Essex Style Magazine Issue 1 by Essex Style Magazine

Letter From the Editor Hello and welcome to the brand new Essex Style Magazine. I’m confident you are going to love what we have for you in this issue. As I write, the weather outside is bleak, but the sun shone brightly for us at Essex Fashion Week. We have all the latest gossip and fashion trends for you right here. We also caught up with the lovely Mick Norcross (I don’t care how he is portrayed on TOWIE, he’s a real gent!) and chatted to him about everything Essex. Once again, I hope you will enjoy reading our first issue. Let me know what you think! Lots of Love Terrie Bennett, Acting Editor terrie@essexstylemagazine.co.uk

Contents On the Cover

6 Essex Fashion Week Exclusive Interviews, Gossip & A look at up coming trends!

8 10% off at Utter Nutter

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Fantastic offer for our readers!

20 Mick Norcross The TOWIE “Daddy” fills us in on his new development and life in the limelight

29 Farm Boy review and Competition! A preview of the show and a chance to win a pair of tickets!

Issue 1 - 1st Nov 2012

Essex Style Magazine Harbour House, 23 Chandlers Quay, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4LF

Tel: 01621 878658

10 Ayo Fashion A look at the boutique clothes range taking Europe by storm!

12 Pinchos food review

Our Food and Restaurant Critic passes judgement on the seemingly “hidden gem”

14 Le Bouchon food review

The staff eat out at the new hotel and brasserie in Maldon

17 Allie’s Bespoke Jewellery

A look at the award winning jewellery and her range

18 Martin & Su

An interview with Heart FM’s popular breakfast DJ’s

23 Trevor Elsey’s Sugar Hut Column

We catch up with the Sugar Hut manager for all the news and gossip from the polpular venue

24 Spazio Interiors

The Interior design experts show us the latest and lasting trends for the home

26 Tides

We take a look round the new shop opened in Chelmsford

28 Josh Dubovie

A quick look at how the Reality TV star is doing now

30 Ask The Nurse

Any Pressing Issues you want answered by a professional? This months subject: IVF

32 Jasper Anthony

The newly refurbished salon opened on Baddow Road in Chelmsford

38 Potentia

The fitness group in Colchester fill us in on how best to maintain our health and figure

42 What’s New?

Tony Drewitt-Barlow fills us in on the best new beauty buys

Acting Editor Terrie Bennett terrie@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Advertising and Sales: Sam Cochrane sam@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Kerry Lloyd kerry@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Website: Simon George simon@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Creative: Sheryl Wright sheryl@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Sam Breeze sambreeze@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Features Writer: William Taylor william@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Social Media Executive: Nick Moon nick@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Hr Manager: Michael Mainstone michael@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Food and Restaurant Critic: Barrie Drewitt-Barlow barrie@essexstylemagazine.co.uk Contributors: Haydn Squibb Sarah Taylor Thankyou!

www.essexstylemagazine.co.uk All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those shared with the publisher. The publisher cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial and cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher.

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Essex Fashion Week ‘Coz Every Girl’s Crazy ‘Bout a Sharp Dressed Man

s there a better place to strut your stuff than a fashion show? Well, apparently not. Indeed, it was not just the models that were showing off their edgy looks at Essex Fashion Week. The red carpet was overflowing with celebrities, fashionistas and socialites, all looking to out-do one another in the fashion stakes. For the gents though, it was the twin organisers, Adam and Simon Ryan who stole the show with their well thought out, sharp look for the day. Both were wearing classy, vintage suits by high end, high street tailors, Reiss. Adam sported a single breasted three piece, mid blue number. He added a pink Prince of Wales check shirt, berry cloth tie and matching pocket square. He wore Zara suede shoes with a matching belt, whilst setting the look off with a Mulberry Tiger Broach and Rose Gold Michael Kors watch. Meanwhile, his brother Simon wore a single breasted notch lapel blazer, in grey, with three button fastening to the front. He combined this with a crisp white shirt and a gold pin through the collar, with no tie, and completed the look with a white pocket square to compliment his shirt. The twins both believe, though, that the High Street is what it is all about these days, with a number of

the bigger brands offering affordable, yet classy alternatives. Adam said: “Many of the stores have fantastic special offers and change them regularly. High street fashion changes so fast that new stock arrives each week keeping the demand high in the stores. “It’s all about the fit. Next, Zara and Topman all have affordable smart garments, but be different and mix the rest of the outfit up so you stand out from a crowd and don’t end up looking like a typical Topman shopper. “Just look at Kate Middleton who is a style icon today. She now wears high street brands, and has shown the general public that it is not all about splashing out on costly clobber. It can be done in an affordable way, and it’s even good enough for royalty.” Adam also believes that it is possible to find stylish bargains in charity shops nowadays, especially if you are prepared to look hard. He added: “We buy fitted suit jackets from charity shops and mix them up with skinny vintage ties and skinny jeans or trousers.” In modern times, looking sharp is imperative – whether it be a job interview, a date or going to work each day. As Adam and Simon say, “life is nothing but a catwalk.” If you take nothing else from what Adam says, remember this: “You never have a

second chance to make a first impression. “The first impression is made within three seconds of meetings someone. Clothes give people confidence.”

Adam & Simon Ryan with a lucky young chap who they offered entry to the show

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Get The Look!

Essex Fashion Week Cadi’s Closet

Masato

adi’s Closet offers customers a very unique shopping experience. You can choose which design you want and which material you would like and then ‘they will do the rest’. Their collection was full of colour, pattern and bold designs which really stood out at the event, and the distinctive shapes of the garments gave them a highclass edginess. Cadi’s Closet uses exquisite materials for their garments and they certainly impressed the audience with their outstanding collection.

asato has been well supported by Essex Fashion Week. He launched his company at their first event in 2011, and has been dubbed as ‘the one to watch’ at previous fashion shows. And he certainly impressed everyone this time around. His edgy designs stood out from other collections on the runway. They oozed sophistication and texture, and displayed some interesting cuts and structure. Masato is a high end designer and his garments brought class and elegance to the catwalk.

Utter Nutter

tter Nutter started trading in a small store in Ilford in 1990. They then opened a larger store in Romford in 1999. They began by specialising in European denim brands and were one of the first stores to stock Diesel in the UK. They have now expanded the range to cover all aspects of new clothing and trends but always have an emphasis on denim and street fashion. The collection for the show

was full of on trend berry colours and ‘farmer chic’ with turned up jeans and plenty of plaid. The brand certainly knows its stuff when it comes to denim, with styles and sizes to fit any man.

The event was very glamorous and it saw a lot of familiar faces from shows such as The Only Way Is Essex and The Valleys. Essex Fashion Week is still growing, but this October showed some fantastic collections from the likes of Masato, Cadi’s Closet, Harry’s World, Starship Boutique and The Essex Emporium.

10% OFF! at Utter Nutter! Just mention Essex Style Magazine or EFW at the counter!

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Recreate...

The Show Makeup Michelle MacGregor, Head Makeup Artist for Essex Fashion Week, tells us how to create the look from the shows and how to make it work for the upcoming party season. A great way to capture this on trend Autumn Winter Berry look is to buy a gorgeous deep Berry or Burgundy Lipstick. Media by Mac is a gorgeous Deep Berry colour annd suits most skin tones. High street Make-up Brands also have similar colours. Stick to a matt finish to keep it classic.

Essie Nail Polish ‘Soul Mate’ £4.99

Using Eye shadow Pigments… The trick to using pigment eye shadows (loose dusts) like the one I used on the models for Essex Fashion - Use a lip liner in a similar week, is to prime the eye shade to your lipstick, take using an eye shadow primer the lip liner over the whole of or if you don’t have one the lip area to maximise your pop some foundation or lipsticks staying power. concealer over the whole eye area. - Apply your lipstick with a Then with an eye shadow lip brush. This will ensure brush pat on the eye shadow precise application and again pigment slowly pushing it help your lipstick last longer. right into the eyelid, one you have covered the eyelid, use - Blot with a tissue and a clean eye shadow brush reapply for an extra oomph. and sweep over the eye socket, brushing back and forth to blend the into the eye. - Make sure your lips are moisturised and brush away any dryness with an old toothbrush.

MAC Pigment – ‘Heritage Rouge’ £16.50

MAC Lipstick ‘Media’ £14.00

Use a light coloured pigment to practise and then work your way to dark or bright colours as you become more confident with using Eye shadow pigments. My favourite eye shadow Pigments are: MAC Pigments £16.40 & Barry M Dazzle Dusts £4.59 Pigments give amazing colour, texture and depth. They also give you the option of some stunning Glitters and shimmers for the Festive season, so have some fun and enjoy experimenting.

Famous Shining Star Shimmer Brick ‘Beyonce’ £6.49

Lash Boutique ‘Lorna’ £6.99

e caught up with Michelle behind the scenes of Essex Fashion Week to see how she was doing and getting an exclusive first look of the makeup for the shows. “There has been a lot of

preparation gone into Essex Fashion Week – I started planning for this over a month ago. I’m looking at trends, I wanted it to be about fashion and make-up, not necessarily something the girls would wear on a night out.” She says whilst applying the finishing touches to one of the models. “So a lot of planning and research goes into doing something like this.” “The tones that we have gone for are berry tones, autumn and winter tones. A lot of that is out on the high

street now with the big make- “People can have a look at up brands. some of the things that are “A lot of planning here at the show. They can take elements of the look – and research maybe not the whole look goes into doing – and get inspired and be something like creative with their own makeup packs for going out. this.” “Don’t be bogged down by all the trends that are in the magazines. You can’t do them all, it’s just a case of taking elements from them.” With that thought we left Michelle and her team to finish working their magic. For more from Michelle visit her website at: www.glamitwithmac.com

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We’re getting all excited over the fabulous new collection from Ayo Clothing!

he perfect blend of subversive Rock n Roll and Parisian chic, Ayo is deservedly touted as one of fashion’s most exciting up and coming brands. Established just three years ago, this label prides itself on providing a uniquely alternative take on contemporary style for women who embrace their rebel spirit. Mixing casual comfort with sophistication and elegance. Ayo clothes are typified by their contemporary lines, exceptional shaping and luxurious materials. Bold, basic shapes are a key component of the Ayo look, with many pieces highlighted by striking graphics enriched with hand embroidery and rhinestones to add a touch of indulgent luxury to their urban influenced designs.

Ayo vests from £70.00 Available at: Chi Chi Boutique 173 High Street Loughton Essex IG10 4LF www.chichiboutique.uk.com

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“Year after year the brand pays attention to style and it never disappoints.” -Ed.

or too long, alternative fashion has been characterised by poor quality raw materials and an indifferent eye for detail – from its very inception, Ayo was conceived to be the perfect antidote. Their range of vests, t-shirts, jumpers and accessories in superb materials like natural cotton, linen and cashmere have been carefully selected to offer you an opportunity to rock out at the premium end of style. With 20 years experience in Pret a Porter, the Creative director moulded the brand in her own image. A simpified and cleverly modern mix of subversive rock and uncluttered style. The subversive rock style and attention to key trends never disappoints, the collection has now grown to include luxury cashmere jumpers, all of which feature striking urban art in white, black and grey tones, the brand is already a favourite of Sarah Harding who loves the rock and roll style and is set to gain a big following in the UK.

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arrie Drewitt-Barlow is well known throughout Essex (in fact Europe) as one half of the Essex Gay Dads. After years of having the media spotlight on him, he has graciously accepted the position at ES Magazine as our Restaurant Critic. Barrie has travelled the world, entourage in hand, eating at some of the most stylish eateries you can imagine. Now he will share with you, his take on the Essex dining scene.

the Range Rover and the S-Class and we headed into Chelmsford.

First stop, Strada on Baddow Road. We parked up, and headed to the greeting desk. We were waiting for a couple of moments when a young lady came over to greet us. She almost laughed out loud own “Curry Mile”. I do have when I asked her if she had to say that I am a known a table for eight. Curry Mile addict and a regular in most of them “Did you book a table?” she down this road. Watch out asked. “No” I replied, “any for later editions of Essex One problem I always have chance you can fit us in?” Style Magazine for the run is getting a table big enough down on these restaurants. to accommodate my brood, “ERM, no!” she said. This night however, we especially in the restaurants decided to try something that are popular at that Fair enough, it was a a little different! The kids time! Imagine, walking Saturday night and yes, we were pulling us; kicking and into a restaurant with my did not have a table booked, screaming along Baddow partner, five kids and one but seriously, there were Road in the hope we would nanny and saying table like six tables with people go of plan and go into Pizza for eight please. I actually at them there. We thanked Hut! NO CHANCE! Not tend to worry when I do the young lady and left. tonight. I wanted something this and they are able to We decided that we would tasty in my mouth and it was find me a table right away! carry on up Baddow Road not going to be a Pizza from Anyway, for the benefit of and see what other culinary a buffet NO WAY! ES readers, I took one for delights this chic part of the team and took my life Chelmsford had in store for Nestled along Baddow into my hands one Saturday us. Road, between Jaspernight in Chelmsford. Anthony Hair Design and Those of you familiar Pamelas Dress shop we So, 7.30 on a Saturday with Chelmsford will have stumbled upon a scene that night, August, five kids, seen the array of Indian would not be lost on any one nanny, my partner restaurants that run up the Mediterranean plaza. Chairs and myself packed into road, Chelmsford’s very and small tables on the street, we found Pinchos! A very unassuming place, busy and bustling with attractive people, couples sharing a bottle of wine and some Tapas. This certainly looked like the place to be this night. The kids pulled their noses up at the thought of having tapas again, only having had it two nights before at another venue in Chelmsford we frequent widows. It was decided, my partner

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and I would get a table at Pinchos, and the nanny would take the kids to Pizza Hut! Happy all round! We walked into the front door and were greeted by a very pleasant lady who took us to a table on the first main floor. The place is like a rabbit warren, and is much bigger inside than you would expect from the outside. There were a lot of people outside enjoying the atmosphere, but there were twice as many people sat at the comfortable tables on the inside. There was a group of people, celebrating a birthday, spread across two large tables, all enjoying themselves with tasty looking pitchers of Sangria on the tables, so we ordered a jug for ourselves. That had to be one of the nicest pitchers of Sangria I have ever tasted outside of Southern Spain! Just the right amount of fruit and wine. We decided on a mix of tapas, both warm and cold and something that we don’t normally see on the menus around Essex, Argentinian steaks. Chicken Picante x2 - Spicy chunks of chicken in a hot picante sauce. This was a small portion to be honest, BUT, my goodness they were tasty! Would

Le Bouchon

eing a new magazine we thought it only appropriate that we review a new restaurant. Essex isn’t actually known for its Cuisine, but we have had some pretty good chefs coming from here, exporting their wares across the world. Famous names like Jamie Oliver came from Essex, Delia Smith made Maldon Salt Company famous around the globe by using and promoting the product on her tv shows and in her books, but there really hasn’t ever been anything more than some local gastro pubs in Essex to write home about until NOW: Certainly Essex has been lacking in truly French Bistro’s, but managed by Devide Hantonie, Le Bouchon Brasserie & Hotel has made a good first impression on our table of ten critics.

in restaurant and opened at your table not behind the bar. Something we enjoyed during our visit.

The surroundings are new, airy and welcoming with lots of space between tables and very comfortable chairs. A long spacious bar, serving cocktails is a great start to not just a lunch but a leisurely afternoon. The restaurant area seating 60 with a private dining area for 20 people.

BRASSERIE & HOTEL

chips on the side. After a light but filling two courses washed down with a French Sauvingnon Blanc, from the wide variety of wines on the wine list, we opted out of deserts and just had a fresh hot coffee. An excuse to go back again soon to taste more of the delicious dishes!!

Our next visit was an evening dinner. We were entertaining visitors from the USA and my Boss! After our lunch visit a couple of days before, I thought that this was the perfect venue Our first visit, was a lunch time to impress our clients and to visit; The two course lunch show my boss that I had actually menu at £12.95 was great value done my homework. After for money offering your typical walking the red carpet to the front door from the carpark, We French dishes, French onion soup, pate of fois gras, to name a were greeted on the reception by few. I opted for a light Bouchon a very cheery lady who showed us into the dinning area. Salad, which was taste and a perfect portion size. For main Devide originally from Franche- course the Moules Mainieres We were greeted then by the Comte, East of France has been was one of the best I’ve tasted manager who showed us to the in the restaurant industry for the with a rich cream sauce great over 15 years. He is fastidious for dipping the French fried about the “French restaurant way” down to the table clothes being ironed whilst on the tables! And wine being displayed

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table. The dinning experience of this evening was just lovely, we really had a wonderful time and my boss was very impressed with me for finding such a lovely place to have taken our clients. The hotel side of Le Bouchon opened on the 1st of October and if it follows the restaurants standards of todays review will be a great success! In any case, watch this space, we start with our mystery shoppers from next months features and this venue is going to be one we keep an eye on. Le Bouchon Brasserie & Hotel Hollywood Road, Heybridge Maldon CM9 4LT www.le-bouchon.co.uk

e know how important your peace of mind is, and the importance of your wedding day. Whether dressing for a simple wedding overseas or a huge event at home, The Bespoke Wardrobe will guide you to your perfect wedding gown, allowing you to enjoy this once in a lifetime experience and relax. The Bespoke Wardrobe has recently opened a beautiful double fronted flag ship store in the stunning town of Ingatestone, Essex. 20 minutes from Liverpool Street and a five minute walk from Ingatestone Station, The Bespoke Wardrobe has fast become one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading bridal boutiques.

The Bespoke Wardrobe 96 High Street Ingatestone Essex CM4 0BA

Telephone: 01277 355787 Email: bespoke.wardrobe@btinternet.com

All our designer collections are made in England and made using the finest quality fabrics and trimmings.

www.thebespokewardrobe.co.uk

Bespoke Jewellery by

Allie

Allie is a British designer based in Essex. She has been producing bespoke pieces for many years and has been seen glamming up the oufits of many celebs. Cheryl Cole, Peter Andre and Alesha Dixon to name but a few…

As well as bridal jewellery and headdresses, she handcrafts glamourous evening jewellery, through to everyday fashion pieces. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted, using only the finest materials. Allie has been previously nominated and was finalist for the Wedding Retailer Awards and has been featured in top Prices available glossies. Here at ES we have fallen in love with her charm bracelets. They can be dressed down and worn with a vest and jeans, or dressed up for a glamourous night out! Her skull bracelet is bang on trend for the coming seasons.

upon request.

Allie

was nominated for an Award for the Wedding Industry Experts Awards 2012 for the “Best Jewellery” Category and won! A quick word from Allie: I am overwhelmed by the support and commitment from all my clients, work contacts, friends and family for voting for Allie Jewellery! Not only did I win Best Jewellery in Essex, but also Best Jewellery in England AND Best Jewellery WORLDWIDE! I have worked so hard over the years and at times stepped out of my comfort zone to achieve some of the results that I have so I do feel very proud right now, but also a huge thank you to you all, I couldn’t have done this without your love, support and for believing in me! Thank you, Love Allie x

Visit: www.alliehandmadeoriginaljewellery.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllieJewellery

There’s something about listening to someone on the radio, then actually meeting them in real life. People really are never quite what you think. Certainly this was the case when ESM was granted an exclusive interview with the county’s most celebrated radio couple, Martin and Su! If you saw them, you might not recognise them. But Martin Day and Su Harrison are two of Essex’s most iconic characters, served with the task of waking up the county every morning for more than a decade. We arrived early at the Chelmsford studios for our appointment with the lovable radio duo, and waited patiently as the Thursday morning show approached its conclusion. Driving in, we were frantically trying to ‘guess the year’ on Heart’s popular Time Tunnel, a game played every day where listeners phone in and attempt to name the year the feature songs were first released. “It’s now time to reveal what the year of today’s Time Tunnel is,” Martin announces. “It was the year my son was born…” he continues. “The year we are looking for was nineteenninety…” “…Keep right,” the Sat-Nav rudely interrupts, with the sort of comical timing that even Martin himself would envy. Typical. Martin laughs as we recalled the story, upon meeting him and Su. After initially refusing to tell us, only adding to the frustration, he reveals the year in question is 1994. Oh dear, we were a year out – but then again, isn’t that always the case? Neither Martin nor Su are originally from Essex. Martin candidly admits he is just a council estate boy from Croydon, while Su is originally from the Midlands, where, as she puts it, the weather is a lot colder. “That is one of the things I love about Essex,” she says. “The

Martin

weather. Oh my goodness, the weather! My family call it the Costa del Essex because it is so much hotter! “I love being by the coast here as well. Back home there is no sea for miles, you have to drive about 200 miles before you get to any water. “When we used to work in Southend, I would often sit down at the seafront and ring my mum and go ‘I’m sat on the beach, it is lovely!’” Both of them are settled in the area now, though. Martin is married with children, while Su is in a long-term relationship and has a young daughter of her own. You could say, they are to Essex what Stephen Fry or Michael Caine are to Britain – they are one of our county’s treasures. Having worked on the breakfast show together for 12 years, however, you cannot help but think they are a bit like a married couple – Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley, eat your heart out. “Yeah – no sex,” Su laughs. “Oh she’d be lucky,” Martin quickly adds. “And quite often we can’t stand the sight of each other, we don’t really agree on much. So yeah, exactly like a

marriage, I’d say!” For the next five minutes, they bicker between each other and it is quite amusing to watch. If we didn’t think they were a bit of a married couple before, we certainly do now. The truth of the matter is, though, the pair of them work well together. Their success over the past 12 years is no fluke and even still, people enjoy tuning in to listen to their show. Somehow it just works, and you wouldn’t want things any other way. What you hear from Martin and Su on air is genuine, that is how they really are with one another, and long may that continue. You would imagine that getting up as early as they do every morning would become a bit of a chore – they’re on air by six o’clock – but both of them say that the early start is nothing that really bothers them. “I’m up at four every day,” Martin says. “For me it’s normal. You wake up at four anyway, because that’s just your body clock. Although at weekends, I may go back to bed after sitting in the office for a couple of hours smoking fags.”

“You’ll always be like that,” Su

essexstylemagazine.co.uk

says in agreement. “It is the same with any job you do. Your body clock just adapts.” One of the things that attracts listeners to the Heart Breakfast show, as opposed to others, is the diversity of the music. Rather than simply playing what is in the charts, there is a wide range of music ranging from golden oldies right up to the modern day. It’s not as if Martin and Su have any say if it, of course. “Well that’s a common misconception that we get to decide what songs to play,” Martin admits. “We have absolutely no say! “The only time that I ever got to pick any of the music was on the 80’s show. Music is picked for you, and it is at every radio station.” Nevertheless, the pair of them still have a certain amount of artistic licence when it comes to the show. Whilst the music on Heart Essex might be the same as, say, Heart Suffolk, when it comes to what they talk about each morning, things are very different. “That is generally up to us,” Su.

And Su !

says. “It is your own experiences, really. Something you read, something you pick up, something that happened to us yesterday. “It is just everyday things, because they are what make people listen and respond. If we did things that were so far out of people’s realms, we’d never get any interaction. “We’d never get calls, we’d never get texts, and we wouldn’t get Facebook things. So there would be no point talking about things people don’t understand or get.” Indeed, the pair of them must be getting something right, as after all these years they’re still going as strong as ever. Whilst they often meet their fellow breakfast show presenters from other counties up and down the country, they say it is noticeable how much

people put their hands up. “It would happen every year. We’d keep going, and every time we would see new faces.” Whilst Martin and Su both actively try not to spend too much time together outside of the studio, the four hours they have spent in one another’s company every morning for the past 12 years has certainly had an effect. They work well together, but at the same time know each other very well. Su knows all of Martin’s good points and all of his bad habits. “Bad habits? I’m not sure I’ve got any,” Martin laughs. “Oh he does,” Su quickly responds. “He chews his finger nails down to the bone. I mean, he sits there and sometimes he makes them bleed, and then sits there going ‘ouch, ouch…’” Martin admits that his finger chewing probably is one of his bad habits, but jokes that working with Su makes him nervous, and that’s why he does it. “With Su, the picking of the nose is very off-putting,” he jokes, to which she quickly denies it. “You do! I say you’re picking your nose and you say ‘no I’m not’ as she pulls her finger out!” The comical bickering has things seem to change year by started again. year. “We meet up a lot,” Martin says. “I’m just scratching it,” Su says. “No you’re not scratching it,” “They used to have an event Martin adds with a smile. “You called Boot Camp, which was start scratching it when you see where all the breakfast show DJs would get together, and we I’ve seen you’ve got your finger up it, up to your knuckle!” would all get to meet up, swap ideas and it would be a seminar about radio. “It was all very corporate stuff, we would have people over from America, and it would be a very professional way of learning different techniques. But a lot of the listeners came and went.” Su adds: “That is how we used to know that we had been around for a long time. “We used to go to this boot camp and they would say: ‘who’s not been to boot camp before?’ And there was me, Martin and another couple who just used to sit there in the corner while all these other

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You can see how these two work so well together in the radio studio. Their personalities bounce off one another so brilliantly; it is just entertaining to watch. As our meeting comes to an end, we find ourselves wondering what the future holds for Martin and Su and the breakfast show. “That’s the scariest question in the world,” Martin says, putting on a childish voice and clasping his hands to his face. They both work on a freelance basis, meaning they are not on the Heart Essex payroll, as such, but they are contracted until the end of 2013. But Su admits that does not necessarily mean their show will end there. Whilst their contract is not a rolling one, there is every chance that if things go well, they will be offered a new deal. “So we carry on doing our job to the best of our ability,” she says. “Hopefully together, because that’s the way it works. “When it gets to the end of 2013, they’ll decide whether they want us or don’t want us, and I’ve always been of the feeling of, you know what, enjoy the ride. “It has been an amazing 12 years so far. If we get another year out of it, that’s fine. If we get another 12 years out of it, fabulous.”

Mick

Norcross

Having begun his working life as a welder in Tilbury, Mick Norcross has come a long way. Through hard work and an entrepreneurial flair he is now the owner of a growing nightclub chain, a property tycoon and a popular TV celebrity. Terrie Bennett caught up with him for ES.

taring up at the dilapidated old building that is Leigh-on-Sea’s ‘The Grand Hotel’, there is an almost childlike excitement in the eyes of Mick Norcross. The building has remained derelict for years now, and many a passer-by has commented on what a pity it is to see such a beautiful structure just left to the elements, unused and unloved. For Mick, owning the hotel was nothing but a pipe dream – a fantasy – when he first stumbled across it. That was until his Sugar Hut nightclub business really took off, and he suddenly found himself in the position to buy it. Mick rose to fame as one of the stars of The Only Way is Essex, almost as the ‘daddy’ of the show. Charming as ever, with his designer stubble and mature good looks, it was something of a surprise that he came across as a shy man when we met him. From the way he is portrayed in TOWIE, surrounded by the Sugar Hut Honeys, you could be forgiven for believing that Mick was Essex’s very own Hugh Hefner. As we quickly found out, he was anything but. Here is what he had to say:

Hi Mick, nice to meet you. I guess we should start by clearing one thing up – you’re not a real Essex boy, are you? “Well I was born in Blackburn, but I moved to Essex when I was five. My whole upbringing and my school life was here in Essex. I lived on the Woodside Estate in Grays.” So do you consider yourself to be an Essex boy now, then? And what

was it like growing up in Grays? “Well of course I do. I have fond memories of living in Grays, you know, getting the bus on a Saturday to go to all the shops – it was Mr Byrites in those days, and that was where we’d buy our clothes from. That bit of money you had at the time, you’d go to Byrites once a month, and you’d buy what you’d buy, unless you had a few extra quid, then you’d go to some of the other shops round the corner.

“I do have quite a lot of family still up north, and believe it or not, I do miss it. It is lovely. Blackburn as a town is the same as any other, but outside of the town I love it. I actually went back there very recently. It was for a funeral, unfortunately, but I do try to get back there every now and again. The greenery is beautiful.” What did your work in the Tilbury docks entail? And how did you go from that to where you are now? “I used to be a welder down at the docks before I started my own company. That expanded, so I moved into property, and from then on, I bought into a nightclub chain. I think I did it at the right time, really. I don’t think you could do it how I did these days, unless you were actually building them, which is the sort of thing I do now anyway. But in the late 90’s you could buy places for 50, 60 grand that today are worth 150 grand.”

We understand you are looking to build the Sugar Hut chain. Is it true you are going to be introducing “We never had a shopping coffee shops under the centre, you see. That was same name? well before Lakeside. I can remember Grays when there “It is true. The first one is going to be here. I’m going was no McDonald’s there to make some of this venue – although McDonald’s has into a coffee shop. Then gone now. I drove through really, that is going to be the there the other day, and I guess it must be a real sign template for coffee shops around the UK. of the times if you can’t afford to keep a McDonald’s “It’s the same with anything I do really – the same with somewhere! this place – I need to feel it “After that I lived in Tilbury, and learn about it first before where I bought my first rolling it out. It’s exciting. I house. I was working down mean, thankfully for us, being there then in the docks. I on the TV show, we have actually married a girl from this countrywide audience Tilbury.” which means our marketing is not difficult. We do not Do you ever go back to have to reinvent anything, we Blackburn though? Or just have to replicate it and have you completely left spread it out.” that behind? Mick with Frank Lampard at The Sugar Hut

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You mention TOWIE, and obviously this is now a massive part of your life. I guess I should ask, how did that first come about? “Well really through my son, Kirk. They approached him first, through some friends that he knew. At the time he was portraying that he owned this nightclub. That was cool with me, I didn’t mind that, because I didn’t want all that to be out there as I didn’t really want to be part of that show. I didn’t know how we’d be portrayed and perceived by the public. So, I sat back for one series and then came onto it.” It has got so big now, hasn’t it? Do you find that a lot more people are coming to Brentwood because of it? “Oh it’s huge. I’m involved locally with a hotel actually, a 90 bedroom hotel. But yeah, it’s because of the popularity of TOWIE that people actually want to come to Essex now. I met two people from America last week, who travelled specifically because of The Only Way is Essex. I mean, we get people all the time from Australia. I’m not saying people always come specifically because of the show, but whenever they do come, they will come along and have a look. But yeah, there are loads of northerners and loads of people from down south as well. Devon, Cornwall, anywhere – the whole country.” What do you make of all the limelight and attention? Is it hard to get some privacy? “I encourage it when I come here to work, because I feel the customers have made a massive effort to come and pay for accommodation and travel. So the least I can do is embrace it when it’s here. But outside of that, yes I do change my lifestyle, because it does get a bit too

young girl or an old girl – it’s whatever’s out there really. Whatever takes my fancy.” So who is your ideal woman?

“The Sugar Hut Hunnies”

understand that is in Leigh. Can you tell us more? Will there be a spa?! “Yes, there is going to be a spa there. There’s a big excavation going on where the spa is going to be. It’s going to be an eight to ten treatment room spa, it will be lovely. There will also Where do you stand on be a bridal suite, a function the fake tan, cosmetic room, private dining, piano surgery and make-up associated with the people lounge. But it’s still a long way off – 2014 I think. It’s of Essex and the show? taken nearly a year to sign “If I’m honest, I’m not the lease, and owners’ terms a complete fan of it. It within that lease. There have depends what we’re talking been so many battles for about, I suppose. If we’re planning that I really needed talking about all this Botox to get all my ducks in a row that people keep having, before taking on such a big I’m not a fan of that. I just commitment. But I think wonder what may happen in the future. I don’t think it’s it’s worth it. I could have invested money into buying been around long enough maybe three or four different for us to know what might places for what I’m going happen. So I’m really to put into that one, but I nervous about personally really want to go in there trying anything like that – and stamp my mark on that as much as I get asked by other people. But boob jobs town.” and things like that; I think The show portrays you as they’re good, because they liking the younger women. make somebody feel better Is that true? about themselves. I’m not “Well sometimes the sure about doing all the programme doesn’t do me other surgeries, all the nips any justice. The fact that and tucks and what have I’m surrounded by younger you. But Kirk’s had a nose people, the Sugar Hut job already!” Honeys, naturally they’re the people that I might In a recent episode of end up dating – although TOWIE, we saw that I try not to date really. I you’ve started work on don’t necessarily look for a a new Hotel project. I much at times. For instance, if I was going to the gym at a certain time, I might go at a different time or not go or train at home. Or when I’m going shopping, I go either very early or very late. I mean all those silly little things.”

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“Holly Willoughby – I like her! She’s beautiful inside as well as out, she’s a nice girl. That’s not to say I really go for blondes, she’s just a nice person. I don’t know how she puts up with that Keith Lemon though! It’s funny, isn’t it? To be fair, I’ve actually said that before, so I suppose I will stick with that. Holly Willoughboobie! Everyone calls her that now! Or Denise Van Outen!” I have to ask you about Twitter, you seem to use it a lot. What do you make of all that? “Oh it’s excellent, you can just follow whoever you like. It’s good, especially if someone’s active. I mean, I’m on Twitter all the time, and it’s just to keep people interested who have bothered to follow you. You might go on and follow a celebrity who hasn’t tweeted and hardly follows anybody. I like to tweet people at their birthday, I like to re-tweet people who I think are worthy of a retweet, because that’s what Twitter is about. I’ve even re-tweeted Essex Style Magazine a couple of times!” Finally, have you ever considered going on shows like Celebrity Big Brother or I’m A Celebrity? “Well we get asked to go on those things all the time and it would be quite easy for any of us to get into it. But the trouble with doing that is it closes doors to other things, especially for me. I mean, I have so much going on with my businesses, and I don’t have any business partners, so I just wouldn’t be able to take any time out to go on something like that.”

By Trevor Elsey,our person on the inside.

travelled a long way to visit the Hut will now have the chance to been seen on an episode of TOWIE! As ever, it has been a busy Of course, it is not just the month at Sugar Hut. Mick stars of TOWIE who we Norcross and I have been have had the pleasure of working hard to come up welcoming to Sugar Hut. with new and exciting ways The extra publicity we have to keep things interesting received has made it a for current and future popular destination for a visitors. number of A-list celebrities. Fans of the hit television Just recently we welcomed show, The Only Way Is Peter Andre to the club. Essex, may already know His brother Michael Andre that we have opened is a resident DJ with us, our doors to the ITV film performing every second crew, allowing them to get and fourth Friday each exclusive footage from month. At the same time, within the club. This has not Pete was filming for his own been the case in previous television show, which we series’, so naturally we are are all very much looking very excited to see how it forward to seeing. goes. Another of our special Not only will this mean guests was Chelsea and viewers get a real insight England footballer, Frank into what goes on in the Lampard. The club has club, it also means that grown increasingly popular those of you who have amongst Premier League

footballers, with Frank being the latest star to pay us a visit, along with his fiancée, Christine Bleakley. It was great to have him here. I am glad to report that the new Sugar Hut Honeys have now been chosen, and we are excited to be working with them. We’re really happy with the girls we have got together, and chances are, you’ll get to meet them if you pop in to see us one night. One of the projects the girls are working on right now is a new fitness DVD. They seem to be all the rage at the moment, with all the top celebs releasing their own. We couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring out ours, and I think you’ll love it! We must not forget Christmas and New Year either. We’re in November now (scary how quickly time goes isn’t it?) and the festive season is not far away. As ever, Sugar Hut will be ‘the place to be’ on New Years Eve, and we are offering you a great opportunity to join us. Early bird tickets are going fast, but there are still plenty left. You can pick up

your bargain ticket for just £35 by giving us a ring on the number at the bottom of this article. Finally, I cannot go without saying how delighted we are to have teamed up with Essex Style Magazine. This is such an exciting partnership, and it is great to be working with one of the county’s most exciting publications. You’ll be able to read my column in the magazine every month, and I promise to bring you all the latest juicy gossip from the Hut. In the meantime, keep safe and don’t forget to check out our website for all the latest events and promotions we have coming up.

Website: www.sugarhutbrentwood.com Telephone: 01277 200885 Twitter: @sugarhut Facebook: facebook.com/SugarHutOfficial

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chic, Brentwoodbased ‘home boutiques’ store has opened the doors of its new branch on Chelmsford’s trendiest fashion street, Baddow Road. Tides Home and Garden have been a popular destination for stylesavvy shoppers in Essex for a number of years now, with the queue of waiting shoppers on opening day, testament to their success. In keeping with the theme of their Brentwood store, the new Chelmsford branch is selling a large range of furniture and accessories for the home, with unique, one-off items remaining popular. Owner Jo Bristow has always had a passion for interiors, and admits there has been excellent feedback regarding the opening of the new store.

“The he said: “We’re really excited. We comments S have had a fantastic so far from we have response everyone who has been in there. has been really had have “Itgood. And some of the comments we have had been on Facebook and Twitter have been great. great.” “I think it is the right “We place. We’ve even had customers from have Brentwood that have passed it and said it is fantastic that we have got had a one here now.” Whilst many of the items fantastic Tides sell appear to target young and affluent response buyers, Jo insists they have a wide range of clientele, with many so far” pieces being extremely affordable.

Brentwood store: 8 High Street, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4AB

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Many of the Brentwood store’s customers over the years had travelled in from Chelmsford and the surrounding villages, the new store opening was planned to work better for the loyal customers she has built up over the years and to help grow a new client base in the area. There is no doubt that the look of the store has helped raise the profile of the road, already being classed as the new “Rodeo Drive” of Chelmsford, surrounded by boutiques and other fashion outlets like Zagger and JasperAnthony Hair. She added: “We just feel it is a good shopping centre and a good area for us. “It is still in Essex and has a similar sort of clientele to what we have in Brentwood. So it makes sense really.

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hilst the new store will be a huge expansion for the business, Jo was quick to stress that opening a third store in the county is not in their immediate plans, thanks to the success of their online shop. “At the moment we’re just happy to have the two stores,” she said. “The website is where we do our main business, and that is the next thing we are trying to grow. “That has been quite successful recently, with all the advertising nationwide, so that’s really our latest thing.” Jo and her husband, Martin, have worked hard to keep the items they sell unique and fashionable, ever since the Brentwood store opened in February 2009. With the emphasis being on keeping costs to the customer low and of course, maintaining the high standard of quality of the products sold.

Brentwood company moves into Chelmsford and creates several new jobs for the area... She said: “We get items in from all over the place. We go to shows and get things from there. “We import from India, there is stuff from China, Poland, and Europe. But the main sources are definitely the shows. “We deal with loads of different companies at the same time, but it’s always changing.

“At the moment we’re just happy to have the two stores,”

“Peter Andre’s manager comes in a lot”

e run certain things regularly, but we also do loads of one-off pieces that you will not see again.” The success of Tides has coincided with the rise to prominence of the popular ITV2 show, The Only Way is Essex, or TOWIE, as it has increasingly become shortened to, with the show raising the profile of the town and the High Street.

Chelmsford Store: Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0DG

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Jo says it is not just her shop that has benefitted from the show, but the whole town of Brentwood in general. She said: “It has been really good. We have had lots of people come down who follow the show. “They [the cast of TOWIE] all shop in here. It has definitely made an impact on the whole of the Brentwood High Street really. “Billie and Sam Faiers shop in here. Mario [Falcone] and Lucy [Mecklenburgh] do. Harry [Derbidge] and his mum have come in. Amy [Childs] comes in some times. “Peter Andre’s manager comes in a lot, too.” With business already underway at the Chelmsford store, hopes are high that it continues the company’s increasing success.

www.tideshomeandgarden.co.uk

Josh Dubovie JOSH is an international celebrity vocalist who’s performances have taken him around the world to many countries which include Munich, Orlando and New York Winner of BBC1’s ‘YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU’ Josh was chosen by the public to represent the UK at the EUROVISION 2010 held in Oslo, his performance was screened to TV audiences of over 125 MILLION. He has headlined many festivals and venues around the UK, EUROPE and AMERICA with a total audience attendance of over 200,000.

Josh is a favourite with radio stations all over the UK with many inviting him back, to catch up on his journey in the world of music.

ESSEX STYLE MAGAZINE LAUNCH PARTY Thurs 1st Nov at Sugar Hut Village HEADLINE ACT is: International Singing Sensation ** JOSH DUBOVIE ** Winner of BBC1’s ‘Your Country Needs You’ with Graham Norton Eurovision UK Representative 2010 BBC3 & ‘In House’ Ch4 Presenter

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Farm Boy Preview

hen the Steven Spielberg epic, War Horse hit the cinemas last year, it captured hearts the world over. The stirring tale of a boy’s love for his horse, and the horse’s loyalty to his owner reduced many a hardened cinema-goer to tears. It was based on the 1982 Michael Morpurgo novel of the same name, which itself was an adaption of a true story, crafted beautifully in the first person, from the perspective of the horse. With such a strong storyline, it was little wonder that the book was also adapted for theatre in 2007, to great critical acclaim. Few people, however, will realise that Morpurgo released the sequel to his original book in 1997, by the name of Farm Boy. Like War Horse, Farm Boy has now been recreated for the stage, this time by Daniel Buckroyd, and is currently touring the UK, with stop-offs in Essex part of the itinerary. The play is unique and intense, with its success lying in its simplicity. A cast of just two, John Walters and Gareth BennettRyan, make do with just a handful of props, with the entire play set in just one, unchanging scene. Lasting for just over an hour, it was hard to believe that the duo would be able to retain the audience’s attention throughout, but

Photography by: Robert Day and Carol Rosegg

those doubts are cast aside within moments of the play beginning. Walters excels in the role of the Grandfather, who recalls his memories of the changing face of the English countryside. It begins with him telling the tale of his father, Bennett-Ryan’s great-grandfather, and how he went to find his horse, Joey during the First World War. It overlaps nicely with War Horse, adding little details that Morpurgo had not included in the original novel, and confirming aspects that might otherwise have been left to the imagination. Seamlessly, the play moves through the decades, up to what the audience can assume to be the modern day in the quiet farming village of Iddesleigh in Devon. Grandfather tells of his struggle to come to terms with the mechanisation of the farming industry, as well as the loss of his wife and his inability to read or write. On more than one occasion the cleverly written play has the ability to send shivers down the spine of the audience, and for those who can most closely associate with the tale it tells, it can bring a tear to the eye. Living up to the hype that surrounded War Horse would have been a daunting task for all those involved in Farm Boy, but the play

really does it justice. Indeed, with Morpurgo’s bestseller, Private Peaceful now having been released as a major motion picture in cinemas, it seems merely a matter of time before Farm Boy also goes down that path itself. Farm Boy is coming to Colchester’s Mercury Theatre on Sunday, 28th November 2012. Tickets begin at £11.50. For more information, go to www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

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Essex Style Magazine has two pairs of tickets to give away! To be in with a chance of winning a pair, answer this question, and send your answers to william@ essexstylemagazine. co.uk:

At the beginning of the film, War Horse, how many guineas does Albert Narracott’s father buy Joey, the horse, for at market?

Ask the Nurse This month, Essex Style Magazine caught up with Debbie Evans at the Herts and Essex Fertility centre, and put to her your top ten questions on all things IVF, fertility and helping childless couples.

Debbie has been a senior nurse in the field of fertility for 15 years now, and brings with her a wealth of experience,

gained from working with countless numbers of IVF patients. She admits to being extremely passionate about fertility and works tirelessly to offer the best service she can. Her work includes meeting patients daily, attending leading fertility conferences to keep abreast of changes, and networking with leading professionals in the industry. Now in the role of Clinical Services Manager, it is her job to help patients through every step of their emotional fertility journey, and give them all the advice they need to get through it. Here is what she had to say:

to worry about. Many people only get a very mild form of it, but OHSS can range from mild to moderate to severe. “In some cases, we would recommend that they come of “Well, of course it all depends the medication immediately. on what their individual They should not panic; it is circumstances might be, something we come across a because every case we get is lot. very different. What they all “As for miscarriages, eptopic What is your success rate have in common, though, is pregnancies and such like, they like? they want to have a child, but should not be seen as a health so far might not have been able risk of IVF. They are a health risk “As is typical with most IVF to. of pregnancy in general, and “The first thing I would always clinics, we find that around 40% there is nothing to suggest they of our patients end up getting recommend for them to do is are any more common in IVF pregnant. to go and see their local GP. cases than in natural ones.” They will usually be able to tell “But if the individual requires whether IVF is the right option eggs to be donated, or if a surrogate is used, we find that Is there a limit to how for them, so it would then be many times a couple can go 58% end up getting pregnant. a case of getting a referral to “An interesting additional through IVF? come and see us. “It is important that afterwards statistic, regarding our success rate, is that some 15% of they get to see a specialist. “There is no real limit, as such, couples end up having twins as but we have a moral and That is essential when fertility a result of IVF treatment.” becomes an issue. ethical responsibility to help “To begin with, we would them make the decision to stop Are there any health risks take a full and extensive look trying. IVF is a very rocky road, associated with IVF that a at their medical history to try and sometimes you just have to couple should be worried and determine reasons why step off it.” they would not have been able about? to have a child naturally, and So, a couple can trust you to then try and take it from there. “The main one is called Ovarian tell them when it is time to Hyper-stimulation Syndrome, or Hopefully, then, we would be stop? OHSS, as it is more commonly able to help them out.” referred to. “At our clinic we feel it is very, How much would IVF cost to “It is mainly due to the drugs very important to build a the woman will be taking, begin with? and every patient will have an rapport with the patients from the beginning, and we are there element of this at some point. “It can end up costing different “But it is not always something to hold their hand all the way

What advice would you give to a couple looking into advice about IVF for the first time?

couples different amounts in the long term, mainly because of the various extras that individuals need. “However, the starting price for a basic IVF cycle is £5,000, which includes all the drugs the couple will require. That is the standard price across the UK.

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through. “Because of that, we are always looking to do what is best for the patient, and we have a strong ethical responsibility to tell them when they need to stop. “IVF can be a very emotional process, and couples will keep trying and trying without realising that it might never happen. “There are instances elsewhere, where couples have kept starting new cycles, it’s not working, and they keep raking in the money. There is no way we would do that, it is all about the patient.”

What advice can you give a couple who have tried, perhaps, three or four times and still haven’t had any luck? “It might be the case that they have just been unlucky on each occasion and there is no reason for them not to give IVF another go “However, they must remember, there are always other options.

They would have to sit down with us, look at the full picture and decide what is going to be best for them. “We will review it case by case, and patients will always have a follow-up appointment with us. These days there are just so many options available to them, all hope is not lost.”

What are these other options? “There are all sorts. They could look into surrogacy, where in some cases both parents can donate eggs and sperm just for another woman to carry. “In other instances, they can look to donation. Some women

may not be able to produce eggs of their own, for example, but we can try and find eggs from a suitable donor, who may look similar. “They could even look into adoption. There are so many children out there in need of a loving home, from all sorts of backgrounds. Some of the couples we see would be great parents for them. “But we would always help the couples with this. We would go through all the options with them; we have fantastic councillors and social workers who can help them every step of the way.”

If you have any questions you would like to ask, or anything you might be worried about, why not send them to us via our Twitter or Facebook pages, or send a quick email to

asktheexpert@essexstylemagazine.co.uk.

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Jasper Anthony The eagerly anticipated new Jasper Anthony hair salon in Chelmsford has finally opened its doors to the public. Extensive planning, market research and recruitment went into creating what is expected to become the city’s premier hairdressers. It occupies the site of the old Blow hairdressers on the corner of Baddow Road, but with an all new management team and a complete overhaul, the place is hardly recognisable from before. Newly appointed manager, Declan Fallon, 28, brings a wealth of experience to the salon, and he admitted that he couldn’t wait to get started. He said: “I’m really looking forward to getting up and running with this. “We have such an experienced group of

people, all extremely talented, and I am confident we can raise the bar when it comes to standards and the all-round customer experience. “We are all very, very confident for the future and know it is going to be hard work, but we are all aware of that. “The standards need to be consistent and high. It needs to be so much better than what was here before, and I know with the work that has been put in, it will be.” Declan’s industry experience is impressive, and his C.V. stands up to even the toughest scrutiny, with previous roles in New York, London and Sydney. His career began, however, in somewhat more humble surroundings, when as a 14-year-old he began an apprenticeship with the

Royal Academy in Dublin. He admits that taking charge of the Jasper Anthony salon is very exciting for him. He added: “This offered a fantastic opportunity to bring all my experience together and work on a new and exciting project. “A complete overhaul was needed with the shop, and it was a real opportunity to get it how I wanted and really leave my own mark.” The salon has already got off to a good start, by attracting the backing of a number of top styling brands, including Matrix and Bumble and Bumble. Mr Fallon said: “These are companies that are heavily involved with London fashion week, as well as providing some of the leading products available at the moment. “These are really good companies, and we are really pleased to have them on board.” The new shop will include five stylists, each with

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over a decade’s worth of experience, three top quality assistants and a receptionist. Furthermore, the project is being backed by the finances of Sharon White and her husband, Craig. She will also bring loads of experience, having worked alongside the likes of L’Oreal and Vidal Sassoon in the past. She said: “My goals now are to get Jasper Anthony a superb name out there, one that people can really trust. “After that, who knows how far we can go? The aim is to make a real success of this salon and then get another one open in Essex under the same name.” Rumour has it, a number of stars from The Only Way is Essex have already enquired about the salon, although both Declan and Sharon refused to be drawn on the matter.

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Maldon, Essex Guide Price £1,500,000 A highly appointed country house set within an idyllic plot, with premium equestrian facilities. This impressive 4 bedroom residence dates back to the late 13th Century. The 8.4 acres (stls) include 6 paddocks, separate gated access onto yard and ménage, internal stabling, tack room and storage barn.

Fryerning, Essex Guide Price £875,000 Set in attractive grounds of approximately 2.11 acres (stls), a former lodge considerably extended in later years with far reaching views. The features include substantial garaging and outbuildings together with extensive stabling, paddocks and Charles Britton floodlit ménage.

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WITH ELECT 4 PERSONAL LEASE

AVAILABLE AT QUEST MOTOR GROUP Beautifully tailored details crafted from the finest materials. Effortlessly stylish designs from a timeless label. A line truly made to pleasure. Discover for yourself why everyone’s talking about the DS line from Citroën. Call us today on 01376 321456 to arrange your test drive.

Models shown: Citroën DS3 THP 155 6-speed manual DSport, DS4 THP 200 6-speed manual DSport & New DS5 Hybrid4 200 Airdream DSport with optional 19” black ‘Cairns’ alloy wheels available at a higher price. °Elect 4 Personal Lease prices & offers apply to qualifying new Citroën vehicles ordered & delivered 03/10/12-31/12/12 & include VAT, delivery to Dealer & number plates, Government First Registration Fee, & 12 months’ graduated Vehicle Excise Duty. Elect 4 rentals shown apply to the following models respectively: Citroën DS3 VTi 120 manual DStyle, Citroën DS4 HDi 110 6-speed manual DSign & New Citroën DS5 eHDi 115 Airdream EGS6 DSign & require an advance rental of £3337.43, £3520.14 & £4325.96 followed by 46, 46 & 46 monthly rentals & an optional final payment of £4892.00, £5925.00 & £6756.00. Black/metallic/pearlescent paint optional at extra cost. Excess mileage charges may apply if the agreed annual mileage is exceeded. Payment of the optional final rental extends the rental term (this does not transfer title of the vehicle) & requires an annual rental equivalent to one months’ rental. Finance subject to status. Written quotations available on request from Citroën Financial Services, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QA, UK. Over 18s only. A guarantee may be required. † Complimentary Servicing and Assistance Package: servicing expires at 36 months or 35,000 miles, whichever occurs sooner, Citroën Assistance expires at 36 months. For full details contact your dealer. Offers, prices & specification correct at time of going to press/publication from participating Dealers. Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability. Finance offers apply to UK only.

Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & CO2 emissions (g/km); Highest: Citroën DS4 THP 160 6-speed automatic DStyle 10.6/26.6, 6.0/47.1, 7.7/36.7, 178. Lowest: New Citroën DS5 Hybrid4 200 Airdream DSign 3.2/88.3, 3.6/78.5, 3.5/80.7, 91.

QUEST MOTOR GROUP 01376 321456

QUEST MOTOR GROUP 01621 876900

287 RAYNE ROAD, BRAINTREE, ESSEX, CM7 2QN www.questmotorgroupbraintree.citroen.co.uk

WYCKE HILL BUSINESS PARK, MALDON, ESSEX, CM9 6UZ www.questmotorgroupmaldon.citroen.co.uk

www.citroen.co.uk CITROËN C3 VTR+ or alternatively from

£10995*

• Up to 83.1mpg∆ for Citroën C3 models • 7 Citroën C3 models 130g/km CO2 or less with £0 road tax² • Panoramic Zenith windscreen • 6 airbags as standard

CITROËN C3 PICASSO VTR+ or alternatively from

£12300*

• Up to 62.2mpg∆ for Citroën C3 Picasso models • 5 Citroën C3 Picasso models 130g/km CO2 or less with £0 road tax² • Panoramic windscreen • Best boot capacity in class

GREAT OFFERS AT QUEST MOTOR GROUP

No-one likes feeling boxed in when driving – so we’ve designed C3 and C3 Picasso to give a feeling of space. The C3’s panoramic windscreen brings maximum light to the interior; while the C3 Picasso’s glass roof gives the cabin an open, airy feel. Now with 0% APR representative Elect 3 Finance with minimum 20% deposit.

*On the road recommended prices & offers apply to retail sales of qualifying new Citroën vehicles ordered & delivered 03/10/12-31/12/12 & include VAT, delivery to Dealer & number plates, Government First Registration Fee, & 12 months’ graduated Vehicle Excise Duty. Black/metallic/pearlescent paint optional at extra cost. From prices shown: Citroën C3 1.4i 75 manual VTR+ and Citroën C3 Picasso VTi 95 manual VTR+. ◊Available on all Citroën C3 & Citroën C3 Picasso VTR+ models. Finance subject to status. Written quotations available on request from Citroën Financial Services, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QA, UK. Over 18s only. A guarantee may be required. †Applies to Citroën C3 & C3 Picasso models purchased with Elect 3 finance. Not available to cash buyers. Policyholder must be aged 25- 75 (30-75 for C3 Picasso), with a minimum of two years NCD to use on the vehicle. All drivers must have held a full UK licence for a minimum of 2 years & meet eligibility criteria including limits on driving convictions & claims. Excesses apply. 2 years’ Citroën Motor Insurance will be provided & underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, which is authorised & regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Not available in Northern Ireland. ∆Combined cycle. ²First year only. Offers, prices & specification correct at time of going to press/ publication from participating Dealers. Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability.

Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & CO2 emissions (g/km); Highest: Citroën C3 VTi 120 automatic Exclusive 9.4/30.1, 5.0/56.5, 6.6/42.8, 153. Lowest: Citroën C3 e-HDi 70 Airdream EGS VTR+ 3.6/78.5, 3.2/88.3, 3.4/83.1, 87.

QUEST MOTOR GROUP 01376 321456

QUEST MOTOR GROUP 01621 876900

287 RAYNE ROAD, BRAINTREE, ESSEX, CM7 2QN www.questmotorgroupbraintree.citroen.co.uk

WYCKE HILL BUSINESS PARK, MALDON, ESSEX, CM9 6UZ www.questmotorgroupmaldon.citroen.co.uk

Introducing Potentia – making a difference to your performance and your life

Essex Style aims to bring you the best in everything. When we looked for a health and fitness partner, gyms across the county were plentiful but we wanted someone who offered that bit more – and we are delighted to say we have found exactly that. Colchester-based

Potentia Performance Ltd isn’t so much a gym as a tailored solution to your health and fitness needs. In future issues, Potentia’s team of hand-selected specialists will address the ways you can achieve your fitness goals but here’s a taste of what you can

expect, straight from the “With ever changing horse’s mouth, director David information about what’s Chandler. good for us and what isn’t, it’s no wonder many of us are confused. The quagmire “Potentia Performance was created to provide the public of mixed messages we with a one stop shop of wade through on a daily honest, clear and concise basis is enough to make even the most determined advice about health, fitness among us throw up their and nutrition.

www.essexstylemagazine.co.uk

hands in surrender. Well despair no more. Potentia Performance is here to dispel the myths and share with you the knowledge of our team of experts. We will challenge the research, cut throw the jargon and share with you all you need to know to achieve the health and fitness goals that are right for you. “What makes us different is that we don’t preach, dictate or judge. We will listen to what a person wants to achieve and then, taking into account their specific circumstances, create a programme and advise on realistic lifestyle changes. Our aim is to find a solution which will work long-term and which is sustainable. We want to educate people to look after themselves and

if that means we don’t see them any more in the future, that is fine with us. We are more about reputation than retention. “As personal trainers we are responsible for the training side of your health and fitness programmes. The ‘personal’ bit of our title is all about you… your needs, your goals and your lifestyles. “That means we might design a programme for you to do yourself, or one that would work best if you train with us in our own specialist gym. We might recommend that you join a sports club or make changes as a family to improve your diet. We could even advise you to see an injury specialist for treatment to ease your aches and

pains. “We have head-hunted a team of personal trainers and expert therapists from across the county who are the best in their individual fields with track records second to none. “We work with everyone from professional athletes to pensioners seeking to make the most of their retirement years. We treat each as an individual challenge! “In future issues, I will be introducing you to other members of our team including our principal trainers, Ben Chow and Katie Mitchell. We will also feature the achievements of real clients, answer your questions and provide tips,

tricks and recipes to help you reach your health and fitness goals. Ben, Katie and other members of our team will be on hand each month to offer you the very best advice. “In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you with any queries you have regarding achieving your health and fitness goals. Drop me a line at [insert magazine contact email for health and fitness section].”

With many thanks to the guys at potentia, keep an eye for upcoming columns

Issued on behalf of Potentia Performance by PJR Communications Ltd. For further information, please contact Peter Richardson on 01206 843225.

Look What’s New! With Christmas fast approaching (yes, we can hear the groans!), there are loads of new beauty products launching.

eal’s Yard have launched their ‘Bee Lovely’ range of products, which smell fantastic. The whole range is aimed at the family, and looks fantastic in anyone’s bathroom. Another selling point of this product range is the fact that the brand carries the certification by the Soil Association for being 100% organic! The new products in the range are: Busy Bee Balm, Bee lovely Bath & Shower Gel, Bee Lovely Body Lotion, Bee Lovely Hand Wash and the original Bee Lovely Hand Cream. The brand have promised that a percentage of all sales go to bee related charities, so you can feel good inside and look good on the outside.

ake Bake have launched several new products for the upcoming party season. We know there are loads of fake tans out there, but we always return to what we think are the best for getting that natural and sun-kissed look. We love the 60 minute spray tan liquid, which is ready in just one hour! They have released the much awaited ‘Sport Daily Tan’ which is perfect for those with an active lifestyle. So your tan will stay perfect even after a workout. Perfect for any true Essex Girl or Boy! For those not quite brave enough to go for a full fake tan, they have released the ‘Tinted Body Glow’, which is a moisturiser with a lovely golden shimmer.

Fake Bake Tinted Body Glow £6.00

Neals Yard ‘Bee Lovely’ Range from £3.00

Fake Bake Sport Daily Tan £12.95

Neals Yard Range Available at the following retailers in Essex: Natural Edge 47 The Broadway, Leigh-On-Sea, Essex. SS9 1PA.Telephone: 01702 712919 Williams & Griffin 153 High Street, Colchester, Essex. CO1 1PN. Telephone: 01206 571212

Fake Bake 60 Minute Spray Tan Liquid £22.45

Product news is brought to you By Tony Barlow, Clinical Director, Consumer Products at Aspen Clinical Research, an independent clinical research organisation that tests the claims on products that companies make. Tony’s 25+ years in the industry brings to ES Magazine all the insider information on newest products on the market and what’s worth getting. Clinical trials will be ongoing on lots of new products that are on the market. Brand leaders in their own field, from cosmetics, to anti-ageing creams. Tony will bring the ES readers the facts on how the products got on during the trials.