Absolute xmas/new years issue 138 by Absolute Magazine Group

ABSOLUTE ISSUE 138 XMAS / NEW YEAR 2017

FASHION | STYLE | CULTURE | LIVING | TRAVEL

COMING SOON TO HOVE

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Index 08 14 26 14 26 32 38 44 47 48 54 56 60 64 68 72 78 96 102 114 120

CITY NEWS FASHION GOLDIE FASHION BILL BAILEY PROFESSOR BRIAN COX CASTLE GALLERY CHURCHILL SQUARE BEAUTY FARAH CLOTHING HAIR BY MICHAL MINT VELVET ABSOLUTE SUPPLEMENT FIZZ & FOOD BARS & BEATS COFFEE & CAKE THE OLD BANK 32 DUKE STREET LONDON LIFESTYLE L.A. CITY OF ANGELS BOXPARK GOLDIE PHOTO REVIEW

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 - petehayward.design Owners - Publishers Simon Darcy Abbott - simon@absolutemagazine.co.uk David Camici - dcamici@absolutemagazine.co.uk

Cover Shot Photography – Daren Black Photography Models – Guilia Zonta and Faye Hoek Styling & Art direction – Kasia Kash | stylingagency.co.uk Clothes – Walk in Wardrobe Hair & Make Up – Oliver Cunningham and Morgan Rhodes Location – No. 32, Duke Street, Brighton

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

OW. Another year has come and gone and what a year it’s been for our city

and county. Brighton & Hove Albion are doing well in their first season in the

Premier League and we’re smashing the cricket too! There are some huge

new building projects both launching and in their final stages, plus loads of cool new businesses opening. It’s fair to say we live in a vibrant and ever-changing city and county.

Our final issue of 2017 carries you into the new year and is packed with super special features for you. We bring you fashion from top independent local women’s wear store

Walk In Wardrobe, shot at the stunning 32 on Duke St, we interview the hilarious Bill Bailey ahead of his forthcoming Brighton show and we chat to the team at the Castle

Gallery Brighton about some of the amazing exclusive exhibitions they have coming up, including more from Stan Lee of Marvel fame and Bob Dylan. We also take a look at the Farah clothing brand as they open the doors on their new Brighton store!

For this special end of year issue, we have decided to replace our homes magazine with 32 pages of gorgeous images from the past 12 months, taken throughout the south by

David Freeman and Jim Carey, two of the Brighton’s rising stars in photography. We hope the images we have selected for IMAGE will evoke some memories of the year, the city’s incredible events and concerts, plus the beautiful nature and the stunning sunsets and rises.

We end our issue with a travel piece of truly epic proportions; the ultimate LA road trip, taking in all the top attractions and the very best hotels and hidden gems this destination

has to offer the traveler. We also feature a few exclusive pictures from the recent GOLDIE gig and add a sprinkling of all our regular features.

We hope you enjoy the issue and have a safe and fun Christmas and New Years, whatever your plans are. Love

Absolute

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News

New Year's Eve at The Salt Room

New Year's Eve at Malmaison

Set along Brighton’s famous seafront, The Salt Room has long been a favourite place to celebrate and this year they invite you to toast in 2018 with a fabulous New Year’s Eve party. The restaurant will be putting on a very special night celebrating The Salt Room’s exquisite menu, special cocktails and a glass of bubbles with live entertainment as the clock strikes midnight. Tickets are priced at £120 per person for an arrival drink and nibbles, five course menu, a glass of bubbles at midnight and entertainment. The evening commences at 8pm and the restaurant and bar will be open until 2am.

Goodbye 2017, hello Malmaison Brighton. Join this glamorous Brighton haunt as they bring in 2018 in style, with Champagne on arrival and an incredible 5 course dinner, followed by an amazing party atmosphere, with Cat on Sax and a DJ set from Hed Kandi’s John James, that’ll have you dancing into the early hours. To book call or go online 01273 041482 www.malmaison.com

Professor Brian Cox Having set two Guinness World Record titles with his previous sell-out live UK and Ireland tour, Professor Brian Cox, OBE is heading back out on the road with a brand new show for 2019, arriving at the Brighton Centre on 26th February 2019. Taking audiences to the edge of our current understanding about the origin and evolution of our Solar System and the Universe, Professor Brian Cox Live 2019 offers a fascinating insight into the workings of nature at the most fundamental level. Whether an avid science reader or a total novice, Professor Cox makes challenging ideas accessible to all, exploring the vast, possibly infinite universe and our place within it from earth to the edges of the cosmos. Brian will once again be joined by co-host of The Infinite Monkey Cage and award-winning comedian Robin Ince to oversee an audience Q&A, giving fans the chance to ask any question they have.

Seal British soul legend Seal has announced UK tour dates for 2018 in support of his tenth studio album Standards. Backed by a big band, the multi-award winning star will be performing songs from the new album, alongside his classic hits ‘Killer’ and ‘Kiss from a Rose’ at The Dome, Brighton on 17th February 2018. In a career spanning three decades, racking up over 30 million records sales worldwide and a string of Grammy, Brit and Ivor Novello awards along the way, Seal continues to shine as one of the world’s brightest music stars.

Standards brings the glamour of Old Hollywood straight to the present. It is a natural successor to his series of soul records, made a decade ago which sold over 5 million copies around the world. Standards hears Seal’s signature, velvety warm vocals bring to life classics made popular by Frank Sinatra (such as ‘Luck Be A Lady’, ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ and ‘It Was A Very Good Year’), Ella Fitzgerald (‘I’m Beginning to See The Light’) and Nina Simone (‘I Put A Spell on You’).

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Malmaison

Holidays on Ice

Greenwich Winter Time festival

Holiday on Ice: TIME The Brighton Centre will be paying host to the world-renowned show, Holiday on Ice, which has been running for over 73 years and will be returning to Brighton in January 2018 with new spectacular production, TIME.

Celebrating ‘the best and most memorable times of our lives’, the show is described as a photo album filled with ‘snapshots’ of memories we all share in common - falling in love, a first kiss, dancing ‘til dawn, a memorable night on the town, a great vacation, a thrilling adventure, and everyone’s wish to slow down time as it goes by too fast! Directed and choreographed by David Liu, who is renowned for his innovative and exciting choreography, TIME will open at The Brighton Centre on Friday 5th January and run until Sunday 14th January 2018. Holiday on Ice has become the most famous brand of entertainment on ice for over seven decades with a record number of 328 hundred million visitors. The wellestablished production guarantees quality performances from Olympic skaters. Tickets to see Holiday on Ice’s TIME at The Brighton Centre go on general sale on Friday 4th August 2017 at 10am and prices start from just £15 for children and £25 for adults. Tickets can be purchased from http://www.brightoncentre.co.uk/ or by contacting the box office on 0844 847 1538.

Burning The Clock

Burning the Clocks The people of Brighton & Hove gather together to make paper and willow lanterns to carry through their city and burn on the beach as a token for the end of the year. Every year on 21st December, the shortest day of the year, Same Sky – Brighton’s community art charity – produces a muchloved free event in Brighton called Burning the Clocks. The event combines a family lantern procession with a spectacular fire and fireworks show, bringing the whole city together to celebrate. Burning the Clocks is a unique community event in which local people make their own paper and willow lanterns. After carrying them through the city in a lantern parade they pass them into the fire on Brighton beach, as a token of the year’s end. Then a dazzling fire show is set in motion, in which a massive fire sculpture is ignited, live music plays, and fireworks light up the sky! Burning the Clocks was created in 1994 as a way to celebrate the festive season regardless of faith or creed. It is free and the route is suitable for all ages and abilities. Over 2,000 people now take part in the parade and over 20,000 spectators turn out to watch.

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Greenwich Winter Time Festival Move over Winter Wonderland, there's a new Christmas experience in town: Greenwich Winter Time Festival, a snowy festive takeover of the world heritagelisted Old Royal Naval College, located right beside the Cutty Sark. The space in front of the riverside building will have a covered ice rink, and a Christmas market filled with contemporary craft and design stalls. Don't worry, it's not all ulta-modern: there will still be food stalls flogging mince pies and mulled wine.

You can wander around Greenwich Winter Time for a three hour session, though it'll cost extra for ice skating or an audience with Santa. Greenwich is pretty Christmassy as is, so Winter Time is a chance to go turbo on the festivities this December. Old Royal Naval College , Greenwich Friday December 1 2017 - Sunday December 31 2017

News

Paul Weller 2017, marks the 40th anniversary of Paul Weller’s first album, In The City, which he released with The Jam in May 1977. For most artists such a landmark would be greeted with extensive retrospective celebrations: lavish reissues and all that jazz, but Paul Weller is not like most artists, instead releasing a new studio album, because releasing new albums is what Paul Weller does. Always moving forward, almost clinically averse to nostalgia or checking his progress in the rear-view mirror. And so, continuing his never-ending creative peak, Paul Weller releases his eagerly awaited 13th studio album A Kind Revolution and announces a UK Arena tour for 2018. The tour kicks off in our fair city at The Brighton Centre on February 17th 2018.

London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Hear Big Ben's famous "bongs" ring out at midnight, followed by the UK's largest annual fireworks display over the Coca-Cola London Eye, presented by the Mayor of London. Tickets for the 2017 fireworks event are on sale now. Priced at £10 each, you can book up to four. Get your fireworks tickets now www. london.gov.uk. The hugely popular London's New Year's Eve fireworks have been ticketed since 2014 to ensure the event stays safe and fun for all.

Jools Holland

London Boat Show at ExCeL London Enjoy an action-packed nautical day out with the London Boat Show at ExCeL London from 10 January 2018 to 14 January 2018.

Lumiere London is back! Bigger, brighter and bolder, the Lumiere light festival returns for a spectacular second edition, running from 18th-21th January 2018. More than 40 UK and international artists reimagine London’s iconic architecture and streets, transforming the city into a dazzling nocturnal art exhibition. Free to visit and taking place north and south of the river Thames, the UK’s largest light festival extends its reach across the capital. Everyone is invited!

London’s biggest annual boat show brings together experts, traders and celebrities from the world of boating and water sports to showcase the latest nautical trends and upcoming developments at the waterfront location. Highlights of the 2017 London Boat Show included the boating lake, where you could try out kayaking and zorbing, talks by yachtswoman Dee Caffari and Olympic medallist Saskia Clark, the Dream Lodge Marina featuring super yachts, Marine Fashion Week catwalk and dance shows, as well as more than 300 exhibitors.

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Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2GR Musical virtuoso Jools Holland and his well-renowned Rhythm & Blues Orchestra is gracing The Brighton centre on 16th December 2017. Now in its 22nd year, these legendary shows are not to be missed. Joining Jools on stage for the tour will be Grammy Award winner José Feliciano, one of the most prominent stars in Latin America and revered musicians in the world. Having worked with the likes of John Lennon and Joni Mitchell in the past, his catalogue of international hits include his covers of The Doors’ “Light My Fire” and the Bee Gees’ “And the Sun Will Shine,” along with the much-loved Christmas classic, “Feliz Navidad”. Jools and José will also be recording an album together with the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, which is scheduled to be released on 27th October. With his mix of Latin and pop styles and his inimitable guitar playing, it’s no question that José will go down a storm on stage. Also featuring in the shows will be fan favourites Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Beth Rowley on vocals, along with the supreme Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with original Squeeze member Gilson Lavis on drums.

UB40 Birmingham’s world-famous reggae stars UB40 have announced a major eightdate UK tour for December 2017, arriving at the Brighton Centre on 13th December 2017.

Featuring UB40’s five founding members Robin Campbell, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer and Norman Hassan, and longtime members Duncan Campbell, Martin Meredith, Lawrence Parry and Tony Mullings. Robin Campbell said, “UB40 are very excited to be returning to some of the biggest venues in the UK during our ‘Cites and Towns’ tour in December 2017.” Fans can expect to hear UB40’s greatest hits, including ‘Food For Thought’, ‘One In Ten’, ‘Kingston Town’, ‘(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You’ and ‘Red, Red Wine’, amongst many, many others.

War Horse Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2GR Following 8 record-breaking years in London’s West End and having played in 11 countries around the world to over 7 million people, the National Theatre’s acclaimed play WAR HORSE is coming the the Brighton Centre from Thursday 25th January – Saturday 10th February 2018. At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home. Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage. War Horse is an unforgettable theatrical event which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France.

Hogwarts in the Snow The Harry Potter Studio Tours get a festive makeover once more this Winter, with Christmas trees and a seasonal feast in the Great Hall, decorations in Gryffindor common room and snow drifts in Diagon Alley. The beautiful scale model of Hogwarts that was used for sweeping shots over the school will also be looking wintry, with snow and ice effects carefully applied by hand. Visitors will also be able to get up close with the different types of snow used during production. Remember to wrap up warm. Personalised knitted jumpers optional. Hogwarts in the Snow is included in the standard ticket price.

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G I R L S

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film

Fashion Shoot PHOTOGRAPHY Daren Black Photography MODELS Giulia Zonta and Faye Hoek First Model Management, London STYLING & ART DIRECTION Kasia Kash at The Styling Agency HAIR & MAKE UP Oliver Cunningham and Morgan Rhodes CLOTHES: Walk in Wardrobe (www.walk-in-wardrobe.co.uk) and stylist's own LOCATION No. 32, Duke Street, Brighton, East Sussex

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

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Bill Bailey is buzzing After a gap of two years, the comedian is hugely excited about returning to the live arena. In January, he is embarking on a major nationwide tour with an entirely new show entitled, “Larks in Transit” – and he just can’t wait!

he show combines in one unique package Bill’s trademark hilarious comedy and brilliant music. Drawing on superb new songs and dazzling routines, Bill will address politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness. In addition, he will regale us with the real tale of Old McDonald and deliver an entirely new take on The Stars and Stripes. The show promises larks by the lorry load. Offering a one-off mixture of virtuoso comedy and virtuoso music, Bill is one of the best loved comedians in the land. And the critics would agree. The Evening Standard declares that, “Bailey cuts a world-beating swathe all of his own. Absolutely genius on so many levels.” Time out says that, “Bailey is on top form; joyous, playful and effortlessly funny.” He is described by The Guardian as, “Approaching the status of national treasure”, while The Times affirms that he is, “At the top of his game”. The New York Times enthuses that, “Bailey is an unalloyed pleasure, a treat for the funny bone, the brain and the ear.” The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, calls him, “The brainiest comic of his generation.” You will no doubt be delighted to hear that Bill is just as delightful in person as he is on stage. An hour in his company at his local pub in West London simply whizzes by. Over orange juice and cheese and onion crisps – rock ‘n’ roll, eh? – we touch on everything from Indonesia to stone masonry. It is like being treated to a Royal command performance – to an audience of one. The comedian, who over the past 20 years has enjoyed a dozen immensely successful

international stand-up tours, begins by underlining how much he is looking forward to touring with “Larks in Transit.” He asserts that nothing beats the heady feeling that comes from live comedy. “There’s nothing quite like it. It’s a singular experience. I don’t think there is anything that quite matches up to it in all of performance art. When you’re in a play or a band, it’s still a collaborative thing. “When everything comes together and you think of an idea, a joke or routine that connects with people, it’s incredible. It’s the most amazingly satisfying experience hearing an arena full of people laughing at something you’ve thought up. It’s a tremendous buzz.” Bill, who won the Best Live Stand-Up gong at the British Comedy Awards in 1999, adds that, “The best of those times come when you’re laughing along with them. It’s like you’ve hit on a bit of funny. It’s a bit of funny that was out there, a bit of universal funny that you’re just lucky enough to have plucked and shared with everyone. Those moments rare, but they are wonderful. “There’s a great folk singer who said that the tunes are out there. You just have to tap into them or capture them before someone else gets them.” “Larks in Transit” features long-form stories about the weird and wondrous places that Bill has visited. He recounts to me one particularly amusing traveller’s tale. “We were on a birding trip in the jungles of Indonesia. I cannot tell you how remote this place was. It was like some sort of Eden. I was just standing there naked in this river. I was the only person there, and I was thinking, ‘This is one place where I won’t meet anyone’.

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He is described by The Guardian as, “Approaching the status of national treasure”, while The Times affirms that he is, “At the top of his game”.

“

It’s the most amazingly satisfying experience hearing an arena full of people laughing at something you’ve thought up. It’s a tremendous buzz.”

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Those of you fortunate enough to secure tickets for “Larks in Transit” have a terrific night out in prospect. Bill’s shows remain so entertaining because, after more than three decades in comedy, Bill is still as passionate about it as ever.

“Then out of the blue, a couple of Aussies just came out of the bush and shouted, ‘Oh, look at that - it’s Bill Bailey! What the bloody hell are you doing here?" That just suddenly brought me back down to earth.” The comic, who has starred in such widelyadored TV comedies as Black Books, Spaced and Is It Bill Bailey?, continues that, “The two elements of what I’m talking about in this show come together in that story. "The show is about being lucky enough to have those kind of experiences where you get to think about the world and our relationship with Nature. But it’s also about how my life has led me to the point where people do recognise me in those same places.” “Larks in Transit” also has some thoughtprovoking things to say about the merits of perseverance. Bill, who for 11 highly popular series was a team captain on BBC2’s hit comedy pop quiz show, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, reflects that, “My grandfather was a great influence on me. He was a stone mason, and he had a very strong work ethic. Somehow, through all the chats I had with him, I get the feeling that’s rubbed off on me. “He used to tell me about the dignity of work and really developing a craft. He taught me that you shouldn’t give up too easily. You continue, you endure, you keep moving forward and somehow work gains its own meaning. You don’t have to think too much about it. You just keep going. I hope I have been true to

the spirit of what my grandfather said.” The tour of “Larks in Transit”, to which 36 shows and 50,000 seats have just been added, will also include some of Bill’s inimitable musical flights of fantasy. He will, for example, create a symphony out of ringtones. The comedian considers the importance of music in his show. “It’s another dynamic really, it’s a bit of light and shade. I always think it’s a tremendous art and a tremendous skill to keep people’s attention with the spoken word for a couple of hours. I’m always aware of that. So when I was starting out in stand-up, I was looking for ways to break it up. “I think music works on a different level to language. Some of the words create a picture and can feed people’s imaginations. Often slow-burn, great, long routines can build up to great crescendos. But music gets you on the gut level. It gets you straight away. It’s a more instantaneous kind of reaction.” Another standout characteristic of Bill’s comedy is his captivating use of language. That is once again evident in “Larks in Transit.” “I think we’re very lucky to have English as our language,” muses the standup. “It’s just so expressive and so endlessly supple, and it has myriad ways of telling the same story. You can tell the same story, embroider it, put in new language, and it becomes something completely different. It’s a treat and a wonder.”

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So as you can see, those of you fortunate enough to secure tickets for “Larks in Transit” have a terrific night out in prospect. Bill’s shows remain so entertaining because, after more than three decades in comedy, Bill is still as passionate about it as ever. In fact, he observes, “I appreciate it even more now because I realise that I’m lucky to have this career. I’m lucky to still be doing this and to do something I love. I’m lucky that after all these years, people still want to come and see me. “My priority is always funny first. Then if you have the time and the experience to refine it to the level where maybe the odd phrase does get through to people – well, that’s as good as it can get really.” I’ll leave the final word to The Mail on Sunday critic who simply concludes that, “Bailey live is a joy to behold.” I defy anyone to argue with that.

Tickets tp see Bill Bailey - Larks in Transit at The Brighton Centre on Friday 20th April 2018 are available via www. brightoncentre.co.uk and 0844 847 1515 Full information also available at www.BillBailey.co.uk

The comedian considers the importance of music in his show. “It’s another dynamic really, it’s a bit of light and shade.

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OLIVER CUNNINGHAM CUCKFIELD “His colouring is flawless” Leona Lewis

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

MEET THE TEAM

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Professor Brian Cox syndicated interview

Oct 2017 Interview with Professor Brian Cox in support of the announcement of brand new live tour Professor Brian Cox Live 2019

t isn’t easy making complicated ideas accessible to a mass audience, but Professor Brian Cox has spent the last decade doing precisely that to stunning effect. His exploration of particle physics and astronomy on TV shows such as Stargazing Live, Wonders Of The Solar System and Forces Of Nature have entranced millions in their living rooms. And given the vast numbers of people who got up from their sofas to witness his last live tour, people clearly can’t get enough of Brian Cox in person. So much so that he’s even earned himself an entry in the Guinness World Records for ‘most tickets sold for a science tour’. While Brian can be rightly proud of such an achievement, it merely confirms a longstanding belief. “I’ve always thought that most people are interested in these ideas. If science is available they will come and they’ll listen and think and enjoy being challenged. Everybody is interested in questions or ideas that are best addressed by astronomy or physics or biology or geology: they’re interested in whether aliens are out there or how the universe began or how it’s going to end.” This natural curiosity has been answered by Brian’s addictively watchable TV shows and dramatic live events. “Some people get the mistaken impression that they can’t understand it and that science is for weird boffin-type people. It’s very important to get the message across, especially to children,

that scientists have chosen a career in finding out about nature, and that’s it. You don’t have to be freakishly clever. You don’t have to be Mozart to be a professional musician or Einstein to be a scientist, otherwise we wouldn’t have many!”

With his forthcoming tour (Professor Brian Cox Live 2019), he will once again aim to have audiences walk away with more of an understanding about the universe’s origins and evolution than they had when they bought their ticket. While few of us know what we’re doing next week never mind in a years’ time, such meticulous forward planning is necessary for the type of shows he puts on. “For the last tour, we had a lot of dates in smaller venues and they sold out very quickly. So we decided to put more shows in arenas, which I thought I wouldn’t enjoy because it wouldn’t be the same experience. But what it allowed us to do was to use these enormous hi-res LED screens, and suddenly the images from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Cassini spacecraft around Saturn came to life in a way that I’d never seen them. You usually look at them on a computer monitor. I think the audience really enjoyed the spectacle that astronomy can deliver. The only downsides are that you have to book that kind of technology a year and a half in advance or you can’t get it – lots of massive rock bands like Coldplay and U2 use it – and it’s really expensive, so you take a risk. But it’s worth it to see these images of the Cosmos as you’ve never seen them before”

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“Some people get the mistaken impression that they can’t understand it and that science is for weird boffin-type people. It’s very important to get the message across, especially to children, that scientists have chosen a career in finding out about nature, and that’s it.

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Professor Brian Cox

That mention of globetrotting rock behemoths is the perfect excuse to ask him about his own previous life as a member of 90s bands Dare and D:Ream (with Things Can Only Get Better, the latter had a number one hit and New Labour anthem for the 1997 General Election).

“There really isn’t. I’d say I am a competent musician, but not that good! I think if I’d got to my age now in music I wouldn’t have been creating great things; I don’t think I have it in me. I couldn’t write Abbey Road and that’s what I’d have wanted to do so I think I’m not good enough, I can play and operate in a band but that’s about it. I’m definitely better at science than I am at music.” Joining Brian onstage for the Q&A section will be comedian Robin Ince, the pair having worked on Radio 4’s The Infinite Monkey Cage since 2009. Was he a fan of the standup before they teamed up on the radio? “I’d never heard of him until I worked with him,” Brian admits with a chuckle. “There was this idea of doing a topical science show on Radio 4. I was introduced to him because the producer wanted to see if it would work having a comedian and a scientist co-presenting. And it did work because, among other things, Robin is one of the most well-read people I know, so he’s full of information and he knows something about everything. He’s also been trying to teach me how to impersonate John Peel but I just can’t do it.”

Talking of impersonations, Brian Cox is one of those who has been immortalised in mimicry by Dead Ringers’ Jon Culshaw. Does he take this as a compliment? “I know Jon very well but he’s doing the 40-year-old me and hasn’t moved on to the almost 50-year-old me. I’ve evolved in the way I present television programmes but the early ones are exactly like Jon Culshaw. But now I speak a bit faster and keep my arms in check a bit more.” As well as putting on entertaining and enlightening live shows, Brian is also keen to dispel some myths about his work. One of them is that scientists don’t spend hour upon hour every day on their own in the lab, shuffling home to write up their research before doing it all again the next day. “One of the key points about modern science – certainly astronomy and particle physics - is that it’s extremely collaborative and international. With the science I do, no single country can build those facilities any more. One of the great attractions of the job, which I emphasise particularly for younger people thinking of a career in science, is that you get to travel and meet different people from different cultures and countries and this is vitally important. The more perspectives we can get the more likely we are to understand Nature. This collaboration is a blueprint for the way that our civilisation must develop. We all live on the same planet, after all.” Tickets for Professor Brian Cox Live 2019 go on general sale on Friday 27th October. Visit www.briancoxlive.co.uk for more information.

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“I emphasise particularly for younger people thinking of a career in science, is that you get to travel and meet different people from different cultures and countries and this is vitally important."

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Castle F I N E

A R T

Brighton boasts one of the finest palettes of art galleries in the UK, showcasing a perfect blend of up and coming, local and nationally-acclaimed artistic works. If you take a stroll down Brighton’s hallowed Lanes, you’ll come across a jewel in the city’s arty crown; Castle Fine Art. Relatively new to the thriving scene, the gallery is attracting art lovers from the seasoned collector to the aspiring student and the curious passers by. Intrigued as to what it takes to gain such an avid following and huge respect and client base, Absolute Magazine spoke with Valerie Kaye, Gallery Manager at Castle Fine Art, Brighton.

Castle Fine Art is part of the Halcyon Group, one of the largest and most prestigious art groups in the world. How did it all begin? Halcyon Gallery began in Birmingham in the 1980s, specialising in original and signed limited edition art. The gallery operation grew rapidly and eventually expanded into the London market, and during this time Washington Green Fine Art Publishing was formed.

Washington Green represents a diverse range of art and artists, and supplies original art and limited edition translations to both Halcyon Gallery and Castle Galleries, which merged with Washington Green in 2005. We celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2015 and Castle Fine Art continues to go from strength to strength. We now have 36 galleries across the UK. What prompted Washington Green Fine Art Group Ltd to open in Brighton and specifically The Lanes? The Castle Fine Art Brighton gallery was opened in December 2012. Brighton really reflects our core values for diversity and

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creativity, and The Lanes is known for its vibrancy so there’s no better spot.

How would you describe Castle Fine Art to someone who has never visited? What sets the gallery apart from others? As a company, we’ve worked hard to make art approachable and friendly in everything we do – from our customer service to the way we describe and demystify artwork in our marketing materials. We strive to make art as inclusive as possible and like to think this sets us apart from other retail galleries. All of the art we display is mounted and framed in our headquarters and each piece is worked on by up to seven craftsmen from start to finish. The time and detail put into presenting our art has played a huge role in positioning us as market leaders. How do you decide which artists will be exhibited?

All of the work hanging on our gallery walls is supplied by our publishers Washington Green. I decide which pieces to display on a weekly basis, depending on which shows we have coming up and which work is most in demand.

Who are your target market? At Castle Fine Art we live by the motto: “Your world, our art” and this is reflected in the way we approach selling our art. In our view, there is no such thing as a ‘target market’ art is for everyone. We feel so strongly about this that we've recently started rolling out a programme for primary school children to introduce them to art and create a new generation of artists. Which exhibition has been your favourite to date?

We’ve held so many fantastic exhibitions over the years that it’s difficult to choose one stand-out event. We recently ran a show with the world’s first ever ‘augmentists’, Scarlett Raven and Marc Marot, which was a huge success. Their paintings come alive when you flash an iPad at them! If I had to choose I think my ultimate favourite has to be when we held an exclusive event with artist Stuart McAlpine Miller last November.

piece of art to a client. I have to wear several different ‘hats’ as gallery manager and the variety is definitely one of the things I love most about my job. Brighton has a thriving student art scene. What advice would you give to anyone hoping to follow your footsteps in the art world?

We’re only as good as those working in our galleries and people come to us from all different industries, backgrounds and levels of experience. One thing we have in common is a passion for what we do. Anyone hoping to get their foot in the door in this industry should have an eye for detail and genuinely love talking to people. We don’t demand a degree in art history - just passion, drive and enthusiasm. Everything else can be taught.

What is your role at Castle Fine Art?

No day is ever the same in my role. One day I could be planning a show with our events team or rehanging art and the next I could be flying abroad to personally deliver a

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Castle F I N E

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We are rapidly expanding and, with so much fantastic art and new talents emerging, we will soon run out of room. We’d love a new, larger gallery, so watch this space!

For our artistic readers...what would be your advice on successfully getting your works 'out there' for all to see? We’re well placed to understand how competitive the art industry is, and we’re really committed to giving a platform to those whose work deserves to be viewed. For the past three years our IN:SIGHT competition has successfully launched the careers of some of our most popular artists – Robert Oxley, Nigel Humphries and Nigel Mason. Applications are now open for IN:SIGHT 2018, so I’d encourage anyone who wants to get their work noticed to visit our website and apply. Castle Fine Art is well renowned for not only the art works on display but also its special events and artist personal appearances. What events that are lined up for 2018 should our readers look out for?

Unfortunately there are certain things we have to keep under wraps! However I can say that we have an exciting programme of events in the pipeline for 2018. The Castle Fine Art website is kept up to date with events listings, so check back after Christmas to see what we have coming up.

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How has the city of Brighton helped the business? Do you feel Brighton's high creativity levels have contributed to the success? Brighton has a buzzing art scene and, naturally, this encourages footfall into the gallery, however I would say our reputation has been the driving force in establishing us so well in the city. We’re recognised for the high quality of the art we sell, and the fact that we continue to thrive after five very successful years is testament to that.

What does the future hold for Castle Fine Art in Brighton? It’s impossible to say what the futures holds, but we are rapidly expanding and, with so much fantastic art and new talents emerging, we will soon run out of room. We’d love a new, larger gallery, so watch this space!

For more information on Castle Fine Art, Brighton please visit www.castlegalleries.com

www.hairbymichal.com 24 upper North St, BN1 3FG, Brighton

Phone :01273 770 970 - Email :hello@hairbymichal.com

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Farah

The golden F is making its way to Brighton

From a small factory in Texas to the streets of Islington, Farah is now opening a store in Brighton.

f one thing is for certain when it comes to Farah, it’s that the clothing line brandished with the golden F is a timeless classic that has transcended age and culture since it’s 35 cent Chambray shirts graced our wardrobes way back when, or 1910 to be precise. Since then, Farah has been proudly worn by some of the world’s most influential men for the past 90 years. Today the golden F continues to be a badge of honour amongst creative professionals, musicians and artists and what’s more….it’s winging it’s way over to our fair city of Brighton. Starting as a family business with a factory in Texas, Mansour Farah and his wife began making shirts under the name ‘Farah’ in 1920. By the 1930s, the company was growing and they’d expanded to overalls, denim and other general workwear. With all it’s manufacturing based in the US, as well as it being their sole market in the initial years – Farah’s story started quite similar to many of it’s main competitors today.

When Mansour passed away in 1937, his eldest son, James, took over the running of the company while his younger son, William, took control of production. With an award of excellence from the US military for the quality of their clothing, alongside

becoming incorporated as a brand – sales increased year on year from 1940s. With over 11 factories globally by 1971, Farah was the world’s largest manufacturer of men’s slacks, with 30 million pairs being produced annually. Only one year later, due to labour disputes and striking, Farah was mass boycotted by numerous organisations, resulting in sales slumps of over $8million. After a tumultuous and aggressive takeover by William Farah, who had previously been ousted – Farah began seeing profit again for the first time in years and by 1987, Farah was producing ladies clothing. By the mid90s, however, despite the sale of company assets and shares, Farah was slowly falling into the red again and loosing market control. Nearing the 2000s, Farah was focusing on premium casual and dress slacks and slowly regaining control of the market they once dominated – this carried through until the present day where Farah are now, once again, are a market leader in menswear. With a highly anticipated new Brighton based store launching in the near future, Absolute went to meet the team behind the iconic clothing brand to try and get all the pre-opening gossip we could….

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Starting as a family business with a factory in Texas, Mansour Farah and his wife began making shirts under the name ‘Farah’ in 1920.

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Farah

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There are a lot of fantastic locations available to Farah , but a store in Brighton with its rich creative community was an obvious choice for us.

Can you explain to us the ethos behind Farah, what makes your brand appeal to your loyal customers? Farah is an inclusive brand! We create wearable fashion with a clear British identity. The Farah consumer has always been proud to wear the iconic F tab. Our association with youth culture is as strong today as it was when the brand launched in the UK in the late 1960’s. How has your company grown to be where it is now? What has contributed to your businesses success? Being unafraid of change has been our biggest success. Our brand fans are fashion savvy, individual and progressive. This has allowed Farah to continue to test, trial and develop a range of different products within our own retail as well as in collaboration with our retail partners. The opening of the Brighton store is a big move for Farah, what made you choose this location in particular for your second stand-alone store?

There are a lot of fantastic locations available to Farah , but a store in Brighton with its rich creative community was an obvious choice for us. How do you stay relevant and current and continuously meet your consumer needs? This is all down to having a team that lives and breathes the Farah ethos with a clear understanding of who our consumer is and what they want. Which project/s are you really excited about? We are launching new categories within the Menswear Collection every year! Tailoring has been an exciting addition with formal shirts and silks being added. Additionally we are launching another exciting project on the opposite end of the spectrum for AW18. What can we expect from the Farah range that will appear in-store, are there any particular highlights that will appeal to the new Brighton customer? For our Autumn / Winter 2017 collection,

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we’ve drawn inspiration from Westbourne Park 1975 and the sound system culture to create a collection that pays homage to these pioneers who brought together a style that often comprised of Italian Knitwear and Farah hopsack trousers. The patterns and colours draw inspiration from club night posters, carnival sound systems and record sleeves to capture the vibrancy of life in Westbourne Park in 1975. That musical heritage is very much a part of Brighton’s rich culture Once the store is open, how do you see the city of Brighton helping your business? Do you feel Brighton’s high creativity levels will contribute to your success? Locals and tourists will be key to the long term success of the Farah store. We are pleased that creative professionals all over the world choose Farah as we offer a point of difference appealing to today’s young consumer. Farah 5, Dukes Lane, Brighton

Hair by

Michal Hair by Michal opened its doors in October this year and has been making a name for itself for its great service and colours. We interview owners Michal and Amit to uncover what makes this new salon the talk of the town.

Your salon is the newest to open in Brighton, as a new business owner how have you found the whole process of starting a new business? Opening our new Salon had its moments. What kept Amit and I going through the steep learning curve was each other. We had a shared vision to create a unique salon and a joint focus on creating both excellence and a personalised experience for our clients. Luckily our pooled talents, Amit's business acumen and my years of experience as a hairdresser, complement each other, rather like our haircuts and perfect colour combinations. Tell us about how you got started and the journey to get where you are today? Amit and myself met in Brighton. Amit decided to start a new life here from India just over 12 years ago and I moved here

from Poland when I was 22 following my hairdressing studies at my local college and then the L'Oréal Training academy in Poland. When we first met we hit it off from day one. Both of us hardworking and ambitious and willing to take a risk in order to try and build a more secure future. We both had the same experience of coming to Brighton with nothing but a desire to work hard and succeed. We both knew that starting a new business was the only way forward. It was scary, neither of us had run a business before and there was an awful lot to learn. Whist I know I can do hair, its completely different running your own business. No secure pay packet at the end of the month - just a profit and loss account.

What and who inspires your work? My inspiration comes from people I admire in my profession, the acclaimed Polish stylist Jaga Hupalo inspired me in the early stages of my career in Poland. Guy Tang a phenomenal colourist whose bold signature technique of working with metallic colours helped me elevate my own styling and colouring techniques. What makes you different to other hair dressing salons in Brighton? What we offer at our salon is a very personal service with all the benefits found in larger establishments. We cater for women and men. Michal’s extensive experience makes him an intuitive and highly skilled hair stylist adept at cutting, colouring, balayage, highlighting, tinting and gents barbering.

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We cater for women and men. Michal’s extensive experience makes him an intuitive and highly skilled hair stylist adept at cutting, colouring, balayage, highlighting, tinting and gents barbering.

What does the future hold for you and the business? For the short to medium term we aim to solidify our reputation for excellence in styling and colouring. Our salon caters for men and women, which is not the norm these days, but we want our personalities to reflect through our business, so for us everyone is welcome! Hotel du Vin have kindly recommended us as the Salon to go to in Brighton, following their experience with us. We are not ones to name drop but - Tony Maudsley of the hit TV series ‘Benidorm’ and Singer/Songwriter Mila Falls are both clients of ours since opening and both praise our work. You can visit the salon for both drop in styles and haircuts or make an appointment. Hair by Michal 24 Upper North Street, BN1 3FG, Brighton Tel: 01273 770970 www.hairbymichal.com

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Mint Velvet Relaxed Glamour When it comes to choosing our threads, can we really have it all? Can we fulfil our natural longing for comfort, as well as our desire for glamour and our wishes of high-quality, functional clothing? According to the Lewes-based, global retail success story Mint Velvet, the answer is most definitely yes. Absolute Magazine met Liz Houghton, Co-Founder of the ‘relaxed glamour’ clothing range that ticks all the boxes, to find out just how it all started, how the business operates today and what the future looks like…

What inspired the start up of your company? How did it all begin? Mint Velvet’s journey began in 2009, myself (Liz Houghton), Jane Rawlings and Lisa Agar-Rea set up Mint Velvet inspired by what was missing from our wardrobes (the concept was born around my own kitchen table – over a pot of Mint tea, a sensory that inspired the name of the brand). As working mothers, we identified our own needs and desires - "to wear the trends in a relaxed way; to be fashionable, but not feel hampered by it" - and applied that to our projected customer, to great effect. We were frustrated by the lack of wearable women's fashion out there; and wanted luxury but without the matching price tag, so Mint Velvet answered our own needs and the obvious gap in the market. From here, the relaxed glamour concept was born. How has your company grown to be

where it is now? What has contributed to your businesses success? Mint Velvet continues to fill the genuine need of our customers – throughout Mint Velvet’s journey, it has kept its integrity and authenticity. Our intentions have stayed true from the very start – to ensure Mint Velvet resonates with our customers. At what point did you recognise the success of your business? Mint Velvet has been a journey of continued success, from when it was set up until now. Each time we open a new store this is a real milestone – each year something new and exciting happens and we super exceed our expectations.

And how has the advent of social media impacted on you? With the constant rise of social media, customers don’t just want to buy into the clothing, but also the lifestyle of the brand. Here at Mint Velvet, we have utilised our social media platforms to help build that connection by displaying our values through beautiful imagery, and intelligent, inspiring content, which provide an instant 4 dimensional insights into the workings of MV. At the centre of this all is our Mint Velvet magazine which covers everything from beauty & wellness to cooking & books and our customer loves to have a read in between browsing our collections. The team must be pretty large these days. How many people are now part of the machine? In head office there are around 100 employees, however this number is

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rising across all teams due to the growth of MV. As we grow, we strive to maintain the same agility and culture that we had right from the beginning. In terms of stores, we currently have 38 standalones in the UK and concessions across John Lewis, House of Fraser and Fenwicks. We also have a number of international stores and concessions in Ireland, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Dubai. Store numbers are constantly rising, which is very exciting for us.

How do you stay relevant and current and continuously meet your consumer needs? MV was set up by three women, and we are still the very heart of the business - as our customer needs will change, as will ours. We are always seeking inspiration, with a particular interest in lifestyle inspiration. With this in mind, we tailor and adapt every collection to meet the needs and wants of our customer. A collection that embodies this idea and that we are very proud of is our Hygge range, which was born from an inspiration trip I took to Copenhagen a few years ago. Here at MV, we fell in love with the concept of Hygge, the Danish art of comfort. The range features luxurious loungewear in sumptuous fabrics such as cashmere and super soft jersey, along with cosy home wear accessories to truly experience the Hygge way of life. Which project/s are you really excited about? Earlier this year we launched our We Are Women podcast, something which felt like a real branch out but that we are extremely proud of - we have charted a number of times on Itunes! Our host, Viv Groskop,

journalist, writer and comedian, interviews inspirational women (recently featuring Jo Whiley, Edith Bowman, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Gabby Logan) who candidly open up about their life, loves, journey and what it means to truly be a woman. We also have some fantastic projects on the horizon which we are very excited about.

Why are you different to other businesses within your industry? Explain to myself what your customers will receive? Service is paramount to our business – we really pride ourselves on offering such a high level of service to our customers both in store and online. At MV, we strive to always surprise and delight our customers positively, from how we wrap our customer’s purchases to a small treat they may find within them. Our amazing staff who run our stores know our customers really well, they always go above and beyond to continue a seamless shopping experience, to ensure our customers leave with an emotional connection to MV.

How has the town of Lewes & county of Sussex helped your business? Do you feel the area’s high creativity levels have contributed to your success? The town of Lewes is a great location for us; it is constantly bursting with energy and inspiration, particularly throughout the summer months, so it was the perfect and ideal location for an MV store. We are very proud of the success we’ve had in Lewes as we are for all our other amazing stores. www.mintvelvet.co.uk

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IMAGE

A YEAR IN IMAGE BY JIM CAREY & DAVID FREEMAN

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Image by Darren Black

Image by Robin Bradshaw

276 Vauxhall Bridge Road - London SW1V 1BB Tel : 0207 436 9095 info@firstmodelmanagement.co.uk www.firstmodelmanagement.co.uk

fter an amazing year in Brighton & Sussex we have chosen to devote our

normal HOMES supplement to a collection of images from two of Sussex's rising stars in photography. We hope you enjoy this round up of 2017 and that the pictures we have selected may envoke feelings from some of the great events and moments from the past 12 months.

We love Sussex we love Brighton ABSOLUTE

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JIM CAREY A year in images SUSSEX & BEYOND jimcareyphotography.co.uk

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DAVID FREEMAN A year in images SUSSEX & BEYOND davidfreemanphotographic.co.uk

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Brighton Visitor is Brighton & Sussexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ONLY tourism-specific magazine. Packed with great ideas of things to see and do in Brighton & Hove and within Sussex, this free glossy magazine covers everything from shopping, food & drink, kids, attractions, Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On & more. Brighton Visitor is picked up by both locals and visitors and is published quarterly throughout the year with a total annual print run of 150,000 copies.

01273 731000 www.brightonvisitor.com

Brightonvisitor

Brighton-Visitor

What makes Buddies CafĂŠ Bar special? - Our delicious Food, served 24 hours a day

Situated opposite Brighton promenade, Buddies boasts a panoramic view of Brighton beach life and is near to all major venues, hotels and of course the historic Lanes area...

Buddies 24 hour CafĂŠ Bar

46-48 Kings Road, Brighton Seafront 01273 323 600

buddies24hour.net

FIZZ &F 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.

The Fountain Inn, Ashurst 6

17| Beautiful olde worlde inn in the sleepy village of Ashurst. A free house and ‘Cask Marque’ accredited, the Fountain has plenty of local ales on offer as well as the more recognised international beers and lagers. Complete with wonky floorboards, inglenook fireplaces and the heart warming smell of homemade cooking wafting in from the kitchen, you will not want to go home.

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.

BREAKFAST 2GO LUNCH 2GO DINNER 2GO

BARS &B 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

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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.

Fitzherberts 13| A fresh perspective on traditional pub values. Fitzherberts brings locally sourced food, craft beers, speciality coffees and fantastic entertainment. Perched between The Dome and Theatre Royal, situated in the heart of Brighton's Pavilion and North Laine. Boasting an open-air, heated roof garden as well as a comfortable, yet bustling, front terrace - The social and friendly boxes firmly ticked. Entertainment comes in the form of live music, open mic nights, plus renowned DJs and performers. As well as big screen TVs with big sound to cover major sporting events.

Proud Cabaret Brighton

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 8

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.

9b the Boardwalk Brighton Marina

01273600088 www.memoriesoﬁndiabrighton.com @moibrighton

SAVE 40% OFF YOUR FOOD BILL Sun-Fri cannot be used with any other oﬀers - table booking required

COFFEE

CAKE

Situated in busy Shoreham-by-Sea, Tom Foolery is a perfect coffee seeking connoisseur’s rest point. It is however, much more than just a coffee shop. Our own caffeine expert Pete Hayward, dropped by and talked to owners Bob and Vanessa.

The Cappuccino Kid

Q. As well as being a coffee and cake shop, you have a very comprehensive menu, I see a lot of people are tucking into breakfasts too. Is there food all day?

Q. How long has Tom Foolery been in Shoreham-by-Sea?

We opened the doors on 24th May 2014. “Frightened rabbits” is a phrase that springs to mind but once we’d served that first customer and saw the smile on their face as they tasted the coffee, we learned to relax and it’s been a joy ever since.

Yes, our daytime menu runs until 3pm and includes those breakfasts as well as classic dishes such as Eggs Benedict and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. We’re GF and veggie friendly too! We also run our popular Sun Downer sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings serving gourmet burgers, moules frites, proper ice cream sundaes and a fabulous selection of beers, wines and cocktails. You truly haven’t lived until you’ve tried one of our boozy affogatos made with our own coffee.

Q. OK, to the coffee. What kind of beans are you using? Are they exclusive to you? From the outset, we were determined to serve our customers the very best coffee available and had thoroughly researched the beans before we’d even found premises! The cup that topped our list was supplied by the brilliant people at Horsham Roasters so we made contact and have been working closely with them ever since. For the first two years we had a single origin ethos but in recent months we’ve been up at the roastery developing our own exclusive house blend, Fool’s Gold, in partnership with Horsham. It tastes like heaven and we’re hugely proud of it.

Q. Do you tweak the grind of the beans to

get balanced perfection?

Absolutely. Dialling in is crucial. We even tweak our baristas on a regular basis for the same reason.

Q. I see that there is entertainment in the evenings. What kind of events are you holding? Q. I’ve just been served a perfect

Flat White. What’s your secret to the balance?

A 21g double shot topped with milk in a 7oz glass. The espresso has to be brilliant, the milk spun silky smooth and fine, but the real secret is that we do it all with an awful lot of love. We think you can taste the difference.

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We always wanted to be more than just a coffee shop and we have a regular programme of monthly events ranging from craft evenings where you can come and grab a glass of wine, have a giggle and make something magnificent, to open mic music nights and our Spoken Wordery sessions where you never know quite what’s going to happen and which are fast achieving cult status. We also hold some amazing pop-up

“ The espresso has to be

brilliant, the milk spun silky smooth and fine, but the real secret is that we do it all with an awful lot of love.

restaurant events. Check our facebook page for forthcoming attractions.

Q. The interior of the shop is eclectic throughout. Do you support local artists? Yes, it’s important to us. We’re both a bit in love with art and music and that probably comes across in how people experience the shop - there’s always something interesting to look at and, we hope, good tunes to listen to. We commissioned the Mermaid on a Bike and LoveLife wall installations from local artists before we opened and we feature local artists on our wall on a regular basis. Even the lampshades at the rear of the shop are made by artist Lizzie Lee who takes our used plastic milk bottles, grinds and melts them down and creates something beautiful.

Q. Do you have any future plans you would like to share with us? Our future plans include much Tom Foolery and we’d love to share it with you.

Pete Hayward www.tomfoolery.coffee

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Old Bank R E V I E W

Delicious food with a great service in a warm comfortable setting!

“

Top notch delicious mouth-watering food, and the warmest, friendliest service and atmosphere I have ever come across in a restaurant.

eing a meat-lover I was thrilled to be invited to review Brighton’s famous Old Bank Steak and Ribs, and what an absolute treat it was! Top notch delicious mouth-watering food, and the warmest, friendliest service and atmosphere I have ever come across in a restaurant. Nestled in the heart of Kemptown the giant converted Barclays Bank building contains a beautifully decorated family-owned restaurant, with high ceilings and windows, natural wooden floors, and bare brick walls showcasing a fantastic collection of historic black and white photos. Spacious and Airy with cosy lighting and immaculately laid and well-spaced out tables. The venue boasts a private dining area downstairs which seats up to 22 guests, and a wonderful well maintained garden terrace to the rear of the restaurant. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by the manager Veli, who showed us to our seats next to window, arguably the best seats in the house with unobstructed views of the hustle and bustle of the high street outside. It was immediately obvious that Veli was passionate about her food as she went through the menu with us, which consisted not only of their famous “hung for a minimum of 28 days” steaks, and legendary “steamed and tenderised and marinated for 24 hours“ ribs, but also a fine selection of burgers, rotisserie chicken,

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fish, and some well thought out vegetarian and vegan options to boot. Exciting new additions to the menu were highlighted such as the quail scotch eggs, mackerel pate and crabcake starters, as well as fajitas with a mouth-watering selection of classic fillings such as chicken, beef, prawn and chorizo or vegetarian/vegan. Some tough choices had to be made so we took a bit of time to peruse the menu, but said we would probably be going for a steak, she asked us how we like our steaks cooked and recommended the cut to suit. Recommending the Fillet to my dining companion, but stating her personal favourite was the rib-eye as the extra fat keeps the steaks moist. She even recommended a wonderful smooth Malbec from the fine selection of wines to go with our meal. My companion took Veli’s advice and went for the 8oz fillet. I on the other hand got greedy and plumped for ½ rack of ribs and 10oz rump combo grill.

To start my companion was tempted by the latest addition to the menu, the crab-cakes which were scrumptious! Wonderfully light and fluffy and accompanied by a lovely thick, creamy and tangy tartare sauce. I on the other hand decided on one of their more popular dishes, salt and pepper calamari, which came out perfectly cooked, and was obviously very fresh. It had a delightful crunch to the batter and the sautéed chilli

and garlic added a delightful zing which left my tastebuds to enjoy the flavours even after the dishes has been cleared away. All through the sitting we noticed how attentive the waiters and waitresses were to the other diners, chatting to them as they would friends, whilst checking everything was in order and dutifully responding to requests. I can see why this place has such a base of loyal regular customers.

The main event came and we were not disappointed. The steaks were cooked to perfection, My companions fillet steak served medium rare with a creamy blue cheese sauce to compliment. I had to try some, and I was instantly envious of her selection, the knife sliced through it like butter and oh my… the flavour was heavenly! My food envy was immediately forgotten however when presented with my meal. A fat Chunk of splendidly sumptuous rump, cooked impeccably, rare as requested, juicy and warm throughout with the magnificent flavour expertly sealed in. I had garlic sauce to encomium, and the strength and boldness of the sauce further brought out the taste of the meat. The ribs were tender and flavoursome, the meat literally fell off the bones when I pulled them apart, but still had just the right amount of satisfying texture, and the sticky, tangy, sweet barbeque sauce was a messy delight! Thankfully a finger bowl and napkins were provided otherwise I think my companion would have disowned me.

We both had accompanying triple cooked chips which were included in the price along with chunky home-made red slaw. We also shared a side of green beans in an attempt to feel slightly healthy. The chips were perfectly crispy, light and fluffy, the coleslaw creamy and crunchy, and the green beans were faultlessly cooked with a wonderful buttery flavour. After we had finished our plates, the wine and let things settle we chose our deserts from a wide variety to suit all tastes. Veli could see we were close to bursting point but strongly suggested we try their homemade sundaes. My honeycomb sundae came with a little jug of white chocolate sauce to drizzle on the ice-cream, which hardened as it coated the desert. This instantly took me back to my childhood and ice-magic (for anyone old enough to remember). My companion devoured her chocolate brownie sundae as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks, let alone just finished a fat steak dinner.

An evening to remember, we left full to the brim, and glowingly happy. We will definitely be back to try one of the special offer and entertainment nights they have on every evening of the week, I’m especially tempted by the Monday kilo of wings or ribs for a tenner offer. 120 St George's Rd, Brighton BN2 1EA

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SHARING OUR PASSION FOR BRAZILIAN CUISINE

Autentic Brazilien steakhouse Carvery &

live music Friday and Saturday

WIMBLEDON

020 8417 1714 44 The Broadway London SW19 1RQ

BRIGHTON

012 73 77 2072 65-75 West St Brighton BN1 2RA

BELSIZE PARK

020 7586 7755 83A Haverstock Hill London NW3 4RL

the stoneham presents

CHRISTMAS

@ THE STONEHAM SATURDAY 16TH DEC

irish christmas PARTY

With the legendary CELTIC SHORE playing live from 8pm. Free admission.

every friday in DECEMBER

FESTIVE FIZZY FRIDAYS

A massive 50% off Prosecco all day long plus the fantastic DJ Professor Tonic spinning the party choons

Monday 25th DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS DAY OPENING

We’re open for festive drinks from 11am until 7Pm. We’ll have plenty of champagne on ice ready to toast this special day!

Sunday 31st DECEMBER

New years eve

we’re throwing one of the biggest parties in Hove. We’ve got DJ Professor Tonic playing party funky tunes from 9pm until very late. It’s FREE to get in, but get there early as number are limited!

153 Portland Rd, Hove BN3 5QJ

01273 383840 www.thestoneham.co.uk thestoneham@live.co.uk f: the stoneham t: @TheStonehamPub

Pascere L U N C H

R E V I E W

Having been open and enjoying a wealth of success for several months now, Pascere have built a reputation of exceptional quality, innovative dishes and first-rate service. Absolute have finally gotten round to sending me to try them out for a spot of lunch, and boy did they live up to expectations!

"When I say masterpieces I am not exaggerating. Every dish we tried was lovingly presented, incredibly well thought out, and quite frankly a work of pure genius."

deally situated for residents and visitors alike, in the centre of town on the prestigious Duke Street, we were welcomed by the manager Kate who immediately made us feel at home. Kate offered us seating on one of the beautifully set marble tables next a huge window which casted a natural glow over the elegant teal dining area, highlighting the luxurious velvet covered seating, Beautiful yet simplistic furnishing, and modern décor, all create a welcoming relaxed setting for a break from shopping or sightseeing. Although not in use at the time, a trip upstairs revealed another room with more tables and the option to sit at the chefs counter, popular with evening guests where you can sit and enjoy small plates whilst watching the chefs busily creating their masterpieces. When I say masterpieces I am not exaggerating. Every dish we tried was lovingly presented, incredibly well thought out, and quite frankly a work of pure genius. I don’t think I have the vocabulary to do them justice, but I’ll give it a go. The lunch menu consists of a tempting variety of small plates with meat, fish and

vegetarian options, as well as two or three sweets, however having spent the morning shopping with my dining companion we had built up an appetite so plumped for the a la carte offerings. To start, my companion decided on the salt-aged pork belly with bacon jam, caramelised pumpkin puree, pumpkin seeds and a buretta mouse (£8.50), which from her expression I could see did not disappoint. It looked divine with the puree drizzled over the finest cut of pork, exquisitely cooked with a thin crackling top giving it a satisfying texture, and complimented by mouse rounded off the flavours making it an extremely well-balanced dish. I, on the other hand went for a slightly richer offering, cubes braised ox cheek encased in a tasty crisp crust, with a slither of ox tongue, black pudding puree and red cabbage (£10.00). Again beautifully cooked so the ox-cheek disintegrates in the mouth releasing the full taste of the most delicious and tender meat a cow has to offer, the flavours of the puree and red-cabbage enhanced with the surprising addition of grapefruit chunks setting it all off with a lovely twang. Every mouthful was orgasmic!

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My main of Crab Fregola with pickled shimeji mushrooms topped with shaved fennel (£17.50) was wonderful. This cunning bowl of spherical pellets of pasta intertwined with crab meat fragments and the cutest petite yet flavoursome shrooms in a delicious creamy sauce was as satisfyingly filling as it was delicious. My companion decided on the pan fried stone bass with roasted onions, girolle mushrooms, and seaweed (£17.50). This dish was elegantly presented with attention paid to both composition and colour. She begrudgingly allowed me to have a try. Much to her dismay, but for the benefit of this review, I ensured my fork was filled with every element on the plate, and I was taken aback as to how flavoursome this dish was, with every ingredient working in harmony to emphasise the fresh taste of the fish, all complimenting, and not overpowering the main attraction. We accompanied the dinner with a carafe of delightfully zesty French Sauvignon blanc, selected from an impressive selection of wines, sold by the glass, carafe or bottle. The waiting staff are happy to recommend particular wines to go with each course,

should that be to your liking. For dessert, I usually play it safe and go for something chocolatey, but was intrigued by the walnut and muscovado cake with walnut mousse, aerated chocolate, beetroot, and beetroot sorbet (£8.00). Having never come across beetroot in a dessert before, I was more than pleasantly surprised how the tangy bitterness of the root, mixed with the nutty-sweet sponge, along with the added excitement of chilled sorbet created a perfect alignment of flavours, textures and temperatures. My partner did play it safe, however, and finished off with a chocolate mousse with malted ice cream and chocolate tuile (£8.00), which was thankfully a little rich for her and she was unable to finish. I, however, relished in the delectable silky mousse, which hid a crunchy biscuit base and soothed by the soft ice cream and had no trouble finishing it off. For a highly polished yet relaxed and unpretentious dining experience you would be hard pressed to find a more fitting place to visit in Brighton, with the added advantage of its location and accessibility. During the summer months the outside terrace is an added attraction which I

can imagine will draw in the crowds for lengthy summer lunches, sampling the small plates and washing them down with a selection from their extensive wine and bubbly list. In the meantime, I cannot wait to sample the festive menu. Out 1st December the festive tasting menu boasts delights such as Roast goose breast with Brussel sprouts, pancetta, roast potato mouse, goose sausage, and stuffing and potato crisps, as well as roast chestnuts and leek lasagne, chestnut puree & parmesan foam (V). A highlight of the a la carte menu (which I will certainly be trying) is the beef sirloin with burnt cabbage puree, beer pickled onions, “beerkins” and a yeast sauce. The full menu can be found at www.pascere.co.uk. You can see a great deal of thought and preparation has been put into these dishes, and for me just reading the menu sums up images of family Christmases of yesteryear. A must visit!

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No.

32 A beautiful history in an ever-evolving spectacular space; No. 32 Duke St is as much a part of Brighton's past as the Royal Pavilion. Opening its doors as one of the cities first theatres in 1790, this glorious building once produced high quality productions and played host to Brighton theatre goers and royals including the Prince of Wales.

he last performance took place in November 1806. All these years later parts of the original interior remain and continue to seduce and charm guests as they did over 200 years ago!

In the heart of our cosmopolitan city, No. 32 is an all-encompassing experience from breakfast to a late night venue and coffee to cocktails. This elegant restaurant and bar attracts a diverse crowd and with its streamlined menu and flawless presentation guests will not be disappointed.

Ben Semandi, the owner, is always on point not only with the style and design, but also with the needs of Brighton & Hove residents and visitors. Previously known as the much-loved Havana restaurant, the owners decided to produce a modern and contemporary space that could cater all the way from breakfast with the children to stylish dining and dancing until the early hours. It's a one stop venue with a vibrant vibe. No. 32 is elite, but far from pretentious and is a huge asset to this city. In fact, 'The Lonely Planet' ranked Brighton & Hove as one of the top ten coastal cities and you can see why with such incredible city chic venues so close to the beach. As a regular I can tell you that this is a great choice for you early birds wanting a hearty and healthy breakfast. I however am a night owl and decided to go for dinner on a cold and

blustery Saturday night with the knowledge that the restaurant would later unfold into a late night venue complete with dance floor and flawless Jalapeno Margaritas!

It's a one stop venue with a vibrant vibe. No 32 is elite, but far from pretentious and is a huge asset to this city.

The atmosphere was buzzing when I arrived at 9 pm. Impressive decorative flames roared on either side of the entrance and I could sense the hustle and bustle of the busy restaurant. Inside the low lighting allowed the flickering candles to add to the glamour and sophistication of this urban chic gem. Arriving a little later than expected we were invited to the back bar for a welcome drink whilst awaiting our table. Chesterfield leather sofas and plush velvet curtains create a palatial elegance and private booths line the walls offering a more intimate experience.

Now I am a connoisseur of the Margarita having sampled this tipple all over the world including Mexico and I am excited to share with you that No 32 has nailed their Pineapple & Jalapeno Margarita (ÂŁ9). The strength

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makes up for the price and I can assure you a couple of these and you will be burning up the dance floor on a Saturday night until closing at 4am!

Luckily for me it was not long until there was a table available upstairs. Although No. 32 has become a firm favourite of mine, I have never taken the opportunity to try this more sleek and discreet section of this restaurant. By this point the bar was picking up, so it was refreshing to know one could sit away from the buzzing bar areas and enjoy our meal. Olivia was our enthusiastic and charming hostess and her knowledge and recommendations were well received. The No. 32 Kitchen prides itself on producing invigorating dishes using local suppliers, 'closing the distance between the origin and the diner'. The starters all looked delicious and with a varied selection from 'Vodka Cured Salmon' to 'Smoked Super Grain Salad.' I opted for the 'Spicy Tuna Tartare' (ÂŁ8). The portion was generous and the tuna was infused with herbs and spices. A cracking start to my meal, so vibrant and fresh. My dinner date for the evening enjoyed the 'Beef Carpaccio with whiskey mayo, shallots and cured egg shavings' (ÂŁ8.50). I think there may have been food envy for my Tuna Tartare, but nonetheless we were both impressed with the standard of food so far.

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Brighton is a city of serious foodies. In this thriving multicultural community we have access to endless regional restaurants and exciting fusion cuisine. The choice is phenomenal for such a small city. I love Tuna Steak and when I saw it on the menu with chunky pineapple salsa I could not resist ordering that plate of joy for my main course too - surely a perfect dish to complement my pineapple Margarita! It arrived perfectly pink and was zesty, light and a perfect dish to continue the evening without feeling glutted and fatigued, which I often do when my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I was, however, intrigued by the Aubrey Allen steaks on offer. A company established in 1933 and renowned for quality and consistency - so much so that they have been given the Royal warrant to HM the Queen! We decided to order the 10 oz Rib-eye with Sweet potato mash (ÂŁ24) and it was divine; heavenly, so tender and succulent and cooked to perfection. Whilst I do not make a habit of ordering for other people, in this case I made a superb choice.

The delectable dessert selection could not be ignored given how exquisite our meal had been. We ordered the 'Chocolate Brownie Sundae' which arrived full of Willy Wonka-sequel delights in a pint glass. My dining partner ordered the 'Sticky Toffee Pudding with chocolate ice cream and toffee sauce'. Decadent and delightful, if I had managed to finish I am sure I would still be in a worthy sugar coma now.

It was now 11 pm and we could hear the leisurely pace of the day slowly disappearing and making room for the high energy bar below us. The lights dimmed even further and the music was turned up. We decided to stay upstairs, relax and take in the refined surroundings enhanced with bookshelf wall paper mimicking a classic library. A decorative and monumental chandelier takes centre stage above the excitement below.

No. 32 is a destination in itself; classic and

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contemporary. The service is excellent and the food for us was faultless. The grandiose and stylish surroundings provide a trendy and fun atmosphere and given the vast space, the team have managed to retain an intimate, swanky club-like setting. With such an exceptional space No. 32 is perfect for families with children in the day, meetings, romantic dinners, product launches, after parties and, as I experienced, fashion shows (which I hosted one at the venue a couple of years ago and was a huge success attracting an incredible crowd). There is nowhere else in Brighton & Hove like this. It truly is a unique dining experience and with a few more months until we leave this grey, cold and drizzly weather, I cannot think of a better location to satisfy all of my requirements for a Saturday night out. Plus with the venue's history of royal connections, I feel right at home! Lindsay Katherine Hills

No 32 is a destination in itself; classic and contemporary. The service is excellent and the food for us was faultless.

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BAR / WINE / CRAFT BEER / MEAT / FISH

"life is best enjoyed with simple pleasures. our approach is uncomplicated, we let great ingredients speak for themselves, cooked simply over fire"

AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE 07955 813 988 STILL TAKING XMAS BOOKINGS RESERVATIONS 01273 673891 reserve A table for our forthcoming special events xmas roast sunday DINNER 17th december xmas eve brunch with bottomless mimosas new years eve party new years day all dayer

BLOCKBAR.CO.UK 01273 673 891

OFFICE@BLOCKBAR.CO.UK 101 ST JAMES STREET, BN21TP

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/block_bar 83

7-Bone Burgers A B S O L U T E

R E V I E W

I have been itching to try the newest edition to the Brighton and Hove burger revolution ever since I saw the place being renovated prior to its opening last month. “Dirty Sexy Burgers - coming soon” proclaimed the posters, with giant suggestive pictures of triple decker’s oozing with cheese and sauce.

eing a meat-lover and frequent visitor to some of Brighton and Hove’s finest burger joints they certainly got my attention! I’m getting married early next year and “apparently” could do with losing a few pounds before the wedding, so I have had to beg and plead my fiancé Sally to be allowed to satisfy my itch. My perseverance in doing so has paid off, though I might have to partake in a couple of extra gym sessions this week to mitigate what I have just consumed - the food was most definitely sexy, downright dirty and I couldn’t get enough of it! Upon arrival it was obvious that this was a down-to-earth relaxed kind of venue, with an obvious American Diner kind of air, but with a bit of 7-Bone originality thrown in. Strip lighting salvaged from decommissioned ships and huge cages above the central bar area displaying all the craft beers on offer, plus a view of the chefs hard at work in an enclave to the rear of the dining area gave it an almost stripped back industrial feel. Chunky table tops and cosy looking booths housed wonderfully Brighton-esque pictures of cartoon seagulls and trip downstairs to the bathroom revealed another bar area with a similar décor, and stools at the bar. Ideal for a waiting area, there is a no reservation, first come first served policy which fits with the laid back vibe.

Although busy for a Monday night, we were warmly greeted by the Manager Joe, who immediately showed us to our booth and introduced us to our waitress Dorigan, who was keen to take us through the menu. She was a delight from the start, full of energy and eager to make sure we had a good time and would enjoy what we ordered. She made recommendations, showed us special offer burger and side combinations and proceeded to inform us all about the “son of a nutcracker” a festive burger. Available for the next six weeks, this delight involves stuffing-coated buttermilk free range chicken smothered in melted brie, sausage patty, cranberry sauce mayo, crispy onions, xxxmas gravy and topped with a pigs in blanket! Sally was sold! I was very tempted but figured I would save this for next time as A) for a few more days, it is still November, and B) I was in the mood for something dirtier! The Menu consists of a nicely thought out selection of beef/chicken/veggie burgers and hot-dogs, all with imaginative, strangely enticing comical names such as the “Prince Charles is overrated” and “Franks a Weiner”. The sandwiches and melts looked great too and included a shrimp po’boy which is a traditional sandwich from Louisiana, which I got addicted to on a trip to New Orleans a couple of years ago, but haven’t come across over here before. The sides looked equally

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as tempting. Fries with a selection of juicy, meaty, and cheesy toppings, fried pickles, wings, mac n’cheese, and even a token salad….. What struck me was how reasonable the prices were compared to some of the other premium burger joints that have sprung up in recent times. The average price of a burger is around £8.50 with the option of an extra pattie at £3.25. Deals available all day everyday means you can stuff yourselves silly with a main and regular side for as little as £10.45 a head. 7-bone also boasts a cracking drinks menu with a fine selection of specially selected craft beers (some of which you might think 7bone had brewed and named themselves, with names like as Ringwood boondoggle) and a diverse and tantalising cocktail list with even odder sounding titles such as “24 unanswered voicemails” and “#sorrynotsorry.” As well as this, they offer a selection of shakes and sodas you might expect to find in an all-American diner, and an assortment of spirits. It would seem that the guys at 7-bone want their customers to enjoy washing-down the burgers as much as eating them! With Sally having already made her mind up, and me salivating over the choices, we ordered some drinks and hash brown bites to nibble on. I went for a deliciously tangy citrusy IPA from the Wild Beer Company. Sally decided on an ‘End Game’, a cocktail

which holds an advisory warning not to have more than two. Sally only needed one before she was slurring… I ordered the dirtiest sounding burger I could find, the “Peter Green” – aged beef patty, Texan all steak chilli, cheese, American mustard and jalapenos. I couldn’t resist adding the extra patty too, along with a side of portswood poutine (fries topped with braised beef cheese curds and deep gravy) for Sally, and frickles (fried pickles) for me. I loosened my belt in anticipation… The weeks of me hounding Sally were finally rewarded. My burger came out looking just like the dirty sexy burger in the “coming soon” posters and I don’t think I have ever been happier than that moment when it was placed in front of me (sorry Sally). 7bone certainly know how to cook up a fine burger! Fresh sweet bun encased patties which were of obvious high-quality meat, cooked to perfection, slightly pink (you can order well done if you are a heathen) perfectly spiced and full of flavour. The chilli had kick, but was more of a back-heat than being in-your-face, so it didn’t overpower the taste of the patties. The oozing cheese almost brought a tear of joy to my eye. Sally looked very happy with her selection too as she dunked chunks of her burger into the gravy and greedily shoved them in her mouth. The frickles were delightfully light and crispy and

accompanying creamy blue cheese sauce complimented the tanginess of the pickle. The poutine was pure filth and we loved every mouthful. Unsurprisingly there isn’t a dessert menu as such, as I can’t see anyone having any room for sweets after eating here. However, if you do have a sweet tooth there is always the option of a milkshake to finish you off. We shared the special ‘Christmas chocolate balls shake’ and added a shot of Frangelico. I tell you what, it might as well have been advertised as a dessert as it was so thick and creamy it was difficult to suck through the straw. But oh my, it was delicious and we (somehow) managed to polish off the lot. A top night left us waddling home, deeply satisfied with both the food and the experience to boot. What a friendly bunch! I’ll be dreaming of 7bone burgers for months to come now and will return soon.

7Bone 120 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2EA. Sun-Thurs 12-11PM, Fri-Sat 12-midnight. Last orders one hour before.

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N ew Ye ar s Ev e & D a y in Br ig h ton

Brighton Girl Problems There is an unfathomable amount of pressure, I feel, to have an amazing New Years Eve. You feel like you need to be somewhere exotic, or at an incredible party, surrounded by hundreds of people and having the time of your life.

The general feel and atmosphere of a place is always different and has a little bit of electricity in the air on New Years Eve, even in the day time.

n reality, New Years Eve, a lot of the time, is a poorly organised event by all of us at the best of times. We leave it until the last minute to make plans, and so they’re rushed, we feel stressed, and it ends up, a lot of the time, being quite a ‘non-event’. Now, that’s all well and good if you’re not the partying kind, you have kids, or quite honestly you just couldn’t give a damn and you’d rather stay in with a curry and at most, watch the BBC’s annual firework display. However, if you want to have a New Years Eve to remember (and not necessarily because of how bad your hangover is on 1st January), then keep on reading. Why not start your New Years Eve celebrations during the day time? Rather than painting the town red from 8 or 9pm onwards, rally up the troops and hit the i360 along the seafront, for a ride up to the sky to look over the wonderful city that is Brighton, and enjoy a glass of chilly champagne whilst you’re at it. You can also change this into a family activity if you’re going to have kids with you, as it’ll make a nice treat for them too, providing they’re not afraid of heights; you don’t want to be stuck at a couple of hundred feet with a child that’s freaking out! Head into Brighton centre afterwards, and go for either a boozy lunch, or take away the booze element if you’re not one for drinking, or want to save yourself for later. The Coal Shed is a great option if you’re happy to dig a bit deeper (in your purse/

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wallet!), because the main menu options are steak, and good quality at that too, or for a cheaper option, you could head to somewhere a little bit different like Bus Stop, 7 Bone Burger Co, or Pho, depending on what’s tickling your fancy. If you’re going to have young children with you, but still want to make a fun day of it, head to the Paint Pottery Café; you get given plain bowls/plates/mugs etc and can paint and decorate them as you wish. A memorable family activity would be to paint them together with ‘New Years Eve 2017’ on anything you create, as I’m sure it’ll be a lasting staple in your home, and bring back some fond memories in the years to come. The general feel and atmosphere of a place is always different and has a little bit of electricity in the air on New Years Eve, even in the day time. If you’re on a budget, a walk around the city and along the seafront, as all the businesses and residents of Brighton start preparing for the Big Night, will make you feel part of the excitement. The Salt Room does a fantastic afternoon tea, complete with champagne, gin cocktails and a view overlooking our wonderful beach and seafront. I can’t think of a better way to kick off New Years Eve than gathering up a group of friends, just one close one, a partner or even some family members and enjoying candyfloss, grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroons as part of an afternoon treat on the 31st.

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N ew Ye ar s Ev e & D a y i n Br ig h ton

Brighton Girl Problems

All in all, as like every year, Brighton really is a hub of events, parties and things to do. Whatever it is you’re into, whether it’s a wild night out

As we head to the evening, the city hosts a plethora of things to do. The Brighton Beach Igloo Pop Up is a series of 10 igloos that pop up along the beach around Christmas time. Each one can fit 16 people in and they’re free to book. For New Years Eve, it’s definitely worth booking; you need to pay a £10 deposit for each person, redeemable on the night against your bill. They’re complete with tables and chairs, and you can go and get drinks at the main bar. There’s a DJ on New Years Eve, so it’s sure to be a really good night, and a little bit different to your average night out! Just make sure to wrap up warm (or drink lots of champagne…either/or!). All the Brighton clubs and bars will be hosting New Years Eve celebrations, as usual, but again, I’d book, as paying at the door on the night will end up being seriously expensive. The most cost effective way is to plan, plan…and plan some more! Maybe that takes the spontaneity out of it a little bit, but at least it saves you some dollar. Pryzm and Shooshh to name but a few are hosting New Years Eve nights, or for something with a ‘going out vibe’ that isn’t a jam packed nightclub, you could head to Komedia for the Krater Comedy Club New Year’s Eve, featuring Geoff Narcott, Jen Brister, Sean Collins and MC Stephen Grant.

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The comedy show does finish at 9.30pm, but you can book as part of a package where you can stay on afterwards for the English Disco Lovers NYE Party (you can also book a meal too), which begins at 10pm. WARNING: Contains a lot of glitter. The Hilton Brighton Metropole are hosting a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball, beginning at 7pm and ending at 2am (you need stamina for that one!), costing £89.95 which includes a 3 course gourmet dinner, symphony of desserts, indoor dodgems (make sure to hitch your ball gown up), and a DJ. You can book a package at Be At One, Brighton, which does seriously nice cocktails, for you and your friends, which will include entry and drinks. Your normal ticket includes queue jump, guaranteed entry and a free festive cocktail. I don’t know about you, but I’m hooked. All in all, as like every year, Brighton really is a hub of events, parties and things to do. Whatever it is you’re into, whether it’s a wild night out complete with a glittering dress, dancing on tables, and getting home when the sun comes up, a quiet meal with friends, or staying in and watching the celebrations from the comfort of your sofa, the city has everything to offer to you. Stay safe, have fun, and of course…Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here’s to 2018.

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smooth A statement of timeless sophistication, velvet is a flattering and seductive fabric. With a distinctive soft feel, velvet can be made from either natural or synthetic fibre such as viscose. So add a bit of this rich and royal texture into your evening wardrobe.

Net-a-porter, Jason Wu, £2,145

ISawItFirst Green Velvet Dress, £15

Kasia X

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vs Velvet fabric dates back to over 4000 years ago. It was traditionally made of silk which is pricey. However, the synthetic method allows for affordable production hence we can now choose from these cute and colourful pieces.

Duel Eau de Toilette, Annick Goutal, £86

Velvet edit

SHEIN High Slit Plunging Velvet Dress, £18

Missguided, Blue Velvet Dress, 25

Collectif Brighton, Velvet Dress, £39.90

touch

Inspired by our fashion shoot, here are some stellar ideas for your party wardrobe collection. Online retailers have got quite a radiant array to choose from...

Net-a-porter, BALMAIN, £3,840

Compiled by KASIA KASH

Kasia X

Missguided Dress, £50

New Look Hotpants, £11.49

DAZZLING

Sequin

Hunter Rubber Care Kit £15

SHEIN High Slit Sequin Dress, £19

PrettyLittleThing Dress, £40

Cocktail-ready, flaunt your curves with these embellished sexy numbers! From slinky backless slip dresses to gala-worthy maxi-gowns, you’re sure to steal the spotlight. Glitz and glamour for the guaranteed high-shine effect.

ISawItFirst Red Dress, £15

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Compiled by Kasia Kash at stylingagency.co.uk / follow fb @kasiakashstyle

Party fashion edit

OUTSTANDING LOCATION. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. EXQUISITE FOOD. TOTAL RELAXATION BRIGHTON HARBOUR HOTEL & SPA PROVIDES ALL THE INGREDIENTS FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE SEASIDE ESCAPE.

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

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London Lifestyle Great ready now for a very happy New Year...Hello 2018 we have been expecting you!

ll of us should have a list of goals, hopes and aspirations for 2018, a wish list if you will. And if you haven’t yet, then this the perfect time to create one. For some of us, 2018 could bring wonderful new relationships or career success, visits to the wonders of the world or perhaps aspirations to re-vamp our homes and image. Others simply dream of booking tickets to a festival, treating themselves to an amazing facial or to pay off that credit card. Perhaps you have decided to spend the next New Year’s Eve drinking cocktails on a tropical beach, rather than in another boring pub drinking warm wine from a plastic glass…..well my dears… your wish list can be endless.

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Some positive thinkers update their wish lists through the year, making notes in their phone while daydreaming on the tube to work, while other bright souls prefer a luxurious moleskin notebook to scribble down ideas and life goals with a flourish in a thoughtful moment or during a quiet reflective mood. There are masses of books available to help achieve an optimistic frame of mind, visualise your life goals, increase health and fitness, and boost positivity and mindfulness for the year ahead. Why not create long-term and short-term life goals, for example weight loss to achieve in the

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next four weeks, travel aspirations in the next six months, relationships in the next year and career targets for five years’ time. It’s also a great idea to make a list in December of everything you have achieved that year, from new relationships and friendships, places visited, career advancement and fitness success. This will help you appreciate everything you have accomplished and help you identify what you would like to improve and build on in the new year to come. It’s a chance to consider what you could have done differently and make a note not to repeat any less than pleasing decisions you made. This exercise is a positive and practical approach to starting your new year with a bang.

Feast your eyes on the following inspirational book ideas for the body, mind and soul in 2018:

Lean in 15, The Body Coach – Joe Wicks The Low Carb Revolution – Annie Bell Deliciously Ella Every Day – Ella Woodward I Quit Sugar – Sarah Wilson The Bikini Body 28-Day Healthy Eating & Lifestyle Guide – Kayla Itsines Pilates For Dummies – Ellie Herman The Little Book of Mindfulness – Dr Patrizia Collard Happy: Finding joy in every day and letting go of perfect – Fearne Cotton Happy – Derren Brown Plenish: Fuel your ambition – Kara Rosen Secrets of Meditation – Kim Davies and Richard Gilpin The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle

Health and fitness is on the top of nearly everyone’s agenda for the new year ahead. New fitness regimes, healthy eating plans, new sports and therapies, new holistic ideas and wonderful body treatments are all great to have in mind when embarking on the wonderful new year that stretches in front us. Fresh attitudes and plans will ensure that you can see clear steps in enjoyable ways to get to your body goals. Here are some great fitness ideas for you to try in London in 2018.

Santander Cycles Hire bikes in London for as little as £2. This is great way to cheaply cruise around the London sights. You will find bike docking stations to park and pick up your bikes all over London.

Power walking round the Royal Parks Walking around London’s most beautiful parks is free and a great way to burn the Christmas calories. My favourites are Hyde Park and Green Park.

Swimming in the Serpentine A quintessentially English pastime, swimming in the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park is hugely popular with anyone who enjoys a crisp outdoor swim. The Serpentine Swimming Club is the oldest and longest running in Britain and meet every day between 6am and 9.30am. The Serpentine Lido is open daily to the public in June, July and August from 10am until 6pm.

Horse-riding through Hyde Park The Hyde Park stables offer adult, children, private and group lessons throughout the year and cater for all riding abilities. www. hydeparkstables.com. 0207 723 2813 Open water swimming in the London Docks Join the London Swimming Club and enjoy year-round open water swimming in London’s docks. www.londonroyaldocksows.co.uk

Royal parks half marathon The Royal Parks half marathon will be in its 11th successful year in October 2018. Renowned for being one of the most beautiful runs as the 31.1-mile course stretches out around Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens. www.royalparkshalf.com British Military Fitness – Clapham Common Bootcamps are great way to tone up and

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have fun exercising with a group. The British Military Fitness on Clapham Common have weekly boot camp classes all year round run by qualified military trainers ensuring you will burn calories and get real value for money from every class. The great location means you can stroll off to one of the lovely pubs in Clapham for a glass of vino afterwards to celebrate all your hard work!

Swimming at The London Aquatics Centre The London Aquatics Centre at Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford, home of the 2012 Olympic Games, is where you will find three pools comprising of a competition pool, training pool and the diving pool which are perfect for the whole family with lane swimming, lessons and women only swim times. Rowing on the River Thames The London Rowing Club offers a ‘Learn to Row’ course which is great for beginners and those wishing to see if rowing is for them. No previous experience is necessary, and the six-week course will guide you through the basic techniques and safety. www.londonrc.org.uk/learn-to-row. The Thames Rowing Club www.thamesrc.co.uk is a more competitive club which caters for men and women from beginners to athletes. Both clubs and courses are on the Thames in Putney, South West London.

Barry’s Bootcamp Barry’s is renowned as a strength and cardio fitness experience, with boot camps in Central, West and East London, each packed to the rafters with inspirational and energetic fitness instructors that are dedicated to helping you become the best version of yourself. The interval and strength training sessions are structured to tone up, increase fitness energy levels and burn calories in the most efficient classes possible. Started in the US, Barry’s Bootcamp landed in London in 2013 and since then has helped Londoners burn thousands of calories per session in its high intensity work-outs. www.barrysbootcamp.com

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London Lifestyle As well as getting active, 2018 is when we should aim to avoid crash diets and implement simple and healthy ideas into our everyday eating habits and beauty routines:

• Cut down on sugar. • Limit refined carbohydrates. • Increase lean protein. • Eat varied types of seasonal fruit and vegetables. • Embark on small regular bursts of exercise throughout your week. • Introduce new exercise classes and training programs. • Treat yourself to massages, hair masks or a luxurious facial and manicure. • Feel well groomed by maintaining regular haircuts, hair colours and pedicures which all lead to increased self-esteem. It is so important to look after yourselves and have regular treatments to feel polished, energised and looking your best, which will in turn increase your positive image and attitude. • Use seasonal, organic and locally produced and responsibly sourced ingredients into your home cooking. Holistic therapies, spa treatments and exercise for the mind and soul such as yoga and meditation are thought to decrease stress, decrease blood pressure, increase positive energy, create better sleep patterns, improve mindfulness, encourage a calm state of mind and increase general wellbeing without the use of strong and invasive medication. Here are just a few of London’s best spa treatments, holistic treatments and alternative therapies.

Vaishaly Vaishaly is infamous as one of the best beauty clinics in London for holistic facials and massages. Visit the award-winning clinic in Marylebone and sample other treatments including threading, waxing and laser hair removal. Treat yourself and book in for the Signature Facial with one of Vaishalys expert therapists (25 minutes £65, 55 minutes - £120, 85 minutes £170). www.vaishaly.com. Vaishaly, 15 Paddington Street, London, W1U 4HR. Triyoga Triyoga is one of the most inspiring places in the capital for Yoga, Pilates, Barre, meditation and mindfulness courses and Tai Chi. The wonderful Triyoga centres are full to the brim of experts teaching over 600 classes every week in Camden, Ealing, Shoreditch, Soho and Chelsea. www.triyoga.co.uk

The Ned The Ned is one of the hottest hotels and members clubs in the city right now. As well as great hotel rooms and an amazing bar, The Ned is now renowned as being home to one of London’s best Spas, with a 20-meter indoor pool, sauna, steam room and eight Cowshed treatment rooms. The gorgeous Cowshed Spa specialises in pedicures, manicures, LED light therapy and full body massages. For the chaps, Ned’s Barbershop is the essential place for men’s grooming. Open seven days a week offering the gents a range of treatments including haircuts, wet shaves, facials and manicures, shoe shine and beers to enjoy while being groomed to perfection. The Cheeky nail bar offers a range of both traditional and French manicures, pedicures, and uses Shellac CND, from £20. www.thened.com/spa-andgrooming. The Ned, 27 Poultry, London, EC2R 8AJ.

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London Shopping, Eating and Drinking. Favourite London places which epitomise city style at its best. January sale shopping is nearly upon us and has by far the best sale discounts of the year, so get ready to spend those pennies in the 2018 London sales. The January sales kick off from Boxing day through to the end of January. Make sure you visit your favourite shops early to get the best bargains. London’s biggest department stores are Harrods, Selfridges and John Lewis and often have queues of customers waiting outside before their doors open on Boxing Day morning, so make sure you arrive early. Be prepared that once inside Selfridges and Harrods there are queues into the popular small concessions store areas of Gucci, Chanel, Christian Dior, Prada and Louis Vuitton. If travelling up to Westfield in West London or heading East to Westfield Stratford City, travel by train and tube rather than driving to avoid the hectic parking. Online shopping is always a great way to beat the crowds, but sometimes in-store bargains can be found the old-fashioned way by simply rummaging through your favourite departments. The Camden Watch Company The Camden Watch Company is the home of beautifully designed watches created in the heart of Camden since 2014. The British watch brand aims to design and create well made good quality classic watches at reasonable prices. The Founders of the company, Anneke Short and Jerome Robert live and work in Camden and create vintage designs which are inspired by Victorian London. Visit their flagship store in the Horse Hospital in Camden Town or their pop-up shop in Boxpark Shoreditch for the latest designs and special editions. My favourite is the No.27 (£98 to £108) which is inspired by Victorian vintage clocks and pocket watches. Camden watches start from £69. www.camdenwatchcompany.com.

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The Radio Roof Top Bar This amazing roof top bar can be found on the 10th floor of the ME hotel on The Strand, with stunning views across the city. The service is brilliant, the décor immaculate and stylish, and the luxurious drinks list is endless. The menu is fabulous with weekend brunches, delicious bar snacks, sharing plates and sumptuous seasonal lunch menus with international dishes perfect for lining your tummies before trying out the decedent signature cocktails. This place is well worth a visit and one of the best bars in London for experiencing the most amazing views across London. Nearest station is Charing Cross. www. radiorooftop.com/london/. ME London, 336-337 The Strand, London, WC2R 1HA. Now is the perfect time to get started on new year resolutions, goals and wish lists. Let’s see more of the world and achieve those career goals. Let’s be more active, try new things, and be mindful of our diets to feel help us feel fantastic. Make exciting plans to explore more of our wonderful city in the new year. 2018 can be the year you make huge accomplishments, so start planning now for a happier, healthier, more positive you.

Charlie McBrien

Order & Pay

with the touch of a button @Southern Brighton Taxis (App)

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The City of Angels This is not a city you would generally consider for a family holiday. I was never really interested in LA until recently. It wasn't on my bucket list of must-go-to places but with lots of nudging from a 12 year old, desperate for a selfie collection to rival her friends on Instagram, it got me to thinking "Hell yeah! I fancy seeing what the land of plenty has to offer."

T TOP: HOLLYWOOD BOWL VIEW LEFT: DOGTOWN LIQUOR. TOP RIGHT: SANTA MONICA BEACH. LOWER RIGHT: SANTA MONICA

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ravelling with two off-spring, the chance of long distance travel had been out of reach for a few years. What with getting copious amounts of factor 50 and flying 11 odd hours, 2-3 hours to get through the joy that is American immigration was always a real turn-off but hey, they’ re older now so I thought, why not? Let's do this! With the great deal booked through Norwegian Air (£350 per person) the joy of travelling with kids, could actually, just be worth it. You've landed, you’re jet lagged, you’ve survived American immigration and now it's just the car rental hard sell to get through, insisting you need extra insurance which we already have. Plus you cannot have your car until you've bought something extra you don't need. You're all running on empty but that's what they prey on. Driving into the night, into a strange city with tired kids is always daunting, with a Tom Tom that won’t load. Someone please come to my rescue. That someone was the reliable trusty travelling companion that is Google Maps. We headed to our first stop on our first trip to the City of Angels with what appeared online to be the most family-friendly neighbourhood, Santa Monica.

Santa Monica After rising at 4am (thanks jet lag), we went for our very generous complimentary breakfast at 7am at our first port of call on our LA tour, the Le Meridian Hotel Delfina. Just four blocks up from the beach, the hotel service was 2nd to none, even though the hotel itself is slightly business-like. The complimentary parking, breakfast and free bikes all included in the price

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were great extras within the deal. The breakfast round the pool was one of the best, if not the best of many on the trip, and after we headed off on the free bikes, Californian-style to explore for the day on our beach cruisers. Joining the cycle path at Shutters on the beach, the first vista of palms and enormous yellow sand beach did not fail to excite. Santa Monica is a clean, tidy, commercial, touristy city, centred around it's iconic pier and 3rd Street shopping. Cycling past a real mix of either pristine palaces or slightly run down cottages, the beach at this quiet time of the morning really is a beautiful place. The pier which is the end of Route 66 is old fashioned, which it should be. It's not over-developed (or hasn't been since the 80’s) and still has an old timer vibe with old school rides, entertainment and fishing decks. It is a touristy stopping point, obviously, but a great stop on your cycle ride on your first visit to LA. Santa Monica Soul is mentioned everywhere, promoted, advertised and to be fair it's all around you. There are great restaurants, bars, food trucks, street vendors and shopping. It's a little over sanitised but a good solid base for the start of our extended city break. Heading out of the the centre of Santa Monica, we discovered Main Street, although it's not the main street or not any more anyway. Since the creation of modern Santa Monica, this Main Street harks back to the LA beach vibe I had imagined; old liquor stores, dive bars, the smaller more exciting independent restaurants, boutique shops and independent coffee shops galore, all with a big dose of beach cool. This is more like it.

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Dogtown Dogtown is the area between Santa Monica and Venice and now boasts its own Dogtown Coffee Shop, whose walls are adorned with the first original skateboards. Well this is where modern skateboarding was invented and I suppose, to reflect our present times, history gets turned into a coffee shop. After a couple of great beach days in Santa Monica, we headed up through Beverly Hills to West Hollywood the land of bling.

West Hollywood and Sunset Strip LA is a vast collection of 50 plus cities all merged into one huge metropolis, each with their own town hall, centre and personality. Sunset Boulevard, which borders West Hollywood on one side and the hills on the other is an incredibly long road than runs through many contrasting neighbourhoods. Sunset Strip is where the majority of the clubs are located - the famous rock and comedy ones at least. Travelling with a 12 year old called Rok-star, shopping was high on her list of things to do and Melrose is the place for shopping for all things Hollywood. It's a strange street of high-end designer shops, a few cool boutiques, unbranded restaurants, more independent coffee shops, but it's all rather soulless. We made the 'essential' stop for that Instagram shot for Rok-star of what I have been led to believe is the most Instagramed shop in the world; the pink Paul Smith store. I don't think anyone actually goes in there, but there's certainly a line and a security guard organising the patrons, all there for photos. Boy do Angelenoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a line - we call it a queue before you get the wrong idea. After strolling down Melrose (LAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a city anyone walks in), more coffee, no purchases from the boulevard of bling, off to the strip and the riot house we went.

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TOP MAIN: MAIN STREET DOGTOWN. ABOVE: SANTA MONICA OLD HOTEL. RIGHT: MELROSE.

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The City of Angels

The Andaz Hotel on Sunset used to be the riot house, where such luminaries from the rock and roll hall of fame used to get up to naughties and now regularly featured in shows like 'Entourage' and 'Ray Donovan.' The roof top pool experience is definitely something of a Hollywood must-do and The Andaz doesn't disappoint. With views of the Hollywood hills one side and far reaching views of the city from the other, booking a room with a view is worth the extra as the views from your bed in the morning are fantastic. Although not the rock and roll riot house hotel it once was, it is still a cool boutique-style large hotel with rock history running through its design, from installations to menus. The hotel is a few strides up the strip from the even more celebrity famous Chateau Mamont and next door to The Comedy Store - a great location to explore Hollywood from. This is the LA that you see on the TV shows and movies. West Hollywood is Hollywood’s hipper neighbour and you have never seen so many G Wagons in one place. It is also chock full of great dining options and we decided to plumb for a Hollywood classic restaurant called The Everleigh, a somewhat hidden place on the Sunset Strip. Its frontage was a cute overgrown secret garden vibe, hiding an old style Californian craftman’s house. Through the main room and open kitchen was a great twinkling terrace with a view of the city. The food was good, the service was laid back and the overall experience was very classic Hollywood.

Silver Lake Silver Lake is home to the indie stores, gaunt hipsters, cool trainer shops and independent (yes you've guessed it) coffee shops. It's still rough round the edges and the gentrification that is sweeping though all cites is sweeping through Silver Lake, but as soon as it gentrifies it will become another un-cool, extremely expensive neighbourhood…….but for now it's like Venice without the canals and a lake instead of the beach - an inland Venice, if you like. We tried Intelligista, one of the original coffee shops. Tech nerds fill the place but the mrs, who’s a coffee fiend, said that that was the best of the trip. I was more attracted to the rather cool cheese store attached to the coffee house.

TOP LEFT: SUNSET STRIP CLASSIC DINER TOP RIGHT: ANDAZ HOTEL ABOVE 1: LA SILVERLAKE ABOVE 2: SUNSET JUNCTION ABOVE 3: UNDEFEATED

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Silver Lake starts around Sunset Junction where Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard meet. These roads are long, 30 odd miles each running right through different parts on the city. Where coffee’s her thing, kicks and wine is mine....I'm not a cheap date. LA only trainer emporium has a branch in Silver Lake, so in I goes and out I comes with socks and sliders. Will it catch on? Who cares, its an LA thing.

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Downtown On our way to our next sleepover, we thought we must stop in Downtown, you know, where the tall buildings are. Let's check out Walt Disney’s gift to the city, the spectacular Frank Gehry designed concert hall. The building was originally shiny but due to the excessive reflections from the LA sun, it had to be rubbed down to provide a matt finish. It is an amazing piece of architecture and really is something to behold. Also Downtown is the revived Grand Central Market. I love food markets and they are always one of my first stops in any city. The food, the produce, the smells, the hustle and bustle, the people. G.C.M is now a collection of stall holders, some originals, some from the higher end restaurants, serving all manner of cuisine for you to try. Lines can be long but for quality food and atmosphere its a worthy stop off. Getting to and from the museums to the Grand Central Market you take the angels flight, a funicular railway claiming to be the world’s shortest railway (although I believe there's an even shorter one in Bournemouth). We didn't really have enough time in Downtown and it is a definite place to visit in LA but we had to move on, because Rok-star and Loveheart wanted to hit the pool. Koreatown. The Line. The Line is LA celebrity chef Roy Choi's new gaff, in up and coming Koreatown, one of LA’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. The Line Hotel is becoming its epicentre. Shepherd Fairey mural-ed, bare concrete walls, everywhere is a real tribute to concrete as a design aesthetic. Super welcoming staff, super relaxed, huge lobby, when packed I'm sure it's like a nightclub in there, home to pot bar and the Commissary Restaurant. The Commissary is a large green house by the hotel's rooftop pool. Although The Line's roof top pool is on the roof, its not on the top roof,

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ABOVE LEFT: DOWNTOWN ABOVE RIGHT: DISNEY CONCERT HALL ROW TWO FROM LEFT: SHEPARD FAIREY PEACE, GRAND CENTRAL MARKET TACOS, COMMISSARY RESTURANT, THE LINE HOTEL, THE LINE HOTEL ROOM

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it's actually on the first floor, which means you have to get your pool timing attendance just right because the neighbouring offices cast long shadows across the pool deck. The Commissary Restaurant would be where we were dining that night. After a couple of cheeky pre-dinner cocktails in pot, up to the greenhouse we went. It really is a cool showing of a restaurant perfectly cool, both in temperature and atmosphere. Large plants in the ceiling form shade in the daytime, the menu is vegetable and salad based. Both feature extremely heavy on LA menus but meat is still there too. Dishes are served for sharing - 'homestyle dining' it's called in LA. Roy Choi is the Los Angeleno celebrity chef who became famous for his kogi trucks and is one of the founders of the food truck movement bringing Korean flavours to LA’s favourite dish, the taco. It was interesting to see his take on a hotel and a stationary hotel restaurant. Roy Choi, I’m a fan. Wine features, but craft beer and cocktails are the weapon of choice in the majority of the city's restaurants. But I love wine, so let's get out the city for a few days and hit the Santa Barbara wine region. From Downtown you head up the 101 for 2 hours and you hit the Californian Riviera, a Spanish enclave. Its look, feel and city layout is very European. This is the area that the wine film 'Sideways' was filmed.

Santa Barbara Santa Barbara is a world away from the sprawling metropolis of the City of Angels. Its European feel is fronted with a spectacular sweeping Californian beach, fringed with tall skinny palms and perfect for the sunset or early morning stroll to the pier or into town. The pier at Saint Barb is not unlike most Californian piers....wooden. This one is slightly different though,

it has its own wine tasting room; Deep Sea Wine. So wine tasting a fresh crab for lunch - don’t mind if I do. This was followed with some beach action for Rok-star and Loveheart, then onto the unfortunately named Funk Zone. The Funk Zone has to be the most ridiculously named wine area in the world, ever! It sounds like a really badly named Tuesday night in the world’s worst nightclub, but it's actually very cool, if you like wine. The town’s old industrial area is now filled with 20 plus tasting rooms from all the vineyards from Santa Barbara county, all in one spot. So there we were, wandering round, drinking wine in the sunshine in perfect little courtyards or reclaimed warehouses. This is wining made easy. We managed to get to four tasting rooms in with perfectly behaved offspring, although iPads fully charged and parental bribes of shopping treats after ensued. Daddy found a perfect Chardonnay and Rok-star found a new top in Forever 21, even though she’s still only 12. Santa Barbara is downright sleepy compared to LA but a welcome change of pace. It's a great wine spot for a few days on a quiet stopover, but enough of that lets get back to LA, back down the famous US1, to the ‘Bu’ for the weekend.

CLOCKWISE: CALIFORNIAN BEACH. SANTA BARBARA BEACH. SANTA BARBARA ART. TASTING ROOM. SB WINE COLLECTIVE. SANTA BARBARA WINES. DEEP SEA TASTING ROOMS.

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Malibu Driving down, rather than up the US1, makes a big difference because you're on the beach side of the road, so you get to see the beaches, the views and the houses. The ‘Bu’ as it's called is the summer home to the stars, movie makers, and Hollywood big shots. It is a rugged, perfectly formed downbeat city, all centred around the one main road, but it is still big - as with everything in LA - much bigger than expected. Arriving at the Malibu border after a 1 hour drive from wine land, we decided a lunch stop at Neptunes Net was in order. This old biker bar is now a landmark in its own right and has featured in countless movies. Neptunes is an odd mix of bikers on one side and surfers on the other, all mixing uncomfortably, but in good spirits enjoying living their weekend sub-cultures before going back to work on Monday in their suits. Like any good seafood diner, chowder was excellent, fish taco’s top notch and perfect for people watching. Now off to Carbon Beach. We were staying at the M in Malibu, a little boutique motel. All motels are described as boutique now, aren't they, but I like the change from the full on hotel experience to motel, park, get your keys, now leave us alone and don’t ask any questions. The M motel's location is walking distance from the pier, opposite Nobu and Carbon Beach, or Billionaires Beach as it’s known in some circles. This is where beach front homes can hit the $80m mark. The owners of the properties actually blocked all the access paths a few years back, claiming the beach was private. After ensuring lengthy court battles, all restrictions had to be removed because all Californian beaches are public and have to remain that way. That means mere mortals like us can sit down 6 foot away from someone who has paid $80m for the privilege. Not that you would

ABOVE LEFT: MALIBU BEACH. ABOVE CENTRE & RIGHT:CARBON BEACH HOUSE. CENTRE LEFT: MALIBU NEPTUNES. CENTRE RIGHT: THE M HOTEL. BOTTOM: THE FARM MALIBU NEXT PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ACE HOTEL. ACE POOL. SINATRAS. INTO DESERT SHOT. KAUFMAN HOUSE. ELVIS & PRICILLAS.

I assume there's a lot of drink driving in LA, there has to be, because no one walks you're weird if you walk. So let's walk.

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be sitting 6 foot away. In October it was perfectly hot enough, with beautiful sand and not a soul for 1/2 mile each way. It really is a great beach. We wrestled the 6ft waves crashing down onto the shoreline, barely able to stand up, but it's so much fun. Oh yes! Surf Rider Beach is the other side of the pier, if watching surfers is your thing. In LA you have to drive everywhere and it's sort of the same in Malibu, but the pier’s a great base, if you want to walk or you want to have a drink. I assume there's a lot of drink driving in LA, there has to be, because no one walks - you're weird if you walk. So let's walk. That night we ate at the Malibu Farm, farm to table dining on the pier. A pier restaurant is normally something to avoid but reviews were good and it did not disappoint. Walking there, past Nobu, there was at least £4 million pounds worth of wheels in the valet car park, too pretentious even for me. Malibu is very laid back. The residents are paying an enormous amount of money for that attitude but it is sort of a perfect beach city, if that's your thing. There's sort of, not a lot there, a complete shorts and t-shirt vibe (but with $10,000 flip flops on), oh and coffee and croissant is going to cost you $20. But the laid back vibe, crashing surf, rugged beauty and the totally bling postal address is what you paying for. It was pretty spectacular for a weekend of beach and not much else. Leaving the beach to try the desert was next on the agenda and the journey rolled on to another of LA surrounding cities; the old school classic retreat that is Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Driving in LA, although something I worried about before arriving, is easy. I mean real easy - just miss rush hours. Twenty minutes down the US1, take a left, stay on that road for 2 hours, stop at an outlet mall if you have a 12 year old shopaholic and then you're at Palm Springs. Easy. The Springs is a mix of LA short breakers, retired sunbirds in pastel colours, slowly crossing large roads on walking frames and palms, big palms. Palm Springs is a resort town, so pick your resort carefully. We chose the Ace Hotel and Swim Club. Ace have converted an old Howard Johnson motel and Denny’s Diner into a desert oasis of cool, in only ace’s way; all dusty hues, a large pool, beds, DJs and vintage furniture. All super chilled, you're there to relax, the music’s spot on, and the drinks are frozen. It's the desert - chill out. We did for three days. It's all there; no pompous hotel rules, no snobbery, which in my eyes is how a hotel should be. They have got it right. It's ace at The Ace. Palm Springs is chock full of modern minimalism and a design lover's dream full of interiors shops. New restaurants are springing up all the time, all set against perfect desert landscaping. The 'Rat Pack Retreat' warranted a visit, which you can hire out now for private parties. This is Marilyn's, Elvis and Pricilla's honeymoon hideaway, where they spent a year and the design is classic. Theres an air of old school glamour all around you, like LA has an energy, Palm Springs has that something special too. Notable eating was El Jefe - taco’s again but these were the best of the trip. The Kings Highway is the ace hotel’s modern re-imagining of the roadside diner. An absolute must on any visit, is the Palm Springs ariel tramway, that takes you up Mt Jacinto. You traverse through 5 micro climates, the equivalent of travelling from South America to Canada, up to 8500 ft and the views, trails and air are spectacular. You go from 103 degree desert floor heat to an alpine resort. The views includes the Joshua Tree, Coachella and Palm Springs city. On the top grab a chilled Pinot Noir and walk a trail through a perfectly silent national park. The Rok-star and Loveheart were blown away by the experience. The Mrs didn't brave the rotating cable car so waited down the bottom, but it's nice to see kids of our generation enjoying nature, without an iPad and earphones. Oh, and did I mention we saw a mountain lion? The desert was ace, but all roads are leading us back to LA and Venice was the area I was most looking forward to hanging out in.

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The City of Angels

Venice Los Angeles really is made up of many different cites and Venice is the city out of all these individual cites which is the most different from the others - famous in its own right. After the fantastic winter sun of the desert, we were losing the weather slightly on this part of the urban adventure. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lots of homelessness in La La Land and none more so than in Venice. The sun wasn't shining, so the boardwalk didn't have its summer time appeal and on a grey day it is a much more desperate looking place than portrayed. The legal weed explosion is huge in LA and even more right out in the open in Venice. You hardly see anyone smoking in Los Angeles but the smell of good weed is everywhere. Open cannabis consumption is the norm and it comes across in the friendly welcoming conversations we had right across the city. Much to our surprise, the general attitude of the native Angeleno was very laid back, chilled and friendly - maybe we now know why? Surely that's not a bad thing. General weirdness prevails in Venice; alternative lifestyles, performers and the less fortunate are everywhere on this raggedy part of the beach, but go a street or two back and the gentrification of this previously no-go-after-dark neighbourhood is. there for everyone to see. Abbot Kinney is the street that really encapsulates the new Venice and is an entirely different proposition to the beach front broad walk. Abbot Kinney, named after the original developer who created the Venice canals, has recently even been absurdly titled 'the coolest block in America', but hey it's pretty damn groovy. Main Street which joins Venice to Santa Monica and Rose are also great streets lined with the hottest restaurants, bars and cool shops. Most notably the Rose Cafe, were we dined one evening was very very good. Also, in an old warehouse down a deserted side street was Gjusta with a reclaimed, industrial interior and a favourite lunch place of locals. Considering only 10 years ago it was a donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t-goafter-dark place in LA, gentrification is at full pace, it is making it a safer place for visitors and still retains its slightly edgy appeal. The Venice Canals are a heavenly spot of cool calm in the middle of the city and as it was the Loveheart's desire to go trick or treating in America, the Venice Canals would be our Halloween spot of choice. The Venice Canals are beautiful; old bungalows and modern houses sit comfortably next to each other. A small one is going to cost you upwards of $2.5 million but hey, gentrification makes everything expensive! Strolling round the canals is serene, more than relaxing. Then as night falls, the ghouls came out - well, lots for 4 to 10 year olds dressed up as ghouls.

The Venice Canals are beautiful; old bungalows and modern houses sit comfortably next to each other. A small one is going to cost you upwards of $2.5 million

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All the homeowners dressed up too and the houses were covered from roof to courtyard in cobwebs, smoke and spooky soundtracks filled the air and obviously extremely wealthy witches and vampires were handing out armfuls of sweets and granola bars for good measure. Well, it is still a beach community. Americans really know how to celebrate Halloween and it was extremely generous in candy and spirit for this community to create such a fantastical spectacle for children and parents alike. Venice’s personality is everywhere from its rebellious past. It's anti-LA in a way, it's not brash or bling like Hollywood, it’s still rough around the edges, its wealthy for sure but it's not trying to rub your nose in it. There was one restaurant I wanted to eat at, but it was always fully booked. So with a bit of cheeky British charm I managed to blag a table as it was our last night and it was the place we wanted to eat. They looked after us superbly and it was the best place we ate. It was simple, the food was served homestyle as a lot of restaurants in the city are doing now and it's lauded as the restaurant that kicked off the Venice dining scene. Californian menus are a real melting pot of mixed flavours and styles, the atmosphere was dark and brooding and the kids coloured in. The food was great. This restaurant really stood out. The restaurant was Gjelena. LA is urbanely good looking with a sunny disposition. I think it is easy for people to hate on LA - it's the done thing. It's cliched, it's brash, heartless, unforgiving - yes it's probably all those things. It’s bi-polar and has multiple split personalities but one thing's for sure - the 90’s Baywatch image has gone for good. What’s left is a multi-cultural, diverse melting pot of creatively. It's familiar, even though you've never been before, because you've seen it so many times. From downtown to beautiful rugged beach cities, there's something for everyone. Find the city whose personality suits yours and live in it - but live it big. It's LA, remember. Was it great? Yes. Would we go back? Definitely. Bin Gone

LEFT PAGE TOP: VENICE BIKE RENTAL. BOTTOM: ABBOTT KINNEY. THIS PAGE TOP MAIN: VENICE CANALS. CENTRE LEFT: ABBOTT KINEY STREET. CENTRE RIGHT: LOVEHEART HALLOWEEN. BOTTOM: VENICE SKATER. SMALL PIC TOP RIGHT: THE BRIG BAR. SMALL PIC LOWER RIGHT: BIN GONE & FAMILY.

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London Lifestyle Boxpark

oxpark is the world’s first pop-up mall – fusing the concepts of the modern street food market and placing local and global brands side by side, to create a unique shopping and dining destination. Opened in 2011, Boxpark established itself in the heart of London’s Shoreditch to demonstrate it was entirely possible to bring dining and fashion back to the street and provide fertile ground for independent and established retailers to reach a large audience in a big and eye-catching way. Entirely constructed out of refitted shipping containers, Boxpark utilises a unique position in being able to offer affordable and flexible conditions for lifestyle brands, cafes, restaurants and galleries to trade and succeed.

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It’s a retail revolution that’s spawned many imitators but no equals. Until now.

Shoreditch in East London is home to the original and unique shopping venue Boxpark. Based on a food and shopping mall, Boxpark is essentially a trendy popup area showcasing a great array of shops, restaurants, cafes, fashion, art, galleries, and culture. It’s current and cutting edge.

Opened in 2011 by the entrepreneur behind the Boxfresh brand, Roger Wade, the units are home to shops and restaurants and comprise of stripped and re-fitted industrial containers that run along Bethnal Green Road.

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This place is so much more than just a pop-up mall. This revolutionary and innovative area is home to bright young things, great designs, independent lifestyle stores and supports a community of local talent and creativity. Open every day 8am to 11pm, except Sundays, when it’s 12 noon until 10pm.

Boxpark is essentially a trendy pop-up area showcasing a great array of shops, restaurants, cafes, fashion, art, galleries, and culture. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current and cutting edge.

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Croydon’s formerly unforgiving reputation is beginning to subside and big things are on the horizon.

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Why Croydon? The real question is – why not Croydon?

Croydon has been the emerging face of south London for some time now, establishing itself as the new home of the capital’s street art movement and the ‘silicon valley’ of the south. Because of this, Croydon’s formerly unforgiving reputation is beginning to subside and big things are on the horizon. While Croydon is often on the receiving end of a fair amount of abuse for its brutal post-war architecture and its part in the 2011 riots, it’s also home to Peep Show, dubstep and the BRIT School!

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Croydon is well connected too. You can be in central London in 14 minutes and the south coast in under 40! Gatwick Airport is a mere quarter of an hour away and West Croydon’s ‘ginger line’ connects the town to every bustling square inch of south east London – from Peckham to Shoreditch. Croydon is changing rapidly and while areas like the restaurant quarter, in south Croydon, and Matthews Yard are well established, the town centre has lost some of its biggest dining spots, bars and nightclubs. Boxpark Croydon aims to revitalise the area’s changing social and dining landscape by delivering the same unique experiences of the Shoreditch site and planting them in the heart of Croydon, with a couple of twists…

Big names from across the capital are excited to bring their vibrant flavours and exciting menus to the 80 shipping containers of Boxpark Croydon.

Food & Beverages

Events

Unlike its big sister in Shoreditch, Boxpark Croydon will focus primarily on the drinks and dining experience. Big names from across the capital are excited to bring their vibrant flavours and exciting menus to the 80 shipping containers of Boxpark Croydon. In addition, independent and local food retailers will also have the enviable opportunity of showcasing their unique menus to the people of Croydon.

Boxpark is serious about bringing quality events to Croydon. A town with a rich musical history, both commercial and underground, needs to be celebrated and what better way to do it than to kick things off with the Boxpark Croydon Opening Festival. On October 29th, Eskimo Dance, fresh off the heels of this summer’s Red Bull Culture Clash, bring the crème de la crème of established and rising Grime artists to Boxpark Croydon, including Wiley, Ghetts, P Money, Mistajam, Hatcha and many, many more; with further extra special guests to be announced. With tickets starting at just £15, Boxpark Croydon’s first-ever event promises to be a big one, with London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, in full support: “Boxpark will be a great addition to the town centre and a festival of this scale is the perfect way for Croydon to get noticed on the cultural map.”

In future, when people think of where to eat in London, Croydon will be on everyone’s lips. From the exquisite fine dining options of a quality restaurant to the deliciously, mouth-watering selections of a top street food stall; Boxpark Croydon places it all under one roof. Here’s a few of the exciting venues you can expect to dine in when Boxpark Croydon launches on October 29th 2016: MeatLiquor, Mamalan, Cronx Brewery, The Breakfast Club, Chilango, Fish, Wings & Tings, Lazeez Lebanese, Yumn Brasserie, Wine & Deli, plus many, many more!

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T: 0203 889 7739 E: sales@boxpark.co.uk www.boxpark.co.uk

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Brighton Dome Wednesday 22|11|2017. Goldie and The Heritage Orchestra Ensemble Live

Absolute's Kasia Kash meets the Drum and Bass royalty. The all-star backstage crew included Grooverider, Friction and his special guests Terri Walker & more.

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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

OF SAVING LIVES AND SUPPORTING VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN BRIGHTON & HOVE

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY What an incredible journey we have had these past 20 years! As a local charity our focus has always been on the City and helping those most in need living in Brighton & Hove; whether that be young people in schools, members of the homeless community living on the streets or women facing times of crisis. We have had an ever increasing passion to impact this City, to see all members of our community thriving and living life to the full. We would like to thank everyone that has partnered with us, supported and worked alongside us over the years. Together we can transform the City even further- let’s make our City the best it can be! Paul Young, Founder.

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