible."

– ‘an award to a company that has best demonstrated exceptional financial returns, innovation, strong growth and market leadership in the field of manufacturing and/ or construction’.” Brighton is a very diverse place so do you think being quite local has benefited you? “Absolutely, forgive the pun… We love Brighton and Hove. It is a creative hub that has allowed us to generate exciting solutions to challenging briefs. We really want to embrace new ways of seeing and we are extremely lucky to have such fantastically receptive clients who will allow us to develop fresh ideas and utilise new technologies.” Have you ever had a really strange or funny request to complete for a client? “Funnily enough we have never had any far out suggestions although our design manager has a bucket list, wanting to wrap a mobility shooter, drum kit and a coffin… so any offers welcomed…” www.sussexsigns.com

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Grizzly Bear New to Brighton’s Barclays creative working space Eagle Labs is Grizzly Bear, we talk to MD Benjamin Hammond about this new stylish start up…

So Benjamin, tell us what is Grizzly Bear… We are a new breed of creative marketing, ready to shake things up - Grizzly style. We understand how important your brand is to you, and through our work together we will share your vision to see your business flourish. Here at Grizzly Bear Brighton, we are not afraid to push the boundaries to see you succeed; we are fully invested in telling the story of your brand through the power of visual marketing and advertising. Together we can make you truly stand out. So what's stopping you? Let's Get Grizzly.

How did you get started working in your field? By accident! I studied Creative Events Management at university and actually had my first ventures as young as 18. I'd been working in London after university and I lost the buzz for the path I'd chosen to take, so I went home to figure out what I wanted to do. I was working in a bar and during my time working in this bar, I propelled myself to management and started producing design and branding work for all the other bars owned by the parent company. I'd dabbled in graphic design and media when I was at college, but it was when I was working at the bar, I became intrigued with the way brands could connect with their customers through the power of visual. The bar shut down in July 2016, so I moved to Brighton and landed myself a job as a Graphic Design & Marketing Intern. An interesting learning curve, but I didn't find myself challenged enough - I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur! I picked up some freelance design work and went from there. In April 2017, I quit, found my first office and landed my first high profile client. It's been a dream since. What inspires your work? Firstly, my Dad. He passed away two years before I went full time with Grizzly Bear Brighton. He is my sole inspiration to leave my mark on the world and make a positive change; I wouldn't have this opportunity without him. He also inspired the name!

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My other inspirations are the clients I work with. I work with amazing brands that are constantly moving to change the game. They’re not content with being just another brand; they want to be the best! That pushes me to create the best possible work for them. I work closely with my clients and build very good relationships - together we are trying to make people stand up and notice.

What are the latest projects you’re working on? I've got more on now than ever, which is such an amazing feeling. I work very closely with the guys at La Choza (incredible quesadillas, by the way). We're constantly looking at new ways to bring more life to their brand, which isn't hard because they're so vibrant! I have a great relationship with My Brighton, on Jubilee Street; we're currently putting together some fantastic projects that you'll be able to see soon on our new blog. I'm busy working with Cafe Plenty on their marketing and I've just picked up a couple of brand new clients that are top secret in the Bear's Den right now, including an amazing branding project! I need to throw a mention to the team at doughbo too. Without them I wouldn't have been able to move this far. They gave me my break and I'm forever grateful for their ongoing support.

You based yourself in Eagle Labs, why? I was finding it difficult to work in my old digs, so I worked in cafe's for a couple of months. I applied for a couple of entrepreneur programmes but didn't get in, so I went to meet the team at Eagle Labs. They threw me a lifeline and said they'd support me however they could on my journey. Every day, I come into work to be surrounded by inspiring people, support, new ideas and all the cups of tea I need. Since being in the Eagle Labs, my passion has been reignited. Being up here on Preston Circus, I've been thrown into new projects left, right and centre including the London Road BID initiative. I've always been keen to be part of an initiative like this, so I put Grizzly Bear forward to create a series of

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advertising videos with them. I've learnt more and more about this area since being here, and I now see exactly why London Road needs a BID. The initiative is now a project I will guarantee Grizzly Bear will support as it moves forward. We have an incredible city that is so much more than a lot of people see.

What are your plans for Grizzly Bear Brighton moving forward? Grizzly Bear Brighton is going to be a game changing creative agency. I put emphasis on the term 'visual marketing' because I believe we can bridge the gap between advertising and consumer engagement. As we work mainly in food & lifestyle, producing engaging visual content is your best tool for helping your customers understand and believe in your brand. I really want to build a home for people like me: creatives that have a passion for making a difference. I'm going to build a team of visionaries, innovators and incredible creatives. Together, we can bring new blood to our industry and pioneer the term visual marketing - Let's Get Grizzly!

Do you have any pearls of wisdom for those looking to get into graphic design or start on their own? To all the designers out there - find your style and evolve within that style. The right clients will appreciate the style you can bring to the table and will trust you for being you, not a copy. Your greatest tool as a designer is your eye. Don't stick to trends, design the new one. For those going out on their own - Nike have a famous slogan you should adhere to. You can utilise everything - bad times, good times, gained clients, lost clients - analyse your situation and use it to progress and build your brand. Read, listen, learn and network. Don't isolate yourself, make yourself visible and own your talent. There might be 1000x other companies, but there is only one YOU. If you believe in you, so will others. Benjamin Hammond Managing Director

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The Sweet Taste of Success: Absolute Gets The Scoop on

Boho Gelato Just shy of eight years ago, after indulging in Italy’s infamous gelato, Brighton foodie Seb Cole decided to set up Boho Gelato a micro factory and shop for an ever-changing choice of handmade ice cream and sorbets in a wide variety of creative flavours.

ince opening the doors to the Pool Valley shop, there’s now another Boho Gelato store in Ship Street, plus two others in the seaside towns of Worthing and Weymouth. They also supply roughly 50 restaurants, cafes and food businesses in Sussex and beyond. Absolute’s Shelley Welti met founder Seb to find out more about Boho Gelato’s sweet success…

Hi Seb! When and why was Boho Gelato set up? It’s been seven and a half years since I opened the original shop in Pool Valley. In the years before that, I spent a lot of time in Italy and unintentionally I ate a lot of gelato! I'm a foodie and flavours obsessive and every time I came home to Brighton, I thought that the city could really do with a proper gelato shop offering a wide range of flavours like I had experienced there.

I grew up in a family of great cooks and had worked in a few kitchens so I knew I had the basic skills needed to learn how to produce gelato. I went back to Italy to train, then bought my machines and opened up shop.

What makes your gelato different to others? We make our gelato using a pure recipe and artisan method using locally produced milk and cream. Our style of gelato has a very low air content plus lower fat and lower sugar than some other ice creams which means it is very dense and luxurious, but also fresh tasting and not tooth-achingly sweet. We specialise in flavours and have produced well over 500. The selection in the shops change daily depending on what ingredients looked good at the market, customer requests or whatever we feel like making that day. We are also very well known for our vegan flavours which we make in over 100 everchanging options.

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What do you enjoy most about working with gelato? The fact that you really can do anything you want with the flavours, there’s no limit on the creativity. We enjoy coming up with and testing new recipes! It’s great when you create a new combination to see how it goes down with the public. Also chatting to customers about their ideas is great fun.

How would you describe the Boho Gelato experience? Top quality innovative ice cream like you would find in a good restaurant, served in a creative, fun and affordable way. Or just "mmm that’s good!" If you are a vegan or a dairy free customer it’s sometimes more like: "I can’t believe that’s really vegan!" Can you give us any insider secrets into how you create your gelato? The process is actually really simple, the skill is the knowledge of the ingredients and the trial and error of the balance of the recipes. You need a good palate to be able to taste recipes as they are being made to make sure everything is singing.

We use a pasteuriser to cook our milk, cream and sugar. Once that is ready we add flavours to the mix, batch by batch, which could include anything from simply blending in fruit to making hot or cold infusions of herbs and spices or cocoa, or making praline, caramel, jams or cakes. The blended mix goes into a batch freezer before it emerges ten minutes later as creamy, soft gelato. If a flavour has ripples or pieces, we add them by hand at the point the gelato leaves the freezer. You need to know a lot of different techniques for your preparations but the main process is mainly theory-based, like cocktail mixing. With autumn just around the corner; will you be adding any new faves to the menu?

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We always have new flavours coming through and actually thanks to the slightly colder end to the summer we have had this year, we have already had some great new autumny flavours - White Choc with Spiced Pear, Banana Custard with Cinnamon Waffles and Real Patisserie Chewy Brown Toast and Jam to name a few. What are your most requested flavours? Sea Salt Caramel is still probably the overall favourite and has been since the beginning. However, Carrot Cake has recently had a huge wave in popularity and our top selling vegan flavour is the Peanut Butter Salt Caramel.

Other than launching delicious new flavours, what exciting plans do you have for autumn? Having opened three shops in the last three years, we thought a quieter year might be a good idea to give us more time to get back to what we love. We are doing lots of teaming up we are planning the next 'Flavours of Brighton' [a regular much-loved event, which sees Boho Gelato using signature ingredients and/or ideas from local food or drink businesses to create collaborative flavours] which we hope might be launching around Christmas. We also have other collaborations in the pipeline, both in terms of flavours and events.

And finally, how do you feel to be one of Brighton's go-to foodie destinations? I’m very proud that Boho is regarded as a go-to Brighton destination. When I first opened, I had hoped that we might just last the first couple of years and who knows beyond that, but we have been lucky that from the very beginning, people in Brighton really understood and appreciated what we were doing. Word of mouth and recommendation goes a long way, so we gained our reputation in the city very quickly. Thanks so much to all those to supported us at the start! Boho Gelato is a place run by people who love ice cream, for people who love ice cream, dairy or non-dairy. If that’s you, then come on down! Visit Boho Gelato at 6 Pool Valley and 31 Ship Street, Brighton.

Salt Caramel â&#x20AC;&#x153; Sea is still probably the

overall favourite and has been since the beginning. However, Carrot Cake has recently had a huge wave in popularity and our top selling vegan flavour is the Peanut Butter Salt Caramel."

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