Chic Lifestyle Magazine Issue 40

- LIFESTYLE -

Issue 40

Sheffield’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine

Flaunt | Fashion |Cuisine| Beautify | Tresses | Spotlight | City Break | Reviews

t u o k r o Your W Evolved ÂŁ21 From

Per M onth

Brand New State of the Art Gym NOW OPEN at EIS-Sheffield Take us for a test drive Call 0114 2233 419 or visit www.fitnessunlimited.co.uk

Contents | Contributors

Welcome Editor’s Letter Valentine’s Day is upon us and here at Chic Lifestyle, we’re all loved up. This month the Chic team are pulling out all the stops to give you the most romantic Valentine’s Day possible; our resident chef gives us his recipe for romance, an indulgent Chocolate and Pear Tart, while the Chic Traveller will be your guide through the City of Love itself, Paris.

Our cover stars, Noah and the Whale will be paying a visit to the O2 Academy next month, so we bring you an exclusive interview with front-man Charlie Fink, and if that wasn’t enough, former Girls Aloud star turned Electro-pop princess, Nicola Roberts drops in for a chat.

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 seeking out the finest restaurants and salons to share with you, as well as giving you our hot picks of the month’s gigs, films and events in our regular Flaunt feature.

We are also welcoming a new feature, Spotlight; each month a guest writer takes us through their chosen artistic pursuits on the Sheffield scene. Steel City photographer Tarquin Clark starts us off.

A sneak peek at the unmissable events heading to the Steel City this month

Nicola Roberts| Page 14 The Girls Aloud star turned electro queen discusses fame, fashion and her new album ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’

- LIFESTYLE -

Chic Fashion | Page 18 It’s hot neon fluros for the girls and retro Americana for the boys as we run some of this month’s favourite fashion finds

SHEFFIELD’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

We hope you enjoy spending an hour or so with Sheffield’s number one for lifestyle and culture; don’t hesitate to get in touch with any feedback or suggestions. We look forward to seeing you same time next month.

Flaunt | Page 7

Your editor

Kieran Smith

Issue 40

Sheffield’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine

Flaunt | Fashion |Cuisine| Beautify | Tresses | Spotlight | City Break | Reviews

Follow us The Team Managing Director

Noah and the Whale |Page 22

Tresses Review| Page 32

From twee-folk to retro rockers, we chat with lead singer Charlie Fink ahead of an appearance at Sheffield’s O2 Academy next month

We put Woodseats luxurious Loaf salon to the test

Hussain Shafique

Before and After| Page 33

Editor

Wigs and Warpaint work their magic again to turn the stunned into the stunning

Design Director

Spotlight | Page 36

Web Designer

Sheffield photographer Tarquin Clark walks us through snapping the Steel City

Kieran Smith Shane Gilmartin Franceca Cirillo

Sales Manager Melanie Jackson

Accounts

Rebecca Towler

Fashion Editor Rebecca Towler

Beauty Editor Kate Hobson

Contributors

Rebecca Towler, Melanie Jackson, Joe Taylor, Tarquin Clark

Special Thanks

Nicola Roberts, Charlie Fink, The Showroom Sheffield, Wigs & Warpaint, Loaf Hair, Scratch Nails & Beauty Studio, Hestia.

Cuisine Recipe| Page 26 Our resident chef walks us through an indulgent Chocolate and Pear tart, perfect for Valentines

Our policy

City Break | Page 40

Not connected with any other company or group. All material is copyright of Chic Promotions Marketing LTD and is not to be reproduced without permission. The placing of an order for an insertion of an advert in this publication shall amount to an acceptance of our terms and conditions.

We aim to produce a high quality, up to date magazine for your pleasure.

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.

LIFESTYLE

We take a stroll through the City of Love itself, Paris – it is Valentines after all

Cuisine Review| Page 27 This month we visit Northfield Road’s Mediterranean flavoured Hestia

Beauty Tips | Page 30 Our in house beauty expert gives us the best face, hair and skin tips for that morning after detox

Beauty Review | Page 31

recycle when you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.

Chic’s resident beauty critic pays a visit to Scratch Nail Studio on Ecclesall Road

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Flaunt | Preview

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds “ Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds proves once again that the older Gallagher brother is one of the UK’s greatest living songwriters.”

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Sheffield Motorpoint Arena Sunday 19th February / 7.30 PM / Tickets £35 - £59.50 / www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk

It was with a great inevitability that Oasis, former giants of British guitar music, came to an end in August 2009; the infamous in-band feuding coupled with a steady decline in album quality since the late nineties, few were surprised. What wasn’t expected however, was that both Gallagher brothers would so quickly return to the music scene, and what’s more with the best music we’d heard from either of them in years; Liam and Beady Eye’s Different Gear, Still

Speeding, and Noel with the superior Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Love them or loathe them Oasis are perhaps the most important and influential British band of the past 20 years, their first two albums Definitely Maybe and (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? have together sold in excess of 7 million; seminal track, “Wonderwall”, has become something of

a second national anthem. While together the band never again reached the lofty heights they set themselves with their records, thankfully Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds proves once again that the older Gallagher brother is one of the UK’s greatest living songwriters. Noel will be taking to the stage of Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena on the 19th of February, don’t miss out on this chance to see a living legend at work.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 40

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Flaunt | Preview

A Dangerous Method / The Showroom Cinema Release - Friday 10th February Director – David Cronenberg Certificate – 15 / www.showroomworkstation.org.uk

Set on the eve of World War I, A Dangerous Method is a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery when psychoanalysis was in its infancy. Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) as his patient. Jung’s weapon is the method of his master, Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Both men fall under Sabina’s spell as their friendship rapidly deteriorates.

Over the past decade, David Cronenberg’s films have been growing more and more accessible, not that this is too much of a challenge when your early films involve exploding heads and violent mutant children. Accessibility of course does not equate to dullness - Cronenberg remains a perennially exciting and intriguing figure and with a stellar cast and dark, psycho-sexual subject matter, A Dangerous Method promises to reveal yet another side to America’s most controversial auteur.

Chris Addison / Sheffield City Hall Wednesday 8th February 7.30 PM / Tickets from £20 www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

A regular on BBC panel show Mock the Week and star of award winning sitcom The Thick of It, Manchester born Chris Addison is bringing his new stand-up show, The Time is Now Again, to Sheffield City Hall on the 8th of February. Fresh from touring as part of Uncaged Monkeys along with Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince, The Time is Now Again promises nothing short of brilliance from the nation’s hardest working comedian.

Having being nominated three times for Edinburgh’s prestigious Perrier Awards, Addison’s years of experience putting together tightly honed shows mark him out as one of Britain’s finest; his unique blend of political satire, everyman philosophy and wide-eyed, arms-flailing physical comedy put Addison in that elite category of genuinely funny, thinking man’s comedy. Tickets for his previous shows have sold out fast so be sure to snap one up while the going’s good.

Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

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Flaunt | Preview

Brief Encounter / The Showroom Cinema Tuesday 14th February / Director – David Lean / Certificate – U www.showroomworkstation.org.uk

Sixty-seven years on from its first release, one of cinema’s greatest love stories returns to the big screen this February courtesy of The Showroom Cinema. Brief Encounter was lauded on release, winning the prestigious Palme d’Or and its reputation has gone from strength to strength since, regularly being hailed as the greatest British film of all time To this day its influence on the lexicon of modern cinema can still be felt.

Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson) is a suburban housewife in a dull but affectionate marriage, enter into her life the idealistic Doctor Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard). The two begin to meet and before long love begins to blossom and both are forced to wrestle with the prospect of an affair.

Brief Encounter is a film that warps conventional love story tropes; Noel Coward’s script broaches the unspeakable, exploring middle class sexual frustration but with a tight lipped Britishness that is at once beautiful and infuriating.

Under the watchful eye of David Lean, all of this comes together to form a masterpiece of storytelling; Brief Encounter is that most rare of beasts, a film that not only lives up to, but exceeds its hype.

John Peel’s Shed / The Studio Thursday 2nd February / 7.45 PM and 9.30 PM Tickets from £12 / www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

In 2002, a 21 year old John Osborne won a radio competition on John Peel’s Radio One show, his prize was a box of records that took some 8 years to work through. Now 30, Osborne brings his show, ‘John Peel’s Shed’ to Sheffield’s Studio this February. Partly adapted from his own book Radio Head, which was awarded Radio 4’s Book of the Week, John Peel’s Shed is equal parts awkward confessional and love letter to the wireless.

In the wake of the digital revolution, radio has become bigger and broader than ever before, John Peel was one of the medium’s pioneers, he was a true fan of music and one with genuinely eclectic taste. Osborne’s show explores the vinyl collection left to him, using the records as a means of exploring everyday life “just because they belonged to John Peel,” he confesses, “it doesn’t mean they were all good”.

John Peel’s Shed welcomed huge critical praise when it played The Edinburgh Festival last year, be sure to catch it here this February.

Thirsty / The Studio

Monday 30th January / 7.45 PM Tickets £12 / www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Jemma McDonnell, Elle Moreton, and Kylie Walsh are The Paper Birds, a multi award-winning theatre company based in Leeds who are bringing their latest production Thirsty to The Studio Theatre on 30th of January. Darling of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Thirsty is a funny, honest, daring, emotive portrait of our nation’s love affair with alcohol.

Weaving together real stories, memories and confessions from the public submitted through a ‘drunken hotline’ and an online questionnaire, Thirsty is a revealing portrait of booze-Britain that goes beyond the facts and figures to examine the individual and ask “why do I do this to myself every Friday night?”.

The Paper Birds are hugely passionate about their art, between productions they run workshops in schools across the country, their aspirations to create a production that is culturally, socially and politically important is fully realised in Thirsty’s fusing of live music, verbatim text and physical theatre. Above all Thirsty is refreshing, authentic theatre helmed by one of the most perennially fascinating and consistently strong theatre companies working in the country.

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 40

Flaunt | Preview

Rebecca Ferguson / Sheffield City Hall Saturday 25th February / 6.30 PM Tickets from £19 - £32.50 / www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

It has been eight years now since The X Factor began - combined, contestants of the show have achieved nearly thirty UK number 1 singles, ranging from forgettable dross (‘It’s Chico Time’, anyone?) to the show’s most successful winner Leona Lewis, whose ‘Bleeding Love’ was an all-conquering, worldwide hit. The X Factor is a dangerous beast. Controversial and confusing press coverage aside, any contestant applying need sign over their soul on the dotted line, and although in recent years it has found huge commercial success appealing to teenyboppers with runner up acts, JLS, One Direction and Olly Murs it is yet to produce a genuinely credible recording artist.

That is until now.

The “quiet one” of the show, Rebecca Ferguson came second to mawkish Matt Cardle in 2010, in December of last year her début album, Heaven, was released and what a surprise. Ferguson apparently fought to have the album composed of entirely original material and she has co-write credits on all ten of the record’s tracks which infuses the tracks with an honesty, personality and soul that has evaded previous contestants. So often The X Factor is about finding some warbler to homogenize classic songs; Ferguson is a rare treat, a proper artist with heart and charisma to match the voice, she deserves all the plaudits she gets. See her at Sheffield City Hall on 25th February.

Snow Patrol / Sheffield Motorpoint Arena Tuesday 7th February / 7.30 PM Tickets £22 & £32.50 www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk

The phenomenal success of Snow Patrol has been both a blessing and a curse for the band - once darlings of the indie rock scene, 11 million album sales later Snow Patrol are perhaps the first band since Oasis to have such broad appeal, making fans of most everyone, from the local pub crowd to your nan. Whilst Snow Patrol’s transition to the mainstream may have put them out of favour with a few indie purists, their impact on the UK charts over the past decade has been unprecedented and it’s not difficult to see why; from the anthemic, lighters-up chorus of breakout hit ‘Run’, to the tender ‘Chasing Cars’, which spent a whopping 106 weeks in the charts, Gary Lightbody and co. have something of a knack for writing proper, pop-rock crowd pleasers.

Following the release of their warmly received sixth album, Fallen Empires, Snow Patrol are embarking on a three month European tour which will be calling in at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena on Tuesday the 7th of February, performing a mix of fan favourites alongside their more experimental new material.

Judging by some of the shapes Lightbody is throwing in the video for recent single, “Called Out in The Dark”, it promises to be one for the diary.

Family Matters: The Family in British Art / Millennium Gallery Thursday 2nd February – Sunday 29th April Free Entry / www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

There are few words in the English language more powerful and provocative than “family” - our families shape us into who we are; loving, supportive, dysfunctional, caring, fractured and each utterly unique. The compelling, often bewildering nature of family has been a constant source of inspiration for artists throughout history, something appreciated by those at The Great British Art Debate who, along with Tate Britain, have put together this roving exhibition which explores the treatment of family in both contemporary and historical British art.

The exhibition will be making Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery its home from February to April before moving to Newcastle and finally London’s Tate Modern in October. Divided thematically, Family Matters: The Family in British Art traces the changing portrayal of families from the traditional family portrait, through to the more self-expressive, ‘access-all-areas’, representations of notable contemporary artists such as Tracey Emin and David Hockney. The five thematic sections ; ‘couples & kinship’, ‘inheritance’, ‘childhood’, ‘parenting’ and ‘home’, will feature images from national galleries alongside works from Sheffield’s own art collection and promises to be a fascinating exploration of a wholly British concept of family life.

Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

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New shop opening in Sheffield Training

Martial Arts

Boxing

Fitness

Pro-X Sports, one of the country’s top online specialists for Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Nutrition Supplements, Fitness and Training Gear, are bringing their first retail outlet to Sheffield this Spring!

What’s more, a former world class Taekwondo champion who competed for England will be managing the shop!

So you can expect highly personalised service and get real insightful tips and advice from Shabir Akhtar and his experienced team.

The 1000 square foot shop on London Road will be home to what promises to be the largest stock of equipment and clothing in South Yorkshire.

Did you know that Shabir, a keen boxer, was the first person in the country to have won both the heavy weight title for the ITF BTC Championship in England and the WTF BTC title (Olympic Style Taekwondo)?

Pro-X Sports’ extensive stock means that for virtually anything you need, For the very best in martial arts fightwear, you’ll find it! At knock-out prices. boxing gear, fitness and training Customers can expect to choose equipment, nutrition supplements and from over 2000 products ranging from much more – head to Pro-X Sports, on gloves to training weapons, sparring 35a London Road, from 31st March! and weights to name but a few. Pro-X Pro-X Sports – knockout also offers a great selection of clothing and uniforms from leading brands. prices whatever your game!

www.pro-xsports.com

Join us on Facebook to get a 10% discount!

0844 800 1724 ProXSportsUK

@ProXSports

Interview | Nicola Roberts

- NICOLA ROBERTS It’s always the quiet ones.

Put it down to shyness, lack of confidence, tabloid bullying - Nicola Roberts always came across as the least charismatic member of the hugely successful Girls Aloud. Since the hiatus of the band in 2009 however, Roberts has come into her own.

Once a vest-and-jeans kind of gal, Roberts is now something of a fashion icon, with her natural make-up range ‘Dainty Doll’ now a Harrods exclusive. Most importantly, while most of the nation were dedicating their attentions to the exploits, public and professional, of “nation’s-sweetheart”, Cheryl Cole, Roberts was crafting one of 2011’s true musical gems, ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’.

Somewhere between the quirk of Kate Bush and the dance beats of Robyn, ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’, is Robert’s début solo album, released to overwhelming critical praise last year. Chuff Media’s Jenny Entwistle met with Nicola to discuss her album, her antitanning campaign and plans for the future.

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 40

Interview | Nicola Roberts

Hugh Montgomery of The Independent, described ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’ as, “self-revealing”, “conspicuously characterful” and “one of the finest pop albums of the year”; Roberts had a hand in penning all but one of the tracks on the record, working alongside such high profile producers as Diplo and Maya Von Doll; “Writing an album, all of the things come from inside you” says Roberts, “they come from your emotions or the way you think about certain situations.” Spending the majority of her adulthood in Girls Aloud, Roberts is grateful for the opportunity to flourish creatively and to put her own stamp on her music, “for me I literally left school, walked out of the classroom and onto the stage – I was in [Girls Aloud] when I just turned 17, so I suppose for me to have the support of the other girls for so many years and working together as a team was amazing, but it’s kind of now nice to have that 18 months of solid work on [Cinderella’s Eyes] and just to see maybe my own little journey on that CD.” Never particularly comfortable with the media attention surrounding Girls Aloud, it is perhaps no surprise that Roberts chose a fairytale theme for the record, the title and cover art are pure escapism; “The whole of the artwork was made to compliment, everything had to compliment,” explains Roberts, “ the album has electro music, there’s so much going on in that thread of music, that colour and detail were the only real things that could compliment it”. A departure from the polished pop of Girls Aloud, Roberts solo outing explores electro, dance and rap music; “I think that this album, in terms of the sound, it’s ‘up’ I see it as being ‘up’.‘Beat of my drum’ to me was all cheerleader and Super Mario sounds but it’s cool, whereas for ‘Yo-Yo’ everything is a bit darker, it’s like the needy sound of love - the side of love where you don’t know if you’re coming or going, it’s a bit of a head fuck.”

In the early days of Girls Aloud the press were unkind to Roberts, regularly picking fault with her dress, her pale complexion and her red hair, something addressed in her track ‘Sticks + Stones’. After a brief love affair with sunbeds and fake tan, Roberts has since embraced her natural complexion and, after filming the BBC documentary, ‘Nicola Roberts: The Truth About Tanning’, has become an advocate for the ban of underage usage for tanning beds. Nicola’s divorce from the world of tanning was the driving force behind the creation of her Dainty Doll make-up range; “So many people, like all the girls would tell me, ‘oh my god please just stop tanning, it’s much better when you’re pale!’ but I was so wrapped up in it that no one could tell me. I think whatever the situation in life, that you personally have to change but it takes time. As long as I’m able to be creative, be it in the studio or working on Dainty Doll it’s where I’m most happy and where I’m the most confident.”

Since embarking on her solo career as both recording artist and entrepeneaur, Roberts has blossomed from the shy fifth of a girl group, to proper English Rose. The future looks bright, already writing her second album, Roberts has aspirations of working with the likes of, M.I.A., Kate Bush and Missy Elliot. November will mark the tenth anniversary of Girls Aloud and Roberts promises a “celebration” to mark the occasion. For the first time in her career, Roberts seems contented, happy with her lot and excited for the future; “My whole aspect and how I look at everything has just changed” she beams, “I feel looser. I think it’s important to feel loose, I really do.”

www.nicolarobertsmusic.com u@nicolaroberts

f - nicolarobertsmusic

w - nicolaroberts

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South Sea

bigsounduk@hotmail.co.uk f: Southsealive South Sea Live is the latest admirable effort to bring some life to the Sheffield Music Scene.

A real labour of love for Barnsley native Dave Hancock with support from his team, Iain West and Steve Gilberthorpe; time has been spent clearing out and revamping the bar to turn it into an authentic rock and roll venue. Hugely passionate about live music, the team behind South Sea have years of experience on the circuit being a band themselves, and are keen to bring some authenticity and excitement back to Sheffield’s underground scene. The 200 capacity venue’s centrepiece is its sixteen by ten foot stage, complete with impressive light rigs and smoke machine, all overseen by the seasoned in-house technician.

Commitment to putting on quality gigs is too often neglected by those organisers putting pocket before passion, it’s refreshing to see a team genuinely keen to support Sheffield’s up-and-comings and thrilled to be a part of the Steel City’s rich musical heritage. There is surely no better way to spend your Saturday night than with a decent pint and some cracking live music courtesy of Sheffield’s finest – South Sea bar is situated at 3 Spooner Road in Broomhill. Get yourself down.

3 Spooner Road, Broomhill, Sheffield, S10 5BL

Experience some of the best unsigned bands on the circuit in Sheffield’s new live music venue

Chic Fashion| Womens

TOPSHOP

Knitted Jumper £36 www.topshop.com

Start the New Year with a bang and embrace your inner rave child with the hottest fluros and clashing prints.

A complete 90’s revival, this trend will see you mixing new season pastels with neon, layering sheer fabrics over futuristic silhouettes, teaming hi-tops with bodycon dresses and incorporating high drama prints wherever possible! If the thought of stepping out in acid brights terrifies you then not to worry, start off small with statement accessories and maybe even a glow stick or two!

Christopher Kane ‘Crepe Biker Jacket’ £1100 www.net-a-porter.com

Diane Von Furstenberg Silk Chiffon Dress £300 www.net-a-porter.com

Emilio Pucci

Python Box Clutch £1110 www.net-a-porter.com

TopshopP Wedges £70 www.topshop.com Brian Atwood

‘Maniac’ Pumps £525 www.selfridges.com

Michael Kors

‘Racer-back Dress’ £955 www.net-a-porter.com

Prada

Pyramide Bag £1800 www.prada.com

Jimmy Choo

‘Cayla’ Patent Leather Clutch £595 www.net-a-porter.com

H&M

Yellow Jacket £34.99 www.hm.com

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 40

Chic Fashion| Mens

Men’s fashion takes an all-American vintage turn this opening season, with denim jackets and coloured jeans galore. Welcome the American spirit in to your wardrobe with a variety of bold printed shirts (buttoned to the top or wear open to reveal a slogan vest), roll up jeans to show beaten up saddle shoes and finally top off your retro look with Ray Ban classic Clubmasters.

Topman

Urban Outfitters

Aztec Print Short Sleeve Shirt £28 www.topman.com

Vintage Renewal Denim Jacket £65 www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

ASOS

Skinny Carrot Jean £36 www.asos.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Slim Jeans £175 www.selfridges.com

Ralph Lauren

To Boot New York

Check Shirt £120 www.harrods.com

Evan Saddle Shoes £133.77 www.saksfifthavenue.com

Orvis

Vintage Leather Saddle Shoes £179 www.orvis.co.uk

Topman

Denim Jacket £50 www.topman.com

Barbour

Jackdaw Shirt £99 www.my-wardrobe.com

Ray Ban

Clubmasters £120 www.ray-ban.com Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

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- RED ROSES? -

Valentines Day usually consists of Cards, Chocolates, Flowers and Proposals.

Okay, so a card is easy, especially if you put in a little effort to choose one with more than three words on it. Push the boat out and go for one with a verse; those heartfelt words will sound just like your own!

Chocolates, again easy just avoid the generic Roses or Quality Street. If you’re feeling flush try one of the lovely Artisan chocolatiers in Sheffield, Cocoa on Ecclesall Road is a good call.

Now, flowers is where it can all go wrong. Rule number one, supermarkets and garages are a no-no, people may moan about cost but trust me, even a single stem from a proper florist will mean more

and will show you made the effort. Secondly, red roses, may be the obvious choice (some people still adore them and think receiving a dozen is a beautiful romantic gesture), but to others red roses can be regarded as “too obvious” and will cost you a limb or two.

The Brookhouse situated, on the ‘hip’ Sharrow Vale Road, would be a wise choice for some genuine help and advice this coming Valentines Day. Owner Maria Proctor, says, “ The best response we receive from our deliveries tend to come when the arrangement has a personal touch and has truly been thought about; has your partner ever mentioned a particular flower they love, their favourite colour, or a style of floristry they appreciate? Minimalist, contemporary arrangements are where The Brookhouse excel; they can turn a few single stems into an arrangement with bold structure and movement without it costing the earth - now this will earn some serious brownie points!

Whether you have a classic ‘roses’ kind of partner or a cool, fashionista lover then Maria and her team are ready to give you a helping hand.

And if a proposal is on the horizon? A nice surprise maybe to pre-book an appointment to have a chat about your wedding flower requirements. Maria tells us, “Last year we had a guy send a beautiful green rose bouquet to his girlfriend, these were her favourite flowers and he knew they would be what

she’d want in a bridal bouquet. On the message card he simply put an appointment time for her wedding flower consultation with us, he proposed once they were delivered and we are looking forward to doing the flowers for their wedding this year!” Who says romance is dead?

If it’s help for Valentines Day you need ,or to book for a free Wedding Consultation give The Brookhouse a call.

The Brookhouse, 398 Sharrow Vale Road, Hunters Bar, Sheffield S11 8ZP Tel: 0114 2667087

Interview | Noah and the Whale

N oah

and

T he

Interview

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 40

W hale

Interview | Noah and the Whale

Noah and the Whale first came to prominence in 2008 after their release of infectious folk-pop single ‘5 Years Time’.

In 2009 the band released their critically acclaimed second album First Days of Spring, a dark, fragile exploration of lead singer Charlie Fink’s breakup with former band member Laura Marling. Last year the band turned towards seventies inspired rock with their upbeat third outing, Last Night on Earth. We caught up with Charlie to talk influence and ambitions.

First things first, congratulations on the success of Last Night on Earth. The sound of the album couldn’t be more different from your previous effort The First Days of Spring; how did the record come about and how was the recording process?

Well I suppose I’ve always respected artists who don’t repeat themselves, who always try and do something different, so I think there’s part of that, trying to do something we haven’t done before. But then to some extent I think it was the bands I’ve been listening to, I’ve always loved lots of different styles and for this it was American pop music; Tom Petty and Lou Reed, things like that.

Those two acts in particular come across strongly in the feel of the record.

Yeah, I’m a massive fan of both, so I think it was always going to come out on one of our records. The sound just developed, when you make a record, you get a certain way in and you just find something that works and keep going with it.

So it came about quite organically?

Yeah, when we first played the songs they did sound like seventies rock songs, just drums, bass and guitar and then I found myself wanting to do something more contemporary, something that was more our own, so we ended up experimenting with synths and drum machines and things like that.

The album is quite keyboard heavy; how did those instruments fit in to your established sound?

It was quite easy, I think they suited the songs well, I mean if we’d have tried to make something like The First Days of Spring with synths it would have sounded awful but I think the songs lend themselves to that kind of sound.

To go back to First Days of Spring briefly, it’s a wonderful album that clearly resonated with a lot of people, but it’s a very difficult listen; what do you feel is the duty of the songwriter?

It’s hard to say. There’s a line in the new Woody Allen film, it’s where the main character has travelled back in time to 1920s Paris and he meets Gertrude Stein, she tells him; “The artist’s job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence”,I think that’s part of it.

I don’t approach any two albums the same, when it came to First Days of Spring I just had a clear vision of what I wanted the album to be and of the songs I wanted to write, I honestly didn’t really consider anyone hearing it when I was making it. It was kind of one of those records that writes itself.

How about with Last Night on Earth, did you feel a duty then or were you again writing for yourself?

I think it was much the same. It’s different obviously

when you’re looking inward and when you’re looking outward; with First Days of Spring, it felt like everything else was blocked out, with Last Night on Earth, it was about looking out and seeing what else there was. I remember the first song I wrote on Last Night on Earth was ‘Tonight’s the Kind of Night’, I wrote the lyrics to that song on a train ride from London to Wales on New Years Day, when I was writing those lyrics it was telling a story but also it was expressing an exciting moment, heading towards something new. I guess that I think your main duty as a songwriter is to your songs, to making them as honest and real and as good as they can be.

One of the most noticeable features of Last Night on Earth is the shift towards third person narrative songs, what brought that about? Was it a means of retreating from the personal nature of First Days of Spring?

I think again it was that idea of wanting to do something a bit different for me, I wanted to test myself as a writer. One of my biggest loves is film, film and music are my life really so I’ve always been interested in the idea of creating characters and I think that if you can do that in a song, particularly in a narrative way, it can be really effective. Two of my favourite songwriters of all time are Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, I think Tom Waits is just the best at creating characters; the way he portrays characters, you feel like you know someone in just one line. I wanted to try my hand at doing things like that and after you’ve made a record that is in some ways a little indulgent and about yourself, then it’s good to look outward as well maybe.

Tom Waits has this knack for creating a perfect snapshot of a scene and then leaving the listener to decipher their own meaning in a similar way to Edward Hopper’s art or Raymond Carver’s short stories.

I totally agree. In fact, when we came to making the artwork, I was referencing a lot of Hopper paintings, same with the videos. I think it’s that sort of mood that we’re trying to capture.

Was it difficult making the shift to third person?

It is hard; I’ve always liked to include an element of narrative in my songs, I think that’s important. To be honest I’d love to be able to write a song in the way that someone like Van Morrison does but I just don’t think that is something that I could ever do, it wouldn’t work for me. I think it’s hard but you have to challenge yourself.

folk music, not so much traditional folk music but people like Bert Jansch and John Renbourn and of course I’m a big Bob Dylan fan. While I was growing up, there was about two years where I listened to nothing but Bob Dylan. So yeah, it was always the other word that was added that was more annoying.

But of course a part of folk music is story-telling and that was obviously a big part of the last record.

When you look back on a song like 5 Years Time now, what do you think?

It’s always going to be something that has allowed me to do other things, it was because of that song that I had the opportunity to make First Days of Spring and Last Night on Earth, it provided a lot of opportunities. It’s a fun song to play still because it always gets a good reaction. I think I’ve always got to be grateful to that song Do you enjoy going out on tour?

Yeah, I like touring a lot. My family are all from Sheffield so I love going there, and plus I’m a big Sheffield Wednesday fan. In fact one of my favourite shows of the last tour was at The Leadmill. This record is a really fun record to tour and the songs lend themselves to being performed live.

What music are you listening to at the moment, are you looking for inspiration for the next album?

I’d like the next album to be more of an English record I think, although I don’t really know what that means. I guess I just want a sound that feels more English. I mean with all the records we make there will always be something of England in them because it is, of course, our home. A record I’m listening to a lot at the moment, which is actually nothing to do with that, is by a band called Bahamas - they’ve supported us on a couple of tours and they’re from Canada, they’ve got this record coming out soon and honestly it’s one of the best records I’ve heard in ages, it’s brilliant, a kind of soul-blues music mixed with these backing vocals like the ones Leonard Cohen took on his Bird on the Wire Tour.

John Cale as well, I think he’s definitely someone who will influence the next record, the last year I’ve been absolutely obsessed with John Cale’s music.

Thank you very much Charlie, we’ll see you at the O2 Academy.

Excellent, I look forward to it.

Noah and the Whale will be playing at Sheffield O2 Academy on Thursday 22nd of March

It’s a very positive album, with recurring themes of positive change and moving forward which seem to act as a continuation of ideas that began with The First Days of Spring. What do you see as the message of the record?

Well, I think you’re right, what I think is nice is that I know people who’ve taken something from The First Days of Spring and then say that they see this record as a continuation of that. I don’t really think that it’s up to me to enforce the message of the record, it’s just whatever anyone reads into it. But I do like the idea that it’s a record about change and that if you want to make a change it is possible.

With the new sound you’re exploring in Last Night on Earth, do you still consider yourself a folk outfit?

It’s funny, I think it’s the same with a lot of people, it’s always the other word that gets added to folk that makes it a little difficult; it’s always nu-folk or twee-folk, indie-folk, anti-folk, whatever. I love Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

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Cuisine | Recipe

A good dessert is crucial and is often the defining element of a successful meal; get it right and you can end on a (sugar) high. The following desserts have been chosen for their ability to induce weak knees and provoke uncontrolled grunts of pleasure.

Chocolate and Pear Tart

This tart is all about indulgence; a rich, buttery pastry, silky chocolate filling and sweet, juicy pears will be sure to get your partner’s heart racing in this month of romance. A ready-made shortcrust pastry can be used to save time, but is no substitute for the French ‘sablée’ pastry used here.

Tinned pears may also be used instead of the poached pears shown here.

Poached Pears (serves four) Extremely easy to make and deliciously flavoursome, poached pears are an ideal dessert for somebody looking to impress but lacking cooking experience. You can be creative in the choice of spices and flavours, tailoring the recipe to your taste. Winter pears (Bosc, Conference) are best for poaching as they are harder and so keep their shape better.

Ingredients: 1L Water, 300g sugar, 4 pears peeled, 1 cinnamon stick, 2-3 star anise, 1 vanilla pod, (split down the middle,) the rind of one orange 1) Place all ingredients in a large saucepan and heat until the sugar is dissolved.

2) Add the pears, ensuring they are fully covered by the liquid. Cook on a low simmer for 20-25 minutes before leaving to cool in their poaching liquor.

3) Serve with cream, ice cream or yoghurt and a drizzle of good chocolate sauce. The poaching liquor can also be reduced to a thicker syrup and used as a delicious sauce.

Instead of using just water, substitute half of the liquid with white wine, cider or red wine to make the pears that little bit more special.

To Cook: Pastry 1) Beat the icing sugar and butter together until pale and fluffy.

2) Add the eggs, a little at a time, and beat into the butter mixture until smooth.

3) Tip in the flour and mix to a smooth paste. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and mould into a ball. Wrap the pastry in cling film and leave to rest in the refrigerator for at least two hours (this ensures that the pastry will not shrink when baking).

4) Preheat the oven to 220˚C. 5) Remove the pastry from the fridge and roll it out on a floured surface until it is about 4mm thick. Lift the pastry onto a 20cm diameter tart case, pushing the pastry to fit.

6) Lay a sheet of bake proof paper over the pastry, fill the case with dried beans or rice and then bake until golden brown (around 15 minutes). Remove the paper and beans and bake for a further 5 minutes before leaving the case to cool.

7) Reduce the oven to 120˚C.

Filling 1) Put the chocolate into a heat proof bowl. Heat the milk and cream together in a pan until just at boiling point and then pour over the chocolate, whisking briskly to form a smooth, glossy mixture. Beat in the eggs.

2) Pour the chocolate mixture into the tart case and gently lay the pears on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the chocolate mixture is just set. Leave to cool before serving.

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Ingredients For the pastry: 150g unsalted butter, at room temperature 60g icing sugar 1 egg, lightly beaten 250g plain flour For the filling: 200g dark chocolate, finely chopped 50ml milk 200ml double cream 1 egg, lightly beaten 4 poached pears, halved and cored

Serve with a generous splash of cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Cuisine | Review

Hestia

www.hestiarestaurant.co.uk

Feeling a little under pressure from the winter blues this month, we at Chic Lifestyle needed a touch of sun to warm our cockles. Newly opened restaurant, Hestia, promised the taste of a sun-soaked holiday and we knew we had to sample their nibbles.

With a menu inspired by Mediterranean flavours, a taste of the Balearics is not as much of a fantasy as you may think. Head chef, Patrick, hails from New Zealand, with an impressive ten years of experience from taverna cooking in Greece. Hestia is one of a few establishments in Sheffield to serve a fully Halal Mediterranean menu, including chicken, beef and lamb. Patrick says the challenge of creating this menu required him to play around imaginatively with ingredients, for example replacing a red wine sauce with a creative apple juice and balsamic vinegar blend. The specials change every three or four days, taking inspiration from Greece, Portugal, Spain and France. “ medallions of chicken ”

Beginning with an appetiser of green stuffed olives and fresh seeded bread with olive oil and sour cream dips, our appetites were well and truly whet for what was to come. This is followed with a starter of Mushrooms a la Crème: chopped mushrooms in a cream and herb sauce, served with a small side salad.

Light and not too filling, the sauce achieved the tricky balance of creaminess without being too intense. My partner opted to go for the Tzatziki – a traditional Greek cucumber and cool and creamy yogurt dip, served with seeded bread.

Butlers Balti

www.butlersbalti.com 44 – 46 Broad Lane, Sheffield S1 4BT, Tel: 0114 276 81 41

f:Butlers Balti House A traditional Pakistani style of cooking, originating from the Northern Punjab, Balti dishes are cooked in a cast iron pot which enhances the exotic flavours. The chefs at Butlers Balti pride themselves on their tantalising, authentic Balti, serving up fresh, colourful, aromatic dishes nightly to a hungry host of faithful patrons. For curry-lovers, Butlers’ menu boasts an array of favourites, from a lamb bhuna to a king prawn dhansak, and the restaurant’s loyal clientèle are a testament to the power of well-cooked, traditional curry.

The new Butlers Balti is one of those rare establishments with a welcome atmosphere for all occasions, be it a romantic evening for two or a party of twenty; bar and floor staff are knowledgeable, attentive, polite and eager to please. A new look for Butlers has revitalised the eatery; a visit promises traditional, affordable Indian and Pakistani cuisine cooked with passion and flair, served up with a friendly smile.

For the main I chose the Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken: medallions of chicken stuffed with goats’ cheese, sweet peppers and shallots with a Dijon relish – tender chicken pieces infused with creamy goats’ cheese. My partner went for Chicken Kebabs: marinated Turkish kebabs served with a tzatziki dip, grilled and juicy. Both dishes were served with a scattering of seasonal vegetables, deliciously seasoned, juicy Mediterranean potatoes (roasted parmentier potatoes) and a side salad.

We left feeling satisfyingly full with dreams of sunnier climes. For something a little bit different to the norm, pop into Hestia for a Med-inspired treat.

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

FREE

Hestia

www.hestiarestaurant.co.uk 190-192 Northfield Road Crookes Sheffield S10 1QU Tel: 0114 268 3131

Noodle Inn Centro Westfield Terrace will soon be home to an exciting new Chinese restaurant with a unique twist; the sparkling new eatery will specialise in vibrant, delicious Halal based dishes. Working from authentic East Asian recipes, the establishment will offer a sumptuous selection guaranteed to seduce your taste buds. That nowhere in Sheffield has offered Chinese Halal cuisine before is astounding - I’m sure that we’re not the only ones who can’t wait to tuck in!

Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

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Beauty | Detox

- Detox -

The new year is here so what better time for a complete beauty overhaul? After the unrelenting party season causing you to glam up (without resistance) several nights a week, your skin and hair will be aching for respite after being styled and made up to the max.

Thus our New Year’s resolution is to treat ourselves with a bit of respect, smother ourselves with love (it is the month of Valentine’s, after all) and beauty detox ourselves for 2012.

The Face A month’s worth of partying wreaks havoc with your skin and the overload of makeup does nothing for those pores.

Make deep cleansing a regular feature, double cleaning your face every night before bed with a face scrub or wash to dig out the dirt, then following with a face wipe to remove any lingering make up – you’ll be surprised by what’s left.

Simple ‘Kind To Skin’ Cleansing facial Wipes, £3.20 Moisturiser is the secret to success. Every night, smother your face with a night cream to nourish your cheeks. If you’re worried about fine lines, even twenty-somethings will benefit from an age resisting cream to tauten up the skin.

Clinique ‘continuous Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer’, £35 For the ultimate in facial nourishment, scoop on a face

The Hair Blowdrying, straightening and styling doesn’t spell good news for hair. Combined with the harsh weather and drying central heating, you may be finding your locks looking very sorry for themselves. Boost back in the moisture with a deep conditioning treatment - leave in overnight for maximum penetration – and use a leave in conditioner every time you wash your hair.

Bumble and Bumble ‘Deeep’ Intensive Moisture and Protein Masque, £9.50 Never neglect to use a heat defence spray before you blow dry/ straighten and use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner.

Lee Stafford ‘Argan Oil Miracle Heat Defence Spray’, £12.99

The Skin The cold weather can dry skin out, so give it a helping hand by nourishing with moisturiser. Showering tends to strip the skin of its oils, so once dry, slather on some creamy moisturiser every day for silky smooth skin.

The Body Shop ‘Coconut Body Butter’, £12.50 For a luxurious bathe, slip in a dose of moisturising bath oil to infuse your skin with instant softness.

Molton Brown ‘Celestial Maracuja Bathing Nectar’,£41

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Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 40

Suppliers:

www.simple.co.uk, www.boots.com www.clinique.co.uk, www.lush.co.uk www.bumbleandbumble.co.uk, www.thebodyshop.co.uk www.moltonbrown.co.uk

Beauty Review | Scratch

Scratch

www.scratchnailstudio.com Tel: 0114 266 61 05

With the wintery weather still lingering around, sunnier climes seem further away from Sheffield than ever. And unfortunately, pale and interesting is just not the look for me, so, desperate for a bit of bronze, I popped into Scratch on Ecclesall Road for a dose of pampering.

Why not get your loved one a scratch gift voucher for Valentines Day

Natalie Purcell has been running the salon since 2000, specialising in nails, tanning and waxing; a bijou haven of pampering treats. A spray tan was the perfect treatment for me.

“ different to other experiences with spray I made friends with her adorable Chihuahua, before preparing myself for the tan, stripping off and donning a rather fetching pair of paper pants and shower cap. I stepped into the tanning booth and Natalie started by moisturising my hands and feet – these tend to be the driest parts of the body so can go too dark with fake tan, but the moisturiser helps to avoid this. Natalie chose to use Golden Tan; she also uses Sun Bronze, Dream Bronze and Fake Bake, with DHA (tanning agent) levels of 6-12%.

Products are available with up to 24% DHA, which causes an even darker tan to develop, but this can look unnatural.

The result? Very impressive – different to my other experiences with spray tans, there was no overspray or dripping of the product, leaving me with a perfectly tanned, even skin. With a nice instant colour, the tan then developed throughout the day becoming richer, and I woke up the next day with wonderfully deep hue; a shower revealed a gorgeous, natural looking, deep bronze. I can honestly say that this is the best spray tan I’ve ever had! No streaks, no patches, no weird orange knees, no bits rubbed off from wearing clothes – just pure, luscious, golden tan. Impressive.

Scratch Nail Studio

828a Ecclesall Road Sheffield South Yorkshire S11 8TD Tel: 0114 266 61 05 or 07932 079 319 Email: purcellnatalie@hotmail.com

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

As I stood in various positions, Natalie sprayed on the tan, ensuring she left no white bits or any oversprayed parts. She sprayed on two coats to result in a rich tan with less chance of patches, then dried me off with a blast of warm air whilst advising me on the aftercare – don’t shower or get wet until the morning, moisturise to ensure tan longevity and try not to sweat or apply any products over the tan until it’s developed. She then cleaned my palms with a baby wipe so I wasn’t left with glowing palms, and I got dressed – a little tricky with sticky skin!

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 40

31

Tresses | Review

Chic Lifestyle Magazine recommends Redken Extreme Shampoo and conditioner to repair hair Stocked by Loaf

- Loaf Hair Review

Loaf has become a firm fixture on Sheffield’s hairdressing scene, having opened their first salon seven years ago and now with three salons in the city at Woodseats, Crystal Peaks and Broomhill. With my locks in need of some serious love after a bit of hammer throughout the party season, I popped down to their Woodseats branch for some hair pampering.

Loaf ’s mantra is to offer city centre quality in the suburbs, without the city centre price tags.

Their experienced stylists save clients from venturing into town, with fabulous styling right on their doorstep. “ Fabulous Styling ” I was met by salon manager, Richard, one of the founders of the company with 24 years of hairdressing experience. We discussed my hair’s needs; admittedly my locks were far from luscious, having been beaten with straighteners and extensions. After a browse of the colour chart, we opted for a warm, honey blonde shade, avoiding bleach which would further damage my brittle hair.

Wrapped up in a gown and plied with coffee and magazines, I sat back whilst Richard

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Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

applied the highlights all over my head, then the colour was left on with a spell under the heater for about 20 minutes. At the sink I was lathered up with a colour saver shampoo, followed by a super head massage, nurturing in a dose of intensive, protein-rich Wella Repair Emulsion Treatment, which I was much in need of! “ Voluminous curls and waves” I didn’t want to go too short with the cut, so Richard just trimmed all around to remove the damaged ends, then applied a squirt of Sebastian Whipped Cream – a conditioning styling mousse to lift curls and waves. He set about blow drying using two heat retaining barrel brushes, alternately leaving the brushes in the hair to set the curl, then fixing with a spritz of hairspray.

The final result was a glamorous style of voluminous curls and waves, soft and moviestar fabulous; the colour a refreshing influx of soft, honey colour without being too brazenly blonde.

Loaf offers a range of treatments including cutting, colouring, perming, chemical straightening and wedding hair; visit their

website at www.loafhair.com to download offers including their 54321 offer – 50% off first visit, 40% off second visit, 25% off third visit, 15% off fourth visit and a free intensive treatment on the fifth visit, making glowing locks an affordable possibility!

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

Tel: 0114 235 99 66 2 Meadowhead, Sheffield, S8 7UD // www.loafhair.com

Tresses| Before & After

- Before & After -

The hair wizards at Wigs and Warpaint are pros at enchanting the barnets of Sheffield into glowing, glossy locks. Every month we take one lucky Chic Lifestyle reader down to their award winning salon for a total tresses transformation.

1. Hair was slicked back into a ponytail using Bumble & Bumble Styling Wax to smooth out flyaways and add shine 2. A bun ring was placed over the ponytail 3. The ponytail was backcombed and pinned around the bun ring 4. To finish, the style was sprayed with Bumble & Bumble Holding Spray to keep it all in place Styled By Amanda

BOOK ONLINE NOW

Before

www.wigsandwarpaint.com

Telephone Bookings: 0114 270 0336 - or - 0114 278 0702 Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 40

33

Spotlight | Photograhing a New Sheffield

- SPOTLIGHT Photographing a New Sheffield

Over recent years the landscape of Sheffield has undergone vast changes, transforming the once industrial City of Steel into the modern metropolis that stands today. As a photographer specialising in urban and architectural photography the city is overflowing with inspiration, offering a wide range of creative opportunities for photographers of any skill level.

Arriving in Sheffield by train is a great way to start your exploration as a truly unmissable sight waits to greet you on the doorstep of Sheffield station. The Steel City welcomes you with a pedestrianised plaza cradled by a water cascade, running alongside steel sculptures stretching out from the station entrance, also known as the “Gateway to Sheffield”. Instantly you should be grabbing for your camera, already you have the opportunity of using the sculptural reflections to create some really artistic images, or alternatively a chance to use your slow shutter speeds on the flowing water cascade creating a delicate, misty effect.

After dark, shooting the area gets even more exciting; the lighting is hugely varied and the display lights cast some interesting tones and colours not to be missed.

Moving towards the beating heart of the city, The Peace Gardens should be on your list of places to visit. Situated along Pinstone Street, The Peace Gardens have a welcoming, sedate atmosphere; anyone who wants to delve into street photography may find it easier here to step out of their comfort zone and attempt some street portraits on passers-by.

In summer The Peace Gardens are bustling, providing a chance to shoot a diverse range of people; it’s easy to blend into the background and capture some imaginative, candid shots.

The Peace Gardens also house some fascinating architectural focal points; the Holberry Cascades are one of the predominant water

features, along with The Goodwin Fountain which boasts 89 individual jets of water and makes for some great abstract compositions.

Located just around the corner from The Peace Gardens rests The Winter Garden- one of the largest temperate glasshouse to be built in the UK, a stunning building and one of the most photogenic constructions I’ve had the pleasure to work with. I have shot both inside and out, you can really play with your angles and get those creative juices flowing. For those who fancy something a little more close up, this glasshouse contains more than 2000 plants from around the world, these make a great addition to anyone’s portfolio and provide the perfect opportunity to practice your macro photography.

“ The city is overflowing with inspiration”

If you fancy exploring a little further, why not head up to Division Street? This will give you the chance to take a few snaps of Sheffield City Hall, another of the Steel City’s architectural delights. Division Street is a hub for Sheffield’s young and hip, hosting any number of funky shops and bars, one of which even stocks the desirable Lomography cameras again this is a great opportunity to practice

your street photography or even to seek out some street art. Towards the end of Division Street you will stumble across the newly renovated Devonshire Green, home to a skate park where you can test your skills with some action shots.

The locations mentioned barely scratch the surface of what Sheffield has to offer a photographer, the city has a wealth of hidden gems; from the less explored backstreets and industrial zones to the well known and recently renovated Park Hill Flats, the Steel City is a paradise for urban photography.

Sheffield also plays host to some of the UK’s best graffiti art, which serves the edgier photographer and makes for a grittier style format, this contrasts well with the countless modern renovations and adds to the mix of what is on offer.

Locations aside, Sheffield also hosts a list of music and art events; one I have a keen interest in is the increasingly popular Tramlines Festival, which started back in 2009. The festival has really stamped its mark on the local music scene and offers a diverse range of music hosted throughout multiple venues across the city, spanning an entire weekend.

For a photographer, Tramlines can be a wholly rewarding experience, providing a great opportunity to shoot bands and to get directly involved in a growing Sheffield culture, with live bands, street carnivals and an expanding line-up of alternative entertainment, you will not be short of places to point your camera.

Sheffield is a friendly, congenial city and can be easily navigated - don’t be afraid to explore and allow yourself to be inspired. Be sure to always keep your eyes fixed on this everchanging cityscape; every trip delivers new ideas, fresh inspiration and always guarantees great photographic opportunities.

My Top Ten Sheffield Hotspots 1: Sheffield Station - “The Gateway to Sheffield” / 2: Peace Gardens / 3: Winter Gardens / 4: Division Street / 5: Fargate / 6: The Moor / 7: Park Hill Flats / 8: Graves Park / 9: Devonshire Green / 10: Sheffield City Hall

Images and words by Tarquin Clark

www.tarquinclark.com

u: tarq182

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Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

Spotlight | Photograhing a New Sheffield

83mm art by Jon Hides www.83mm.bigcartel.com u@JonHides83mm

Sheffield native Jon Hides is finally realising his childhood dream of selling his own original artwork from his very own business, 83mm. Drawing his inspiration from classic ‘80s and ‘90s movies, Jon cites Hollywood legend Bill Murray as a personal favourite, citing Murray’s performance in Kingpin as, ‘his greatest performance ever’; the first two posters produced by 83mm are tributes to the bowling themed cult-classic.

One for fellow film lovers and those with a penchant for stylized, iconic imagery; Jon’s pieces are quirky, colourful, passionate and personal, and each print is signed, numbered and beautifully packaged; limited edition art for affordable prices and with the added satisfaction of supporting a local artist.

Limited 200

Only 200 print run - when they’re gone they’re gone!

Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

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City Break | Paris

-

PARIS

-

Having just returned from the city of love itself, it seemed only fitting that we write our monthly city review on our Southern neighbours. Trekking around the wonder that is Paris for two full days means we’ve clocked up a number of hotspots to cater for all tastes, so with flights from as little as £30, discover the countless delights this stunning city has to offer.

Attractions

Renowned for its dazzling, historic architecture, each turned corner presents yet another breathtaking spectacle. Whether you’re sight-seeing, looking for a taste of French culture or you simply want to gaze at the rows upon rows of fashion houses (founders of the prestige Haute Couture lines), Paris can be the true trip of a lifetime.

.........................................................

Eiffel Tower Paris’ most iconic landmark and one not to be missed, trips are offered to all three levels of the 1063 foot tall attraction either by lift or, for the more daring amongst you, the stairs, although its not for the faint of heart. From the top of the Tower you can take in the most humbling views of the sprawling city below, it really is something to behold.

Parc du Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France Pont des Arts A romantic must if you’re travelling as a couple, this pedestrian bridge is home to

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Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

thousands of padlocks attached by lovers who then throw the key into the River Seine below to signify their everlasting love; go on, this is Paris after all.

Quai du Louvre/ Place de l’Institut, 75006 Paris, France Chanel A must-see for fashionistas, the Paris Chanel store is the original property purchased by Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel in 1918 and is still open for trade to this day; the third floor is now occupied by current Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld.

31 rue Cambon, 75001 Paris, France Notre-Dame de Paris Doubtless as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world, the NotreDame cathedral is a dramatic, imposing and beautiful sight to behold. Entry into the cathedral is free, so there is no excuse for not checking out the intricate designs of the building up close and personal.

6 Place du Parvis Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris, France

The Louvre The Louvre Museum is the beating heart of Paris. Originally a royal palace, it is home to over 35,000 artefacts, including works of art from the great Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, including, of course, the Mona Lisa. A visit to The Louvre is a must for anyone with even a fleeting interest in European culture.

Grands Magasins du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France

City Break | Paris

Food

Paris is, of course, the food capital of the world, so with a culinary gem just a few feet away at any time, you will never be short of somewhere to pop in for a quick Café Latte or crepe.

.........................................................

Café de Flore The Café de Flore is somewhat legendary in Paris, often frequented by many a famous face, once host to some of the most influential French intellectuals during the post-war years.

The décor has changed little in appearance since World War 2, and although a visit can prove a little costly, the food and drinks menu are exquisite and highly extensive.

172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris, France Jean Millet A favourite amongst the locals, this delicious haunt serves up the most sought after pain au chocolat in the world alongside an abundance of many other French favourites; éclairs, croissants and hot plat du jour.

103, rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France Sgabetti Ristorante Italiano For when you’ve had your fill of pastries, this beautiful Italian restaurant is situated just a stone’s throw away from the Eiffel Tower and serves countless pizza, pasta, chicken, fish and red meat dishes. Reasonable prices and impeccable service to boot.

13 rue des Sablons, 75016 Paris, France

Bars

It wouldn’t be Paris without a tipple; hunt down one of these chic wine bars for a real taste of France.

.........................................................

Le Rubis Famous for their Beaujolais, Le Rubis oozes vintage, with its rustic wine barrels and the worldly, ever present “patron” of the last 40 years, Monsieur Albert Prat. Le Rubis is reminiscent of the Paris of a bygone era, a great spot for a glass of vino.

10 rue du Marche St Honore, Paris, France Taverne Henri IV One of the oldest and most respected wine bars in Paris, this little treasure is discreet, serene and perfect for a relaxing evening.

Present owner Philippe Viremoux has kept the Taverne the same since taking over from previous owner Robert Cointepas in 2002, a wise move as Monsieur Cointepas frequents the bar most lunchtimes.

13 place du Pont-Neuf, 75001 Paris, France

Issue 40 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

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Contact For More Information : Tel : 0114 261 07 08 Email: info@chicpromotions.co.uk Web: www.chicpromotions.co.uk