BN1 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2015

BRIGHTON’S DEFINITIVE CULTURE AND EVENTS GUIDE

SLOW CLUB In Partnership with

OF EMPIRES TATTOO CONVENTION BRENDAN COLE BRIGHTON SU FOXCATCHER www.brightontaxis.com

YOUR LOCAL 24 HOUR TAXI SERVICE

[VOLUME 6 ISSUE 01] JANUARY 2015

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January 2015 For one reason or another, 2014 was memorable. Mainly because of: Umbrella Revolution, American Hustle, Phillip Hughes, Royal Blood, London Road, Glasgow 2014, Oscar Pistorius, FIFA corruption, Rosetta comet landing, Piratebay, Kate Tempest, Mala Yousafzai, Mars Orbiter Mission, P. D. James, MH370, MH17, Open Market, Robin Williams, Peshawar massacre, Big Balls 2014, Metallica at Glastonbury, Lewis Hamilton, Sam Smith, The Lego Movie, Ice Bucket Challenge, Interstellar, Sochi 2014, ISIS, Super Bowl XLVIII, Gaza, Scottish referendum, Misery Index, Ukraine, World Cup, Nigeria kidnapping, Ebola, Vaping, Uptown Funk, Russell Brand, Fergusson shooting and The World’s A Disco! Will 2015 be as interesting? We can’t wait to find out. Happy New Year!

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News Of Empires Interview Slow Club Interview MUSIC Guide WIN Competitions Brendan Cole Interview - [ 22 ] Brighton SU Brighton Tattoo Convention THEATRE Guide Velvet hair Salon New Year Resolutions COMEDY Guide

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Tech Feed - Gadgets FILM - Foxcatcher New to Cinema Food Review: The Fountain Head Food review: Avenue Food Review: The Courtyard Be Gluten Free recipe How to Win Competitions Cryptic Crossword (WIN free Coffee for a month)

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Supporters: In Partnership with

Concorde2 Brighton’s No.1 Live Music Venue & Night Club

Cover and contents Image by © Andy Earl Want to become part of the BN1 Magazine team? Internships available for local writers, photographers, creative types and enthusiasts to join one of Brighton’s best community and lifestyle magazines! Just email your CV and a little about yourself to the office: info@bn1magazine.co.uk.

EDITORIAL Editor—Chris Sadler, Assistant Editor—Stuart Rolt, Marketing and Sales—Holly Cozens.

CONTRIBUTORS Lucy Hallett, Gary Marlowe, Andy Hollis, Holly Cozens, Stuart Rolt, Simeon Aston, Shane Tyas, Sarah Gathercole, Freya Hughes, Elliot Tyers, Louise Linehan, PHOTOGRAPHERS David Smith (www.photosbydavid.org), Gary Marlowe (Images Out of The Ordinary), James Daly - jamesdalyphotography@gmail.com LISTINGS - listings@bn1magazine.co.uk

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NEWS NEWS

Colin Hoult

LPO Rory Macdonald - image by Benjamin Ealovega

THE LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

WIN ALMA DE CUBA COFFEE!

The London Philharmonic Orchestra concludes its successful season at Brighton Dome on Sat 17 Jan.

Alma de Cuba, the soul and spirit of artisan Cuban coffee, launches its first premium Nespresso compatible capsules.

Outstanding British conductor Rory Macdonald leads the Orchestra in a programme including Dvořák’s lively Symphony No. 8. This work takes the folk music of Bohemia that Dvořák so loved as a major influence. Brilliant pianist Lambis Vassiliadis also takes the stage to perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, written by Chopin to endear himself to the opinion-forming concertgoers of Paris while forging his career as a composer-pianist.

With intense, bright, balanced flavour and wonderful silkiness, this medium roast 100% Arabica mountain grown coffee finishes with a lingering chocolate aftertaste which allows for a unique consistent flavour of Alma de Cuba to really blossom. To celebrate the capsule launch, Alma de Cuba is offering three lucky readers the chance to wake up and smell the best Cuban coffee with a box of 20 capsules for your .

One of the finest orchestras in the world, the London Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1932 by Sir Thomas Beecham. Performing at the Royal Festival Hall since its opening in 1951 and becoming Resident Orchestra in 1992, the LPO also has residencies in Brighton and Eastbourne, and performs regularly around the world. In 2005 it began releasing live, studio and archive recordings on its own CD label. www.brightondome.org lpo.org.uk

WIN

All you have to do to be in with a chance is send us your ‘most imaginative place to drink coffee’ answers to competition@bn1magazine.co.uk, please put ALMA DE CUBA in the subject header and include your Name, Address and Number in the email. Good luck, and we look forward to your answers.

Up to the 1950s, Cuban coffee plantations were famed for producing some of the finest coffee beans money could buy. Due to a shift in political focus, Cuba’s coffee industry took a hiatus from the world stage, but through a carefully built partnership with the Cubans, Alma de Cuba is working towards supplying Cuba’s mountain coffee farmers with the tools they need to help re-establish Cuba’s coffee sector once and for all. These superb coffee beans, which haven’t been readily available for 50 years, are batch roasted in small quantities and shipped to order and available exclusively via www.almacuba.com

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SUNDAY ASSEMBLY

Next event takes place on Sun 25 Jan, 2015 from 11am at St. Andrew’s Church It all started in the dark distant past of 2012. Two comedians, Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones were driving on their way to a gig. They got talking about the idea of churches, Pippa had formerly been a Christian and although she didn’t miss God, she did miss church (community, volunteering, music) and Sanderson had noticed the joy that Christmas brings carols and the like. From there was the genesis of an idea. In January 2013, at a deconsecrated church in Islington, London they held the very first Sunday Assembly. Over 200 people attended, and from there the concept of a church without the supernatural took off.

Now there are over 150 Sunday Assembly’s across the globe, in locations as varied as Dublin, Sao Paolo and even our very own Brighton. But what is Sunday Assembly? ‘Atheist church’ was an easy shorthand phrase that gave Sunday Assembly press attention in the early days, Brighton congregant Gareth Dee tells me there’s a little bit more to it than that. “There’s a definite bend towards being scientific, and most people are – at least to some extent – atheist. But that’s not to say people who do believe aren’t welcome. One of the things I love about Sunday Assembly is how inclusive it is. It’s for things. Not against things. The three fundamental tenets are ‘Live Better.

Help Often. Wonder More.’” With messages as agreeable and uncontroversial as this, it’s easy to see why Sunday Assembly has proven popular, and easy to see why an open-minded and welcoming city like Brighton would embrace an open-minded and welcoming movement like Sunday Assembly.

The general structure of an Assembly is fairly similar to a regular church service. “It usually features speeches from a variety of speakers, either members of the congregation or from outside.” Previously, speakers from TEDx and the European Court have spoken to the Brighton congregation. Which isn’t all that dissimilar to a sermon, equally they also sing songs.

Although rather than a hymn book, these songs come from sources as varied as Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ and The Jungle Book. “There’s something really nice about 150 people singing the Bare Necessities.”

As you can see, Sunday Assembly are looking to provide something a little different. This extends to the kinds of places that you find them. Gareth first ran into them at a festival last year. “It was raining really hard, so I ran for a tent because it was the only dry place. They had Sunday Assembly, who were just

starting out, at this tent. Due to the rain it had sent a load of people inside of the tent. And the result of this is that it ended up with some 2500 people singing along to theme tune of Flash Dance. It gave an amazing sense of camaraderie. Then the guy came out to explain what Sunday Assembly is, what Sunday Assembly is for. It was fantastic, there was a real sense of humour about it, a sense of trying to do something different.

It was brilliant…. And I guess I was filled by the spirit of notGod. It was a really lovely moment.”

Conventional church numbers have declined over the years, due to the rise of secularism. But with that it can mean that there’s a loss of community. Research shows that community and social relationships are hugely important, and a lack of them can prove damaging to your health and wellbeing.

Sunday Assembly provides that sense of community, without the religiousity of a traditional church. This is something echoed by what Gareth tells me “I’ve met a lot of interesting people from all walks of life. It’s quite rare to have a situation where there’s people from young children all through to 80 year olds all in one place in modern society… I really like it – that aspect of community that I probably haven’t really had.”

If you’re interested in Sunday Assembly, in seeing what they offer, or just looking for a good excuse to hear some interesting speakers and sing to some songs, they hold a monthly service on every fourth Sunday of the month at St Andrews Church, Waterloo Street – a deconsecrated church in Hove. They also have monthly meet-ups every third Thursday of the month at the Earth and Stars pub – a location choice that shows the fun and relaxed outlook of Sunday Assembly. In addition to these monthly meetings, Sunday Assembly also run wellbeing classes and smaller meetings, and increasingly, are taking a role in helping the wider Brighton community. “We’ve collected money for the Harvest Festival this year, and we’ve got food together to help out the foodbanks in Brighton. And going into next year we’re looking to have a more dedicated charity area.”

The Sunday Assembly’s message of acceptance, love and community may not be new ones, although stripping of them of deism makes them more palatable to many. But as their ongoing popularity shows, they are still messages that are important in the modern age. “It’s a friendly structure that gives you something to belong to.”

By Elliot Tyers Brighton.Sundayassembly.com Facebook.com/sundayassemblybrighton Twitter.com/SunAssemblyBTN

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ON E T O WAT CH

Of Empires Empires strike back

Music is designed to free your funky mind, and Of Empires have come to help you cope. With a slick modern take on classic rock, these four Brighton lads are bringing style and substance back into the UK music scene. I’m meeting the band’s drummer George Le Page and guitarist Matthew Berry in a Hove coffee shop. To my amusement neither of them is the young lad with a guitar case on his back by the counter.

Instead they’re the cool-looking customers sat behind me.

Their debut EP ‘Stranger Sensations’ was released in September, which saw them become a known force on the BBC Introducing radio show network. Showcasing many different sounds, its driving rhythms offer something slightly bluesy and totally rock and roll. The Stones and their longevity are a palpable source of inspiration for them, not only musically but in how a rock act should present itself.

Bursting with catchy choruses and attitude, there’s something unmistakably home-grown about Of Empires. “I’m glad that you said it sounds very British.” Berry smiles. “I think we took a lot of influence from the Stones. It’s probably an overused band to use as an example, but they were seminal artists.”

For all the excitement they exude when discussing it, there’s a remarkable level of restraint on display in their music. “We

By Stuart Rolt

spent a while finding a sound that we felt came naturally,” Berry tells me. “But now we know the direction we want to move in. Obviously, there’s got to be a progression!” They know they have to impress people, but they’re relying on being laid back and charming to win people’s affections.

The pair ooze self-assurance, but that’s not saying there isn’t an air of maturity in their pumped up guitar music.

Already standing out in a crowded local band scene, they’re not resorting to shock tactics to attract a fanbase. “A lot of younger bands can get labelled as show-offs,” Berry muses.

“Sometimes it works in your favour if you have a little restraint, just showing a little of what you’re capable of.” There’s simple old school creativeness in their music, but they’re under no illusions as to how a band needs to operate in today’s competitive market.

Formed in 2011 on Guernsey, with vocalist Jack Fletcher and bassist Liam Bewey, the band name emanates from the national pride sweeping the UK after the Olympics. “There’s no artistic reason behind it,” Berry admits.

The call to Brighton involved Jack moving here to study at BIMM, coming over to the mainland with his brother Josh,

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the unofficial fifth member of the band. “I was applying for university, intending to do geography. I wasn’t really interested in it though. Then Jack suggested going to BIMM,” says Le Page. Now studying for a degree in professional musicianship, he’s learning more than just how to play the drums really well, “I’ve learnt to consider myself as a musician, not just a drummer. It’s changed my perspective on how a band works.”

Attending BIMM has also helped with his songwriting, encouraging him to become a more rounded artist. This seems to be a vital tactic in a saturated market. “It’s so much more competitive now, as you can create records in your bedroom,” adds Berry.

“

uld lieve art sho “I don’t be ut mpetition, b be about co ” to be better. we do want

Recently they found themselves branded MTV Brand New Unsigned Winners 2015, which stemmed from Josh Fletcher sending a 15 second video clip to the channel. It moved MTV enough to pledge their support for the fourpiece and anything they do during the next 12 months. “We’re going to milk it for all it’s worth.”

George jokes. But the pair understands how awards like these, especially the ceremonies and parties connected with them, offer tremendous networking possibilities. It’s certainly something BIMM try to emphasise to students, how getting in the same room with the right people can make life a lot easier. “They kind of hammer it home. You simply need to get your name out there,” George says.

As a live proposition they manage to take it up to another level again. “It’s mature, to the extent we’re not dancing around on stage,” Berry states. “Jack perhaps,” George interjects. “He is a bit of a peacock sometimes.” They’re young, vibrant, already recording some great songs and coincidentally have terrific hair. They are Of Empires, and right now standing on the verge of getting rock back into the A list. www.ofempires.co.uk

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Slow Club There ain’t no party like a Slow Club party

Brighton Dome Mon 9 Feb 2015, 7.30pm

By Stuart Rolt

Image by Andy Earl

Slow Club were always a band that employed interlacing melodies and rhythms. But this summer’s album ‘Complete Surrender’ heralded a new air of self-assurance and scale in their music. Starting back in 2006, Rebecca Taylor and Charles Watson never looked like they were simply going through the motions. But this year the pair seemed to shift up a gear. It’s all became slicker, lusher and a lot sexier.

A celebration of pure pop, ‘Complete Surrender’ nods to everything from Northern Soul and Frankie Valli to Abba and Spector’s Wall of Sound. Although steeped in tradition, there’s nothing classic or retro about this album. It’s simply a snapshot of where two people are, musically, at a particular point in time. “It wasn’t so much about adopting that sound as it was about moving forwards,” Watson admits. “We did want it to sound timeless, rather than being simply nostalgic.”

Producer Colin Elliott played a major part in the album’s sound as well. Known for his work with Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker and Kylie Minogue, it seems a good fit for a band looking to develop their sound. “We’d met him a few times, he’d worked on a few demo for us. Then he suggested going into the studio.”

Lyrically the album takes a big step forwards too. Various narratives betray stories of relationships under pressure, crippling emotions and human nature. But does the title

indicate they’ve given themselves fully to pop sensibilities now? “I don’t go out with an air of mysticism or anything. They were just two words that sat well together. Obviously after the album was released they took on a new meaning.”

For Watson it’s an album that Slow Club have gradually moved towards. For all its theatrics, ‘Complete Surrender’ is simple, direct and beautiful. Maybe it’s all about the progression for them. Where their debut ‘Yeah So’ vaguely stood on the periphery of the folk camp, it was labelled so because people had trouble with its anomalous textures. You’ve got dreamy melodies, acoustic guitars and two-part harmonies? We’ll put you in the folk camp. That way we’ll know how to deal with them. So that’s where people placed them. Following on from the debut’s, almost belligerent, DIY set-up came the intelligent, if a little chaotic, strains of its follow up ‘Paradise’.

Despite ‘Complete Surrender’ coming nearly three years after ‘Paradise’ the two albums were closer in the Slow Club timeline than it appears. “There wasn’t that much of a gap in recording, but we’d just changed record labels, so there was a small delay in sorting out release schedules.” This time the pre-studio process was lengthy, ensuring they knew exactly how each song would be arranged before they laid it down. “I like to go into the studio as prepared as possible now. Previously all the experimentation would happen whilst we were recording, but it’s better to have a set idea of what we’re doing.” A change

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of pace for a band that previously experimented and played around to hone their sound, this no-nonsense approach saw the recordings occupy a couple of twoweek sessions, with the mixing taking another seven days.

So they hit the studio armed with fully formed songs and plenty of motivation. The resulting tracks might be simple at their core, but layers of horns, strings arrangements and a producer with a keen ear for a big sound meant a difference to the final product. “Colin did come forwards with a number of ideas. He worked on a lot of the strings and horn sections on the album.”

There’s also a covers album being released on vinyl, to celebrate Record Store Day. Neil Young, Future Islands, Pulp and Bob Dylan will all be getting the Slow Club treatment. It’s another welcome move for a band consistently labelled as endearing. “We don’t set out to be endearing. I think it stems from wanting to look like we’re enjoying ourselves on stage. That comes from seeing loads of bands who didn’t seem like they’re enjoying themselves.”

Obviously Slow Club hasn’t been lured away by the bright lights of commerciality just yet. The transformation lies with their sense of ambition.

Technically Slow Club are no different eight years on, the change is in the styling and the confidence in the arrangements. Where they once combined voices, sheltering within their harmonies and writing from a shared perspective, now they’re each developing their own personalities within the music.

The band’s evolution has seen Taylor performing much of the lead vocals, Watson concentrating on the production side of things, with drummer Avvon Chambers and bassist Rob Jones now joining the fold. Watson admits he and Taylor do have different outlooks on their music. But they seem to appreciate what enthrals one might be met with disdain by the other.

It’s this acceptance and the understanding that’s reached by the pair that makes Slow Club such a great band. They influence, stimulate and inspire each other. Taylor undeniably leans towards classic pop and R&B, whilst Watson embraces the more experimental, relishing in using the mixing desk as an instrument in its own right. What they’re producing, at least for as long as it interests them both, is big, glossy and proud.

But it’s not them discovering their soul, it’s us.

Slow Club play Brighton Dome’s Studio Theatre on Mon 9 Feb, 2015 Their album ‘Complete Surrender’ is out now, via Caroline International. www.brightondome.org

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MUSIC

J MASCIS

THE MOORS

Fri 9 Jan

Sat 10 Jan The Haunt

Since founding Dinosaur Jr over 25 years ago, J Mascis created his own brand of punk-infused slacker-rock. Then his 2011 solo album, Several Shades of Why, offered a new side to his personality. A collection of beautiful and delicate songs, it was worlds away from his normal thrash and roar.

PLANNER

SLUM OF LEGS Tue 20 Jan The Brunswick

Based in Hastings, The Moors have been together since 2009. Their folk-rock music is influenced by Jewish diaspora, Balkan gypsy dance bands, with North African, Middle Eastern and Cuban rhythms and melodies creeping in.

The Prince Albert Brighton’s Slum of Legs spent ages with only three recorded songs, archaically released on cassette. This was a source of annoyance for anyone convinced of their brilliance and wanting more (or just something they could listen to!) But this year they got it together and put out a début single.

This acoustic adventure fits well for Mascis.

While these indie-folk tunes lack the previous instant power and pure emotion. It’s quirky and adventurous, only now with restraint.

Compelling and bluesy, here’s an artist that’s gracefully come of age.

The band draw together manic rhythms, 2,000-year-old dance tunes and Spanish folk meddles. With a unique combination of technical brilliance, The Moors’ vibrant brand foot-stomping energy always lights up the audience when they play. Celebrated on the scene for their amazing performances, they offer a musical trip around the world.

They’re cute and fiery, punky and poppy, melodic and aggressive… it’s very complicated. Just when they establish their rock credentials, they’ll play something completely new wave and melodic. It’s indie noise-pop magnificence, but pin them down at your own risk.

www.thehauntbrighton.co.uk

www.thebrunswick.net

www.facebook.com/ThePrinceAlbert

LIGHTS

FIRST AID KIT

PORCHLIGHT SMOKER

Fri 23 Jan

Sat 24 Jan The Haunt

Canadian singer, songwriter and synth enthusiast, Lights Poxleitner, brings her tuneful brand of expansive pop to Brighton.

This one-woman operation always brings a great live performance, passionately connecting with the fans at her shows.

Musically inventive, each album displays a progression from the last. This year’s release, Machines, was a ground-breaking offering of bright 21st-century pop. Expect glittering riffs countered by grimy beats and bass, as retro analogue synths dirty up the perky melodies. Light’s music is emotionsoaked and occasionally quirky, but utterly beguiling. www.thehauntbrighton.co.uk

Sat 24 Jan Brighton Dome

Komedia

Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg have honed their lush arrangements, and blossomed as vivid storytellers, creating the ten-song Columbia Records début album ‘Stay Gold’. Hailing from Stockholm, they went viral with a YouTube performance of Fleet Foxes’ “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song”.

Renowned for their exciting live shows, Porchlight Smoker blend old-time bluegrass and roots, laced with their unique take on folk and country. Guitar, banjo, lap steel, mandolin and upright bass are all beautifully used to accompany old-school bluesy vocals.

It’s gutsy, punchy and warm.

‘Stay Gold’ mirrors their meteoric growth as performers, by using the 13-piece Omaha Symphony Orchestra to give the band a bigger, more fulfilling sound. However they still retain the soaring vocal harmonies which made the sisters and their country-tinged folk-rock tunes global stars.

Their new album ‘Water Into Sand’ is out via Dead Reckoning on 26 Jan, and has already received airplay on Radio 2 and Radio 6.

So these fellas will be in a jubilant mood.

Soaring harmonies and foot-stomping rhythms collide; all performed by a band which lights up any venue they visit.

www.brightondome.org

www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

Sponsored by

MUSIC

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JANUARY HAYSEED DIXIE

POETS VS MCS

Wed 21 Jan

Thu 22 Jan

DEERS Fri 23 Jan

Concorde 2

Concorde 2

Taking nearly 100 years of bluegrass tradition, and turning it on its head, this band could start a party anywhere. AC/DC, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Motörhead and Neil Young are just a few of the artists finding their songs given the Hayseed Dixie treatment.

The 12th annual Poets vs Mcs returns to brighten up the winter. Eight representatives from each side showcase their skills, next they all throw down for a 20 minute hip-hop freestyle. Then the real battle commences.

Featuring loads of familiar faces from the local MC and poetry scenes, this offers a great opportunity to hear some of the best local spoken word around.

Their new album ‘Hair Down To My Grass’ comes out this month, showing their own compositions are just as impressive; each song detailing the search for spirituality accompanying hillside life. They might be laughing at themselves, but make no mistake, this is a talented and versatile group of musicians.

Springing from two legendary nights, SlipJam B and Hammer & Tongue, they might pretend they are opposing sides but the boundaries between these art-forms are becoming increasingly blurred.

The Joker Once there was two, then they became four.

So now Deers sound even more expansive and incredible. These Spanish lo-fi wonders skilfully blend garage rocker with 60s girlgroup pop aesthetics. As a result they’re a cool bunch of ladies.

Some of the recordings sound like they were recorded in a metal box, at the bottom of a pond, on an old Nokia… but these ramshackle songs are simply infectious. So mix fuzzy guitars, plenty of raw enthusiasm and a ton of charisma. Now you’re on the road to creating a band like Deers.

www.concorde2.co.uk

www.concorde2.co.uk

www.thejokerbrighton.com

MEAT WAVE

SÓLSTAFIR

WHITE FENCE

Mon 26 Jan

Mon 26 Jan Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar

Fri 30 Jan The Haunt

Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar

They’re sporting the best name in showbusiness. Taking the fast and furious lo-fi sounds of punk, Meat Wave produce something both awe-inspiring and pounding. Too nasty for hipsters, too talented for the DIY punk scene, they’re challenging the concept that punk has to be crap.

With songs that pack more punch than your usual three-piece can manage, these Chicago rockers turn it up all the way to ‘full power’. With heavy, pounding rhythms and manic guitar riffs, it’s exigent, inimitable and vibrant. Punk wasn’t meant to sound this epic… was it?

Nearly 20 years after forming, Iceland’s Sólstafir are set to release their fifth fulllength ‘Ótta’. Following one of their most ambitious releases with the double-album ‘Svartir Sandar’, the new release endeavours to balance the band’s sonic breadth.

Beginning his career playing with hardcore punk band The Nerve Agents, Tim Presley has released music as White Fence since 2010.

Since then he’s released six studio albums, two live albums, and a collaborative album with Ty Segall.

With a compositional approach that’s both orchestral and commandingly heavy at the same time, this metal band’s music has greatly evolved since the early days.

Their sound is becoming less an echo of inspirations and more a distinctive sonic exploration which is wholly their own.

This American singer/songwriter is an extremely prolific, endlessly recording tracks in his bedroom. Whilst these might have a certain DIY sound, it’s when he plays them live with a full band you realise how good he really is. What first sounded wobbly and plain odd, suddenly becomes almost expansive, tight and energetic.

www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk/stickymikesfrogbar

www.thehauntbrighton.co.uk

www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk/stickymikesfrogbar

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The Woman In Black: Angel of Death

Competitions

To celebrate the release of spine tingling ghost thriller ‘The Woman in Black: Angel of Death’, we are giving away prizes for our competition. Prizes include a limited edition poster of ‘The Woman in Black: Angel of death’, the best-selling novel ‘The Woman in Black’ by Susan Hill and the first ‘The Woman in Black’ on DVD, starring Daniel Radcliffe.

WIN

The sequel is set 40 years after the horrifying events at Eel Marsh House in the original movie. In the midst of World War II, a young teacher and tough headmistress evacuate a small group of children to an abandoned house. As they wait fearfully and out of the line of fire, terrifying events have begun to unfold in the very house they have resided in.

Little do they know that their presence in the dilapidated and seemingly abandoned Eel Marsh House has awakened the wrathful spirit of the Woman in Black….

All you have to do for a chance to win these prizes is answer this simple question: Who wrote the best selling novel The Woman In Black?

A) B) C)

Susan Hill Susan Boyle Susan Sarandon

Send your answer, including your name, address and telephone number to: competition@bn1magazine.co.uk Please put ‘WOMAN IN BLACK’ in the subject header Winners will be announced at the start of February.

Terms and Conditions apply The Woman in Black: Angel of Death is out on January 1st 2015.

WIN Brighton Tattoo Convention Tickets!

It’s that time of year again folks, the 8th annual Brighton Tattoo Convention is coming to town on the 20, 21 and 22 Feb 2015. Hosted by the Hilton Brighton Metropole, the largest residential conference centre in the South of England.

Featuring some of the most talented and distinguished tattoo artists in the country and overseas, the convention is a chance for tattoo enthusiasts to check out different styles of artwork, book in a session or even get tattooed that very weekend.

With people flocking near and far for Brighton’s biggest tattoo event, there is no better time to go and get yourself inked.

We are giving away a chance to win two tickets for the tattoo convention.

To enter this competition, please answer the following question: Where is the Brighton Tattoo Convention 2015 being held?

A) Hilton Brighton Metropole B) Brighton Pier C) European Space Agency Send your answer, including your name, address and telephone number to: competition@bn1magazine.co.uk Please put ‘TATTOO CONVENTION’ in the subject header.

The winner will be announced at the end of January.

Terms and conditions apply. www.brightontattoo.com

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Brendan Cole A Night to Remember

The music has stopped, the lights have gone out and the judges are off for lavish holidays in the sun. If you’re suffering withdrawal symptoms after the end of Strictly Come Dancing, there’s still some terrific choreographic action to be had.

Bringing ‘A Night to Remember’ to Brighton Dome, Brendan Cole will be beating off those winter blues with a lavish dancefloor spectacular.

A cruel twist of fate sees us speaking just after Cole, and partner Sunetra Sarker, have been voted off Strictly Come Dancing. He’s remarkably upbeat over his exit from the show however. “It was incredible,” he cheerily tells me. “Ten weeks is such a terrific run in the show, so it was a good time to leave.”

Professional stoicism perhaps, but the departure may be sweetened by the approach of his extravagant new tour.

Following his last sell-out show ‘Licence to Thrill’, the charismatic choreographer and performer will lead audiences on a journey of music and dance. With 48 shows across the UK and a cast of dancers, musicians and singers, the tour is spending six weeks bringing waltzes, quicksteps, tangos and salsas to every corner of the nation. “I get to really be myself; you’ll get to see the cheeky and naughty side of Brendan Cole.

I have a lot of fun when I’m onstage and I really hope that comes across to the audience.”

The show features the French Dancing with the Stars champion Fauve Hautot, Germany’s Patrick Helm (who also worked on Strictly this year) and professional dance instructor Crystal Main. “I’ve put everything together myself. This isn’t a

Brighton Dome Fri 30 Jan

By Stuart Rolt

show I’ve just signed my name to. I’m very involved in every aspect.” To compliment his dancing vision, Cole’s brought in a live 14-piece band which boasts some of the UK’s best musicians, alongside stunning lighting design and plenty of pyrotechnics.

Now, without the burden of mere seconds to impress the audience on Strictly, Cole and his team of professionals are free to offer something which evolves and unfolds. “It’s a reflection of my personality. As opposed to just being a part of a successful TV programme, I’ve created a whole stage show.” Combining ballroom magic and Latin exhilaration, he’s produced a live music and dance extravaganza that fully showcases his skills. With the inevitable cheeky dialogue, high production standards and of course amazing dance routines, it’s light-hearted, intimate and precisely choreographed entertainment.

He’s relaxed and totally charming, even finding opportunity to slip a cheeky slice of subtle innuendo into our conversation.

Perhaps it should be unsurprising for someone used to performing in front of millions, on the nation’s most popular reality show every weekend.

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing saw Cole celebrate an incredible 11th season performing with the show, something equalled only by Anton Du Bec. Despite the unavoidable competitive element to the proceedings, he maintains everyone concentrates more on providing spectacle than potential rivalries. “There’s not that much competition in-

“

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 15 ]

between the professionals. Obviously everyone wants to do the best they can, so the show is as entertaining as it can be.”

He admits the extensive training schedule demanded by the show can be challenging. More so if his celebrity partner has responsibilities away from the show’s Elstree Studios base, as they often do. “There is a lot of pressure. This year I was also travelling to Bristol to train with Sunetra.” Now their time together on the show is over. Considering his partner’s lack of formal training the progression she made through the process is admirable, as is the motivation and training offered by Cole himself.

“

h. teach so muc “I can only n e o ability, th If there’s n on ve to focus we’ll just ha .” people entertaining

Producing some kind of show-winning dance ability plays a big part in the process, but on a personal level it’s vital the professionals get along with their celebrity partners. Cole’s adamant every partner he’s had on the TV show has been wonderful, although in many different ways. One of the standouts has to be Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who went really far in the competition. “I also loved working with Kelly Brook and, although she wasn’t the most talented dancer; Jo Wood!”

He’s lucky to have found a lasting connection with so many participants, as obviously the pair will end up spending a lot of time together. “I don’t have an ideal partner. But I’ve worked with so many great people.” Diplomatic and charming to the end, in the unlikelihood of the dancing not working out he could find his calling as a cultural ambassador for his native New Zealand.

So now the current series of the country’s biggest reality show has finished, and Brendan Cole’s attention has firmly shifted to his mammoth UK tour. Strictly’s most charismatic performer is certainly looking forward to playing the perfect host up and down the country. “To be honest I can’t wait! It’s going to be so good!”

Brendan Cole: A Night to Remember comes to Brighton Dome on Fri 30 Jan 2015 www.brightondome.org www.brendancole.com

[ 16 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Hello January…

Well we’ve had a great few months; in September and October we welcomed new students and returners over 5 campuses with Welcome events including Freshtival, Fringe and our hugely popular Freshers’ Fair at the AMEX. October also saw Bright n Green’s Reclaiming the Alternative event that included students and the local community with a range of stalls and activities.

In November we co-hosted The Big Brighton Christmas Fair, as well as our first ever SocFest on our Moulsecoomb campus, which gave students another opportunity to sign up to different societies. December was also busy with two Christmas Ball’s on our Eastbourne and Hastings campus, as well as the Falmer Community Showcase.

Not forgetting our weekly Bike Co-Op sessions and CaSH (Contraception and Sexual Health) drop-ins, alongside our Student Leadership Team heading out onto campus with their ‘Sabbs on the Sofa’ campaign with the aim to see what students want and need. Our Students’ Union Support Service also ran their ‘Feeling Ruff’ campaign to get students communicating early about any problems they have that could affect their studies and potentially their assignments and deadlines. We’ve also trained over 280 Course Reps to represent courses across all campuses, they are the voice of students at a course level and provide a vital link between students and staff as they have a right to shape their University experience.

We plan on keeping the momentum going with January.

This month sees the launch of the National Student Survey (NSS) which final year students complete, and gives us feedback on how we can improve and see where we’re excelling! Our Student Elections will also begin, with our nomination period opening in February. Our Impact Report will also be released during February, which details Brighton Students’ Union achievements and updates over the last year. We are also celebrating our rebrand with an event at our newly refurbished Students’ Union café-bar on the Falmer campus.

Over the next few pages there are more detailed updates on certain aspects in Brighton Students’ Union, including pages from our Student Leadership Team and their priority campaigns for the year.

We hope you had a good Christmas holiday, and best wishes for 2015.

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 17 ]

This year Brighton Students’ Union sustainability project Bright n Green has been working with students, the University and community partners on a range of activities and events. Funded by the NUS Student Green Fund, Bright n Green is one of a number of sustainability projects being run by Students’ Unions across the country showing how students can make an impact on sustainability in their own lives, their University and within the local community.

At the end of October, Bright n Green hosted ‘Reclaiming the Alternative’ a day-long event at Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade. The theme of the day was sharing and collaboration in the sustainable economy with interesting talks from reuse Goddess Cat Fletcher, Adam Parsons from Sharing the Worlds Resources and Allie Crawley who talked about his experiences with being part of a housing co-operative. There were a range of workshops for people to participate and stallholders from a range of local organisations and campaign. We even had Green MP for Brighton pavilion Caroline Lucas pop by to wish us luck!

GreenSkills has helped to organise a student internship with Concierge & Security Ltd; a Brighton based security firm currently looking at sustainability and developing a framework for corporate social responsibility in the security industry. As part of their investment they have taken on a recent Brighton University graduate to research and analyse local corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues and bring specialist knowledge to the role. Our University intern is now working with stakeholders and finance strategies around the benefits of bringing sustainability to the sector and in doing so will have helped develop cutting-edge green business strategies and broaden the implementation of sustainable, commercial practices.

The Brighton Bike Co-operative has moved up a gear with the workshop opening every Wednesday. Thanks to a team of dedicated students, the Bike Co-op has been refurbishing and selling old bikes, providing low-cost repairs and parts and helping people learn about bicycles and bicycle maintenance. In 2015 the Bike Co-operative will be sending a number of members to be trained up as cycle mechanics with the hope of opening the workshop more regularly and trying to extend the bike co-op model to Hastings, Eastbourne and Falmer.

The first Green Investigators have received training in surveying energy efficiency in the home. The Green Investigators are currently carrying out surveys of student homes to help people save money on their energy bills and stay warm now that the winter is with us. The results from these will help further understand the state of student housing and how it can be improved.

There is plenty more to come in 2015 as well. There will be more Green Investigators out and about, possible expansion for the bike co-operative, lots more voluntary opportunities and internships with GreenSkills and a whole heap of events centred around Green Week (9-13th March 2015).

For more information about the Bright n Green project, please contact BSUgreenSU@brighton.ac.uk

[ 18 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Your Student Leadership Team Priority Campaigns for 2014-2015 We all know the kinds of issues that students encounter, the list can seem endless. From affordability of transport around town, to getting timely assessment feedback - at some point during a students’ time at the University, one of these things will affect them.

This year, Brighton Students’ Union full time officers have whittled down this list of issues to 3 priority campaigns, all centred round things students care the most about, with a core theme of ‘Value’.

The Big Return: Housing campaign

We think that no student should be unduly disadvantaged as a result of their housing. Whether your property is mouldy, cold, damp or all of the above - we want to address all stages of the private renting experience. We’ll help you understand your rights from start to finish. When you’re looking for, living in, and finally leaving your property we want to address the power imbalance many students face when dealing with letting agents for the first time and give you the legal knowledge to get the most bang for your buck.

Brighton Students’ Union recently took part in the Home Sweet Home Revenge Evictions Campaign, working to ensure tenants receive repairs after a complaint and not an eviction notice! Following a listening act on campus, where we heard you stories and got your signatures in support, we were successful in getting local Brighton and Hove MP’s to vote in favour of the tenancies (reform) bill. Unfortunately, events outside of our control led to the bill being talked down in parliament, but we haven’t finished here! Keep an eye out in the new year for further work on this campaign!

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 19 ]

Value for money campaign You deserve to know how much money you need to spend on your course to succeed year by year - we want to uncover all hidden costs and will work on reducing the ones that don’t equate to value for you. This includes things like prices and quality of food on campus, breakdown of bills in halls of residence, service availability and transport to and from campus. With this in mind we are campaigning to extend the Unizone ticket to Hastings and have already lobbied Brighton and Hove Buses on your behalf to reduce bus fares.

Sabbs On The Sofa: ‘Coming to a campus near you!’

So come and tell us what’s important to you.

Mark My Words: Assessment & feedback campaign We know that quality feedback contributes to higher levels of academic success for our students.

This year we’ll be working with the University of Brighton to ensure that you receive useful and timely feedback, every time so you can maximise your chances of success.

Your student leadership team can impact on every part of your University life - from the quality of your degree to your social life and housing situation.

Another way we are learning about what students want on each campus is by going to visit and talking to you all: Sabbs on the Sofa has already had its first two circuits and we have spoken to over 100 students about what they feel needs changing and improving about each of the 5 campuses. As well as learning a great deal about how students feel about their campus of study we also managed to secure a great deal of support from students around our priority campaigns so we know we are focusing on the right projects this year.

To find out more, including where your nearest event will be, visit: www.brightonsu.com/sabbsonthesofa

If you would like to contact any of us regarding any of our campaigns for the year then please do not hesitate to call or email and of course you can message us all on social media as well! You can find out contact details on our website: www.brightonsu.com

[ 20 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Community Organisers: what we’ve been up to It has been 5 months since we started knocking on people’s doors to listen to their loves and concerns in Queens Park, Hanover, Elm Grove and Tarner areas. We have met a diversity of people that have shared their time with us to have lovely conversations about what is important to them and their community. We have to admit that the weather has been a great challenge when door knocking! But we have found places in the community where people are happy to meet with us such as the Wild Cherry Café, Hanover Community Centre and Tarner Park. In our conversations we have heard about amazing ideas i.e. a befriending scheme for the elderly, having planters to slow the traffic for children to play on the street, a senior’s club, a community-cleaning day, a virtual library and a group to explore the diverse wildlife in the city.

Residents have some projects running already…there is a movie night in Phoenix Halls for students to share with each other, a history book group has started with residents from Hanover and Queens Park, and Washington St. Foster Gardeners are getting ready to green their street.

We still have 7 months to go and we are very excited to unravel the amazing ideas and support the concerns that residents have. If you live in Queens Park, Hanover, Elm Grove or Tarner, or wish to get involved in these communities please get in touch with us! No matter if your idea is big or small, we are here to support you and help your community vision to become a reality.

Best wishes from your Community Organisers, Maddy and Valentina Do you live in Grand Parade, Queens Park, Hanover, Elm Grove or Tarner and have an idea and would like someone to listen to you, then please get in touch by phone or e-mail:

Maddy: madeline.randall@corganisers.org.uk 07813543406 Valentina: valentina.gonzalez@corganisers.org.uk 07813543584

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 21 ]

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Brighton Tattoo Convention Just Ink about it

By Holly Cozens

On the 20, 21 and 22 Feb, Hilton Brighton Metropole will play host to the 8th annual Brighton Tattoo Convention. While organiser Woody resides in Surrey with his own studio, ‘Blackheart Tattoo’, we asked some of the most renowned shops in the city what the Brighton Tattoo Convention means to them…

Axios Tattoo

1 Hove Park Villas, Hove 01273 736255 Owner - Ade Stacey Resident Artists - Nigel Palmer “Working the Brighton Tattoo Convention is a great chance to catch up with other artists, both local and international that I would normally never to get to hang out with. On a more personal note, this year will be the first one that I am working under my own shop banner. I’m really looking forward to sharing our work at the show and looking for potential artists to guest at Axios in the future.

I was very lucky to be given the chance to take up tattooing by Lester of Temple Tatu, more out of curiosity than a burning desire to be a tattooist, I took him up on his offer. Fifteen years later, I’m still as hungry as I ever was, pushing as hard as ever, and learning all the time.” – Ade

Tattoo Workshop

42a Providence Place, Brighton 01273 692695 Owner - Stewart Francis Resident Artists - Jed Harwood, Les Makepeace, Kate Mackay-Gill, Gary Burns “Brighton is amazing. I have always loved the idea of tattooing down here and it finally happened. Now I work here and I’m stoked everyday. The Brighton Tattoo Convention is good fun, bit crazy but fun! It’s a chance to do some new tattoos and meet new people.” – Les “People always asked me why I moved to Brighton and the answer is always, Exmouth. I came to visit a friend here and pretty much went back home, packed a bag and been here ever since.

The convention is good because it takes you out of your comfort zone. It’s a great atmosphere.” – Jed

Into You Tattoo

4 Little East Street, Brighton 01273 710730 Owners - Jason Mosseri, Alex Binnie Resident Artists - Zoe Binnie, Jack Thomas Newton, Adam Sage, James ‘Woody’ Woodford “The first Into You shop is in London and is coming up to its 25th year. Alex kind of bridged the gap between the old school tattooing and what tattooing is now. I was asked to go into business with him and jumped at it. This is a good shop and has been around for ten years. The artists don’t change very often but we like to make sure the shop is inviting to people and the stuff we do has to be punchy and fresh.

While the Brighton Tattoo Convention is a great time to catch up with people, I find it’s more for the people that are coming from overseas or out of town. It’s interesting for them to visit the city and see what we have got going on.” - Jason

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 25 ]

WIN TICKETS TO THE TATTOO CONVENTION 2015 - PAGE 12 Image by Josh redfearn

Magnum Opus Tattoo Studio

Gilded Cage Tattoo Studio

“I fell in love with tattoos pretty early, I must have been about five or six years old. The ice cream man would come around and sell bubble gum with the fake tattoos in it. I would start sticking them everywhere. Drawing became a really serious hobby and I started bugging the tattoo place near me for an apprenticeship when I was 18. They finally took me on and that was about 23 ago.

About the same time we opened here seven years ago, Woody started the Brighton Tattoo Convention. We have always hosted the pre-party and now it’s gotten so big, we moved it from the shop to the Hilton itself. It’s just a really good convention and I think this town appreciates it. It’s the kind of place people want to spend a weekend in anyway, Brighton’s awesome.” - Phil

“I started tattooing back in 2008. I knew I wanted to be a tattooist since I was at school and studied illustration and visual arts. I am from Weymouth originally but needed to be in a creative city like Brighton to pursue what I really wanted to do. I opened Gilded Cage as I wanted my own little zone, a place where you can feel relaxed while you are getting tattooed. I also wanted a shop that’s more of a boutique, where people can see the other things we create (Gilded Cage also sell candles, jewellery, shirts, prints and more).

The Brighton Tattoo Convention is the only one that really counts. It’s our hometown and we get to make the whole booth into the shop. It’s quite an intense process but so much fun.” - James

33 Upper North Street, Brighton 01273 271432 Owner – Phil Kyle Resident Artists – Adrian Willard, Lynn Akura, Dan Crowe, Ollie Smith, Ollie Pinder, Sergei Sanchez

106 St James St, Brighton 01273 933420 Owner – James Robinson Resident Artists – Will Thomson, Nikki Andrews, Paco Casero, Pozan

[ 26 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

THEATRE

PLANNER

A VISION OF ELVIS

THE MAGICAL ROAD TO OZ

RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET

Fri 9 Jan

Wed 28 Jan – Sun 8 Feb

Tue 20 - Sat 24 Jan

Theatre Royal

Brighton Dome

Rob Kingsley faithfully recreates the look, sound and charisma of the world’s greatest entertainer, the show features all the classic hits. From the hip-swivelling 50s Sun Studio period, the Movie Years and the 68 Comeback Special, it all culminates in the electrifying Jumpsuit Concert Years.

Recognized as the “Official European Champion” by winning Europe’s Largest Elvis competition, Kingsley even has authentic costumes that were made by Elvis’s personal costume designer. Backed by a world class band, singers and full HD projections, this is the largest and most authentic Elvis show to tour theatres in the UK.

Ignore the man behind the curtain!

Brighton’s alternative adult pantomime returns for another edgy take on a popular family favourite. Hopefully we all know the story here. Freak weather whisks off a young lady to a strange technicolour world full of danger, oddness and wonder.

On the way she picks up a variety of friends, each with troubling personality defects. She’s also attracted the attentions of a witch, who’s annoyed about our heroine’s house getting parked on her sister. A rumbustious Brighton tradition, this won’t be for the faint hearted!

The critically acclaimed Olivier Awardwinning rock spectacular returns for a 25th anniversary UK tour. Inspired by The Tempest, it features stunning special effects and a brilliant cast of actor musicians.

www.atgtickets.com/brighton

www.brightondome.org

www.atgtickets.com/brighton

ARCADIA

INVISIBLE WOMEN

Fri 30 Jan - Sat 07 Feb

Fri 23 Jan

JUST ME, YOU AND THE MOUNTAIN GOAT

Theatre Royal

Mad scientist Prospero has built a life for himself and his daughter on a strange planet, but their peace is disturbed by the crew of a routine survey mission. Get ready for hitempo, camp fun, with songs of the 50s and 60s. It’s a night out to remember, so dress up fancy and prepare for blast off!

Thu 22 Jan

Theatre Royal

Otherplace at The Basement

Otherplace at The Basement

Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece, Arcadia, sees an exciting collaboration between Theatre Royal Brighton Productions and English Touring Theatre, starring Dakota Blue Richards (pictured). Secret desires and professional rivalries take hold of the residents of Sidley Park, a stately home in 19th Century Derbyshire.

It explores between past and present.

Blending history with actuality, the focus drifts from 1809 to now and back again. A talented pupil makes a startling discovery well ahead of her time. Whilst in the present day, two academics attempt to piece together her story.

Despite giving over decades to doing repetitive, unnoticed tasks a woman in her 50s often ends up being see-through. Even if she speaks, she is talked over, ignored or ridiculed. She has a repentant, peace-making manner, so is often walked into, as she blends inconspicuously with her surroundings.

Clint Westwood returns to Brighton on the trail of his old native Indian American friend - White Hawk Hotfoot from the County Roundup Award Presentations (Gatwick Dept.) He recalls the story of his intriguing yet imaginary past, with tales of growing up on the farm in Colorado with his curious family.

Maxine Jones shakes off her invisibility cloak and steps into the spotlight. She wants to ask questions about our perception of modern gender roles. Following her popular debut as Embarrassing Mother, she’s repossessing her life as an older, unattached woman – with superpowers.

His heartbreak and subsequent travels are recalled with the zeal and enthusiasm of a person who could actually have been there.

Along the way we are treated to a selection of tunes from his forthcoming album ‘The Complete Clint’. There are songs of roundups, rustlers and the 7.36 from Victoria.

www.atgtickets.com/brighton

www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk

www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 27 ]

Velvet Hair Salon So soft to the touch

48 Norfolk Square Western Road BN1 2PA

By Lucy Hallett

It was a Wednesday evening and I was feeling like somebody had removed a large part of my liver and replaced it with cava and wine. After groaning, grumbling and shuffling around muttering the occasional ‘woe is me’, I settled down on the sofa and started my routine. This consists of dialling up my favourite takeaway to splendour in a grease-fest of epic proportions, putting on my onesie that is made to look like a strawberry and indulging in hours of TV so bad that I swear I actually saw some brain cells evacuate my head and slide onto the floor in disgust. It was then that I caught my reflection in the window and realised that I was a creature of habit, and that one of the biggest victims of this was my hair.

For nearly a year it had hung limply past my shoulders and was currently a mousy horrible brown colour that was awash with light and dark bits. It was at that moment I decided I may not be able to change my hangover routine, but I could certainly do something about my god-awful barnet.

After the two day hangover wore off I trotted down to Velvet opposite Norfolk Square on Western Road. Walking in I was struck by how effortlessly it combines that unique kitsch-cool vibe that seems like such a Brighton institution with a welcoming and warm atmosphere. I particularly liked the parts of exposed brick and the fantastic bespoke light displays. I was met by the wonderful Dale, who along with the gorgeous Gemma, run the salon. Noticing the bold and bright shades on the colour chart I hinted to Dale that I wanted something pretty but maybe a tad alternative. With his friendly and clearly expert advice I decided on a mint green. Because my hair was a mish-mash of all sorts of colour, it would need to be lightened to blonde, and then the colour added on top. To say we didn’t stop talking for the whole lightening process almost seems like an understatementthere must have been birds that flew off the trees at our babbling and laughter.

After my hair was appropriately blonde he massaged in a conditioning treatment before looking at the minty greens I wanted. It was at this point that I underwent a complete u-turn and decided I actually really liked the blonde undercoat, and asked if it would be possible to maybe get a dip dyed purple colour instead! Rather than look angry at my indecisiveness like so many hairdressers would, he enthusiastically went through the purples and we decided upon a lavender colour so cute it made me do a ludicrous

little twirl in the salon. A toner was added to the blonde, and then the lavender colour added to create a dip dyed effect.

After trimming away the multitude of split ends, drying and then styling to my specifications (I opted for a beautiful wave effect) it was complete. To say I was over the moon really doesn’t do justice to the shrieking, clapping and jumping about on the chair that was embarrassingly my reaction. He had managed to translate my incomprehensible instructions into a mind-blowing new look.

The worry with such a fantastic salon is that the costs are going to be through the roof, but not so at Velvet, with a full head tint from £50 and a cut and finish from £40. However Velvet is not only a hair salon. Jaqi has a beautiful selection of options available for manicures, pedicures and lashes at the front of the shop. In an adjoining room Kat and Eve offer tattooing, piercing and a pioneering new solution to male hair loss which involves tiny black dots being made on the head to resemble a very short ‘stubble or buzz cut’ type of appearance with prices from £180. You can even rent or commission a large selection of lights from Jaqi, such as the beauties that are evident throughout the shop. After the ridiculous amounts of compliments I’ve received for my beautiful new hair-so many that I’ve lost count - I’m a Velvet convert. After my next hair touch up I’ll probably be walking out with a whole bunch of other treatments too.

[ 28 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

New Year, New You Some New Year Resolutions Not to Follow With 2015 finally here, many of us are resolving to improve our lives. Personal development, attaining financial security and becoming happier are common themes for New Year’s resolutions. So we went onto the streets of Brighton to find out how the city’s residents will be bettering themselves in the next 365 days.

“I’d to post something fundamentally interesting on Facebook next year. With enough self-belief and practice, this might just happen.” – Desmond, Telscombe Cliffs

“Grow an EPIC beard!“ – Deidre, Shoreham

“I’d like to be more imaginative, or likeable.” – Ed, Westminster

“Eat more, exercise less. Small, achievable goals…” – Neil, Worthing

“I want to embrace a new, implausible and potentially dangerous weight-loss program. I can’t be bothered with the gym or nothing.” – Brenda, Portslade

“Admit to myself TOWIE isn’t a satisfactory portrayal of life in Essex, and instead signalling the imminent decline of western civilisation.” – Angela, Hove

“I’m going to start dancing like everyone’s watching.” – George, West Hove

“I want to invent an utterly impenetrable social media abbreviation.” – Dave, Hollingbury

“I’d like to devote all of my spare time to following the Kardashian family this year. They’re so inspirational” – Derek, Hove

“I’d like to only get divorced and remarried once this year.”

Maxine, Haywards Heath

“I’m going to pick up litter on the beach more.” – Jerome, Aldrington

“I’m going to fulfil my obligation to show compassion and moral support to every member of the human race. Apart from parking enforcement officers, Palace fans, people talking ‘foreign’ and anyone that thinks different to me.” – Nigel, Westminster

“Perhaps it’s time to stop starting fights with police officers?” – Beryl, Eastbourne “My habit of writing friends mobile phone numbers, on public toilet walls, should really stop. Maybe when this pen runs out..?”

– Brian, Whitehawk

“To properly get over the Spice Girls split.” – Mad Darren, Shoreham

“Pickles!” – Alan, Kemptown

“This will see me learn a new language, bring peace to Syria, discover the unifying theory and become a size 0.” Matt, Lewes Road

“I need to tell less people I’m cultivating cannabis in my attic.” – Barnaby, Hanover

“Ask the BBC if Tess Daly is operated from inside by a crew of tiny people.” – Maggie, Kemptown

“I want to drop loads more rubbish on the beach!” – Tarquin, Roedean

“Realise the Highway Code isn’t optional.” White van driver, Brighton

“1920×1080 with progressive scan.” – Jeff, Richer Sounds

“I’m going to stop saying: ‘You know..?’ at the end of every other sentence, by concisely, coherently and immediately stating my position during conversations.” Sid, Fiveways

“Let me be clear on this. I want to start caring for those in need and stop pandering to those who aren’t.” - David, Westminster “It’s too early to think about that sort of thing.” - Chen, Mile Oak

“Cut down my recycling, by putting all my empty wine bottles in with the refuse.” Dominic, Hove

“I want to remember my bus fare more often.” Random, North Laine

“I want to demonstrate exactly how little I care, by putting my hands in the air.” – Cheryl, Seven Dials

“This year I’m going to stop turning up for work drunk.” – Lydia, Brighton

“I’ll be livening up boring supermarket trips by slipping pregnancy tests into unsuspecting couple’s trolleys.” – Arnold, Tongdean

“I’m already the best at everything.” – Alex, Burgess Hill

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 29 ]

Brighton Apothecary community herbalists at Brighton’s Open Market If you want to improve your health for 2015, identify key areas in your life that you need to work on and find the best tools to help.

At Brighton Apothecary we have a team of dedicated professional medical herbalists who offer free expert advice on health, herbs and supplements to improve general wellbeing and energy. Herbal medicine can be a useful way to naturally and gently ease your body back to health. There is evidence to support the use of herbal medicine for many minor and chronic health complaints, including IBS, mild depression, migraine, PMS, and colds and ‘flu.

When you visit the shop you can expect friendly advice on health and herbal medicine. As well as providing advice, we sell herbal tinctures, dried herbs, therapeutic creams, herbal teas, health supplements and natural skincare products.

For the month of January we are offering 10% off to all customers with a copy of BN1.

Find out more about who we are and what we do at www. brightonapothecary.co.uk or head to the Open Market between Ditchling Road and London Road to have a chat.

Take control of your health this year.

ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH & BODY?

JANUARY OFFER

1 to 1 Personal Training at your home, local park, work place or the studio Train in a small group or with a friend helping to keep the cost down Health and Fitness coaching to support lifestyle change Dedicated nutritional advice Weekly classes

BOOK IN JAN TO RECEIVE 10 X 1HR PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS FOR £200 (REGULAR PRICE £300)

Bettercallpaul @bettercallpaulb

As a Level 4 Personal Trainer and Health and Fitness coach I use functional training methods which strengthen the body for activities performed in daily life.

Current classes at Smile@Live 121 Davigdor road: Half Hour H.I.I.T (High Intensity Interval Training) “Burn more fat than an hours run, and continue burning for hours afterwards” Hatton ABC (Aerobic Boxing Conditioning) “Fast and furious. Full body workout, all the fun of training like a boxer without the contact” “Paul, thank you for two things, my bikinis don’t fit me any more and I’m having to buy new ones” - Anna “Paul, I LOVE your classes, if it wasn’t for work I’d go everyday” - Rachel CONTACT Paul on: 07717 717 299 www.bettercallpaul.org.uk

COMEDY

[ 30 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

THE TWEDWARD SHOW Fri 9 Jan Komedia

PLANNER

OTHERPLACE’S 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY THING

ANDREW LAWRENCE: REASONS TO KILL YOURSELF

Sat 10 Jan

Thu 15 Jan

Otherplace at The Basement

Komedia

He is Tween, and he is Edwards - together they are the comic force known as Twedward!

Popular comedians Peter Edwards and Thom Tween come together, in a tightlypackaged, two-shows-in-one in this evening of shockingly immoral stand-up.

They started off at The Marlborough Theatre, inhabited the legendary Upstairs at Three and Ten, and wowed Fringe crowds with West Street’s most welcoming venue - The Warren.

Now a new era is dawning with a new home at The Basement.

Thom Tween has no God, no morals, no free will, and no point. The darkest, fluffiest standup comedy you’ll ever see. Meanwhile Peter Edwards guides us through dating and the cheerful topics of death, suicide, cancer and families in general. There’s no story arc here - just a man talking about life and making it very funny.

Otherplace have been entertaining Brighton with a hectic schedule of shows for a decade.

So, they are inviting you to sample a selection of the performers who helped make it such a fantastic journey. They’ll be celebrating where they’ve been and pointing to where they’re going...

Yet none of this has brought him any joy. So he’s inviting you to ‘come and laugh in his stupid face’, his disappointing life and some thoughts he’s cobbled together about how awful the world is. Love him or hate him, you shouldn’t ignore him.

www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk

www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

JO NEARY AND FRIENDS

A DECADE IN THE HEADLIGHTS

KITTEN KILLERS

Thu 29 Jan

Fri 30 Jan

Sat 31 Jan

Komedia

Otherplace at The Basement

A few more comedy performances presented for your enjoyment, ably hosted by the nervous star of TV’s ‘Ideal’. This legendary character comedy night features some of the most imaginative and hilarious comedians around.

Rabbit in the Headlights is ten years old! The longest-running new-act night in the city, it’s helped launch Seann Walsh, James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan, Nick Helm, Angela Barnes and many more on their way to fame and sort-of-fortune.

Up for it this time are YouTube star George Egg, who shot to fame by showing us how to cook food using only appliances in a hotel room and acclaimed character comedy double act, Dyball and Kerr, who offer up high class sketches, dance routines and silly songs. All backed by some lovely live music

by Pad Mclean.

This celebration will feature some very special guest appearances by past acts.

So why not join new host Rob Dumbrell in celebrating a full decade of this often hilarious, sometimes bizarre and occasionally mind-blowing comedy night.

www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk

Recently attracting criticism for standing up against the comedy mainstream, Lawrence is proving to be a rising and divisive talent.

He’s been on ‘Live at the Apollo’ and ‘StandUp For The Week’, had three series of his own show on Radio 4 and been a double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee.

Otherplace at The Basement Kitten Killers offer us another hour of quick fire sketches, silly songs and some rather inappropriate mime in another well-written and perfectly calculated show. Mixing bold and often hilariously poignant glimpse of women’s issues, imaginative reworking of your favourite songs and brief bawdy forays into risqué territory This comic quartet skilfully blends sketch and musical comedy in a show that skirts the line of appropriateness, gleefully playing with the idea of ‘how far is too far?’ Better not take your mum; she might like it too much for comfort. www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 31 ]

JANUARY LAUGHABLE

DIZNEY RASCAL

MARK THOMAS: BRAVO FIGARO

Thu 15 Jan

Sat 17 Jan

Wed 21 Jan Otherplace at The Basement

Otherplace at The Basement It’s a monthly show enabling leading comedians, circuit regulars and the best newcomers to try out new material. This month features Zoe Lyons. Hopefully she needs no introduction. If she does, the TV appearances, awards and countless gigs stacked up in the last decade might have been a waste.

Erudite, blisteringly funny and justifiably ubiquitous on Brighton comedy stages, she manages to be cheerily cynical and selfeffacing at the same time. Daily life is a neverending source of inspiration for Lyons, and she does seem to lead an eventful existence.

With live accompaniment, the star of Comedy Central’s ‘Big Bad World’, ‘Seann Walsh World’ and ‘Cardinal Burns’ explores her Princess Complex through the medium of stand-up, sketch and Disneyesque songs.

Disney lied to Rebecca Humphries. She never married a prince, her flat is no castle, and her nannies definitely never looked like Julie Andrews. So now she’s going to expose the questionable moral messages Walt and co have been dishing out for generations. It’s a must for any fan of odd protagonists, sexy animals or dubious politics.

Ropetackle Arts Centre Never one to shy away from serious subjects, Thomas brings his most personal work to date, examining the operatic themes of family, love, death and art. Developed for 2011’s Deloitte Ignite festival, this is a poignant look at the comedian’s relationship with his father.

Thomas’s father is a self-employed builder with a fierce passion for opera. But his life begins to crumble when he is diagnosed with a degenerative illness. As his father’s illness progresses, Thomas stages a concert at the parental bungalow to try to connect with him through music.

www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk

www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk

www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk

FUNNY WOMEN: BRIGHTON NIGHTS

DAVID TRENT: RENAMED

ROSS NOBLE: TANGENTLEMAN

Sat 31 Jan

Sat 31 Jan

Sat 31 Jan - Sun 1 Feb

Komedia

Otherplace at The Basement

A fantastic mix of new comedy and some Funny Women favourites, Funny Women is hosted by the sublimely saucy Suzy Bennett.

The blisteringly honest New Yorker, Abigoliah Schumann, headlines. With her fearless welltravelled, fast-talking stand-up style, she’ll be pushing some boundaries.

Joining them is the wonderfully endearing Debra Jane Appelby and Worthing’s consistently imaginative Jo Public. Also up is Gemma Whelan, possibly more familiar to couch potatoes as Game of Thrones‘ Yara Greyjoy. When not swinging a sword, she’s usually performing as prim and proper comic creation Chastity Butterworth.

Former teacher and ‘deadpan multimedia-ist’ Trent was nominated for the 2012 Edinburgh Comedy Award for his début solo show. Now he offers up some high energy commentary on celebrity culture and topical news stories, using projection and video editing.

www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk

You have to question Trent’s previous role as an educator. He’s way too free-thinking and morality challenging, so the thought of him shaping youngsters minds is less than comforting. He has some great Powerpoint skills though, a tool he employs in the dissection and subversion of society’s inanities.

Brighton Dome Here’s another welcome glimpse into the ever-shifting mechanics of Ross Noble’s imagination. Whilst his prepared jokes and anecdotes might tickle your fancy, it’s when he gleefully starts throwing discordant concepts into a situation the magic really begins. These impromptu moments of creative brilliance, together with his everanimated delivery stand away from the rest.

While it all might occasionally appear indulgent, you have to admire him when he’s exercising his super-human powers of selfdistraction. Here’s one individual cast adrift in the eternal sea of “What if?” www.brightondome.org

[ 32 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Tech Feed

Difference or Convergence?

When it comes to gadgets, should we do more with less?

From the joining of the carriage and its drive train, the audio player and its speakers, to the telephone and its dial-pad, the trend has been for us to stick together pieces of technology for greater convenience. But is this convergence trend a hard rule? Will it continue, and if so, at what rate?

W

e tend to let many techno-marvels pass by without notice. Maybe we dismiss gadgets as novelty items because they don’t improve our lives enough or are awkward to use. They may target a small group of specialists (like ruggedized wearable computers), or have a specific medical niche (like portable ultrasounds), but does that mean the more technical modern gizmos are low-value to the rest of us? What if these technologies are defining a new age while we’re distracted by mainstream gadgets and our smartphone screens?

We live in exciting times defined by technological advances: 3D printing, vaping, e-paper, health bands, dual screen smartphones and wireless video streaming all represent the eruption of the futuristic and new into the everyday. Groundbreaking research into smaller microchip and memory processes, carbon nanotubes and new storage methods could mean that tomorrow’s new gadgets are beyond our ability to imagine, let alone think of as typical.

So what’s coming next? Will we continue to see the same class of devices and gadgets, improving slightly each year, or are we going to see whole new types of tech woven into our lives?

Think of the following emerging technologies: Smartphones with low-power secondary displays using e-paper Solid state disks widely replacing mechanical disk drives Virtual reality re-shaping games and mobile device navigation alike Health devices connected to our phones and the internet Self-driving cars All of these are enabling or demonstrating a convergence of different technologies with each other and with our lives. Tech is becoming invisible even as it becomes more critical to our lives. There is no sign of the rocket packs and foil suits, the personal robot slaves imagined by previous generations. And yet, the future is happening. And regardless of which trends stick or fizzle out, one thing is for sure: we’re all going to be using more and more of the same interconnected devices and systems. Will this make us more alike, or our lives more uniform? That is a whole different question, maybe one we’ll explore in a future edition.

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BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 33 ]

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Foxcatcher What does the foxcatcher say?

As the winter months loom into view, we start to see an array of movies that conveniently highlight some serious talent. It is award season early next year and there are many performances, films and technical prowess beginning to make themselves known. One of these in particular is Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher – due for release in January starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo.

Miller previously directed Moneyball in 2011, which earnt supporting actor Jonah Hill a nomination or two. During the BFI London Film Festival in October, I saw a preview of Foxcatcher, before attending a press conference with director Bennett Miller and one of the stars, Steve Carell.

Foxcatcher is based on the true story of the Schultz brothers - both Olympic wrestling champions – who were sought out by multimillionaire John du Pont to train and lead a team to victory at the 1988 Seoul Olympic games. Although Mark Schultz (Tatum) starts an unlikely friendship with du Pont, this story does not a happy ending have. (At this point, I urge you to resist the obligatory Wikipedia search until after you have watched the film).

Miller first heard the story about du Pont and Team Foxcatcher eight years ago and found he was truly attracted to the characters - “It’s quite interesting because there was no deep coverage and what there was all went away fairly quickly”. He wanted to explore the relationship between du Pont and the Schultz brothers, namely Mark. John du Pont an seemingly enigmatic and terrifying eccentric - was a role that was not on Steve Carell’s radar, in fact there were dozens of names on the list before him. This role - which required Carell to don a prosthetic nose throughout - was not an easy one for him to take on or shake once Foxcatcher wrapped.

By Holly Cozens

“Until now, I have only really played characters with mushy centres, ” smiles Carell, who seemed surprisingly somber and guarded as he answered our questions. On the other hand, I don’t know what I expected him to be like, assuming foolishly that his characters would represent his personality in any way. The way Carell portrays John du Pont throughout this film, is the complete antithesis of the roles I associate him with. Even The Office’s Michael Scott, with all his shortcomings, appears to have his heart in the right place.

The closest I have seen Steve Carell come to ‘villainous’ is in ‘The Way Way Back’, when he played a manipulative, cheating step-father. In Foxcatcher, he is almost unrecognisable - “John du Pont had a specific idea of how he wanted people to perceive him so I felt a great responsibility to the people involved, and to Bennett.” His commitment to this role was evident in Foxcatcher, as he became a haunting manifestation of du Pont. “As soon as the make-up went on, people behaved differently around me.”

Both Miller and Carell are quite vocal about the effect filming Foxcatcher had on them emotionally – “I feel like we all disappeared for a while,” Carell states grimly. This I wholly understand. Although we start watching a film about sports and discipline, the subject matter is antagonistic and painfully raw, as are the characters involved in this savage story. Bennett Miller does a good job of seeking that out of Steve Carell and his fellow perfomers, making Foxcatcher an unnervingly decent watch, fit for a nomination or two.

Foxcatcher is out on Fri 9 January in cinemas nationwide

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BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 35 ]

27th February to 1st March

Make sure you don’t miss out Real Ales, Real Ciders, Real Food, Real Good!

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[ 36 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

New To Cinema Taken 3 – Thurs 8 Jan Does anyone remember when Liam Neeson was the cuddly single dad in Love Actually? Or playing Oscar Schindler? Now he seems to spend most of his time gruffly threatening people down phones.

This career reinvention as a badass has proved so popular that the Taken franchise is returning for a third instalment – intelligently stylised as TAK3N (get it?). For the third (and hopefully final) time, Neeson’s Bryan Mills will channel his ‘particular set of skills’ into killing people who threaten his family in a variety of exotic locations.

Whiplash – Fri 16 Jan Generally ahead of the Academy Awards each year, there are a few categories where the winner is already a foregone conclusion.

Pixar will usually win best Animated Feature, Daniel Day Lewis will usually win Best Actor. This year’s smart money says that JK Simmons will win Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the tyrannical Jazz tutor Terrence Fletcher in Damien Chazelle’s music drama - Whiplash. The plot follows Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller), a jazz drummer accepted into a prestigious music school where he encounters Fletcher. Andrew quickly spirals into obsession as he is pushed by his ruthless teacher to both the limits of his ability and sanity.

A Most Violent Year – Fri 23 Jan The title of A Most Violent Year refers to its setting of 1981 New York – one of the statistically most crime-ridden years in the city’s history. The plot follows the life of an immigrant and his family as they attempt to capitalise on the American Dream amongst the violence, crime and corruption of the day. This is director JC Chandor’s third and most mainstream film, having previously work in – and achieved success – in independent films. The cast features big name talent like Albert Brooks and Jessica Chastain, as well as the increasingly acclaimed Oscar Isaac who starred in Inside Llewyn Davis and will act in Star Wars Episode VIII.

Inherent Vice – Fri 30 Jan Considering PT Anderson’s last two films were The Master and There Will Be Blood it’s fair to say he’s earned his reputation as one of the most talented directors working today. However he’s taken on a big task in adapting Thomas Pynchon’s novel Inherent Vice to the big screen. It’s the first ever adaptation of Pynchon’s work, due to the difficulties in adapting Pynchon’s complex style to the screen. Set in the 1970 LA, its best described as a psychedelic infused noir-comedy. Think The Big Sleep crossed with Cheech and Chong. If that rather unique genre doesn’t interest you enough maybe the ensemble cast of Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Benicio del Toro, Reese Witherspoon and more will.

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 37 ]

[ 38 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Fountain Head Where’s your head at?

Every pub needs a gimmick now. Once it was enough to employ brassy barmaids, meat raffles and questionable bands to get the punters to flood in. Now more sophisticated measures are used to lure custom. So hostelries often offer expensive overpowered cocktails or began romantically calling themselves ‘gastro-pubs.’

But glamorous food and drink can equate to glamorous prices.

What I want is a great pub, with great food, and no pretence to anything else. No gimmicks, snooty staff or grandiose notions. So where will my somewhat lethargic quest for a smart unpretentious boozer, with amazing food at realistic prices, end?

Tucked away in a once unloved corner of the North Laine, The Fountain Head is free of the hordes crowding the herding routes between station and seafront. So for Thursday lunchtime, we settled down to sample the delights afforded by the new regime in The Fountain Head’s kitchen. My companion (we’ll call him Dwayne) and I opted for a pint of tasty Laine’s Best each, only to quell our midday thirst. This traditional bitter, stocked by most Drink In Brighton pubs, is brewed mere yards away. With malty overtones, it didn’t suffer from the acrid tone I normally associate with ale. In fact it had a pleasant almost nutty finish.

101-102 North Road Brighton BN1 1YE

By Stuart Rolt Dwayne selected chorizo scotch egg, pickles and house coleslaw (£4.95). This was spectacular. A soft cooked egg lovingly encased in pork and chorizo, concealed in a light crispy coating.

Beautifully arranged to the side were a super-fresh rocket salad and a generous helping of the pub’s own refreshing coleslaw.

This was swiftly followed by Dwayne’s choice of rump steak, pan fried new potatoes, chimichuri and rocket (£12.95). This was cooked to perfection, the chef fully grasping the concept of medium rare, something many still can’t. The beef was juicy and succulent, almost melting in the mouth. Nestling next to this, the potatoes were pure joy, light with a whisper of crunch in the skin. Keeping it green, the rocket salad saw its sweet, slightly peppery, flavour brought out by a lush vinaigrette dressing.

I selected beer battered halloumi and hand cut chips, with rocket and house relish (£9.95). While halloumi is undoubtedly the food of champions, many kitchens excel at reducing it to a salty rubbery failure. Not here, the texture was strong and meaty, with the cheese’s distinctive flavour flooding through.

The chips were pretty great, and to add to my joy I too had a portion of the rocket salad.

Emboldened by my enjoyment of something I generally avoid, I opted to try the soup of the day (£4.95) – parsnip no less.

Normally parsnips are the scourge of my veg box, popping up uninvited every winter. Logic dictated if someone can make a dish welcome to my palette out of these, they’re deploying some impressive skills.

As you’d expect from a Brighton eatery, there’s a range of glutenfree and vegetarian options for fussier diners. Chef Lorena works with a team of four, producing a beautifully cooked menu that’s big on detail. Every day they’re creating dishes with good quality meat bought from a locally sourcing family butchers on London Road, also finding time to bake some of their bread and make all of their pickles and relishes as well.

The soup completely proved my point. Served with homemade focaccia, it transcended the usual bitter woody sticks of disappointment I’d suffered on Sundays. It was hearty, thick and appetising, and made me reassess my parsnip phobia. It’s incredible what balanced seasoning and a little attention can produce.

Aside from the food, the beauty of The Fountain Head is it’s suitability for almost everything. If you’re relaxing after work, having an informal meeting or drowning your sorrows, it’s a friendly and inviting space. The surroundings are cosy, yet vibrant, the staff approachable and the food is terrific. It’s a massive win for your friendly local public house!

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 39 ]

Avenue Let’s be Avenue It seems that a lot of restaurants these days fight to be heard if they do not satisfy a specific niche in the dining out market.

This week saw the opening of a kitsch cereal café in London’s snazzy Shoreditch, confirming for me that we all go a little mad sometimes for style over substance. In Brighton, while we admittedly do like to indulge in the kooky and the slightly eccentric, new places like Avenue on Church Road, Hove are also here to keep our feet firmly on the ground and remind the dining folk of this area that proper food still exists.

The first thing I really liked about Avenue when my colleague and I took a table on a bustling Saturday night is that we were greeted instantly by staff member Lucy and the owner, Ben. Having worked previously in a place that requires prompt acknowledgment of the customer the moment they come in the door, this is a standard that sticks with me when dining out. Knowing that our table would not be going anywhere, we were urged to head up to the secluded bar, where we could enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail.

Without other flavours to compromise the palette, this was a great start to the evening with the bartender eager to find a drink suited to our tastes. While my partner chose a Clover Club (£7.50) – a fragrant yet refreshing balance of raspberries, lemon, gin and egg white, I was a little bit more demanding in my preference for rum and festive spices. What I ended up with was a “Winter Warmer Thingy-me-bobble” – a bespoke mix of St Lucian rum, cinnamon syrup, ginger and lots of other Christmassy spices I couldn’t quite place. Despite being short cocktails, which I am normally not a big fan of, the alcohol was not overwhelming and the ingredients all found their place neatly in these carefully made concoctions.

So, hungry and a little light-headed, we welcomed our cosy table and menus, ordering both starters and mains. Having had a peek on Avenue’s Facebook earlier that day, I had spied a picture of some arancini scotch eggs with pumpkin jam (£5.95) that already stuck in my mind. My colleague went for the fried

65 Church Road Hove BN3 2BD

By Holly Cozens calamari with spicy mayonnaise (£6.50). Out of the two, with a delicately crisp outside, perfectly gooey yolk and the sweet jam, the arancini eggs were the standout favourite.

Another bugbear of mine is the urgency in which some restaurants turn over tables, making customers feel rushed.

Here, the mains arrived swiftly after but with enough time inbetween courses to chat and enjoy our very reasonable and smooth bottle of Shiraz Viognier (£16.50). While I chose the vegetarian option of potato gnocci with butternut squash and hazelnuts (£11.95), my partner indulged in a rump steak (£18.50) - med rare, chips and, wait for it, a béarnaise sauce that you didn’t have to pay extra for!

The gnocci was predictable but in the best way. Everything was well-cooked, the sauce deep in flavour and the nuts were that added texture you needed when consuming quite a soft dish. The steak was equally as impressive, again everything you would expect but exceded expectations – the steak was cooked to instruction and very well seasoned, the chips a perfect bed companion. Ben also brought over some ‘Beerkins’ – deep-fried gherkins in beer batter (£3.50). I don’t think that eloquence is really appropriate in describing these so here’s a bunch of good words: juicy, salty, crunchy and hot.

We finished off with a clementine and dark chocolate trifle (£5.95). We thought this was apt after my partner had said previously that day, “clementine’s are big this time of year and no-one does anything with them.” Not too stodgy, the clementine was definitely the star with a few flecks of chocolate making themselves known along the way.

Avenue turned out to be a big success for us; nice ambiance, gracious and polite staff and family-friendly without sacrificing its appeal to the diners seeking a quieter meal. The knowledge and confidence which the staff and Ben for their food is very comforting, making me tick both boxes marked ‘Style’ and ‘Substance’.

[ 40 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

The Courtyard Baby it’s warm outside Making my way through the icy cold streets of Brighton on a Tuesday night after work last month, my colleague and I took our famished selves down New Road for a bite to eat.

We pushed open the door to The Courtyard to be instantly greeted by delicious wafts of hot food and the lovely smile of the head waiter.

As he led us to a table, we were taken aback by the size of the restaurant, which from the outside looks quite small.

We were led into the main room, with its open-plan kitchen format, and admired the surroundings. There were numerous trees scattered throughout, adding to the whole aesthetic, which - surprise, surprise - resembled... a courtyard. Now, The Courtyard prides itself on offering a contemporary British menu, with a core focus on meat and fish dishes. All of the ingredients are sourced locally, in season and although there is a strong focus on British dishes, some of them do appear to have a European twist.

While the waiter poured us a glass of perfectly cooled and crisp Sauvignon Blanc, we ordered a ‘Market Fish’ sharing platter (£14.95). The portion was incredibly generous and its arrival perfectly timed as we tucked into our abundance of fruits of the sea. There was succulent giant prawns bathed in a white wine sauce and perfectly battered fresh calamari, with breaded whitebait and a mountain of fresh shiny wild salmon strips.

Choosing the main was a truly difficult task, as everything sounded divine. Some items really jumped out at me, from

20 New Road Brighton BN1 1UF

By Bee Adamic halloumi and cajun-seasoned burgers with hand-cut chips to fillet steak and The Courtyard fish pie. Settling on the waiter’s recommended dish - which also happens to be the restaurant’s ‘signature’ plate - seemed like the most obvious choice. This was the Pork Belly (£11.95), with my colleague choosing the daily Chicken and Mushroom Pie with buttered mash and seasonal greens (£12.50).

When the food arrived, the chef once again didn’t hold back on portions. The pork belly on my plate was not being far off the size of a brick. It was tender and succulent, with the crackling being perfectly crispy and well seasoned. It was presented on a bed of creamy cabbage and thyme jus, together with a fresh apple sauce. However I resisted the urge to gorge because I had already spied the dessert menu.

Dessert consisted of the homemade treacle pudding (£6.95) - served with a berry compote and double cream - while my colleague opted for the very festively priced Mulled Wine & mince pie (£3.95). Well it is Christmas! Both of us practically licked our plates clean.

Leaving the restaurant was a challenge, especially as I felt as though I’d expanded to the size of a small house! Overall however, The Courtyard is a strong contender on the scene for foodies who like unfussy, classic home-cooked dishes at a reasonable price. It’s one of those restaurants you’ve probably walked past a hundred times and never thought to take a peek. Well there is no time like the present.

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Be Gluten Free

By Mila Statham

Bacon & Avocado Spring Rolls (Makes approximately 12) 1 avocado 6 rashers of streaky bacon 12 sheets Vietnamese rice paper A couple of fresh iceberg lettuce leaves Chilli sauce, to serve Grill the bacon until crisp then cut the strips in half. Slice the avocado and toss in lemon juice to stop it browning. The slices should be roughly the same length as the bacon. Then slice the lettuce into strips of the same length as the bacon and the avocado.

Place a rice paper sheet in a tray of warm water for 5 seconds (or per packet instructions), remove and place on a plate.

Place a strip of bacon, avocado and a few strips of lettuce in the horizontally middle of the paper. Then fold the left side in, then the right side, then the bottom and then roll up into a spring roll (or follow packet instructions of how to roll them if provided).

Repeat the process until you have 12 rolls. Serve with the chilli sauce.

Wolfies of Hove 90 Goldstone Villas, Hove, BN3 3RU

After years and years of waiting, Brighton & Hove finally has a place that sells proper gluten free ‘chip shop’ fish and chips. Living in Brighton & Hove, it is pretty hard to avoid the sights and smells of fish and chips, so for coeliacs this is fantastic news. Wolfies is only a few doors down from Hove train station at 90 Goldstone Villas. It is easily accessible and convenient and the shop is modern, clean and well decorated.

They have already been listed by welovebrighton.com as being one of the best chippies in the city. Wolfies use a mix of both locally caught and sustainably harvested fish.

Their potatoes are sourced from a farm 20 miles away from Brighton and the pies are supplied by ‘Piglets Pantry’. Their sausages are made from only free-range belly of pork meat from a farm in Kent.

“We always intended to do Gluten-Free batter, so we spent a good four months experimenting with lots of different ingredients to try and get it as much like regular batter as possible! We use a mix of potato, rice and tapioca flour, baking powder, turmeric (to add the colour), salt & pepper and water. So it’s both gluten and dairy free.” – Danny, Wolfies of Hove Wolfies is open Monday - Saturday and gluten free is available with any fish everyday.

beglutenfreebrighton.blogspot.co.uk www.beglutenfreebrighton.blogspot.com

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 43 ]

easterneye

Authentic South Indian Cuisine APPETISER VEGETARIAN

NON-VEGETARIAN

• Chilli paneer

£4.35

• Mild cheddar mushroom and coriander tikki

£3.90

• Dahi samosa chat

£3.90

• Ragada patties

£3.90

Batter fried paneer tossed with fresh green chillies and garlic Masala mash with assorted mushroom shallow fried

Chick peas and samosa with yoghurt and chutneys Potato tikkies with chick peas chutney

• Crispy fried chilli garlic baby squids

£4.50

• Chicken banoo kebab

£4.50

• Kerala beef chilli fry

£5.45

Squid rings marinated with fresh red chillies and garlic paste then deep fried

Hand chopped chicken fillet marinated overnight with black pepper, coriander, royal cumin pan grilled

Strips of beef marinated overnight with crushed green chillies, shallots. Curry leaves and fresh ginger

MAIN COURSE LAMB

SEAFOOD

• Bowli hundi

£8.25

Slow cooked lamb braised with onion.

Garlic and seasonal vegetables

• Punjabi Chicken Tikka Makhan Wala

£7.45

• Mala bar Chicken

£6.75

• Chicken Niligiri Korma

£7.45

• Adrakhi Palak Murgh

£6.50

• Chettinad Chicken Curry

£6.50

• Chicken Dopiaza

£6.50

• Kadai Chicken

£6.50

Succulent Chicken Tikka in a buttery sauce with fenugreek leaves Mild chicken curry with coconut, cinnamon and curry leaves Chicken cooked with fresh chillies, coriander, mint and yoghurt

Chicken cooked with fresh ginger and spinach Chicken cooked with twelve ground spices Chicken braised with onions and spices Chicken cooked with pepper, onion, tomato, coriander and fenugreek

EASTERN EYE

• Prawn Bhuna

£8.25

DUCK

CHICKEN

visit website for more

£12.05

Fresh water prawns cooked in homemade pickling sauce

visit website for more

VEGETARIAN

• King Prawn Achari

NON-VEGETARIAN visit website for more

58 London Road, Brighton East Sussex, BN1 4JE 01273 685151, www.easterneyerestaurant.co.uk

• Duck chilli garlic

£9.85

Strips of duck stir fried with fresh red and green chillies

VEGETABLE SIDE DISH • Paneer butter masala

£6.95

Cottage cheese in a buttery sauce with fenugreek

OLD FAVOURITE DISHES • Korma - Lamb • Biryani - Lamb

£8.50 £8.90

RICE DISHES • Steamed Basmati rice

£2.75

BREADS • Plain naan

£1.60

DOSA WORLD • Butter Masala dosa

OPENING TIMES:

£6.50

Monday lunch closed, dinner 6-11 Friday 12-3, 6-12 Tuesday lunch 12-3, dinner 6-11 Saturday 12-3, 6-12 Wednesday 12-3, 6-11 Sunday 12-3, 6-11 Thursday 12-3, 6-11

[ 44 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK

A message from the Vapour Evolution Team We are thrilled to open the doors to our new shop and share this experience with you. We’re passionate about Vaping. From health benefits to cost saving, we’re thrilled to be part of such a forward thinking movment Our aim is to bring you the best Vapouriser products from a large and rapidly evolving market, along with first class information and complete customer service from our dedicated Vaping Team Vapour Evolution has established strong relationships globally with some of the most innovative manufacturers and designers, allowing us to showcase what the whole industry has to offer Our Tasting Bar is available at no cost to you, allowing you to try not only the best of British using the Aspire Nautilus, but some of the most flavoursome, award winning organic E-Liquids from around the world, with new additions coming in regularly Whether you’re new to Vaping or an avid fan, our friendly team of specialists are on hand to answer any questions you may have

We look forward to seeing you 14 Duke Street BN1 1AH @VapourEvolution

BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK [ 45 ]

LI F E H

How to Win Competitions Who dares wins

For some, competition winning is a pipe-dream but for Di Coke from Brighton, it is not just a reality - it’s a full-time job.

The former Social Media Manager has won over £250,000 in prizes over the last 17 years; including over 50 holidays and a VW Beetle no less. Now she is focussing her energy on helping others via her blog Superlucky.me; letting them in on the tricks of the (surprisingly lucrative) trade.

Ms Coke has flown to far off lands with her prizes, including New York, Iceland, Brazil and Japan, and has even funded her wedding with £7,500 in cash winnings. In April of this year she swapped her Social Media job to blog and enter competitions full time.

But how does she do it?! I hear you collectively roar. Di attributes her winnings to time and dedication. “I keep a list in date order of all the ‘creative’ and ‘purchase’ competitions I want to enter.

Compers News magazine is a great resource, so I read that monthly marking off the comps I do as I go along.” She enters 400 competitions on average per week. Some merely require a one-click entry on Facebook or Twitter, whilst others, such as photo and writing competitions, (of which Di enters up to 4 a day) take hours on end. According to Di the more effort you

ACK

By Louise Linehan

put in, the higher the chance you have of winning. “I definitely recommend looking for local competitions - magazines like BN1 are great for smaller prizes, and the local radio is a good source of comps for vouchers, meals and event tickets!”

And for those of you thinking that competition entries are all about mind-numbing Auto-fill boxes and tedious retweeting, think again! Di Coke’s competing has resulted in some wacky anecdotes. “I dressed up as a banana for the day to try to win £500, stripped to a Wonderwoman outfit in a car showroom, turned a car into a mobile disco for a week and drove it round the UK, made a watch out of cheese, recreated the ET poster with my son [which] won a TV, and took my son to the Asda jetwash [which] won £400 of cleaning products. We have lots of fun with our competition entries!’

But the big question is, has she ever won anything with BN1 Magazine? ‘Yes! I won a hangover kit just in time for my friend’s hen party!’

[ 46 ] BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

WIN WIN A Free Coffee EVERY DAY throughout February from Bread & Milk (82 Trafalgar Street) All you have to do is send us the completed Crossword to: competition@bn1magazine.co.uk

And a winner will be chosen at random.

CROSSWORD PROVIDED BY © THOM PUNTON Visit www.bn1magazine.co.uk for the answers

Please put “Bread & Milk” in the subject header. Good Luck! breadandmilk.co.uk