VIVA MANCHESTER & CHESHIRE SUMMER 2015 ISSUE 21 by VIVA Magazines

VIVA SUMMER 2015

t’s VIVA’s favourite time of the year, Summertime and what does that mean? Festivals, holidays and outside dining.

As always with this VIVA Summer issue we have scoped out the best festivals you MUST be at this summer and blagged loads of festival tickets to give away to you, our lovely readers, just because we love you! Make sure you check out our superstar, DJ VIVA Ems, who will be playing Parklife and Bestival this year plus she will be hitting Ibiza in June - playing popular Ibiza night, Blasted, and the famous Ibiza boat party, Pukka Up! We caught up with the voice of the Kaiser Chiefs, Ricky Wilson, ahead of their gig at Haydock Park on the 7th August plus had a little chat with local girl Carolynne Poole - who’s bringing country back with her new album and single, ‘I Love You But Shut Up.’ Carolynne’s album VIP launch party is happening in Manchester at Gorilla on the 28th May and we have VIP tickets to give away. Go to the vivalifestyle.co.uk competition page for full entry details. Our VIVA beauty columnist, Cassie Lomas, hosted a night to remember at her new make-up academy location in the Northern Quarter. Check out Cassie’s beauty pages in this issue, featuring her new male grooming page. Congratulations to Kate and Wills on the recent arrival of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge but ,to be honest, we were more excited about the arrival of Princess Olive of VIVA! Yes, at the beginning of the year VIVA Becs and her partner Clive Lynton had a extremely cute little baby girl and she’s proving to be quite a VIVA Girl already, ha ha! So whether you’re going to be partying at all the festivals or having babies we hope you all have a fantastic summer. We’ll be back in August with the next issue but, in the meantime, you can keep up-to-date with everything VIVA at vivalifestyle.co.uk or sign up to VIVA’s eNewsletter.

Big Love VA Team VI

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VIVA INSIDE

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FEATURES

Guest on the radar: Ross Adams from Hollyoaks Studio Girl, looking luxe in the Loft Studio Ricky Wilson, interview with the voice of the Kaiser Chiefs Illuminate, shedding light on summer’s hottest looks Yes, finally the day arrives. Bringing your newborn home From Infinity pools to football-themed hotels VIVA’s top 20 festivals to be at this summer Carolynne Poole, bringing country back

FASHION 09_ 10_ 17_ 31_

Catwalk trends: Fifty shades Catwalk trends: Pretty in pink Shop the highstreet: Life’s a beach Shop the highstreet: Going Green

BEAUTY + HEALTH & FITNESS

32_ 34_ 37_ 39_

Get the look this Summer with Cassie Lomas Summer must have, beauty essentials Summer hair trends forecast from Tatiana Hair Extensions Sam Witter reports on the importance of exercise

HOME, LEISURE, BUSINESS & TRAVEL 42_ Relaxing summer vibes for outside spaces 44_ Designers’ delight with Luci Living Design 50_ It’s all rosy in MAD-land 55_ Shreyas yoga retreat, a journey of self-discovery FOOD AND DRINK 64_ Summer hotspots for drinking and dining in the sun 68_ FIND ME: The best fruit-and-flower-inspired flavours for May 70_ Warm weather waterholes

VIVA LAS MANCHESTER & CHESHIRE

LIVE MUSIC, THE ARTS AND FILM

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76_ 86_ 87_

A stellar launch from Cassie Lomas English Italian awards

Girls that mix On the VIVA music radar: Feed The Kid Eat, snowboard, rave, repeat! Snowbombing 2015

TEAM VIVA Give us a little tweet... The editor emma WILKINSON @VIVAEms

Art director REBECCA LEGON (not a social networker)

Sales & marketing manager LOUISE ADKIN @AngelMediaLou

Editors Assistant Rebekah spratt @RebekahZoe

Copy sub-editor KEITH McDONNELL @geraldthejag

Senior designer Ed Wilkinson @eddiewilky

Follow VIVA: facebook/vivamagazines twitter.com/vivamagazines instagram.com/vivamagazines youtube.com/vivamagazines

Issue 21 published May 2015 Fashion editor ROSS FORSYTHE @rossforsythe

Online marketing executive ROB STUBBS @robstubbs

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Find Me columnist Y.G.R Erskine @mymcrdiary

Head of photography KARIN ALBINSSON @KarinAlbinsson

Feature editor SAM BRAMWELL (a secret tweeter)

Food editor emma CHADWICK @ChaddersLife

Emily Howett Emma Jane Barlow Jennifer Skehan Lucy Harding Lucy Matthews Tereza Pevna Warren Higgins CONTRIBUTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Moore Shani Hodson Will Wilkinson CONTRIBUTOR GRAPHIC DESIGN

Health & fitness columnist SAM WITTER @samwitter1

Interior Design editor Luci Roper @LLDesignNews

Beauty columnist CASSIE LOMAS @cassielomas

Drink editor David marsden @DrinksEnthusist

Motoring editor JACK MARSDEN

VIVA London KIRI BLOORE @KiriBloore

Film editor DARREN R L GORDON @DarrenRLGordon

VIVA website SHABIR hussain @shabby218

Claire Burton

VIVA Magazine, Part 2nd Floor, Fourway House, 57 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 2EJ Tel: 0161 2280065 email: info@vivalifestyle.co.uk website: www.vivalifestyle.co.uk A readership of 60,000 in the Manchester and Cheshire areas For annual subscription rates, please ring our enquiry line on 0161 2280065 or email info@vivalifestyle.co.uk. VIVA Manchester magazine is published quarterly (4 times a year) and is distributed in and around Manchester and Cheshire which includes Manchester city centre, Didsbury, Hale, Wilmslow, Altrincham, Chorlton and Salford. Unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, photographic prints and transparencies are accepted only on the understanding that VIVA accepts no liability for loss or damage. No responsibility can be accepted for any breaches of obligation by advertisers. Strictly copyright all content VIVA Magazines. Reproduction, in part or whole, is forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. All prices included within this publication were correct at the time of print. All expressions and opinions demonstrated within this publication are those of the editor(s) including contributors.

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VIVA R A D A R

GUEST ON

The Radar

HOT: British Summer Time! It has taken forever to come round again but I love Summer and would sunbathe in my garden in my pants to feel the sun on my skin. I love spending afternoons at Dukes 92 - it seems to be THE place everyone flocks to for beer and pizza. Now that most days are spent filming in Liverpool, I’m on the hunt for a place with a similar vibe over there..

WHAT’S HOT & WHAT’S NOT Rookery Hall Hotel and Spa This hidden gem nestled in picturesque Cheshire countryside is one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed in. I took my Mum there for her fiftieth birthday. She fell in love with it and returns every year. It’s where David and Victoria announced their engagement so no visit there is complete without re-enacting that moment. My Mum did last time we were there! Her Victoria Beckham pout was a sight to behold.

Technology I’m a technophobe. I use social media and with FaceTime I can keep in touch with my Dad and siblings who now live in New Zealand. My 82 yearold Nana recently bought an iPad and got broadband to keep in touch with them which is really lovely because it’s like having them in the same room and when your family is on the other side of the world that’s seriously impressive.

Julie Walters This lady is a genuine National Treasure. She did an interview recently and spoke in defence of soap operas, explaining that people shouldn’t be snobbish about them. I’ve worked on Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks and the casts and crews are some of the hardest-working people in the industry. Having someone as widely respected as Julie Walters there to stand up for us is just brilliant!

This issue’s guest radar was brought to you by Hollyoaks actor Ross Adams.

Ross Adams

NOT HOT: Roadworks When I was at Emmerdale I commuted from Manchester to Leeds daily and, with roadworks and such, it could take anything from one hour to three. Now my daily commute to Liverpool is a breeze by comparison. I can set off at around 6:45am and I’m at work within thirtyfive minutes. Sometimes I think the residents of Manchester are being punished for not accepting the proposed congestion charge.

Rudeness and ill manners Having been brought up largely by my Mum and Gran, ‘gentlemanly’ values were instilled in me from an early age. I’ve heard men my age explain that feminism has killed chivalry. I’d argue that it hasn’t - because the two aren’t mutually exclusive. We can still open doors for women whilst working towards substantive social change. It’s about being polite and having respect. Regardless of gender, race, sexuality or age.

Parking charges in Manchester I remember when you could park on the street in town for free after 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays and all day Sunday. You could go late-night shopping, meet mates for food or go to the Royal Exchange and see a play. Now you have to pay extortionate street-meter or NCP rates until eight o’clock. We have a brilliant city - surely the council should be doing all they can to safeguard that?

Boyband-itis Apparently, this is an ACTUAL thing. When Zayn Malik announced he was leaving One Direction recently, some employers granted compassionate leave to allow their staff time to ‘grieve.’ I’m sorry? I fully appreciate that for many of the fans, Zayn’s departure would certainly have been a dark, dark, day but to take time off work is just ridiculous!

• 16 Champagnes by the glass • Gold medal-winning House Champagne starting from £6.50 a glass • Enjoy a selection of over 20 hand-picked, world class wines. • Choose from 15 classic cocktails & 10 signature cocktails. • Home to a delicious Champagne High Tea for only £22 per person. Voted Manchester’s Best Wine & Champagne Bar 2015, make sure you book in early to avoid disappointment. ‘Épernay Manchester is more than superficial glitz & glamour, it is a genuine tribute to one of the greatest wine regions in the world’ – Paul Caputo, 2014. Like what you see? Épernay Manchester is available all year around for private hire. Please contact carla@epernaymanchester.co.uk to speak with somebody personally about your event.

Epernay Manchester Unit 1A, Watson Street, Great Northern Tower Manchester, M3 4EE

www.epernaymanchester.co.uk bookings@epernaymanchester.co.uk 0161 834 8802

VIVA C A T W A L K T R E N D S

Saint Laurent Sunglasses, £200

T by Alexander Wang Shorts, £155 Dsquared2 Jeans, £325 PS by Paul Smith Bomber Jacket, £390

S/S 2015

Raf Simons Stan Smith Trainer, £240

Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus Ipad Case, £45

Lanvin T-shirt, £280

Officine Generale Polo Shirt £85

Balenciaga Holdall, £875

MHRS Sweatshirt, £115

Who said only women could enjoy fifty shades of grey? Here we are taking the theme out of context and applying it to the profusion of greyscale garments that were shown all over the spring/summer catwalks. Grey is quite a safe option for any sartorially-inclined gentleman. However, with safety comes comfort. Play around with textures such as neoprene and silk, try colour-blocking with different tones and use clashing prints to create a cool and contemporary twist on this season’s major trend. words: Ross Forsythe

3.1 Phillip Lim S/S 2015

Issey Miyake

Fifty Shades…

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VIVA C A T W A L K T R E N D S

Simone Rocha Floral Top, £495

Peter Pilotto Satin Top, £360

J.Lindeberg Camisole, £70

Illesteva Sunglasses, £215

Zeynep Kartal S/S 2015

Stella Jean Cotton Skirt, £495

Kenzo Bucket Bag, £290

Pretty in PINK! Whether you love it or hate it, pink has been making a major comeback on the catwalk this season. To work this spring-summer trend choose super-striking magenta tones for a bold, fashion-forward aesthetic or fantastically feminine blush and pastel hues for a more traditional, romantic look. Accessories really pack a punch in this colour, so team them with a monochromatic outfit to lift, enliven and create a more dynamic outfit.

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Roksanda Claude Wide Leg Pants, £620

Alexander McQueen Ankle Boots, £620

Emilio de la Mor

ena S/S 2015

Victoria Beckham Leather Pouch, £240

Vionnet Maxi Skirt, £780

VIVA F A S H I O N

Studio Girl Looking Luxe in the Loft Studio...

Coolchange Tunic, £195, Harvey Nichols Manchester Beam Maxi Skirt, £440, Vivienne Westwood

Miu Miu Sunglasses, £190. John and Pearl Necklace, £126. Both from Harvey Nichols, Manchester Peter Pilloto Kaftan, £540. Selfridges, Manchester. Leggings, Stylist’s Own

Anarchy Shirt, ÂŁ875. Vivienne Westwood www.vivalifestyle.co.uk | VIVA | 1 3

Alexander McQueen Organza Shirt, ÂŁ325. Selfridges, Manchester Hope Kilt, ÂŁ395. Vivienne Westwood

Miu Miu Sunglasses, £190. John and Pearl Necklace, £126. Both from Harvey Nichols, Manchester Peter Pilloto Kaftan, £540. Selfridges, Manchester.

Stella McCartney Dress, ÂŁ800. Selfridges, Manchester

VIVA T R E N D S 3. Ennis High Heel Sandals, £90, Miss KG 4. Bandeau Bikini Top, £20, River Island 5. Bikini Bottom, £12, River Island 2. Shopper, £12.99, H&M

1. Wrap Jumpsuit, £50,

Oasis

Shop The Highstreet When Manchester is your Maldives and Salford is your Saint Lucia, tropical destinations can sometimes seem a million miles away but who cares? Bring the Bahamas to you with these sizzling summer pieces. Citrus, tropical and floral themes create a plethora of style directions to take. So stick to one or throw them all together for a completely contrasting yet contemporary ensemble.

6. Cami, £22, Oasis

Life’s a Beach!

7. Trousers, £29.99, Zara

words: Ross Forsythe

11. Frayed Sleeveless Top, £15, Topshop

8. Tie Dye Beach Shirt,

9. Shir t Dress, £45, Warehouse

10. Crossover Dress, £35.99, Zara

£30, Topshop

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RICKY WILSON INTERVIEW WITH THE VOICE OF THE KAISER CHIEFS >>

VIVA i n t e r v i e w

rontman Ricky Wilson has left his red chair on The Voice and traded it in for the stage. With a number one album and an arena tour under their belts and, with a new, much anticipated album set to be released soon, Kaiser Chiefs are in for a fantastic year of live performances including one this August at Haydock Park. VIVA sat down with them to discuss Nick leaving the band, song-writing, The Voice, the new album and more. With a number one album and the Arena tour that you’ve just finished does it seem like the band is now in a better place after all the doubt that surrounded you guys when Nick left? Yes. It’s funny because, although it’s brilliant and we understand that it’s brilliant and we’re all very excited and every show we do is getting bigger and bigger, it’s weird because everyone around us is celebrating and you know, clinking glasses. But, when you’re in a band, it’s the realisation that it’s all about the next thing. You never really stop and enjoy the moment and have that kind of like ‘we did it guys’ because you always go ‘Yeah, we’ve turned the ship around, now we have to set sail.’ With the whole situation with Nick leaving and because he was widely credited as being one of the main songwriters, has your confidence come back as a band with the success of your number one album Education, Education, Education & War? It was a new kind of confidence because we never - individually and together as the four remaining members and then when Vijay joined - we never had that kind of confidence that we could do it. In fact, when we had our first rehearsal without Vijay, we didn’t know we could do it. It was ‘let’s see if it’s possible’ and it was. So it’s not like we got our confidence back, it was like we grew it from scratch really, I think. So how well was the new material received on these tours? Are there any fan favourites that are sticking out whenever you play them live? From the fans, the only criticism we really got was not playing some of the new ones. It was like ‘Why aren’t you playing One More Last Song, why aren’t you playing Bows and Arrows?’ and it’s like, ‘Woah.’ We have to ask you about your experience on The Voice. I’m telling these kids, don’t forget to enjoy it and don’t forget to appreciate every single moment. If you want it, you can have a career in music. The level at which you’re at, you might not be U2 but you can do it. You might have to have another job to sustain your career in music but you can do it. I reminded myself of that, I might have to get another job one day to keep the band. I’m lucky that I love being in something that I still do and I think about every day and then I did get another job on the TV show. As a result of you being on The Voice, has this opened the band up to a lot more of a mainstream kind of audience?

Well no, because when we first started we were allowed to go on other TV shows because there was a lot more TV to go on. So when we went on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and played, it opened us up to a bigger fan base and when we were on SM TV every other week and when we were on Top of the Pops every other week, it was the same thing but nowadays, there isn’t as much that boys with beards and guitars are allowed to go on. Your fellow judge Tom Jones is also doing a few of the racecourse shows as well this summer. Has it ever come up in a conversation recently at all? No. It’s funny because we talk about everything and nothing. Like, I’m not one of those people that will ask Will.i.am to remix a record or Rita to appear on ‘Falling Awake.’ Essentially, we’re still the band we always were and we’re a band, we’re pretty normal. You know all these collaborations and all these things that go on, it’s not really us. I don’t think we’re that into that kind of thing. We like the unit we’ve got, it’s worked for a long time and even though we might have had a hiccough when Nick left, I think we kind of pulled it back together. Saying that, you can whip that out of the archives when we decide to do a collaboration. So, moving on to the racecourse shows. You’ve obviously done some racecourse shows before. Do they differ much from your normal kind of tours you do or like the festival performances? People are very drunk. It’s kind of like a wedding because you’ve got guys with their ties around their heads going mental. I really enjoy it. It’s a different vibe to anything else we’ve done but we’re coming back to do more so we must enjoy it. It’s like a festival with good toilet facilities and a dress code but it’s got the same vibe. I really like it, it’s good. Have you got any rituals or anything before you go the stage or during the day? There are hundreds of them. Yeah we’re all very superstitious but we’re all musicians so we’re all weirdos anyway. As rituals go, we usually have a disco before we go on. It is funny though, I mean it’s a room full of thirty somethings, late-thirty somethings, all dancing like it’s a kid’s disco. So, you’re coming to play at Haydock in the summer, have you got any good memories or stories from when you have played in the past in the North-West? Oh, some of my favourite gigs of all time have been in the North-West. One in particular, the second night at Manchester MEN was the best gig, I don’t know why, I still say it but it was my favourite gig ever. I came off and it was like ‘that was a moment’ and so yeah. It’s funny, over the Pennines you expect there to be a rivalry because we’re from Leeds obviously but we find that, you know, because Leeds people are quite, you know, we belong to them. So they don’t show their emotions as much to us as they do on the other side of the Pennines because we go down and, like, invade and we have a good time. ■ Don’t miss out on seeing this five-piece band rock the racecourse on August 7th at Haydock Park. Information and tickets can be bought here. www.haydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk

“Oh, some of my favourite gigs of all time have been in the North-West. One in particular, the second night at Manchester MEN was the best gig, I don’t know why, I still say it but it was my favourite gig ever.” 22 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

Illuminate Shedding light on summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest looks.

Dior Shirt, £500. Dsquared2 Jeans, £335. Both from Selfridges, Manchester

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Moschino Bomber, ÂŁ690. Harvey Nichols, Manchester Linear Sweat Shorts, ÂŁ475. Vivienne Westwood

Dsquared2 Sweater, £290. ill.i Optics by Will.I.Am Sunglasses, £180. MCM, Munich Lion Bag, £900. Dsquared2 Shots, £270. All From Harvey Nichols, Manchester

Saint Laurent Polo, £240. McQ Alexander McQueen Shorts, £290. Both from Selfridges, Manchester

Moschino Shirt, £205. From Harvey Nichols Manchester, Chore Over Shirt, £205. Asymmetric Shorts, £150. Both from Vivienne Westwood

Classic Ranch Shirt, ÂŁ300. Vivienne Westwood Orlebar Brown Swim Shorts, ÂŁ135. Harvey Nichols, Manchester

Team Credits For both Studio Girl and Illuminate Photography & Post Production: Craig Fleming www.craigfleming.net Art Direction: Ross Forsythe ross@vivalifestyle.co.uk Stylist: Ross Forsythe Assisted By: Lucy Cottam ross@vivalifestyle.co.uk Hair & Make-Up: Naomi Joy at Creatives Agency Assisted By: Beth Anderson Models: Verity & Joe Routledge www.bossmodelmanagement.co.uk Location: The Loft Studio & Production Manchester www.loftstudioandproduction.com VIVA TV: Tobias Longmate 30 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

VIVA T R E N D S

2. Green Belted Chino Shorts, 1. Keendry Bomber Jacket,

£139, Ted Baker

£30, River Island

Shop The Highstreet

3. Short Sleeve T-shirt, £17.99, Zara 4. Twill Skinny Fit Trousers, £14.99, H&M

Going Green

10. Chino Shorts, £25, River Island

Ready and set for the summer sun? Well get up and go with these gratifyingly gorgeous, green-themed garments. From fantastic forest tones to rich luxurious jade, utilise this diverse colour for a fresher, wardrobe update. For an urban-cool look, try a Puritan hat and bomber jacket, go retro-themed with vintage inspired trainers or work traditional with a twist by wearing a chino shorts and shirt combo. words: Ross Forsythe

6. Khaki Satchel, £28, Topman

9. T-Shirt, £55, Armani Jeans

7. Jade, Puritan Hat, £22, Topman

8. NB 373, £54.99, New Balance

5. Cotton Shirt, £45.99, www.mango.com

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Look 1

By Day...

Get the look! This summer with Cassie Lomas, VIVA’S Beauty columnist and make-up artist to the stars!

The key to nice make-up is a flawless base and the rest just follows. My tip for amazing skin, without having to always wear a foundation, is to use a sheen all over and buff over a liquid bronzer using a large foundation brush. I like Clarins Instant Boosting Complextion Base and a wash of Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Sun. A second layer of the bronzer with a contour brush can be added to give the cheeks definition. A light layer of waterproof mascara will keep your lashes in order all day and night. A soft choice for lips like M & S Autograph Moisture Colour lipstick with an SPF 30 will give protection and a subtle but hydrating wash of colour and you can keep it in your bag to reapply like a balm. CLARINS INSTANT LIGHT boosting complextion base £26.50

Golden glow gives instant glam to any style but when you’re on holiday, enjoying the summer sun, you don’t want to be spending too much time applying make-up so the key is just to simplify it.

Here’s a tip of mine, use multi-tasking make-up products when going on holiday. You’ll find your make-up bag is half the size and a lot easier to pack!

Follow Cassie on Twiter @cassielomas www.cassielomasmakeupacademy.co.uk

Harriet Wears: JS Collection Dress, £250, House of Fraser Manchester, Deepa Gurnani Headband, £165, Harvey Nichols Manchester White Gold ‘Grand Oval Border Set in Sapphire’ Dress Ring, £490, Silver ‘Brilliant Rounds Tennis Bracelet’, £260, both from Henry D Johnstone Jewellers 32 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

Autograph Moisture Colour lipstick £8.50 Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Sun £35

photos: Hannah Furness, www.hannahfurness.com make-up: Cassie Lomas @CreativesAgency hair: Tracey Jones | model: Anara

B. Glowing Shimmer Block Bronze £8.99

Look 2

By Night... Vamp it up for your evening’s party plans by using a golden glow to highlight your cheeks and apply a wash over your lids as a shadow too. I really like the B. Glowing Shimmer Block Bronze from Superdrug; it’s a perfect handbag multi-tasker. A soft brush to apply means it blends well, so apply a light layer then work it into the skin by swirling your brush over the area several times. Use your mascara as a liner! It’s waterproof so it won’t budge. Apply a little at the roots of your lashes and press it into the skin with a brush so it blends away any edges.

Don’t be shy in summer when it comes to a lipstick, keep it statement and strong. A long wear one is essential, so choose a texture that lasts. (which tends to be matte) Keep it small, as space is of the essence, so I would choose Stila Long Wear Lip Colour. Always keep your make-up fun and remember if you want to keep your make-up bag small you can use products in areas you wouldn’t normally. Your lippy can always double up as a blush! Stila Long Wear Lip Colour £15

VIVA P A M P E R I N G & G R O O M I N G FOR THE BOYS

NEW Benefit They’re Real Mascara £19.50, from Boots and Benefit Cosmetics.

NEW bareMinerals Complexion Rescue. £26, from Selfridges

2. 3.

NEW Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick In Vendetta. £18.50, from Selfridges.

NEW Institut Esthederm Intense After-Sun Care Lotion. £35, from www.bay.com.

r e m m u S AVE MUST H

ntials...

Beauty Esse

NEW Murad Rejuvenating Aha Hand Cream £24, from Debenhams.

NEW Michael Kors Into The Glow Collection Nail Lacquer £15, from House Of Fraser.

NEW Time Bomb Holiday In A Bottle £28, from Selfridges.

NEW Jo Malone Incense & Cedrat Cologne £110, from Jo Malone. 34 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

NEW MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow Trio Permanent Press. £22.50, from Selfridges.

Revitalise & Refresh... 1. Lab Series, MAX LS Age-Less Power V Lifting Cream. £54, from House Of Fraser. 2. Ted Baker, Post Shave Balm. £8, from Boots Department Stores. 3. Molton Brown, Water Mint Bodywash. £18, from Molton Brown. 4. Tom Ford, Hydrating Lip Balm. £20, from House Of Fraser. 5. Clinique, City Block Sheer. £18, from Harvey Nichols. 6. Bvlgari, Aqva Pour Homme Marine Eau De Toilette. £46, from Selfridges.

photo: Craig Fleming, www.craigfleming.net make-up: Cassie Lomas @CreativesAgency assisted by: Thea Braniff model: Tom Walker, Boss Models

el Kiehls Facial Fu 3 £3 5 SPF1

Tom Ford Bronzing G e

l £35

Boys...

Summer Preening... Summer is the time when you’ll happily spend those few extra minutes preening yourself so here are some sunshine essentials for the best skin a man can get. Keep your skin hydrated because it needs a drink as much as you do in the heat. Choose a moisturiser that also has an SPF to avoid having to apply sunscreen separately. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel SPF 15 is energising, giving the skin a fresh, uplifted look. Apply with your fingers to a clean face - all over including your neck making sure you really work it into the skin. A second layer may be needed for dry areas.

If you haven’t quite got that golden god look you want then give it a little helping hand with a light coat of Tom Ford Bronzing Gel. This can be applied after your moisturiser and in the same way as your moisturiser. It blends easily into the skin and has an oil free finish. Continuing the hydration theme, don’t forget your lips. The sun can cause dryness and even cracking so apply a layer of balm day and night such as D.R. Harris & Co. Ltd. Lip Balm. After applying, use the excess left on your finger to press through your eyebrows, giving them a smooth and neat finish. Dr Harris & Co Ltd Lip balm £4.95

VIVA b e a u t y

Who’s Ready For Summer?

on’t be afraid to step out with confidence this season. Here’s our advice on how to achieve that effortlessly polished look.

complexion. Impressive results can be achieved in as few as one or two sessions and will leave you feeling rejuvenated and looking younger.

Dr Vik, of Dermaskin based in Spinningfields, gives us his top tips to help you shine throughout the summer months. Check out this selection of non-surgical treatments which will ensure that you radiate all summer long.

Hyperhidrosis (Botox for Sweating) Hot and balmy summer days are something we all crave, (especially in Manchester where we really have to make them count!) although, for people who suffer from excessive sweating, humidity and warmer temperatures can be a complete nightmare.

Teeth-Whitening Treatment Naturally your smile takes centre stage in your overall appearance so, to be truly selfie-ready for those sunny Instagram moments, your teeth should be in tip-top condition. If you feel that your teeth are more fifty-shades-of-beige than sparkling white, then a simple teeth-whitening treatment will, without doubt, enhance your beaming smile. Teeth-whitening is now one of the most popular cosmetic treatments available as it is a very safe, pain-free procedure with instant results and so, with the right expertise, you can have an incredible white smile within an hour! Chemical Facial Peel It is no surprise that our faces come under attack during the winter and one of the best ways to prepare your face for the summer is to remove the build-up of the resultant dead skin cells to reveal a more radiant glow. Facial skin peels are powerful exfoliating treatments that target the outer epidermis. They trigger the production of fresh new collagen and, as a result, an all-round, smoother 36 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

Dr Vik explains that he has seen a huge rise in demand for Hyperhidrosis treatment - something that is no longer offered on the NHS due to funding cuts. This form of Botox is a safe and straightforward way of reducing superabundant sweating by blocking the nerve impulses that contribute to the production of excessive perspiration. Areas suitable for treatment include underarms, hands and feet. Once treated patients feel free of their embarrassing condition, noticing a significant reduction in sweating which can last for up to three months and giving them peace of mind and a renewed confidence. So be sure to get yourself summer ready and, should our glorious city be blessed with an abundance of beautiful, hazy summer days, you will be truly ready to shine! All treatments mentioned are available at Dermaskin Clinic, www.dermaskin.co.uk words: Jen Skehan

UNFINISHED BUSINESS ON THE STREET, THE PLATTS, OLD FRIENDS AND NEW TROUBLE Tina O’Brien reports...

2015 Summer Hair Trends Forecast from Tatiana Hair Extensions

traggly, limp locks are a thing of the past at the festivals. Stylesavvy revellers are planning for action by packing their tents, preparing their outfits and ensuring their hair looks festivalfabulous this year. Here Tatiana Karelina, founder of Tatiana Hair Extensions, tells us how to prep and style your hair for the perfect festival-hair wardrobe. Rock n Roll Waves Backstage Hairstylists took inspiration from nineties grunge, to give hair a tousled effect which suggested the hair wasn’t really ‘done’ at all but left loose and flowing with a natural bend. In reality, creating the look does require some effort. The great thing about long hair in general is its versatility. You can be really creative when you have enough hair to work with; from hair down to casual up-dos, the possibilities are endless but those with short hair needn’t despair! It is very safe and easy to change your look with micro ring hair extensions. (go for Russian Virgin Hair for the best results.) If you are tired of the usual boring ponytail take the inspiration from celebrities this summer and try a Bubble Ponytail. Wrap a few hair bands down the length of the ponytail and lightly pull out the hair in the mid-sections to get a fun, puffy effect. Neon is the new Pastel With so many awesome colours in 2014, what will this year have to offer? Well 2015 is the year to sparkle and glow; it’s about light and Summer hair trends will glow, reflect, illuminate, shine, light-up, sparkle, and shimmer. Pastel has been popular for a long time now and I believe it will here for a long time to come. For those who are trying funky hair colours for the first time, pastels are a gentle way to test the water: try pastel coloured, clip-in hair extensions. (best made from Russian Virgin Hair) For those who have already done every pastel shade and are eager to sample something new this summer, neon is the answer! Where pastel is all about being subtle, soft, mature, neon is all about being loud, young and vibrant. One of the coolest things about neon hair is that these colours glow under fluorescent UV/Black light. Not only will you have amazingly fluorescent hair by day but at night your hair will literally light up. Great for festivals and summer parties!

BACK ON THE COBBLES: Despite a break of seven years from the cobbles, it hasn’t taken long to feel like I’m back at home on the Street. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous before starting back but it’s really odd how everything still feels the same. Especially when we’re doing Platt scenes and I’m glad it feels like the Platts are back. There’s always been unfinished business between Sarah and David but I’m happy to say that our real-life dynamic is nowhere near as dramatic as on screen. Jack Shepherd, who plays my on-screen brother David, is just so witty and he’s always got such funny stories to tell. Although I honestly spend most of my time laughing at him, he’s so professional and, as an actor, he’s so good to watch. I don’t think he gets enough credit for the fact he started there when he was about eleven and since then he’s grown so much and learnt fast on the job. KEEPING IN TOUCH: Since leaving the street back in 2007, I’ve been pretty busy because I now have both a little girl and a baby boy. I’m so happy about that! I managed to keep in touch with some of the girls from work too, such as Helen Worth, the lady who plays my on-screen mum, Gail and Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria. Actually, Samia’s just announced she’s also expecting a baby and, I have to say, I’m absolutely over the moon for her. Another little Corrie baby! Paula Lane, the lady who plays Kylie, has just come back from having a baby. There’s Jennie McAlpine, she’ll be coming back soon and, of course, Cath Tyldsley has just had a baby boy. We should have a crèche there’s so many of us! GAIL’S HUSBANDS: Poor Gail may have been up the aisle a few times but I think Sarah’s favourite of the husbands will forever be Martin because he was always there for her. For me, I think my favourite had to be Richard Hillman. His character was so strong and, of course, that famous canal scene will go down in Corrie history. LIKE MOTHER LIKE DAUGHTER: It’s hard to believe that things with Bethany’s part could have been different but, to be honest, I think everything has worked out perfectly. It’s been brilliant working with Lucy (Fallon) and I hope there are going to be more storylines with us working together as mother and daughter. It’s so funny because people are always saying how much we look like each other but, on screen, I definitely feel like the pair are going to clash. They’re too similar - she’s definitely inherited some of Sarah’s sass! I quite like how outspoken Sarah is sometimes because I’m not at all. She’s much braver than me and I respect her for that.

Braid Parade Whether you prefer them fishtail style or of the French variety, braids are an all-access and red carpet-worthy way to transform tresses. Use them this summer for any occasion to shake up a basic ponytail, trim a topknot or frame your face. The beauty of a braid is that the options are nearly endless and it can be a real lifesaver when you don’t have access to a shower and you’re relying on dry shampoo to keep your hair looking fresh. It keeps the hair off the face, is totally texture friendly, so dancing and swinging this hair-do everywhere is highly encouraged and a braid will stay put all weekend too! If you have short hair, try a clip in braid for a quick and easy transformation. Virgin Russian Hair micro ring extensions and Pastel coloured, clip-in Virgin Russian Hair extensions are both available from Tatiana Hair Extensions from £350. Clip-in Braids made from real Human hair are available from £150.

www.tatianahairextensions.co.uk | To book your appointment call: 0161 236 4467 or visit the salon in Manchester on Port Street in the NQ.

ina@tinx aob Love one T twitter

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VIVA h e a l t h & f i t n e s s

Celebrity Personal Trainer & VIVA columnist, Sam Witter reports on the Importance of Exercise...

xercise is a very important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and achieving your health and fitness goals. I have put together a workout for you to try at home, using both the knowledge I have gained from courses over the years and my five years of experience from working with clients and getting to know what delivers results and what doesn’t.

Press Ups

My principles and why they work... Metabolic training - This is the most effective type of training as it creates a huge metabolic effect in the body. The more you stress the muscular and cardiovascular systems, the better. For example, doing steady-state cardio the body is only burning calories while you are “working” but with metabolic training the body continues to burn calories for up to forty-eight hours after exercise.

HIP THRUST

Interval training - run as fast as you can for thirty seconds, walk for one minute and then repeat this as many times as you can with the aim of doing around twenty to thirty minutes. Start at a level where you feel comfortable and build up the amount you do from there. Lift weights - weight training is the most effective way to change your body shape! Lifting weights causes stress to the muscle. The response is to burn fat and build more muscle.

SUPERMAN

Nutrition points around exercisingNutrition before and after exercise is very important. Firstly it helps you get the most out of your workout; secondly, it will also help aid fat loss and muscle gain. 1. Whether you are looking to gain muscle or lose fat, you should be consuming protein within twenty minutes of working out. 2. The higher your protein intake, the higher your metabolic rate. FACT. Women want to be hitting around one hundred and twenty grammes per day and men around two hundred grammes per day.

Burpee

3. Good carbohydrates such as, sweet potato, wild rice and butter nut squash, are good post-workout as they help to replace glycogen stores for faster recovery. See opposite an example programme that I use with my clients. For each exercise you should do four sets with ten reps, with a minute and thirty seconds rest between each set.

Please register your interest in my latest venture by visiting www.thetriplan.co.uk. Follow Sam on Twitter @samwitter1 www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 39

Yes, Finally The Day Arrives… Bringing Your Newborn Home!

fter waiting for what seemed like forever, finally the day arrived and I got to bring my newborn baby home. It was the most exciting feeling for me getting my tiny little Olive, dressed in her cute outfit - specially selected for this very moment - with her all wrapped up, so snug, sweet and innocent and ready to face the world. It’s so strange, I didn’t enjoy being pregnant at all and I moaned a lot of the time because I felt fat, bored and tired but when I see women about to have their baby I am strangely jealous and envious. I know that they are about to experience the most beautiful feeling of excitement that they will ever encounter in their lifetime. The feeling that comes with meeting their baby for the very first time. So where do I start? You have this tiny little thing whose survival depends utterly on you! Go ahead, freak out! It’s scary and 40 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

hard work. The crying alone goes straight through you and it’s a cry no mother can ignore. It must be hard-wired into our genes, as your baby’s cry will alert you no matter what you are doing and to ignore it is almost impossible. Seriously, your brain goes to mush, you cannot concentrate on anything other than the fact that your baby is crying and wants you. There’s also the sleepless nights. If you feel exhausted after a two day festival bender, forget that. You’re talking months of no sleep, making you feel like a zombie from the Walking Dead, aimlessly going from A to B without really knowing how you managed it. The most challenging task of motherhood was breast-feeding which shocked me as this seems to be so natural. I’m not alone here as this affects many mothers but is rarely talked about and not even mentioned in the breastfeeding literature or even by the midwives at your pre-natal check ups. So it’s no wonder mothers (including me) have

said they felt like failures as it is drilled into your head from very early on that ‘breast is best.’ Yes, it is true that your breast milk does give your baby your antibodies which protect and build up their immune system but truthfully breast milk substitute is still a very good source of food for your baby. Luckily, in the VIVA February edition I had been sent a Medela double breast pump (Swing Maxi) so I was well equipped when the problems started. Unfortunately Olive has never latched properly and, after a week of breast-feeding, (as my midwife joked, “we call this child abuse”) I was advised to give my rather swollen, bruised and scabby nipples a seventy-two hour rest. After seven days I was given the all clear to take her back to my breast but, as she would not latch again, the stress caused my body to go into shutdown mode. The milk reduced and I got a huge lump in my breast - a sign of the early stages of Mastitis - so, for fear of

causing myself anymore harm and upset, I decided that I would only express my milk to feed her. I need to talk a little about Medela again as this fantastic product was a lifesaver. Had I not had the Swing Maxi breastpump on hand I would have given up. Luckily, this pump allowed me to express my milk throughout the first few critical weeks of Olive’s life. Medela breastpumps are highly recognised and are used in many UK hospitals but, as the Swing Maxi wasn’t designed for continuous use, I was advised (by the very helpful customer care advisor) to hire the Medela Symphony. This being the most advanced breastpump on the market and ideal for high demands and needs and it works out at less than one pound fifty a day which is cheaper than most formula brands.

Renting a Symphony couldn’t be easier for Mums. You just call Medela (on 0161 776 0400) who will then deliver the pump straight to you. I cannot warn you enough to be prepared, as breastfeeding difficulties cannot be foreseen unless you have experienced it before. I leave on a much happier note as being a Mum is the most incredible experience and this tremendous love just rushes right through you, even looking at your newborn can bring a tears to your eyes and, after all the hard work you endured over the first six weeks, there is nothing more rewarding than that very first ‘thank you’ smile. Now I just can’t wait to see her grow. ■ words: Rebecca Legon photos: Lisa Moore Photography

Mine & Olive’s top baby buys... Like me, you can probably go a little over the top when shopping for your newborn baby. You can’t resist all those beautiful outfits and get sucked into the clever marketing as you are not quite sure what you need. I certainly bought too much stuff for Olive but here are the items that I could not live without and which were essential for my first nine weeks as a mother. The Joolz Tailor. This is an Ultimate Pram, not only does it turn heads but it’s great for city or country walks and, ideally, the carry-cot converts into a bed whenever you’re away from home. www.myjoolz. co.uk Bambeano Baby Bean Bag. This is great if you need to do a few things like putting your make-up on or cooking a meal. It’s easy to carry around the house and Olive can just watch me from afar. www.bambeano.co.uk Shnuggle Cosy Baby Bath. This bath is lightweight and Olive loves it. I also feel that she is safe as it is designed well with a seat that holds her upright - even from her first bath at two weeks old. www.shnuggle.com Medela Symphony Breast Pump. What more can I possibly say about this - lifesaver! www.medela.com

www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 41

Relaxing Summer Vibes For Outside Spaces...

ummer is finally here and with it the countless garden parties and long hot days spent in the sun hanging out with friends. It’s also a perfect time for turning your garden into one everybody will be talking about. It shouldn’t be too difficult with our unique, funky outdoors cribs…

1. Brown ‘LA Toronto’ Outdoor Day-

bed Spend a sunny afternoon with your friends on this daybed with a little table for champagne. From Debenhams, £1050

2. Westminster Venetian Lounger. This lounger is perfect for getting that so wanted sun-kissed skin. From luxdeco.com, £1,195

3. Bondi Beach

Deck Chair. Bring the Australian summer to your garden with this yellow deck chair. From butlers-online.co.uk, £49.90

4. Buschbeck Zurich Masonry BBQ Fireplace. This fireplace will make sure your dinner is cooked, keep you warm and make your garden stylish. From keengardener.co.uk, £749.99

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5. Adagio Hanging

Chairs. A modern twist on swings that shouldn’t be absent from any garden. From moderngarden-furniture.co.uk

VIVA C R I B S

6. Timorous Beastie cushion to bring that summer feeling to your home. From liberty.co.uk, £135 7. Cube Light Stool. The cube creates one hundred and sixty thousand colours, so you can enjoy a different one every day - all depending on your mood. From luxdeco.com, £179

8. Vintage Style Printed Wooden Tray. Serve afternoon tea or drinks on this funky tray. From notonthehighstreet.com, £17.50

10. Kilner Handled Jar. Serve your chilled summer drinks in this stylish glass. From johnlewis.com, £4

9. LED Solar-Powered Pendant Lamp. Are you organising a garden party? Then make sure you decorate your garden with these colourful globes. From ikea.com, £9

11. Bentley Garden Hammock With Wooden Arc Stand. Enjoy a lazy summer day with a book on this colourful hammock. From buydirect4u.co.uk, £129

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Designers Delight with Luci Living Design

LITTLE GREENE PAINT Luci Recommends: Little Greene www.littlegreene.com @LittleGreene

Clashing metals, magnificent marble, moody blues, edgy geometrics, wonderful wire, funky furnishings, holiday swag and an eclectic mix of old and new. It sounds like creative chaos but we love these interior design trends of 2015. Thinking of decorating, looking for inspiration, want to stay ahead? Luci Roper, our design guru from Luci Living Design Interiors, tells how to incorporate the latest ideas and styles giving VIVA the inside track on the perfect pad.

eometrics: Designers can’t get enough of geometric prints. We love chevrons and herringbone but a whole range of geometrics are in right now. Keep it simple; use bold prints on cushions and rugs so they stand out against a plain backdrop. Feeling brave for 2015? There is a definite shift towards geometric prints on furniture in order to create a focal point in your room and these patterns work on floors, walls and soft furnishings too. Rugs are a really simple and effective way to transform your space. Check out www.wayfair.co.uk as they have plenty of great geometric designs to choose from. Wire: Wire furnishings are right on trend creating a new daring look. Skeletal lighting and chairs really brighten a room, casting shadows between the wires resulting in effective statement pieces. Marble: Marble is very much in. It oozes sophistication, regardless of whether you have traditional or modern furniture. We love these stunning armchairs by www.mrmcqueen. co.uk with marble fabric. Choose soft white, champagne, brown or black marble to give your home a refined appearance which works perfectly with trendy warm metals. Copper and Brass: Luxurious metallic finishes provide this season’s glamour and impact. Gold works but this year is all about brass and warm coppers: smooth and shiny or textured and riveted. Create a really opulent look to your home by matching with black and richer colours. It’s no coincidence that Dulux’s colour of 2015 is Copper Blush. For a fantastic range of lights and other copper items try www.made.com online or for some super luxury the copper baths at Catchpole and Rye are amazing. Mixed Metals: With jewellery you never mix your metals but that’s not the case at home. Mismatched objects bring more personality to a space. High street and online stores are filled with quirky metal accessories. Check out candle holders, trays and trinkets in a variety of metal hues. Adding natural leathers, wood and Edison-style filament light bulbs into the mix leans your room towards that everpopular industrial look of recent years. Our clients are loving period Art Deco sunburst

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mirrors this year. To incorporate this style without breaking the bank log on to Not On The High Street as they have some amazing reproduction ones online.

PATTERNED TITLES Luci Recommends: Walls And Floors www.wallsandfloors.co.uk @wallsandfloors

Ethnic Eclectic: Use a non budget-busting fusion of old and new by re-using, re-painting and recycling your previous furniture and accessories. Think smooth, organic shapes, curved lines and contemporary furniture paired with rustic accessories and crazy, bold colour schemes and complement with ethnicinspired styling. . For all things eclectic take a look round a Home Sense store or dig out those travel purchases from their long-term holiday in the cupboard and make use of them. From tribal prints, bowls and hanging platters to boho Moroccan pouffes it all works in 2015. Patterned Tiles: Patterned tiles are set to make a comeback. If you like this look then www.wallsandfloors.co.uk do a great range of quirky tiles. Whether it is a feature wall you want to cover in gorgeous patterns or your floors, there seem to be plenty of options around. Colourful patterned ceramic and clay tiles add to the ‘well-travelled look’ and are a great way to bring life into an alcove, plain bathroom or kitchen. Moody Blues: Designers are developing a strong, navy blue case with many dramatic bold designs emerging this year. Expect to see an array of blue tones and hues in 2015 from rich cobalt to the inky depths of the sea and midnight sky. Don’t save it for the bathroom though, experiment and roll out the blue with accents of vibrant turquoise, yellow ochre, burnt orange, earthy tones and sandy tans. Our big love at the moment is sumptuous blue upholstery velvets. There are lots of gorgeous furniture items around in blue this year around but Debenhams’ traditional ‘Chesterfield Deluxe’ is worth a look. So the expert view is that design trends for 2015 work well. There is plenty to go at and they are not too hard to achieve. We think they are likely to be around for a while so don’t be shy ‘turn up the bold’ in 2015 and complete your home with a striking designerlead décor scheme. Follow Luci on twitter @LLDesignNews

ECLECTRIC MIX Luci Recommends: Home Sense UK www.homesense.com @HomeSenseUK

VIVA c r i b s UPHOLSTERY GEOMETRICS Luci Recommends: Mr McQueen www.mrmcqueen.co.uk @mrmcqueendesign

SUNBURST MIRROR Luci Recommends: Not On The Highstreet www.notonthehighstreet.com @notonthehighst COPPER LIGHTS Luci Recommends: Made www.made.com @madedotcom

RUGS Luci Recommends: Wayfair www.wayfair.co.uk @WayfairUK

COPPER BATH Luci Recommends: Catchpole And Rye www.catchpoleandrye.com @CatchpoleAndRye www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 45

VIVA i n t e r v i e w

Den’s Design Diva Divulges . . . VIVA speaks to Paula Hopwood the mind behind the magic at Den

orking alongside clients such as Rosso, Almost Famous and The Clarence, Den Living is passionate about creating pieces that are individually designed and crafted. In a relaxed approach to design, Den scours the country in order to source the most beautiful colours and patterns in their textiles and wallpapers. To discover more about the world of interior design, VIVA caught up with Paula Hopwood, the creative genius behind the Den showroom in Bury. How are you involved in Den? I’m a busy working Mum to two gorgeous girls. (ten and eight) I’ve been working in interior design for over ten years and my clients ranged from footballers to high profile ‘names.’ I met Danny around eighteen months ago when I visited The Mill in Bury with a client and we hit it off immediately. He said he’d been considering relaunching the showroom at The Mill and I knew it was just missing a designer’s touch. We worked together closely on redesigning the showroom along with our amazing upholsterer and furniture designer, Andy Riley. I became a director and we launched our incredible, beautiful new showroom. It’s all been a bit of a dream come true for me to be honest and the future of the company is incredibly bright. How would you best describe your professional style and from what do you derive inspiration? I’d like to describe my approach to design as creative and timeless. I often find inspiration in the strangest of places: from the colour of a beautiful building in Paris to a piece of vintage jewellery; the most wonderful things can be born from the most unexpected places. My passion for design is all in the detail and I like to combine classic influences with a contemporary edge. A home needs to reflect the personality of the people living in it so there’s no point in having a beautifully decorated home if you feel like a stranger in it. I strive to

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provide a highly personalised and dedicated service where the client always comes first. What does Den and the show room offer? We have extensive room sets featuring our fantastic handmade bespoke furniture, all displayed in stunningly designed sets alongside a beautiful collection of lighting, art and interior accessories. We have the ‘imaginarium’ which is our design studio where clients can come and hang out. They’re welcome to have a coffee, peruse our extensive wallpaper

of textiles and we pride ourselves on our beautifully made curtains and soft furnishings and offer a full make up service. We’ve recently got an account with the trendy and inspirational company, Timorous Beasties, who are worth checking out. They make stunning fabrics with amazing patterns and we’ve created some incredibly sought-after, one-off seating with them. We have curtain fabrics and voiles, sofa fabrics and stunning velvets. We also have accounts with some of the most foremost fabric companies, such as Romo, Zinc, Andrew Martin, Harlequin, Casamance, Elitis, Brian Yates, Prestigious Textiles, Warwick and Designers Guild. And Wallpapers? Just the same, really! Wallpapers feature heavily in most of our schemes and are still as popular as ever. Come along and look through some of our books and let me advise you.

and fabric books and chat with me about all their design needs. Customers can purchase anything from a lamp to a sofa to having their whole house redesigned. All of our sofas and beds are handcrafted here in The Mill. Most items are made to measure for our clients, so they’re totally bespoke to them and we can correct issues and change things as we go, so it’s such a treat and a luxury for our clients to come and watch their furniture being made on-site. We pride ourselves on making high quality and long lasting furniture at an affordable price and that’s why our clients come back time after time. What kind of textiles does the business use? From commercial crib five fabrics to beautifully handmade embroidered silks, we have access to an extensive range

Do Den prefer to keep an eye on trends or set trends? I think it’s crucial to keep an eye on trends. However, I always stay true to myself and my clients. If the design world says acid yellow is ‘in’ that doesn’t mean I’m going to recommend it! I think, as a company, we’re constantly setting trends - particularly in sofa and bed design. Andy and I strive to come up with new designs that bigger companies often pick up on. I guess it’s flattering really! What is the essential element of any room? I guess line, form, texture, pattern, colour and light would be my ‘designers head’ answer but basically, if you get the flow and the lighting right then you can’t go wrong. Oh and listen to your client. Always listen to your client! ■ www.den-living.co.uk words: Rebekah Spratt

Manchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best kept secret

Bespoke Furniture Flooring

Lighting

Sound & Vision

Upholstery

Commercial Fit Outs

Interior Design

Stockists Of The Finest Fabric And Wallpaper

Step into the den living show room and be inspired by a visual wonderland of interior decoration with a difference. Walk through our feature room sets showcasing denâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original design concepts & furniture, all hand crafted here in our north manchester mill by our own skilled team. Visit the design studio where you can chat with our interior designers and browse the latest fabric and wallpaper books by Romo, Andrew Martin, Brian Yates, Designers Guild, Timorous Beasties and more. We also stock the finest in fabric and wallpapers, visit our showroom to see the collection. New Victoria Mills, Wellington Street, Bury, Bl8 2AL | 0161 761 3601 | info@den-living.co.uk | www.den-living.co.uk | Free Parking

VIVA G A D G E T S 1. Designer Wine Handbag What could be better than a handbag full of wine? No, we don’t mean when the bottle of Lambrini you’re sneaking in spills its contents into the bottom of your bag, we mean the new designer wine handbag. Yes, all of our prayers have been answered as you can now carry around your favourite wine anywhere you need to go. Nobody will ever guess that your handbag is made from cardboard and contains just wine - you can choose from red, rosé or, in my case, a delicious Chardonnay. When you need to refill your drink, you turn a small tap on the side and it pours your wine into the glass for an instant top-up! It doesn’t get much better than that. This could be the perfect item to take with you to a festival. You’ll never have to worry about not having a drink again and, I mean let’s face it, you’re not really going to need a handbag for anything else at a festival, are you? This special sneaky handbag can be found at thepresentfinder.co.uk for only £29.99.

VIVA FINDS the latest and coolest things from the world of

Gadgets

ere at VIVA we love rocking out at a good festival and now the season is fast approaching, we’ve prepared some of the best gadgets to give you a camping experience that’s out of this world. From everyday essentials to things you might never have thought about, take a look at our festival checklist and see what could make your camping trip more fun.

2. KETTLEcHARGE Your morning hangover brew starts with the KettleCharge, a source of hot water that also charges your phone, tablet or laptop with its heat resistant USB extender. What more could you want? The KettleCharge - with a fold-down handle where the USB outlets and indicator are - boils up/sterilises water. Pour it in via that open slit pictured lower left on the kettle and within minutes there’s ten watts on-demand power. The KettleCharge is available at biolitestove. com from £102 3. The Wonderbag When it comes to food at festivals you really can have too many overpriced hotdogs and burgers. The Wonderbag is one of the cleverest little inventions created for the camping food industry and we love it. It allows food that has been brought to the boil to finish cooking whilst in the bag. No matter where you are, whether it be V festival or Glastonbury, you can heat your food without the use of any additional energy. Packed with recycled foam, the Wonderbag is reversible - meaning you can choose between two different colours for it. Any spillages, which we all know will happen, can be cleaned as the Wonderbag is machine washable and lightweight so it’s easy to carry around. The Wonderbag is available at geniegadgets.com for £58.95

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4. Super Solar Shower Behold the Super Solar Shower. An environmentally friendly way to keep clean at a festival. This little device will fit in your rucksack no problem and will keep you from smelling like you’ve been stranded on an island for a few weeks. Also you can have more time drinking and partying while everyone else queues for the busy campsite showers. (where sometimes you come out dirtier than you went in) The Super Solar Shower has an impressively large capacity of twenty litres which takes less than three hours to heat in the sun’s rays. It’s also the perfect accessory for those wild camping trips, getting back to nature with her lack of modern facilities. The Super Solar Shower is available at argos.co.uk for £7.79

5. The Inflatable Gadget Chair This air-filled gadget-packed inflatable chair will have you enjoying the great outdoors as if you’re glamping on a cloud. Our top tip - just keep it away from the campfire. Kick back and relax on the awesome Everything Chair. Comfort and entertainment are top priority when you’re sitting on this multimedia throne. Its chunky inflatable design moulds around your body to keep you comfy, even over extended periods. You’ll never have to move again. Winner! Transform the chair into a multimedia entertainment hub with its 3.5mm Aux cable which connects to your games console, MP3 player or any other media device with a 3.5mm jack. On either side of the chair there is a large mesh pocket for storing your magazines, snacks, books, netbook, tablet, etc. The Inflatable Gadget Chair can be found at iwantoneofthose.com for only £49.99 words: Emily Howett

INK Inc. Illustration is the new and exciting collaboration of design duo Laura Fray and Jess Turley. Coming from backgrounds in fashion and design, the two met while working for a commercial fashion company designing garments and prints. It soon became apparent that the pair had an unusually similar illustrative style, so when the opportunity came to collaborate on a tour poster for Laura’s musician brother, Courteener’s frontman Liam, they didn’t need much persuading to join creative forces. After taking part in artisan interior events, such as ‘Home Is In The North,’ Laura and Jess discovered a new found confidence in the commercial viability of INK Inc. “We started to believe that the risk of leaving full-time employment for our little venture was not really so much a choice anymore but more of a must.” Starting out in the Northern Quarter, Laura and Jess opened a studio shop in the hidden hub of creativity which is Manchester Craft & Design. Housing artists and designers of multidisciplines, a collection of vibrant studios doubles up as shops and creates an individual gift centre. INK Inc. can be found in Studio 20 and features highly-detailed black ink drawings. The main subjects are animals, all drawn with personality and a touch of northern humour. ‘Bottoms Up’ features a duck up-ended in a cocktail, ‘Specsy Lady’ is a curious cat in quirky vintage specs and then there’s ‘Pickled Panda’ enjoying a cheeky tipple on a chaise-longue. The pair explain, “We love it when people come in and immediately engage with our subjects. They giggle at the way the characters are presented in the illustrations, which is exactly the reaction we love.” The products currently featuring the INK illustrations include a wide range of high quality greetings cards, ceramics, cushions, tea towels and tote bags. The art prints themselves are a mix of private commissions, bespoke pieces and prints mounted in a variety of frame finishes and sizes. Laura and Jess consciously strive to use all local suppliers and work with a Manchester craftsman to frame their commissions and prints. The decision to focus on their illustrative uniqueness and conceive INK has obviously been a rewarding one for this skilful duo, especially as the personalisation of various invites and gifts has recently proven extra popular. They have made the studio bright and welcoming and have filled it with beautifully crafted pieces, all with a humorous edge. Studio 20 on the first floor is well worth a visit if you want to treat yourself or someone else to something really quite special. INK INC. Studio 20 Manchester Craft & Design Centre 17 Oak Street NQ, Manchester M4 5JB www. inkincillustration.co.uk email: hello@inkincillustration.co.uk Twitter: @inkincdesign Instagram: @inkincdesign www.craftanddesign.com

Laura Fray &

Jess Turley

IT’S ALL ROSY IN MAD-LAND Fitzgerald BAR MANCHESTER (above Rosylee restaurant & lounge bar)

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WALR U MANC S BAR HESTE R

lways one step ahead, MAD’s bar game is so strong that their growing empire is set to spread across Manchester and throughout the U.K. Renowned for their creative themes and originality, the group has confirmed with VIVA that the company is currently completing concepts for their two new sites due to open in the Northern Quarter this summer. Elusive as ever, Mark Andrews and Jon Hawkins have described the upcoming developments as ‘authentic’ and promise that both will be ‘like visiting a new world.’ This is an exciting time for Manchester’s quirkiest bar scene. Avoiding the mundanity of draft beers, MAD’s venues use only premium ingredients. Finding Tequila harsh and believing that wine bars may have almost had their day, Mark’s bar empire emerged from humble beginnings in 2004, when he opened his first bar in Didsbury, Mtiki. (recently rebranded as Hula, West Didsbury) The ongoing popularity of rum, perhaps due to its hedonistic reference to sun, sand and salty air, has definitely played its part in this great success story. In 2007 Mark set his sights on the hip Northern Quarter, opening Walrus on High Street and followed with Hula on Stevenson Square in 2009. The stylishly whimsical restaurant Rosylee opened just eighteen months later and The Fitzgerald Cocktail and Champagne Bar followed shortly after. When did a bar stop being, well, just a bar? In 2014 Mark realised that commercial changes were going to take the group to a whole new level. They needed a visionary, experienced with large brands, to make the changes work and to help Mark to navigate the Journey upon which MAD was about to embark. In Jon Hawkins Mark saw exactly the man that MAD needed and within no time at all Jon began to make those very changes happen. In an increasingly commercialised world guests need the thrill of the visual and any excuse to share their whereabouts on social media. Enter MAD. From their expertly handled cocktail menus to their transformational décor, the company delivers a sensational experience every time. MAD also hope to expand the Hula brand across the UK but, in the meantime, head to Manchester’s quirkiest bar district to experience a piece of the ‘MAD’ action. Offering an eccentric atmosphere, tropical cocktails and pure hedonistic wonder, Hula - in the Northern Quarter - promises plenty of late night antics and debauchery. The original - and still the best - tiki venture in Manchester, this slice of underground paradise brings you ‘shake your booty dance beats’ from resident DJs Gareth Brooks and Greg Turner. Famed for its treasure chest of drinks, be sure to brave an iconic flaming Zombie, conjured with a heady brew of rums and tonics lively enough to stir the dead.

Serving breakfast, à la carte lunch and afternoon tea, the restaurant also offers classic cocktail concoctions, such as the Cucumber and Elderflower Crush, a light and refreshing mix of Portobello Gin, St Germain Elderflower and cucumber. General manager, Abbie Blandale, has managed some of Manchester’s finest bars and restaurants and her recent move to Rosylee has been a huge success. She’s ready to focus her attention on making it the city’s go to spot for summer dining. The company hopes to create a chain of elegant Rosylee restaurants across the UK, where guests can expect top level service and an easy going atmosphere. What’s more, the company has also confirmed that they hope to increase their popular Stevenson Square sun trap by a hundred percent in the coming months. Synonymous with the nineteen twenties speakeasy vibe, The Fitzgerald is a roaring class of decadence, indulgence and defiance. Delivered with a touch of finesse, this mischievous gem is a whole new allusive experience. Showcasing exceptionally well-handled elixirs with infusions from a bygone era, such as The Aviatrix, a feminine twist on The Aviation, made with London Dry Gin, violet liqueur, fresh lemon juice and Luxardo Maraschine, this masterpiece is served laced in a clairvoyant fog. Hidden in plain sight, you’ll find your way in on Little Lever Street and, guided by twinkling chandeliers and champagne cocktails, lose yourself to the enchanting décor and bewitching atmosphere. ■ www.markandrewdevelopments.com words: Rebekah Spratt photos: Karin Allbinson

TUSK BAR MANCHESTER

One of the most original cocktail bars in the Northern Quarter, Walrus - and the adjoining Tusk - is run by a talented team of fire-wielding bartenders. Rustling up drinks from a premium selection of rums, whisky and liqueurs, this African haven is becoming increasingly popular among the Quarter’s coolest regulars. Unwind with a hot flavoured coffee or try your hand at a fruity mocktail as, by day, Walrus offers a laid back but expertly crafted selection of tempting half plates, homemade burgers, fish, steak and sharing platters. Come nightfall, this bohemian lounge transcends into a hot nightspot with resident DJs spinning hiphop, house and funk, party anthems and everything in between. Proudly honouring its English heritage, Rosylee works with local suppliers who produce only the finest regional food. With a warm atmosphere and charming English décor, Rosylee opened its doors in late 2013 as a traditional tearoom but has since gracefully evolved into a cosmopolitan restaurant and lounge bar. www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 51

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to T

he Jaguar marque holds a special place in the British driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s psyche. A place secured either by the images of stunning cars from the past or, in my case, great memories of driving a super sleek, black XJS which sported a super rare manual gearbox. It was, with its sumptuous cream leather, polished beech veneer dashboard and all the toys a boy could wish for, an absolute joy and truly a force to be reckoned with

:, Tom kingsley JAGUAR ambassadors ben , sir hiddleston strong & mark

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Fast forward twenty years and the thrill of getting behind the wheel of the Jaguar is just as intense. Gone is the stuffiness of overblown armchairs and wood. What you find now, in the cockpit of this latest incarnation of their massively successful F Type - the stunning F Type R AWD, is a lean, mean, hi-tech driving machine. This Jaguar is something of a beast and taking the convertible version for a spin through the city bathed in glorious sunshine was something of a treat, not just for me but also the passers-by.

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BE BAD... The phrase ‘head-turner’ when talking about the this roadster is barely adequate but, for the first time in my driving career, I actually had a driver pull up alongside and shout for me to rev the engine just so he could listen to the exhaust notes and who could blame him? When you hear the imposing, throaty roar it is almost orchestral in tone but it also lets you know that there is something serious going on under the bonnet, even when you’re stopped at traffic lights. So what is going on under that bonnet? A supercharged, five litre, V8, 550PS engine taking this wild animal from nought to sixty in under four seconds and delivering six hundred and eighty Nm of torque which, in layman’s terms, means this beauty will sprint off the mark like the proverbial scalded cat. Combine that with the All Wheel Drive system and you have enough power and grip to give you the confidence to really enjoy taking this sports car to the limit.

The stiff chassis, coupled with the Intelligent Torque Vectoring system, redistributes the torque to where it’s needed via the braking system. So if it senses understeer there is no danger of having the rear stepping out when you’re putting this cat through its paces. You can even set your preferred driving dynamics and the onboard display will tell you about your G force, throttle control and even your lap times.

Type JAGUAR F R AWD

The F Type R AWD is truly a man’s sports car but don’t start thinking I’m going all ‘Clarkson’ all of a sudden. Of course women will enjoy taming this beast but, given its size, masculine styling and downright presence, for my money this is certainly a toy for the boys and it is appropriate that Jaguar has some of the best British ‘screen villains’ including Tom Hiddleston, Mark Strong and Sir Ben Kingsley as Ambassadors for the brand After all, it is good to be bad. words: Jack Marsden, The GT Driver

WOW FACTOR INTERIOR www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 53

VIVA T R A V E L

Shreyas Yoga Retreat A journey of self discovery... HATHA AND ASHTANGA YOGA

IVA were invited to spend five days savouring the delights of the Shreyas Yoga Retreat in India - approximately one hour north west of Bangaluru. (Bangalore) Our relaxation started as soon as we saw our names being held up by the chauffeur from Shreyas and we began our journey to the retreat. Welcomed with garlands of flowers and a light meal before being shown to our cottage set in palm-filled gardens we found this retreat to be wonderful on every level and a benefit to body, mind and soul. > www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 55

THE SWIMMING POOL AND OUTSIDE DINING

‘a Guest is to be served as God.’ THE LARGE PRIVATE BEDROOM

The first thing that you notice is the hospitality of the broadly smiling staff for whom nothing is too much trouble. ‘Athithi devo bhava’ is the defining philosophy at Shreyas meaning, ‘a Guest is to be treated as God.’ Their kindness also comes from the fact that all the staff practise yoga and meditation and its written principles where they are encouraged to serve guests as part of their spiritual discipline and not just as a job or career. As a guest you definitely feel this vibe throughout your stay. Shreyas (meaning excellence) is very exclusive with just twelve different accommodations set in its green, landscaped twentyfive acres. The luxurious cottages, with en-suite bathrooms and tented roofs, are scattered about the gardens; each with its own relaxing view. Large double beds (or twins) with soft cotton sheets help to send you on a journey of complete calm. You would be forgiven for thinking you were staying in one of the better five star hotels and limited guest numbers ensure that your privacy is secure. In this amazing environment you cannot help but appreciate Shreyas’ timeless luxury. Hatha and Ashtanga yoga are both available in the two daily, group yoga sessions - one in the morning and one in the afternoon - and included in your stay is a single one-to-one session. You can ask for more one-to-one sessions at any time. Shreyas accommodates all levels of yoga experience and ability. The teachers are fantastic and very knowledgeable and will help improve your posture, mind focus and ability to relax deeply. We couldn’t get enough of the yoga as it was sublime to practise in Shreyas’ outdoor yoga shala in the warm pleasant surroundings. Meditation goes hand in hand with yoga and it was lovely to experience the calmness one feels when guided through a mindful practice by one of the teachers. 56 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

ONE OF THE TWELVE LUXURIOUS COTTAGES

Shreyas is not just about yoga and meditation, you can also swim in the infinity pool or rejuvenate your body with a spa treatment. We particularly loved the one hour Ayurvedic massage in the secluded massage cottage and the cleansing steam afterwards. If you have not had one before, it is a must as it leaves you feeling totally relaxed and rejuvenated. We love our food and it was wonderful to experience the amazing flavours prepared by the Head Chef and his staff using produce from Shreyas’ own superb organic gardens where the staff are encouraged to respect nature. A mixture of traditional Indian and continental cuisine, the dishes were >

VIVA T R A V E L sublime with ‘seconds’ readily available. All the food prepared is vegetarian but, if you are a meat eater, don’t let that put you off as the menu was so good we never once missed it. Part of our stay at Shreyas involved what is known as ‘karma yoga’. This roughly means that you give something back to enhance your wellbeing - having benefitted from the yoga, meditation, massages, etc. which you have enjoyed during your stay at Shreyas. A few hours are set aside on one of the days for you to take time for the joy of giving - Shreyas calls it ‘community service’ - and it involves helping in the lovely organic gardens. For example planting some bean seeds (as we did) and picking green beans for lunch under the watchful eye of our yoga teacher Ramakant

and one of the garden staff. Having filled the basket with beans it was off to the kitchens to prepare vegetables for lunch. It was a lot of fun getting involved as we chopped up tomatoes and diced marrow and potatoes for the Chef but the best part of all this ‘karma’ was when we then loaded up the four-by-four and drove seven miles, to the Kaveri Vanita Sevashrama orphanage that Shreyas supports, to help with serving lunch to the thirty or so orphans that range in age between three and eighteen years. It was a lot of fun and it felt great to help out a little. Shreyas is unique, spectacular, luxurious and relaxing and we cannot recommend it highly enough. It is up there with the very best of the world’s yoga retreat destinations.■ words & photos Will Wilkinson

VIVA travelled with Sri Lanka Airlines to Bangalore and stayed as guests at the Shreyas Retreat, Nelamangala, Bangalore, India. web. www.shreyasretreat.com | email. balaji@shreyasretreat.com tel. +91 80 2773 7102 or 7103

GIVING SOMETHING BACK - ‘KARMA YOGA’

ENJOYING A AYURVEDIC MASSAGE

THE INFINITY POOL AND LUSH GARDENS www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 57

From Infinity Pools To Football Themed Hotels…

VIVA’s Guide To Manchester And Cheshire’s Most Exciting Hotels

anchester is home to amazing culture, fantastic shopping and, of course, great music but it’s becoming more and more a place for quirky, luxurious and amazing hotels. With some great new hotels opened around the city centre recently, we’ve picked out our favourites for you to take a look. Whether you want to visit the city centre to be closer to the endless amount of bars and clubs or whether you’re looking to escape from the real world, we’ve got you covered. If luxury’s more your thing then we’ve found the best hotels and spas in the area including the beautiful Cheshire countryside where you can sit back and unwind on the ultimate escape from reality.

INNSIDE Who? INNSIDE by Melia is a German brand with some amazing hotels spread across Europe. The INNSIDE concept based upon the urban lifestyle, uses trendy and atmospheric buildings where people feel as comfortable socialising as when doing business in these hotels.

Where? First Street, Deansgate, Manchester with easy access to both Manchester’s train stations and Manchester Airport, perfect for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel is located minutes away from such Manchester hotspots as the Museum of Science and Industry and it is just a short walk to the Arndale shopping centre. INNSIDE is also next to HOME the nearly-completed Manchester cultural development with two theatres and five film screens which will soon be providing engaging art and films to curiosity seekers.

What does it offer? INNSIDE Manchester’s two hundred and eight rooms, including eight studio suites, will follow the INNSIDE brand’s design ethos for stylish, functional and contemporary rooms, with sleek en-suite bathrooms. The property will also offer a selection of versatile meeting and event spaces with natural daylight spanning three hundred square metres as well as a complete fitness suite, parking and complimentary Wi-Fi. Why it’s special? The brand new hotel tries to blur the line between business and pleasure so people can feel comfortable whether coming to do work at the hotel or to socialise. The modern world is moving this way as people are spending longer at work, so INNSIDE aims to bridge the gap between their social and work lives. Food and Drink The restaurant and bar is called “Street On First” which will serve street food based on contemporary Mediterranean dishes and the ethos of sharing and grazing but it won’t be based just on Spain. It’ll be Spain, Italy and a whole mix of other countries. You can expect delicious uncomplicated food with the best ingredients possible. The buzz phrase for INNSIDE’s restaurant is ‘Food For Social Mood’ to suit everyone at any time whether you want to work, socialise or mix business with pleasure. VIVA Verdict VIVA loves how exciting, fresh and new INNSIDE is and how they’ve considered every tiny detail down to the flowers on the table in the restaurant. They’ve dared to be different with the style of an open plan bathroom and their concept of accommodating both work and pleasure is one that we particularly love. 1 First Street, Manchester, M15 4RP 0161 200 2500 innside.manchester@melia.com www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 59

Malmaison Who? Malmaison Manchester, one of the first boutique hotels to open up in the City, is a stunning transformation of a nineteenth century warehouse. Where? Malmaison hotel is located in the centre of Manchester, just a stone’s throw away from Piccadilly Train Station. It’s also based on the edge of the quirky and ever-so-trendy Northern Quarter. What does it offer? Malmaison boasts one hundred and sixtyseven luxury rooms including thirteen suites of oasis-like calmness, where you can find solace in a super-comfy bed, with super-fast Wi-Fi, super-flat screen TVs and super-toiletries. You won’t want to leave! Especially not as they offer private dining and cocktail masterclasses, going that extra mile to make your stay even more spectacular. All of the rooms go through a vigorous Mal check-list ensuring great beds for sleepy heads, moody lighting, ensuite bathrooms with baths and power 60 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

showers, digital TV, serious wines and naughty nibbles for you to indulge all you want. If you feel like you’ve over-indulged on the hotel room snacks you can also visit Gymtonic, the onsite gym at Malmasion, which has all the right equipment for a good workout session so you can make room for their delicious burgers and cocktails. You can also find peace and quiet in the middle of the bustling city below you with their very own spa, offering therapies and peaceful treatments. Why it’s special? If you’re looking for something different for your hotel stay, this is the perfect example of somewhere that stands out from the crowd. At Malmaison they claim ‘different is what we do best’ by taking their authenticity and décor above and beyond to add that something special to your hotel stay. Food and Drink Malmaison is known for its Smoak Bar and Grill which serves good, honest food. Smoak Bar is at the heart of the action which offers locally-sourced and inspired dishes from

oak-smoked steaks to lip-smacking, fresh fish. Indulge in a cold beer or a glass of wine whilst enjoying the chilled atmosphere of this leather and neon bistro - inspired by the vintage America of the nineteen-fifties. Mal also offers Cocktail Masterclasses in their exclusive Ember Lounge which is perfect to get all of your friends together and learn the ins and outs of a sex on the beach. VIVA Verdict We love this boutique hotel because of how it dares to be different. By offering incredible food and drinks alongside great sized rooms filled with stylish décor, this hotel couldn’t be more perfect if you’re looking for a hotel stay with a bang. So, whether it’s business or pleasure that draws you to Manchester Malmaison, the provocative new décor really hits the spot and we can’t wait to see what exciting new prospects Mal has in store. 1-3 Picadilly, Manchester, M1 3AQ 0844 693 0657 www.malmaison.com

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DoubleTree by Hilton Who? DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Piccadilly, known for their exceptional standard of service, also create and participate in projects to preserve the environment. For over twenty-five years they have been freshly baking cookies for all guests when checking-in to make their warm welcome just that extra bit yummy. Where? DoubleTree by Hilton is located just a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station and just a twenty minute drive to Manchester International airport. What does it offer? The spacious rooms all include Apple Macs where you can enjoy TV and hotel information including menus and are perfect for your work commitments. The hotel also offers disabled access rooms, parking and complimentary use of the gym. Why it’s special? DoubleTree by Hilton also boast a SkyLounge, a magical place where you can look out over the beautiful sights that Manchester City Centre has to offer. This exclusive penthouse is a conference room or workspace by day yet is transformed into the ultimate party destination by

night, with flexible décor and great views. You can have the perfect Summer party in the famous SkyLounge complete with drinks and a barbecue, all arranged for you so all you need to do is get the perfect outfit ready and leave your fear of heights at home. A new addition to the hotel this summer is the Prosecco Terrace Bar. Prosecco 1754 Ltd have teamed up with DoubleTree to give you the ultimate fizz in the sun experience. Food and Drink This hotel also has a great selection of places to eat and drink so you’ll be spoilt for choice but whether you choose the Blue Bar, the Urban bar or the City Café you’re guaranteed to enjoy great quality, affordable food. The Blue Bar is the perfect place to relax and take part in a cocktailmaking masterclass with its chilled out atmosphere and, yes you guessed it, blue surroundings. The newly refurbished Urban bar is a great place to sample quality real ales while enjoying miniature burgers, fish bites and popcorn chicken. The City Café puts a twist on classic dishes such as Corn Beef Hash and Fish and Chips offering healthier alternatives and daring to be different. You can enjoy

your cocktails on the restaurant terrace overlooking Piccadilly and, with their outdoor lodge promising prosecco on tap, they’ll have a job getting rid of us! VIVA Verdict We love this classy and elegant hotel for its incredible décor and design. The unique SkyLounge is a great place to escape and look out over the City while the Urban Bar and the ground floor offer fantastic food and real ales. Plus they give you a free freshly-baked cookie when you check in and we just don’t see how it gets any better than that. One Piccadilly Place, 1 Auburn St, Manchester, M1 3DG 0161 242 1000 manpd.reservations@hilton.com www.doubletree3.hilton.com

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Hotel Football EAT. DRINK. SLEEP. FOOTBALL. This slogan is perfect for the newly-opened Hotel Football, which offers all four of those things and, let’s face it, for most football fans what more could you possibly want? The four star hotel, sited in Old Trafford, is the first in what looks like a long line of football-themed hotels in the UK. The standard double rooms come with a king size, Hypnos bed, a rainforest shower, bespoke class of ‘92 toiletries, 40” Samsung smart TV with full Sky Sports package (of course) as well as complimentary wifi for all your football chanting tweets #comeonyoureds. www.hotelfootball.com

Hotel Gotham This five star nineteen thirties style hotel is truly putting ‘quirky’ back into the Manchester hotel scene with its nostalgic interior and décor. Set in one of the city’s grandest listed buildings, the hotel has sixty stylish double rooms; including the stunning Inner Sanctum Suites. The hotel’s design was inspired by the Art Deco heritage of the building and set out over seven floors, including the sixth floor Honey restaurant which will be open to guests and the public alike. Club Brass the Top Floor, swanky private members’ bar boasts incredible views across the city for you to sit back and enjoy. www.hotelgotham.co.uk

Belle Epoque For a hotel stay at the pinnacle of sophistication the Belle Epoque is the perfect scene for your getaway. With a characteristic backdrop which could put Downton Abbey to shame, the Belle Epoque will make you feel like you’re living in dream world. The stunning building has played a big part in Knutsford’s heritage for over one hundred years and has been a popular hotel and restaurant for forty of them. With champagne afternoon tea to enjoy and an authentic, high quality restaurant you can enjoy the ultimate fine dining experience. www.thebelleepoque.co.uk

Ribby Hall Hotel and Spa This luxury hotel is set in the middle of the beautiful Lancashire countryside. At the Ribby Hall Hotel and Spa, you can forget all of your worries and relax and indulge as much as you could possibly want. If you’re dreaming of luxury you can recharge with an overnight stay, in their brand new luxurious surroundings. Whatever your reason to stay, whether you’re wanting to escape the everyday with a spa break, attending a wedding, getting married yourself or visiting on business, you are guaranteed a wonderful night’s sleep in the most sumptuous of bedrooms.

Great John Street Hale Country Club and Hotel

King Street Townhouse If you’ve ever dreamed about swimming on a Manchester rooftop overlooking the city centre and taking in those stunning views, your dreams are now closer than you think. Manchester’s first rooftop infinity pool is set to open this Summer and could just be about the coolest thing ever. We can’t wait to enjoy a prosecco or two on the rooftop while chilling in the pool, watching the world pass by underneath us. The luxury forty-room hotel - in Booth Street, in the Upper King Street conservation area - will also boast a south-facing roof garden and event space, a bar and restaurant and afternoon tea rooms. www. kingstreettownhouse.co.uk 62 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

This original Victorian schoolhouse has been transformed into a chic townhouse Chill out, relax and have some ‘me time’ hotel with unique, individually designed with the best of everything at the near bedrooms and suites alongside stylish perfect Hale Country Club and Hotel. The lounges and Oyster Bar. Being madly hotel also boasts a large gym which will eclectic, all of the rooms have a personality give you the ultimate work-out experience, of their own, giving the guests a unique from state of the art equipment and a experience every visit. The hotel also boasts personal trainer service, to a movie room stunning entertainment rooms and features where you can enjoy the latest films whilst Manchester’s only Eclectic roof terrace getting a body like Angelina Jolie. To keep available for exclusive use for your own the celebrity dream alive just a little longer tailor-made event. Great John Street also you can indulge in the spa the Hale Country offers rooftop party packages for special Club has to offer. Leave your worries at the celebrations you won’t ever forget. You door, as you indulge your senses, shrug off can choose from the following packages: your stresses and relax in truly sumptuous BBQ, sleep-over, party longer or canapés surroundings. www.halecountryclub.co.uk and munchies special. www.eclectichotels. co.uk/great-john-street/ words: Emily Howett

This Summer’s Hotspots For Drinking And Dining In The Sun It’s that time of year where, once again, chairs and tables are popping up like daisies across the city and the spirit of summer is almost upon us. If you close your eyes for a second, you could almost believe we’re lucky enough to live somewhere that’s always warm, relaxed and chic; almost. On those magical days when we are graced by sunshine, it can often take all our willpower not to throw our keyboards to the wind and pilgrimage to the closest suntrap. So, from champagne balconies to secret gardens, VIVA has rounded up Manchester’s hottest outdoor dining spots.

Épernay Manchester...

nspired by the Renaissance-style champagne houses enclosed within the subterranean cellars of Marne in Northern France, the enchanting Épernay Manchester invites guests to work or unwind in their alluring atmosphere. With an urban balcony that overlooks The Great Northern Square and The Great Northern Warehouse, Épernay can hold up to twenty seated guests and will provide cheese and charcuterie boards on request. Based on the (agreeable) philosophy that champagne should be accessible to everybody, Épernay presents the city with its extensive champagne menu, consisting of sixteen by the glass and a further forty-eight by the bottle. If however, champagne doesn’t tantalise your tastebuds, Épernay also offers a selection of elegant cocktails, from classics like the Martini to home-crafted concoctions such as the sweet and flirty Candyshop Sling - mixed with Raspberry Vodka, Vimto Liqueur, Candy Crème de Fraise and lemonade.

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For an exclusive experience, Épernay Manchester brings you the city’s most ritzy Champagne High Tea. This treat begins with either a glass of something bubbly or a specially selected cocktail and includes an appetising platter of classic sandwiches and a tempting array of cakes and scones, and concluding with your choice of loose tea or coffee. Hoping to broaden your horizons, Épernay also provides courses which offer a masterclass with one of their in-house experts. Under the knowledgeable tuition of an instructor, guests have the unforgettable opportunity to explore the different regions of champagne, discover the history of its origins and learn the insider’s techniques of mixing drinks. With a stellar choice of classes to choose from, this is the perfect way to while the summer away. Unit 1a, Great Northern Tower Watson Street, Manchester, M3 4EE WEB: www.epernaychampagnebars.com Tel: 0161 834 8802

Rosylee Manchester...

ith a strong hold over one of Manchester’s hottest all-day sun traps, queen bee Rosylee is set in Stevenson Square, right in the middle of the trendy Northern Quarter. In addition to the fairytale climbing vines that adorn the ceilings inside the restaurant it’s the outside that gives this gem its due. Rosylee’s terrace provides the Northern Quarter with the perfect place for urban alfresco dining. Here guests are invited to enjoy ice cold beverages and sample the Rosylee Royal Afternoon Tea which consists of a glass of fine bubbles; a selection of delectable, finger sandwiches; delicious miniature cakes; scones with jam and clotted cream; chocolate-dipped strawberries and, of

course, a pot of fresh tea. Chic and stylish, this pretty joint is renowned for its high quality service and laid back atmosphere. Staff are more than happy to recommend cocktails to guests, such as the refreshing Rosylee Ice Tea, made with Rose-berry teabags which add a delicate twist to the much loved classic and, served long over crushed ice It definitely hits the spot when the temperature rises.

for themselves. Along with General Manager, Abbie Blasdale, the company are dedicated to ensuring that Rosylee becomes one of the best go-to havens for a sunny meal on the terrace.serves only the finest ingredients; right down to the locally sourced British Rapeseed Oil. With a new outdoor menu soon to be launched, featuring summer favourites and BBQ classics, Head Chef Adam Hinton moved to Rosylee with a vision of creating a classic heritage menu from ingredients that speak for themselves. Along with General Manager Abbie Blasdale, the company are dedicated to ensuring that Rosylee becomes one of the best go-to havens for a sunny meal on the terrace.

Passionate about heritage cooking, Rosylee serves only the finest ingredients, right down to the locally-sourced British rapeseed oil. With a new outdoor menu soon to be launched featuring summer favourites and BBQ classics, Head Chef Adam Hinton moved 11 Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DB to Rosylee with a vision of creating a classic WEB: WWW.rosylee.com | Tel: 0161 228 6629 heritage menu from ingredients that speak

Victors Eatery Hale...

ited in the heart of Hale Village, Victor’s is independently owned and operated and follows-on from the success of Neighbourhood and Southern Eleven in Spinningfields. Sophisticated and relaxed, Victor’s conjures a delectable and dulcet experience and is perfect for peoplewatching during the summer months. Serving an array of internationally derived dishes, the chic coastal dinner menu features fresh seafood, light sushi and is finished with delicate, flowery garnishes. On a bright and early morning, suburban diners can revel in the extensive breakfast menu which includes lush fruit platters, black truffle scrambled eggs, extravagant lobster omelettes and, most importantly, buttermilk pancakes.

This season, Victor’s of Hale invites you to soak up some sunshine while sharing nibbles and appetisers, accompanied by cocktails inspired by summer vacations. Cocktails such as the True Romance - a lovingly mixed tipple of Lanique Rose Petal Vodka, Crème de Mure, Campari and blueberries. With a special focus on social vibrancy, this cosmopolitan eatery draws its concept from holidays at The Hamptons - the affluent collection of villages on Long Island, New York - which is frequented by those with a taste for the finer things in life. 169 Ashley Road, Hale, CHESHIRE, WA15 9SD WEB: WWW.victorshale.co.uk Tel: 0161 928 4651 words: Rebekah Spratt

Neighbourhood have vamped up their lunch and dinner menu and it is set to soar this spring and summer. This includes a brand new sushi section - for both lunch and dinner, offering some lighter and healthier options made fresh daily as well as a new section in the à La Carte menu. Eat healthier, lighter and fresher this summer with Neighbourhood and get ready for the holiday season. Their lunch offer ‘one course and a drink for £8.95’ is available Monday to Thursday and diners can opt to choose from a range of delights, including; the classic NYC Hot Dog, Lobster Roll or brand new additions such as a fresh, healthier Watermelon and Goats’ Cheese salad. For burger lovers - the ‘Slider Bar’ selection offers diners classic Neighbourhood sliders, Meatball and Tomato Ragu, Mini Burger and Turkey Slider alongside a new addition of Fried White Fish slider for any seafood lovers out there. The Slider Bar lets diners choose from three sliders of their choice for twelve pounds giving them a chance to go for an old classic or a newbie - if they’re feeling like a change. A new section sits on the à La Carte menu and it’s aptly named ‘While You Waits’ for those looking for something to munch while deciding on what to eat for dinner. Guests can choose from Big Green Olives, Warm Breads with roasted onion butter, Crudités, with a harissa hummus and a sweet pea Guacamole with tortilla and sweet potato chips. The ‘While You Waits’ section is a great snack for those who fancy sharing the dishes or diners can opt for just one of these if they aren’t feeling too peckish. 66 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

The ‘Raw Bar’ has been extended this Spring and Summer and now includes a selection of sushi, available at both lunch and dinner, with options ranging from the finest cuts of salmon and tuna in the Rainbow Dragon Roll, the Daily ‘chef’s choice’ Vegetarian Roll and the tasty Tuna Dragon Roll. Diners can also try a mouth-watering Tuna and Watermelon Ceviche with coriander and lime dressing. The new additions to the menu certainly offer a refreshing and light summer taste, getting Neighbourhood guests in the mood for summer. Neighbourhood has kept true to its nature and their ‘From The Grill’ section is now stronger than ever this summer. A new addition to the grill is the soon-to-be-your-new-favourite, ‘Tommapork’ and the choice to add a half or full lobster or grilled shrimp to your grill choice. Alongside the new dishes will be the meaty ‘Hood favourites’ such as, the Chateaubriand and Côte De Boeuf as well as the very popular Neighbourhood selection of steaks. Neighbourhood’s new menu is perfect for those trying to get healthier and fresher for the summer season and offers a nice alternative from the heavier dishes on the menu. Those looking to get trim and get a summer-ready body for holidays can eat a great lunch out without having to over-indulge.

For the lunchtime rush Neighbourhood’s Express Menu features two plates for £12 or three for £15! Busy diners can fuel up for the afternoon with a new selection of express plates. They’re available every day and this summer expect healthier and lighter inclusions to get you in the mood for the holiday season. New additions - soon to be ‘future favourites’ - include the Chorizo Croquettes and sun-blushed tomato, Popcorn Prawns in a spicy mayonnaise and the mouthwatering Water-melon and Goats’ Cheese salad. Another newcomer to the menu is the black truffle and taleggio Arancini - set to be very popular, especially with those who enjoy sushi. Diners will see that a selection of their old favourites - such as the Buttermilk Marinated Chicken Lollipops with chilli and spring onion shreds and the tasty Lobster Tacos with red cabbage slaw and sweet pepper ketchup - are still on the menu. Pop in during your lunch hour and grab a speedy, light and tasty lunch that will get you ready to take on the afternoon.

Travel down the rabbit hole into wonderland this summer and go mad for Neighbourhood’s Afternoon Tea.Taking inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice In Wonderland, Neighbourhood lets the rabbit out of the hat this summer. Offering three tiers of delectable treats and delights, diners will find jamfilled scones and chocolate treats screaming ‘eat me’ as well as sandwiches and an array of of oversized desserts. There’s also the option of including the Neighbourhood favourites - sliders, lob-ster tacos and mini hot dogs with your

afternoon tea. The theme works for both young and old with families encouraged to bring their children along to join in the fun. Little diners can have their own treats selected from the kid’s menu and can use the theme to dress up as their favourite character. An afternoon of Eat Me! Drink Me! will leave you feeling totally ‘mad’ for it! Mad Hatter Af-ternoon Tea is available Monday to Friday between 2.30pm and 5pm. Call 0161 832 6334 to book your seat at the Mad Hatter’s table now.

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VIVA C U I S I N E

The best fruit and flowerinspired flavours for May

Winner

Australasia

One of my favourite restaurants in Manchester is from Living Ventures and I also think it’s their best. Australasia offers modern Australian cuisine with Indonesian and Japanese influences. Think light and fragrant and packed with flavour. Also, dare I say, a healthier eat-out if you choose wisely? You could easily get carried away and end up spending a lot of money here; my suggestion is you visit on a weekday before five p.m. as they have a very reasonable lunch menu, then stay well into the evening drinking their glorious cocktails! It’s always busy and the food never lets you down. (well it hasn’t yet anyway!) Their rose and lychee martini is one of my favourite ever cocktails, it manages to be refreshing and floral like drinking a very heady perfume that takes you on a mystical journey by the third round. Then there is their garden buttermilk panna cotta, one of the lightest and most elegant desserts with a surprising crunch from the ‘soil’ and some delicate flavours in the form of the berry fruit and edible flowers. They are both stunning! australasia.uk.com

“My monthly column to find the best Runner Up food and drink products in Manchester” Y.G.R. Erskine City Café Restaurant

he first day of the month of May is the actual May Day and traditionally it is when communities get together in order to celebrate the beginning of summer. Although summer does not officially start until June, May Day marks that it is on its way! The weather begins to warm and flowers and trees start to blossom. The origins of this holiday began with the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of fruit and flowers and the highlight of any village fête is the crowning of the ‘May Queen’ - the human embodiment of this beautiful goddess. Nowadays it may not be all morris dancing and maypoles but we still honour May Day on the first Monday of May. Runner Up It’s a Bank Holiday for schools and most employees so get out there and celebrate this wonderful time of year with some dishes and drinks inspired by fruit and flowers!

Smoak Bar & Grill at Malmaison Manchester

It’s over the road to hotel number two! I’ve wanted to dine here over the last couple of months as an old restaurant manager of mine now heads up the team.You couldn’t ask for a better man for the job. George looks and acts the part so well it’s like he was born with a menu in his hand! Although I had come in to try one of their desserts, I was also treated to a rather stunning T-Bone steak (my first) cut to order and cooked on their Josper grill and for which I will definitely be returning! The dessert in question is their Apple Tart. Made with GoldRush apples, the tart is warm caramel, sweet and spicy, with perfectly thin and light pastry. It tastes of apples-in-May, funnily enough. I also like the fact that though we are in a hotel it doesn’t feel like it and there are lots of different spaces and areas to relax, drink, eat and chat. This is definitely worth a visit, especially on a Friday evening when a certain lady we all know and love is entertaining the floor. malmaison.com/Manchester

in Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Manchester

Having not visited here for a couple of years, I was pleasantly surprised to find there are no longer linen cloths on the tables. There is a lot of very impressive artwork (courtesy of Lincoln Townley) and the space is much more comfortable and inviting. This is also reflected in their new menu; a step away from fine dining and a step towards much more rustic fayre. I was in two minds whether to include this starter as a runner-up as the fruit is much more of an accompaniment to the dish but it was precisely due to its presence that it worked so well. Their pigs-head terrine with apple purée was a cut above your average pâté or terrine starter. Don’t be put off by the ‘pigs head,’ the meat was so tender and tasty; the Granny Smith purée was sweet and smooth; the sliced apple, crunchy and sharp and the diced fennel, aromatic and liquorice-y! You may also want to visit their terrace this summer as they hope to be serving a bit more than your average draught on an outside tap:my lips are sealed. doubletree.hilton.com/Manchester

warm weather waterholes

Noilly Prat Vermouth Using grapes that are aged outside close to the Mediterranean, Noilly Prat Original Dry offers sweet aromas on the nose with a fresh herbal note, slight citrus and wellrounded feel. Slightly bitter on the palate, it smooths off to a light texture with chamomile, wood and fennel. Try the Bison Martini - my own creation! Glass - Martini Ingredients 75 ml Żubrówka 15 ml Noilly Prat Original Dry

Riverby Estate Chardonnay 2011 This New Zealand Chardonnay is one of the oldest Chardonnay blocks in Marlborough from vines planted in 1989. Aged for twelve months in French oak, the tipple evokes flavours of peaches, nectarines and vanilla to give you a crisp, clean finish.

Method - Combined together over ice, stirred and strained into a clean Martini glass. Dressed with two bison grass strains. Available at Selfridges, RRP £15.99

Available at Grand Pacific and Australasia, both in Manchester, priced at £48

Cotswolds Gin Launched last year, the Cotswolds gin is the first to originate from the area. With notes of grapefruit, bay leaf and Cotswolds lavender, this is the perfect choice for a summer gin and tonic!

Photo: Shani Hodson Location: Grand Pacific, Manchester

Available at Harvey Nichols, RRP £39.50

Brought to you by Manchester-based Dave Marsland, aka. the Drinks Enthusiast...

Père Magloire VSOP Calvados Created back in 1821, this French spirit uses the distilling of apples to create a refreshing sip. The VSOP expression has been aged for at least four years and gives you a heavy apple aroma on the nose with a crisp, fresh flavour bursting on the palate. A well-rounded finish too which works well as an alternative when mixed with tonic water. Available at Waitrose, RRP £22 for 50cl

Żubrówka Vodka Using bison grass from the Białowieża Forest in Northern Poland, this well-known vodka offers plenty of light grass aromas on the nose with a slight earthy note too. Fresh, creamy flavour of grass and vanilla with a slight kick of spice on the palate. Try it in the Bison Martini! Available at MasterOfMalt.com, RRP £18.79

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VIVA L A S M A N C H E S T E R

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words: Tereza Pevna

The Bar At Gaucho Arrives In Manchester

n true Gau cho style , sparkling and glamo with Arge ur, the lau n nch party was a h of The Bar tine glitz igh profi le night, Jennifer M at Gaucho with Ho etcalfe, G llyoaks st emma M joining th ars ern e celebra tions, as w a and Leah Hac players W kett e ll as Sale ill Addiso Sh n and Josh Beaumon arks rugby t. With stri king lighti ng, DJ stand and big cr new sound system ittall bi-fo , brand n open up in e lding win the summ dows that w ertime,Th to be the will ‘place to e Bar at G be seen’. aucho is se t Transition ing from a the day to glamorou s lunch the place spot duri your pick to party ng at night, from an you can ta innovative inspired co ke se cktails, as lection o f Argentin wine list. well as a e fabulous all-Argen tine

photos: pthomasphotography.com

ENJOY

2 FOR 1

TO CELEBRATE GRADUATION

EVERY DAY

BOTTLE OF PROSECCO

COCKTAILS 5PM - 7PM & 9PM - LATE

COMPLIMENTARY To qualify: minimum table of 4 1 bottle per booking

Express

lunch

1 course £7 2 course £12

VIVA LONDON NEWS! KIRI BLOORE REPORTS:

ummer is coming and Viva London is ready to have fun in the sun. The question is can you keep up?

London Loves

The Fun Run Well, you know we like a good party at VIVA London but we are not all about the party - okay we are - but we have found a way of combining the party with fitness. What better way to do this than with the The Color Run, also known as the Happiest five-k on the Planet.

VIVA London’s fashion intervention is never far away and, as the weather turns, we always like to find a London designer that will change your summer wardrobe for the better. The perfect summer shoes will always make you smile and London designers Butterfly Twist have a perfect range for you to dip your toe into. www.butterflytwists.com

The unique colour race celebrates health, happiness, individuality and giving back to the community. Less about your ten minutemile and more about having the time of your life, it’s a fivekilometre, untimed run where you are doused from head to toe in different colours at each kilometre. The fun continues at the finish line with a gigantic ‘Color Festival’ using more coloured powder to create happiness and lasting memories, not to mention millions of vivid colour combinations. This has got to be the best post five-k party on the planet. With only two rules the idea is easy to follow: 1. 2.

Wear white at the starting line Finish plastered in colour

www.thecolorrun.co.uk Location: Wembley Park, London

The Foodie

The Party

108 Marylebone represents local dining at its best. Hearty, uncomplicated food made simply delicious. 108 is open all day, seven days a week, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – great food, good wine, and customised smoothies. It’s a great place for a lazy Sunday breakfast or afternoon tea. With two courses for twenty pounds it is affordable fine dining at its best.

Of course, our summer in London is not quite complete without a hefty dose of the Rompa’s Reggae Shack Rub-A-Dub club events sponsored by Red Stripe - which is back for another series of vinyl only events with an open deck policy. So if you fancy dusting off your reggae vinyl, there is always a chance to get involved.

108 Marylebone Lane, London, W1U 2QE www.108brasserie.com

They have a new location this year boasting bigger and better space than ever before. TURNTABLES is in Hackney Wick 117 Wallis Rd. E9 5LN be sure not to miss it. Sunday, May 24th at 1:00pm - 11:00pm rompasreggaeshack.com

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VIVA L O N D O N

The Traveller Planning a hen or stag party is always an impossible task but as a Londoner it is made that bit harder by the fact you live in the city that has everything. So why would you leave? VIVA London ventured out of our confines to test the water for you. We packed our bags and headed for another electric city, Liverpool. Our destination was the A-loft hotel set in the iconic Royal Insurance Building, a locally loved landmark in the heart of the city. The perfect city break hotel with a buzzing bar, pool tables, fantastic food and Bliss spa products in the room. It was hard to leave. Rooms start at £69 www.aloftliverpool.com

The Festival The summer wouldn’t be complete without one of our favourite festivals, BoomTown. BoomTown rose up from the underground in 2009 to become one of the UK’s wildest and most inspiring, independent festivals. From a humble village fair it is now a sprawling, creative metropolis and home to every species of artistic miscreant and we love it. Year on year it gets bigger, bolder and more exciting and definitely one not be missed. www.boomtownfair.co.uk

The Organizer Whether you’re a dedicated Londoner or just a visitor it can be overwhelming to plan a night out. It’s hardly a bad thing but there is almost too much choice. So we have found you the ideal phone app to plan the perfect night. Citinite brings the whole of London’s nightlife to your fingertips, using the latest innovative technology. The app uses pinpoint, precision mapping to fully integrate you with your geographical surroundings. You can then tailor your search to past or present events, the genre of music, venue type, atmosphere, price and location. Using this information, you then integrate and become part of the Citinite community. The system learns as you go, making sure what you see is always relevant. Sounds good doesn’t it? A personal party planner at your fingertips. www.citinite.co

If you have any exciting London news or would like a chat with the VIVA London Team then please contact Kiri Bloore kiri@vivalifestyle.co.uk. www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 75

GIRLS THAT MIX

If we’d have said name your favourite DJ a few years back, people like David Guetta or Avicii may have come to mind. However there’s a new rise on the DJ scene and it’s nothing to do with a change in music. In an industry once dominated by men, proving that they can rise to the occasion and spin some decks too, women who DJ are on the rise; bringing style and class to hot new mixes and tracks. One of our favourite female DJs of all time is Lisa Lashes, the electronic dance music DJ who’s mixed numerous Euphoria tracks and is the first and only female to get into the Top Ten DJs in the world nominated by DJ Magazine. So let’s take a look at some of our local girls that can mix! VIVA caught up with DJ H, Lorna Bancroft and VIVA Ems, three girls who are becoming familiar and favourite names on the DJ scene in Manchester. . . For DJ bookings please contact: Management@vitalpublicity.co.uk

Credits: Photographer Karis Kennedy, Art Director Laura Graham Stylist Lorraine Mcculloch , hair Carly Guy using Balmain and Pro Blo and Collette Casey using Illamasqua and MAC all @vitalcreatives 76 | VIVA | w w w. v i va l i f e s t yle.c o.uk

Name Helen Holt - Dj H Style of music you DJ I’m really into music and have a very eclectic taste from Indy/RnB to 80s classics! At the moment in Manchester the niche market for me is house and RnB, fitting in with the whereabouts and social scenes I play at. I am very lucky to have a lot of close connections in the industry stateside which keeps me up to date with the latest new releases before they hit the UK. Most played tune on your iPod At the moment “simple things” by Miguel Favourite DJ I like a lot of Djs, so hard to choose a favourite.. I have met Richie Hawtin and David Guetta. They are both really nice guys. Richie combines his music and tastes when hosting a night at the renowned Space in Ibiza. He tailors the whole night and experience into his passions and his life outside of DJing and I like that as it’s like an invite into his personal life not just his music. Biggest DJ achievement so faR Yet to achieve this but I am made up to be represented for my DJing by Vital and hopefully I will become good enough to get warm up acts for big artists and be able to travel internationally working for festivals globally, that’s my dream. Dream gig COACHELLA!!

DJ H is wearing clothing by Cricket Liverpool www.cricket-fashion.com and American Apparel www.americanapparel.net

Name Lorna Bancroft from Heart Breakfast. Style of music you DJ Contempory Hit Music. Most played tune on your iPod At the moment it’s Uptown Funk, Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars. Favourite DJ Obviously my copresenter Joel Ross. Biggest DJ achievement so far I’ve done a job I LOVE for thirteen years! Dream gig I’d love to work at Glastonbury, it’s such a legendary festival.

Lorna Bancroft is wearing clothing by Temperley London www.temperleylondon.com

Name VIVA Ems Style of music you DJ sexy soulful deep house and a bit of funky disco. Most played tune on your iPod I’ve got two little beauties I can’t get enough off at the moment: ‘Bringing Back The House’ by Delgado & Rowetta, ‘What You Do’ by CJay Swayne & Jurno feat. Sarah Hart. Favourite DJ Howard Marks & Vince Vega. They both helped launched my DJ career, gave me lots of amazing advice, let me DJ with them at festivals and believed in me, I love them for all of that plus they both have the best music collections which I have raided haha. Biggest DJ achievement so faR Being warm up DJ for Brandon Block, Fun Lovin Criminals and Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt,, plus I’m a little bit excited to be on the line up for Parklife and Bestival this year. Dream gig Headline spot on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury with all my friends and family dancing on stage with me. Check VIVA Ems out on mix cloud www.mixcloud.com/VIVAEms

VIVA Ems is wearing clothing by Cricket Liverpool www.cricket-fashion.com sunglasses by Rayban www.ray-ban.com/uk

VIVA’s TOP 20 FESTIVALS TO BE AT THIS SUMMER

See you in the fields party people

t’s nearly that time of the year again to dig out the Hunters, strap on those bum-bags and put on your craziest headdress because festival season is coming. Here at VIVA, it’s our favourite time of the year, as festival season marks the start of a full summer of partying whether it’s in the muddy fields of Glastonbury or on the idyllic beaches of Croatia. We’ve picked some of our favourite festivals from across the world to give you all the lowdown on what’s happening on the festival circuit this year and we’re pretty certain they will be some of the highlights of your 2015.

Common People

Where: Southampton Common | Date: 23rd – 24th May

Line-Up: Fatboy Slim, Grace Jones, De La Soul, Clean Bandit, Jaguar Skills, Band Of Skulls, DJ Yoda, Years & Years and more VIVA Loves: This year’s line-up welcomes legends of dance like Fatboy Slim and newcomers like Years & Years to make sure the crowd parties hard ALL weekend. For those who don’t like roughing it up at festivals, you can make sure you’re partying in true style by reserving premium tickets. These will get you into The Nook, a brand new, VIP journey experience where you will be showered with divine cocktails, delicious street food and some of the best main-stage views. Common People also have some of the coolest street food a festival can offer, so forget those greasy burgers! Website: www.commonpeople.net

Parklife

Where: Heaton Park, Manchester | Date: 6th-7th June

BL9 Music Weekender Where: Event City, Manchester | Date: 13th-14th June

Line-Up: Disclosure, Rudimental, Ben Howard, George Ezra, Mark Ronson, Fatboy Slim, Grace Jones, WU Tang Clan and more VIVA Loves: Of course we may be a little bit biased in choosing the supreme Parklife as one of our Top Twenty festivals but it is, of course, THE best festival in rainy Manchester and possibly even Northwest England! This year’s line-up will not disappoint either as there are some of the biggest names in music who will be helping you party during the day and a world-class DJ line-up to keep you raving. There is then, of course, Afterlife for all you raving animals who want to carry the party on where a whole host of special after-parties will take place across Manchester. Website: www.parklife.uk.com

Line-Up: Happy Mondays, Razorlight, James Arthur, Tinchy Stryder, Echo and The Bunnymen, Peter Hook And The Light, The Farm, Coolio and more VIVA Loves: Twenty amazing bands across one weekend, BL9 is a newcomer on the festival scene and has a line-up of some of the best musical acts past and present. The festival will be the first of it’s kind to be held at EventCity and aims to bring together local people who all share a love for truly great music. BL9 is about giving Manchester a weekend to remember and that’s exactly what they’ll do this summer as the mancunian legends, Happy Mondays, are headlining on the Saturday and indie band Razorlight, will be taking to the main stage on the family focused Sunday. Website: www.bl9weekender.co.uk

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Electric Daisy Carnival UK Where: Milton Keynes | Date: 11th July

Glastonbury Where: Somerset | Date: 24th-28th June Line-up: Foo Fighters, Kanye West, Florence & The Machine, Pharrell Williams, ALT-J, Lionel Richie, Motorhead, Mary J. Blige and more VIVA Loves: It’s the legendary festival with that famous Pyramid stage that all budding musicians dream of playing. Glastonbury is one of Britain’s biggest music festivals around and is steeped in musical history. With over twenty different areas to explore, Glastonbury is like its own little island with a ton of different festivals all merging together, ensuring there really is something for everyone of all ages. They’re still being tight-lipped about the line-up, however you just know that it will be one of the best line-ups on the festival circuit. WEBSITE: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Line-Up: Hardwell, Steve Aoki, Markus Schulz, Tiesto, Paul van Dyke, Phillip George, Shy Fx Feat Stamina MC, Sigma and more VIVA Loves: VIVA Loves: Electric Daisy Carnival UK is a creative collaboration between Insomniac and Cream so you know it’s going to one BIG party. The line-up is pretty epic too as they have invited some of the most talented and well-known acts in the world of dance music. As well as some pretty mental raving, you can expect lots of carnival rides, dazzling costumes and one massive and raring-to-rave crowd. Website: www.uk.electricdaisycarnival.com

NEW LOOK WIRELESS Where: Finsbury Park London | Date: 3rd-5th July

Benicàssim Where: Benicàssim, Spain | Date: 16th-19th July

Line-Up: Drake,Avicii, Kendrick Lamar, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Mary J Blige, Childish Gambino, ASAP Rocky and more VIVA Loves: It’s one of the best RnB and rap UK festivals there is and it’s the only place to grind some moves, twerk those bottoms and spit some bars - not sober of course! As well as their famous weekend festival, Wireless will be celebrating their tenth birthday this year and they’re doing it in style with the one and only Drake headlining their special one day event in June. Drake will also be headlining the main festival in July along with rap queen, Nicki Minaj and the legendary RnB songstress, Mary J Blige. Website: www.wirelessfestival.co.uk

Electric Elephant Where: The Garden Tisno, Croatia | Date: 9th-13th July

Line-up: Blur, The Prodigy, Florence and The Machine, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Jamie T, Crystal Fighters, Portishead, Los Planetas and more VIVA Loves: Envisage sipping on sweet sangria, basking in the sunshine and being serenaded by the sultry sound of a certain Florence Welch’s angelic voice. Well that’s exactly what you can do at this year’s Benicàssim festival. Once you’ve finished being serenaded by Florence and The Machine, you can then get your party on to the legendary Prodigy and Madeon. The festival site is the perfect distance away from the Spanish beachside so you can even top up your tan in between acts. WEBSITE: www.fiberfib.com/en/

The Beat-Herder Where: The Ribble Valley, Lowely Lancashire Date: 17th–19th July

Line-Up: The 2 Bears, Todd Terry, David August, Bicep, Lindstrom, Prins Thoma, DJ Harvey, Derrick Carter and more VIVA Loves: Sometimes the only downfall of a British music festival is the rainy weather that is guaranteed with it. Imagine instead a sun-soaked festival by the aquamarine waters of the Adriatic, some of the world’s best electronic dance music and a whole hoard of party spirits. Well, stop imagining and buy your tickets to Electric Elephant one of Croatia’s best festivals this summer. Expect house, disco, electronica and a whole lot of raving in the sunshine along with beachside views and sunburnt bodies! Website: www.electricelephant.co.uk

Line-Up: Basement Jaxx, MistaJam, Parov Stelar Band, Andrew Weatherall, Boxed In, Catz ‘N’ Dogz, Mistajam, Mr Scruff and more VIVA Loves: A review of Beat-Herder Festival reads, ‘Imagine the mutant offspring of Alice In Wonderland and Lord Of The Rings - in the 70s’ that’s the type of craziness VIVA loves at any festival. Along with the craziness, they also have a sterling line-up with the epic Basement Jaxx headlining the weekend. The array of things for you to explore is as endless as last year when there was everything - their own swimming pool, dance fortress, tattoo studio, church-themed DJ venue and a whole lot of eccentric fancy dress. Website: www.beatherder.co.uk

KENDAL CALLING Where: Lake District | Date: 30th July–2nd August

Line-Up: Elbow, Snoop Dogg, James, Kaiser Chiefs, Groove Armada, The Vaccines, Groove Armada (DJ Set), Grandmaster Flash and more VIVA Loves: It’s not that often that you get to party hard in the depths of the British countryside, particularly not in the picturesque setting of the Lake District. However, Kendal Calling allows you to do just that and, with an eclectic mix of artists in this year’s line-up, 2015 is set to be a cracker for the award-winning festival. They will be celebrating their Tenth Birthday extravaganza this summer and, in pre-festival celebration mode, have even allowed their lovely festival goers to pick part of the line-up! Website: www.kendalcalling.co.uk

CAMP BESTIVAL Where: Dorset | Date: 30th July-2nd August

FORGOTTEN FIELDS Where: Sussex | Date: 7th-9th August

Line-up: Kaiserchiefs, Clean Bandit, Wretch 32, Bob Geldof, Ella Henderson, Professor Green, Underworld, Wretch 32 VIVA Loves: From the success of Bestival, Rob Da Bank and wife have continued creating new festivals and came up with Camp Bestival, winner of best family festival. Set in the idyllic Lulworth Castle in Dorset, Camp Bestival has so much to offer for the entire family. As well as a star-studded line-up there is so much to do from comedy, theatre and shows to food stalls and The Den which is special area for thirteen to seventeen year-olds to explore fashion, music, disco yoga and poetry. Line-up: Super Furry Animals, Razorlight, Basement Jaxx, Levellers, The Horrors, Levellers, De La Soul and more

WEBSITE: www.campbestival.net

VIVA Loves: The creative team behind Kendal Calling are the party brains behind Forgotten Fields Festival which takes place in the stunning Sussex countryside. This festival may be small in size (only four thousand capacity) however it makes up for it with a pretty mammoth line-up. There’s five stages filled with some of the best music on offer, a cinema, boutique camping, real ale, fancy dress frolics and some good old grub. What more could you want?

V Festival

Where: Chelmsford and Staffordshire | Date: 22nd-23rd August

WEBSITE: www.forgottenfields.co.uk

Line-Up: Kasabian, Stereophonics, Sam Smith, Calvin Harris, Olly Murs, Ellie Goulding, Courteeners, The Script and more

VIVA’s FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015 words: Lucy Matthews

VIVA Loves: V Festival is the festival for all the BIG superstar names in music to entertain the thousands that party there every summer. During the day you’ll be serenaded by some of the biggest names in pop, like Paloma Faith and Ella Henderson. Then, as soon as the sun sets, you can make your way over to the dance tents where you can party all night to the sound of Hannah Wants and Oliver Heldens. You can even visit the V Festival website where they have put together an essential festival pack with direct links to purchase the items. Let’s get packing! Website: www.vfestival.com

Festival No.6 CREAMFIELDS

Where: Portmeirion | Date: 3rd - 6th September

Where: Daresbury | Date: 28th–30th August

Line-Up: Avicii, Steve Angello, Martin Garrix, Tiesto, Duke Dumont, Oliver Heldens, Knife Party, Wilkinson and more VIVA Loves: It’s the oldest dance festival in the UK and just seems to get bigger year on year. We’ve given you a little taster of the line-up just to get the taste buds tingling. However, Creamfields 2015 is set to be the best line-up yet. They are welcoming a flurry of the world’s top DJs to the dance-filled fields to make sure they give all festival-goers a party to remember. This festival is not for the faint-hearted as you will need some serious stamina for the all-night raving. Website: www.creamfields.com

Rock en Seine

Where: Paris, France | Date: 28th – 30th August Line-up: The Chemical Brothers, Alt-J, The Libertines, Kasabian, Marina and The Diamonds, Tame Impala, FFS (Franz Ferdinand & Sparks), The Offspring and more VIVA Loves: Rock en Seine Festival takes place on the edge of Paris in the majestic Domaine National de Saint-Cloud and has a whole host of stars from all genres making up the line-up. From indie boys, Catfish and The Bottlemen to pop sensation Marina and The Diamonds, there is a musical offering for everyone. It provides something for the whole family as they even have their own Mini Rock en Seine Festival where children can rock away, get creative at various workshops and even have a dabble at some guitar and dance lessons. Parent free, of course! WEBSITE: www.rockenseine.com/en/

Reading and Leeds Where: Reading & Leeds| Date: 28th – 30th August

Line-Up: Belle and Sebastian, Grace Jones, Metronomy, James Bay, Catfish and The Bottlemen, Mark Ronson (DJ Set), Years & Years, Greg Wilson & Kermit and more VIVA Loves: Set in one of the most jaw-dropping, festival locations, the Welsh coastal village is very Italianate-inspired, surrounded by sea, mountains and forests. If the location isn’t enough to tempt you to buy a ticket then surely the incredible line-up might be. It’s only in its fourth year however, Festival No. 6 has officially cemented itself as one of the most unique music and art festivals in the UK. Festival No.6 offers much more than just a pretty view and an incredible line-up as arts and culture are an integral part of the festival, from theatre spectacles to stand up comedy. Website: www.festivalnumber6.com

Sundown

Where: Norfolk | Date: 4th - 6th September

Line-Up: Rudimental, Sigma, Tinie Tempah, Jess Glynne, Labrinth, Nero, Lethal Bizzle and more VIVA Loves: It’s one of the best festivals to close the summer season and has some of the biggest names in RnB and dance acts to help you party hard. Also exclusive to campers is their Sundown Festival’s almighty big top opening party and their closing after-party with DJ Ez and it’s the only appropriate way to open and end your weekend in style. Website: www.sundownfestival.co.uk

Bestival

Where: Isle Of Wight | Date: 10th - 13th September

Line-Up: Metallica, Mumford & Sons, Metallica, The Libertines, Wilkinson, Deadmaus, Alt-J, Royal Blood and more VIVA Loves: It’s one of the grungiest, dirtiest, rock ‘n’ roll festivals in the UK and that’s exactly why we love it! There will be some serious head-banging at this year’s festival as legendary Metallica and rock newcomers Royal Blood will be headlining. Fear not, it’s not all heavy electric guitars though as the rave begins at night with big names like the one and only Deadmau5. Website: www.readingfestival.com

Line-Up: The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Duran Duran, Tame Impala, The Jacksons, Rudimental (DJ), Skrillex, Annie Mac and more VIVA Loves: Founded by Rob da Bank, Bestival is one of our favourites and also one of the most diverse music festivals around. Their fancy-dress themed days are a particular hit with us and considering Bestival goers have always been lovers, not fighters, it makes sense that this year’s theme is Bestival’s Summer of Love. This year’s line-up is also pretty mighty, if we say so ourselves. However, as it so clearly states on their website, ‘It’s not all about the music’ and boy, are they right! Bestival offers an abundance of things to delve into like free twenty-four hour haircuts, a late night cinema in the amphitheatre and even reggae aerobics. (yes really!) Website: www.bestival.net www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 83

VIVA’s FESTIVAL TICKET GIVE-AWAY

WIN PAIRS OF

TICKETS TO THE FOLLOWING Grillstock Manchester will return to Albert Square on 30th – 31st May 2015, with Grandmaster Flash, The Heavy, Levi Roots and Cuban Bros at the city’s big weekend of meat, music and mayhem.

FESTIVALS...

Festival-goers can expect a smouldering, hot US style, low ‘n’ slow BBQ competition; chillipepper and hot-dog eating competitions with bands and DJ’s playing across two music stages. The US style ‘low and slow’ BBQ competition puts the teams through their paces as they show off their culinary skills over the smoky coals and battle it out to be crowned King of the Grill. The competition allows festival-goers the chance to interact with the teams, taste the food and experience their passion for authentic barbecue. Increasing the heat, US BBQ veteran, Dr BBQ aka Ray Lampe, will oversee the judging. Grillstock Manchester will be headlined by legendary New York DJ, Grandmaster Flash. as well as purveyors of sexy music, riotous comedy and sensational dancing the Cuban Bros. Grillstock favourite, the inimitable Levi Roots, will also be on hand delivering some lunchtime reggae and soul whilst indie rock band, The Heavy, headline the Sunday in Albert Square. Beatbox Blues band, Hey Moonshaker; retro-modern siblings, Kitty Daisy and Lewis; country blues inspired, Rev Peyton’s Big Damn Band and The Hosts have all been added to the bill, bringing the unmistakable sounds of rockabilly, blues and good old rock and roll to the city’s BBQ fans. Food fans can also check out the Weber BBQ Academy, craft beer from Brewdog in a New York Dive Bar, bourbon dens and village of BBQ traders serving up pit-smoked, meaty treats and Grillstock’s very own Pale Ale, which was created especially for BBQ.

FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION GO TO: WWW.GRILLSTOCK.CO.UK

TO WIN ANSWER THE

FOLLOWING QUESTION: In which park does Parklife take place? Email your answer, name, telephone number and which festival you would like to attend to: competition@vivalifestyle.co.uk Good Luck VIVA

VIVA M U S I C Capital Breakfast with Rob Ellis Weekdays 6-10 am

s Summer arrives in Manchester, so do a host of international mega-stars. The likes of Olly Murs, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, The Vamps and 5 Seconds of Summer to name but a few and of course, we’ve been getting you in to all of these gigs since we kicked off with Access All April - an entire month of ticket giveaways. On the 6th and 7th of June, Parklife takes over Heaton Park for an amazing weekend of live music. We’ve been giving away weekend passes and we’ll also be backstage for the whole weekend; bringing you all the gossip and goingson as they happen. Parklife is always a huge weekend as the best live artists arrive with the summer sun. Artists like Disclosure, Rudimental, George Ezra, Mark Ronson, Fuse ODG and loads of others in a stacked line-up. We put on the biggest event of December at the O2 in London - The Jingle Bell Ball - and there is some very exciting

ON THE VIVA MUSIC RADAR: Feed The Kid news about our Summertime Ball coming very soon. Over the past few years, Capital has taken over Wembley Stadium, bringing the biggest pop stars on the planet on to the same stage. Last year alone, we brought you the likes of; Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Cheryl Cole, Pharrell, David Guetta, Miley Cyrus, in fact a list too long for this column to tell you just how good this day was. We’ll have all the info on tickets, line-up, venues and dates for what will be, without doubt, one of the fast established gigs of the year. June will also mark the return of another epic Manchester voice - Rachel will be back. Rob and Wingman have been left alone for far too long now. So now Rachel and fiancé Chris have welcomed baby boy Charlie, it’s the boys in the studio that need her back. We can’t wait to have her back on the airwaves and waking up Greater Manchester, everyday from 6am.

Rob, Rach & Wingman

IVA’s monthly music radar just got a whole lot more rock’n’roll, as this month we’re bringing you the musical delight that is Feed The Kid. This talented fivepiece have some of the most stylish wardrobes to break into the Manchester music scene and their music is pretty darn good too. The fivesome - consisting of lead singer, Curtis Taylor; lead guitarist, Ciaron Egan; guitarist, Dane Stubbs; bassist, Eddie Dawson and drummer, Adam Smith certainly don’t sound like born and bred Mancunians as their music sounds like it could have come straight out of the country swamps of the Southern US. That dirty blues-rock influence is evident on their new single ‘Red River’ as lead singer Curtis’ retro vocals shine through. He explains, “I listen to a band called Free and they’re quite seventies, country blues so I look to them for inspiration.” Black Sheep and drummer, Adam’s musical appreciation of Metallica is definitely less present in their sound. He told VIVA, “I’m not into anything these like. That works well for the band though because we all

bring different things to the table and it all just rolls into one.” Feed The Kid seem to have honed their own unique sound which has set them apart from other upcoming Manchester bands. “I think we used to listen naively to some Manchester bands that aren’t that good but got a big accolade. We’ve tried to move away from that and use other influences that we like.” explains Curtis. They have certainly set themselves apart as they just keep on churning out the footstomping, whisky-laden, blues-rock anthems. Luckily the Feed The Kid lads have one of the busiest gig schedules around and you will be able to catch them live in Manchester and across the UK this summer as well as at the mighty music festival, Kendal Calling. Read VIVA’s full interview with the band at vivalifestyle.co.uk Listen to Feed The Kid’s new single ‘Red River’ by visiting their soundcloud:soundcloud. com/feedthekid /FeedTheKidMusic @FeedTheKidMusic words: Lucy Matthews

Eat, Snowboard, Rave, Repeat …

If you haven’t heard of Snowbombing before, (and why the hell not) it’s the coolest – literally – festival in the mountains held in Mayrhofen, Austria. This is the end-of-ski-season celebration moulded into the start of the summer festival-season kick off! Whist snowboarding bums were raving on one side of the mountain at Rompas Reggae Shack, on the other side fun was being had by all at the water splash and mountain sports day and spotted racing down the slopes was skiing legend Eddie the Eagle. Down in the Mayrhofen village the Cuban Brothers were raving and misbehaving at their pool party, yes you heard me a pool party in the Mountains! Top of the highlights has to be Sigma, Cameron Edwards and Joe Lenzie who smashed out hit after hit to a highly energised crowd in the Racket Club including ‘Lassitude,’ the latest single featuring Labrinth, ‘Higher’ and number one hit ‘Nobody To Love.’ Read full review at www.vivalifestyle.co.uk

Manchester’s Music Blast From The Past:

The Black Grape Reunion

Black Grape are known for their funky and eclectic sounds which get people on the dance floor and with this reunion night it was clear to see nothing had changed. Here at VIVA we love a good gig and when we heard the Black Grape would be hitting Manchester we were first in line to check it out. The gig was hosted to support Bez’s The Reality Party and hoped to raise awareness of its politics. The Granada Studios Warehouse was the perfect setting for this mix of great musicians who were spread over two rooms, these included: Main room-Black Grape, Skittles and 8 Gold Rings, Jenna and The G’S, Backhanders, Alias Kid, Metrodome, T-Man and Black Josh (LEVELZ) and Bar Stage - Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets/Xfm), MC Tunes, DJ Mica, DJ Robin Smith, JM Barrington Bez is also the patron for Coffee4Craig, a Salford-based charity which supports the homeless. The night helped to raise much needed funds for this charity which works tirelessly to support people in need. For more infomation about Black Grape gigs go to: www.blackgrapeofficial.com words: Emily Howett

Photographer: Rosie Hardy | Art Director: Laura Graham | Stylist: Lorraine Mcculloch | Hair: Carly Guy | Make Up: Collette Casey

Carolynne Poole Bringing Country Back

hree years after being involved in those controversial X Factor finals Leeds lass, Carolynne Poole, is forging her own career and looking forward to launching her first album for Britain’s evolving and ever-growing country audience. Aged eighteen Carolynne decided to move to London to pursue a career in music. Through hard work and determination she was a signed songwriter by the time she was twentyone. She told VIVA, “I had to dilute my work back then but there’s always been that underlying country thread.” Traditionally country music traces its roots to the Appalachian mountain region of the nineteen twenties but its true origins lie in the celtic ballads brought to the US by early British immigrants. True to this, Carolynne reminds us, “I’m not from Texas, I’m from Leeds but a lot of the album is influenced by my time in Nashville.” Carolynne’s new album comes from diversely creative backgrounds - like a studio in Los Angeles or a tipi (tepee) on a mountaintop in Arizona - and her new music promises to deliver. She

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tells us, “Throughout the last two years I’ve been through a lot of life changes. Like travelling America for months and separating from my husband.” Emotionally, it’s been a creative time and, during her American adventure, she also spent some time co-writing with Jeff Silbar who wrote ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’ Country music is making a comeback this summer but don’t start hitching your turn-ups just yet. Some of the most successful country from recent years has avoided the deadly twang-trappings of the past. Previous country lyrics were hung up on reactions to bad behaviour but shifts in music motif and audience mean this no longer necessarily applies. Now the general vibe is to forget the consequences and concentrate on having a good time. With that in mind Carolynne’s pretty sure that the party is just getting started here. Although the album contains elements of sensitivity, she promises us, “It’s a positive album. I really wanted to keep an underlying English tone, so it’s catchy country-pop and it’s one for all the women out there.” Down-to-earth

Carolynne isn’t worried about being tarnished by the controversy of the past and she isn’t preoccupied with trying to be ‘cool.’ She explains, “I’m just having fun doing pop music. I want people to enjoy my music and not take it too seriously. I really wanted an album that you can listen to and feel good about. It says, ‘Come on girls, let’s have some fun!’” So what does the summer of country hold for Carolynne? Her upcoming single ‘I Love You But Shut Up’ has already been well received and she’ll be showcasing her new album on the 28th May at Gorilla in Manchester. If you like the idea of being among the close family, friends and industry VIP guests in attendance, VIVA are giving away a few coveted tickets. To find out how to get hold of them and to read the full interview, head over to: vivalifestyle.co.uk Follow Carolynne on Twitter @CarolynnePoole www.carolynneofficial.com words: Rebekah Spratt

viva events

LET US GET YOUR PARTY STARTED

A good event is made up of key ingredients that will make it the most envied of the season and the VIVA team are using their experience and knowhow to make your event the most stylish and memorable. If you have an idea and do not know where to begin, VIVA Events is there to organise to the very last detail, ensuring your event is the most sought-out in Manchester and Cheshire. From fashion shows to grand openings, VIVA is able to delve into their extensive contacts portfolio to make any kind of guest request possible. VIVA also offers PR services to get you noticed with their elite contacts within the media and hosting a database of an increasing 60,000 people in the Manchester and Cheshire area. Contact VIVA EVENTS for a consultation on 0161 2280065 or email vip.events@vivalifestyle.co.uk

THE NEW EARLY BIRDS DRIVE TIME SHOW TUNE INTO FAB RADIO INTERNATIONAL, EVERY TUESDAY FROM 3PM-6PM /TheEarlyBirdsCazMatthewsEmmaWilkinson

@earlybirdsmcr

mcrearlybirdsmcr www.fabradiointernational.com

Ten manc’s by Karin Albinsson

Photo and words: Karin Albinsson I first photographed John Robb in 1998. On a cold evening in April, seventeen years later, we recreated that shoot. In Manchester John is known as a singer and songwriter - as part of the bands Goldblade and Membranes - television presenter, journalist and author among other things. John describes himself as none! (I describe him as, ‘the cool-looking punk bloke on the bike’ and everyone knows who he is!) Although John is thought of as a Mancunian, he is actually a seasider from Blackpool with a Scottish Mother; his late Father was from London’s East End and John still has his roots firmly in Blackpool. He loves Manchester and its people but does not intend to hijack their heritage! He talks about Blackpool as a ‘schizo town’ - half of it a holiday resort and the other half endless suburbs. The town felt cut off but was big enough to have its own world - with a great punk scene, including his band the Membranes! As a young child growing up in Blackpool, he was interested in reading, science and bird watching but life changed at high school! “It was cold, dark and depressing - a monochromatic, overcrowded rat run that only got fun in the sixth form when punk rock came along and I grew three inches taller over the summer! Glam started it, punk took it over the trenches. Create your own culture was crucial and make your own rules. It mirrored what we already felt. It was sex, drugs and rock n roll all at once!” As John grew older Blackpool felt smaller and suffocating so in 1984 he moved to Manchester. He believes Manchester is a great city with no leaders, the people are what count and there are no figureheads. When asked which Manchester personalities he finds most interesting, his reply was, “The most interesting Mancunian is the next one I meet.” At the moment John is writing two books, one about the dark side of the post punk era and the other is a collected work of journalism from the first interview of Nirvana to Stone Roses, etc. He is also busy getting ready to release the first Membranes’ album for twenty-five years and it’s already getting great reviews all over the world. His biggest achievement in life is that he survived the rock n roll rat run and, regarding his dream for the future, he is living the dream! My last question.. What’s your answer to eternal youth? Sex, drugs and rock n roll - two out of three and being a vegan! www.vivalifestyle.co.u k | VIVA | 91

W ords B y DARREN R L GORDOn

VIVA C I N E M A R E L E A S E S

Tw i t t e r : @ D a r r e n R L G o r d o n / @ D N A _ AC T I N G L A S S

Ted 2 10th June 2015

Mad Max: Fury Road - 15th May 2015

ontinuing the trend of remaking classic/cult films from the 80’s, this is a reworking of the Mel Gibson lead, post apocalyptic drama featuring a road warrior who, having lost everything, has nothing to lose. Set in a world where people fight to the death for survival, Max (Tom Hardy) finds an ally in Furiosa. (Charlize Theron) It will be interesting to see what George Miller, writer and producer on some of the original Mad Max films, can bring to this new interpretation. Part of the appeal of the 70’s/80’s incarnation was the rough, indie film, style of the production. There was a real sense of these characters roughing it in the Australian outback for months. Tom Hardy’s Mad Max is unlikely to have endured the same lack of comfort, I’m sure but in terms of the depth and traumatic history of the character, Hardy is the obvious choice to carry this role and, if it does work, expect at least two more films in this franchise.

he foul mouthed and uninhibited child’s toy come to life, paws out another helping or crass, cr ude, cheeky comedy. A cast of star s rolls up in a caper that sees Ted marr y and then find himself in a legal battle when he has to prove that he is a living being in order to ‘father’ children. As with any Seth MacFar lane production, this is not for kids. The scene in the sperm bank is utter ly outrageous and had me cringing all the way through. Expect many many many more laughs than the awful ‘Million ways to die in the West’ (even Midas couldn’t turn that into Gold).

fter the sad loss of Sir Richard Attenborough, the return of the ‘Jurassic’ brand is timely. Over twenty years after the 1993 original, the Jurassic theme park is struggling for numbers and a new and enticing attraction is needed to boost footfall. Naturally, things don’t go as planned. Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) leads the cast of this action drama, and once again displays his sharp comedic timing and instinctive reactions. A good old family scare-fest.

Terminator Genisys - 26th June 2015

remember being enthralled, frightened and amazed by the first ‘Terminator’ movie when I was finally allowed to watch it, having been in low single digits when it first hit the big screens. Having watched it again recently, it is still an excellent film, albeit that it looks a little dated. Terminator 2 was decent, a lot slicker and arguably just as menacing but after that the brand lost momentum and quality. Taking a strand from the modern ‘Star Trek’ franchise, ‘Genisys’ takes an alternate timeline and finds Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) searching for Sarah Conner (Emilia Clarke) to prevent ‘Judgement Day.’ Arnold Schwarzenegger reprises his role as the Terminator but bear in mind that he is 30 years older. This project, like so many of the moment, is essentially a reboot of an 80’s film for a new audience and they throw in former time lord Matt Smith, for good measure. This is well trodden ground and previous projects of this nature have proved that the big Hollywood studios can ‘print money’ by looking back to the future.

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Jurassic World 12th June 2015

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation 31st July 2015

om Cruise returns as the indomitable Ethan Hunt in the fifth offering from the MI stable. Once again, he leads his skilled team, including Simon Pegg, against an opponent like no other, that has an intent to destroy IMF and continue their foul deeds. This collective has etched its image in film folklore with the scene where Hunt was suspended over a touch sensitive floor as he pulled of a heist in MI 1. A scene that has been satirised and spoofed so many times. Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson and Jeremy Renner also feature.

VIVA D V D R E L E A S E S 3

Jupiter Ascending 29th June 2015

ila Kunis plays Jupiter Jones, a hard done by, average girl who suddenly finds herself positioned as the potential saviour of the planet at the centre of a complicated family wrangle on an intergalactic scale. An awkward flirtation with a ‘part wolf ’ Channing Tatum ensues, as Jupiter adjusts to the concept of her ‘ascension’ with remarkable, and unbelievable, ease. A hammy performance from the recent Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne and an overcomplicated plot, detract from a visually stunning film that is particularly spectacular in 3D.

Chappie 13th July 2015

outh African director Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium), returns with this drama set in a world where law and order is maintained by robots. When one of those robots is stolen and reprogrammed, it develops the ability to think and feel for itself. Blomkamp has carved a niche for himself with feature films that explore concepts of earth’s future. His projects usually pose some interesting questions if not always really getting to the heart of them. Stars Dev Patel with supporting roles for Hugh Jackman and Sigourney Weaver.

American Sniper - 1st June 2015

ased on a true story, this moving por trayal of the deeds of Chris Kyle, an American Navy Seal who proved to be an exper t sniper, saving countless lives in conflict situations. The film really captures the essence of the pressure that someone in that situation is under and once again showcases Clint Eastwood’s brilliance as a director. His work consistently compels the audience to emotionally engage and commit to the protagonist and sympathise or more powerfully, empathise, with them. Through an astonishing performance from Bradley Cooper, we get to explore the damage of the brutality of war and how it affects his personal relationships at home, to the point where he seeks solace in the various tours of duty he keeps returning to. This is not just another American film that flag waves and lacks depth, but a sensitive, dramatic insight into a world of warfare that is rarely depicted in film.

Birdman 4th May 2015

asting Michael Keaton in this film was a stroke of genius as the parallels between the circumstances of the character and the actor are ver y obvious. An actor whose career has seen better days, especially when he played a high profile superhero, battles to bring his life back to some order and get his career back on track. Keaton has always been a fascinating actor who radiates a dar k energy that gave his ‘Batman’ luminosity. His wor k in this role received much, justified, critical acclaim.

Whiplash - 1st June 2015

s a mentor, you sometimes see potential in someone that they can’t really see in themselves, and when you witness that, you can be motivated to try to push that individual to realise their potential. The question then is the tact taken to assist, motivate, guide and encourage. Whiplash is an affecting drama by young writer director Damien Chazelle. In it, he looks at the relationship between a young drummer, whose tutor decides to make him his personal mission. Thus a relationship is formed where we see that student pushed to the limits, not just artistically but personally too. One is left questioning whether the ends justifies the means as he is bullied and harassed to achieve what his mentor feels he is capable of. With a relatively unknown cast, this is a film where you can settle into the story without being distracted by the reputation or history of the cast. A touching, energising film that still has elements reflective of a young filmmaker, but deserves the nominations and positivity it has had. An intelligent and engaging watch.

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VIVA L I S T I N G S

EVENTS, SHOWS & GIGS NOT TO MISS THIS SUMMER

IN MANCHESTER &

TAKE THAT VENUE: MCR ARENA DATE: 21st-26th, 28th-30th MAY & 18th JUNE TICKETS: £55-£85 Following the release of their seventh studio album, IIII and their fifteenth Cocktails In The City number one single,These Days,Take VENUE: great northern That boys Mark, Gary and Howwarehouse ard are bringing their tour to the Manchester Arena for a spectacular DATE: 14th & 15th may nine night residency including supTICKETS: £10 Cocktail fans, get ready as Cocktails port act Ella Henderson from the X In The City returns! Twenty amazing Factor.With previous shows including Manchester bars will be presenting aerialists, circus performers and giant elephants, the band’s first tour as a the best cocktails from their menus, three-piece is one not to miss! including new and rising bars such as The Hawksmoor, Fumo and Mr Coopers.

GREAT GATSBY CHARITY BALL IN AID OF DR KERSHAW’S HOSPICE VENUE: SMOKIES DATE: MAY 15TH TICKETS: £45 Relive the glamorous days of Gatsby at this 1920s inspired ball. Packed with canapés, a glorious four course meal and a live DJ, prepare for a night filled with glamour, indulgence and spectacular entertainment. Even better, it’s all in the name of charity.

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JAMES ARTHUR VENUE: THE RITZ DATE: MAY 23RD TICKETS: £20 He’s been labelled the ‘bad boy’ of X Factor and this May he is returning to Manchester following his sell-out tour. ‘The Story So Far’ showcases James’ incredible vocals and includes fabulous collaborations with top producers, Naughty Boy and Salaam Remi.

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STEAK & LOBSTER JAZZ SUPPER CLUB VENUE: STEAK & LOBSTER DATE: MAY 31ST TICKETS: £24.95 Steak & Lobster are proud to celebrate the days of jazz in Manchester by recreating one of the most popular clubs in town - Club 43.The night will feature a delicious Cajun buffet along with a performance from The Suzanne Mott Quintet.

WICKED THE MUSICAL VENUE: THE LOWRY DATE: JUNE 3RD – JULY 25TH TICKETS: FROM £36 This musical took the world by storm, raked in hundreds of international awards and is still breaking records at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre. Our favourite green witch returns to Manchester this summer with a charming twist on the classic story of The Wizard of Oz.There’ll be show-stopping costumes, epic singing and lots of green face paint.

THE IDEAL HOME SHOW VENUE: EVENT CITY DATE: JUNE 4TH – 7TH TICKETS: £12 Everyone needs a bit of home décor inspiration and, following the hugely successful launch in 2014, the Ideal Home Show returns to Manchester. The event will be full of industry experts, top designer brands and a bunch of inspirational ideas for our humble abodes.

WHOLE LOTTA LED – LED ZEPPLIN TRIBUTE VENUE: THE MET DATE: JUNE 13TH TICKETS: FROM £15 Now in their nineteenth year,Whole Lotta Led are the UK’s leading tribute to Led Zeppelin.This show will feature songs from Led Zeppelin’s critically acclaimed double album, Physical Graffiti - which is celebrating its fortieth anniversary - plus all the usual classics. Get ready to rock out!

EVENTS AND SHOWS GIGS CANCER RESEARCH UK RACE FOR LIFE “PRETTY MUDDY” VENUE: TATTON PARK DATE: JUNE 20TH WONDER.LAND – Welcome To Fabulous TICKETS: REGISTER VISIT A NEW MUSICAL Manchester With Ricky www.raceforlife.org VENUE: MCR INTERNATIONAL Hatton Race for life just got a whole lot FESTIVAL VENUE: the VICTORIA muckier and a whole lot funnier. DATE: JUNE 29TH – JULY 12TH warehouse Ladies, get ready to climb, jump and TICKETS: FROM £12 DATE: 13th june laugh the five-K obstacle course all Inspired by the classic tale Alice In TICKETS: £22 in aid of kicking cancer’s butt! Wonderland,Wonder.land is a new LET’S GET MUDDY! Celebrate Ricky Hatton’s annivermusical with with music by Damon sary of winning the world title.With Albarn, book and lyrics by Moira performers such as Northside, Buffini.The modern-day twist on the Happy Mondaze, Bez and more to classic tale explores the life of twelvebe confirmed, this party shouldn’t year-old Aly who becomes Alice in an be missed. extraordinary virtual world.

Taylor Swift VENUE: MCR Arena DATE: JUNE 24th TICKETS: FROM £61.50 Our favourite girl,Taylor Swift, returns to Manchester for a performance with a bang.The Shake It Up singer will be showcasing tracks from her latest studio album, 1989 which has sold over 8.6 million copies worldwide.This will be her first live show in Manchester since her sold-out date at the Arena on 2011s Speak Now tour.

Jimmy Carr Funny Business VENUE: O2 APOLLO DATE: JUNE 27th TICKETS: £28.95 Comedy legend Jimmy Carr is back with some funny business which promises to be a great night out packed with jokes and laughs. Performing his latest stand up tour at the O2 Apollo in Manchester you’d be mad not to grab these tickets starting from just £25 each.

FLEETWOOD MAC VENUE: MCR ARENA DATE: JULY 1ST TICKETS: £50 - £125 The legendary Fleetwood Mac are gracing Manchester and have added an extra date as part of their ‘On With The Show Tour.’ The five star line-up have promised epic guitar solos, massive drumming and spinetingling vocals.They will, of course, be doing classic hits like Gypsy,The Chain and,VIVA’s personal favourite, Dreams.

MARY J BLIGE VENUE: O2 APOLLO DATE: JULY 2ND TICKETS: FROM £40.50 She is arguably Queen of R&B and has recently teamed up with electronic duo Disclosure and UK vocal sensation Sam Smith on her album ‘London Sessions.’ Details about her upcoming UK tour remain top secret, however we’re pretty certain her soulful vocals are guaranteed to bring the house down.

TOM ODELL VENUE: DELAMERE FOREST DATE: JULY 4TH TICKETS: £37.95 He was the voice of 2012 and now Tom is back, having announced a special seven show forest tour across England’s woodlands.The piano playing, song-writing mastermind will serenade you with classic hits like ‘Another Love’ and ‘Real Love’ and has even invited along special guest Rae Morris.