AMAGAZINE Manchester - ARLO

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Hello

You only need to look out at Manchester’s skyline – dotted with tower cranes and burgeoning skyscrapers – to know it is a city on the up. As Manchester builds on its residential and commercial sectors, so does the city’s communities strengthen. In this issue, we detail the leaders and future leaders helping to reaffirm Manchester’s status as a cultural innovator; Mayor Andy Burnham (page 12) revealed the true potential of the Northern Powerhouse and Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, (page 30) offered his pledge to ensure the city remains a place of acceptance.

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Content

Ollie James L’Oréal Blackett Bethany Lee Steph Martin

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Contents A R L O

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AFAMILY

32

4 Hello from the AFAMILY 16 Manchester’s 30UNDER30 55 Join the AFAMILY

Community

52

6 Manchester’s Best Independent Business

12 Andy Burnham: The Future of Manchester

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42

28 The Christie Charity 29 R-Kix: Soccer School 30 Manchester Pride: A City To Be Proud In

Business

30

32 Huckletree: More Than a Workspace 34 Affinity Living: Building on a Brand 36 Chris Greenhalgh: I LOVE MCR 38 Nick McCance: Nicholas James Gin

6

Wellbeing 48 Interview with Olivier Polge 50 Meet Dr Jonquille Chantrey

Lifestyle 40 The List 42 The New Androgyny

Travel 52 Helsinki: Finlands Quirky Capital

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56 Burgos & La Rioja: Discover Spain Like A Local

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MANCHESTER’S

Best Independent Businesses SAVAGES MUSSELS @savagesmussels

Head down to Altrincham Market on the weekends and you’ll find Jamie Savage shucking mussels from his popular stall. It’s not your typical seaside scran - expect unusual creations such as a mussel burger served with bacon, cheese and smoked slaw, popcorn mussels in deep fried batter, chilli mussel nachos and a fish finger butty. It’s all part of Jamie’s mission to modernise his favourite seafood and one day own a ‘mussels restaurant’ in the city. The former Royal Navy chef first imagined his idea when serving on board the HMS Northumberland. Back on land, he became a private chef and hosted his first mussels night at The Snowgoose in Macclesfield. The events continue to sell-out in Manchester and the Savages Mussels stall has a cult following for its experimental dishes.

ENGLISH ROSE BAKERY englishrosebakery.com

FORM LIFESTYLE STORE

form-shop.com 6 Bradley Street, Northern Quarter, M1 1EH Northern Quarter concept store, Form Lifestyle, is based in a stunning Grade II listed building on Bradley Street. Unassuming from the outside, inside features a breathtaking atrium glass ceiling and an extravagant winding metal staircase. It’s the ideal setting for Form’s

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well-curated collection of prints, hanging plants, skincare, notebooks and more. The store is owned by Elly and Harry who moved to Manchester from London back in 2017. Together they champion slow-living and a more conscious approach to shopping.

Hidden amongst the New-York inspired bars, burger joints and urban graffiti on Oldham Street lives English Rose Bakery, a quaint patisserie and kitchen working to perfect the art of French Macarons. Created by Emma Brown, the Chief Macaron maker first fell in love with the sweet treats after a visit to Ladurée in Zurich. After a successful stint supplying macaron tiers for weddings, department stores and events across the UK, English Rose Bakery found its home above The Castle Hotel. The baking team bake their classic and experimental macarons each morning (we’re keen to try the Pina colada flavour) and are delivered each week.


COMMUNITY

PLANT SHOP

plantshopmanchester.com Call it cliché, but ask any millennial and they’ll likely admit their burgeoning love affair with household plants. Contributing to a legion of new-age plant parents (with beautiful Instagram accounts) is Stockport’s Plant Shop. Based in the Old Town a short distance from the town centre, Emma Nosurak has sourced a leafy jungle of cactus, monsteras, rubber trees and much more. It was on a trip to Melbourne in 2016 that led Emma to open her plant business. An avid environmentalist, her aim is to help inspire Manchester to become more green by adding leafy adornments to businesses and homes in city centre and beyond.

VIN-YARD

hatchmcr.com New to Oxford Road’s shipping containerturned-indie food and drink hub, Hatch, is wine bar Vin-Yard. It’s the first standalone venture from former stockbroker and wine-lover Anna Tutton. Tutton first explored her love of wine working for Reserve in West Didsbury as well as the popular Hanging Ditch. For Vin-Yard, she has crafted a well-curated and ever-changing menu, featuring vegan, organic, natural and biodynamic wines.

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MANCHESTER’S Best Independent Businesses CURIOUS FOX

52 Beech Rd, Chorlton, M21 9EG Helping to bolster Chorlton’s reputation for unique retailers is finely-formed gift and interior store, Curious Fox. The Beech Road store, with its forest green frontage, gentlemanly design and wealth of refined yet contemporary gifts, is deservingly considered a Manchester treasure trove. It is owned by model-maker Stuart Hutcheon who previously owned the Beech Road Café for eight years.

OBJECT STYLE objectstyle.co.uk

Object Style’s owners, Alex and Rachael Otterwell, have a keen eye for, well… good looking objects. The super-stylish and well-travelled couple brought their chic interior and clothing store to Chorlton back in 2016. This year, they’ve sprung for a bigger unit on Beech Road to make room for more beautiful ceramics, wall art, modern clothing, handcrafted jewellery and other incredible items you’d want to showcase in your home. The brand new space also welcomes a new venture for the couple. In October, they’ll introduce ‘Object The Apartment’ a beautifully outfitted staycation home.

NORDIE

nordie.co.uk, 1044 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme M19 3WX Neighbourhood bar NORDIE is the latest indie to join Levenshulme’s blossoming food and drink scene on Stockport Road. The bar was launched early 2019 by Oddie McClintock and partner Maddie Hyland (Oddie previous ran the Pilcrow Pub and Trof NQ). The duo was keen to establish a local bar with local people in mind. “The suburbs were always a place we had our eyes on,” says McClintock, “and we loved the feel of Levenshulme as it’s only one of a few suburbs that is hugely independent.”

NEVEUX ILLUSTRATION

@elisabeth_neveux_illustration Working under the pseudonym ‘The Fox Fairy’, talented illustrator Elizabeth Neveux creates spellbinding prints inspired by women, fairytales and horror. Originally from France, the artist set up The Fox Fairy store in Manchester’s iconic vintage emporium, Afflecks Palace more than 5 years ago. With a focus on celebrating unique art, it sells an eclectic mix of items from over 20 different artists, including art prints, jewellery, accessories, cards, clothes, homewares, art materials and stationary.

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SIOP SHOP

@siopshop 53 Tib St, Northern Quarter, M4 1LS If you’ve ever had a serious hankering for a donut, the Northern Quarter’s Siop Shop would likely be your first port of call (other than that major donut chain we all know). Often described as a ‘pimped up Greggs’, it’s home to bakers Blawd who provide the Siop Shop with its celebrated collection of cakes, bakes and quirky donut creations (the mince pie donuts are a winner). After previously operating from the basement of Common bar, owners Iwan Roberts and Lucy Jackson opened their coffee shop on Tib Street back in 2017. While they’re best known for sweet treats, Siop Shop also boasts a full breakfast and lunch menu, as well as artisan coffee.


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M

ANDY BURNHAM:

ore than a decade ago, Andy Burnham influenced a decision that would significantly impact my life in Manchester. As Secretary of State for the Department of culture, media and sport, he played a pivotal role in the BBC’s decision to move to Salford Quays. The uprooting of the UK’s most significant broadcaster to the North meant Manchester kids, like me, with lofty dreams of media stardom could ‘make it’ at home. We didn’t have to move down South like we were all told to do. Today, Manchester continues to attract mammoth new opportunities in business, culture, art and more. Once again, Andy Burnham is at the helm. He was elected Greater Manchester’s Metro Mayor in May 2017. He won voters over with his impassioned pledge to end homelessness, vastly improve our city’s transportation system, and supported the mission to build a Northern Powerhouse - a proposal to boost the local economy by investing

The Future of Manchester L’Oréal Blackett chats to Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, on the rise of Manchester start-ups, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Manchester’s challenges in becoming a world-class destination. 12 AMAGAZINE


COMMUNITY

I have been on since I got elected. The cost of travel in Manchester is such that it puts barriers in front of some young people, especially those in the outskirts. They may look at Manchester City Centre but don’t aspire to work there because of the cost of getting there every day. So, I very much heard an echo in what he said and what I’ve been saying. But now, let’s do something.

in skills, innovation, transport and culture. All pledges he admits are still a work in progress. But he has a plan, he tells me. We speak just after Prime Minister Boris Johnson made his promise to “turbocharge” the north with a new rail network between Manchester and Leeds. Burnham and the North, have heard this all before. The potential of billion-pound high-speed rail network HS2 was teased 9 years ago. But, with reason to renew hope, if achieved, what does it mean for the future of Manchester? Let’s start with current events, our new PM, Boris Johnson can be a polarising figure in the city - but, in your opinion, does his appointment mean good news for Manchester? Hmm, I think a lot of people in the North have never seen much of commitment. For me, the jury’s out and he needs to prove to us that he is someone that is going to act on what Greater Manchester and North of England needs. You promised us a Northern Powerhouse many times now. The onus is very much now on him to prove it.

He recently made some pledges to Manchester and the north particularly the much proposed HS2 and HS3 rail networks - how confident are you in his ability to implement them? There’s a massive North/South divide when it comes to transport. He [Boris Johnson] has a responsibility to demand for everywhere what he demanded for London when he was mayor. That for me is the key thing. We need a London style transportation system. He made a good start with the speech and the issues he talked about, the bus fares and rail infrastructure. And, to be fair, he focused on issues that are important for people in Greater Manchester. But is there going to be any real follow up? It’s fine as words on a page but will they remain words on a page or result in real delivery. That’s what Manchester needs. In his speech he mentioned young people who live on the outskirts of Manchester and the ‘hopelessness’ they feel - what did he mean by this? He very much took up a theme which

What do you think will help? I’m proud that Greater Manchester will be introducing free bus travel fares for 16-18-year-olds. I made a promise when I stood for election that I would prioritise young people. I would be keen to work with the government to bring down the cost of travel for all young people, not just on buses but on the Metrolink and trains. It’s not just about travelling to Manchester, how about if you’re a young person who gets a job interview in London? The interview is at 10 am in the morning - what are you meant to do about that? When you look at what it might cost you, you’re looking at £300 plus pounds. When I graduated from uni I came back here and I remember that era very clearly and how hard it was to get my first foot on the ladder. I can relate. And this was pre-privatisation of rail. I got a job in London. But now, is that an option from many young people? Is it fair to say there are much more opportunities for young people in Manchester now? Massively so. In some ways, where the cost of travel has changed things for the worst, the opportunities here in our own city have changed for the better. If I just look at MediaCityUK well, that didn’t exist ten years ago. There was BBC Oxford Road but it was much smaller. When I look at the names of the organisations in our city centre, they just weren’t here. We have the likes of GCHQ coming later this - a huge government employer with prestigious opportunities.

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COMMUNITY

There will be more. Manchester is attracting more and more attention. Why are they coming here? Well, it’s the talent of our young people. Why has Manchester become so attractive to companies? It’s the talent of our young people and the diversity of our communities. I can give you an example: I was responsible for the BBC moving to Salford. The things some were saying at the time were outrageous and the snobbery was unbelievable. More than 10 years on from that, the BBC is stronger for having moved. It lessened its ivory tower and become more representative of the entire country. Other companies have also realised that they will be stronger for coming here too. They need the diversity of Greater Manchester. A diverse workforce makes them stronger. I recently read tech startups in the region have doubled - the city has become a tech hub - how has the entrepreneurial spirit benefitted the city? Manchester’s always been a city of industry. But it’s a city that’s not all about materialism - yes it’s about wanting to succeed but also seeing your responsibility to wider

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society. Certainly for me, whenever I ask businesses to support us on homelessness, for example, there’s no shortage of businesses that say yes we’ll help out. …we don’t just stand for entrepreneurs for the sake of making people rich, people want to come to a city that has a sense of doing things in the right way and for a higher purpose. I try to stick true to that Manchester history - that tradition of social innovation and progress, the Suffragettes, the trade unions, the cooperative movements. That’s what gets me going. Manchester is growing at a rapid rate, from residential, hospitality to transport and the cityscape. The city does feel like a never-ending project, is there a finish line and what does it

look like for you? It’s a good question. The world is moving so fast now, that if any city stops and pats itself on the back and says ‘we’ve made it’ then that’s the time we start falling behind again. I honestly don’t think there’s a finish line, but there’s a line Manchester needs to cross to get it to where it really needs to be. Manchester’s a world-class city, especially in sport and music. We’re becoming worldclass in architecture and the cityscape too. We’re starting to look like a world-class city. But we aren’t world-class for transport. We are one of the fastestgrowing, dynamic, exciting cities in Europe but we can’t be complacent. What’s one word sums Manchester up best? Radical.


INSPIRING

Manchester

to build our future

MANCHESTER INTERVIEWS BUSINESS TECH PROPERTY FOOD TRAVEL

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Manchester’s

UNDER 30

Our pick of the most inspiring under thirties in the city 16 AMAGAZINE


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Ed Barry

Director of Over Under, How has Manchester helped you achieve your goals? Manchester is the friendliest city I have ever lived in, everybody we’ve met is super down-to-earth. Our brand is built on an ethos of positive energy and a lack of pretentiousness which is embraced by Manchester. It is the perfect place to grow Over Under. What are your goals of 2019 My goals are: to be the hospitality company that everyone wants to work at, to have five sites, launch our direct to consumer platform, hit 1m views on our ‘Coffee Connoisseur’ video series and always bring good vibes.

Alice Sparks

Head of Invisible Manchester Who inspires you? My four biggest inspirations, each for a different reason. • David Nott - Bravery • Afua Hirsch • Lemn Sissay - Creativity Intelligence • Mary Kingsley - Curiosity • My mum - for being her How has living and working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? The buzz in this city is almost tangible - I mean, you can’t walk down the street without seeing a Manchester bee. I adore Manchester, it is a hotbed of creativity and thrill. The diversity and eccentricity bound up together in perfect measures make Manchester so special. Living and working here has allowed me to take risks and be inspired on a daily basis. It’s a place where people have your back and where the water tastes so delicious.

Aaron Short

Co-founder of accommodation.co.uk What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? We raised £450k for Accommodation.co.uk and attracted a team of highly experienced professionals within their field who have exceptional knowledge and expertise. What’s the biggest

challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? My biggest challenge is also the thing I’m most proud of: building a team of highly skilled individuals around the world and in Manchester. I’m extremely lucky that the team members that started out with us in Lincoln have made the move over to Manchester too.

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Lewis Kemp

CEO of Lightbulb Media Tell us about your career and education. As a lad from a council estate, I was incredibly fortunate to gain an academic scholarship to Bolton School, which introduced me to a whole new world of opportunities and contacts. In my working life, I’ve always been involved in marketing in one form or another. I’ve done door knocking for charities, event marketing for the public sector, ran the comms strategy for a nutrition company and been the Head of Digital for another agency. It took years for me to build up the confidence to believe that I could do things better my own way.

Nicola Edwards hD student P at Manchester Metropolitan University

Who inspires you? My parents. They’ve worked ridiculously hard to be able to give my the opportunities I’ve had, and instilled a massive work ethic in me that I’m eternally grateful for. They’ve also blindly supported anything I’ve ever wanted to do, even if they didn’t fully understand it. My mum still thinks all I do is “mess around on Facebook” all day but she’s slowly coming around.

Who inspires you? My grandmother - my Oma - is a big source of inspiration for me. I don’t get to see her much but her ability to overcome anything make her a very special person. Regarding my career, I am not inspired by one scientist but by all the women who’ve worked tirelessly, often without recognition, to shape the world as we know it. One word that sums you up best? I would say ‘organised’ because although my lab bench is notoriously messy, I like to look after everyone. Either that or ‘hungry’…

Hannah Anderson Co-founder of Social Chain What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? On 23rd March, I gave my first TED Talk. I was terrified of presentations at school and university, so to present in front of almost 1000 people was a huge personal achievement. My talk covered the positives and negatives of social media and how society needs to start educating the next generation as soon as possible. This is critical to every child’s life in 2019.

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What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? 2018 was a really difficult year for me. I broke my back and had to deal with the gruelling rehabilitation. I was out of action for 8 weeks and then phased back into work. The pressures of building a company whilst I was in recovery changed my character forever and made me a stronger person.


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Tom Melody Director at KOR

Megan Ellaby

Influencer & Founder of Saturday by Megan Ellaby How has living and working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? I think living in Manchester has set me apart from the rest of the blogging industry. When I started it was a really small industry and now it’s pretty huge with only a handful of us coming from up North. Living in Manchester offers a unique eye that Londoners for example don’t have. We also don’t take ourselves to seriously which I think helps. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? Negativity and learning that not everyone will like you and that’s okay. Being online often requires a thick skin which is sad, but us Mancs are hard and it’s making me a sassier and stronger person in the long run.

What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? I’m struggling to choose just one thing. Privately raising and negotiating the finance to open our first KOR Studio was brilliant. However, I’d have to say, building one of the busiest personal training businesses in the UK is my most significant accomplishment. I’ve trained athletes, performed thousands of sessions to amazing clients and I’ve flown all over the world to train people. I even met my wife in the gym. Who inspires you? My family are an inspiration to me. Growing up in a single parent home, I was raised by an incredibly strong Mum. She showed me what it meant to be a real man who cared for his family. My nan was essentially a second parent to me and my sister. She recently passed away, which is a great loss to me so I’m determined to make her proud. I am inspired daily to give my family, as well as my wife. Growing up without any money can either inspire you or hold you down. One of my goals is to buy all of them the house of their dreams.

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Garen Tchobanian

Entrepeneur & Founder of Azat Mard What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? Whilst playing football at a national level was a great personal achievement for me, the creation of Azat Mard has to be the most significant. So much passion, creativity and drive has gone into the making of it and the journey has proven that determination and a few risks can really pay off. It’s taught me the importance of staying true to yourself and what you want out of life and that nothing is out of reach. It was also a real ‘pinch me’ moment to be invited to the Forbes 30 under 30 event in Israel in (month) - to be in a room full of such talented people was insanely inspiring. How has living and working in Manchester helped you reach your goals? There are so many benefits to being in Manchester and it’s been such an important part of my journey. It’s the heart of the North West and filled with so many fantastic businesses, liberally-thinking people and a fantastic culture.

Simon Martin Chef-Patront at Mana

How has living and working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? Mana is in a facility where I get to live in the same building and the community has been extremely welcoming to what they must class as a foreigner from Shropshire! Manchester being a fantastic transport hub with an international airport, railway access and motorways allows us to source the best produce in both the north and the south of the country. Where do you see yourself in twenty years’ time? Still cooking! I’d like to have a facility which is fully selfsustainable continuing to build on the values we have now and to create the best restaurant for our staff in the world.

Laynei Notman

Founder of Boom Whisky What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? Public speaking. I’ve always dreaded speaking in public and although I’m getting better with time I think it’ll always stay with me on some level. I feel the best way to overcome it is to show myself it won’t be as terrifying as I think. It’s something so many people experience but I always feel it makes an event feel so much more rewarding when you’ve overcome it. One word that sums you up best? Curious. I don’t think I would be where I am now, if I hadn’t been curious as to how my favourite spirit was made and where the flavour comes from. That curiosity lead to a fascination that launched everything I’m working on today.

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Naomi Ogbeta Athlete

How has living and working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? I’ve lived in Salford most of my life and, unlike many athletes, didn’t relocate because of the amazing set up I have here - I’ve been working with my coach Tom Cullen for five years. Having a great team has helped me to become one of Britain’s best triple jumpers.

Alice Catherine Haran Blogger and Content Creator

Who inspires you? Jane Birkin was my first biggest fashion inspiration - also my Gran, she always wore the most amazing blouses and statement earrings. I very much feel like I’ve inherited her taste. I’m usually drawn to people who are just unapologetically themselves Bowie, for example. I love that he blurred the lines between what it means to be masculine/feminine, I think it’s important that we keep doing that. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? Learning to manage myself as a freelancer and understanding that sometimes you can be your own rubbish boss. I’ve had to try and learn when it’s important to switch off, and when it’s important to be working all hours of the day…

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? The biggest challenge was not being selected for 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. Watching the results of the match was really hard as I longed to be there. Yet, disappointments have taught me to trust the process as everything that is meant for me will happen in due time.

Matthew Priestley

Regional Performance Manager at Barclays What are your goals of 2019? My main goal is to ensure Eagle Lab is a focal point in the Manchester ecosystem for supporting business growth. We launched in September 2018 to help businesses grow in Manchester and it has been brilliant to help local businesses achieve their goals. How has living and working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? I love Manchester. I think working in such an amazing city has really helped me understand how important the Eagle Lab is when helping drive businesses forward and contributing to the local economy. The ecosystem is really well connected and there are so many communities designed to support one another. Having a connected network has helped me build my connections and meet new people.

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Sean Brown

CEO & Founder of Mercarto Who inspires you? I take a lot of inspiration from my grandfather who built a business from selling a few items of camping equipment to building one of the largest caravan and motorhome retailers in the UK.

Where do you see yourself in twenty years’ time? Investing technical resource and cash into great entrepreneurs with world changing ideas. Still based out of Manchester and pushing us forward as the place in Europe to come and build a startup.

Amy Harrison

Brand Marketing Manager at Didsbury Gin What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self? What I love today is how we seem to have very different perceptions to what we see as “success” to how it was in maybe our parents/grandparent’s era. We strive for happiness first and foremost: we don’t want to work to live, we want to live to work. With the rise of digital and social, there are so many possibilities in this day and age to do what you love and make a living. So try as many things as possible, get out into the world and find what you’re passionate about. Where do you see yourself in twenty years’ time? I don’t like to think that far ahead, or wish any time away. I live for now. Although, I do want to focus on expanding my business of freelance marketing and social media within the city, working with exciting brands and expanding my knowledge and experience (and of course living in the sunshine and working remotely).

Dr. Michael Barnish Head of Genetics and Nutrition for REVIV Global Ltd

How has working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? As a doctor that is no longer in the NHS, by living in Manchester I have always had the opportunities to work in the areas I’m passionate about. Manchester is home to some of the best aesthetic clinics in the UK and headquarters to REVIV Global. I’ve been able to branch out into the world without going very far at all. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? I think the time that I left the NHS was the hardest. I was told it was very risky to leave the NHS as a young doctor. I’ve never regretted leaving, even for a fleeting moment.

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L’Oréal Blackett

Journalist, Magazine Editor and Presenter How has living and working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? The city has been instrumental. I was always told that London was the only place I could establish a career in the media. Yet, Manchester is full of opportunities. It’s a young city that’s always changing and developing, so there’s a hell of a lot to write about. But more so, I love the people and the spirit. I’ve written about so many local creatives, charity workers, entrepreneurs and more who’ve inspired me in many ways. I doubt I could have achieved much of what I’ve accomplished anywhere else. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? Making the decision to go freelance after years working for Manchester Confidential was one of the hardest of my career. It took a huge leap of faith to believe I could be my own boss in such a competitive industry. Rejection and criticism go part and parcel with the job (reading the comment section of a particularly opinionated article can be like entering a verbal war zone). But, it has all helped me to develop a thicker skin.

Max Brodie

Songwriter, Composer and Sound Designer at Nice Sound What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? The fact that I’m still doing this nearly 10 years after I started as my most significant accomplishment. I get to mess about in a studio everyday making music and weird sounds, that’s pretty great right? What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? I’m not sure whether this actually happened or not, but early on, like 3 years in or so, I had a mini burn out. I had started to make a decent living from what I was doing, I was working really hard, and I just thought to myself – “…right so this is it, for the next… 40 years”… But I got over myself and everything’s swell.

Michael Barlow

Global Alliance Manager at Applearn How has living and working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? I am a big advocate of Manchester; it’s a city that is prospering and has great colleges and universities, a fantastic social scene and a great talent pool, particularly in the tech industry which is thriving at the moment. AppLearn is based at The Sharp Project and this space has

been fundamental to our growth, as it has provided us with affordable facilities and connected us with fantastic creative talent across Manchester. What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? 2017, as this was the year I contributed $1.35m in sales to the business.

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Ellen Brockbank Blogger & Influencer

Ashley Ashcroft Interior Designer at OBI Who inspires you? My friends and family have supported me every step of the way and I feel it’s important to have likeminded people in my life. However, my nan Edith is my biggest inspiration; despite challenging times her resilience and positive outlook on life is truly inspiring and what motivates me to push past anything and be the best I can possibly be. In contrast, she also helps me to slow down and find a work/life balance which I have come to realise is incredibly important – she really has helped shape me into the person I am today. Creatively speaking I take inspiration from everywhere; traveling, books, publications, videos, social media, showrooms, galleries, as well as the people I work with and meet every day in Manchester. What are your goals of 2019? Studio OBI is still young so one of my goals is to help with the continued development and growth of the business. I am currently involved in the set-up, design and branding of a new business concept called ‘The Difference’- a new coffee bar that transforms into a restaurant as the day progresses, with multifunctional space that can be used for meetings, events, presentations, private dining and much more. ‘The Difference’ is currently under construction and will be opening summer this year on Mosley Street – my goal is to help get the business off the ground and running from concept to coffee, food and events.

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What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? Last year I worked on a summer campaign with Arcadia and it was a bit of a surreal moment for me as I had previously worked in Topshop for a few years. Going from working in the shop to becoming an ambassador was a pinch me moment and it made me realise how far I had come. Since then,I have worked with a number of brands I have loved for years; currently creating something exciting with H&M, probably the biggest brand I have worked with to date. Not only that, but my Instagram and blog as a whole and where I have got to with content creation is also a huge achievement for me. What are your goals of 2019? I feel like I’m in a very good position at the moment and I have worked very hard to get here. I wouldn’t particularly say I have any huge goals for 2019 and I just want to carry on going in the direction I am and see what happens! I am grateful for all the opportunities I get and I get to work with some amazing brands and people. One goal for 2019 is to start a YouTube channel, however on top of my blogging and Instagram and also working full time it hasn’t been very achievable so far. I would love to eventually do my blogging and Instagram full time so I can dedicate more time to creating content I love.

Lefteris Anestis

PhD Candidate at Lancaster University What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? When I moved to the UK, I was all alone in a new culture (and weather) very different from the greek one. I had to make new friends, deal with being away from family and at the same time, I had to continue my studies at a demanding postgraduate level. I had also just recovered from an operation to remove a cancer tumour. I did fine! I remained focused on my goals and managed difficulties with humour. It was definitely a tough year, but looking back I feel proud of myself. How has living and working in Manchester helped you achieve your goals? I first visited Manchester on a day trip - it was love at first sight. I instantly felt the friendly vibes of the city, was amazed by the beautiful red brick buildings, enjoyed the independent coffee shops and people’s friendly attitude. I was determined to make Manchester my home and I did it.


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Neil Malhotra

Fashion Designer at Forever Unique & AZAT MARD What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? It has to be seeing our first collection alongside established brands such as D Squared and Givenchy in independent menswear boutiques across the UK. It’s a hugely exciting time for us. I hope that Azat Mard will be an established brand name in the fashion industry. We want to build a community of dedicated fans and followers so that we keep customers across a lifespan. Who inspires you? My dad Sandeep is a real inspiration to me. By seeing what he has achieved - from being a glorified market trader to founding - is extremely motivating at this stage in my own career.

Emily Alice Valentina Sutton

PR Account Manager for We Are Indigo PR Who inspires you? My beloved grandad was always an inspiration to me, he was an incredible artist and I like to think I inherited my creativity off him. Also my director, Gemma Krysko - she gave me my first chance in PR and without her taking a chance on me, there is no way I’d be where I am today. I’m also hugely inspired by Phil Jones and Anthony McCrossan, both of whom are doing incredible things in the world of cycling to ensure equality and awareness in the sport, and I can’t forget James Golding, a man who taught me to chase my dreams and showing me that anything is possible, even in

the face of adversity. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? I started out in PR as a photography graduate. To begin with no one took me seriously, I really had to work hard to prove that I was a strong, resilient professional who wanted to work in this industry more than anything else. I’ve also definitely had times where I’ve been laughed off because I was a woman. It’s only fuelled my desire to prove them wrong and has made me incredibly driven.

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George Craig Jimmy’s Bar

A quick summary of your career. At 16 I signed a major record deal with my band ‘One Night Only’ and toured the world releasing three albums for about six years. I’ve stepped back on my music career to focus on Jimmy’s. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? The bar industry is a tough game, so it’s been an achievement to sustain something that can come and go quickly. We’ve built a brand that we’re really passionate about, long may it continue. What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self? Listen to Black Sabbath.

Ollie James

Freelance Content Creator What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? In my career, I have created content for various clients from cloth ing brands like NEXT to beauty giants CHANEL to tech-savvy, Airsorted. I also worked on the “Manchester Most Influential” project which received praise from businesses across Manchester. Another achievement would be my voluntary work at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. It was a struggle at first but I thank GMMH for persevering and spending time to train me to be of service. I recommend to anyone to find the

Becky Wilkes

Senior Sales and Marketing Manager of the North at D&D London Who inspires you? I have been asked this question before and it is quite difficult to answer. I lost my mum at the young age of seventeen, and she was the most amazing lady to step foot on this planet. She played a massive part in making me my own person and inspired me to not only work extremely hard for my career but to do it with a personable and approachable manner. At seventeen, I became extremely independent and driven to succeed. While I do take inspiration from other women in both my personal life and career, I try not to compare myself as I believe that each woman should inspire to have their own individuality. What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self? You don’t need a dance degree, it won’t come in handy and you will knacker your knees!

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time to volunteer and give back to the community. Who inspires you? All people inspire me. Everyone has a story. It is refreshing to see what paths they choose and how they deal with different situations and obstacles. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? Drama - there is always some drama or complication. But I have learned to understand you can’t change the past, just the future.


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Josh Cole Bolland

CEO & Founder at J B Cole UK What’s your most significant accomplishment to date? From a personal perspective, my two beautiful children Georgie and Louie are undoubtedly my greatest achievement to date. In terms of business achievements, taking the seat as the Chair of BIMA Manchester at the start of 2019 was a very significant milestone for me. It was something I have aspired to for a number of years and I’m really proud to represent such an important community of people.

Madeleine Penfold Freelance Creative Lead and Humanitarian

Who inspires you? It’s hard to list answer this question - I need my own magazine for the number of people who inspire me. There’s so many unsung heroes and amazing people around. Kathryn Cheetham who set up Manchester Cares in the North. She is dedicated and driven in helping other people through social engagement. Sacha Lord, owner of the Warehouse Project and full time Manchester legend. This man is twelve-years-old at heart, yet an incredible business man passionate about the music and nightlife scene. Jolie Studios - two leading female’s running their own interior business, producing incredible work, chasing their dreams around the world and having a dam good time doing so. Ben Wild, an artist who is still so young, yet wise beyond his years. He’s incredibly forward thinking and humble. Drew Forsyth is a fellow photographer who is not only incredible at what he does but also so giving with his time and honest within the photography industry. And Jessica Moorehouse, a junior doctor turned health and wellness innovator, using her passion and talents to get Manchester moving and really revolutionising the way people see fitness and mental health. Christine and the Queens - her music inspires me.

What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self? Enjoy the journey and don’t compare your timeline to other people. It’s easy to always be looking forward and not enjoying the moment, or feeling a failure because someone else has accomplished something in less time than you. Success doesn’t happen overnight so don’t force it. Everyone’s journey is different, and whether you’re 16 or 66 just enjoy what you do, live in the present and focus on your own goals.

What are your goals of 2019? Find a mentor. Keep an eye out for like minded people I want to collaborate with. Stay focused. Explore more. Think outside the box. Teach. Continue to work on projects that inspire me. Say no to ones I don’t.

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COMMUNITY

The Christie

HOSPITAL CHARITY Learn with AMAGAZINE the vital role The Christie Charity plays for the Manchester community.

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ith a worldwide reputation for trailblazing treatments in the fight against cancer, The Christie Hospital is long considered a source of pride and hope in Manchester. It’s one of Europe’s best and most comprehensive cancer hospitals, treating more than 40,000 patients per year from its elite facilities in Withington. NHS funded, they have saved thousands of lives since the 1930s. We at AMAGAZINE are committed to helping The Christie continue its pioneering work. We’re pledging to donate £4000 over the next few years as the hospital continues to grow - and they are expanding fast. The Paterson Building, destroyed in 2017 in a devastating fire, will be replaced with a new world-class centre on Wilmslow Road. The Christie will also open a new £26m hospital in Macclesfield. As the hospital develops, we aim to build a strong partnership with The Christie Charity which provides enhanced services ‘over and above’ what the NHS funds. We’ve spent time with the charity over the last few months learning first hand the incredible impact donations have on the hospital and its patients. Their amazing fundraising schemes have helped support services such as art rooms, wig fitting and complementary therapy. The Christie Charity is also raising money for major developments such as a vital Radiology and 4D CT scanner. This unbelievable technology will bring clearer imaging and pioneering surgeries to The Christie. To join us in our pledge, please see The Christie Charity website for more information. christie.nhs.uk/the-christie-charity

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COMMUNITY

R-Kix: Manchester’s Future Soccer Stars

AMAGAZINE is now sponsoring R-Kix, a Manchester soccer school helping to build the football talent of the future.

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rom from its centres in Rochdale, Bolton, Moston and soon, Salford, the school teaches local children as young as three-years-old. R-Kix is known in the city for improving skills beyond ‘kickabout’ to ‘kick off’ with private one-on-one sessions, half-term soccer schools and nursery introductory sports sessions. Since it began in 2016, R-Kix has established twenty football teams, enabling children aged six to twelve to play competitive matches against other clubs within Greater Manchester. All teams have had a hugely successful season

winning numerous level football tournaments. R-Kix footballers have even showcased their amazing talents at Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. AMAGAZINE are happy to have provided sponsorship to four R-Kix teams in 2018 and will be continuing our support in 2020. We’ve spotted a few stars in the mix. Our brilliant under 6 team won the last tournament and we couldn’t be prouder. Let’s hope we’ve got the next England team in the making. For more information, visit r-kix.co.uk

AMAGAZINE 29


a city to be proud in Manchester Pride CEO Mark Fletcher reflects on this year’s high profile celebrations and reveals what’s next for the UK’s most prolific LGBTQ+ charity.

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hough Manchester’s annual Pride celebrations have ended for another year, CEO Mark Fletcher is yet to exhale. “I’ve promised my team I’ll take a few days off,” he shares with a chuckle. It’s no wonder, Manchester Pride 2019 was a mammoth undertaking. Fletcher and his team relaunched the charity’s annual LGBTQ+ celebrations with a muchpublicised new format. With the Gay Village bursting at the seams, the four-day-weekender spilled into the rest of the city and splattered rainbows and a message of equality on every corner. With a more visible show of support, Manchester Pride 2019 felt a more grand spectacle than ever before. And it was. The festival expanded into Mayfield Depot, a colossal 10,000 capacity space near to Piccadilly station. The larger stage allowed for 30 global acts to join the new ‘Manchester Pride Live’ bill, including Ariana Grande - undoubtedly the festival’s most culturally relevant performer to date. Yet, with a bigger event came bigger issues to tackle - which Fletcher admits. Overcrowding, refused entry and high ticket prices were some of the criticisms Manchester Pride faced. Its most vocal accusers feared the event had become less about activism as it was a party. Despite the backlash, the charity looks set to report another record year of fundraising for LGBTQ+ causes. With “every penny” being reinvested into the community, Fletcher insists the party and the protests are far from over yet. What was the biggest success of Manchester Pride 2019? Well, there’s the small matter of the brand new event at Mayfield. For me, it was quite overwhelming to see how well-received it was. There was a lot of anticipation about what the event was going to look like - I don’t think people expected it to be so big. People seemed to be in awe of the space. They key performances were Years and Years, and we loved to see Cheryl up there - her performance was phenomenal. When Ariana stepped out that was a culturally defining moment. The city coming together in the face of adversity, standing united. It was very powerful. There were issues with refused entry at Manchester Pride Live - what happened? During the run-up to the event, we decided to have a cut-off point for entry so people could safely move around the areas without more people coming in. We publicised this well in advance and it has been on our website all year. But, because it was a brand new event with new conditions, people weren’t used to it.

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I was gutted to hear some weren’t able to get in. My team worked hard to prevent this from happening. But when you’re working with a fixed capacity event space there are certain parameters we have to operate within. We’ve learned from it. Will Pride be staying at Mayfield Depot next year? We’re keen to continue working with Mayfield. It is an area earmarked for development, so it’s going to be a changeable feat for us in the coming years. We hope we can use the same footprint in the future but we have to respectful of the fact the area is in development. Ariana Grande was the major headliner this year what made her the ideal Pride performer? My personal view is anyone who stands in support of LGBTQ+ quality and wants to lend their talent to showcase that support needs applauding. We need allies. Ariana has a special place in the hearts of Manchester people and she’s a campaigner, so she made an absolute dream artist. I think it’s really dangerous when non-LGBTQ+ people are slated when performing at Pride… How difficult is it to ensure Pride is both for celebration and community activism? It’s challenging but what I have to do is remind people what we stand for. Manchester Pride is a charity that campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality all year long. Community activism has its place at the heart of what we do. Our parade is the most political aspect of the event as we march for equality. It’s the single largest parade that takes place in Manchester City Centre and it is one of the most anticipated events that take place in the North West. For me, it’s great that we can celebrate LGBT+ life but I need to be clear there’s a long way to go within LGBT+ communities to build acceptance. For me, community activism is key for us to progress. Read the interview in full, at AMAGAZINE.CO.UK

AMAGAZINE 31


HUCKLETREE: MORE THAN A WORKSPACE We chat with Founder & CEO, Gabriela Hersham on what makes Huckletree coworking space stand out from the crowd.

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he world of work received a much-needed makeover in recent years. Old fashioned corporate offices unbuttoned its top collar to become trendy co-working spaces young modern outfits suited for flexible working and hot-desking. It’s estimated that 2.2 million people are working in more than 22,000 co-working spaces worldwide and Manchester has hungrily embraced the co-working phenomenon. Huckletree, a pan-European business, is the latest to join Manchester’s working scene. As part of its plans to expand across Europe, the workplace accelerator will take over the city’s old Daily Express building to bring together local entrepreneurs from across digital, lifestyle and media. It has also recently opened ‘themed hubs’ in Oslo and Dublin, with aims to re-energise the landscape of workspaces by prioritising long term members. Founder and CEO, Gabriela Hersham, reveals how Huckletree hopes to move away from what it calls ‘short-termism’ in favour of curating environments that fuel the city’s creativity and innovation. Why and how manchester became the new location for Huckletree We’ve had our eye on Manchester for some time. Manchester has always been a Northern powerhouse in the way of creativity and innovation, which is exactly the type of neighbourhood

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we want to be. Having marketplace heavyweights like Booking.com and Amazon in the area along with industry leaders like Google and BBC makes it a really exciting time for the city. What’s different about Huckletree compared to other workspaces in the city? We started Huckletree based on the idea that you can’t change the world alone. All of our hubs are curated based on theme and sector, bringing together like-minded businesses, expertise, knowledge, capital and entrepreneurs under one roof. We believe and we’ve seen that this is how we deliver long term value to our community of members and encourage them to drive progressive outcomes for that sector. Shared workspace across private studios and open shared desk space is just the beginning; we offer networks and access to funding. We love seeing our

members outgrow our spaces, but we also understand that for those founders it means the scary task of going on to operate a sustainable business, and that’s where we can hope to play a bigger role. Which companies are you working within manchester? Our hub is designed for ambitious growing teams specialising in digital lifestyle and media, which includes consumer brands, immersive tech pioneers, creatives and investors. We want entrepreneurs and businesses who share a similar mindset and collaborative spirit and who will help us to champion progressive change in the tech and startup ecosystem. We can also announce our first Manchester Ambassadors to join our 50+ Ambassador network; Liz Scott, Head of Entrepreneur Engagement from Tech Nation’s and Marc Shipman from Beringea as our first Manchesterbased Ambassadors. Both are right at the heart of the industry and help to set the precedent for the work we’re committed to doing in Manchester. How do we feel about being in the historic Express Building? We have taken our time to scout and secure the right buildings, locations and areas, not just floors of vacant office space. We want buildings with unique histories, known for bringing people together, that can act as town halls within the neighbourhood, building communities. It’s a dream to


BUSINESS open our first workspace in the city in the old Express Building. It was considered ‘space-age’ when it was first built back in the 1930s, and it still retains so much of that character today. We love that it is part of the history of the city and in one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods on the edge of the Northern Quarter. What can people expect from the space? As a member of Huckletree, there will be the different membership options to suit different founders and teams including hot-desking and studios, as well as events, breakout spaces and wellness classes. But for us, as I’ve said, it’s about a lot more than the functional parts of the space. We know that, similarly to founders across our community, accessing and securing funding is difficult. It’s still a game of who you know and there’s a lot of structural and personal bias that prevents more diverse founding teams from getting access to capital. We’re committed to fairer funding and helping more founders get the support they need to take and absolutely nail investor meetings. Our in-house accelerator Alpha takes a cohort of early-stage founders on a 12-week programme to get them ready and we target underrepresented founders specifically. We also host VC Grind every month (VC office hours) and will be hosting our first with Beringea in October at Huckletree Ancoats. What’s the Huckletree community like? I like to think that our Huckletree community is ambitious, generous, brave. We curate our spaces; meaning we bring in teams and businesses that share similar values, with a particular mindset, who want to give back, share what they know and contribute to the ecosystem. You’ll find a lot of productivity, meetings and mentoring in our spaces mixed with energy, positivity and curiosity (and of course, bright colours). It’s fascinating and rewarding to see different teams - like a shipping and freight disruptor and a beauty tech ‘solopreneur’ - come together, share ideas and make those ideas go to work. I actually love that no two locations are the same and that every building and theme will attract new people with new challenges, that’s what keeps things dynamic and interesting. For more information, visit huckletree.com

AMAGAZINE 33


Building on a Brand Helen White, the MD of new rental brand Affinity Living talks to us about the highs and lows of the industry and what we can expect from the newkid on the rental market block.

So, tell us a bit about what you do? I head up a property brand called Affinity Living, which is a new rental brand that we’re launching in Manchester. It’s essentially gorgeous studios and one and two bed apartments, but with communal social spaces where residents can work, chill, mix with neighbours or go to events we put on, like wine tasting or pop up bands. We have four buildings in two locations that are being built in Manchester at the moment and each one is slightly different and as such will cater for a slightly different customer.

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Our first one is Affinity Living, Riverside which opens in December just behind Spinningfields, then we have another across town behind Harvey Nic’s at Embankment. So, yep with all those going up, I’m pretty busy. At the moment I’m splitting my time between the site team who are the ones responsible for getting the buildings up and making sure they’re on time and to the quality we expect, ops team so the building functions smoothly and delivers the high levels os service we want to deliver and then working with the sales and marketing team who are focussed on making sure potential customers know who


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we are, what we offer and starting to take bookings. What do you love about it? I love the pace. I’ve never been one to shy away from a day’s work and because I’ve been involved from the start, I have a huge passion for it. My background is in brand and communications, so I worked across the business to research the market and create the concept for Affinity Living back in 2015, so to see it coming to life and see actual bricks and mortar gives me a huge buzz. What’s your biggest challenge? I think my biggest challenge is making sure that everyone involved in the business is aligned from day one and is of the mindset that the product has to be focused on who will be living in the buildings. Ensuring this remains a key focus throughout the whole design and construction process and also drives the operational platform is challenging, as obviously each department has its own individual pressures and targets. But the question must remain, is that what the customer would want. And with that, comes another challenge. As a property brand we can’t pigeon-hole an entire rental community by saying they all want the same things, so a big challenge of mine is making sure we appeal to a wide rental audience. It’s misguided to assume all 27 year-old’s want the same thing. People aren’t identical, they have differing tastes and interests. Some want a gym, some want co-working space, others want more social areas, so it’s our job (and challenge!) to provide choice. And with multiple buildings going up in Manchester, we are able to cater for difference audiences and deliver different environments. What motivates you? Learning new skills for sure. While my background is far more sales and marketing-led, as my first MD role within the property sector I’ve had to immerse myself in operations, learning every aspect of what’s required to deliver an operational platform that is effective, efficient and drives value, while making sure we excel at customer service. What’s been your biggest frustration recently? Hmm, I think like a number of developers, Carillion going

bust has been our biggest hurdle and frustration. It has slowed us down hugely but we’re nearly there! So, on property, you work in a fairly male dominated industry, is that ever a challenge? Yes, it’s a massively male dominated industry and there are without a doubt not enough women working in property. However, I must say there are a number of women I work with who are excellent. Michele Steel, our Planning Director, is super switched on and Holly, who is the project manager for our construction partner at Riverside, manages a team of predominantly male builders superbly but yes, we definitely need more. I think a lot of women are put off by construction and think it’s dull but there are so many aspects to the industry that they probably just don’t know about. A lot of the ladies from the business take part in school careers nights to try and encourage women into the industry and let them know of all the various roles that are available. What are you looking forward to in the next 12 months? I really can’t wait to welcome people through the door and start hearing what customers think of their new home. It’s been a long time in the making and a lot of research and hard work has gone into the brand, so it’s hugely exciting to think the doors will be open in the next few months. Then, once Riverside is open, I’ll be taking that feedback and learnings and rolling them into the two schemes at Embankment, which are due to open towards the end of 2020. It’s an exciting time with loads going on! For information, visit affinityliving.com

AMAGAZINE 35


MEET

CHRIS GREENHALGH The Manchester graphic designer who became the architect for the city brand

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hris Greenhalgh first designed the I Love MCR® symbol in 2009 after a trip to New York City. Yet, it was only after the Manchester riots in 2011 when the simple icon became a powerful symbol of civic pride. In May 2017, the now internationally recognised brand was needed again after the devastating Manchester Arena terror attack. During the harrowing days that followed, it was proudly emblazoned on the city streets as a statement for solidarity and defiance. Today, after positively resonating with residents and visitors and gaining an unprecedented reach on social media, I Love MCR® has become a trusted independent platform, championing culture and community with over 12 million visitors to the website per annum and over 400K subscribers. What did you hope to achieve when you first set up I Love MCR®? Following trips to several great cities, the most notable being New York in 2009, I was really taken with just how passionate the people felt about their city - the same feeling I have about Manchester. As a graphic designer, I’d always had an interest in symbolism and typography and wanted to create something to illustrate my love for my city using the skills I had gained throughout my early career knowing how impactful it can be to a speak a universal language. I didn’t expect it to gain so much attention and traction but once it did I knew I had to adapt and keep the momentum going. What is it about Manchester that made you align yourself so closely with the city? Manchester is the centre of the universe, isn’t it? It’s that incorruptible sense of civic pride that defines Manchester as such a special global city. People show their pride for the city’s culture and world-first innovations with a swag. It’s a collective community of people who come together at times

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of need. A trait that only a few cities in the world possess. I’m proud to say I’m from Manchester wherever I go. Describe the moment you first realised/ acknowledged you were successful… At school, I lacked concentration and direction but continually found myself expressing myself creatively which led to me attending Pendleton College (just like Tony Wilson and Sir Ben Kingsley) and going onto a degree at the University of Bolton. So, I was proper proud when I graduated from university and landed a job as a graphic designer in the publishing industry - even before my graduation ceremony. I first acknowledged a personal success when I Love MCR® mobilised a huge community of people and it was more important to me than money. I started I Love MCR® during the infancy of the social and digital economy and quit my job to ensure I put 100% of my energy into containing the momentum and developing the brand further. You have a gin brand too - what made you want to launch I Love MCR® gin? Manchester merchandise has been important in developing the brand and appealing to tourism. Continuing demand for merch meant expanding our range further than just clothing, so we added products which suited the Manchester demographic such as travel and alcohol. I love strawberry jam and gin as much as the next Mancunian. So, working with a city centre distillery, we combined the


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ingredients to make the world’s first marketed strawberry jam gin. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career? Launching a brand by accident and leaving my job to start a media company with no capital meant at one point in the beginning I was so brassic that I couldn’t even afford train fare or a Greggs sausage roll. Commercialising what began as a social movement while suffering from anxiety was no walk in Heaton Park. I had to get the balance bang on and had to bring in the right people, often having to find a way to pay them before paying myself. But the most poignant challenge was 22 May 2017. A terribly tragic event that you can’t compare to anything else in Manchester history. I Love MCR® had a responsibility to react responsibly and communicate a sensitive balance of defiance, resilience and solidarity. That’s something humanity can’t teach and there’s no correct answer. I hope we positively contributed to the city returning to some normality with some security. Manchester is strong. The future of I Love MCR® - where else would you like to take the brand and your career? Realistically, I’d just like to get to 2.7 million subscribers and followers to match the population of Greater Manchester - something which I believe is achievable considering our current organic growth. Ideally, I’d like to start community and property ventures alongside I Love MCR® which helps young people who are living on the bread line which is something close to my heart. For information, visit ilovemanchester.com

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NICHOLAS

JAMES

GIN Meet Nick McCance the man behind Manchester’s new premium gin

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I

wanted to do a kiwi flavour. I was fixated on it,” laughs Nick McCance, founder of contemporary gin brand Nicholas James. “Why? Because no else has done it.” Just one year into trading, the 26-year-old entrepreneur is already floating quirky ideas for his future Nicholas James product launch, but he admits it has been a series of experimentation, trial and error. “There’s a reason why nobody has done kiwi - it doesn’t taste very nice,” he admits, jovially. “It is not a strong tasting fruit so when you distill it, it doesn’t produce a strong flavour - no one would buy that. The trial and error process is interesting. There are a few learning curves but you’ve got to have fun with doing this.” Kiwi concoctions aside, the Salfordborn property developer found the perfect recipe with his first product the Nicholas James classic (£35). It’s made with all natural ingredients and has been celebrated for its crisp, zesty ‘Mediterranean’ flavour. The company later followed up with a raspberry flavour, again made with natural ingredients. “The raspberry flavour is literally just alcoholic raspberry juice - that’s why it’s so bright,” he insists. Impressively, one of the gin’s first stockists was Selfridges Exchange Square who have sold Nicholas James Gin since the beginning of 2019. “I went into Selfridges when I didn’t even have the product. I showed them a picture on my phone. I was very naive,” he shares. “I had a chat with the manager and told them that I wanted to keep it natural and have a classy looking product. They loved the idea. They said come back after Christmas. I went back in in January and by March it was stocked.” He also boasts Northern Quarter’s Terrace and Nutters Restaurant in Rochdale as Nicholas James stockists and recently piqued the interest of some Manchester’s major gin hotspots. The brand joins a well-established gin scene in Manchester, bolstered

by independent distillers such as Manchester Gin, Thomas Dakin and Three Rivers. With such a thirst for locally-made gin in Manchester, he felt launching his own product wasn’t a huge risk. “I could already see that the Manchester gin craze was growing more and more popular,” he explains. “Manchester Gin did wonders for the industry as well as Three Rivers. I spoke to these guys and got a bit a knowledge from them, so I wasn’t the first by any stretch of the imagination. But the one thing I wanted to do was an all natural product.” Though the city feels in the midst of a ‘gin-volution’, McCance isn’t keen on all the gin trends in today’s popular bars and restaurants. “Obviously this ‘pink gin” is a craze much to my annoyance,” he scoffs lightheartedly. “I mean, what is that? When you go to a bar and ask for a “pink gin” what favour is that? Please specify.” “I can’t complain because it’s making money. Even my other half says it.” Instead of ordering an ubiquitous ‘pink gin’, he recommends a class of Prosecco paired with the Nicholas James raspberry gin. Or, a Martini made with the Nicholas James classic, an Indian tonic, blueberries and fresh basil. For McCance, creating a gin that was made in his hometown was important and he credits Manchester’s supportive hospitality scene for helping his product take off. “We’ve got this big thing about locality and community at the moment. The sense of community is one of the good things about being from Manchester and Salford. We’ve all got this teamwork mentality. It’s something which we should shout about more really. “And, if I can create something that Salford can be proud of, I’d be happy with that.” You can buy Nicholas James gin from distributors Uniquely Manchester, nicholasjamesgin. co.uk

IF I CAN CREATE SOMETHING THAT SALFORD CAN BE PROUD OF, I’D BE HAPPY WITH THAT.

AMAGAZINE 39


THE LIST This season’s must-read style news for the Manchester Professional DMR

davidmrobinson.co.uk From Rolex to Patek Phillipe, the big names in world-renowned watches have a spectacular new home in Manchester. Celebrating its 50-year-anniversary, David M Robinson recently unveiled its newly-expanded showroom on St Ann’s Square. It’s a stunning contemporary home split over two floors, featuring a dedicated Rolex space to allow visitors to see into the heart of the showroom’s watchmakers workshop.

Le Labo

lelabofragrances.com Le Labo’s Tonka 25 is the scent of the moment. Described as a ‘dark fragrance with woody notes and a subtle hint of sweetness’, it’s one of the first scents the New York based perfumers have launched in years. Le Labo have been disrupting the industry with its collection of unique fine fragrances since 2006. Beyond the scents, the brand is proving that luxury products need not be environmentally harmful and prefer ‘to test on New Yorkers than animals’. Now available in Selfridges.

Sneaker Official

Aésop

sneaker63.co.uk, @sneaker63official

Redness, skin irritation and dryness has met their match with Aésop’s upcoming product, the Seeking Silence Facial Hydrator. It’s a new failsafe for sensitive skin, featuring a medley of skin-cooling anti-oxidants including ginger root. The lightweight lotion has a non-greasy finish and can be used morning and evening as part of a simple skincare routine. Available at Selfridges from 30th September.

From Northern Quarter’s Kersh Kicks to new trainer cleaning service Sneaker Pharm, Manchester seems in the midst of a serious sneaker love affair. Now open on Faulkner Street in China Town is Sneaker Official, the latest trainer haven to open up in the city. It is Manchester’s first sneaker consignment store, an efficient way to buy and sell coveted and limited trainers. It’s the ideal space for sneaker collectors to make some money on their obsession, and get a fresh new pair in the process.

aesop.com

40 AMAGAZINE


COS

cosstores.com Manchester’s most anticipated fashion opening, COS, will finally grace our high street on 27 September. It has been a long time coming. The Scandinavian fashion brand was first rumoured to be taking over the former GAP unit on 30 St Ann’s Street back in 2018. Once open, it will be one of the few standalone COS stores in the North West (the current regional flagship is in Liverpool). Considered the ‘grown-up sister of H&M’, COS’ A/W collections feature relaxed tailoring, beautiful autumnal colours and luxe materials.

DiVERGE

diverge-sneakers.com When it comes to the high-street, it can be hard to be truly unique. DiVERGE sneakers are helping customers express their individual style with their range of customisable trainers. They’ve made the shopping and creative process personal; starting with a blank canvas, you choose the model of shoe, the colours, the material and the finishing touches. Then your handcrafted shoes are boxed up and whisked to your door in around two weeks. Prices start from £240.

Parle Moi Parfum

parlemoideparfum.com Joining an extensive selection of luxury perfumes at Selfridges Trafford is Parle Moi, a Parisian brand founded by Benjamin Almairac, son of the legendary perfumer and ‘nose’ Michel Almairac (Dior, Gucci, Chloe). Presented in clean, minimalist packaging, the Parle Moi collection is a mix of glorious unisex scents made with the finest, raw ingredients. The collection is currently available at Selfridges priced at £98 for 50ml and £158 for 100ml EDP.

Danessa Myricks

danessamyricksbeauty.com With high-octane pigments and a flawless finish coverage, Danessa Myricks makeup comes highly favoured in the beauty industry. Danessa - a selftaught MUA who has glammed celebrities such as Lizzo and more - created her global brand with a desire to cater for a range of skin tones. The Vision Cream Cover (£28) helps achieve Myricks’ inclusivity mission. It is an all-in-one foundation and concealer in 30 shades. The full range is available via the Danessa Myricks website.

AMAGAZINE 41


Creative Director Ollie James Photographer Jac Frederick Stylist Assistant Steven Spencer Hair & Makeup Lou McCann Hair & Makeup Assistant GeorginaWadsworth Location Production Factory Model Emmie at BOSS

THE NEW A N D R O GY N Y The combination of masculine and feminine characteristics transported into a new modern identity, we explore tailoring, bows, silks and prints for everyone. 42 AMAGAZINE


FASHION

OPPOSITE: Jacket stylist’s own Trousers at Daniel Pollitt THIS PAGE: Shirt & Trousers at COS

AMAGAZINE 43


THIS PAGE: Jacket at Diane von Furstenberg Trousers at Theory OPPOSITE: Shirt at Reiss, Trench & Boots at Zara Jewellery at Jennifer Gibson

44 AMAGAZINE


FASHION

AMAGAZINE 45


46 AMAGAZINE


OPPOSITE: Top at Reiss Shirt & Trousers at COS THIS PAGE: Top & Trousers at Reiss Jacket at Boden

FASHION

AMAGAZINE 47


How did the idea for Gabrielle CHANEL come to you? My first big fragrance for CHANEL was this new women’s fragrance, since the House only launches one every ten to fifteen years or so. And while flowers already play a major role in the history of CHANEL Fragrances, especially white flowers and more specifically jasmine, there wasn’t a truly floral fragrance in our repertoire. It was still relatively unexplored territory, with the exception of Les Exclusifs De CHANEL Beige and Gardénia, or N°5—which is such a distinctive floral-aldehydic fragrance with a highly marked structure. In previous fragrances, and particularly those by Ernest Beaux, a combination of white flowers (jasmine, ylangylang, orange blossom) was repeated like a chorus. Since this bouquet reflected the tastes of Gabrielle CHANEL, it could capture something of her personality. This idea of a largely floral composition, in which all of the other components merely serve a supportive function, really struck me, even though it’s rather tricky. How has this bouquet of white flowers evolved from your initial score to the new version? In the Gabrielle CHANEL Eau de Parfum, sparkling orange blossom already brought freshness, ylangylang radiance and femininity, jasmine intensity and tuberose creaminess. Retaining this same combination, Gabrielle CHANEL Essence bestows a majestic role on tuberose, which is given a stronger presence and upheld by creamier notes to become more enveloping. Tuberose plays a key note and the headier trail sings in tune with greater intensity.

Interview with Olivier Polge

PERFUMER-CREATOR FOR THE HOUSE OF CHANEL

From No.5 L’Eau to Boy Chanel, the French perfumer has created some of CHANEL’s most recognisable fragrances. Following the release of new scent GABRIELLE CHANEL, he reveals what it means to be the nose of the world’s most iconic fashion house.

48 AMAGAZINE


WELLBEING What makes Grasse tuberose, exclusive to CHANEL, so unique? The French Riviera is an extraordinary place that combines a temperate climate, the perfect amount of sun and very fertile soil. Just prior to my arrival, in 2011, CHANEL offered to buy the bulbs from the last tuberose producer in Grasse and replant them in a 2.5-hectare field to preserve the cultivation of the flower. Harvesting is done daily from late August to early November. We have thus developed our own quality of tuberose in close collaboration with the Mul family. The special extraction process has been honed over the years, more cleanly capturing the scent of the flower’s petal, as if smelled in an open field and divested of its waxy, animal, leather and green facets. Picked in the morning, it is brighter and more radiant. Gabrielle CHANEL Essence was an opportunity to give it a majestic role. Can you explain this partnership with the Mul family in a little more detail? Working in partnership with CHANEL for 32 years, but with ties to the House and my father Jacques Polge for much longer than that, this family based in Pégomas shares all of their agricultural knowledge with me. Our partnership provides a guarantee of the olfactory quality and the quantity of flowers required for the production of certain CHANEL fragrances, as well as perfect control over the process from flower to fragrance.

conveys all the density of its velvety petals, and the trail has been intensified, with more pronounced sandalwood, musk and vanilla, and no doubt more sensuality. How can one choose between them? Gabrielle CHANEL Eau de Parfum is airy, as if dazzled by light, while Gabrielle CHANEL Essence is more opulent, as if plunged into a nectar of flowers and bathed in a warmer light. Five words to describe Gabrielle CHANEL Essence? Floral. Solar. Voluptuous. Velvety. Sensual. How do you imagine the woman who wears it? Even though there is something “pastel” about this floral expression, the white flower loses nothing of its bold personality. In this respect, Gabrielle CHANEL Essence is a fragrance for the selfconfident woman. Shop at Selfridges Manchester.

Does the idea of a soliflore fragrance appeal to you? Tuberose is not an easy flower. It has to be tamed. I am not a fan of the famed tuberose fragrances in perfumery. These soliflores overpower the personality and leave little room to the imagination. A CHANEL tuberose could not be so figurative, caricatured or showy. By divesting it of its more difficult facets, spreading it out and softening it with other flowers (jasmine, orange blossom and ylangylang), and accompanying it with a more sensual trail, we find that little abstract melody so dear to CHANEL. What developments have you brought to the original fragrance? Gabrielle CHANEL Essence retains the radiant facet of the original score, but carries it into a creamier and more enveloping world. The top notes have been given a softer whisper of citrus to make way for a sweet, fruity, tangy burst of red berries. Tuberose

AMAGAZINE 49


MEET

DR JONQUILLE

CHANTREY

The Mancunian beauty surgeon whose international treatments, expertise and knowledge are transforming the Manchester wellbeing industry.

50 AMAGAZINE


WELLBEING

I

nternational beauty lecturer and surgeon, Dr Jonquille Chantrey, brought her globally-renowned expertise to Manchester 15-yearsago and has helped to change the scope of aesthetic services in the city. Her acclaimed clinic, the ØNE aesthetic studiø, is well-established in Alderley Edge (previously named Expert Aesthetics, she also operated on St John’s Street, Manchester and Harley Street) and commands a wealth of high-profile clients. Her extensive portfolio includes discreet and natural beautification, facelifting and contouring through advanced injectables, skin peels, laser as well as body shaping and fat removal. Yet with a focus on inner and outer health, body image and self-esteem, Dr Jonquille insists her services are very different from the many aesthetic doctors in the area. She’s known for combining an unusual blend of peer-reviewed scientific excellence, unparalleled aesthetic results with meditation, health and wellbeing coaching. Last year, she completed her yoga teacher training and focuses on Yin Yoga based on Chinese medicine. It combines medical principles with meditation and poses that help to improve physical and emotional health. She personally offers a signature meditation workshop from her studio as part of her work ØNE beauty project. “I believe in empowering others to reach their highest potential and care about both the physical and mental health of our patients.

I BELIEVE IN EMPOWERING OTHERS TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL We combine art and medicine to create exceptional aesthetic results, individually tailored,” says Dr Jonquille. “We help align the inner and outer beauty of our patients - and encourage them to celebrate it. We are already considered globally to be one of the top clinics in the world for our expertise in aesthetic and antiaging medicine and research. Now we aim to be the leading clinic to blend not only physical appearance and health but also mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.” Dr Jonquille’s experience as a surgeon, with a special interest in minimally-invasive trauma, facial deformity and scarring management, allows her to pioneer and innovate new procedures worldwide. With many strings to her bow, Dr Chantrey is also the few official International Botox, Juvéderm and CoolSculpting lecturers in the area – in fact, she has scientifically developed and launched 3 of the 5 available Juvederm dermal fillers on the market. Dr Jonquille travels extensively teaching other advanced experts throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and America. As an ex-Manchester High School for Girls student she supports

the bursary fund which helps underprivileged, talented girls to benefit from an education there. This year, she expanded and rebranded her clinic to include a development studio to teach international doctors her expertise. Evidently, she’s an extremely busy lady but her patients from the Manchester area are her priority. “I’ve treated thousands of patients from the area over the years,” she explains. “There is something very special about the people of Greater Manchester. Our diversity, art, fashion and music culture creates a different energy that I still love to be a part of.” Her work is testament to the fact she has a very large waiting list, a basic Botox appointment can be a four month wait. Frequently named as one of the leading doctors not only in the UK but worldwide, Dr Jonquille certainly puts Manchester on the global map for anti-aging medicine and aesthetics. You can find out more about the clinic via the website: oneaestheticstudio.com. 01625 585990, info@ oneaestheticstudio.com

AMAGAZINE 51


52 A-MAGAZINE AMAGAZINE

Discover Finland’s quirky capital and get a taste of Nordic luxury

HELSINKI


S TAY HOTEL KATAJANOKKA hotelkatajanokka.fi Today, we want fresh travel experiences and stays that come with a buzzing social scene. Marriott International know this and the latest addition to their Tribute Portfolio, Hotel Katajanokka is exactly onboard with what we’re looking for. The hotel boasts everything we want from a stay, along with a few extra twists. Destinations like Alcatraz Island in San Francisco and Fort Denison in Sydney Harbour National Park have long fascinated and attracted us, but Helsinki takes it one step further with Hotel Katajanokka. This

is one place you certainly won’t object to doing some time in! On the urban island of Katajanokka, moments away from Helsinki, a historic former prison has been transformed into a luxury hotel for a unique stay behind bars. The building once housed high-profile male and female prisoners who were held there whilst waiting to go to trial. During the renovation of the building, it was discovered that the prisoners had dug a tunnel - not escape, but instead to connect the men’s and women’s areas. Whilst you’re there, sleep in a former cell, eat in the prison canteen, and make your mark on the building just like the inmates of its past. Don’t worry though, during the building’s transformation, more windows have been added as well as stylish suites, so you won’t ever want to escape!

AMAGAZINE 53


DO EXPLORE THE CITY Take to the streets with a stroll around Helsinki. On your travels, look out for art installations and sculptures dotted around the city, along with Uspenski Cathedral set upon a hillside overlooking the city.

AMOS REX MUSEUM amosrex.fi Get a dose of culture in downtown Helsinki at underground museum Amos Rex. From the surface, the museum’s domes are a playground for selfie-snappers and climbing children, but beneath the surface, Amos Rex is a powerhouse for contemporary art. Subterranean digital art instillations and cinema Bio Rex make this a must-visit on your Helsinki trip. Let Amos Rex whet your appetite and then venture to the nearby Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum, the Helsinki Art Museum and Kunsthalle Helsinki.

OLD MARKET HALL vanhakauppahalli.fi

Step inside this quaint market hall for sights, smells and tastes aplenty. There are fish mongers galore here with everything from cured fish to caviar. Pick up treats like handcrafted chocolates at Kultasuklaa, tuck into a warming bowl of salmon soup from Soppakeittiö or grab a healthy, organic juice from Vegetaari.

AMOS REX MUSEUM

GOLDFISH goldfish.fi Helsinki’s bar scene is having a moment. The bars in the Finnish city are being reinvented into sleek destinations for cocktails, and Goldfish is up there as one of the best that Helsinki has to offer. Sip on a cocktail inspired by the elements. Depending on your mood and what you have planned for the night ahead, choose a drink themed after earth, air, fire or water. The likes of the ‘Shape of the Water’ (champagne and pomegranate sorbet) makes for an elegant treat, whereas the ‘Fireball 10’ (seedlip, spices and Scandinavian liquor - glogg) packs a real punch.

GOLDFISH

SILENT CHAPEL kampinkappeli.fi In the midst of the busy city, take a moment of quiet reflection in the Silent Chapel. Welcome to people of all religions, the chapel embraces what spirituality is all about: providing a holy space that’s home to everyone.

OLD MARKET HALL

DI N E

AINO

LINNANKELLARI hotelkatajanokka.fi Head down to Hotel Katajanokka’s basement where the former prison canteen has been transformed into Linnankellari. Serving up delicious Nordic-inspired dishes, you ought

54 AMAGAZINE

to go for a meal as out of the ordinary as your stay and try specialities like grilled reindeer with kasha, gruyere cheese and cranberries, or tuck into a ‘Jail Burger’ that gives a playful nod to the hotel’s past. When in the basement, make sure to experience the isolation cell that remains untouched with graffiti from prisoners scrawled on the walls that you can add to.

TANNER ravintolatanner.fi Tanner is set in Kallio, the Northern Quarter of Helsinki, which is a creative hub for the city’s young people. The perfect laidback lunch spot, pop to Tanner for great pizza and sharing plates to dig into with friends and

plan your travels around Helsinki.

AINO ravintolaaino.fi The elegant Aino is all about traditional Finnish favourites. Locals head here to take it back to their roots, and travellers are able to get a true taste of the country. Opt for a small booth in the brick cellar for added privacy or dine at street-level with a lively atmosphere and views of Esplanade Park. It’s all about the fish here of course, so try pan-fried pike and pike terrine with roasted Jerusalem artichoke, beurre blanc sauce. A bustling shopping street and buzzing market square are just around the corner and make for a must-visit before your meal at Aino.


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Discover Spain like a local

BURGOS & LA RIOJA

56 AMAGAZINE

It’s easy to think you know Spain. Most have visited major Spanish cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, yet some spaces feel relatively untouched by tourism. Away from the obvious is a more traditional Spanish experience in Burgos. It is a small, ancient city in northern Spain rich in local culture, vineyards and traditional Spanish cuisine.


AC HOTEL

BURGOS DO CATEDRAL DE BURGOS catedraldeburgos.es Built during the 13th century, The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos is an architectural wonder, it’s described as ‘one of the most beautiful monuments of gothic art’.

CAB DE BURGOS cabdeburgos.com/es/burgos

COBO VINTAGE

Have your fill of breathtaking views of Burgos and incredible contemporary art at the Caja de Burgos Art Center.

S TAY AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT BURGOS marriott.com

Beautifully quaint hotel AC Burgos, is a perfect find for those hoping to indulge in site-seeing. Steeped in natural light, it’s ideally located in the centre of Burgos, near the impressive Gothic cathedral, the river, and Las Huelgas Monastery.

D IN E COBO VINTAGE cobovintage.es Top chef Miguel Cobo (a finalist in the Spanish version of Masterchef) serves up exquisite contemporary Spanish dishes from his Michelin-starred restaurant, Cobo. Featuring caramelised monkfish to ‘lacquered suckling pig’ treat yourself to one of Cobo’s celebrated tasting menus.

CATEDRAL DE BURGOS

AMAGAZINE 57


LA RIOJA Renowned for producing some of the best wines in Spain, La Rioja is a city located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula.

STAY AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT LA RIOJA marriott.com

AC Hotel by Marriott La Rioja is a functional and modern hotel situated near to the River Ebro. Filled with excellent amenities from a Turkish Bath to a free fitness centre, it’s equipped for both short and long stays.

22 WATER

DO EXPLORE THE CITY

22 WATER 22artesianwater.com

Explore La Rioja the Spanish way. A tour guide can take you around 5 or 6 different destinations around the buzzing streets of Logroño including Bar Soriano. The owners are masters of mushrooms and have been severing delicious grilled garlic mushroom pinchos for over 40 years.

Discover how water can change your wine experience with a fantastic tour with a water expert. You will never look at water again in the same way…

BODEGAS YSIOS bodegasysios.com Experience one of La Rioja’s luxury wine tours, Bodegas Ysios. It’s designed by international architect Santiago Calatrava, the man behind world trade centre Oculus. BODEGAS YSIOS

58 AMAGAZINE

THE CAMPO VIEJO campoviejo.com

Enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets and views across Spain, whilst learning about one of the most commercially famous Rioja. The Campo Viejo winery allows visitors to see how wine is created for a global audience. THE CAMPO VIEJO

LOGROÑO, LA RIOJA


IF YOU DON’T LOOK GOOD | WE DON’T LOOK GOOD

1 MARSDEN STREET, MANCHESTER M2 1HW FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL: 0161 827 7140



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