Chic Lifestyle Magazine Issue 48

lifestyle magazine issue 48 |

What’s on | Fashion | Music | Spotlight | Food & Drink | Living | Beauty | interviews

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Contents | Contributors

Welcome lifestyle magazine

We’d just about readjusted to the early mornings following those post-Christmas blues when the snow begins to fall. Here at the Chic Lifestyle offices, we’re not letting it get us down, there are more important things to consider, the first issue of the year for example – we couldn’t let a little snow stop us from bringing the good people of Sheffield their monthly fix of news, reviews and interviews from the chic side of the Steel City.

Chris Addison, star of Mock the Week and critically acclaimed The Thick of It stopped by for a chat, ahead of his appearance at City Hall on the 27th of February with his latest show The Time is Now, Again. As if one great interview weren’t enough, we also feature an exclusive interview with rising Manchester-based songstress Josephine, who has gone from strength to strength since her appearance on Later . . . With Jools Holland late last year. With her latest single gaining A-List status on the Radio 2 play-list and her début album Portrait winning a host of critical acclaim, we relished the opportunity to find out more about her song-writing influences and her musical background.

Sheffield’s thriving graffiti scene is one of the most well regarded in the country, with internationally renown artists such as Rocket, Phlegm and Kid Acne working regularly on the Steel City streets. In this month’s Spotlight feature we chat to a veteran of the scene and one of its most recognisable painters, Gzos, who shines some light on his artwork and Sheffield’s appeal.

My interview with Gzos was probably the most enjoyable I’ve conducted for this magazine and I urge you to check out his work and wise words in Spotlight.

As always, our beauty and fashion editors are on hand to give you their top tips to looking and feeling your best.

We’ve been scouting out the finest restaurants and salons to to share with you, as well as giving you our hot picks of the month’s theatre, museum collections and gallery exhibitions in our regular What’s On feature. We take a brief look at some of 2013’s most hotly anticipated releases on our Film page, while in our Music feature we chat with Post-Hardcore legends, Funeral for a Friend about their latest record, Conduit.

Enjoy spending an hour or so with Yorkshire’s number one for lifestyle and culture and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any feedback or suggestions. I hope you had a great New Year, and to those loved-up Chic readers, have a great Valentine’s Day - we look forward to seeing you again same time next month.

Your editor Kieran Smith Chic Lifestyle Magazine 25 Leigh Street, Sheffield, S9 2PR General Enquiries/Advertising Tel: 0114 261 07 07 Email: info@chiclifestylemagazine.co.uk www.chiclifestylemagazine.co.uk

recycle when you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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28 MANAGING DIRECTOR

Hussain Shafique hussain@chicpromotions.co.uk

EDITOR

Kieran Smith kieran@chicpromotions.co.uk

24 06

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what’s on

A sneak peek at the unmissable events occurring across Yorkshire’s theatres, galleries and museums this month.

Chris Addison

Ahead of his appearance at City Hall with his show, ‘The Time is Now, Again’ this February, the star of Mock the Week and The Thick of It stops by to give Chic a brief taster.

FASHION

The Chic fashionista shares her hot tips; it’s country chic for the ladies and boots for the boys.

20 SPOTLIGHT

Sheffield’s graffiti scene is one of the most highly regarded in the coun try, this month’s Spotlight focuses on one of its most recognisable figures, Gzos.

24 music

We chat to hardcore legends Funeral for a Friend about their latest record, Conduit, as well as reviews of new releases from Christopher Owens, Blink 182 and Josephine.

26 film

A brief look at some of the most hotly anticipated releases of 2013.

28 josephine

Since her appearance on Later . . .

With Jools Holland last year, the Manchester songstress Josephine has gone from strength to strength, including a position on the Radio 2 A-List. We jumped at the chance to chat to her about her début album, Portrait.

40 32 FOOD & DRINK

Our resident chef walks us through his hearty but healthy Lamb and Warm Lentil Salad and we review Napoleons ‘Dine in Style’ special.

35 hair review

We put the clippers at the everpopular Toni & Guy to the test.

36 beauty

Our in house beauty expert gives her hot tips on the best New Years’ detox and getting ready for Valentine’s Day.

38 living

We share our tips on brightening up a home without putting too much pressure on the purse.

33 hair review

We put the clippers at the effervescent Wigs and Warpaint to the test

40 city break

One of Europe’s most beautiful capitals and arguably its most cultur ally significant; this month we track down the hottest spots in the heart of Austria, Vienna.

DEsign director

Shane Gilmartin shane@chicpromotions.co.uk

WEB DESIGNER

Francesca Cirillo francesca@chicpromotions.co.uk

JUNIOR DESIGNER

Amy Gilbert amy@chicpromotions.co.uk

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Melanie Jackson melanie@chicpromotions.co.uk

Sales REPresentative

Dawn Goodwin dawn@chicpromotions.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Kate Hobson, Joe Davies, Megan Habberfield, Gemma Rose, Christy Smith, Yasmine Gleghorn

SPECIAL THANKS

Funeral for a Friend, Josephine Oniyama, Chris Addison, Pomona PR, Black Arts PR, Avalon UK, Gzos, Napoleons Casino We strive with every care possible to ensure the information published is correct. However on occasion some material may be altered after the magazine has gone to print. Therefore we cannot accept any responsibility for these changes and can only offer our sincerest apologies in such an event.

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What’s On | Preview

what’s on The Full Monty Lyceum

Food Fight Against Cancer Crucible

Saturday 2nd February – Saturday 23rd February

Monday 4th February

We all remember when the film version of The Full Monty came out. The fabulously sordid tale of several unemployed men transforming themselves into stripper extraordinaries, which was set in our own Steel City, captured the hearts and minds of people the world over - now, The Full Monty is coming home!

What do think of when you hear the words Food Fight? That horrific day at school when you got caught up in the middle of a torrential downpour of baked beans? Us to, but a more sophisticated form of the food fight is arriving in the Steel City this month, all in the aid of battling cancer!

Playing at the Lyceum Theatre throughout February, the stage play version of the hit film, adapted by original Oscar winning writer Simon Beaufoy, stars such personalities as Kenny Doughty (Stella), Craig Gazey (Coronation Street) and Simon Rouse (The Bill). Featuring classic tracks from the film by artists such as Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones, this adapted for the stage version of the stripper classic promises to delight and entertain just as much as the original did! Tickets start from as little as £9.

To find out more or book tickets visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/event/the-full-monty

Coming to the Crucible for one night only is the Food Fight Against Cancer! Top TV chefs James Martin and Brian Turner face off, cooking live on stage for your acclaim, with the whole thing being moderated by BBC Look North’s Christa Ackroyd.

This is the perfect chance to learn the tricks of the trade and have fun at the same time. All proceeds will be donated to Weston Park Cancer Charity, Cavendish Cancer Care and Anthony Nolan. Tickets are £45.

To find out more or book tickets visit www.sheffieldtheatres. co.uk/event/food-fight-against-cancer-13/

Brendan Cole: License to Thrill St George’s Hall Saturday 2nd February

Brendan Cole is one of Strictly Come Dancing’s most loved professionals. Delighting us for years with his talent and his charm he has warmed up the hearts of Saturday night telly viewers for years. Now, Brendan is coming to Bradford to bring some of his unique talent directly to us with his new one night only show Brendan Cole: License to Thrill.

Bull Studio Theatre

Wednesday 6th February – Saturday 23rd February The world of business can be notoriously cut-throat. It’s a known fact that has been explored time and time again through countless mediums. In the world of business, there is no concept of friendship, only ambition and success. It’s a toxic environment, however one that can prove ultimately addictive. This is the starting point for new production, Bull.

Coming to The Studio theatre this February is the world premier of Bull, written by one of the UK’s most exciting young writers, Mike Bartlett (Earthquakes in London, Chariots of Fire and Love Love Love). It’s ultimately a razor sharp exploration of the nature of office politics and promises to take you on the ride of your life via the water cooler. If you enjoy productions which delve that little bit deeper in order to really make you think, then Bull is just the thing for you.

To find out more or book tickets visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/event/bull

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

Join Brendan Cole and his twenty strong cast of musicians and dancers as they present you with music and dance numbers that will transport you to another world of glorious choreography and stirring string music. Tickets range between £29 and £32.50 for an event that promises to thrill, good thing he’s got a license!

To find out more or book tickets visit www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/event/brendan-cole

Whats On | Preview

The Seven Treasures: Japanese Enamel from the Victoria & Albert Museum Weston Park Museum Saturday 26th January – Sunday 2nd June

Learn all about Japanese cloisonné, the method of enamelling an object, and experience how Japanese artists of the past went about creating objects which came to be known as the ‘Seven Treasures’ from Buddhist texts with their unique techniques, rich colours and patterns. Explore the history of the artistic method as it progressed from architecture to weaponry, such as samurai swords and learn how the practice was developed to create enamelled vases, kettles and dinnerware.

Frazer Hudson Exhibition Sheffield Institute of Arts Gallery Friday 18th January – Sunday 24th February

Newspapers are not always the most interesting part of the media. Economic crises and political scandals around the world are not guaranteed to immediately catch your eye if you prefer more colour and life in the things you read. That’s why images and illustrations are featured in newspapers, to catch your attention and help you see the interesting angle of what may seem like a boring story. If you have interests in both journalism and art, then experience the process that leads to editorial stories resulting in artwork.

The Victoria & Albert museum are kindly going to share a presentation of their extensive collection of Japanese Enamel. A prolific industry in Japan between 1880 and 1910, the art of enamelling takes time and patience, resulting in beautiful, unique objects from the Golden Age of Japanese art. The Japanese Enamels exhibit at Weston Park Museum, which is sponsored by Edwin Davies CBE, will also showcase some pieces enamel artwork produced in Sheffield. The exhibition will display both types of enamel and intends to compare the traditions and techniques of these two contrasting cultures and the artists who created them. www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

Sheffield born illustrator and Hallam University lecturer Frazer Brown has been commissioning freelance work for over 20 years to publications such as The Observer and The Guardian. The exhibition at the Sheffield Institute of Arts Gallery will explore some of the work Hudson has produced, focussing on cultural, economic and political news. If you thought that broadsheet news and creativity could not combine, this exhibit will show you how the two walk hand in hand and Hudson will talk about how the relationship between the art director, art editor and artist to develop illustrations that portray the deeper meaning of a news story and bring new life to a uninspiring topic.

Bolling Hall Ghost Hunt Bolling Hall Saturday 16th February

Have you ever fancied yourself as a Ghostbuster, or wished you could appear on Most Haunted? Is Thriller your favourite song and Paranormal Activity your ultimate scary film? Well ghosts and ghouls don’t just have to be for Halloween, you can experience a full sleepless night in the most haunted building in Bradford, exploring every inch of the house with real ghost hunting equipment like Ouija boards.

Ghost hunts are now taking place at Bolling Hall, one of Bradford’s oldest buildings, which has been the home of many rich land owning families and has been opened as a museum since 1912. There have been records of ghost sightings at The Hall since 1942, with residents and visitors reportedly seeing objects move and hearing footsteps down empty hallways. You can take part in glass divination, table tipping and Séances, with workshops available for the less experienced participants.

Ken Currie Exhibition Bradford 1 Gallery

To experience the spooky sights and haunted happenings that Bolling Hall has to behold for yourself, you can place a £20 deposit for either of the event, which costs between £65 in total and come along fully prepared to not sleep a wink and put your ghost hunter ambitions to good use.

Saturday 2nd February – Saturday 4th May The right piece of art can bring out a variety of emotions within different people. The motion and movement of paint on a canvas can make you smile or bring you to tears depending on what the artist was intending. Emotive and thought provoking art is always worth viewing and if dark and brooding pieces are your preferred style of artwork then you simply cannot miss this new exhibition of work by the artist Ken Currie.

Now being displayed for the first time in Bradford, three of Currie’s large creations titled A Gate, A Door and A Window will provide a profound insight into the enigmatic artist’s mind. Inspired by traditional Spanish paintings, Currie’s work will shock and move the viewer as he portrays his vision of darkness and power with these pieces which are part of a wider series of work titled Immortality. If you keep an open mind when viewing his pieces, you can try and translate the feelings behind these paintings, it should be an interesting experience. Ken Currie will also be giving a talk about his art work and the moods and emotions that inspired him to create on Saturday 2nd February.

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Whats On | Preview

Hope Works Unit 1 A Hope Works, Sussex Road Get ready for Sheffield’s answer to Manchester’s warehouse project, as Sheffield is set to see the opening of The Hope Works. Set up on Sussex Road, just round the back of Attercliffe Road, the project will open on 2nd March and promises to bring underground dance, house and trance music to the residents of the Steel City, with legendary acts Blawan and Pangea, amongst countless other big names. We at Chic are planning to be there, are you?

To find out more information or book tickets search f for “Hope-Works Sheffield”.

Mini Interview Loshea How is Hope Works going? Busy?

Really well, beyond all expectations, but it’s what I had hoped it would be.

How do you feel knowing we’ve named it as Sheffield’s answer to the Warehouse Project?

That’s a huge compliment.Though i’m well aware that its far smaller than that! However i’ve tried to create something that has a high production value, with a spirit of collaboration and showcasing the best, most inventive stuff this city has to offer and a booking policy that is cutting edge for international talent.

Corbeau

Corbeau tearing up the back room - Images by Lanty Zhang Studio

It’s also an artspace isn’t it? Any big exhibitions coming up?

Yes it is an artspace. I’m working on the exhibition bookings now. One thing that’s really exciting is a fashion show set to music I’m planing with Syd and Mallory. There’s lots more but I can’t say right now. One thing I’d like to say is that if there are any artists out there who would like to get their work on the walls just contact us!

It’s a bit out of the way isn’t it? But then again aren’t all the best places hidden?

Hope Works offers a rich experience of cutting edge music and art for those who want something more out of life than that which is easily obtained, that is fed to you on a plate and Being slightly out of the way, we can make more noise.

f/Hope-Works

Richard Wilson - Staging the Text The Crucible Theatre Monday 18th February, Admission £8 I think we all remember Victor Meldrew. The archetypal grumpy old man from the classic BBC sitcom One Foot In The Grave, established himself a special place in the heart of the nation, despite his less than pleasant demeanour, The man behind the character, Richard Wilson, is an acclaimed actor and theatre director, with a wealth of experience in the industry, and he is bringing his knowledge and skill to Sheffield this February!

Running from 2pm to 5pm on Monday 18th February at The Crucible Theatre is a special workshop that Wilson has organised for the benefit of actors, directors, students and teachers, which explores the various approaches taken by directors at the onset of directing a new production. Wilson, as the Sheffield Theatres associate director has had a hand in ensuring only the best in theatrical talent and ability comes to the Steel City and his workshop promises to be an absolute smash!

To find out more information or book tickets visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

24 Hour Musical The Crucible Theatre Tuesday 12th February, Tickets £12 Just how underrated is the college musical? When we think about it, every star from Meryl Streep and Hugh Jackman to Anne Hathaway has cut their teeth in school productions that saw them show versatility and talent from a young age, the next in their respective generations to prepare for life on the stage and on screen. University productions allow us to experience the skills of talented young actors before they climb the meteoric mountain to stardom. Good thing the 24 Hour Musical is back then!

The 24 Hour Musical is a production put on every year by the University of Sheffield, showcasing the best young talent they have to offer and it’s coming back to The Crucible Theatre on the 12th of February. Tickets are going for the bank balance friendly price of £12 and for this price you get to see what happens when young talent works on a deadline. The night before (Monday 11th February), the students will be given the task of staging a much loved musical with only 24 hours notice! the results, though perhaps lacking polish, are always heartfelt and emotionally raw, proving pure unadulterated entertainment. All the proceeds go towards local charity Cavendish Cancer Care.

To find out more information or book tickets visit www. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

Interview | Chris Addison

Comedy Genius

CHRIS ADDISON We chat with the Mock the Week and The Thick of It star about his latest stand-up show, The Time is Now, Again, ahead of its appearance at City Hall this February “It’s where I’m from and it’s what I am”. For all the TV shows and film work and adverts and book-writing, the stand-up comedy stage is where Chris Addison feels most at home. “There’s nothing like being on stage. I am very lucky and have done some ridiculous things. I’ve got to do acting, directing and hanging out with the people on Mock The Week. I love all of it, but it all comes from the stand-up - that’s where I cut my teeth. I did ten years of it before I ever did anything else”.

Having fully served his stand-up apprenticeship, Addison brings his latest tour, The Time Is Now, Again, before audiences which will inevitably be a mix of his loyal fanbase and those who know him from the likes of The Thick Of It and Mock The Week. So, what can that disparate crowd expect from this tour? “It’s jokes, stories, lies, whimsy, some shouting, quite a lot of sweating and quite a lot of laughing on the part of the audience. I know that for sure as this is the third and final leg of this show, I’m now putting it to bed. But of the shows I’ve done, it’s my favourite one, and I’ll be sorry to see the back of it. This is the last run before it’s taken to the Old Shows Home and put in a file somewhere”.

As well as all of the above, it’s likely to feature routines about the coalition government, the Royal Family and his own middle-class idiosyncrasies.

Although this show could be described as somewhat looser than his previous stage affairs (he received Perrier nominations in 2004 and 2005 for detail-strewn shows about human civilisation and the Periodic Table), it won’t change the perception held by critics and audiences alike that his stand-up is of the more intelligent variety. The ‘thinking person’s comic’ is a tag which has cropped up in several of his reviews down the years.

Addison is happy to be dubbed that way, but sees the label as having a sharp double edge.

“Fundamentally, I think people are smart and I don’t attempt to hide my own interests or talk down to anybody and that’s how that tag has come about. But the problem is, and it’s my own fault, I slightly painted myself into a corner. About ten years ago I started writing shows about big themes because, especially with Edinburgh, there are so many comics and you had to find a way of doing something different. But then the strapline is ‘a stand-up show about evolution’ which will mean that many people will see that and understandably go to see someone else. It sells itself short in a way because the shows have always only ever been about the jokes, but it’s hard to see past the title sometimes. That’s why for the last couple of tours I’ve done straight stand-up without any massive themes”.

merry band with acclaimed appearances as the young but not especially thrusting policy advisor Ollie Reeder in The Thick Of It and its movie spinoff, In The Loop (where he played the very Ollie-like Toby Wright).

To the despair of its fans, Armando Iannucci brought the curtain down on The Thick Of It last year with a final series which included the usual brilliantly scatological rantings of Malcolm Tucker alongside a vision of what life really might be like behind closed doors for Tory/Lib Dem coalition partners and a Leveson-style inquiry about the culture of leaks.

While most people agree that the time was right to call time on the series, it didn’t make the experience any less poignant for those involved.

“It was the right decision and a strong decision as well. It’s something that has been a joy to do and been so well received by people, so it’s inevitable that you’ll feel sad about it. We had a screening of the inquiry episode and the finale and it was very sad. It’s been such an incredible joy to knock about with those people for eight years, and it did feel a real shame. But I’m currently working on Veep (Iannucci’s show about the slippery corridors of US political power), so I can console myself that it hadn’t quite stopped for me”.

Although Addison, in the shape of the often conniving and occasionally shady Reeder, was on the receiving end of some of Malcolm Tucker’s finest barbs (among the most subtle of the last series was to dub Reeder as ‘like a Quentin Blake illustration’), he did get the chance to dish out some abuse of his own. “The bits where you just get to shout at somebody and swear and really let rip are just incredibly therapeutic. If you are given a licence to just shout at somebody and call them all the names under the sun, no one is going to hold back on that”.

There’s not much holding back in his next screen role, this time as Men Only editor Tony Power in Michael Winterbottom’s The Look Of Love. It stars Steve Coogan as Soho porn king and property baron Paul Raymond and is scheduled to be released during Addison’s tour. Something of a departure for him, he gets to don a fake beard and massive afro for a film which might get the tabloids frothing but which itself paints a harsher picture of the old school British porn industry than any screaming headline could. “There’s a moment when we were all dressed as per 1982 and Steve and James Lance and I are supposed to be watching this film and we’re all smoking and drinking. We agreed that everything about this sounds like the real rock and roll lifestyle, but we were a few weeks into the shoot and we couldn’t wait to leave this world. It was so bleak, so depressing and the story of Paul Raymond is ultimately quite sad”.

Friendly, intelligent and with an edge: that pretty much sums up Chris Addison.

Chris Addison is on an extended nationwide tour with The Time Is Now, Again. For tickets: www.chrisaddison.com

You can imagine that tackling big themes may have been his forte had he followed his original chosen career path. “I started off wanting to be a theatre director and ended up getting into stand-up but I think that’s just one of those things that happens to people in life. You think you’re heading in one direction but you don’t know what’s over the horizon and finally you find yourself miles away and think, ‘oh, maybe I was meant to be here all along’. If you make a success of stand-up, it allows you to move into other kinds of writing because as a stand-up you write material and perform it. It really is a basic thing - you have the two tools that people want as they like people who perform their own stuff and it can then open up all those other doors”.

As the art of stand-up is often largely a performance (whether it’s playing a character on stage or even just a heightened version of themselves), it’s no surprise that many stand-ups go on to pursue a career in formal acting. Victoria Wood, Billy Connolly, Eddie Izzard and, more recently, John Bishop, are just a few British examples, and Addison has joined that

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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OKIE DULO “Big Man - Big Heart - Big Smile”

The Sheffield underground music scene has been left in mourning as one of its most popular and influential figures, has passed away. Okie Dulo, aged 37, passed away on Friday 18th January. Dulo, a native Kenyan who came to Sheffield to study at age 19, opened the legendary Dulo’s bar on Cemetery Road in 2003 and it played host to a whole roster of artists from Sheffield’s music and art scene, nurturing the careers of such acts as DJ Toddla T in their earliest days. Okie and his massive smile will be sorely missed.

Fashion | Mens

fashion

Give ‘em the Boot Comfortably straddling that smart-casual divide, the boot is more versatile than you might give it credit for. We’re not talking the Wellington Boot of course, nor the chunky Doc Marten, rather the classy Chelsea Boot, the chic Cowboy Boot and the dangerous Biker Boot. Teamed with the right outfit a good pair of boots can complete any look, from indie rocker to the fashion-conscious businessman. Below is a selection of some of the finest footwear available, each one versatile, masculine and stylish. Remember, when boot-buying, try to keep it at ankle height – we’re going for Jimmy Dean here, not John Wayne.

Motorcycle Boot The Kooples - £167 www.thekooples.co.uk

Black Leather Zip Bootie Gucci - £600 www.gucci.com

Iras Chelsea Boot Barbour - £144 www.barbour.com

Balance Clothing Range

Faraso Calfskin Leather Boot Hugo Boss - £195 www.uk.hugoboss.com

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Caramac Press Stud and Zip Leather Boot Dune - £110 www.dune.co.uk

If you’re a fan of Balance, the alternative lifestyle shop on Devonshire Street, then you’re in luck, as they’ve just released their own clothing line. The ‘Launch Range’ is unique in that all the work has been contributed by local Sheffield artists, providing a unique Steel City spin on alternative fashion and all printing and labelling for the new range has been completed by local printers and machinists. A line inspired by the concept of balance, it brings a sense of balance to an industry dominated by international designers and promises to bring some local flare to your wardrobe. www.lifeisbalance.co.uk

Fashion | Womens

Country Life The British winters can be cruel, but we can’t let a little chill stop us from looking chic. This seasons winter collections of country-life couture are inspired in equal parts by Downton Abbey and the formality of a weekend shoot. Tweed, corduroy jackets and jodhpurs, plaid plus-fours, Fair Isle knits and sturdy leather boots are in and we at Chic Lifestyle couldn’t be happier – just don’t ask us to muck out the pigs.

Lily Sweater Tommy Hilfiger - £150 www.uk.tommy.com

Foggy Tweed Alcoholic Jacket Vivienne Westwood - £226 www.viviennewestwood.co.uk

Crack a smile luv would ya?

Leather Trimmed Hacking Jacket Ralph Lauren - £205 www.ralphlauren.co.uk

Hamilton Boot Tommy Hilfiger - £85 www.uk.tommy.com

Equestrian Leather Boots Burberry - £550 www.uk.burberry.com

Top Tips Riding Boots are the key accessory when it comes to country chic – team them with a printed knee-length skirt for a stylish twist on the look.

Hats, hats, hats – from tweedy flat-caps to glamorous cloches and vintage Baker Boys – the look isn’t complete without some tasteful head-wear.

Plaid is a bold design and can be tricky to get right - take tweedy separates and team them with crisp white shirts or playful printed T-shirts.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Advertorial | Claire Wilson

clairee wilson

CLAIRE WILSON

Claire Wilson 274 Sharrow Vale Road, S11 821 0114 267 82 97 Mass production has saturated our high streets to the point where we all look the same, and as a consequence, fashion is losing the individuality that has made it a hallmark of 20th Century culture. Luckily for us we still have independent fashion shops, which make it their mission to bring new and exciting styles to our attention and in the process, reinvent fashion to meet the demands that innovation has traditionally placed on it. Claire Wilson - located in the heart of Sheffield’s independent shopping district, at 274 Sharrow Vale Road - is renowned throughout the Steel City for its unique range of accessories, with its fantastic range of fascinators and hats proving a big hit with the fashion conscious of Sheffield.

Claire Wilson has recently come under new management, and new management means big changes. Claire Wilson is now looking for even more talent, even more unique fashion that will seal its place as one of the freshest fashion centres of the Steel City. Claire Wilson want to make sure that our city stays unique, that the best, most unique designers have a forum

to bring their fantastic designs to the public. So if you’re an aspiring designer with spark, don’t hesitate to get in touch; take this opportunity to get your designs out there to a large, solid customer base that are looking for the next big thing in independent fashion.

It’s the perfect place to display your designs, as Claire Wilson has a reputation for excellence, having been a stalwart of the local Independent fashion scene for years. Claire Wilson has provided designs by such icons as Vivienne Westwood in clothes, fascinators, shoes, handbags and other fashion essentials to the fashionistas of the Steel City. Don’t miss out!

For more info visit: www.clairewilson.com

70% off all hats

Spotlight | Gzos

SPOTLIGHT

Gzos

Sheffield is home to one of the most diverse and fruitful art and music scenes in the country. Catering for all tastes and abilities, the city is a hub of creativity and imagination, boasting a host of galleries - from the small, intimate Old Sweet Shop, right through to the spacious Millennium Gallery – and music venues, from the ever reliable West Street Live, to our annual crowning jewel, Tramlines Festival. Each month we aim to shine our Chic Spotlight on one of the Steel City’s most inspired artists. This month we met with nationally renown graffiti artist Gzos.

We caught up with Gzos in Crossfit gym, where he was putting the finishing touches on a huge Looney Toons inspired piece that will act as the backdrop for a zombie film shot by local film-maker Psychosis Holochaust. Gzos has himself been the subject of a film by Psychosis, Sheffield Graffiti Kingdom, which traces the history of the Steel City graffiti scene and will première at the Lantern Theatre on the 16th of February. Sheffield is home to one of the most highly regarded graffiti scenes in the country, and few know it better than Gzos, who has been painting here – and around the globe - for over two decades, so we relished the opportunity to pick his brains about his craft, and our own graffiti kingdom.

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Spotlight | Gzos

Can you tell us a bit about who you are and what you do?

My name is Gzos, I do graffiti which I’ve been doing for 23 years now, around Sheffield and around the world – I’ve painted across Europe and went to Brazil to paint last year.

Graffiti is what I’m about.

How did you get started?

Everyone rebels when they’re younger – whether it’s smashing up bus shelters, or pinching cars. That stuff didn’t appeal to me, I just liked writing so I took up graffiti. I didn’t think I’d still be doing it at this age, but it’s something I really enjoy, something I’ve progressed with and I’ve met a lot of really good people through it.

When did you start to get your name recognised?

When I first started writing, I used to write ‘Kers’ – I built my name on ‘Kers’ and most people know me as Kers – but I’d put my name about and then I started doing legal stuff and I thought when I want to continue doing the illegal stuff it’s going to start getting a bit dicey. On top of which, when you’re tagging your name, you get sick of writing the same letters, I fancied a change, so I went for ‘Gzos’; something different and a bit daft, it’s not spelt the same of course.

What is Sheffield’s graffiti scene like?

It is getting a lot better; there was a time it was the graffiti capital of England. Now there are students coming from all over bringing their work here, there’s a lot of street art as well, the scene is getting really big, it’s just a matter of finding places to paint. The council won’t allow us to paint any boards that they own, they’d rather see plain boards.

The council man who paints the boards has asked us for our numbers so he can request that we paint them; doing himself out of a job but he thinks it would look better.

Sheffield Council are dead against it, but it makes it worse, because they won’t give us permission to paint anywhere, but we’re still painting.

4 hours work – one or two of them a week and you can give up your day job. The stuff we’ve done on the boards round town though has all been free. Jaer and I did the War of the Words piece, which cost a good £200 in paints and that was just for the love of it.

Which is your favourite piece you’ve worked on?

I would say it is the War of the Words, it’s the best one I’ve done and it’s definitely had the most recognition.

Why the name Gzos?

I was just doodling on paper, it’s just a bit of a joke really. It did cause a bit of a stir when I was in Brazil though I had a sticker printed, it was of a crucifix, but with Jesus’ head replaced with a spray can nozzle. I was giving them out and getting accused of being an anarchist and all sorts! Everyone else laughs and jokes about it though, which is how it’s meant to be taken, it’s certainly nothing to do with religion.

Who are some other graffiti artists you admire or who inspired you to take it up?

When I first started school, some kid came up to me and said, “my name’s Scott, what’s your name?” I said, “my name’s Dean” He said, “what’s your tag?” and really it all started from there. I’ve had breaks occasionally, but I always come back to painting.

How much of graffiti is about the painting and how much about the culture that surrounds it?

I enjoy all aspects of the culture, but personally, I paint for me - my own enjoyment and my own little bit of fame. It’s a way of leaving a mark. Like anything else, you just want to be on top of your game, and that’s what it’s about for me.

Talk us through a piece from conception to the finished product.

Isn’t Sheffield home to some of the biggest names in the country?

There’s no drawing on paper or anything, it just comes straight out of my head onto the wall. I used to draw designs beforehand, but something that looks good on paper doesn’t necessarily look good on the wall. If you do it straight out, it’s more spontaneous and you’re definitely going to be more happy with it. I sketch it out on the wall, get it how I want it to look and after that it’s just painting by numbers, finishing off with highlights and outlines.

Do you all know one another?

I’ve always wondered how you deal with scale working up so close.

Yeah, there’s Rocket, he’s really well known, although he’s more into his street art and portraits now, but it’s great stuff that he does. There are people coming to Sheffield to paint too, people like Kid Acne who’s a really big name.

Everyone does tend to know one another through all the different Sheffield crews; you’ve got TCM and ACT who are older crews but still at it. We started a crew called the NU, for a fresh start, me, Boms, Jaer and Teas. We went to Brazil and Prague and we met a kid from Canada who was in a crew called the TIO, The International Outlaws, we got asked to join them, so we got rid of the NU and joined them, they work in Canada, Prague and across L.A.

It’s just a matter of proportions and making sure you take time to step back and see the bigger picture. I never used to step back, sometimes – if you’re painting where you’re not supposed to – you haven’t got time, but taking your time helps. Using mobiles to take pictures sometimes helps too; seeing it scaled down you can work out the imperfections.

The big question - is graffiti art?

Well we do commissions occasionally, but when it starts becoming a job it’s no fun. A lot of people ask for specific things and I used to hate doing it, but now I’ll do it every so often to get the money to buy paints to do my stuff.

It’s a tricky one, it irritates me at times. I’ll get people saying to me, “that’s beautiful art”, and I’ll say “it’s not, it’s graffiti”.

I don’t differentiate between the big ornate pieces and the scribbled tags on walls. To me graffiti is graffiti, it’s letters and pictures. I suppose it is an art-form, I just hate being called a “street artist” - at the end of the day I do graffiti, more commonly known as vandalism.

Is it the general consensus among graffiti artists that commissions are frowned upon?

Do you have any problem being called a vandal?

How do commissions differ from the doing your own thing?

It used to be the case, but now you’re finding that even people who were dead against it will do the odd commission simply because it’s easy money; you can make £150 for

No, I’m not going to contest that at all. It’s what I do after all.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Music | Reviews

music Josephine Portrait Portrait, the debut album from Josephine, lives up to its title in so much as that it is a very honest, self-reflective piece of work that cleverly intertwines traditional soulful beats and intelligent, introspective lyrics to create something that acts to introduce us to a new talent to be reckoned with.

Musically it can be defined as mid-tempo soul with tinges of folk, however it isn’t afraid to mix things up, utilising accordions (‘When We Were Trespassers’), as well as Spanish style guitars and mandolins (A Freak A) for a twist. In contrast there are some tracks that abandon traditional folk and soul for a more hybrid sound, stretching into rock and roll territory with the stunning single ‘What a Day’, the result is something familiar but fresh concurrently.

This experimentation is never clearer than in the LP’s lyrics, as Josephine uses her writing to deconstruct such themes as past loves (‘When We Were Trespassers’), expectations (‘Portrait’), and the concept of love (‘Original Love’) coming to intelligent conclusions which – as always - manage to pose more questions than they answer.

Josephine’s debut album is a record which uses music to reflect on the uncomfortable faces of love and life, in the process becoming a philosophical piece which engages the listener and urges them to think. For anybody who likes to be challenged by the music they listen to, Portrait paints quite the picture.

Blink 182 Dogs Eating Dogs Continuing their resurgance which began with 2011’s flat Neighbourhoods, Blink 182 further their exploration of new sounds with this five track EP. Two tracks into Dogs Eating Dogs, and already it feels a stronger work than Neighborhoods. The opening song of the EP, ‘When I Was Young’ is reminiscent of Angels & Airwaves, but without Angels & Airwaves vomit-inducing pomp. This is followed by the excellent title track, which harks back to Plus-44’s ‘Lycanthrope’, but again they improve on the formula. Mark’s voice is like a welcome home sign - back in the comfort-zone for Blink-182 fans. However this does not last long, as ‘Disaster’ and ‘Boxing Day’ are worlds apart from anything done by the members of Blink, either together or apart. The former, again has hints of Angels

& Airwaves, but all those agonizing traits are back. Plus it drags so that it seems much more tedious then a four minuite track should. The latter is a very strange affair, The guitars and drums sound like they have been lifted straight from an early noughties pop ballad – Blink 182 goes Atomic Kitten?

The final track shows promise, better lyrics and a sound that builds on the unfulfilled promise of Neighbourhoods, however Yelawolf ’s guest rap is below average. The two strong tracks on Dogs Eating Dogs are very strong, and that alone should be enough to whet the appetites of Blink’s hungry fan base.

Secret Soirée Saturday 30th March - Fez club Step aside Sheffield and make way for a new addition to the steel city’s ever growing underground dance scene. The next event will be on Saturday 30th March at The Fez Club Sheffield, line up consists of James Johnston, Tristan Dan Cunha, Reece Johnson, Corbeau, Kris Aldworth and Warren Watson.

Christopher Owens Lysandre Those unfamiliar with indie darlings Girls, ought to familiarise themselves with their small back-catalouge as soon as possible – for this reviewers money, they rank among the very best bands of the past decade. Unfortunately, Girls drew their all-too-brief career to a close last year, Lysandre is the first solo effort of the band’s former frontman and songwriter Christopher Owens. As is custom with this sort of thing, the album deals with decidedly personal, introspective issues, although for a songwriter with as colourful a background as Owens,’ the record focuses on a comparitively light subject of a single relationship.

A tightly structured concept album, Lysandre traces a brief affair between Owens and a French waitress, from

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

whom the title derives. Owens has never been one to shy away from wearing his heart on his sleeve, but the honesty on display in Lysandre takes his lyricism to a new level of meta-songwriting; “What if everybody just thinks I’m a phony / What if nobody ever gets it?”, his insecurities come to the fore in the winsome “Love is in the Ear of the Listener”. Owens clearly demonstrates that his pop sensibilities and ear for melody have diminished none over the past year, and Girls fans will find much to admire in Lysandre.

Occasionally however, Owens experimentation gets the better of him; you don’t often find flutes or saxophones in contemporary pop songs for a reason, Christopher.

Music | Interview

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND Welsh post-hardcore giants Funeral for a Friend return this month with their sixth studio album, Conduit. The album’s 11 tracks mark a welcome return to the aggressive hardcore sound with which the band made their name. We chatted with guitarist Kris CoombsRoberts to find out more.

It’s been ten years now since Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation; when you were making that record, where did you see yourselves a decade on?

Exactly where we are still making records and playing shows its what we live for. We never set out with a master plan so we just take it as it comes.

You’ve outlasted many of your peers and maintained a very dedicated fan-base – what is your secret?

Hard work and honesty, we don’t let things get us down and always look forward and I think people can relate to that.

Tell us about your new album, Conduit; what was the writing and recording process like?

It was an amazing experience, working with Pat brought a whole new energy to the band and we had some laughs with Romesh along the way.

Writing felt easy and natural and we all felt we were in the best place we’ve been in a long while.

Do you still experiment in the studio, or six albums in, is there a tried and tested Funeral for a Friend formula?

We’re always looking to progress so the last session is out the window quick sharp. We always push ourselves so we leave with no regrets.

Gav and Richard are two albums in now, what have they brought to your sound and are they still “the new boys”?

I’ve known both of them since I was 16 and in college, so they’re old hat to me. I think both Gav and Rich share the same love of music and influences and both are great song writers.

Where did the album title come from?

It came from Matt - a conduit is a method of transferring water or fluid from one source to another but in our case its our music to the listener.

Conduit continues a return to your earlier, more hardcore influenced sounds following a diversion of sorts with Memory and Humanity, what inspired this?

A realisation of what we truly love playing. I think we lost ourselves

during that record and as a band we started going through some major changes but we know exactly who we are now and what we want to do.

The cover for Conduit was painted by Matthew Evans; can you tell us a bit about that?

Matthew was the original aggressive vocalist in Funeral for a Friend and sung on Between Order and Model. He’s been painting for years and is still a close friend of ours. His work is so vivid we felt it captured the essence of the album so we spoke with him about doing the cover for us and he was really up for it. We were all blown away with the piece he gave us. He works under the name of SNOWSKULL so people should Google him and check out his other work. He’s also working on a website at the moment that sounds pretty inspiring in its concept.

Funeral for a Friend helped to kick-start a revival in the British Hardcore scene, where do you think the scene is at now?

I think the British music scene is thriving at the moment, there seems to be a melting pot of musical styles going on. I think when we listen to music we try to judge it on its own merits and not look to draw comparisons with ourselves. If people are influenced by us that’s amazing as we’ve been influenced by other bands ourselves.

For people of a certain age your music played a big part of their formative years; what are your crowds like now, have you seen your fans grow with you? How does it feel to be the elder-statesmen now?

We’re still kids at heart, I think age is only ever a concern if you worry about your image being a chunky hairy Welshmen, I don’t think it’s ever been top of my list of worries. It’s always amazing to see people at our shows who were there when we started but its also good to see new faces. As long as people are having a good time we’ll be up there at 60 swinging our fake hips.

You’re about to embark on a lengthy UK tour, do you enjoy touring? Do you prefer it to the studio?

I think both are incredible and you need one as much as the other. Writing music is the creative heart of being in a band, but the time it takes all the energy builds up and then you release it all by touring. For me I can’t choose between them.

Can we expect you at any festivals this year?

Hopefully so we’ll play pretty much anywhere with a stage or a floor.

Does playing the older stuff still bring you the same pleasure? How do you think you’ve changed as a band?

I think the essence of the songs remains the same. It’s nice because they feel like they belong to everyone and not just us.

After the tour, what’s next for Funeral for a Friend?

More touring! We’ve been hauled up for a year so we’re bursting to get out there.

www.funeralforafriend.com Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Film | Reviews

film What a year 2012 was for the film industry, the forthcoming Oscars are a testement to that. Despite the rise in digital piracy and fall in cinema attendance revenues, the quality has stayed true. With such stunning productions as The Hobbit and Les Miserables breaking new ground in blockbuster cinema, it’s only whetted our appetites for what the world of film has to offer in 2013. Here are just a few of the big budget productions we’re particularly looking forward to. Popcorn at the ready.

A VISUAL MASTERPIECE

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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Director – Francis Lawrence

Oz the Great and Powerful Director – Sam Rami

The second instalment of the hugely popular Hunger Games franchise promises more dystopian-style drama as protagonist Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) returns home after the events of the first film, desperate to forget the horror of her time in the arena. But all is not well in the districts.

This one is sure to please the legions of Hunger Games fans out there in time for the next Christmas season – we can’t wait.

This latest take on the classic Wizard of Oz Story is full of famous faces with James Franco in the title role, Mila Kunis as Theodora’ (eventual Wicked Witch of the West), Michelle Williams as Glinda and Rachel Weisz as Evanora (eventual Wicked Witch of the East). With Sam Rami, director of the Spiderman franchise, behind the camera, thrills a plenty are guaranteed. The trailers all promise an action packed, high budget re-imagining of the world of Oz, although it has a lot to live up to, to match Wicked’s success.

Thor The Dark World Director – Alan Taylor

The Great Gatsby Director – Baz Luhrmann

Building on the success of the first Thor film and the all-conquering success that was The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, continues the story of everyone’s favourite Asgardian as he battles to save the nine realms. The quality of Marvel Studio output has seen a meteoric rise in quality since the success of Iron Man, With Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and the stunning Tom Hiddleston set to return, we simply can’t wait to return to the realm of the gods!

One of the classic texts of the early 20th Century, the modernist tome by Scott Fitzgerald is regarded as perhaps the definitive American novel. Set to the backdrop of the roaring twenties, The Great Gatsby tells the story of a Yale graduate’s encounter with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. With Leonardo DiCaprio as the enigmatic Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, this film adaptation has the star power to live up to a truly classic canonical text.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

Interview | Josephine

Josephine Oniyama 2012 was a breakthrough year for Manchester’s Josephine Oniyama. Her arresting début album, Portrait, was released in October to widespread acclaim, largely heralding her as a terrific new British voice. An appearance on Later… with Jools Holland, great support across the country’s airwaves, and a hefty schedule of touring has made it a fruitful year, and 2013 is already looking even busier still for this promising new talent.

Josephine, a local to Manchester’s Cheetham Hill, has created a self-reflective début album which illustrates the many different sides of a fascinating character. Vocally, her prowess recalls the ‘Queen of Gospel’, Mahalia Jackson’s distinctive contralto, yet behind the powerful delivery is a husky undercurrent making every replaying seem like a personal performance. This compelling delivery commands attention completely, on a record replete with a vibrant array of musical genres. We chatted with Josephine about the making of Portrait, her Jools performance and plans for 2013.

Can you tell us a little bit about the writing and recording process behind your new album, Portrait?

The songs are collected together from the last seven or eight years of writing. I started recording with my producer Leo Abrahams about four years ago and together we worked through all the songs that I’d written and selected the best.

We did about ten tracks first, and then we started writing together; we did ‘A Freak A’, ‘Portrait’ and ‘Last Minute’ which was the last song we wrote for the album.

Where did the title come from?

Well the song ‘Portrait’ came first, and it seemed to suggest itself as an album title. Because the songs were written over such a long period of time, they all became snapshots of my life, so Portrait just felt quite fitting.

Tell us about the single ‘Portrait’

It’s about the influences on our lives, and looking at what we would be without influences like TV or the internet. It’s about how these things change our lives and make them, in a way, unnatural.

You’ve worked very hard for a long time to get this album released; how did you go from the pubs and clubs of Manchester to where you are now?

It’s really just all about gigging all the time – I didn’t only do Manchester of course, I’ve gigged at festivals and venues all over the country, just wherever I could. Eventually, enough people took notice and it all started from there.

Manchester has a rich musical heritage; how has the city influenced your music?

It’s that thing of always having a community of musicians around you – there’s always a gig to play, there’s always someone to play some music with, there’s always someone doing some recording. It’s a very creative community and there are always new people getting involved. It’s important, because if you feel like you’re out there on your own, things can just fizzle out, but you never feel like that in Manchester.

You were briefly signed and then let go from Island records – what was your outlook then and what gave you the impetus to continue?

Well for me that has never been the be-all and end-all, it’s always been about creating more music. Even if you get dropped, you need to still have a positive attitude and continue working at it. Being signed means more people can hear it, that’s why you want it, but it’s not reason enough to make the music in the first place.

Who has influenced you musically?

It’s a really broad range really, I’ve always looked towards folk songwriters; Joni Mitchell, Odetta, Carole King - who isn’t so folky - but she’s a very good songwriter. And then there’s more instrumental stuff as well; Sun Ra, which I love, and all these things I think really come out on the album.

Given the strength of your voice, you could easily have gone down the throwback-soul route. Was it a conscious decision to avoid that kind of music?

It’s just what I naturally do and it couldn’t have been any other way really, unless someone else was writing the songs.

I mean, I am such a lover of folk music, it does have pop and soul elements of course, and I love that kind of music, but I’m a folk kid at heart.

Do you think contemporary music lacks authenticity?

“Authentic” is a big word, as long as someone is enjoying the music that they make, who’s to say that it’s not authentic? I don’t think that it lacks authenticity because there is a lot of good stuff out there, you just have to look for it, it’s not necessarily the stuff in the Top 10.

Could you tell us a bit more about the collaborators that you worked with on Portrait; what did they bring to your music?

It’s really strange; Ed Harcourt who I wrote ‘House of Mirrors’ and ‘When We Were Trespassers’ with, brought a whole different element to the record instrumentally. I didn’t know him at all and I went round to do some writing with him and he had the music to what would become ‘House of Mirrors’ already and he just asked if I fancied writing some lyrics. He brought a level of musicianship that I just don’t have, I couldn’t have written that music myself.

I just asked him to keep playing the track while I ad-libbed over it, and then took it away and kept working at it until we had the song. Jimmy Hogarth who I wrote ‘Original Love’ with, was just really nice to work with; he had lots of different ideas and lots of unique instrumentation. We had a fun day coming up with different melodies and chord progressions, he wrote the marimba riff that runs over the top of ‘Original Love’. It was just great fun getting to work with these different people.

Do you prefer being in the studio or on the stage?

Live is definitely the most enjoyable, studios can be very boring sometimes, doing the same thing over and over again, although hearing the finished product is great.

Personally though, I prefer playing live.

You played on Jools Holland in October last year, how have things changed for you since then?

It’s worked out really really well; the album was ready and I had plenty of gigs booked so it was the perfect time to go on for me. I’ve received lots more interactions from fans as a result of it and it’s just pushed my music to a different level. Before that point when people asked what I do and I said, “I’m a musician”, I would have to urge them towards YouTube or whatever, but now I can say that I’ve been on Jools Holland. It’s why musicians aspire to it so much, once you can say you’ve done that people take you seriously – it’s a really important stepping stone.

www.josephineoniyama.com

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Food & Drink | Recipe

food & drink Steak and Kidney Casserole For those of you who can’t get enough of traditional British grub, we’ve got the ideal dish for you. Try this easy to make Steak and Kidney Casserole for some proper English fare this winter season!

Serves 6 people, average preparation time 10 minutes, average cooking time 2 hours.

Ingredients: 20 g of plain flour, seasoned with salt & pepper / 750g of steak and kidney mix / 5 g of sesame oil / 2 small onions, chopped / 1 medium carrot, cut in bite size pieces / 2 cloves of garlic, crushed / 3 sprigs of parsley, torn roughly / 280ml of tomato passata or pasta sauce / 125ml of red wine / 125ml water

Rack of Lamb with Warm Apple and Lentil Salad

We all like a good meat dish in the cold winter months, but dishes such as rack of lamb, with the intense preparation needed can be intimidating. Here’s a delicious, much easier, and healthier version to keep you warm.

Serves 4 people, average preparation time 40 minutes

Method: 1. Preheat oven to 180 °C/gas mark 4.

2. Coat the steak and kidney mix with seasoned flour completely.

3. Gently heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook onions until tender.

4. Remove from the heat; mix with meat and parsley in an oven-proof casserole dish.

5. Pour the passata or pasta sauce on top of meat mix, followed by water, red wine, garlic, and carrots. Do not stir at this stage.

6. Cover with aluminium foil and place lid on top.

7. Place in pre-heated oven for 2 hours. When time is up, remove from oven and stir well.

8. Serve immediately with mashed potato and steamed green vegetables.

Menzels Cocktail Bar

Ingredients: 15 g breadcrumbs / 5 ml olive oil / 5 g chopped fresh rosemary / 4 g salt / 1 g freshly ground pepper / 1.5 lb rack of lamb, frenched and trimmed / 15 g mustard / 2 shallots, finely chopped / 250 g cooked lentils / 1 apple, finely chopped / 2 stalks celery with leaves, finely chopped / 150 grams reduced-sodium chicken broth, or water / 10 ml sherry vinegar, or cider vinegar

Address: 301 Ecclesall Road - Phone: 0114 258 3200 What do you do when the classic bar scene gets a bit stale? After a while, the constant glare of the neon strobe lights and the deafening thud of chart tunes begin to grate on your nerves, leaving you searching for somewhere with a little bit more pizazz - a place where you can sit back, relax and soak in the ambience. Well lucky for you Chic Lifestyle Magazine has discovered just the place for you.

This month why don’t take a break, relax, and pay Menzels Bar a visit.

Menzels first opened its doors in 1994 and is ranked within the top 50 cocktail bars in the UK. Menzels is charm, class and sophistication made manifest, with some of the best, most rigorously trained bar staff in the country, who are there to provide you with top notch service. Walking into Menzels is walking into sophisticated serenity; the interior is classic boho chic with beautiful exposed brick work, smooth tan leather couches, light touches of artistic décor all topped off with soft lighting and light warm woodwork.

Even better, Menzels is a fantastic space to hold an event, with a special events room set aside for your special occasions. The private area is stunning to behold, with the trademark exposed brickwork and warm toned woods along with mezzanine areas, a high ceiling bar area and concertina doors opening up to a beautiful glass roofed courtyard. Menzels cater for any kind of bespoke event, so you can tailor things to your exact specifications; perfect for celebrations and business meetings of all kinds.

Private hire can accommodate anywhere from 10 to 300 people, a guest list facility, a host/hostess, catering with canapés and a buffet service and live music entertainment services.

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All of this of course comes with a rich and full drinks menu, with white, rose and red wines of all varieties, a host of champagne brands, an array of fabulous cocktails and the most extensive tequila menu the Steel City has to offer and for those of you who want something a bit more rustic, Menzels also has a menu of international beers.

All brands are of the absolute finest quality. It may cost a little more, but at Menzels, you really do get what you pay for!

To find out more visit www.menzels.co.uk

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

Method: 1. Preheat oven to 240 °C or gas mark 9.

2. Mix breadcrumbs, 2.5 grams olive oil, 2.5 g rosemary, 2 g salt and 0.5 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.

3. Heat the remaining oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add lamb, meat-side down, and sear until browned, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn it over and spread 5 grams mustard over the meat. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the mustard.

4. Transfer the lamb to the oven and roast for 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate with foil to keep warm.

5. Return the pan to medium-high heat (be careful: the handle will still be hot). Add shallots, the remaining rosemary, salt and pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until starting to soften, about 1 minute. Stir in lentils, apple, celery, broth (or water), vinegar and the remaining mustard; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is slightly reduced and the celery and apple are starting to soften, about 4 minutes.

6. Cut the lamb into 8 chops and serve over the lentils.

Food & Drink | Reviews and News

Napoleons 844 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield , 0114 266 1115 A few months ago we went to review Napoleons and had a fantastic night, so naturally we jumped at the opportunity to pop back again when we found out that they update their ‘A la Carte’ menu every month! What we went along for was their ‘Dine in Style’ special - we turned up on a bitterly cold night, and so the warm welcome we received at Napoleons was much appreciated. The ‘Dine in Style’ special consists of a drink on arrival, a 3 course meal and a £5 gaming chip, which adds up to a great meal and a chance to explore their casino all for £22; a proper night out, good fun and top notch food. We got our welcome drink, then enjoyed a glass of wine each; we went for a fleurie wine, which was £19.95. It was gorgeous and had a very delicate flavour.

To start, I had Flash Fried Sirloin of Beef with a Noodle and Roasted Cashew Nut Salad, quite a dainty portion but ideal for a starter. We went onto our mains - a very wide choice with everything from Beef Wellington to Roasted Yorkshire Pork Sausage with Caramelised Onions and ‘HP’ Gravy. I went for perhaps the most intriguing item on the menu - Hot Smoked Duck Breast with Grilled Aubergine and Blueberry Jus - it was absolutely gorgeous, cooked to perfection, crispy skin and seasoned wonderfully, the duck was lovely and pink and added a great smoky taste to the accompanying aubergine. I’d give it top marks. You get a touch of silver service, worthy of a Michelin star, but still with an intimate touch. For desert we had the trio of deserts that included; Pear and Apple Frangipane, which was delicious, the star attraction was the flapjack that came with the creme brulee.

The night scored top marks from both my partner and I – A real high end meal without the high end prices.

meet our new chef

allam ullah

giving you monthly recipes to follow

Panner Makni Ingredients: 2 generous cups Paneer cubes 1 large onion, chopped coarsely 3 tbsp. butter 1/2 - 3/4 cups tomato puree 2-3 green chilies, as per taste 3-4 cloves garlic 2 inch ginger, peeled and chopped 1 tsp. turmeric powder 1 tsp. cumin-coriander powder 1 tsp. Tandoori masala 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder 1 tsp. sugar 1/4-1/2 cup heavy cream (as needed for consistency) Salt to taste Mint and cilantro to garnish 1. Place Paneer in a bowl filled with boiling water for 10-15 minutes. It helps to make it soft and also gets rid of any impurities,. Drain the water from the Paneer and set aside.

2. In a pan place 1/2 tsp. oil, add the onion, chilies, garlic and ginger with a little salt. Sauté until soft.

3. Transfer this mixture to the blender and blend it into a paste.

4. In the same pan, add 3 tbsp. of butter and then add the onion paste. Cook until butter/oil separates. If using cashew paste add it along with this mixture now. Or you can soak the cashew pieces in hot water and grind it along with the onion mixture.

5. Add the tomato puree and all the spices. Stir well and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the raw smell of the puree disappears. Add sugar and cook for another 5 minutes. You can at this point taste and see if you require additional salt.

6. Grill paneer lightly and drop it in to the mixture.

Cook for another 2-3 minutes for the Paneer to absorb the flavors.

7. Lower the heat to a simmer, then add the heavy cream. Mix well.

8. If you want to use raisins, fry them lightly in ghee/ butter separately and add it to the gravy. You can set some aside for garnish. I don’t like sweet things in savory dishes and hence don’t use them. Be careful to cook this in simmer before adding cream, otherwise the heat will give it a curdle appearance!

Church House Pub 4 St. James Street, Sheffield. S1 2EW

You can serve this dish with rice, naan bread or chapatti.

I’ve used kalinjeera rice; which is rice grown in Bangladesh which has a bit of a sweet taste and a lovely aroma.

It’s not as famous and popular as basmati rice, but I think it tastes much better.

Sheffield city centre welcomes a new pub with the opening of the Church House. Even Sheffield’s Lord Mayor, Councillor John Campbell paid a visit to the pub which is next to the cathedral on St James Street, having the pirvilege of pulling the first pint.

The pubs manager, Rebecca Dale has worked hard to offer a wide range of beer and real ales, they will also be serving pub food favourites, from gourmet burgers to fish and chips. The Church House is also offering a new twist on traditional pubs, with a comfortable coffee area and deli menu.

The centre of Sheffield is always busy with different people at all times of the day, and the Church House will offer something for everybody. Rebecca said they thought it was “an opportunity to do something a bit different”.

The historic grade 2 listed building has undergone a complete renovation - the brickwork has been exposed and the original firework refurbished, instilling the pub with real character. You can also view displays on the history of Sheffield and cask ale, learning while you relax.

The Lord Mayor is already a fan of the pub, stating that, “the Church House looks stunning and should be a real asset to this historic neighbourhood.”

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Welcome... to all that is Cuba deep in the heart of Sheffield!

Sample our authentic Cuban surroundings, unique Cuban ambience & welcoming Latino vibe. Mix this together with our delicious Spanish/South American cuisine and the best in Latin music all the right ingredients for a quality evening.

Tel: 01142 760475

Cuban bar / Tapas bar

Every night... is music night @ Cubana!

Mondays - Kizomba!

It’s the latest & sexiest Latin dance craze.

Learn it with Antonio, Cubana’s resident teacher.

Beginners lessons from 7.30 - 8.30, improvers from 8.45 - 9.45pm. £4 per class or £6 for both classes. UK’s no.1 Kizomba DJ...

Antonio AKA SABROSA plays from 9 till midnight.

Tuesdays - Lively Latin Rhythms Resident 5 piece Latin outfit Son Para Todos bring with them the exotic Cuban rhythms - Rumba, Son and Salsa.

Wednesdays - Flamenco Passion Spanish Flamenco with Andrew Clegg, captures the soul and passion of the Andalucian gypsies - a fusion of evocative melodies and invigorating rhythms.

Thursdays - Jazz, Blues, Swing & Soul Classic & Nu Yorican Jazz, Blues Swing & Soul - an array of fantastic musicians entertain you every Thursday including the likes of Nicola Farnon, Eloise Short, Simon Peat & Rosie Brown.

Fridays - ‘Viva Salsa’ DJ from 10pm - 1.00am Free Entry Sheffield’s original Latino Club night... Latin music, Salsa, Samba, Mambo and Bachata. Special guest DJ’s EVERY WEEK...

Saturdays - ‘Brasilica’ DJ from 10pm - 1.00am Free Entry A fusion of Funky Brazilian and Afro Cuban Rhythms with Chris Welch (Adelante) and DJ Lubi (Calle Ocho).

¡Viva

Salsa!

a c i i l Bras

Open weekdays from 5pm, FREE ENTRY. 5pm - 6pm Happy Tapas Hour, 8.00 - 11.00 Live Music.

Tapas available through till 10.30pm. Bar serves until midnight.

Cubana is situated at 34 Trippet Lane, (off West St.) Sheffield S1 4EL

www.cubanatapasbar.co.uk

Hair | Review

HAIR

Toni & Guy 52A Pinstone Street, Sheffield, S1 2HN 0114 275 7770 www.toniandguy.com

Opening Hours

Monday: 09:30 - 19:00 Tuesday: 09:30 - 19:00 Wednesday: 09:30 - 19:00 Thursday: 09:30 - 19:00 Friday: 09:30 - 19:00 Saturday: 09:00 - 16:30 Sunday: Closed

After glamming up for the party season, your hair will have taken a bit of a battering. Dry ends, frazzled locks and tired strands are inevitable after a styling frenzy with the GHDs. We popped down to mane maestros, Toni & Guy to give our hair a bit of loving and start the New Year off with a lock-loving bang.

The Process • First the consultation – our model’s locks were becoming a bit straggly on the ends so we decided to go for a shoulder length cut, with textured layers to give movement and strength, and to keep the fringe but create a sweeping side fringe.

• After the cut, Natalie applied a dose of Moroccan Oil to create immediate shine and long-term conditioning, which absorbs instantly into the hair.

• Natalie blow-dried the hair for a sleek, straight look.

• To personalise the cut and add texture, Natalie chopped into the layers and strengthened the fringe.

• To finish, she used Label.M Miracle Fibre, adding extreme texture.

The Verdict A sleek, shiny style with blunt ends to compliment the hair perfectly. The subtle, sweeping fringe adds a focal point to the style and the textured ends finish perfectly, taming thick hair and adding movement and luxe locks.

The Products

• Label.M Miracle Fibre

Adds texture and elastic support to any style and length, whilst softening and protecting a touch of undone glamour to your look without weighing down hair.

• Morrocanoil

The original oil treatment helps to revive hair and enhance shine, whilst strengthening weak strands and conditioning dry ends. Pure love in a bottle for your hair.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Beauty | Tips

Beauty Tips

The effects of the party season have taken their toll. Now you can give in to your desire to toss the sequined dresses aside and tumble into a loving pair of PJs, Scrape out the bottom of your favourite red lippy after hammering it over the party season and soak your tired toes in a hot, steaming bath. Yes, the party season is now behind us and it’s time to forget that awkward office party kiss and embrace the new year of 2013.

To ease you into a more beautiful, pampered you, we’ve put together a compilation of New Year’s Beauty Resolutions – promise yourself you’ll look after your bod this year!

Hot Product Morrocanoil

We’ve discovered Moroccanoil and we love it.

Who would have thought a few drops of this miracle oil could transform your locks into a luscious wave of gloss? Their treatment is rich in fatty acids, omega-3 oils and vitamins for shine, with antioxidants for protection. To banish broken ends and heat battered strands, apply a loving dose of this treatment before drying your hair, and try their shampoos and conditioners for an űber moistured mane.

New Year's Beauty RESOLutions

I promise to… always take my make up off before bed Tumbling straight into bed after a late one is all too tempting, but force yourself to stay awake for just five more minutes to remove your make up. Cleansing and moisturising helps give the skin chance to breathe and repair before piling on the next day’s foundation, helping keep spots and fine lines at bay.

MAC Lashes A fake lash can transform a little peeper into a stunning baby blue. We’re addicted to MAC’s range of lashes – something for all occasions from daytime flutter to major impact. Easy to apply and disguise, the range includes lengthy lovelies and some in a dark brown-black colour to blend in more naturally. They last for ages and can be reused time and time again.

Our favourite is the 34 Lash, dramatically long and wispy.

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I promise to… moisturise every day At this time of year, skin takes a battering being blasted with icy cold weather then dried out with central heating. Moisturising with a rich body lotion after every shower or bath will rehydrate your skin and replace oodles of moisture, giving a silky, glowing appearance.

I promise to… use a hair mask once a week Using a hair mask or oil once every week can make a world of difference – you only have to leave it on for a few more minutes but in that time your hairs are infused with luscious moisture lost from colour, heat styling and weather damage. Treat your locks – they’re worth it.

I promise to… stick to the fake stuff We all know the dangers of sun beds, but aside from the cancer threat there’s also the risk you’ll end up looking like a wizened piece of leather by the time you’re 40. Gradual tanning moisturisers will give you a healthy glow without the sudden tangerine blast from an overzealous spray tan.

Beauty | Tips

Valentines Preperation Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and…

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. No matter how cliché it may be, a beautified bod is a must to dazzle your date on the anticipated 14th of February, and if you’re anything like us you’ll use any excuse for a few more extra hours in the bathroom making yourself just a little bit more fabulous, However, sometimes it’s worth treating yourself to a spell in the salon, letting the experts transform you into the belle of the ball.

Lucky for us, Sheffield is packed with brilliant beauty boudoirs ready and waiting to pamper you into perfection. We’ve hunted out some of the city’s top salons helping you to complete every stage of the Valentine’s preparation.

Waxing

Suzanne at the Tanning and Beauty Clinic is a force to be reckoned with when armed with a tub of hot wax. After all, beauty is pain but silky smooth legs (and any other pesky areas of stubble for that matter) are a must; remember it’s all over in a swift whip of the wax.

Tanning and Beauty Clinic, 49 Church Street, Sheffield, S1 2GL 0114 270 1932 www.tanningbeautyclinic.co.uk

Tanning

Want to be reviewed in our magazine? Contact us on 0114 261 07 08 or email us at info@chiclifestylemagazine.co.uk

Warn off the chilly month of February with a celebworthy sun-kissed glow from the likes of Sienna X, as used by stars on Strictly Come Dancing and the Brit Awards. One of Sheffield’s newest salons, Halo Nails, not only offers a fabulous range of nail treatments but is also one of the only salons in the area to offer the famous Sienna X spray tans.

Halo Nails, 981 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8TN 0114 327 0682 Search for ‘Halo nails’ on Facebook

Brows

The latest treatment available in the battle against beastly brows is HD Brows, a specialised seven stage process involving waxing, threading and make up. Wigs and Warpaint’s beauty pro, Maria, is passionate about transforming the beauty scene of Sheffield, with a special talent in eyebrow shaping.

Lie back in their exclusive HD Brows chair as Maria works her magic.

Wigs and Warpaint, 11 West One Plaza, Fitzwilliam Street, Sheffield, S1 4JB 0114 270 0336 www.wigsandwarpaint.com

Make Up

A quick slap of foundation just won’t cut it for that special night out so it’s time to treat yourself to a professional makeover from a true pro. Beauty Beneath offers a range of luxury beauty and hair treatments, with director Afshan being particularly skilled in make up application, having won numerous national competitions. Afshan can transform your look from boring to beautiful with just a sweep of expertly applied shimmering eyeshadow.

Beauty Beneath, 620 Attercliffe Road, Sheffield, S9 3QS 0114 242 2122 www.beautybeneathsalon.co.uk

Nails

Polish off your look with a set of glittering nails. Top Nails offers a huge range of services, from acrylic extensions to glitter tips to Shellac gel polish. Show off your nails with a touch of Bio Sculpture Gel, a polish product in a range of gorgeous shades which not only lasts for weeks like a gel polish, but also strengthens your natural nail, helping to them reach their true potential.

Top Nails, 288 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8PE 0114 268 4061 www.topnail.uk.com

Facial

Shower your face with a dose of loving from a luxury facial. Essence Spa, tucked away in Hilton Sheffield’s LivingWell Health Club, offers a range of treats from hot stone massage to pedicures. Using indulgent product range, Elemis, facial are available to conquer all skin problems, from the Herbal Lavender Repair to reduce breakouts and draw out impurities, to the Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift, reducing wrinkles by up to 94%.

Essence Spa, LivingWell Health Club, Hilton Sheffield, Furnival Road, Sheffield, S4 7YA 0114 252 5566 www.livingwell.com Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Living | Tips

living

Penny Pinching Home Furnishing for the New Year The Christmas tree has been packed away for yet another year and the lights have dimmed. As the New Year dawns we are left with the customary decreased bank balance and stack of bills and yet again, it’s time to tighten our belts. Here’s a few choice Home Furnishing tips that’ll help you brighten up your living space over the course of 2013 without dipping into the savings.

Living Room Sprucing up needn’t be a massive job, sometimes it’s just about adding a few light touches to accentuate what you already have. The living room is the perfect example and cushions are the perfect choice, they’re cheap, and they come in bright colours and patterns, perfect for adding maximum cheer with minimum effort. You can go classy and sophisticated or retro and kitsch, cushions are extremely versatile. Oh, and they’re comfortable too, can’t forget that.

Kitchen After the tacky kitsch of the holiday season it’s time to get classy, make the place a little more sophisticated, bring some decorum back to the war zone your relatives left your kitchen in. A few simple items will do the trick; add some simple, elegant accessories such as the Serve and Stand Alone Dome from Selfridges to add that quaint Edwardian charm to a kitchen sorely in need of some TLC. Trading up doesn’t always have to cost an arm and a leg.

Linea Changeant Cushion £10, House of Fraser www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Dining Room Despite all the penny pinching, sometimes you want to keep up some of the bright colours and patterns so prevalent in the holiday season and the dining room is a great place to add some vibrancy without going into the tacky territory – why not try buying patterned dining furniture, something to add a touch of sparkle to your entertaining area and prove a talking point at dinner parties. Find the right suppliers and you can do it on the cheap.

LSA Serve and Stand Alone Dome £31, Selfridges www.selfridges.com

Bathroom How do you spruce up a bathroom without resorting to hideous porcelain figurines? Oddly enough the answer is towels. We kid you not, towels are cheap, cheerful and they add blocks of bright colours to your monotone bathroom.

Also, new towels are always so god damned fluffy, it makes the place look more inviting than it usually would, gives it a homely air, and is a welcoming touch for house-guests.

Shabby Chic Rose Cushion £17.50, House of Fraser www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Bedroom As you’ve probably guessed, we at Chic are enthusiastic about colour this month, big blocks of colour bring some much needed cheer during the depressing early months and coloured throws are particularly versatile and cost effective. They can brighten up any surface, cover any nasty stubborn stains and are great at breaking up large blocks of monotone colour. Plus they double as warm blankets when you’re too lazy to try figure out how to turn on the infernal boiler! As long as you know how to coordinate, it’s all systems go.

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Linea Fleece Throw Red £15, House of Fraser www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Marilyn Side Chair £25, John Lewis www.johnlewis.com

Advertorial | Ricman Blinds

RICMAN BLINDS

Ricman Blinds 270 London Road - 0114 258 50 70 When looking for new blinds for your windows, what do you focus on? You want a quality product that will stand the test of time and brighten up your home. More than that, when you are deciding where to purchase your blinds, you are looking for somewhere that puts the customer first. If you want a blind provider that will do everything they can to ensure that you come away with the right product for you, look no further than Ricman Blinds.

Ricman Blinds are based at 270 London Road, Sheffield, and they have been open since 1979. The reason they have not only been open so long, but have flourished, even during unfavourable economic climates? They care. Ricman Blinds has thrived because they offer a personal service and know their product better than anyone. That service begins when you walk into the shop, or call in. The first step is to get a quote, which Ricmans offer for free. Simply call in and set up an appointment, and one of Ricmans experts will come out to you at your home, take the measurements needed and provide you with a quote, without obligation to buy.

From there, there are a fantastic range of blinds to choose from, including perfect-fit, pleated, roller, roman, shutters, velux, venetian, vertical and woodweave, amongst others, With Ricman, you can be assured of unparalleled quality for prices that won’t leave you broke. What makes Ricman Blinds unique though, is that it doesn’t end there. The team provide a brilliant after-care service – on the off chance you are having problems with your product, you simply either need to call in or contact them via their website, and they are more than happy to come out to you to fix the problem.

Ricman Blinds a family run business always looks for ways to make things easier for you, and recognise that times are changing, which is why they now have a significant online presence too. Simply go onto www.ricmanblinds-sheffield. co.uk to get more specific information about which blinds will be best for you. Or you can use their web-page to get in contact, just go to ‘Contact Us’ and fill in the form provided and Ricman Blinds will get back to you on how they can best cater to your blind needs.

Ricman Blinds know how difficult it can be to get quality, effective service and continue to set the gold standard in customer =satisfaction.

City Break | Vienna

CITY BREAK

Vienna The heart of Europe for centuries, from the early days of the Holy Roman Empire to the waning era of the Central European Habsburg Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Vienna is a city of unparalleled beauty and the highest degree of sophistication. Seat of the house of Habsburg for centuries, the city’s Imperial era architecture is among the grandest in the world, the buildings pure works of art, steeped in opulence and Imperial history. Vienna is also labelled as the ‘City of Music’, as the Austrian capital has an unparalleled position at the forefront of the classical music tradition; indeed the age of Viennese classicism dominated the classical music scene well into the early twentieth century, with such famous composers as Mozart and Beethoven having lived and worked in the ultimate city of high culture. A trip to Vienna is a trip to the very centre of European life and dynastic history, a journey into the heart of a European cultural tradition that has endured even into the 21st Century.

Flights At a time where money is often rather scarce after Christmas spending, it is a welcome surprise that flights to Vienna won’t break the bank. With low budget airlines such as Easyjet, flights start at around £25 each way for travel in January, although of course this isn’t including additional costs such as luggage. Other airlines also providing travel to the capital include Austrian Airlines and British Airways – both have flights for around £80 each way. It’s worth taking a look at travelling from London as flight prices are substantially cheaper than flying from further up North, leaving you with more spending money for when you get there!

Hotels Hotel Hollman Beletage

Describing itself as a “contemporary, unconventional, yet elegantly styled boutique hotel”, this hotel, located in the centre of Vienna at Koellnerhofgasse 6, embodies the classic feel of the city while maintaining an incredibly cosy atmosphere. Within the historical 19th century building are just 25 large rooms, providing an intimate feel and the opportunity to meet other travellers. Particularly quaint features of the hotel are the large living room where one can recline and relax after a long day sightseeing, and the hotel’s home cinema providing fresh popcorn and a relaxed introduction to Austria’s scenery captured on screen. Prices start at £145 per night, including breakfast.

If you want something that strays away from modern reinterpretation and embraces the utter largesse of Viennese Imperialism, why not try the Hotel Aldstadt Vienna, situated at Kirchengasse 41, in the heart of the city’s museum quarter. Sumptuous and delightful, despite the simplistic outdoor architecture, the rooms are littered with heavy gold brackets and glittering chandeliers, accentuated by deep, dark, decadent wallpapers underscored with delightfully deep and rich polished oak flooring. A perfect hideaway for artists and culture lovers, the hotel includes free breakfast and Wi-Fi. Prices start from £106 per night for sheer luxury underscored with an element of privacy, rare for the ‘City of Music’.

Passage Nightclub

Restaurants

Volksgarten Club Disco

Passage

In what was formerly an underpass linking Hofburg Palace with the Kunsthistorisches Museum, now lies one of Vienna’s hottest bars and night clubs. Sitting at Burgring 3 / Babenbergerstrasse 1, 1010 Vienna, it is unrecognisable as the once derelict public walkway. Passage has truly risen out of the ashes of a disused space and captivated visitors with its futuristic and innovative interior, creating a truly unique clubbing experience. The DJs serve a blend of house, dance and funk music, ensuring the majority of musical tastes will be catered for by the smooth atmosphere created. One thing to look out for are the pricey drinks; it may be worth visiting a few bars prior to entering.

Hotel Aldstadt Vienna

Once more, one of Vienna’s freshest clubbing experiences can be found in a somewhat unusual location, this time in the lavish gardens on the Volksgarten at Burgring 1, 1010 Vienna. It is here that stunning architecture meets cuttingedge technology, providing a truly superior location for groups to get down to the house and chart music blaring out of the sound system. Perhaps even more enticing is the vintage feel of the winter garden pavilion, furnished with original 1950s features and supplying the perfect area to relax and soak up the surroundings with a cocktail and friends.

Attractions Hofburg Palace

A good place to start in Vienna is the Hofburg Palace, seat to the Habsburg imperial monarchy for centuries. The ultimate in grand imperial architecture, the Hofburg Palace is built in the baroque style, today serving as the seat of the Federal Austrian Parliament. Situated in the heart of the city at Michaelerkuppel, Hofburg, 1010 Vienna, the palace greets you with a grand statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy as you approach the main courtyard. Once you’re inside, you can check out the old wings of the palace, including the centuries old Swiss wing. There are also dozens of art collections and exhibits of International standing, as well as sumptuous cafes and restaurants where you can relax and take in the centuries of Imperial history that surround you.

Hotel Holloman Beletage

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City Break | Austria

Vienna State Opera

Vienna is perhaps known as the opera and classical music capital of the modern world, and has been thought of as such for centuries. The Vienna State Opera House, located at Opernring 2, 1010 Vienna, has been the centre of this since the 1860s, when it was first constructed for the enjoyment of the Habsburg emperors and their courts. While Vienna State Opera boasts beautiful interior and exterior structure dating back to the 19th century, it also often has a different opera on each day of the week, and immediately before each performance an allocation of cheap standing tickets go on sale. This provides the perfect opportunity to experience the music which Vienna has become renowned for, on a budget and experience the genius of the ‘City of Music’.

Schönbrunn Palace

A former summer residence for the Imperial family, the Schönbrunn Palace, located at Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna, is one of Austria’s largest attractions, seeing thousands of tourists visiting every year, and has so since the 1960s, when it was first opened to the public.

Built in the Rococo (late Baroque) style in its current incarnation, the site first saw use in the 16th Century by Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian II as a hunting ground, before slowly being built up into a palace over the following century. Start your trip in the impressive grounds and gardens of the palace which are full of exotic plant life, elegant walkways and fantastically daunting statues of Imperial grandeur. The Gloriette structure, a garden building the infamous Empress Maria Theresa commissioned and had built in 1775, is a particularly stunning highlight, even having its own café where you can sit back and take in the atmosphere. Go up to the roof of the Gloriette and get a chance to go on the viewing platform and take in the entirety of Vienna.

Vienna State Opera

Schönbrunn Palace

There you have it; Vienna is the height of Imperial largesse, sophisticated high culture and despotic history. Once the capital of Europe in many ways, today the institutions of one of the most ethnically diverse Empires the European world ever bore witness to are laid out for you to visit.

However Vienna has moved forward and the modern city is just that, modern, with a whole host of upmarket hotels and chic boutiques, capped off with a thriving nightlife.

Vienna is the city where old meets new, in the process creating something unique.

Volksgarten Club Disco

O’Hara’s Rum

Scarborough What can you say about Scarborough? It’s a classic seaside resort and has been since the 19th Century, and is often associated with rude sticks of rock and sandcastles. It’s so much more. Travel in by train and you’re immediately dropped off the heart of the modern town, right by the classic Stephen Joseph Theatre, which puts on fantastic stage productions for decent prices. Need a place to stay?

Try the Grand Hotel, built at the turn of the Century and to this day a popular Scarborough landmark. From there you might want to go out and sate your hunger, and what better place than ‘Ask’, which is located on the South Bay. Built in the post-modern style, it’s all glass and stainless steel, with

stunning views of the local harbour and the lighthouse beyond.

From there you might want a drink and if you do then Blue Lounge on St Nicholas Street is the place to be, with jaeger bombs always on offer and pounding chart music ready and waiting to help you dance the night away. You’re going to want to take in the sights after and the best is Scarborough Castle. A ruin overlooking Scarborough’s two bays, it’s full to the brim with history, war and treachery. A visit to Scarborough is a visit to the heart of Britain’s rich seaside tradition.

Are you a rum enthusiast? Until recently you wouldn’t have had much luck in indulging your passion with much local rum, however with the launching of O’Hara Spiced Rum your luck is about to change. Launched on 4th December 2012, business partners Andy O’Hara and Adrian Keogh have launched their own specialised rum unique to Sheffield, designed to cater to the discerning Steel City palletes. Available from several local stockists including The Dram Shop and from bars such as Bar 23, The Bowery, The Common Room and The Old House, this new twist on an old classic is sure to prove a local hit! www.oharasspiced.com Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 48

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Rd

Available to download from itunes store and www.mercurytaxis.com