The Cheshire Magazine - November 18 by The Cheshire Magazine & The Rutland Magazine

NOVEMBER 2018 s ISSUE 059

Green with

ENVY

We meet the driving force behind The Ivy chat with us about its opening this month

Countess

OF COOL

The Entourage Groupsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CEO Stephanie Pearson shares her recipe for superstar success

FESTIVE

Gastronomy Figureheads in the food and drink industry give us insight into festive menus, trends and top tips

Classic Fusion Ceramic Blue Bracelet. Black ceramic case and integrated bracelet. Blue dial. Chronograph movement.

Hublot_CheshMag_CFCerBlueBrac_420x297.indd 1

hublot.com

17 King Street Manchester M2 6AW +44 (0) 161 834 28 24

09.11.18 15:08

CMY

TTOOGGEETTHHEERR TTHHI ISS CCHHRRI ISSTTMMAASS Christmas Christmas is about is about being being together. together. Together Together with with colleagues, colleagues, family family and and friends. friends. To To celebrate celebrate in style, in style, getget together together with with Individual Individual Restaurants. Restaurants. Exclusive Exclusive Festive Festive Menus. Menus. Amazing Amazing event event spaces. spaces. Gifts Gifts forfor early early bookers. bookers. Live Live entertainment. entertainment. A dedicated A dedicated Event Event Manager. Manager. And And a fabulous a fabulous party party atmosphere. atmosphere. Together Together thisthis Christmas. Christmas.

BO BO OK O KN O NW OW WWW.INDIVIDUALRESTAURANTS.COM WWW.INDIVIDUALRESTAURANTS.COM

publisher’s

letter

ur November issue is dedicated to the wonderful world of food and drink, and it promises to tantalise the taste buds of food lovers and drinks connoisseurs alike. We jet off to stunning, history-steeped Florence with Rebecca Underwood (p.80) and pop across the channel with Laura Ganer to chat with Stephanie Pearson, CEO of the Entourage Group about her recipe for superstar success (p.22). Anna Du Pré meets figureheads in the Food and Drink industry gaining an insight into festive menus, trends and top tips as well as what Christmas means to them, including Gino D’Acampo, the UK’s favourite Italian chef about his new Coffee and Deli bar opening (p.101). We check out what’s on in the run-up to the festive period (p.17), and Natalie Anglesey meets two of the driving forces behind the eagerly awaited new restaurant this Winter, The Ivy (p.27). As the nights draw close and colder, we take

inspiration from our home and interiors section, setting the scene for a cosy winter with flickering fragranced candles (p.125) and we meet David Tragen, the eponymous business owner, designer and artist (p.132) on crafts made-to-order and pieces of contemporary furniture. Craig Hough spends some extra time with former Manchester City boss, Brian Horton in our new Sports section (p.74) and we get updates on some of the hottest openings, launches and fundraisers in the Local Scene (p.113). We are already well on our way with our Christmas lists and lusts, many of which grace the very pages of our carefully collated selection (p.41). Finally, a potential gift that would brighten up the darkest winter evening, the futuristic, super bright, BMW’s i8 hybrid, reviewed by James Fossdyke shows that eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean dull (p.70). After this sensory delight, calm your beating heart, take five and mull with wine over what treats are to arrive this festive season.

- Team Cheshire Magazine FOLLOW US @thecheshiremagazine @TheCheshireMagazine @TheCheshireMag

PROUD TO

PARTNER

PUBLISHER’S PICKS ..THIS MONTH WE HAVE BEEN...

READING about one woman’s vision of culinary delights DREAMING about a beautiful getaway to the Italian wonder that is Florence holidays EATING at the eagerly awaited opening of the elegant new restaurant, The Ivy and LUSTING after some of the most beautiful jewellery and gift ideas to make your eyes sparkle.

LIVERPOOL

LONDON

MANCHESTER

ALTRINCHAM

DAVIDMROBINSON.CO.UK

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The Contributors

Where to find us... CHESTER Abode Hotel

NOVEMBER 2018 s ISSUE 059 s

1539 Restaurant Boodles Chester MediSpa Gieves & Hawkes Oddfellows

Managing Director

Opera Bar & Grill

Kathryn Otto

The Pied Bull The Inspiring Travel Co.

Publisher Scott Illingworth-Harrison

LIVERPOOL Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar

Natalie Anglesey

David M Robinson

MANCHESTER David M Robinson Gotham Hotel Great John Street Hotel Harvey Nichols Hilton Manchester Deansgate King Street Townhouse Mappin & Webb Rosso Restaurant Bar & Grill Watches of Switzerland 20 Stories

Natalie is an author, broadcaster and journalist as well as a television producer and director. This month she meets Baton Berisha and Sean Burbidge the driving force behind the new food lovers paradise that is The Ivy Spinningfields.

M J Greenhalgh & Leila Bibby MJ and Leila are passionate about all things fashion and beauty. A few of their favourite British things include strawberries and cream, holidays to north Wales and wonderful summer events.

Editorial Team Richard Harrison Kevin Evans Laura Yeates Laura Garner Glyn Davies Designers Paris Fielder Kate Woods Picture Editor Kat Hannon

MANCHESTER AIRPORT

Production

Falcona Private Jets

Hugo Wheatley

1903 Airport Lounge, T3

Advertising

CHESHIRE

Danielle Mullen

52 Alderley Road Clinic Bolesworth Estate & Events

Charity and Event’s Coordinator

Carden Park Hotel

Rachel O’Hare

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Piste Wine Bar & Restaurants Janey Butler Interiors Kitchen Architecture

Rebecca Underwood

Francesca Grace

Proudly published by

Rebecca Underwood is a travel journalist, born in Blackpool, educated in Brighton and London, attended Westminster University and achieved a BA Hons in the Arabic language. Favourite destination: Kenya.

Francesca Lee-Rogers is a luxury lifestyle journalist and has previously managed a portfolio of titles. She takes a keen interest in writing about food, travel and wellness.

thecheshiremagazine.co.uk

Willow Boutiques Coggles The Mere The Church Inn The Roebuck Inn The Colony The Stanneylands

GREATER MANCHESTER The Con Club Fox Restaurant Frisør Salon & Wellness Jackson-Stops Oddfellows on the Park

cover

On the

Photographed by Kat Hannon and styled by Abigail Lucy at the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa, Palm Court restaurant.

Also published by

The Cheshire Magazine Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and The Cheshire Magazine Ltd takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. DISTRIBUTION The Cheshire Magazine is the largest targeted luxury lifestyle publication in Cheshire and the north west, delivered by Royal Mail subscription service to selected homes, businesses, newsagents and retail outlets. ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES hello@thecheshiremag.co.uk

Going Call us through before your a divorce? ex does.

Offices in Manchester and throughout the UK

Call 0808 175 7838 slatergordon.co.uk Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

contents OUR FAVOURITE

The Countess of Cool

The Entourage Groups’ CEO Stephanie Pearson tells The Cheshire Magazine’s Laura Garner about her recipe for superstar success

FEATURES

27 35

Green with Envy

Natalie Anglesey meets Baton Berisha and Jason Annette the driving force behind the new food lovers paradise that is The Ivy

Add a Little Sparkle to your Christmas

We chat with Chloe Moss of ChloBo jewellery and get an insight into her Christmas range as well as trends for the festive season

REGULARS

FOOD & DRINK

008 | Publisher’s letter 010 | Contributors 015 | My life in Cheshire Evelyn Chong, Director at the House of Evelyn, shares her life in Cheshire with us

093 | Food & drink news Local chefs, new openings and launches

017 | Notebook What not to miss this Autumn in Cheshire and the North West, including three of the best theatre shows

101 | Faces of Food We interview figureheads in the Food and Drink industry gaining an insight into festive menus, trends and top tips as well as what Christmas means to them

102 | Spotlight On... Brasserie Blanc Our review of the friendly, French eatery in Knutsford

STYLE 047 | Watches & Jewellery Now that the clocks have gone back, brighten up autumnal outfits with modern diamond detailing, pops of colour and emphatic metallic jewellery 053 | Fashion Prepare to get bold for the upcoming party season as pops of brights and encrusted embellished wonders take occasion dressing to brand new heights 064 | Health & Beauty We love the run up to Christmas and the lovely gifts that are available, let’s hope some find their way on our stockings

DRIVE 068 | News We look at what’s hot off the press in the motoring world 070 | The Future’s Bright BMW’s futuristic i8 hybrid shows James Fossdyke that eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean dull 074 | Extra Time with... With a playing and managerial career spanning over 50 years, the former Manchester City Manager discusses his lengthy career and his involvement with the NWFA

113 | Local Scene All the glamour and gossip from our beautiful county

FAMILY

84 TRAVEL 077 | Travel news The latest happenings from near and far 080 | Firenze – Sei Fantastico! Rebecca Underwood takes a flight of fancy to the historic Italian beauty that is Florence 084 | Rock On Kathryn Otto goes on tour to Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife 088 | Weekend Away We visit the recently refurbished 5 star Culloden Estate & Spa stands on the forested slopes of the Holywood hills

121 | Family news From toys to tempting interiors, design is for all the family

HOME & INTERIORS 125 | Interiors news News, products and advice on making the most of your home, inside and out 132 | Life in Design We meet David Tragen, the eponymous business owner, designer and artist 136 | The Edit Cosy up at home with a flickering flame and a seasonal scent - notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and pine have got us feeling festive already 147 | Hot Property The latest homes on the market, at home or away

piste for Christmas

T A R P O R L E Y | S A N D B A C H www.pistewinebars.com 55 High St, Tarporley CW6 0DP 01829 732483

45 High St, Sandbach CW11 1AL 01270 768923

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

My life in

CHESHIRE EVELYN CHONG, DIRECTOR AT HOUSE OF EVELYN

How would you describe yourself ? Ambitious, driven, motivated and artistic. Where is home? And work? Work and home are interchangeable, as work is like my second home. What did you want to be when you were younger? I’ve always wanted to be an artist, which led me to pursue a career in makeup. Name a few of your favourite places to be... Paris, Venice and Manchester Traveling to Paris and Venice are always very relaxing, and the food is to die for. Manchester just feels like my second home. What/who inspires you? As a Buddhist, I always follow buddha’s guidance and help people as much as I possibly can.

“As a Buddhist, I always follow buddha’s guidance and help people as much as I possibly can”

TOP RIGHT: AUTUMN IN PARIS © TUPUNGATO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM BOTTOM LEFT: GRAND CANAL AND BASILICA SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE, VENICE, ITALY © ESB PROFESSIONAL / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

What was the last gift you gave someone? I bought a friend in need a box of cookies who needed cheering up. Tell us a secret/fun fact about yourself I am ambidextrous, but I prefer to use my right hand predominantly. Who or what would you place in room 101? All the lies- it’s a pet peeve, I don’t like being lied to. What’s been your biggest life lesson? Keeping negativity out of my inner circle. www.houseofevelyn.com

Janey Butler Interiors & Llama Architects form part of the Llama Group. Creating award winning residential and commercial projects in the UK and abroad.

I n t e r n at i o n a l A wa r d W i n n i n g A rc h i t e c t s & D e s i g n e r s The Coach House, Capesthorne Hall, Nr Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK11 9JY

l l a m ag ro u p . c o . u k

T: 01625 861935 E:

h e l lo @ ja n e y bu t l e r . c o . u k

l l a m ag ro u p . c o . u k

T: 01625 861936 E:

i n f o @ l l a m ag ro u p . c o . u k

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

NOTEBOOK Get creative for the festive season this November throughout Cheshire WORDS: ANNA DU PRÉ

Cathedral Gardens is to be transformed into Britain’s first ever Ice Village: an icy domain featuring an Ice Sculpture Cavern, Ice Bar, Ice Rink, Santa’s Grotto and a Woodland Market with winter games, Christmas market stalls & live entertainment. 9th November 2018-5 January 2019, www.icevillage.co.uk

BRITAIN’S FIRST

Ice Attraction

coming to Manchester

THIS CHRISTMAS

1 DEC

Wreath Making Courses, The Art Hub, Burwardsley

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On?

Enjoy a first class workshop with florist, Fiona Jordan, and make the perfect Christmas wreath. As well as this take in the breathtaking views that the Hub has to offer and enjoy festive drinks and nibbles. www.ladylonghorn.com

29 NOV - 4 DEC

Wilmslow Kitchen, Christmas Baking 10 NOV

Tatton Park, Christmas Watercolour Workshop A festive themed watercolour workshop with artist Chris Beesley.

These festive classes teach you all you need to know about the Christmas favourites including Chocolate Yule logs using lots of festive spices and decadent yummy ingredients. www.wilmslowcookeryschool.co.uk 20 DEC

16-18 NOV

Juliette Hamilton Christmas Workshop, Arley Hall

Christmas Centrepiece Workshop, The Mustard Seed Florist, Macclesfield

Juliette Hamilton runs willow weaving workshops each month but this one will have a festive twist making Christmas decorations and Angels. www.arleyhallandgardens.com

Take a moment before Christmas to relax and enjoy an evening making your own centrepiece for the Christmas table whilst enjoying a glass of mulled wine.

WEEKLY, NOV-DEC

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Christmas Workshops Weekly workshops will cover a different skill including flower arranging, needlework, art and crafts. These fun, informal afternoons will offer a chance to create some beautiful unique gifts in the run up to Christmas. www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk

BOTH IMAGES ÂŠ HILDAWEGES PHOTOGRAPHY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Dates for the Diary

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

ARTS & CULTURE

What’s On?

Natalie Anglesey takes a look at November’s Arts and Entertainment Scene with a mixture of comedy, culture and sheer entertainment!

7 NOV

14-17 NOV

20 NOV - 1 DEC

Jason Manford’s Muddle Class, Stockport Plaza

Opera North returns to The Lowry

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, The Lowry

He’s back! It’s been a busy few years since Jason’s last smash-hit stand up show, but Muddle Class promises a wealth of new material about him growing up working class then discovering, over the years, that part of him has become middle class – causing confusion! It’s all delivered with his usual amiable charm. www.stockportplaza.co.uk

Lehar’s The Merry Widow: An effervescent whirlwind of romance and entertainment set in Paris - you’ll be humming the tunes long after you’ve left the theatre. Puccini’s Tosca: Secrets lies, and a lethal ultimatum awaits Rome’s star opera singer, in love with charismatic artist Cavaradossi. When he is arrested and tortured by the corrupt Chief of Police, Tosca faces a cruel blackmail. You may need a hanky! www.thelowry.com

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake returns with a fresh look for the 21st century. Audacious, witty and emotive, this Swan Lake is perhaps still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered conventions, turned tradition upside down and took the dance world by storm. This New Adventures production sees a strong line-up of local talent. Greater Manchester dancers Shoko Ito, Andrew Ashton, Isaac Bowry and Parsifal James (PJ) Hurst. www.thelowry.com

UNTIL 17 NOV

Death of a Salesman, Royal Exchange Theatre 10 NOV - 24 FEB

The Art Gallery, The Lowry Lowry and the Pre-Raphaelites will include more than 40 works by some of the most notable of the preRaphaelites including some of my personal favourites, with works by Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown and Burne-Jones among others. www.thelowry.com

Following his critically acclaimed performance as King Lear, it’s your last chance to see Don Warrington (Death in Paradise) play Willy Loman in Sarah Frankcom’s version of Arthur Miller’s groundbreaking play. This seminal play holds a light up to the political and aspirational systems of nations that leave men like Willy stranded and families set adrift. www.royalexchangetheatre.co.uk

30 NOV - 6 JAN

Sleeping Beauty, Stockport Plaza You can boo the baddies and cheer the goodies at the lovely art deco Plaza in Stockport One of the first pantomimes announced this year stars popular Ted Robbins as a jolly Dame and glamorous Emmerdale bad girl Claire King cast true to type. www.stockportplaza.co.uk 19

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

of the

Matilda The Musical at the Palace Theatre

Best

UNTIL 24 NOV

Theatre Shows

We look at three of the best theatre shows in the county and beyond this festive season

Hamilton at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre Kinky Boots struts into the Opera House 12 NOV - 1 DEC

Inspired by true events, award-winning, Kinky Boots, whisks you from a struggling Northampton shoe - factory run by Charlie (Joel Harper-Jackson) and Lauren, played by Paula Lane, (Corrie’s Kylie Platt), to Milan’s glamorous catwalks. All thanks to spectacular Lola, (Callum Francis), who needs new stilettos. A spate of Tony® Award-winners created this celebration of friendship including the book by Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), songs by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, and direction by Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray). www.kinkybootsthemusical.co.uk 20

17 DEC - 30 MAR

You’ll top any dinner-party conversation if you’ve seen London’s multi award-winning musical, Hamilton. Sir Cameron Mackintosh told me it was one of the most exciting events he’d enjoyed on Broadway and I definitely agree. He opened his newly - renovated Victoria Palace Theatre with this amazing show last year. Charismatic Jamael Westman shines as the remarkable Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He’s supported by a talented ensemble to cheers throughout and standing ovations. If rap isn’t your bag don’t worry because it’s a blend of jazz, blues, and the best of Broadway musicals. Fight for a ticket! www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/hamilton

THIS IMAGE AND LEFT © MANUEL HARLAN

If you loved Roald Dahl’s best-selling book – you’ll enjoy this Royal Shakespeare Company’s musical version. Winner of 85 international awards, Dennis Kelly’s stage adaptation with Tim Minchin’s music and Peter Darling’s athletic choreography combined with excellent direction by Matthew Warchus boasts terrific performances and some magic. Beg your children to take you! www.uk.matildathemusical.com

San Marco, Sunlight and Shadow, oil 12” x 10” by Ken Howard, RA NEAC

OPEN HOUSE Gallery artworks to buy Open Thursday 22nd November until 6th December Long View, Mannings Lane North, Chester CH2 2PB 11am – 9pm each day or any other time by appointment 07854 490 220 www.sarahsamuels.co.uk Previous Corporate Clients include:

The

Countess

of COOL

The Entourage Groups’ CEO Stephanie Pearson tells The Cheshire Magazine’s Laura Garner about her recipe for superstar success

rom humble beginnings as the daughter of teachers in Cheshire to owning some of the most coveted dining concepts in Europe’s most stylish cities, The Entourage Groups’ CEO Stephanie Pearson has certainly come a long way. Arriving in Amsterdam on the dawn of ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) could not sum up her world more perfectly. After being whisked from the airport by a private chauffeur, we are transcended onto the sixth floor of the beautiful W Hotel Amsterdam and transported into new culinary heights during a heavenly lunch at The Entourage Groups’ steakhouse-come-chic lounge, MR PORTER. Sat amongst the elite on the sun-drenched terrace, sipping cocktails delivered by deity, we find out later that we’d been warming the seats for non-other than ‘Hot Right Now’ star Rita Ora and the world’s number one DJ, Martin Garrix and his crew - regulars and friends of the vibe-driven fine dining concept du jour. Later we see both hot-stars sharing MR PORTER’s gastronomic delights (dry ice and all) with their combination of 28million Instagram followers.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

“It’s never been contrived and I think that is why it works” It’s a snapshot into the life of Stephanie Pearson. The 30-something CEO of the standardsetting hospitality brand, The Entourage Group. Stephanie along with her entrepreneurial husband, Yossi Eliyahoo, has caused quite a storm since they came onto the scene in 2008. Since the birth of their first concept MOMO Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, they have gone onto creating some of the most challenging and innovative restaurants Europe has to offer and they count dozens of celebrities, DJ’s, artists and even the notoriouslyhard-to-please Michelin judges as fans. “It’s never been contrived and I think that is why it works,” says Stephanie, who helps to realise, elevate and manage her husbands’ concepts. “Yossi and I love to travel and we’ve always had a passion for Asian cuisine. When we arrived here 10 years ago Amsterdam fine-dining didn’t really exist. The part of town we scoped for our first opening was a place where no one was opening restaurants or even really doing business (The Pipe) and there was no restaurant where Asian cuisine was being taken seriously enough.” The couple arrived into the city, post the 2008 crash. In the UK people were losing their houses, businesses and the restaurant scene felt one of the biggest hits in modern hospitality history. Having spearheaded the success of pan-Asian rosette-winning Chino

Latino’s after meeting at university in Nottingham and later moving to London, it was in the capital they met hotel entrepreneur Liran Wizman. “Liran saw something in us and he asked us to come and see what we thought of Amsterdam as a place to start a new concept alongside him opening a hotel. We instantly fell in love but we travelled back and forward to the city each weekend; we wanted to understand how this beautiful city worked and what made the people really tick.” It was after several weeks that the pair started to work on their contemporary, yet settled, clean, yet fashionable concept and so MOMO Restaurant, Bar & Lounge was born. Shared dining plates, so regularly seen on menus now, were a brand new idea back then, and the idea of getting dressed up in a Normcore city like Amsterdam, was almost too much to digest for

some diners; MOMO set out to change all that. “We had a notoriously hard reviewer come and dine with us when we opened MOMO and whilst we had left ourselves open to criticism by doing something no one else was doing, we knew that this was going to be important; when he wrote, people read and listened and it was usually the make or break of a restaurant in Amsterdam. “Needless to say he slammed us - literally wiped the floor with us. But instead of breaking us, it made us! There was a queue around the block, everyone wanted to dine at MOMO. They realised that things were changing and that old minds were out - the new creative difference (with a glam edge) was in.”

It’s that new creative difference that has made the couple’s company The Entourage Group the talk of the hospitality world. Whilst the likes of leaders Gaucho closes up shop in several locations, Stephanie and Yossi, along with their 900 staff and trusted leadership team, continue to thrive. Following from MOMO’s success, their extravagant Japanese-come-South American IZAKAYA Asian Kitchen & Bar concept opened just a few blocks away and became an instant hit.“We knew there was a hunger for Asian cuisine in Amsterdam and whilst IZAKAYA is Eastern to its core we switched it up with new flavours and inventive sushi to take the gastronomy to a new level again,” explained Stephanie. “Again people thought we were mad - opening something similar just around the corner, but it just worked so well and it became an instant hit.” As with most of The Entourage Group’s offerings, IZAKAYA and its latest haute fast food offering, THE BUTCHER, feature the 360degree bar, something of a style note in all of their offerings. Even in 2008, Stephanie and Yossi knew

that FOMO was important before the hashtag was even invented. “You never feel like you’re missing out and there’s always something and someone to look at,” said Stephanie. “You make eye contact, you see the DJ on the decks, you make connections and the bartenders can always be in your eye-line. We call it the pick-me-up bar. We love these bars so that people can dine casually too. Our layouts are very important to building a vibe, as is the soundtrack and the lighting, and it’s the consistency of this design that helps to make the concepts really buzz wherever they may be.” Locations have been key to building the admirable following The Entourage Group now has globally. Millennial and jet-setter destinations such as Ibiza and Berlin as well as emerging hotspots of Munich and Hamburg, and not forgetting Amsterdam, have helped them with the all-important buzz-build. “The concepts translate really well,” added Stephanie. “We are looking at creating our first UK restaurants very soon, as we are contacted so often to ask when we will be coming and we’re currently looking at a new opening in the UAE, and a Mexican concept too.” With a growing team and an even faster

“You never feel like you’re missing out and there’s always something and someone to look at” growing worldwide portfolio, how does a mum-of-one do it all? “When we started and up until about three years ago, Yossi and I did everything along with our general managers. Social media, PR, marketing, finances everything! It was so important to protect our brand. We realised that to grow we had to get assistance and now I understand that booking

The CHESHIREMagazine Magazine| Regulars | Feature The CHESHIRE

over 70 flights a year is a job in itself! “Our core team have been very loyal to us and we still have more than 70% of the original staff at MOMO’s with us. Many of our management team have risen through the ranks organically and we pay fair wages and look after the team like they are our family. “Every year we close every single concept for a whole week - we fly everyone in, meet and party and re-group. It’s done of course to say thanks, but also to give us that time to reflect on the year before and make positive steps into the next 12 months. It’s what keeps us grounded as a company and as a team.” Tytherington-born Stephanie is still very hands on. Since her days at 16 as a Saturday worker whilst a student working at Arghi Bianchi’s in Macclesfield, this determined and driven young woman thrived off leading a team, building

rapport with customers and learning what truly makes an experience, an experience when it comes to working in the tough and unforgiving world of hospitality. Her tenacity and drive are inspiring to watch play-out as she mindfully keeps an eye on every exacting detail, as we are served our exquisite lunch at the artful, Belle Epoque-inspired THE DUCHESS. On plush velvet panelled seating, we dine off emerald marble tables, beneath bespoke chandeliers and with walls encased by work from renegade Dutch artist, Suzanne Jongmans. She and Yossi have curated every single detail and unlike emerging dining concepts winning applause amongst influencers and bloggers alike, it’s clear that social media hasn’t played its part (like so many) in creating this concept (you won’t find a flower wall in any of these restaurants). Thought, research, time and a good amount of passion are what have been brought together to get Nouveau-Nicoise cuisine-led, THE DUCHESS, its new one-star stature and its acclaim amongst the true style-setters in Amsterdam and beyond. As we finish lunch, the ever-understated and stylishly cool Stephanie shares another glimpse into her realms of glam, this time to the Martin Garrix exhibition as part of ADE that is taking place in the hotel lobby at The W. We glide past the creme de la creme of the electronic dance music world - prolific producers, A&R and industry names whilst sipping the finest champagne and trying to absorb every single moment. After our 48 hours in Amsterdam, we are back on a flight to Cheshire, leaving Stephanie and her enviable life behind. A few hours later whilst she is at dinner with The Jonas Brothers and David Guetta, a text comes through. It’s Stephanie, thanking the team for our ‘fun interview’, and that’s when it becomes very apparent that although Cheshire-born Stephanie may be living and shaping the high life, her feet are still very firmly on the ground. the-entouragegroup.com

ENTERTAIN. ENJOY. EXPERIENCE MANCHESTER ARENA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS ARENAS IN THE WORLD, SO IT’S ONLY RIGHT THAT WE OFFER A CONCERT EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER! See the biggest & the best, live from the Arena’s luxurious premium hospitality zone. ‘The Prime Experience’ is perfect for wowing clients or rewarding staff with the best seats in the house! Secure one of our luxurious arena suites, either annually or for a single event and experience the very best Manchester has to offer, or gain unprecedented access to the best seats in the house by becoming a prime seat member. contact: hospitality@manchester-arena.com

prime-experience.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

GREEN with envy Natalie Anglesey meets Baton Berisha and Sean Burbidge the driving force behind the new food lovers paradise that is The Ivy Spinningfields

he Ivy in London is one of my favourite restaurants. I was first taken there by Sir Cameron Mackintosh and subsequently met a host of showbiz glitterati at a series of private parties. My only complaint was that it was often difficult to get a table. So you can imagine my excitement this month at the opening in Manchester of The Ivy Spinningfields, part of The Ivy Collection. There’s no danger of unavailability here, according to Baton Berisha, Director of Operations for The Ivy Collection. “This is the largest restaurant to open in the UK in 2018, with space for approximately 535 covers housed over four different floors so there should be no problem - although it’s always wise to book in advance. However, we do welcome what we call walk-ins on the ground floor Brasserie.” We are already blessed with a plethora of good restaurants in Manchester, so I was interested to discover what precisely The Ivy

Collection was going to provide that we didn’t already enjoy? The epitome of cool, with control over 33 restaurants nationwide, Baton is genuinely enthusiastic about his latest project. “I’ve had my eye on Manchester for a long time as it’s such an interesting, metropolitan city. I’ve already eaten in most of the excellent restaurants here, but we’ll be offering Mancunians, and visitors to this great city, a completely new dining experience set across four fabulous floors in a prime location. The Ivy Spinningfields occupies an impressive, timberframed space within a new development, called The Pavilion, which is a haven of greenery located right in the heart of the city.”

“We want The Ivy Spinningfields to be a place that everyone can enjoy” Baton continues, explaining what we will find inside, “On the ground floor will be the traditional Ivy Brasserie, open all day, seven days a week, serving modern British classics. While on the first floor, The Dalton room is for those seeking a more exclusive experience. It can accommodate parties of up to twenty seated guests and will be available all day. With its floor to ceiling glass walls, guests will

be able to enjoy the views across Spinningfields.” I’d also heard about an exciting new departure for The Ivy Collection which Baton is keen to elaborate. “The second floor houses The Ivy Asia – a glamorous bar and restaurant.

The entire floor illuminated with a showstopping, semi-precious green stone floor, set against a striking antique gold mirrored bar, gold-gilt ceiling and luxurious Asian fabrics. The Geisha Room, a stunning private room with bespoke mirrored artwork, is also available to hire privately. So we’ll have two private rooms for those who want either private dining or to host a party. “Finally, on the top floor, our Roof Garden has a fully retractable roof and is open all year round. Their guests can enjoy food and cocktails amidst greenery, roaring fire- pits and colourful fabrics, creating an enchanting oasis in the heart of Manchester. We’re also arranging an exciting mix of guest DJs, and events to entertain our guests on each of its four floors.” It’s evident that the two main priorities in any successful restaurant are the food and the staff. The General Manager is Kate Cooper responsible for ensuring the wheels run smoothly. While Executive Chef Sean Burbidge is accountable for the overall menu for The Ivy Collection with Steve Scoullar as Senior Head Chef, Jason Annette as Head Chef and Luke Mason as Bar Manager.

At only thirty-seven, Baton is the head supremo in charge of developing The Ivy Collection and masterminding this new development. His own story is a remarkable one. “I was born into an intellectual family as my father is a scientist with a couple of degrees and my mother is a teacher. Originally I wanted to be a lawyer but we lived in Kosova, and twenty years ago, during the troubles, my parents sent me to this country for safety when I was only 15 years old. I spoke no English, had no money, and although I could speak Serbo-Croatian and Turkish - that was no help getting a job in London. “I had to find work to pay for food and lodgings, so I got a job washing the floors in a restaurant called Quo Vadis, moving onto glasses and dishes. I taught myself English, and within four months I graduated to being a sommelier, guiding guests on their choice of wine, and was able to start sending money home to my family.”

“I’ve had my eye on Manchester for a long time as it’s such an interesting, metropolitan city” From there, Baton’s C.V. reads like a good food guide as he worked his way up the ladder at among other restaurants, Quaglino’s, the Harrington Club, The Savoy Grill and the St Martin’s Lane Hotel. “I decided I wanted an overview of the industry ranging from good restaurants, night-clubs and hotels which proved a valuable experience. All the time I was meeting people who were the movers in the industry, and I finally found a home at The Ivy Collection.” Baton has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his chosen career and always held the credo that family is everything. He still sends money home to help them. He also really cares about the well-being of his staff. “We’ve employed 250 new staff in Manchester, and over the last six months I’ve been sending them to London to train and study why The Ivy has such a good reputation.”

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

When I joke if he’s married to the job, Baton laughs out loud. “I know that’s what my wife thinks but she understands as she worked for me part-time in London while she was an architecture student! Holly and I have only married this August, and we brought some of my family over for the wedding. We’ll have another celebration in Kosova, but we’ve not even had time yet to have our honeymoon!”

The principal subject of food is in the capable hands of Executive Chef, Sean Burbridge, from Billingham in Stockton-on-Tees. At the age of fifteen, he was working part-time in a gastropub where he discovered his passion for good food. He trained locally before working his way around hotels in Yorkshire, and the Welcombe Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, before moving to London to work at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. His culinary skills took him to Gordon Ramsay au Trianon at the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles where they were awarded their second Michelin star within 12 months of opening. He returned to London as Head Chef of Petrus in Knightsbridge before joining The Ivy Collection. “Being Executive Chef is an important role in the sense of bringing everything together,” Sean tells me. “ When you open a restaurant, it’s vital that the whole team, both front of house and back of house, support each other. I worked closely with Steve Scoullar, our Senior Head Chef and Head Chef, Jason Annette, to develop the menus and also helped with recruitment and staff training. I then visit all The Ivy Collection sites – sometimes announced and sometimes unannounced!” Sean is a hard taskmaster about standards.” I’ll be spending as much time as possible in Manchester in the coming weeks to offer any required support. We already have a great kitchen team behind us in Manchester, including Steve, who previously worked as Head Chef at The Ivy St Helen’s Square in York. The senior

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

kitchen team have been in training with us for between three to six months, and I have every confidence in them. And all our ingredients are carefully sourced from trusted suppliers.” With my mouth already watering at the thought I wondered what we could expect to eat on different floors? “I want our menus to be all-encompassing. So in The Ivy Brasserie, we’ll serve classic British dishes like slow-cooked shoulder of lamb as well as lobster linguine, and truffled orzo pasta. Our Brasserie menu, which is available on the ground floor and the Roof Garden, is similar to The Ivy Collection’s London menus. Our menus change seasonally, and so we opened in Manchester with our winter menu, featuring some new dishes to suit the season, including roast pumpkin soup and chicken bourguignon with chestnut mushrooms.”

Is there such a thing as The Ivy signature dish? “For me, a signature dish is a dish that you add to the menu, and it becomes so popular that you can’t take it off again. We have a few dishes on our menus which meet this criterion including our Ivy shepherd’s pie and iconic melting chocolate bombe. “ However, I gather there’s also a new departure for The Ivy? “ That’s right,” Sean replies.” On the second floor, there’s a brand

new Asian-inspired restaurant, bar and concept from The Ivy Collection. The Ivy Asia’s menu is completely new with Asian inspired cocktails and dishes including everything from flamed Wagyu beef to Thai sea bass with coriander. Many of these recipes our Head Chef discovered on his travels around Asia.”

The entire floor illuminated with a show-stopping, semi-precious green stone floor I decided to ask Sean the same question I put to Baton. As Manchester is a city full of good restaurants how can you compete with the others? “You’re right. Manchester has a thriving food scene and some great restaurants. We are looking forward to adding to the city’s existing offerings, providing guests with easy all-day dining, whatever the occasion. We are open seven days a week, from dawn until late, whether those living or working in the area are looking for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, cocktails or weekend brunch. Guests should expect good food and service alongside beautiful and striking surroundings. We are hoping to provide open dining for all occasions with a touch of glamour. We want The Ivy Spinningfields to be a place that everyone can enjoy.” Baton sums up: “We are incredibly excited to bring The Ivy Collection to Manchester, and we can’t wait to showcase our different dining concepts. We’ve already made contacts with local businesses and residents, and we look forward to meeting many new friends. We hope to bring something new and exciting to this fascinating city.” The Ivy Spinningfields, The Pavilion, Byrom Street, Manchester M3 3HG, www.theivymanchester.com, 0161 503 3222

Florence Verity Advert 2pp spread.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2018 16:53 Page 1

OUR STYLISH RANGE O F S I G N AT U R E C A N D L E S A R E HAND POURED IN THE UK WITH BESPOKE FRAGRANCES

W W W. F L O R E N C E V E R I T Y. C O . U K

FLORENCE VERITY LUXURY HOME FRAGRANCES A R E AVA I L A B L E TO B U Y O N L I N E

Financial planning that’s more you. Everybody’s different. So any financial advice you’re given should be for you alone, and with Franklyn, it is. Our trusted, reliable, expert service is tailored to your individual circumstances. In short, we’re here to help build capital, provide retirement income, manage existing assets, and protect against financial risk... just for you.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

r o f t n a W I l l A

. . . s a m t s i r Ch

ee? istmas tr r h c e h t er find und Nichols, o y t e t v r n a a H w you form he What do piration s in l a n o easel & T as W e s r, e e h m is o F Abi Get s My Gift, d il u B , ChloBo La Prairie Bug and A S: ANN WORD

Ã&#x2030; DU PR

At Gina & Skinner we are Offering Luxurious Comfort that Ignites your Senses

Pure Cashmere Items, Faux Fur and Fur

Its all about The Touch, The Feel & The Sense Hammam Towels & Candles.

www.ginaskinner.com e: Info@ginaskinner.com t: 07801 950164 Follow us on Instagram @ginaandskinner

The CHESHIREMagazine Magazine| Regulars | Feature The CHESHIRE

INDULGENT CHRISTMAS

Stylist, Mya Elgarice has everyone’s wish-list covered with her gifting must-haves

arvey Nichols Manchester is pulling out all stops for the holidays this year with an overflowing edit of fashion, beauty, food and drink; our selection will leave you spoilt for choice. Stylist, Mya Elgarice has everyone’s wish-list covered with her gifting must-haves. “Christmas is the season for indulgence after all, so what better gift than that itself? Start the day with a beauty MOT; a relaxing treatment from your favourite skincare brand to a full cut and Signature Blow Dry from SHOW Dry. Enjoy a delicious lunch (and a glass of fizz to celebrate an afternoon well spent) in the Second Floor Bar and Brasserie before heading to Style Concierge, which offers the ultimate shopping experience with a personal stylist, who will find you the perfect outfit for any festive occasion. With every detail considered, Harvey Nichols makes a day of indulgence truly personalised and luxurious from start to finish. It’s a gift that’s not going to disappoint!” Gifts not to miss include the Fendi Runaway Shopper, Kenzo wool blender bomber jacket, Marc Jacobs Leopard Frost Eye Shadow Pallett and Mr and Mrs Italy Black Parker. “My top tip is to keep it personal and what’s great about Harvey Nichols, is that you can create bespoke and personalised gifts no matter the budget. Give the gift of good taste and create the ultimate food and wine hamper with our experts on hand to completely tailor your wants and desires into one stylish, foodie feast! Filled to the brim with artisanal treats, all of our Christmas hampers are the first and last word in gourmet gifting. My wish-list this year is all about personalised statement pieces so, a stylish single stud initial earring from Anoushka is just what I’m looking for.”

FROM TOP RIGHT: ALL WRAPPED UP HAMPER £185, ROVERT GRAHAM FORTITUDE COLOGNE 250ML £260, ARMAND DE BRIGNAC ACE OF SPADES GOLD BRUT CHAMPAGNE £340, FENDI RUNAWAY SHOPPER SMALL LEATHER TOTE £1850, MARC JACOBS BEAUTY LEOPARD FROST COLLECTION EYECONIC £39, ANOUSHKA INITIAL M SINGLE STUD EARRING £195, KENZO BADGE-APPLIQUED WOOL-BLEND BOMBER JACKET £640, MR MRS ITALY BLACK PARKA £1640, SHACKLETON LIGHTWEIGHT MERINO CREW NECK JUMPER £75

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

ADD A LITTLE SPARKLE TO YOUR CHRISTMAS

We chat with Chloe Moss of ChloBo jewellery and get an insight into her Christmas range as well as trends for the festive season

his Christmas, ChloBo have a range over 100 new pieces in gold, rose gold, and 925 sterling silver. I love giving gifts with individuality and meaning to my friends and family, so this Christmas if you’re looking for something a bit different, and full of personal significance, I’d recommend a ChloBo chakra necklace, known to align your energies. These also look fabulous stacked up with other ChloBo necklaces and are available in 926 sterling silver, gold, and rose gold. Gold is making a huge comeback this winter too, and if you’re unsure, my new gold and silver mixed metal collection is the perfect introduction to start your gold collection, all with a range of different charms, so there’s something for everyone. I gain my design inspiration from my travels and experiences in life, and each piece I design encompasses the heart and soul of my journeys. My Autumn, Winter 18 range ‘Ariella’ which means Lion of God, is a collection for the strong and powerful woman in your life. My personal favourite charm has to be the lion as I’m a Leo, and the meaning of the strength and courage is really close to me. www.chlobo.co.uk

CHLOES CHRISTMAS LIST: • I LOVE the Gucci Logo Sweater for the warm cosy winter nights. • A universe of Us leopard print set in Emerald Green for winter. • I always go to Barbados to join my family over the Christmas and New Year, so there’s still a Melissa Odabash bikini on my Christmas list! This year I have my eye on a gorgeous leopard one. • My favourite Christmas smell has to be the Diptyque candle in Figuier (Fig tree). You can never go wrong with a candle,especially when it smells this good!

#1 Mixed Metal Stack of 3, £210

#3 Bobble Chain Hummingbird Necklace, £75

#5 Moon Flower Hoops, £130

#4 Chunky Tassel Bracelet, £215 #2 Double Star Bracelet, £59

Available from ww.chlobo.co.uk

Christmas at

COTTONS HOTEL & SPA

Buble and Baubles PARTY NIGHTS

Bublé and Baubles Christmas party nights with all your favourite Michael Bublé hits and Christmas classics until 1.00am. 30th November 6th December

13th December 22nd December

Christmas Day

LUNCH

A traditional Christmas Day Lunch with all the trimmings and a special visit from Santa. Toast the season with a glass of chilled Champagne and appetisers on arrival and then enjoy a delicious four-course lunch.

£99.00 PER PERSON £49.00 PER CHILD

19th January 2019

FROM

£42.00 PER PERSON

Festive Lunch

Monday 3rd December - Sunday 23rd December (Excluding the 25th, 26th and 31st) Relax with friends, family or colleagues, come in from the cold and enjoy some festivities in our restaurant, the perfect seasonal treat.

FROM

£25.95 PER PERSON

New Year’s Eve GALA DINNER

One not to be missed on the social calendar! Enjoy a night to remember and bring on the New Year in style, enjoy Andy Powell our live entertainer and host DJ will play until the early hours

FROM

£95.00 PER PERSON

Aged between 3 - 12 years.

Table reservations between 12.30pm - 3.00pm. Children under 3 years of age eat free of charge.

Festive Afternoon Tea

Monday 3rd December - Sunday 30th December (Excluding the 25th, 26th and 31st) Come in and enjoy our delicious afternoon tea, from our selection of leaf teas to our freshly prepared sandwiches, cakes and warm scones and clotted cream.

FROM

£23.95 PER PERSON

Christmas Breaks 3 NIGHT BREAK £415.00 PER PERSON

Includes dinner, bed and breakfast on all days, departing 27th December.

To book or to find out more about these events call the Sales Team on 01565 650333

Cottons Hotel & Spa Manchester Road, Knutsford, WA16 0SU

TRADITIONAL TOYS THIS CHRISTMAS

We meet Katie Jones from Weasel and The Bug and hear about traditional toys for Christmas.

easel and the Bug, came to fruition when my littlest (Bug) was around 18 months old when I spotted that when she was playing with plastic, flashing toys that just played for her. Dolls were telling her how they felt, cars singing, musical instruments playing for her. It left NOTHING for her imagination to discover. I then began my search for toys that encouraged her to interact with as well as develop her creativity. I wanted toys that where powered by children, not batteries (now our motto!!). I quickly discovered that no high street shops were catering to my needs. I decided that I was going to bring open-ended, traditional toys to the high street. I started selling on our facebook page, then quickly moved to Chester’s indoor and farmers market. Christmas 2015 we had a stall at Chesters Christmas markets, which pretty much funded the shop we have on Watergate Street in Chester. We opened the doors on Weasel Towers, July 2016, filling it with beautiful toys from across the world that spark imagination and joy in children and adults alike. We take care and pride in the Toys and clothing we stock. We ensure all our toys are FSC and GOTS certificated as well as organic (where appropriate). All of our brands we carry are people and planet friendly. With Christmas around the corner, we at Bug HQ are VERY excited! I start planning Christmas in January, I attend trade shows from London to Germany and see all the new exciting toys. However, the real planning begins in August, where we meet with toy companies to ensure we get all the best sellers like Plan Toys Beehives.

KATIES TOP FIVE CHRISTMAS TOYS

5 Brio train track

Brio has to be the number one in wooden trains. We would love to pick a set, but we can help but feel that “All of it” would be the best way to describe the Brio best selling range. Each set includes beechwood interlocking track and trains. Every layout will create a new adventure allowing the child to use their manipulative skills, connecting tracks and trains, exploration skills creating different layouts and fires their imagination.

4 Le toy Van London Bus

A big red wooden traditional London bus, with Boris the Budkin bus driver to check the tickets and get his passengers to their destination! It features beautiful authentic detailing and with solid rubber wheels. This stunning bus has room for up to 11 passengers and features an opening roof and top floor to allow easy access for little (and big) hands to enjoy hours of fun!!!

3 Plan Bees

The Beehive toy is really simple and very effective. The set includes different coloured bees and hives and a pair of wooden tweezers. Children can sort the bees and place them in the matching hive. It is great for developing coordination skills, teaching children about the natural world and fuelling their curiosity for bees and the environment.

2 Lanka Kade Deluxe Ark

.The Ark is beautifully handcrafted in Sri Lanka and is a fantastic addition to any children’s toy collection. This Noah’s ark toy is the largest in its range and is supplied with 24 chunky characters. Each ark and animal are unique, made sustainability sourced rubberwood. A fantastic christening, Christmas or birthday gift, this deluxe ark will be treasured for years to come and passed down generations.

1 Grimms 12 piece Rainbow

. A stunning and versatile toy. The pieces can be used as bridges, tunnels, fences, marble run or even a dolls cradle. Children will be wonderfully inventive and help define their imaginations. Cut from a solid piece of basswood and finished with non-toxic water-based stains, this gives a stunning depth of colour. Combine with semi-circles or the beautiful boards to create a whole new level of play!! This Montessori toy is fun for all ages!!!

The CHESHIREMagazine Magazine| Regulars | Feature The CHESHIRE

JASON LAURENCE National Training and Spa Development Manager for La Prairie

ason Laurence has worked in luxury skincare and therapy for over 22 years, and now works as the National Training and Spa Development Manager for La Prairie. He dedicates his time developing the knowledge and skills of the dedicated beauty advisors and therapists across the UK and Ireland. Skin and its care has been a passion from an early age, and his arrival at the world’s leading anti-aging luxury skincare house, La Prairie, was inevitable. Cellular Power Charge Night - Cellular Power Charge Night takes advantage of your skin’s natural resting state to perform necessary recovery functions. Wrinkles appear to fade, signs of aging are erased and oxygen is boosted - all of which means you will wake up to younger looking skin. Skin Caviar Dermo - Use this treatment when your skin needs an immediate uplift in tone, texture and appearance. Its gleaming “caviar pearls”, not only embody the luxurious image of La Prairie, they release a highly concentrated burst of caviar-derived sea energy at the very moment of application. Your skin is instantly smoothed and firmed, radiantly alive, miraculously transformed. Cellular 3 minute Peel - Designed for skin that has lost some of its elasticity and developed enlarged pores, this fast-acting mask contains concentrated exfoliants, which speed up cell renewal. It helps shrink the appearance of pores, improves elasticity, hydrates the skin and helps protect against moisture loss. Radiance Perfecting Fluide - La Prairie’s Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold deeply revitalizes skin as it perfects improving skin quality and texture from within. Radiance Night Cream - Cellular Radiance Night Cream is an intensive formula that renews skin’s inner luminosity. An advanced de-aging cream, it restores the natural defenses of the skin. Skin Caviar Essence-in-Foundation - Skin Caviar Essence-inFoundation, the first compact foundation infused with Caviar Water for complexion perfection. Light Fantastic Cellular Concealer Bright Eye Treatment - This multi-tasking, portable tool instantly refreshes and illuminates your eye zone while concealing imperfections such as puffiness and dark under-eye circles. Combining both cosmetic and skincare properties, it effectively minimizes signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, while adding a touch of radiance. Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil - Moisture-Rich, Light-Infused, AgeDelaying Oil. This glistening moisture rich oil melts instantly into your skin, immediately helping to restore its youthful appearance. Anti-Aging Perfection Porter - An illuminating, lifting eye creamgel. A luxurious and protective lip balm. Treat eyes to a potent formula that hydrates while instantly easing signs of fatigue, lines, wrinkles and dark circles.

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

RAS & MANVEEL DEOL

Co-Founders of bespoke luxury gift boxes BuildMyGift.com

aunched in 2017, Build My Gift was created out of a need for better gifting solutions. Gifting options have previously been limited to ready-made hampers, often containing unwanted items, or the option to make a hamper at home, which can be costly or time consuming. More than ever people are focused on personalisation but as they become increasingly time poor they require a one-stop-shop – Build My Gift was the answer to this. Bringing convenience, ease and quality, Build My Gift can fulfil every gifting need! We spotted a gap in the market for bespoke, luxury gift boxes and it was from here we came up with the idea for a new e-commerce business. Working with leading luxury brands, we offer a 360-degree service covering corporate, weddings, events & your everyday gifting needs. It ranges from the online e-commerce platform for the consumer-focused element of our business, as well as our bespoke offering through our Corporate and Wedding Gift Concierge services. BuildMyGift.com offers a fully personalised, luxury gift box service, where customers can choose from more than 400 products available online. For Corporate we can offer a fully branded and bespoke service to ensure that employees and other stakeholders feel rewarded and recognised at key times. Offering a truly bespoke service, our Wedding Gift Concierge Service covers everything from Bridesmaid & Groomsman Proposal gifts to Wedding Welcome Gifts and Favour boxes. Meet The Founders - Ras and Manveel Ras holds a Master’s degree in HR Management and has worked for luxury goods conglomerate LVMH - Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton - and the BBC before setting up Build My Gift. “When choosing a career path it was never my intention to start my own business. I took a traditional route of degree, masters and then into my first job – a HR role. Working in HR for more than five years and progressing in my career, it wasn’t until I was hit with a lightbulb moment that I decided I wanted more.” Manveel holds a Business Management degree from Aston University. His love for taking on new challenges and entrepreneurial spirit has seen him manage several businesses since graduating and led him to co-found Build My Gift! “Over the past year since setting up BuildMyGift.com, I have come to realise owning my own business is so much more than just a job or a career, it’s a passion, if you don’t have this passion you’re going to fail.”

ant S t e Secr

Recommends... #1 Cowshed Tree Decoration, £20 www.buildmygift.com

#2 Moet Christmas Crackers, £20 www.buildmygift.com #3 The Little Book of Hangovers, £7 www.buildmygift.com

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

ABI FISHER Founder and creative force behind Abi Fisher Exclusive Clothes Collection

ecognising a gap in the market place for a luxurious, understated womenswear collection delivered with a personal touch, Abi turned her dream into a thriving reality with her synonymous designer womenswear collection and styling from her beautiful showroom in the heart of Cheshire. Abi places huge importance on individuality and quality and travels the world looking for inspiration and products for her ever-expanding clientele in the north west and beyond, so is perfectly placed to offer us some stylish and unique ideas for our Christmas lust-lists. First on Abi’s fashion Christmas list is the Bambi Fur/Knit Wrap (£85, www.abifisher.co.uk) the perfect statement cover-up that can be dressed up or down and for any occasion during the festive period. And taking inspiration from the crisp, clear, winter evenings, the hand embroidered Mila Jacket, (£255, www.abifisher.co.uk) is the perfect finishing touch to the casual jeans look or for an evening dress. Embracing the indulgence of embroidery, Abi’s go-to flats are these Grey Embroidered Suede Shoes (£169, www.abifisher.co.uk), eternally stylish and guaranteed lots of wear throughout the seasons. As Christmas is so frantic for Abi as she is busy dressing her clients and ensuring they have all they need for the festive season and cheeky sun-drenched holidays, she is looking forward to a day of pampering at The Secret Spa in Holt to redress the balance and settle in to her own family festivities (The Ultimate Package Spa Day, £140, www.thesecretspa.co.uk). For the home, Abi has her eye on this stunning Henning Koppel Silver Water Pitcher from one of her favourite designers, Georg Jensen (£225, www. georgjensen.com). Watch this space for news of a future collaboration... Finally, Abi is hoping to see this timeless Vintage Classic Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Pendant under the tree this year (from £5,900 www.boodles.com) just in case anyone is looking for some inspiration.

Christmas Fair

Thursday 6th Dec 7pm - 10pm The Oakﬁeld, Chester Zoo

Cheshire professional members group, Seventy9 are hosting an indoor Christmas fair at The Oakﬁeld, Chester Zoo. Seventy9 Social is proudly raising money for charity by creating its very own Christmas fair in the recently refurbished property in the grounds of Chester Zoo. The group, founded by Jamie Christon, Jonny Gould and David Miller, have got together with local businesses including independent shops, suppliers and artists, to host this festive event for their members, families, and readers of The Cheshire Magazine. Stall holders will contribute 5% of their takings on the night to charity. In a statement from the Seventy9 founders, they stated: “We want to raise money to support a good cause. Our event will be lovely festive gathering in the lead up to Christmas. Guests will be able to experience the newly refurbished Oakﬁeld decked out in all of its Christmas glory. We want the evening to feel special and for people of all ages to come along, enjoy themselves whilst doing a little Christmas shopping at our stalls and above all, help us to support a good cause”. If you’re interested in attending, you can get tickets from www.eventbright.co.uk and search ‘Seventy9 Social Christmas Event’. Tickets are free, however we’re encouraging all who attend to make a donation on the night of £10 per adult. Ticket numbers are limited, so be sure to get yours asap.

Seventy9 Social is a professional members group. Membership is free, with a cost for each event. Premium membership is £55 per year and includes event discount and other perks. For more details about becoming a member, sponsorship or hosting an event, please email the team at admin@seventy9.club

seventy9_social

Seventy 9 Social

House of Evelyn is Manchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temple of hair & beauty. An oasis of elegance and well-being. A celebration of looking and feeling fabulous.

INSPIRATIONAL, RESTFUL, SHOW STOPPING Come inside and enjoy a range of the best treatments: HAIR & MAKE-UP - BEAUTY & AESTHETICS - NAIL TREATMENTS - FACIAL TREATMENTS ADDRESS

EVELYN, 40 Spring Gardens,

+44 (0)161 302 8822

Manchester, M2 1EN

INFO@HOUSEOFEVELYN.COM

Collection

HEART And Soul Messika by Gigi Hadid Gigi Hadid has teamed up with Valérie Messika for a second time, following the success of their first ‘punk-rock’ collaboration last year. The bohemianchic My Soul collection promises to “transport us into the sun-filled world of Gigi Hadid, a world of gold and diamonds”. Gigi was heavily involved, creating moodboards that formed the basis of the creative process. “She was the orchestra’s conductor,” enthused Valérie. Choose from white, yellow or pink gold and shine like the supermodel. My Soul collection, from £790 www.messika.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: MERT & MARCUS

I Should Coco Although it’s now possible to find a watch out there in any colour of the rainbow, monochrome looks good with everything, and Coco Chanel was the grande dame of this kind of understated chic. The Code Coco watch is as timelessly elegant as it is cool, featuring a steel case and bezel set with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds, and a black lacquered dial, with one princess-cut diamond. The watch’s name comes from the different Chanel Maison codes you must decipher before you can fully appreciate it. Its stainless-steel bracelet, for example, comprises tiny squares that recall Chanel’s famous quilted design (known as matelassé) and the clasp that sits above the watch hands is a miniature replica of the fastener on Chanel’s iconic 2.55 bag. Code Coco watch in steel and diamond, £7,800; Code Coco watch in ceramic, steel and diamonds, £8,800 | www.chanel.com

Jewellery WORDS: ANNABEL HARRISON

News

Now that the clocks have gone back, brighten up autumnal outfits with modern diamond detailing, pops of colour and emphatic metallic jewellery Diamond Design

Children across the country still play Hopscotch, a joyful and classic playground game, and David Robinson took inspiration from it to create one of his brand’s most iconic collections in his Cheshire studio. Comprising rings, earrings, pendants and necklaces, the collection features princess-cut diamonds, playfully set within 18ct yellow, white and rose gold. Standout pieces include a pair of striking diamond earrings, recently chosen by stylist James Yardley for Tess Daly to wear on Strictly Come Dancing. Hopscotch collection, from £1,250 www.davidmrobinson.co.uk

Sweet Bee

Manchester is synonymous with the ‘worker bee’, symbolising hard work and unity. David M Robinson’s Honeycomb collection, originally released more than a decade ago, takes inspiration from this motif and it has been refreshed with a contemporary twist, ahead of the opening of David M Robinson’s refurbished Manchester showroom next year. The new Honeycomb pendant, which you can team with a matching ring, is particularly eye-catching, featuring interlocking hexagons set with round brilliant-cut diamonds, in 18ct yellow or rose gold. Honeycomb pendant, £1,550, and ring, £1,250 www.davidmrobinson.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Jewellery

Cocktail Hour Tessa Packard London’s latest collection packs quite the punch – inspired as much by “the theatricality and drama of cocktailmaking as the range of riotous, rainbow-hued creations synonymous with this style of drink”. While some vintage cocktails like the Martini are known worldwide, Hammered & Stoned tells the dark and macabre tales of their lesser-known comrades too. Mix and match earrings made from sliced fruit, booze bottles and richly-hued cabochons, or bring the fiery drink to life by sporting the one-of-a-kind Flaming Lamborghini earrings. Hammered & Stoned earrings, from £150 | www.tessapackardlondon.com

Set in Stone

England and France have always had close creative ties, and we love discovering chic jewellery collections made in its capital city. Stone Paris was created by Marie Pointaowski whose unique background set her in good stead when launching her brand in 2004; her father was Creative Director of French Vogue and her mother an interior designer. Marie also has Navajo heritage and counted Grace Kelly as a family friend. Stone Paris uses black gold as well as white, yellow and rose, and these Marie-Antoinette earrings, available to pre-order, showcase gold shaped like arachnidan lace, with an ornamental, Victorian feel. Marie-Antoinette earrings, £6,572 www.stoneparis.com

On Trend

Deeper Shades of Blue

Ocean Treasures

In many cultures, pearls symbolise purity and innocence, which is why it has become traditional for brides to wear them on their wedding day. The wonderfully distinctive iridescent pearl is also the birthstone for the star signs Gemini and Cancer (and the 30th wedding anniversary stone), ticking a lot of boxes if you’re thinking about Christmas gifts for daughters, friends or wives. The only gemstones made by living creatures – molluscs – these wonders of nature don’t require any processing, making them a dream for jewellery designers. While as many as 70 per cent are strung and worn as necklaces, Mizuki uses them creatively in contemporary earrings, bracelets and rings too, the designer taking inspiration from New York, California and her birthplace Tokyo. Sea of Beauty collection, from £195 | www.mizuki.com

Look to the night skies and take inspiration from the blue-hued twilight this month

Leigh Miller Newman

brings California colours to her jewellery using molten wax which is then hand-hammered. These earrings have tiered gold-tone discs embossed with shell-like ridges and mismatched Murano glass bead tips. Gumdrop earrings, £350, Leigh Miller www.net-a-porter.com

This 18ct rose gold cuff

makes us happy. It’s tipped at either end with a heart-shaped charm – one is inlaid with lapis lazuli, and the other a dazzling, brilliant-cut diamond that ‘dances’ in a sapphire crystal case. Net-a-Porter is a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council. Happy Hearts cuff, £2,230, Chopard www.net-a-porter.com

Opt for heavy metal

this winter in the form of the weighty Manhattan ring in 18ct yellow gold and midnight-blue lapis lazuli. It is inspired by the vermouth, whiskey and bitters cocktail and depicts the New York skyline at dusk. Manhattan ring, £6,500 | www.tessapackardlondon.com

Look out for our amazing Black Friday offer from the 19th November - 25th November Online & In-Store

www.chlobo.co.uk

THE ULTIMATE BEAUTY DESTINATION New and niche brands sit beside icons of the industry over three floors with a Bar and Spa. Perfect whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after nails or nibbles, brows or bubbles. Come visit us in-store today.

Style Dress for the

SOUL If images of Studio 54 and sequins don’t get you in the mood for the festive season ahead, we don’t know what will! Thanks to RIXO London, their latest collection Disco Daze, is here to help to inject some fun into your new season’s wardrobe. The ‘Coco’ dress has become the statement piece for the collection which was created thanks to a fascination with the eccentricity and discotheque soul of the New York club - famously the place where style-icon Bianca Jagger was amongst its exclusive clientele. With its modern ombré sequined effect, the Coco dress also has a tightened waist and when paired with heels, channels glamour and style into any party scene. £375 | www.selfridges.com

Copper Grace

Deitas is a favourite amongst style influencers. Its pieces are designed around timeless elegance, and indeed the ‘Bo’ dress has captured its divinity. Indistinctive straps, soft falling cut and that sultry copper colour falls onto the silhouette effortlessly. Sexy no? Complete with radiant skin, your favourite faux fur, bare leather sandals and dainty layered jewellery, this is the epitome of cool-girl dressing this party season. For more of a cover-up, see Zimmerman’s layered ruffled copper offering - simply divine. Deitas Bo Dress £755 Zimmerman Valiant Dress £960 www.net-a-porter.com

Fashion news WORDS: LAURA GARNER

The Greatest Cover-Up

Since emerging onto the scene in 2016, Molly Goddard’s pieces have been snapped up by the likes of Rihanna and she’s the designer responsible for ‘that’ pink dress worn by Liverpool’s Jodie Comer in Killing Eve, which very nearly broke the internet. Her most recent delightful offering is the Estelle ruffled cape from her A/W’18 collection. Not only is it made in the UK, using her signature tulle techniques but it’s also fabulously versatility, which makes it a go-to for party occasions big and small. Style up your black ensemble with new power shoulders or wear with heels and your LBD to really make a statement. £1,500 www.matchesfashion.com

High Profile Tux

Hugo Boss’s ‘Hockley’ midnight blue tuxedo jacket is made from cotton-velvet for added depth and texture, offering decadence just at the right time of year. The expertly tailored slim-fit jacket is finished with a classic black silk-satin sweeping neck, ready for any members club or stylish high-profile event. £450 www.mrporter.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Sheer Delight

Sparkle

STACK

Erdem Emmy Dress £3,065

Erdem Zelena Dress £3,890

Sheer over dresses are back this season and championed by the queen of understated impact, Stella McCartney. The Sophia dress is great for post-work drinks or weekend cocktails with a black on black outfit underneath, but if you’re wanting to get the most out of this wearable piece, create drama with a black tight mini or midi dresses underneath and work shapes using different heel heights too. £1,725 www.stellamccartney.com

On Top

loves Erdem Brienne Dress £4,395

No one does sophisticated, powerful feminism with pizazz quite like Erdem Moralioglu. We’ve selected a mirage of twinkling delights for your delectation, just in time for the festive season.

Shine Bright Little One

Shimmery glitter in a gold metallic skirt by Little Marc Jacobs makes this pleated skirt playful, colourful and enchanting for the cool months ahead. Inspired by its parent line, the Little Marc Jacobs A/W ’18 skirt blends a practical elasticated black and gold waistband with heaps of sparkle for any little one to dazzle in. £101 www.farfetch.com

Tom Ford knows how to do sexy and this season is no different. His use of leather and animal prints could not be more relevant too, and his Victorianstyle tops have been creating a riot amongst the fashion leaders du jour. Pair either the leather with some satin/silk wide leg trousers or the jaguar print in a cherry red with a structured midi skirt for true stand-out style. Victorian Jaguar Top £1,890 Victorian Leather Top £2,490 www.tomford.co.uk

Peek-a-boo

As timeless are they are vivacious, Prada’s peep-toe bow sandals are a pair to be added to your collection. Made from red suede in Italy, the large bow detailing set on top is one of the biggest shoe trends of A/W ’18. Style them with this seasons inspired all-red outfit trend, or wear them to pop your feet from under those caramel tones which will be oozing out of your wardrobes before the season is through. £555 | www.net-a-porter.com

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Solace London Serafine Dress, £690 Rupert Sanderson Aurora Swarovski Pebble Suede Sandals, £635 Christopher Kane Devine Neoprene Crystals Cross Body Bag, £855

PARTY

POP

Prepare to get bold for the upcoming party season as pops of brights and encrusted embellished wonders take occasion dressing to brand new heights, circa Christmas 2018

This party season Coggles presents a carefully curated edit of show-stopping modern evening dresses, standout separates, and extra special suits for every event in your calendar. Wristlet bags and modern Cinderella shoes are the perfect finishing touch. With a VIP service and executive fitting room at their flagship store in Alderley Edge, Coggles is the ultimate destination for party dressing this Christmas. www.coggles.com

PHOTOGRAPHER: LOUIE BAILEY STYLIST: STEPHANIE HARRIS

Founded in 1974, Coggles is a luxury retailer with a difference. Based on a concept store philosophy, Coggles caters for every aspect of the customer’s life, emerging them in the world of luxury. With new launches this season from the likes of Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Stine Goya, Saks Potts and Mulberry, you’ll find a mix of established luxury and exciting emerging designers. Look out for exclusive collaborations from the likes of Coach, The Volon and M2Malletier that you won’t find anywhere else.

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHER: LOUIE BAILEY STYLIST: STEPHANIE HARRIS

Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini Logo Jumper, £455 Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini High Neck Lace Trim Top, £180 Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini Leather Trousers, £320 Rupert Sanderson Swarovski Pebble Suede Heeled Sandals, £635

Utopia Neoprene V-Neck -V-Back Dress £410

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

PHOTOGRAPHER: LOUIE BAILEY STYLIST: STEPHANIE HARRIS

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Satin Devore Fredi Dress, £1,050 The Volon Cindy Feather Bag, £635 Rupert Sanderson Meadow Velvet Platform Sandals, £575

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHER: LOUIE BAILEY STYLIST: STEPHANIE HARRIS

Stine Goya Micaela Hexigons Silk Wrap Dress, Â£400

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

PHOTOGRAPHER: LOUIE BAILEY STYLIST: STEPHANIE HARRIS

Coach 1941 Moto Leather Jacket, £995 Local designer Zimmermann Matthew O’Brien Unbridled opens hisHanky new store Midi inDress, Chester £1,090 in October, TogaorPulla order X online Coggles now. Leather www.mattobrien.co.uk Ankle Boots, £340 Coach X Coggles Exclusive Floral Signature Print Dinky 19 Cross Body Bag, £650

Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Si Belle of THIS AND TOP RIGHT: ELIE TAHARI

TARPORLEY

World renowned brands in the heart of Cheshire

NICOLE MILLER

i Belle® boutique in Tarporley is a true fashion destination offering exceptional ladieswear from the crème de la crème of British, European and north American fashion houses. Always on the look out for exciting new brands, the past year has seen the addition of Elie Tahari, Nicole Miller, Temperley London, Tory Burch, and Max et Moi to name but a few. Without exception these have all been very well received by visitors to the Tarporley boutique. Elie Tahari’s willingness to take risks and his inexhaustible passion for fashion shines in every item in his collection; whilst Nicole Miller, is renowned for her exquisite form-flattering shapes, with the cut of the clothes being of supreme importance to her. As well as supporting exceptional designers from around the world, Si Belle® are also very proud to showcase world class British designers. Alice Temperley, the founder of Temperley London, has been described as the “English Ralph Lauren” and, with a focus on luxurious fabrics and hand finishes, offers timelessly classic clothes.

Always keen to ensure that the very best from the world of fashion is available to their discerning SIBEL OF SI BELLE WITH ELIE TAHARI clientele, Si Belle® AND NICOLE MILLER have continued to raise the bar and customers can anticipate the arrival of yet more exciting new brands for the Spring/Summer 2019 season. Roland Mouret will be one such new addition. The son of a butcher, this French designer is self-taught and intuitive in his

credentials and flair have steered the brand to great success. Her style is fresh yet approachable and she is a firm favourite with many high profile women including Michelle Obama who has worn her designs on many occasions. Indeed, Michelle designed the dress that Mrs. Obama wore in her official portrait. The list of new brands joining Si Belle® includes two very highly regarded Italian brands, Blumarine and Blugirl. Both brands are from the same fashion house, Blufin, and offer spontaneous, elegant, and seductive feminism at its best. Whilst Blumarine cultivates a more classic look, and Blugirl is aimed at younger women, both collections have a sense of fun at their core. Spring 2019 will also see the welcome return of an old favourite, High by Claire Campbell. Never ones to under-estimate the importance of beachwear, Si Belle® ensure that they bring the very best of stylish beach fashion to the boutique every season. This year cover-ups and kaftans from Melissa Odabash, herself a former swimwear model,

TEMPERLEY LONDON

A true fashion destination offering exceptional ladieswear from the crème de la crème of British, European and north American fashion houses. approach to designing. Now based in London, he takes his influence from nature and the countryside and creates flattering, timeless pieces that will transcend the fashion seasons. In contrast, Michelle Smith, the founder of Milly, another new brand coming to Si Belle® in Spring 2019, studied fashion in both America and Paris and her impeccable

will be introduced to Si Belle®. Known for their glamour and flattering designs, these will be sure to make waves. Si Belle’s® exhaustive search for the world’s very best designers ensures that you can discover brands normally only found in cosmopolitan cities such as London, Paris, Milan, New York and Dubai, all under one roof in the heart of Cheshire.

FUNKY, FEMININE & VERSATILE

COLLECTIONS INCLUDE:

Temperley London Roland Mouret Elie Tahari Tory Burch Melissa Odabash Edward Achour Paris Max et Moi Marc Cain D.Exterior SportMax Nicole Miller St.John Paul Smith Airfield Chiara Boni Hale Bob AND MANY MORE

50A High Street, TARPORLEY, Cheshire CW6 0AG 01829 733251 info@sibelle.co.uk Visit www.sibelle.co.uk and sign up for blogs, news and offers. Like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/sibelle.tarporley to receive updates and titbits. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00â&#x20AC;&#x2019;17:30 Evenings & Sundays by appointment

The Scent of Christmas

Nothing says Christmas quite like the festive ambience of a seasonal scented candle. Eighteen Forty Three by Owen Drew Candles was created to mark the year that Christmas officially ‘arrived’ in the UK. Charles Dickens published his iconic novel, A Christmas Carol and the first Christmas card was introduced to Britain. The scent will transport you to a Christmas of yesteryear. £40 | www.owendrewcandles.com

Health & Beauty news

We absolutely love the run up to Christmas and the lovely gifts that are available. This year we would love to find some (or all!) of these perfect gifts in our stockings (hint hint!) WORDS: MARY JANE GREENHALGH & LEILA BIBBY

Benefit Bright Delight

This limited edition cake-inspired tin includes everything you need for the festive period to brighten up your complexion and brows. Skin looks plump and hydrated with the Instant Comeback Facial Serum. The Total Moisture helps plump your skin and then fade dark under eye circles with the It’s Potent! Eye Cream. Don’t forget those brows with the brow primer. £39.50 www.benefitcosmetics.com

The Gift of Wellbeing

We love Aromatherapy Associates, and this gorgeous collection allows you to choose an essential oil to match your mood and bring balance to everyday life. Anybody would be delighted to receive this thoughtful gift. £65 | www.aromatherapyassociates.com

Mavala Trio Mini Nails

These super cute handy sized nail varnishes come in lovely colours and are great as a stocking filler. The gift pack comes completed with a red satin ribbon and delicate snowflake charm, we love the glittery silver one. £14.95 | www.selfridges.com

Chubby Fun

The ultimate set of Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Colour minis is perfect for the festive season. These twenty minis loaded with mango and shea butter plus vitamin E can be mixed and matched to create your own one-of-a-kind lip colour. Super-nourishing lip balm with awesome shades and packaging to boot. £68 | www.selfridges.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

OUR TOP 3

ADVENT Calendars

We love Christmas from the first moment on 1st December to the 25th, the countdown is magical There is a scented delight to enjoy every day, with a little twist and surprise to celebrate Christmas Day

Just Add Water and Retreat

Quintessentially British brand Tisserand Aromatherapy has partnered with Ascot Racecourse to create a range of delightful bath and body care products. This uplifting collection is beautifully packaged and smells fantastic - Available for everyday use or packaged in lovely gift packs. Collection from £10-£35 available from www.waitrose.com and www.tisserand.com

Grooming On the Go

loves Each box holds a sensational surprise waiting to be revealed The perfect advent calendar for skincare lovers 1. Jo Loves Christmas Advent Calendar, £250 www.joloves.com 2.Molton Brown, £175 www.moltonbrown.co.uk 3. Elemis, £2,150 www.elemis.com

Animal Attraction

Check out the new limited edition Leopard Frost collection from Marc Jacobs. The stunning eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks will be a welcome addition to your make up collection. £39 eyeshadow and £25 for lipstick www.harveynichols.com

Magic Minis

Charlotte Tilbury believes that no painter can create a masterpiece without the right brushes, and the same applies to make-up. The Magical Mini Brush Set features four mini-sized essentials: the Powder, Blender, Smudger and a Precision Brush, encased in an opulent case that embodies Hollywood’s Golden Age of glamour. Blend, smudge and buff your way to a flawless complexion, seductive smokey eyes, and a fabulously full pout. £45 www.selfridges.com

Soak away Stress with Olverum body oil

One of our all-time favourite bath oils Olverum have just launched two exquisite universal body oils, called very simply - The Body Oil and The Dry Body Oil. These are carefully crafted with over 30 premium essential oils to leave skin feeling smooth and plumped. Our favourite is The Body Oil which is a superb addition to your bath time routine and guaranteed to take bath time to a new level of indulgence. £40 | www.olverum.com

This gorgeous mini suitcase is adorable and the perfect gift for those hard-to-buy-for men. The case is filled with Maapilim Lip Balm, Haeckel’s Seaweed Geranium Hand Balm, Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser, Baxter of California Exfoliating Body Bar, and a Kent Folding Pocket Comb. We love the aluminium one, but it comes in other fabulous colours too. The Grooming Set: Aluminium Edition £95 www.awaytravel.com

Perfect Perfume

Too often we have chosen perfumes in a rush when a fragrance should lift your mood and suit you perfectly. This wonderful consultation at Pulse of Perfumery in Knutsford allows you to take the time to explore what you love while sipping some fizz and be expertly guided through the process, challenging your ways and expanding your scent horizons, to ensure you leave with a fragrance you love. Private Fragrance Consultation (1.5-2hrs) at Pulse of Perfumery, Knutsford www.onthepulseofperfumery.co.uk

RENOVATIO THE COSMETIC R EJU VENATION CLINIC

Surgical & Non-surgical Rejuvenation Treatments For Both Men And Women Our flagship clinic is located in Cheshire and serves the North West of England. Renovatio boasts cutting-edge cosmetic technology which is low-risk, tested and has a strong record of producing great results.

T: 0161 850 6818 E: info@renovatioclinic.co.uk W: renovatioclinic.co.uk ADDRESS:

Renovatio Clinic, Cherry Tree Farm, Cherry Tree Lane, Rostherne, WA14 3RZ

Drive Offroad

LUXURY

The best car in

the world. That’s what Rolls-Royce has claimed to build ever since its inception at the Midland Hotel in Manchester in 1904. But having scratched that itch with a range of opulent saloons, effortless coupes and glamorous convertibles, the company has set its sights on the off-road market. With the Cullinan, Rolls-Royce has created its first SUV - a car that aims to take luxury anywhere it chooses. By arming it with an arsenal of gadgets, sumptuous upholstery and palatial levels of interior space, Rolls-Royce will be hoping its newcomer can give Cheshire’s very own Bentley Bentayga a bloody nose. www.rolls-roycemotorcars-manchester.co.uk

DRIVE

Keeping you up to date with all the latest motoring and technology news WORDS: JAMES FOSSDYKE

BATTERIES INCLUDED Audi’s e-tron electric SUV is here to put Tesla in its place, but you’d never know it

fter a drawn-out gestation period, Audi’s new electric SUV has finally broken cover ahead of the first vehicles arriving on these shores next year. Externally, there’s little to hint at the car’s environmental credentials, with the trademark Audi grille dominating the front and the signature sharp creases spearing down the car’s flanks. Top-end models will, however, come with tiny virtual exterior mirrors, which eschew the humble door mirrors in favour of high-resolution cameras that send a live feed to small screens in the cabin. They aren’t just there to look cool, either. The cameras are much smaller than conventional mirrors, allowing the car to cut cleanly through the air and maximise its all-electric range of “at least” 248 miles. Inside, meanwhile, the well-appointed cabin is adorned with massive touchscreens and a navigation system that can pick out routes with charging points should you exhaust the 95kWh battery. And when the power cells do run flat, the rapid charging facility will allow owners to charge the car back to 80 percent of its capacity in just 30 minutes. Prices for the new e-tron start at just under £71,000, although buyers will be able to take advantage of the government’s £3,500 Plug-In Car Grant for electric vehicles. 0161 717 0443, www.manchester.audi.co.uk 68

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

Hybrid McLaren

The first hybrid powertrain prototype of McLaren Automotive’s breathtaking new Ultimate Series flagship, the McLaren Speedtail, officially embarks this week on a year-long test regime that will underpin the development of the first McLaren Hyper-GT. Deployment of the first Speedtail attribute prototype marks an exciting new stage in the development of the fastest, most aerodynamic and most luxurious McLaren ever made.

Big Boots

Anyone looking at buying a Porsche Panamera has been faced with a host of difficult choices. Saloon or estate? Four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive? Petrol or e-Hybrid? Now, though, the choice has become even more difficult, with the arrival of the new Panamera GTS. Powered by a 4.0-litre V8 producing 453bhp, it’s described by Porsche as the “athlete” of the range and no wonder. The dash to 62mph takes as little as 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of more than 180mph, while there’s sportier suspension to help the car handle like an out-and-out sports car. And because Porsche likes giving you difficult decisions, you can have it as a saloon or an estate. 01625 445545, www.porschewilmslow.co.uk

The Future’s

BRIGHT BMW’s futuristic i8 hybrid shows James Fossdyke that eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean dull.

ome things just don’t age. Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, for example, looks as though it was built last week, but it’s now more than 20 years old. And don’t get me started on Madonna. She’s 60, apparently, but she looks about 35 to me. In the motoring world, meanwhile, the BMW i8 seems to have followed a similar ageing process. It’s hard to believe that this futuristic hybrid sports car is now more than four years old. Most manufacturers will indulge in a little nip-and-tuck surgery when one of its models hits the four-year mark. Maybe a new set of lights and bumpers, or perhaps a flash new interior. Understandably, though, BMW hasn’t felt the need for that. So instead, Munich’s finest have simply given us a convertible version. And it’s an incredible thing to behold. The i8 has always been cool, what with the twotone bodywork that makes it look as though the chassis is bursting out of the shell, but cutting away the roof has somehow made it even more jaw-dropping. The best bit (and probably the worst bit, but I’ll get onto that later) is the doors. They hinge from the sides of the windscreen, so they open up and out like some kind of Star Wars spaceship. No matter where you are if you

open the doors to an i8 Roadster, you’ll feel the gaze of every passer by. As you get in, you’ll slide back into luxuriously appointed and perfectly sculpted leather seats, while a digital instrument display and central media system greet you. Everything works and feels exactly as it should in a £125,000 drop-top sports car. Except for the starter button. Were this a Jaguar or a Mercedes, you’d push the button and wait for the inevitable

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Drive

cacophony of exploding petrol, but in the BMW your ears are assaulted with nothing but silence. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because the i8 is a plug-in hybrid, which means you can plug it in, charge it up and get yourself 33 miles of silent, zeroemission, engine-free motoring. If you start getting bolshie with the accelerator or the batteries run flat, however, all is not lost. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 1.5-litre, 228bhp petrol engine there to offer a helping hand. As a result, this road-going spaceship managed to return 141.2mpg on the official

Drive | The CHESHIRE Magazine

economy test, and because it emitted carbon dioxide at a rate of just 46g per kilometre, it’s deemed green enough to scoot around London without incurring the Congestion Charge. But don’t be fooled by the numbers - this is still a sports car. In total, its hybrid system produces 369bhp (141 from the electric motors, 228 from the engine), and because the electric motors have so much low-down grunt, that’s enough for a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds. For those who love a stat, that makes this eco-friendly, Congestion Charge-dodging, planet-saving sports car just as fast as the Porsche 911 Carrera. BMW, though, doesn’t pride itself solely on performance figures or eco credentials. The German brand claims to make ‘the ultimate driving machine’, and the i8 delivers. As with so many of the great BMWs, you don’t really get into the driving seat so much as merge into the machine. The driving position, which is so often flawed in convertible sports cars, is brilliant, and the steering is like honey in your hands. It isn’t really an out-and-out sports car, but a brisk cruiser that car flows between bends with an impressively dismissive nonchalance. But before you rush to your local dealership with cash in hand, there are one or two issues you need to be aware of. Firstly, those stunning doors. Yes, their visual impact is epic, but because they open up and out, it’s astonishingly easy to bang your head on them as you get out. After a few bruises, you’ll have to devise your own strategy for

... that makes this eco-friendly, Congestion Charge-dodging, planetsaving sports car just as fast as the Porsche 911 Carrera alighting - I found rolling over the door sill was the best way of getting my 6ft 2in, 15st frame out of the driving seat. I’ll be honest; it wasn’t the smoothest exit, and the car’s aesthetic qualities ensured I had an amused audience. Secondly, it doesn’t feel quite as fast as the performance figures suggest. Maybe it’s the engine note, which has more in common with a VW Golf GTI than a Ferrari 812, but it doesn’t have the drama you might get from, say, a BMW M3 that costs half as much. You won’t get the claimed economy, either, unless you have impressive self-restraint, a short commute and a charging point in your garage. It’ll be more efficient than most sports cars, I grant you, but 140mpg is fanciful for most owners. Other niggles include the fact that the roof switch is far too well hidden, while the boot space isn’t what you might call cavernous. But despite all that, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for the i8. As a technical achievement, it’s outstanding. Little else has this much visual impact or this performance, let alone the environmental credentials. Best of all, though, the i8 shows us that although the future of motoring is far from certain, the world’s car manufacturers will make sure the roads are still graced with great design, great engineering and, perhaps most importantly, excitement.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

The importance of updating a Will after major life events A recent claim on behalf of infant children for maintenance from their deceased father’s estate has highlighted the importance of keeping a Will up to date.

r Ubbi died unexpectedly in February 2015 when he was in the process of getting a divorce from his wife. He had one disabled child and a stepdaughter. He had been living simultaneously with Bianca Corrado, and had fathered two children who at the time of his death were aged three and six months. Mr Ubbi was described in court as living a ‘double life’, running two households to a high standard of living. His estate was valued at £3.4m. Ms Corrado originally sought a lump sum of £850,000 from Mr Ubbi’s estate under the Inheritance Act on behalf of her illegitimate children. They had not been provided for in his Will, which was dated August 2010. At one point during the process the claim had been as high as £2.3m. The court had to adjudicate on three significant areas of dispute between the parties: housing needs, childcare and private schooling. It eventually ruled that private education could not be included, and awarded Ms Corrado £386,000. The judge found there was “no expectation that the children would have been educated privately” and did “not accept that the provision of private education is a reasonable financial provision for the children”. Nazia Nawaz, a Senior Associate in the Will, Trust and Estate Disputes team at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth, said thousands of families could face the same issue. Divorce and remarriage had become increasingly common in society, yet Wills were rarely updated after big life events. “It can be incredibly costly in the long run to let your Will languish with outdated information,” Nazia said. “In this case, the deceased led a double life and stayed married to his former wife while living with his mistress at the time of his death. It’s

vital to consider the consequences of staying married to someone when the relationship has broken down irretrievably, particularly if you then have a second family.” “This case also goes to show that whilst updating a Will may seem costly and timeconsuming from the outset, the fallout of leaving heirs and second families unaccounted for is much worse. Will disputes can have a devastating effect on families and can massively exacerbate existing tensions.” In evidence Mr Ubbi’s widow Susan said he had told her he did not intend to change the provisions in his Will, and his estate would be left to her so that she could provide for their son. She also said the couple had reconciled before his death and he had prevented her from divorcing him. But the judge did not accept that evidence. Nazia said: “It is not commonly known that getting remarried can invalidate a previous Will, leaving potential heirs with no option other than to pursue a claim. We strongly advise that a person’s Will is updated after every major life event, be that divorce, remarriage or death. That way the inevitable stress, cost and fallout from a Will dispute can be avoided.” Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth offer unrivalled guidance and advice to help you plan appropriately and make the right decisions at the right time. Contact Nazia on 0161 259 0854 nazia.nawaz@irwinmitchell.com www.irwinmitchellprivatewealth.com

Divorce and remarriage had become increasingly common in society, yet Wills were rarely updated after big life events 73

EXTRA TIMEWith Brian Horton

WORDS BY CRAIG HOUGH

With a playing and managerial career spanning over 50 years, the former Manchester City Manager discusses his lengthy career and his involvement with the NWFA. Who inspired you to pursue your career in football? My inspiration as a schoolboy was my Coach Ron Bullas who ran Cannock Athletic on a Saturday morning. Ron was also my school teacher at Blake High School, football crazy, and way ahead of his time in terms of his training. I broke into Walsall Football Club’s Reserve Team at 17, but by the end of the season was surprisingly given a free transfer and then let go. From there I began working in the building trade while continuing my playing career at Hednesford Town F.C part-time. This ended up working well for my career, as my body grew and became fitter, making me realise I had to work harder to become a professional footballer. In 1971 I had the opportunity to move to Port Vale to work under Gordon Lee (who went on to manage Blackburn and Newcastle), and he became a great inspiration to me as a Manager. What would you say were your career highlights? My highlight as a player would be achieving two promotions with Brighton and captaining Luton to the top league. As a Manager, my time at Manchester City was obviously a career highlight, as was achieving promotion in my first year at Hull while I was player-Manager. I was lucky that I had 5-year stints at three different clubs (Hull City, Oxford, Port Vale) all

with great Chairmen who trusted me and never interfered in the running of the club. That’s a rarity now. I’ve had over 1000 games as a Manager if I include my games as a player that number would rise to over 2000. How did you become involved in the NWFA? Each year the NWFA is one of the best football events I go to, a brilliant night out with faces from the TV and radio. I’ve been attending the dinner with my wife for many years, and one year the organisers approached me to join the panel of judges which I was more than happy to do.

“Each year the NWFA is one of the best football events I go to”

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Sport

Midlands) it would have to be Wolverhampton Wanderers. My Dad was a Wolves fan, and as a kid, I had a season ticket, so I went to every home game. They were one of the best teams in the league at the time, and my favourite player was Ron Flowers who was a wing-half, which in today’s game would be a midfield player.

What is your favourite part of the event? Personally, my favourite part of the night is the opportunity to present an award. I also like having the opportunity to meet up with ex-players and Managers that I don’t get to see throughout the year. It’s a big reunion, a fantastic football night. What do you think are the NWFA’s main achievements? I think the main achievements of the awards is their promotion of The Offside Trust organisation which was set up following the revelation of historic child sexual abuse. The Trust is led by exfootballer Steve Walters and former professional golfer Chris Unsworth, and they support survivors of abuse and work to ensure that children involved in sport are kept safe. The evening helps to raise awareness and funds for the organisation. Who do you support? That’s a tough question but I’d have to say growing up in Cannock (in the

Who would you choose to be in your Fantasy Football team, including manager? As Manager I would choose the following team; -Goalkeeper- Tony Coton (Manchester City) -Right Back- George Cohen (Fulham, England World Cup Winner) -Centre Back- Mike Lawrenson (Brighton) -Centre Half- Bobby Moore (West Ham, England World Cup Winning Captain) -Left Back- Ray Wilson (Everton, England World Cup Winner) -Right Wing- George Best (Manchester United) -Midfield- Bryan Robson (Manchester United) -Midfield- Glenn Hoddle (Tottenham Hotspur) -Left Wing- Bobby Charlton (Manchester United, England World Cup Winner) -Forward- Pelé (Santos, 3-time Brazil World Cup Winner) -Forward- Lionel Messi (Barcelona) www.northwestfootballawards.com

QUICK FIRE 5 Suit or Jeans? Suit. I’ve never worn a pair of jeans in my life Beer or wine? Lager Entertaining at home or dining out? Dining out, San Carlo in Hale is my favourite restaurant SUV or sports car? Sports car, I once treated myself to a Porsche Beach or city? Beach- Le Royal Meridien hotel in Dubai

CREATING EXCEPTIONAL HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES

LUXURY SKI CHALETS IN MERIBEL AND MORZINE FULLY CATERED BESP OKE SERVICE PRIVATE CHEFS, DEDICATED CHALET STAFF AND CONCIERGE

www.tgski.com - theteam@tgski.co.uk - 01625 400060

Travel Paradise FOUND

Let the enchantingly clear sea and deep golden sands of St. Lucia to form the backdrop to your candlelit meals and romantic wanderings as you discover the beauty of the Caribbeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most captivating island. This couples-only escape offers many different ways to reconnect and experience your own little haven together. From ÂŁ1,399pp, www.xclusivity.co.uk/holidays/st-lucia

Travel news At Your Service

Independently-owned Finca Cortesin is further extending its resort with the launch of high-end villas for 2019. The collection of five-bedroom properties – positioned on the southern Spanish mountainside offering unsurpassed views of the Sierra Bermeja mountain range, the golf course and the Mediterranean Sea – will showcase contemporary design and offer privacy away from the main resort without compromising access to the hotel facilities. For the particularly discerning traveller, a private chef, waiting staff and an unpacking service will also be available on demand, while additional family amenities will include two hours of complimentary babysitting each day, as well as a nanny service on demand. From £4,838 per night, www.fincacortesin.com

loves

A Home Away From Home

For those looking for an overseas property to purchase, take a look at Zil Pasyon Residences, a selection of stunning contemporary hillside properties for sale as part of the award-winning Six Senses resort and spa on Félicité, one of the most beautiful islands in the Seychelles. Featuring spacious living areas and floor-to-ceiling windows, each three to five-bedroom residence capitalises on the uninhibited, panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. And, for those who wish to earn extra income, owners have the opportunity to put their home back into the Six Senses rental pool when their property is not in occupation. www.sorores.co.uk 78

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

The Best of the Bosphorus

Have you yet to visit Istanbul? Then it’s one to put on the city break list. It has a growing reputation of being the capital of cool, and more recently, there have been a raft of new hotels, galleries and flight routes. Leading the city’s renaissance is The RitzCarlton Istanbul, which has recently unveiled an extensive refurbishment. Portuguese designer Patricia Pina undertook the interior design of the rooms and suites, whilst the ballrooms were designed by Turkish architect, Hakan Yürüoğlu. They have married contemporary design while preserving the hotel’s unique charm. From €399 per night, www.ritzcarlton.com

POSTCARD FROM Abigail Lucy, a luxury wedding & event planner, designer and stylist shares memories of one of her favourite holidays

Daydream Believer

One of Australia’s reef resorts, located in Whitsundays – Daydream Island – is reopening in spring next year after a £54m redesign. Previously known as West Molle, it has enchanted visitors for more than 85 years. Central to the island’s redesign is The Living Reef, which wraps around 200 metres of the resort, holding over 1.5 million litres of water. Guests can join marine biologists and interact, in sustainable ways, with more than 100 species of marine fish, coral, and invertebrates such as starfish, sea cucumbers and crabs. They can explore the island and the surrounding Great Barrier Reef Marine Park by sailboat or jet ski, or choose a self-guided snorkel safari. Adrenaline junkies can also enjoy helicopter sightseeing experiences over the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach – a four-mile stretch of pristine white sand on Whitsunday Island. From £220 per night, www.daydreamisland.com

Instagrammable Snaps

Do you take 10 photos of the same landscape to ensure you’ve got the perfect picture? Are you on the lookout for new sights that will set your photo apart from others? Then you may want to visit The Dorchester Collection’s website and download its new #DCmoments City Guides, which is a new source for guests who wish to uncover striking sights and scenes within some of the world’s most historic cities, highlighting the prettiest angles and unexpected spots in London, Paris, Milan, Rome and Los Angeles. www.dorchestercollection.com

Where’s your favourite holiday vacation? Rome. I fell in love with the coffee, the pasta, the pizza, the freshly baked bread and the gelato. I didn’t ever want to leave! Why is it your dream destination? I absolutely love the Italian lifestyle – it’s just such a different way of life; it’s very relaxed and slow-paced. The Italian people are so warm, welcoming and charismatic. I didn’t expect to fall in love with Rome the way I did, but now I understand why it is called the ‘City of Love’ – it just brims with romance. There’s so much to do and experience. Does it hold any special memories for you? My partner and I went to Rome celebrate our birthdays. I particularly loved the culture and the history of Rome. One day we were enjoying a coffee whilst overlooking the Colosseum and it was one of those pinch-me moments. Another one of my favourite experiences was visiting the Vatican, it was just breathtakingly beautiful. Who would you say this would be best suited for? I’d say a mixture, it’s definitely the perfect romantic escape for couples but would also be a lovely family vacation. Rome can get very hot and extremely busy with tourists – we went midMarch and I would definitely recommend going at this time. It was perfect, there weren’t too many tourists and the weather was in the mid-twenties every day. 79

Firenze,

SEL FANTASTICO! Rebecca Underwood takes a flight of fancy to the historic Italian beauty that is Florence.

lorence, the capital of the Italian province of Tuscany, was established by Julius Caesar in 59BC as a settlement for veteran soldiers. This much celebrated city, considered to be the birthplace of the Renaissance, attracts millions of visitors, keen to admire its treasures and to explore the historic centre of the city, which was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Crammed with architectural gems and astonishing masterpieces, this small city, located on the banks of the Arno River, features

TOP TIP

Take advantage of a punctual and reliable service from either London Heathrow or Gatwick direct to Florence. And for friendly staff, easy check-in procedures and very competitive rates visit britishairways.com

stunning palaces, dating back to the 15th century, beautiful and ornate churches and a wide choice of museums exhibiting outstanding examples of undisputed talent. The city’s most popular attractions are located on Piazza del Duomo and include the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, which is known as the Duomo. Completed in 1436, its magnificent dome, which was built by Brunelleschi, without scaffolding, remains the largest brick and mortar built dome in the world. Hardy souls may choose to climb the 463 interior steps to view the inner case which provides a platform for the timbers supporting the outer shell. The Baptistry, opposite the cathedral, was constructed between 1059 and 1128 in the

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

Florentine Romanesque style and Lorenzo Ghiberti’s fabulous bronze doors, with relief sculptures, demonstrate the artistic flair that led to the Renaissance. Adjacent to both the Duomo and the Baptistry is the freestanding campanile, designed by Giotto. The Gothic tower, which soars up to 85 metres, features elaborate sculptural decorations and marble facings.

TOP TIP

For more information on the featured apartment visit: https://halldis.com/ florence-apartments/ apartment/artemisia-woi

During the 15th century, Florence was home to the influential Medici family, headed by Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici, a prominent banker and politician and the first member of the family to serve as a de facto ruler. Cosimo was noted for his patronage of culture and the arts and on his death, his son, Piero, followed by his son, Lorenzo, continued to support talents including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli. To learn more about the Medici’s, visit San Lorenzo, the family’s parish church. The church was rebuilt by Brunelleschi in 1419 in

Crammed with architectural gems and astonishing masterpieces, this small city, located on the banks of the Arno River, features stunning palaces, dating back to the 15th century the Renaissance Classical style. In 1520 Michelangelo began work on the Medici tombs and his enormous funerary figures are among his finest works. Michelangelo also designed the Biblioteca Mediceo-Laruenziana to house the family’s vast manuscript collection and the Mannerist peitra serena sandstone staircase is one of his most innovative designs. To view more treasures, I wandered around the Uffizi gallery, on the Piazzale degli Uffizi. Florence’s most popular art museum contains the world’s greatest collection of Italian

TOP TIP

Isango.com is a specialist retailer of tours, experiences and attraction tickets and offers a reliable service with competitive rates for over 300 destinations including Florence. For more information visit localflorencetours.com

Renaissance art, bequeathed in 1737 by Anna Maria Lodovica, the last of the Medici family. A labyrinth of rooms displays works by Caravaggio, Raffaello, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt and Rubens. Another outstanding masterpiece is housed in the Galleria dell’ Accademia on via Ricasoli. Michelangelo’s colossal Carrara marble sculpture of David, which stands at 17 feet was created between 1501 and 1504. This dazzling piece established Michelangelo’s status as a sculptor of extraordinary talent at the age of 29. All this exploration takes its toll on the feet and visitors eager to take a break and in search of a true Tuscan dining experience should make haste for the Cibrèo restaurant, a family business, founded in 1979, which is located on Via Andrea del Verrocchio. I dined ‘al fresco’,

and sampled the succulent Coniglio Arrosto Farcito (roasted rabbit, deboned, rolled with ground beef, sausage and prosciutto and served with caramelized onions) and the flavours, enhanced by a glass of Balze d’Istrice 2013, were simply sublime. For those considering where to stay, location is paramount, and Florence provides an extensive choice of luxurious hotels all over the city. However, consider the advantages that renting an apartment offers; the freedom to live without restriction, and to truly relax and feel ‘at home’. I stayed in a spacious two bedroom/two bathroom apartment (measuring 80m2), and located right on the Piazza del Duomo opposite the main entrance to the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral. Surprisingly peaceful, and airy

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

TOP TIP

Book private transfers from and to Florence airport /railway station and take advantage of a reliable and punctual, first class service. Prices are all-inclusive and guaranteed in advance, so you can sit back and relax upon arrival. Visit blacklane.com

and cool, the Artemis apartment is ideal for guests who wish to avoid hotel meal time restrictions and with a huge kitchen with every utensil to hand; it’s easy to whip up a late breakfast. Furnished in a contemporary style, the lounge features comfy sofas, an enormous dining table with a wonderful view of the cathedral through the shuttered windows and the master bedroom offers a stylish and comfortable four poster bed. In this prime spot there are restaurants and cafés galore but for a very special dining experience Il Pallagio, a Michelin starred restaurant within the Four Seasons Hotel on Borgo Pinti, is perfect. Glittering chandeliers, tables swathed in crisp, white linens, windows dressed with rich elaborate fabrics, tapestries and frescos adorning the walls, this is indeed an exceptional venue. I sampled the chef’s delicious signature dish, Cacio e Pepe Cavatelli: pasta with marinated red prawns and baby squid, and accompanied by a sparkling glass of Cuvée Louise 2004, and all served with the utmost savoir faire, it was simply divine. Appetite sated, I embarked on a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Arno River and there, spanning the river, the Ponte Vecchio, came into view, and the words of Charles Dickens came to mind... ‘Among the four old bridges that span the river, the Ponte Vecchio, that bridge which is covered with the shops of jewellers and goldsmiths, is a most enchanting feature in the scene. The space of one house, in the centre, being left open, the view beyond, is shown as in a frame; and that precious glimpse of sky, and water, and rich buildings, shining so quietly among the huddled roofs and gables on the bridge, is exquisite’. And mesmerised by the view and contemplating on my visit there was only one appropriate response ‘Ferenze, Sei Fantastico!’

For those considering where to stay, location is paramount, and Florence provides an extensive choice of luxurious hotels all over the city

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

ROCK on Kathryn Otto goes on tour to Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife

s the dark winter nights close in, for many of us our minds start to wander and dream of warmer climes. This is the exact situation I find myself in – looking for a holiday, but unwilling to go through the rigour or expense of a long-haul flight to find the perfect weather during this season. Luckily for me, Tenerife provides the perfect destination. Located off the northwest coast of Africa, the largest of the Canary Islands offers virtually guaranteed good weather all year round – plus being well-served by many UK airports including Manchester and around 4hrs 45min travel time, it’s an ideal solution to my getaway fix. After a comfortable journey – kicked off with a brief rest and refreshments at Manchester Airport’s Aspire Lounge – we head to the Hard Rock Hotel, situated on Playa Paraiso. Arriving at night, the exterior, which is in the form of two high-rise buildings, is lit up with a multiple of everchanging colours that makes for an impressive

light show and helps the resort to stand out from the crowd. We enter the huge lobby, which features the iconic Hard Rock logo, and are immediately made to feel like rock

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

stars on arrival. What’s more, rock memorabilia and live music further adds to the atmosphere. Our home-from-home for our stay is an ultra-modern Deluxe Gold Room, situated on the 12th floor. From here, we have an impressive view of the resort. In the evening, twinkling lights make it look magical, while during the day, the three pools and side sea view means my partner and I can assess from the balcony where to lay our heads for the day. We decide to soak up the sun on one of the loungers by the pool. And with rock music playing in the background, we can truly switch off and relax. Every now and then we take a dip in the water and swim up to the bar, where we enjoy a cocktail or two. For me, this is one of the ultimate must-dos on holiday, along with reading a few books. However, we also notice plenty of activities on offer for those wanting more entertainment – whether it’s wellness and fitness classes, sports, DJ and guitar lessons, or a day in the Hard Rock Roxity kid’s club for the children, there’s

enough to keep the whole family entertained for the entire holiday. For further rest and relaxation, we head to the Rock Spa, which is an indoor and outdoor wellness space that has stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. My partner opts for a shoulder massage, which leaves him feeling totally relaxed for the rest of the day. Afterwards we take advantage of the spa’s other amenities, with 90-minute access given

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

to guests who have booked a treatment. We focus on the pools; with an indoor hydrotherapy pool and a heated outdoor one with underwater massage beds, there’s plenty of time to soak, and while we don’t get a chance to use some of the other facilities, we pay a brief visit to the snow cabin before we leave, an absolute must-do, which gives us a quick shiver before warming back up in the sun. Our minds and bodies well and truly restored, we turn our attentions to the evening ahead. We consider taking a trip into town, however with such an abundance of options within the resort itself, we choose to stay close to the hotel. After a brief pre-dinner tipple on the rooftop lounge bar, we weigh up our choices – and there are a lot, with everything from buffet dining of the Sessions restaurant to bar food in the 3rd Half bar; steakhouse vibes at Montauk to Mediterranean cuisine at Aliole. After much deliberation (over another cocktail, of course), we opt for Narumi, the hotel’s Asian-influenced restaurant. The teppanyaki tables look tempting and no doubt

would have provided superb food and entertainment; however, to continue our relaxed feel of the day we instead choose to go alfresco and eat on the terrace with views over the pools we’ve just spend a hard day’s rest by. We take our time looking over the extensive menu, with sushi and sashimi on offer alongside plenty of east Asian classics such as chicken pad Thai and prawn and vegetable tempura. The food is excellent, the dishes superbly presented and offering crisp, fresh flavours, while the service is second to none and really makes the meal that extra bit special. We retire to our quarters and before a restorative night’s sleep, we reflect on our stay at the Hard Rock Hotel. While we didn’t need to party hard, we certainly relaxed like rock stars. Rooms at Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife start at £170 per night for a Deluxe Silver Room (room rate only). To book, please visit www. hardrockhoteltenerife.com

“We certainly relaxed like rock stars” 86

Encompassing premium world-leading getaways composed from a curated collection of long-haul and short-haul holidays. Xclusivity is here to guide you, inspire you, and lead you off-the-beaten-track.

EUROPE • INDIAN OCEAN • CARIBBEAN

xclusivity.co.uk/autumn

08444 997 630

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

weekend break can be many things, however personally I have found a recipe for success has always been fabulous food, surroundings, service and the opportunity to indulge in some rest and relaxation. Belfast isn’t necessarily the first place which springs to mind for a weekend break, however with amazingly quick connections between the North West and Belfast, it’s a convenient and beautiful opportunity to escape for a weekend and surprisingly focus on sleep. The recently refurbished 5 star Culloden Estate & Spa stands on the forested slopes of the Holywood hills, overlooking Belfast Lough and the glorious County Antrim coastline. Having recently celebrated 50 golden years of the Culloden Estate & Spa, the estate also celebrated the completion of its £4.8M Renovation Programme. Originally built as an official Palace for the Bishops of Down, the hotel stands in 12 acres of beautiful secluded gardens and woodland and provides the perfect city break. The recent hotel refurbishment has now greatly redeveloped the Culloden’s Mitre Restaurant, the Stuart Suite and the Spa. In close proximity to Belfast City Centre, the luxurious spa at the Culloden Estate is Northern Ireland’s premier sanctuary for mind, body and soul. Guests can revel in a range of ESPA products and lavish therapies with eight treatment suites and two pre and post treatment relaxation rooms. The hotel also offers a variety of different classes at the Health Club including Aquafit, Yogalates and Pilates. Guests can also enjoy relaxing in the pool, Jacuzzi and eucalyptus steam room. Ideal for a winter getaway The Culloden has launched a brand new ESPA sleep ritual. The Sleep Ritual spa treatment is the ultimate ‘unwind’, allowing your body time to relax and renew; an essential element to living well. Hastings Hotels recognise that sleep is vital for physical, emotional and mental wellbeing yet often its importance is underestimated in the rush of modern-day life. The tailor-made Sleep Ritual spa treatment is beautifully simple yet effective as it relaxes body and mind, helping to lull guests into a truly serene sleep. Performed in calming, candlelit surroundings, the therapist will skilfully guide you through

weekend away

Hastings Hotel Culloden Estate and Spa Alexandra Delf Hastings Hotel ...

Belfast

breathing and visualisation techniques to release physical and emotional anxiety and restore energies. Switch off with an indulgent and warming deep tissue massage, releasing deep-seated muscular tension, using a combination of hot stones and warmed fragrant ESPA oil gently poured onto the body. This deeply therapeutic massage is continued up through the body, promoting positivity to the mind, concluding in a soothing scalp massage to relieve any final signs of stress ensuring guests completely switch off. I left the treatment room with a clear mind in preparation for a truly serene night’s sleep. Transported into blissful state, I was calmed by the aroma of the ESPA essential oils and soothed by the warming effect of the hot stones. Hastings Hotels are famous for their ‘Cloud Beds’ and the Culloden Estate and Spa is no different. The beds are heavenly, truly comfortable and welcoming. I really felt the difference after a weekend of sleeping in what feels like a giant, firm marshmallow. For those who like to stay active, the beautiful

grounds of the hotel offer a welcoming green oasis in which to roam, and the proximity of the hotel to Belfast means you can be in the city centre via train or car within 30 minutes. This opens up a whole world of activities, including world famous tourist highlights including the Titanic Belfast, delicious gourmet offering such as St George’s market and a wealth of bars and shopping opportunities. For those like me who work and live in a city, being surrounded by relaxing greenery and having a sensational spa at my fingertips meant that it wasn’t as important to take in the sights of the city, however location wise you have the choice of both worlds. Another key focus point for any weekend getaway has to be the food. The Mitre Restaurant at The Culloden is one of the finest restaurants in Northern Ireland, run by leading chef, Paul McKnight. With breath-taking views across Belfast Lough, it serves modern Irish Cuisine using only the finest and freshest local ingredients. The décor is gothic grandeur, the food gourmet chic, while waiters ensure your glass never runs empty. The dishes at The Mitre showcase leading local producers and this is a showcase of the best local flavours from Northern Ireland. From Mourne lamb rump to Ewing’s Smoked Salmon, care has been taken to ensure this is a menu supporting and promoting the communities which surround the hotel. This focus on fresh and local also extends to their ‘Who Made My Breakfast’ concept. A booklet is provided at breakfast introducing the suppliers and providing details on the background of your breakfast, from the apple juice to the Bushmills Whiskey available to add to your breakfast porridge, its good to know that the best of Northern Ireland is available to sample through their menus. Stepping back onto the plane on a Sunday evening for the short hop back after a weekend of relaxation, good food and some seriously good sleep, my body and mind feel refreshed and ready for the week ahead. Whether you need some headspace from the hustle and bustle of normal life or an opportunity to focus on quality sleep, if you don’t have a week, try a weekend break to Belfast, you may just be surprised. www.hastingshotels.com/culloden-estate-and-spa

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS BOOKINGS

0161 0161832 8321400 1400 CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS MENUS MENUS

V I SV I TI S-I TRO - SRO S OSRSEOSRTA E SUTA RA UN R TASN. C T SO. M CO /C MH/ R CIHS R TM I SA TM S AS

RER S TAU E S TAU R ARNATN&T B&AB RA R

43 Spring 43 Spring Gardens, Gardens, Manchester, Manchester, M2M2 2BG 2BG

@ R@ O SRSOOSRSEOSRTA E SUTA RA UN R TASN T S

W WW W.ROSSORESTAUR WW.ROSSORESTAUR ANTS.COM ANTS.COM

Treat someone special to a gift experience voucher from £39.00

Christmas at Carden Celebrate the most magical time of year at Carden Park and let us take care of everything... CHRISTMAS PARTIES from £32.00 per person • • • •

Welcome glass of fizz Delicious three course dinner Disco throughout the evening Photobooth for souvenir photo

FESTIVE SHOPPING BREAK per room per night

from £109.00 • • • • • •

Overnight stay for two adults Children stay for half price 10% discount voucher for Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Full English breakfast and use of leisure facilities 20% discount for full priced spa treatments 20% discount for full priced golf tee times

NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA DINNER BREAKS two nights from £309.00 per adult • • • • • • • •

Pre-dinner drinks reception Gala three course dinner Disco Live band in Carden Suite Piper to pipe in the new year and fireworks Haggis, neeps ‘n’ tatties and a nip ‘o’ whisky Full English breakfast each morning Three course dinner on additional evenings

GIFT EXPERIENCE VOUCHERS

Spoil your friends and family this year. We have all your need, from golf games to overnight stays, relaxing spa days or afternoon tea. Buy online today

Carden Park Hotel, Chester, CH3 9DQ I 01829 731555 I events@cardenpark.co.uk I www.cardenpark.co.uk

Food Drink Palm Court

PALM

Court

Restaurant Bar & Piano Lounge located in the heart of the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa in Chester, Cheshire is a unique and captivating dining venue offering quality British and European cuisine. Experience elegant evening dining within the chic restaurant or visit the cocktail bar & piano lounge with bubbling fountains and a baby grand piano for relaxed all-day dining including brunch and afternoon tea. 01244 570560, www.grosvenorpulfordhotel.co.uk

Cultivated Cuisine

Design-led boutique hotel, Oddfellows in Chester announces the re-launch of their restaurant within the hotel to Cultivated by Elliot Hill. Head Chef, Elliot joined the Oddfellows team earlier this year and has created a restaurant which not only sits perfectly within the Oddfellows ethos, as imaginative and progressive but also offers a menu to the city that is unlike anything else available. Entirely seasonal, wherever possible local and always delicious, his food ranges from his brilliantly creative 'odd' plates (like small plates but in a range of sizes) to light bites, brunches and wonderful afternoon teas. www.oddfellowschester.com, 01244 345454

Food &

Drink news W O R D S : K E V I N E VA N S

Free Ice Cream For Kids

PURCHASE

The Ice Cream Farm based just outside Chester is offering every a child a FREE ice cream all this month! Plus, on Black Friday there will be a double discount for all VIP members. Free ice cream? No this is not a drill! Throughout November, every child who visits The Ice Cream Farm will receive a teddy ice cream cone filled with their flavour of choice, absolutely free. From classic flavours like Chocolate and Strawberry to new found favourites, Bubblegum and Choc Fudge Cookie, no flavour in the world’s largest ice cream shop is off limits. www.theicecreamfarm.co.uk

of the

MONTH Tasty Menu

Smeg DCF01 Drip Filter Coffee Machine £179.95, www.smeguk.com 94

Successful chef and restaurateur Gary Usher, Head Chef Daniel Speak and his brigade at Restaurant 1539 in the centre of Chester, will be offering guests their own five-course taster menu for just £55 per person. The menu includes inspired dishes featuring the best ingredients the season has to offer. An accompanying wine flight is also available for an additional £35 per person. www.restaurant1539.co.uk, 01244 304 611

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

...with MARK FLETCHER, Executive Head Chef at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa TELL US ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO YOUR CURRENT POSITION? To deliver the vision The Mere has for its food offering, and for the kitchen team's passion for shining through - and ensuring they are happy and driven. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STYLE OF FOOD? I don't have a favourite style of food; I just enjoy good food, great ingredients cooked well. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE INGREDIENT AND WHY? Maldon Sea Salt. Call me old-fashioned, but you can't cook without a little salt. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK? It has to be a Guinness on my day off! WHAT PIECE OF KITCHEN KIT, COULD YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? My team. They continue to deliver exceptional results every day, and they push each other every day. WHO INSPIRES YOU AND WHY? Nigel Boschetti, executive chef of The Grosvenor

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MEAL? My 40th birthday dinner at West House, Biddenden, Kent. I enjoyed an amazing meal cooked by Graham Garrett and his team, it's my favourite restaurant, and when I'm back in the south, I try to pop in.

The Ivy Spinningfields will be the largest restaurant to open in the UK in 2018, with space for 535 covers over four unique floors, opening in November, The Ivy will offer Mancunians a totally new dining experience across four fabulous floors. Featuring a ground floor brasserie, first-floor private dining room, an opulent Asian bar and restaurant on the second floor and a sumptuous Roof Garden featuring fire pits and lush foliage on the top floor. Opens 27th November, www.theivymanchester.com, 0161 5033222

ENJOY

Bread by Bike

This recently-launched micro-bakery - based in a domestic kitchen in a busy family home - delivers handmade bread, soups and preserves by bike to subscribers within a mile of its base. Teacher turned baker Matt Townley loves that he gets to deliver the food he makes to his customers in person, and with as little environmental impact as possible. One Mile Bakery Hale offers one and three-month subscriptions of bread, soup and jam, delivered by bike within a mile of Matt’s kitchen. www.onemilebakery.com/hale

Shiny brown nuts whose thick casing has long, sharp, needle-like spikes (burrs). There are usually two to four nuts per casing. Unlike other nuts, chestnuts have a high starch and water content but low protein and fat levels. This versatile and flavourful storecupboard ingredient are available fresh, ground, dried, puréed or vacuum-packed.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISH? My dish would have to be pie and mash from Hoxton's served with parsley liquor.

The Ivy Opens

Ingredient to

Chestnuts

House hotel London for the sheer volume of quality food that he and his team produce – and the way he runs his kitchens is a thing of beauty!

Food & Drink | The CHESHIRE Magazine

SPOTLIGHT ON...

BRASSERIE BLANC, Knutsford

WORDS: SCOT T ILLINGWORTH-HARRISON

Best for... A menu that has something for everyone, both classic tastes and the more adventurous

have looked forward to this review for some time as I was interested to see what kind of French twist Blanc and his team had managed to place on this traditional, longstanding eatery and bar. On arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the team and taken to our table, with comfortable seating and an understated but warm environment the restaurant exudes a soft, calm vibe. Studying the menu we see that classic French food has been joined by some wonderful new dishes inspired by Raymond Blanc’s travels so there are options to eat food from North Africa, Asia and even the Americas. There really is something for everyone on this wellbalanced menu. Our favourite Frenchman is bursting with an encyclopaedic knowledge & an obvious love of real food with roots in a childhood that revolved around his Maman, and her kitchen table. To start I decided to go for a classic, chicken liver parfait, served with truffle butter, red onion marmalade, sweet, buttery toasted brioche. The parfait was one of the nicest I have ever had, with a silky smooth texture and moose like consistency was light yet packed with flavour, perfectly complemented by the tangy marmalade and sweet bread, a well-balanced starter. My colleague opted for something more daring, spiced Thai samosas, filled with spicy winter vegetables, soy citrus dipping sauce, coconut & cashew cream, which on having a sneaky try, was bursting with flavour and just enough heat, pleasantly calmed by the citrus dip and coconut cream. For main, I now leave France and try a 96

North African inspired dish, lamb tagine, spiced, slow-cooked cornish lamb on the bone with apricot, golden sultanas & medjool date, pistachio & almond couscous. My dish arrived in a traditional terracotta tagine, bubbling and steamy as the lid was removed at the table. My lamb was so tender I could have eaten it with a spoon, packed full of complex flavours and perfectly complemented by the light and slightly nutty couscous, which acted as a perfect accompaniment to absorb up all of the sauce and juices from the lamb. My colleague now opted for something simpler, fillet steak served with a peppercorn sauce and fries. Overall a very simple dish, maybe missing a vegetable of some sort, so I would recommend that a vegetable side is ordered along with this dish. Glancing back over the menu, sides of, dauphinoise potato, spinach with coastal cheddar sauce, french beans with crispy shallots, roquette & parmesan salad or a

simple mixed leaf salad with choice of dressing and fig leaf oil were all available. The fillet steak however made up for the lack of veg, this was quite clearly cooked to perfection by a chef that loves steak. Crispy and charred on the outside while remaining perfectly medium rare on the inside. full of flavour, this steak had unmistakably been allowed to age an dry for some time, resulting in a superbly delicious piece of meat. So our meal went without a hitch, the service was prompt, friendly and the staff knowledgeable about the menu, meals and even the ingredients, which is quite frankly rare and evident the staff are well selected and trained. We will sure to be returning, as I am curious to see and try something I spotted on the Sunday menu, where each of the regular Sunday Roasts of Beef and Lamb is accompanied by a mini, cottage or shepherds pie, interesting! I would recommend Brasserie Blanc in Knutsford to anyone, young or old, couples or groups as the menu is wide-ranging and has something for everyone, breakfast, lunch or dinner – or any occasion in between. Bon appétit!. www.brasserieblanc.com

L EF T B A N K | S P I NNI NG FI E L DS | M A NC HE STE R | M 3 3A N 0161 3254444 WWW. A L BA TROSSA NDA RNOL D . UK . COM

THIAGO

FERNANDES The Head Chef at Piste restaurant and Bar, Tarporley shares with us a deliciously fresh Salmon, horseradish & tarragon mousse, carrot jelly, pickled cucumber

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

INGREDIENTS 300g salmon

60g soft cheese

25g crème fraîche 10g tarragon 5g parsley 5 carrots

1/2 cucumber

25g horseradish 70ml water

70 ml white wine vinegar

Same amount of caster sugar 50g butter cubes 20g salt

5g ground white pepper 4 sheets of gelatine, (around 12g)

METHOD FOR THE SALMON MOUSSE: Cook the salmon for 15-20 minutes with salt and pepper (7g of salt, 3g of pepper) Leave salmon to cool. In a bowl add soft cheese, crème fraîche, horseradish, very finely chopped tarragon and parsley. When the salmon is completely cool mix all ingredients together in a food processor for 30 seconds before adding the lemon zest. Place mousse in a piping bag. FOR THE CARROT JELLY: Peel and finely dice 3 carrots, put in a pan with 600ml of water and cook for 15-20

Serves: 6 people minutes. Soak 4 sheets of gelatine. Blend the carrots with the water for 3 minutes, strain just the juice into a bowl, add the jelly. Cover a flat tray with cling film, add the jelly and let it cool for one hour or until set. FOR THE CARROT PURÉE: Peel and finely dice 2 carrots, boil for 15-20 minutes. Put into the blender, add the butter cubes one by one until the mix gets nice and smooth. Add 7g of salt and 2g of pepper. FOR THE PICKLED CUCUMBER :

In a pan, boil water, vinegar and sugar. Once boiled, remove from the heat and allow to cook down for 10 minutes before adding the sliced cucumber. TO FINISH: Pipe the salmon mousse onto the set carrot jelly and roll. For plating, place salmon centrally and pipe carrot puree dotted around and add pickled cucumber and fresh cucumber and tarragon to garnish. www.pistewinebars.com www.pistetarporley.com Piste Wine Bar & Restaurant Tarporley | 01829 732483

Winter at

New season, new menu. Book now for a unique dining experience.

3 Hardman Square, Manchester tattu.co.uk 0161 819 2060

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

Festive

Gastronomy Anna Du PrĂŠ meets figureheads in the Food and Drink industry gaining an insight into festive menus, trends and top tips as well as what Christmas means to them.

101

Buon Natale Gino D’Acampo, the UK’s favourite Italian chef, Gino D’Acampo, has just launched his new My Coffee & Deli Bar in Manchester.

he new Italian fast-casual dining offer, which is located on the ground floor of his My Pizza & Prosecco Bar in fashion retailer Next, is Gino’s third restaurant and bar in the city. We caught up with Gino on all things festive and his next steps… Can you tell us your favourite seasonal produce for this time of year and how you’ll be cooking them this winter? I love the harvest, and in Italy, like in the UK, we have a long tradition of preserving our products to last through winter to spring, from smoky prosciuttos to spicy 'nduja, from artichokes to dried mushrooms! And that's before we talk about all the food we use fresh. I have so many seasonal favourites, like clams,

scallops, artichokes and radicchio, these are just some of the ingredients I indulge in during the colder months. I also enjoy seasonal staples like freshly cooked pasta and slow cooked stews; you can’t beat a hearty soup in the winter, it’s one of my favourites and we have a delicious chunky vegetable soup on the menu at My Restaurant, the Ribollita Soup, you have to try it! What does an Italian Christmas dinner involve? Italian Christmas dinners are crazy! Obviously, I will say there is no Christmas like an Italian Christmas, it is one of Italy’s most celebrated holidays. In Naples it's about getting together with the entire family and above all, trying delicious culinary delicacies, as we all

102

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food| Regulars & Drink The CHESHIRE Magazine

cook our favourite dishes. We eat lots of food, naturally. For us the festivities kick off on Christmas Eve, when we tend to eat lean so I cook up a tasty fish dish. The thinking is that if you have a ‘giorno di magro’ (day of low fat), you help purify your body for the holiday. Whether the fish dishes that are actually served qualify as “lean,” of course, is another story! For the main event, the table groans under the weight of the usual suspects as well as all the delicious Italian desserts. I personally love homemade panettone for dessert, alongside a big shot of Limoncello – it’s my favourite part.

Just because you’re in the kitchen, it doesn’t mean you should miss out on all the festive fun; plan ahead as there are so many elements that can be prepped in advance. Don't get stressed, delegate and if you keep the wine by your side, everything will be OK! What’s next for Gino? There are lots of exciting things to come. I’ve just opened my latest restaurant at The Springs, Thorpe Park, Leeds, and have another in development in Birmingham, with more in the pipeline for 2019. The sixth series of Italian Escape has also just returned to ITV (Nov 1st 8.30pm) and then there’s my new book, Gino’s Italian Adriatic Escape. It’s a busy time but I wouldn't have it any other way!

www.mycoffeeanddelibar.com

Gino’s top tip for a fabulous family Christmas..... I think it’s so important for everyone to switch off at Christmas, it’s all about winding down, enjoying quality family time with lots of food, drinks and treats. There’s no better way to spend time with my kids, I love to have them in the kitchen with me. I strongly believe if you don't want your kids to be fussy with food, then get them involved. So I encourage them to try and make new things, experiment, use their hands. It’s a great opportunity to make sure they’re confident and creative cooks. What one tip or ingredient should we all be adding to our Christmas dinner to give it the Gino twist!

103

MERRY

Christmas NOW TAKING BOOKINGS

FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON Christmas Fayre menu available Monday to Sunday throughout December

£20 two courses

£25 three courses

Join us for Christmas Day £75 per person To book please call 01829 304 384 or email info@bunburyyewtree.co.uk The Yew Tree, Long Lane, Bunbury, CW6 9RD

One Night Only from 7pm

Adult Ticket £95.00

NEW YEAR’S EVE 31 December 2018

the show you’ve been waiting for

the

greatest show 4 courses & a glass of Champagne on arrival

living wonders, daring performers & thrilling displays 01244 304 611 | restaurant1539.co.uk Chester Racecourse, Chester, CH1 2LY Terms and conditions apply, visit www.restaurant1539.co.uk for more information

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food| Regulars & Drink The CHESHIRE Magazine

East COAST

Concepts James Hitchen, CEO and Founder of East Coast Concepts, operators of Neighbourhood & Victors

Can you give us a summary of your journey of setting the hugely successful East Coast Concepts Back in 2010, I was frequently travelling to the US, predominantly the East Coast... while there I was fascinated with the restaurant and bar scene, especially in places like NYC and Miami. There were vibrant dining venues that served brunch, lunch, dinner that then allowed (and encouraged) you to get on the tables and dance to a DJ until 3 am! I hadn’t seen anything like this in the UK at this time, especially not in the North. I felt we only had venues that were categorised as a bar, or a lunch place, or a dinner venue. There was nothing that offered them all, and so I set about creating Neighbourhood, with our first venue launching in Spinningfields in 2013. It was an overnight success, Victors Hale; our Hamptons inspired all-day restaurant and bar followed 12 months later as I spotted in a gap for accessible luxury in the suburbs. After a multimillion pound investment from MCR based North Edge Capital, we have since opened hugely successful venues in Liverpool, Leeds, Oxford and now Alderley Edge with two more sites in the pipeline for

2019. The opening of Alderley Edge will take us past the £20m turnover mark in just six years of trading. Both Neighbourhood and Victors are hugely popular - what is your recipe for success? I feel fortunate that we have two very popular and very successful brands. Our company motto is ‘Lead Never Follow’, and we ensure that flows through in everything we do from the locations we chose, the design of our restaurants and bars, our menus and our service. We always strive to be the best and to give the guests what they want. We may not get it right all of the time, but as long as we keep striving, we will stay on the right track. To be successful, you don’t need to keep reinventing the wheel. You’ve just got to work out what the people want and how to give it to them. Greatest achievement? Personally, I feel my greatest business achievement is yet to come, but I am incredibly proud we managed to attract a multimillion pound investment from a Private Equity House at only four years old with two sites open. It really shows the strength of our brands and how far we can take

105

Food & Drink | The CHESHIRE Magazine

guys like Dave Grootman, the guys at SBE entertainment, Catch Hospitality.... they have built fantastic national and international businesses and lead the field in vibrant dining and entertainment venues.

strength of our brands and how far we can take them. Another defining moment for in my career was signing our new site in Alderley. I had tried to sign the site nearly five years ago from Living Ventures. At the time, I was unfunded, had only just opened Hale and was punching way above my weight. Needless to say, LV wouldn’t sell me the site! A few years on we are about to open what I think is our most beautiful restaurant to date with 3,000 people on the books before we have even opened our doors. Who and what inspires you? Within the industry, there are a couple of entrepreneurs/ founders of concepts that have gone big that I try and measure myself and the company against. I travel to the US a lot, seeing how they do it over there, the scale and the pace they do things keep my creative ideas flowing,

Best of BRITISH

Brian Mellor, Harthill Cookery School

106

Future Plans? Obviously, we want to grow at pace, but we want to do this in the right way. Over the last couple of years, we have been building our team to ensure we can support our growth in terms of finance, Ops, marketing. W want to grow from a position of strength and security which we feel we now have. In the short term, we have plans to open a further two units in 2019, and from then, over the next couple of years, we hope to grow by an additional six or so sites to take us to fifteen. Favourite dish on the menu in your restaurants? I love the beef Wellington we serve in Hale. Your most memorable meal? The first time I ate at Catch in New York back in 2011... there was sushi, Alaskan king crab legs, tempura shrimp, tomahawks steaks, cocktails and a DJ! What would be your desert island dish? A very large gin with a dash of tonic. That’s it.

y 30-year career has seen me cooking as a Private Chef in a plush penthouse, as well as the intensity of Michelin, starred kitchens before establishing Harthill Cookery School in 2011. This means eager members of the public can come and share the secrets and stories of a professional kitchen! I’ve been lucky enough to collect a few awards as a Chef but becoming Britain’s Best Small Cookery School which I am most proud. Festive cooking has changed for me now, rather than cooking thousands of meals I now cook with people on our courses. That could be calmly

teaching folks how to bone out & stuff their celebratory turkey or spit roasting one over charcoal on our barbecue terrace in readiness for a Christmas day barbecue. Although, that may change next year as I hope to take on my now local pub to offer fantastic locally produced food and craft beers. It’s a challenge but we’ve great support locally and good people around us.

Food & Drink | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Seasonal

DELIGHTS Anna Du Pré shares five minutes with Andrew Owen, Head of Food Development at Individual Restaurants working across the Gino D’Acampo, Piccolino and Restaurant Bar & Grill venues.

Festive Feasts Simon Lockhart, Food and Beverage General Manager at Chester Zoo

108

I understand that sourcing highquality local produce is essential, can you tell us what we can expect on your winter and festive menus? At Individual Restaurants, we pride ourselves on the marriage of locally sourced seasonal ingredients, supplied from our most trusted British producers. Expect delicious flavours including mezzelune prosciutto & nduja, slow braised lamb & roasted root vegetables, and festive clementine cheesecake, across our Piccolino menus. We’ve introduced some perfect winter warmers at Gino D’Acampo, My Restaurant – like traditional ribollita soup, spicy Italian sausage risotto and hearty beef and wild mushroom stew. The Grills take on a more classic feel – we’ve added delicious French onion soup with Mayfield Swiss cheese, grilled wild venison from Argyllshire and for those with a sweet tooth, apple and almond tart with vanilla ice cream.

Can you share with us your secret tips for the perfect Christmas dinner? I always buy quality, local ingredients – you really can taste the difference, and prepare as much as you can the day before to make your day as stress-free as possible. When roasting the turkey, make sure you don’t tie up the legs – they take longer to cook than the breast, and this ensures the breast meat doesn’t dry out. Once it’s roasted, cover it in tin foil for an hour. You’ll have room in the oven to roast your potatoes and other trimmings. For the perfect roast potatoes, add a teaspoon of baking soda to your water before boiling. This breaks down the edges of the potato and makes them crispier when roasted. And finally, cooking with a gin and tonic on the side always helps!

hristmas at Chester Zoo is already unique due to its incredible surroundings and inhabitants, but this year we’re even more fortunate to have additional festive cheer! With the opening of our newly refurbed pub, The Oakfield, we are all really looking forward to our guests enjoying a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, in the surroundings of a traditionally decorated manor house. The big spectacle we are all looking forward to is ‘Lanterns’ which starts at the end of November and runs throughout December and is magical for all the family. Whilst it’s an incredible experience for all the family, we’ve made sure that there is plenty to eat along the way and you have a choice of Christmas dinner at Bembe kitchen, Christmas sliders and a drink at The Oakfield or a festive hog roast with other exciting treats at our mini market experience half way around. We’ll also be

selling Bratwursts, Burgers, Seasonal hot Pies, Christmas churros and drinks. But my favourite is the Chester Zoo Christmas Burrito – an Xmas roast wrapped in a Yorkshire pudding! After a busy December, I genuinely look forward to Christmas morning with my three children. After all the presents are opened I get myself into the kitchen where the aprons are thrown on, and the little ones get involved in ‘helping’ me get the food ready. This is wellintentioned but usually disastrous so I end up gently encouraging them to learn how to open a bottle of Rioja instead. Under adult supervision of course!

Vermilion Ad_ Full Page_Christmas 2018

VERMILION

WINTER WONDERLAND CHRISTMAS 2018

BOOKING DATES – DECEMBER 1ST / 8TH / 15TH Experience an exclusive ‘Winter Wonderland’ this year at Vermilion. Arrive into Vermilion’s enchanting themed atmosphere, whilst being greeted with style in our award winning luxury venue, and celebrate Christmas with champagne, a luxurious gala dinner, DJs, and live music from saxophonist, pianist and a 7-piece band. DRESS CODE : DRESS TO IMPRESS

A SHADE MORE EXCLUSIVE

reservations@vermilion.uk.com

0161 202 0055 vermilion.uk.com Hulme Hall Lane | Lord North Street | Sport City | Manchester | M40 8AD

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Making the

WORLD Accessible

Realising the Potential As Variety, the children’s charity prepares to celebrate its 70th year in 2019 we reflect on this year’s spectacular Legends of Industry Awards and look forward with the charity’s new CEO, Frances Lang

he Legends of Industry Awards has become one of the region’s foremost events for business and for charity, offering a great evening for a great cause thanks to the dedicated team at Variety, the children’s charity and their supporters. The glittering 2018 event was no different, honouring those who have achieved outstanding success in their chosen fields and celebrating all that the charity stands for. Simon Merrett, Group Director of Cerberus Group, partnership sponsor to the Legends of Industry Awards sums up the event well. “For the past six years, we have been overwhelmed by all the wonderful recipients who are honoured and recognised by Variety, the children’s charity for the outstanding achievements in their chosen industries. “We have seen first hand all the great work Variety does here in the northwest helping so many sick disabled and disadvantaged children to have a much brighter future, and we will continue to support in any way we can in the future.” Alongside the celebrated award winners, the true star of the show this year, was Variety Young Ambassador, Dante Marvin, abright talkative and

very funny 10 year boy with Musculoskeletal Osteogenesis Imperfecta and scoliosis. Dante took to the stage to demonstrate his break-dancing skills much to the delight of the guests, and encapsulates everything that the charity is looking to achieve provide the support for sick, disabled and disadvantaged young people in order that they can realise their full potential and lead happy and full lives.

“It is all about making our world accessible to sick, disabled and disadvantaged young people” 110

This is something Variety’s new Chief Executive, Frances Lang, is passionate about, “I have only been in this role for ten weeks now but Legends is a celebration of the charity and the young people we help. Dante is a shining example of what we can achieve through the help of all our supporters. “I have been in the charity sector for four years now but I have always had a passion for helping young people and their families and this is what attracted me to Variety, the children’s charity. The charity is never short of people to help but it is about helping sick, disabled and disadvantaged children along with their parents and siblings - the effects on which are often forgotten about. “This element of the charity’s work - supporting the whole family - really means a lot to me. I have a stepson who has profound special needs and has experienced first hand the challenges to ensure that he got what he needed. But we didn’t have anywhere near the number of challenges the families who come to Variety also have to endure. “Variety delivers this support through practical, tangible and immediate help from special projects, like transforming facilities at a special needs school to enrich the pupils’ lives to providing sports wheelchairs so that young people can realise their full potential and dreams. The transformations from often simple things are utterly breathtaking. It is all about making our world accessible, that is my passion and I am looking forward to supporting the amazing team we have here at Northwest to touch more lives in the coming year.” Do not miss out on one of the north west’s premier professional and charitable events. The 2019 Legends of Industry Awards night on Thursday 3 October 2019 is set to be even bigger and better as Variety, the children’s charity celebrates its 70th birthday. www.variety.org.uk OPPOPSITE PAGE: FRANCES LANG CEO, VARIETY, THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY WITH MARK ADLESTONE OBE THIS PAGE FROM TOP LEFT: DANTE MARVIN ON STAGE; LEGENDS OF INDUSTRY, AWARD 2018; MICHAEL JOSEPHSON MBE, PATRON OF VARIETY AND CEO OF VARIETY, FRANCES LANG; CERBERUS GROUP, PARTNERSHIP SPONSOR MAT HIRST WITH BRYAN ROBSON OBE

How to Support

Variety

The Children’s Charity From volunteering on a committee to offering pro-bono services to buying a ticket to one of the fabulous events, like the 2019 Legends of Industry Awards, you can support Variety in a number of ways. To find out more contact lyn.staunton@variety.org.uk 0161 989 1274

111

“A friendly, caring environment in which each girl can feel confident and flourish”

2019 ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS For Year 7 entry: Friday 11th January 2019

For Years 3-6 entry: Saturday 19th January 2019

To arrange a tour call 0161 249 3371 Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL

wgs1255_entrance-campaign-2018_297x210_v2.indd 1

To arrange a tour of the School please call 0161 249 3371

wgs.org

Means -tested bursaries available from Year 5 upwards

09/11/2018 09:35

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

Local scene Our social pages this month are filled with fizz, fundraising and a whole lot of style

FAYE SHERLOCK, THE PLAGUE DOCTOR AND GABRIELLE SHAW A COUPLE OF GUESTS DON THEIR MASKS WITH THE PLAGUE DOCTOR

JONNY GOULD, JAMES HORROCKS AND OLIVER HILL

ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY THE BAND THE FOUR WISE MONKEYS

TESS HULSON, THE PLAGUE DOCTOR, SAF HULSON AND SARAH BARNARD

THE PLAGUE DOCTOR WELCOMING GUESTS TO OPERA GRILL

THE PLAGUE DOCTOR GREETS MORE GUESTS

KATE RENDER AND NICOLA ARROWSMITH

Seventy9 Social Members Monster Mash Their Way Through Halloween Opera Grill, Chester Professionals from around Chester donned their masks and makeup at the ‘Mask’s a Must’ ball for an evening of skeleton, shenanigans, Dracula and dancing at Chester’s Opera Grill. Halloween saw the Seventy9 Social group party into the early hours whilst being entertained by the live band, the Four Wise Monkeys. Guests were greeted by the infamous Plague Doctor (which caused a stir on Chesters streets a few years ago as part of the Big Heritage promotion), then settled in with champagne and canapés before enjoying the festivities of All-hallows eve. Search “Seventy 9 Social” on Facebook 113

Elle for Elle Charity Lunch hosted by The Cheshire Magazine Opera Grill, Chester A wonderfully colourful lunch hosted by The Cheshire Magazine to raise awareness for the plight of 3660 women housed in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refuges in the UK, many of whom have little or no access to toiletries and sanitary products, Elle Forelle aim to change that. The glittery event raised much-needed awareness for the charity along with creating new relationships for collection and distribution points for the products. www.elleforelle.org.uk

114

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

115

CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH FUNDRAISER The Vine Brasserie ,Whitefield Hayley Rubens hosted a Ladies Charity Lunch in aid of raising the awareness of Charcot-Marie-Tooth UK (CMT) on Tuesday 23rd October at The Vine Brasserie in Whitefield, Manchester. Hayleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son was diagnosed with CMT only this year at 19 years old after years of operations, tests and appointments with Doctors around the country. The event was organised by Kate Park Events and sponsored by SPL Foodsw. The drinks reception was kindly sponsored by Tanqueray Gin. The event was a huge success with 80 ladies attending and raising ÂŁ12k for the much needed research in to the condition CMT. www.cmt.org.uk/fundraising www.kateparkevents.co.uk

116

117

PHOTOGRSAPHY: JAMES JEBSON PHOTOGRAPHY

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

Matthew O’Brien launches flagship store in central Chester 16 Eastgate Row, Chester Award-winning fashion designer Matthew O’Brien held a VIP launch event for his long-awaited new flagship store. The three-storey emporium located at 16 Eastgate Row, in the famous Chester Rows, will house not only Matthew’s couture and bespoke collection but also a new bridal suite, menswear and ready to wear collection. The launch of the flagship store was attended by many of Matthew’s loyal clients and VIPs. Guests were able to preview the collection in the stunning showroom while enjoying champagne and canapes courtesy of Cheeky Chili events. www.mattobrien.co.uk

GEORGE STANYARD, RECRUITMENT TEAM LEADER

The Business Connection 30th Birthday EMPLOYEES, PAST AND PRESENT ENJOY THE PARTY

PAM WILCOX, JASON FOX, TIFFANY FOX

RACHEL RIZZOTTI, RECRUITMENT RESOURCER

118

PAM WILCOX, OPERATIONS MANAGER

Oddfellows, Chester Professionals from around Chester donned their masks and makeup at the ‘Mask’s a Must’ ball for an evening of skeleton, shenanigans, Dracula and dancing at Chester’s Opera Grill. Halloween saw the Seventy9 Social group party into the early hours whilst being entertained by the live band, the Four Wise Monkeys. Guests were greeted by the infamous Plague Doctor (which caused a stir on Chesters streets a few years ago as part of the Big Heritage promotion), then settled in with champagne and canapés before enjoying the festivities of All-hallows eve. www.tbc-recruit.com

A LEVEL

STUDENT REVISION COURSES Our courses will enable you to achieve your full potential in the forthcoming A level examinations. We offer a wide range of courses delivered by highly experienced tutors.

REVISION COURSES 2019

WHY STUDENTS CHOOSE US?

21st- 22nd February | February Half Term 8th - 11th April | Easter Holidays 28th - 29th May | May Half Term

• Small class sizes • Outstanding A level tutors • Structured sessions for all ability levels • Priority topics & exam technique covered • High quality student notes

Held at Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester

Visit www.a-levelrevision.uk today to find out more. *Please note revision courses are run by A Level Revision UK and are not in conjunction with Manchester Metropolitan University

BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

Email: info@a-levelrevision.uk Tel: 01424 258 394

CO-EDUCATIONAL BOARDING IN THE HEART OF SHROPSHIRE Shrewsbury School provides an outstanding educational experience on a beautiful 105-acre campus for boys and girls aged 13-18. Our pupils achieve high academic levels and enjoy an extraordinary variety of extra-curricular activities. With strong personal pastoral care and support, we create an environment where pupils can flourish and grow to become caring, thoughtful and confident members of society. “They encourage you to be ambitious but most of all to find the right thing for you.” Pupil Scholarships and bursaries are available for entry at 13+ and 16+.

Shrewsbury School

Please contact us to book a place at one of our Open Days. OPEN DAYS 2019 Saturday 2nd March | Saturday 11th May | Saturday 8th June

admissions@shrewsbury.org.uk 01743 280552 www.shrewsbury.org.uk ShrewsSchool

Family FAMILY Portraits

We first spotted

the fabulous Beastly Portraits on Instagram, drawn by the mix of traditional portraiture and, of course, the subject! These quirky personalised pet portraits satisfy our sense of style and humour and are the brainchild of Lu Carr, freelance graphic designer and animal lover. Inspired by her own dogs Missy, the Boston Terrier, and Raffael, the Italian Greyhound, these masterpieces are printed on canvas to represent a traditional oil painting and presented in stunning carved frames, creating heirlooms of the future. www.beastlyportraits.co.uk

121

Hands Free

It is quite amazing what you learn to do with just one hand when you have a small person to look after, but Cuddledry has taken it one step further… handsfree! We are huge fans of the character toddler towels from these guys in our house and couldn’t wait to try the handsfree version, using a quirky apron design so that you do actually have both hands available for bathing, drying and snuggling. Love it! Cuddledry hands free towel, £29.99 | www.cuddledry.com

Family news The evenings are drawing in, so now is the perfect time to get snuggly with the family

W O R D S : C O M P I L E D B Y G I N A N D J E L LY T O T S . C O. U K

Game Changer For little learners, we love this natural wood noughts & crosses set from the very stylish myla & oscar. Beautifully soft and tactile to touch, each cube is hand painted and comes with its own drawstring bag for on-the-go games. Made to order in england, myla & oscar has grown from inspiration den building memories to being stocked in fortnum & mason and we love their natural products. Nought & crosses,£55 www.mylaandoscar.com

122

loves

A Masterpiece The little art collection is a must visit website for those who want practical and luxurious baby essentials and they are all feature original works by aspiring british-based artists. The latest offering features baby’s first christmas by lucy gander and offers swaddle blanket, muslin, dribble bib and wooden teether and they come in a range of gorgeous gift sets if you wanted to start the christmas shopping early. Baby’s first christmas, from £7.99 | www.thelittleartcollection.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

Loving the Lounge

For interior lovers and dog lovers, this chaise from sweetpea & willow is the perfect solution to stylish sleeping for your four-legged friend. In natural colourways to complement modern or traditional interiors, this chaise comes in a velvet-esque material and bolster cushion for extra comfort. Dog chaise longue, £475 www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

PETS CORNER 3 of the Best Walks with your Family

Toasty Toes

Keep little toes toasty with these cute little slippers from the team at dotty fish. With a snug fleece inner lining and slip resistant sole, they are perfect for keeping little feet warm during the colder months. They also have an elasticated ankle trim so don’t fall off easily too. Order direct from dotty fish for lovely wrapping and fab customer service too Suede slippers, 0 months to 3-4 years, from £12.99 | www.dottyfish.com

1. Tatton Park Choose from several walks around Tatton Park’s thousand acres culminating in a stop at The Stables. Two-legged little family members can then sample the merry-go-round or great quality play-area before being dragged back to the parkland by an eager four-legged friend. Beware the fabulous Fallow Deer though. And make sure that any doggy members of the family don’t go in the meres. www.tattonpark.org.uk

2. Dovedale

A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE THINGS #1 Personalised Dog Treat Advent Calendar, £49.99 www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

#3 Winter Wonderland Advent Calendar, £25 www.bobbyrabbit.co.uk

We love this walk in the Peak District and its undulating trail is perfect for families and dog walkers all year around. Test your mettle on the stepping stones. You can also extend the 1.5-mile walk from Illam village by continuing along the valley to Milldale. It’s not suitable for prams beyond the river though so maybe one for a little older or a sling. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

3. Formby Beach One of the few places without seasonal restrictions for dog access, our Border Collie loves nothing more than a run in the shallows whatever the weather! You can be guaranteed some fresh sea air and great photos as long as you don’t mind bringing a little of the beach home with you in the car. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

#2 Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar, £26.95 www.luckandluck.co.uk

123

4946-LDE-CheshireAd-A4v5.qxp_Layout 1 08/11/2018 12:16 Page 1

BUCK YEATS LODGE PARK

Lakeside Lodges Windermere - The Lake District

Indulge

Explore

Relax

Looking for that perfect escape, enjoy lakeside living along Windermere as one of our luxury lodge holiday home owners. Visit our website to download a brochure.

BuckYeatsLodges.co.uk

HOMES AND

INTERIORS SHOWCASING THE

finest HOMES & PROPERTY IN CHESHIRE AND BEYOND

Seasonal

SCENTS Set the scene for a cosy winter with a flickering fragranced candle

ANIMAL

Magic The Grade II listed home of Chester Zoo’s founder is transformed into a gastropub

PAMPER NIGHT, BATHROOM MID SHEEN EMULSION, FROM £14.49 FOR 1L; MIDNIGHT NAVY, FEATURE WALL MATT EMULSION, FROM £14 FOR 1.25L; WWW.CROWNPAINTS.CO.UK

Home & Garden News FINISHING TOUCHES

TheBERIBUSCIM very latest VOLUM news, advice and trends from the world ofQUAS interior design AD EXCESTIS MAIO ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UT UNTIO EXCERERFERUM VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT

A Personal TOUCH

omerset-based furniture maker Cox & Cox is branching out into custom upholstery. The brand has launched a collection of sofas, ottomans, loveseats and armchairs, split into four categories. The Buttoned range offers a more traditional feel and includes a classic Chesterfield style with deep-buttoned detail, while the clean lines and aluminium legs of its Milano range have a more modern feel. All of the pieces are crafted in England, with every element from the sewing to the upholstery done by hand, so you’re assured of a top-quality finish. Choose from six colourways and two fabrics – cotton velvet or a cotton and linen blend – for each of the new styles. www.coxandcox.co.uk

Garden Variety Boxwild began when its founder Ben realised he was feeding his garden wildlife “better than [his] own family.” The brand now sells a range of wildlife gift boxes, subscription boxes and gifts for bird lovers, with bird seeds hand-blended in its kitchens in Surrey. The Winter Seed Blend’s mix of suets, high energy seeds and nuts is designed to help birds get through the toughest season of the year. Find it in the Fatty Box, with a selection of other bird treats. A 50p donation from every box sold goes to wildlife charities. Fatty Box, £25, www.boxwild.com

126

Homes and Interiors

COFFEE TABLE COUTURE

TECH TALK

This new tome, curated by design historian and French decorative arts specialist Maureen Footer, focuses on the two interior designers who Christian Dior worked with throughout his life. Victor Grandpierre and Georges Geffroy’s work brought the same spirit of glamour and romance to interior design as Dior did to the fashion world. The duo were known for their use of tiger velvet, antiques and saturated colours and Dior tasked with them designing everything from his couture house and private residence to his brand’s logo and signage. For a shortcut to designer style, think grey paint, white mouldings and Louis XVI chairs. Dior and His Decorators: Victor Grandpierre, Georges Geffroy, and the New Look, £50, www.vendomepress.co.uk

Technology giant Google has launched its latest device: the Google Home Hub. The compact seven-inch screen display with interactive voice technology and built-in Google Assistant allows you to control all your smart-home devices from lights to thermostats, ask questions, play music and view your photos. The far-field microphones mean you can even speak to the device from across the room, while a sensor automatically detects and matches over 16 million combinations of light and colour, so that whatever’s on screen will always look its best. £139 www.store.google.com

Paint by Numbers

ANTI-CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DE NIMES NO.299; TRERON NO.292; RANGWALI NO.296; TRERON NO.292

Luxury paint and wallpaper company Farrow & Ball has introduced its first new shades since 2016. The nine new tones include a muted rose, a sandy beige and a dark shade of olive green, named after Japanese tea leaves. A blend of up to five pigments makes up each shade. This depth of colour is particularly evident in the punchy pink, inspired by the powders used at the Holi festival of colours in India. The collection is 100% water-based, low-odour and eco-friendly, and finishes include a chalky matt and a more durable, washable emulsion. From £45 for Modern and Estate Emulsion finishes, www.farrow-ball.com

127

HOME FINISHING & GARDEN TOUCHES NEWS Bright Idea

AD EXCESTIS MAIO BERIBUSCIM VOLUM ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UT QUAS UNTIO EXCERERFERUM VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS Designer Christopher EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT

Jenner is the creative force behind new lighting brand Gestalt, which launched during 2018’s London Design Festival. Jenner favours blending traditional materials and crafts with contemporary silhouettes, and the brand’s first collection, Aquiline, features table lamps, wall lamps and two signature chandeliers in precision-cut crystal, ceramic and brass. The single-tiered, four-arm chandelier is designed to suit smaller rooms with lower ceilings. From £249, www.gestaltlighting.com

loves

PURCHASE of the

MONTH This deep-seated chair with metal and wood detailing takes inspiration from Scandinavia, as well as from classic design pieces by Charles and Ray Eames. It ticks all the trend boxes, combining this year’s fabric of the moment, velvet, with a rich shade of teal - a big colour for 2019. Cult Studio Moda Rocking Chair CD4 with Velvet Upholstered Seat in Teal, £159 www.cultfurniture.com

128

LISTEN UP Podcasts continue to grow in popularity and the latest to hit the audio charts is all about the world of interior design. The Great Indoors is a partnership between TV presenter and designer Sophie Robinson and best-selling author and journalist Kate WatsonSmyth, supported by DFS. Discussions in each episode include everything from planning a kitchen and the latest trends in the industry - think velvet - to the most horrifying design crimes. Be warned, positioning your cushions incorrectly is unforgivable.

Subscribe at platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify; www.sophierobinson.co.uk; www.madaboutthehouse.com THE PALACE SOFA IN BLUSH BY DFS, PHOTO BY ALUN CALLENDER.

Homes and Interiors

TWEET of the MONTH

OKA @OKADirect Mix and match plush textile combinations for a cosy and inviting effect... because autumnal weekends were made for hibernating on the sofa. #MyOKAHome

House & Garden @_houseandgarden Bathroom idea alert: a painted roll-top bath is a great way to add a little colour to your space.

# H O M E W E B WAT C H : FROM GEOMETRIC PAT T E R N S T O F L U F F Y SHEEPSKIN, BRING TEXTURE AND COLOUR INTO YOUR

Awards Season Wallpaper and paint specialist Graham & Brown has announced the results of its annual interiors trend forecast. Its Wallpaper of the Year 2019, named Tori, is printed on high-quality textured paper and celebrates the delicate artistry of Eastern art. Blossom and handpainted birds - representing longevity, luck and love - pepper the surface, with a subtle shimmer of silk visible. The signature teal tone of the paper’s backdrop has also been chosen as the brand’s Colour of the Year 2019, to complement the wallpaper (which is also available in other colourways.) Tiru paint £38 per 2.5L; Tori Teal wallpaper £50 per roll www.grahambrown.com

HOME WITH A STYLISH RUG

FLOOR SHOW

www.lillarugs.com www.therugcompany.com www.thewoolcompany.co.uk

WORDS OF WISDOM “A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. It should smile at you and create fantasy.” - Juan Montoya FROM LEFT: MASAI EBONY, 70CM WIDE; MALTON CINDER, 70CM WIDE; FITZROY ROSEBRIAR, 60CM WIDE; KOBE PLUM, 60CM WIDE.

British company Roger Oates Design is renowned for its expertise in flatweave rugs and runners. These are all woven in the UK using traditional techniques, from a British wool blend spun and dyed in Yorkshire. Stripes are a signature feature of the designs, and the brand’s new collaboration with Abigail Ahern has introduced some darker shades to its existing colour palette. Designs range from the tribal aesthetic of Masai Smoke, with its dark jewel tones set against an ebony herringbone backdrop, to Malton Cinder - a Roger Oates classic with its original neutral stripe replaced by a deep autumnal plum shade. The narrow runners are ideal for bringing character and colour to stairs and hallways, or can be joined to create wall-to-wall carpet. Designs pictured are all £129 per linear metre, www.rogeroates.com

129

Own Ownaapiece pieceof ofexquisite exquisitehistory. history. Ten Tenlovingly lovinglyrestored restored22&&33bedroom bedroomapartments. apartments.

Backford Backford Hall Hall takes takes pride pride ofof place place atat the the heart heart ofof Backford Backford Park, Park, offering offering a collection a collection ofof stunning stunning 2 bedroom 2 bedroom apartments, apartments, perfect perfect forfor those those looking looking forfor anan extraordinary extraordinary home home in in beautiful beautiful surroundings. surroundings.

Exclusively ExclusivelyJones. Jones.

Show Show Apartment Apartment now now open! open! Backford Backford Hall Hall atat Backford Backford Park, Park, Chester Chester CH2 CH2 4DG 4DG Prices Prices from from ÂŁ320,000 ÂŁ320,000 01244 01244 852534 852534jones-homes.co.uk jones-homes.co.uk

LIFE IN DESIGN

David

TRAGEN The eponymous business owner, designer and artist crafts made-toorder pieces of contemporary furniture and wall art, predominantly in hardwood. His creations range from the minimalist to more complex, sculptural designs.

materials and the visual interplay between mass and void. Beauty found in the natural world is a recurring theme.

What inspired you to create your design business? My fascination with form and what makes things beautiful.

How would you describe your design style?

Clean lines and gentle curves, bold geometric forms, strong contrasts in

What is the easiest way to transform a space?

Break up static straight lines with references to nature, through flowing forms and movement. Add a dash of drama using bold colour and feature pieces of furniture and sculpture.

What do you see as being the design trends this year? I don’t follow trends - if your gut

Break up static straight lines with references to 132

Homes and Interiors

tells you something is great, then go with it.

What’s your favourite architectural style?

I’m drawn to Parametricism because it taps into my love of geometry and organic transformation. I’m not a purist though.

Can you describe your average weekend?

Winding down with lazy mornings, a walk in the country, friends and music.

What’s your favourite colour and why? Blue. It’s the colour I wear the most - and the colour of my favourite football team.

If you had just one item in your design toolbox, what would it be?

It all starts with a sketch pad and pencil.

If you could banish something from the world of design, what would it be? Trends!

nature, through flowing forms and movement. 133

G I FFO R D LE A , C H E S H I R E

F_IVG_0253 Gifford Lea - The Cheshire Magazine - DPS - 12.11.18.indd 1

31/10/2018 15:57

F_IV

A home to feel proud of. Introducing just a few of the remaining retirement properties at Gifford Lea in Cheshire. Luxury facilities at our village will include, a wellness centre, swimming pool, fitness room, fully-licensed bar, restaurant, bowling green and on-site library.

8 Primrose Vale

38 Birch Place

20 Lime Grove

This beautifully proportioned first-floor apartment features two generous double bedrooms (one en-suite), with a stand-alone bathroom and integrated storage space throughout. The open-plan living/dining space leads to a modern fully-equipped kitchen, with double doors.

This stunning first-floor apartment features a versatile open-plan living space adjacent to the fullyequipped kitchen. A spacious en-suite master bedroom is supplemented by a second double bedroom and separate bathroom, perfect for visiting friends and family.

This attractive first-floor apartment combines spacious proportions with practical design. Two generous double bedrooms (with master en-suite) are linked by a storage-filled hallway leading from the large open-plan dining area and fully-equipped kitchen.

£411,000

£472,000

£491,000

01829 238 603

GiffordLea.co.uk info@giffordlea.co.uk Frog Lane, Tattenhall, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 9DN

Villages located in Cheshire, Exeter, Hampshire, Warwickshire, West Sussex and coming soon in Kent. 15:57

F_IVG_0253 Gifford Lea - The Cheshire Magazine - DPS - 12.11.18.indd 2

31/10/2018 15:58

Homes and Interiors

THE EDIT

WINTER WARMERS Cosy up at home with a flickering flame and a seasonal scent - notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and pine have got us feeling festive already

136

Bella Freud Starry Starry Night Candle, £48 www.amara.com

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Candle, £55 www.selfridges.com

DS & Durga Portable Fireplace Candle, £58 www.libertylondon.com

Sundaram & Silence Essential Oil Candle, £55 www.maulirituals.com

White Moss & Snowdrop Deluxe Candle, £126 www.jomalone.co.uk

Joyful Glow Candle, £27.50 www.elemis.com

Skandinavisk Skog Scented Candle, £29 www.printerandtailor.com

Byredo Chai Candle, £54 www.libertylondon.com

Amon Candle, £78 www.trudon.com

The Sycamores, Colwyn Bay SHOW HOME NOW OPEN! Step into a secluded sanctuary and picture yourself living at The Sycamores, Colwyn Bay. A superb development of three bedroom luxury apartments in the heart of North Wales. Show Home/Sales Office: 35, Pwllycrochan Avenue, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7BW Call: 01492 583577 | Text: 07887 509538 E-mail: sales@beech-developments.co.uk Prices start from just Â£235,000 available through Help to Buy-Wales

HALE BARNS

HALE

Arguably one of the finest properties in the South Manchester area, painstakingly crafted

hale@jackson-stops.co.uk

with sheer luxury in mind.

jackson-stops.co.uk

• Reception hall • 3 reception rooms • Kitchen • 6 bedrooms (5 en suite) • Bathroom • Entertainment suite with cinema, lounge, bar, gym & steam room • Garaging • Entertainment terrace with bar • Gardens

Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices

GUIDE PRICE: £4,750,000 EPC RATING D

0161 928 8881

ANTROBUS

W I L M S LOW

An exceptional Estate with a Grade II* Listed country house in about 68 acres.

wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

The Hall: • 4 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast/morning room • Gym • Snooker room

• Wine cellar • 5 bedrooms • 4 bath/shower rooms • Leisure suite • The Grange (3 en suite bedrooms) • The Cottage (3 bedrooms) • Office suite with 2 bedrooms • Party suite • Gardens • Tennis court • Stabling • Manege • Parkland • Lake • Woodland • Lot 2: further agricultural land (about 31.78 acres) available separately

GUIDE PRICE: £12,500,000 EPC EXEMPT

01625 540 340

Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices

Apartment 1

Apartment 2

ALDERLEY EDGE

W I L M S LOW

Two beautifully presented apartments, sitting in an elevated position with south facing

wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

gardens, within walking distance of Alderley Edge village. Available as a whole or individually.

• 2 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast room open-plan to family room • 2 bedrooms (both with en suites and terraces) • Bedroom 3/study • Garaging & storage • Coded lift from garaging • South facing gardens • Parking

GUIDE PRICES: £1,275,000 EACH EPC RATING C

01625 540 340

Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices

CGI

ALDERLEY EDGE Two modern, newly constructed, 2,637 sq ft duplex apartments with cutting edge interiors and landscaped gardens, within walking distance of Alderley Edge.

• Kitchen/breakfast room open-plan to the dining and sitting rooms • 3 bedrooms (all en suite) • Gardens • Garage • Allocated parking • Visitor parking

GUIDE PRICES: £1,350,000 EACH EPC EXEMPT

W I L M S LOW

01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices

ADLINGTON

EPC RATING D

A beautifully presented family house, sitting in good-sized gardens, within walking distance of Adlington train station. • 3 reception rooms • Breakfast kitchen • Morning room • 5 bedrooms (2 en suite) • Bathroom • Studio room • Garden store • Gardens

GUIDE PRICE: £935,000

DUNHAM TOWN

EPC EXEMPT

A unique Grade II Listed Georgian property, in need of modernisation and updating, set in the heart of Dunham Town Conservation Area. • 4 reception rooms • Kitchen • 6 bedrooms • Dressing room • Bathroom • Cellarage • Garage • Outbuildings • Gardens

OFFERS IN EXCESS OF £850,000

W I L M S LOW

01625 540 340

wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

HALE

0161 928 8881

hale@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

CGI

BOWDON

EPC RATING B

Effortless elegance combined with state of the art technology in the Devisdale Conservation Area. • Reception hall • 2 reception rooms • Study • Living/dining kitchen • 5 bedrooms (all en suite) • Playroom • Leisure area with pool and gym • Garaging • Gardens • Over half an acre • Potential for additional accommodation

GUIDE PRICE: £3,500,000

BOWDON

EPC RATING C

A superb Arts and Crafts villa, totally refurbished and remodelled by the multi award-winning developers Huntsmere.

• 3 reception rooms • Living kitchen • 5 bedrooms (all en suite) • Leisure area with pool, spa, sauna, gym, games room and pool terrace • Garaging • Gardens • Approximately 2/3 of an acre GUIDE PRICE: £3,485,000

HALE

0161 928 8881

174 Ashley Road, Hale, Cheshire, WA15 9SF hale@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

ALDERLEY EDGE

EPC RATING E

A beautifully presented and extended four bedroom period semi-detached property, offering excellent family accommodation, with many charming features. • 2 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast/living room • 4 bedrooms (1 en suite) • Bathroom • Cellar • Gardens • Parking

OFFERS IN EXCESS OF £800,000

OVER ALDERLEY

EPC RATING G

MACCLESFIELD

EPC EXEMPT

A detached farm house in need of modernisation, benefitting from planning consent. Proposed: • 3 reception rooms • Kitchen open-plan to dining room • 4 bedrooms (2 en suite) • Bathroom • Approximately 1.5 acres • Further land available separately

Building plot. Planning Permission to build a contemporary bungalow with stunning views. Proposed: • Kitchen/breakfast/dining/sitting room • Snug • 4 bedrooms (1 en suite) • Shower room • Garaging • Stable block • Paddock land • In all about 6.95 acres

GUIDE PRICE: £599,500

OFFERS IN EXCESS OF £495,000

W I L M S LOW

01625 540 340

8 Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AA wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

ALDERLEY EDGE

EPC EXEMPT

A substantial proportion of a Grade II Listed Alderley villa, set in landscaped grounds and enjoying stunning views, on one of the most prestigious private roads in Alderley Edge. • 2 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast room • 3 bedrooms • 2 bath/shower rooms • Garage • Parking • Communal gardens to about 1.9 acres

GUIDE PRICE: £850,000

CGI

STRINES

PREDICTED EPC RATING C

A contemporary, immaculately presented house with wonderful views. • 2 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast room • 4 bedrooms (2 en suite) • Bathroom • Gardens • In all approximately 1.23 acres • Further land available

GUIDE PRICE: £725,000

W I L M S LOW

01625 540 340

OLLERTON

EPC EXEMPT

Building plot. A rare opportunity to build a 3,239 sq ft house, nestled stunning mature woodland. Proposed: • 2 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast room • 4 bedrooms (2 en suite) • Bathroom • Large store • Approximately 5 acres

GUIDE PRICE: £995,000 8 Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AA wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

Passions donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t retire.

Picture yourself doing what you love best at Chapelwood, Wilmslow. Designed to reflect the nearby country manors and surrounded by mature trees, these luxurious open-plan apartments make for an invigorating life. Start your day with a session in the on-site gym or pool, try something new for lunch in the restaurant then take in the nearby boutiques in the afternoon. Because your passions never retire.

PRICES start from

ÂŁ367,950

My life is for Living My address is Chapelwood To experience Chapelwood call Jay on 01625 569 506 PegasusLife.co.uk/Chapelwood | Chapelwood, Chapel Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 1EN

Destinations Nationwide: London: Hampstead, Purley, Westminster North: Wilmslow East: Harpenden, Sevenoaks West: Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Tetbury, Portishead South: Brockenhurst, Falmouth, Poole, Seaford, Woking

Properties of character

Homes and Interiors

HOT PROPERTY WE’VE SCOURED THE WORLD TO BRING YOU SOME OF THE FINEST HOMES ON THE MARKET

Manor House QUEENS PARK, CHESTER, £1,500,000

his picturesque, detached Victorian home is situated in the sought-after suburban conservation area of Queens Park. It sits within walking distance of Chester city centre with its retail and restaurant offerings, while nearby Handbridge offers an excellent range of independent shops including a butcher and delicatessen. The wider area offers golf, tennis, rugby and cricket clubs in addition to rowing, canoeing and sailing activities on the nearby River Dee. Options for education include Queen’s Park High School and the highly-regarded King’s and Queen’s independent schools. The property itself is Grade-II listed and dates to circa 1852. It is of Cheshire brick construction in a

Tudor-revival style, with 12-pane sash windows. The living space is split over three levels, with a three-room cellar in addition to this. Period character is in abundance with heavy four-panel internal doors, high ceilings, deep skirting boards, ceiling roses and original fireplaces. On the ground floor are two charming drawing rooms, one with a carved marble fire surround and the other with tall, dual-aspect sash windows that look out over the front garden. Down the hallway is a panelled study, and a south-east-facing morning room. The latter features a decorative Victorian cast-iron cooking range flanked by recessed cupboards, and French doors with shutters opening onto a paved terrace. Adjoining the morning room is a kitchen with custom-made cabinets, granite work surfaces, Smeg and Miele appliances and a wine cooler. There is also a dining room, laundry room, two bath/shower rooms - one with a cast-iron claw foot bath - and six generous bedrooms, most with original open fireplaces. Another potential bedroom is currently being used as a first-floor sitting room. A double garage with sliding wooden doors, adjoining garden stores and a gardener’s WC provide extra space outdoors. In addition, the wellmanicured front lawns are enclosed by mature hedging and a stone pathway leads to the south-east-facing garden at the rear. Its circular lawn, topiary lollipop trees and a paved terrace make it an ideal entertaining space. Viewings are strictly by appointment with Fisher German, T: 01244 409660 www.fishergerman.co.uk

147

HOT PROPERTY

The Old Rectory CHURCH LANE, GAWSWORTH, £3,250,000

his grand former rectory has heritage charm, an idyllic setting and an abundance of space to offer potential buyers. The seven-bedroom home with attached guest wing, separate two-bedroom lodge, two double garages, an outbuilding, landscaped gardens and paddock sit on around 10 acres in total. The property and generous grounds are situated in the heart of Gawsworth village and overlook the adjoining lake and 15th-century St James’ Church. It benefits from a tranquil location while still being in close proximity to the town centres of Macclesfield and Wilmslow, both of which are a 10-minute drive away. The motorway network, Manchester International Airport and rail links to Manchester and London are also easily accessible. The Grade I-listed home’s history has been respectfully preserved and complemented by sympathetic modern-day fittings. The centrepiece of the property is undoubtedly its impressively-proportioned doubleheight Great Hall. The restored original timber framing and oak panelling in the 20 sq ft space give an

148

insight into the property’s past, spanning 500 years. There are six reception rooms in total, ranging in use from a drawing room to a study, and the farmhousestyle kitchen is fitted with bespoke units, integrated appliances and an

Aga. The first floor offers seven bedrooms and four bathrooms, featuring exposed original beams and traditional-style bathroom fittings, with high-quality tiling work. The adjoining guest wing comes with its own kitchen and separate accommodation, ideal for relatives or live-in staff. Meanwhile, the separate lodge overlooking the formal grounds also has its own kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Its features include hardwood herringbone flooring, vaulted ceilings and exposed trusses. The house is approached by two gated driveways and the grounds consist of a paddock and a more formal garden area with lawns, hedging, trees and a patio area - ideal for entertaining. Andrew J Nowell & Company, T:01625 585905, www.andrewjnowell.co.uk

Homes and Interiors

FINISHING TOUCHES AD EXCESTIS MAIO BERIBUSCIM VOLUM ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UT QUAS UNTIO EXCERERFERUM VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT

12 Leftbank SPINNINGFIELD, MANCHESTER, £499,950

Spinningfield Square, a beautifully gardened and open paved area. Situated in the Leftbank development, the accommodation in this sought-after apartment comprises a bright open-plan living room with balcony, upgraded integrated kitchen and WC on the upper floor. The lower level features a master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and en-suite shower room, a further large double

bedroom, and three-piece bathroom suite. Both bedrooms also benefit from balcony access. The prestigious development benefits from a 24-hour concierge service and is in close proximity to a wide selection of bars, shops and restaurants. Secure allocated parking is also a benefit for residents. Thornley Groves, T: 0161 242 1684 www.thornleygroves.co.uk

his stunning corner duplex apartment in the heart of Spinningfields is set over two levels on the building’s fifth floor. This elevated position means it benefits from unobstructed views of the adjacent River Irwell. Spinningfields takes its name from Spinningfield, a narrow street which ran westwards from Deansgate. In 1968, Spinningfield and the area to the south were turned into

149

HOT PROPERTY

PROPERTY of the MONTH The Woodlands ACTON BRIDGE, CHESHIRE, ÂŁ1,695,000

his impressive Victorian-era homes occupies a private position, nestled in 2.5 acres of mature grounds betweenÂ the villages of Acton Bridge and Weaverham. Electric gates between carved stone pillars form a grand entrance onto a gravel drive, which leads to a large area for parking. A lawn, pond, and cedar, willow and birch trees form part of the

150

Homes and Interiors

mature gardens, with a stone wall and hedging adding extra privacy. The brick and stone property at the heart was built in 1878 by Liverpool timber merchant Thomas Remer, on a site previously home to a corn mill, engine house and smaller dwelling. It features sash windows, a slate roof with high chimney stacks, wrought iron railing decoration and original bells in working order. The front façade’s central porch sits beneath a decorative stone balustrade. The interior has undergone intensive renovation since 2007, with the property’s period character still intact. Decorative plaster covings and high ceilings are complemented by periodstyle radiators and wooden floors. The drawing room’s pitch pine flooring is of particular note, with its full-length planks extending over 20 feet. The three reception rooms can be accessed from the hall and all have feature fireplaces. The generous cellars can also be accessed from the hall and are currently in use as store rooms, a games room and a workshop. The bespoke kitchen includes hand-painted wall and floor units, a large central island with walnut cupboards, polished granite work surfaces, a Franke twin sink with mixer and drainer, and an electric three-oven AGA in a tiled recess. Underfloor heating takes the chill off

the limestone tiled flooring and oversized bifold doors open onto a west-facing terrace with views of the garden. A utility room offers further storage, a sink, space for plumbed-in appliances and an additional staircase to the first floor. The property’s main feature stairwell, with an oak handrail, half landing and almost full-height window, leads to a galleried main landing with access to a family bathroom, separate WC, bedrooms and a study. The master suite has a twin aspect with excellent views over the garden,

an original fireplace and en-suite bathroom. The double guest bedroom also benefits from a recently fitted en-suite shower room. A further three bedrooms on this level are complemented by two more on the second floor - making seven in total. Jackson-Stops, T: 01244 328361, www.jackson-stops.co.uk

151

PROMOTION

Capturing

CHRISTMAS Children from all over Cheshire are invited to share what they love about their grandparents at a magical story-telling event organised by Inspired Villages Group.

chools throughout the region are being supplied with hand delivered baubles for children to decorate and fill with a special message for their grandparents. They are then invited to Gifford Lea, with their families, to hang their baubles on the Inspired Christmas tree at the ‘Capturing Christmas’ event. On the day, every child, parent and grandparent may visit our grotto for a magical Christmas story - told by Santa’s elves! There will also be complimentary mince pies, hot chocolate and mulled wine and all ages will receive a gift. Plus, visitors may tour the village and discover more about the luxurious accommodation and exceptional facilities at Gifford Lea. For children whose schools aren’t taking part, parents and grandparents may call to book themselves and their little ones in, with plenty of baubles on site to

152

decorate on the day! Simply call: 01829 289 122 or email info@ giffordlea.co.uk.

Putting families at the heart of Christmas James Cobb, director of IVG, an operator and developer of later living communities across the UK, says: ‘Children and grandparents have a unique relationship and what better time to celebrate this than at Christmas. ‘The ‘Capturing Christmas’ event will give families the opportunity to get together for some magical festive fun. They can simply drop in on the day to add their bauble to the tree or stay longer to enjoy the storytelling and seasonal treats.’

Exciting new facilities coming soon The first phase of Gifford Lea saw the launch of 48 apartments and Eric’s Lounge, a social hub for

Homes and Interiors DETAILS

‘Capturing Christmas’ will take place later this month at Gifford Lea, Inspired’s luxury retirement community in Tattenhall, near Chester, on Saturday 24th November from 2pm to 5pm. It’s a free family event and everyone is welcome! AD EXCESTIS MAIO BERIBUSCIM VOLUM ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UT QUAS UNTIO EXCERERFERUM

FINISHING TOUCHES

VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT

residents to meet up for a coffee, enjoy a light lunch, play games or take part in other activities. Meanwhile, the second and final phase will see the opening of the eagerly-awaited wellness spa this spring, including a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, treatment suite and relaxation spaces. Also opening in the spring will be a brasserie, a garden room, a library and a beauty salon. Plus, a further 56 apartments will be made available.

Pay no service charge for three years! You could enjoy all of the benefits of an Inspired life at Gifford Lea, while paying no service charge for three years.* Worth up to £19,500 (or £6,500 per year), this unmissable offer gives you access to a wide range of services and facilities – at no charge for the first three years.** It covers full use of all onsite facilities, such as the swimming pool, fitness room, library and restaurant.***

Exchange by the end of the year To take advantage of this offer, you must exchange by 31st December, 2018. The service charge varies across the

villages and this offer applies to new reservations only. The offer is available for all Inspired villages, excluding Bramshott Place in Hampshire. Book an appointment today with one of our friendly village advisers, so you can come and see why residents of Gifford Lea love the Inspired life. Call: 01829 289 122 or email info@giffordlea.co.uk. Facilities may vary across villages, please check our website for details. *To take advantage of this offer, you must exchange by 31st December, 2018. The service charge varies across the village and this offer applies to new reservations only. The offer is available for all villages, excluding Bramshott Place in Hampshire. **Based on the annual service charge at Gifford Lea, in Cheshire, when the village is complete, currently only £3225 per year. ***Currently available at Millbrook Great Alne Park, Durrants and Bramshott Villages, and coming soon to all other villages.

153

CASE STUDY

Feeding TIME Interior design studio Spatialized was tasked with transforming the Grade II listed former home of Chester Zoo’s founder into a stylish gastropub

hester Zoo has now opened its brand new gastropub The Oakfield to visitors, following an extensive £3 million restoration of the Victorian building at its heart. The red brick building was constructed circa 1885 by wealthy tea merchant and former Lord Mayor of Chester, Benjamin Chafers Roberts. After being used as a hospital during the First World War, the zoo’s founder George Mottershead bought the then-dilapidated Oakfield House with seven acres of land in 1930, for

154

£3,500. The zoo would formally open one year later. The first enclosures were built in the stable yard and the family shared their home with numerous animals over the years, from Rob-Rob the blue and red macaw to Christy the lion, who was hand-reared by the Mottersheads after the death of her mother. The design studio tasked with transforming the interiors, Spatialized, felt the presence of these former inhabitants keenly. Claw marks remain in some parts of the house - a feature too charming to erase, according to Adam Clayton, associate director of Spatialized. ”It was hard not to be enchanted by the building’s history,” continues Clayton. “It felt right to work with the details we inherited.” The building’s history and Grade II listed status played a big part in the transformation, which means visitors can now dine in the former family rooms, including Mottershead’s library with its fireplace and woodpanelled walls.

Homes and Interiors

“Preservation is key in instances such as this,” says Clayton. “We were gifted with some beautiful pieces at Oakfield, from fireplaces to cornices, and I’m sure any designer would agree they only improve a scheme. Where new additions or modern pieces were required, we tried to be sympathetic to the building and apply finishes that would suit the space.” There is one significant new feature, however - a light-filled space dubbed the Garden Room, thanks to its views over the expansive lawn area. “It’s linked to the original building with a seamless glazed extension,” says Clayton. “This sets the modern addition apart from the original premises, so the detail of the beautiful building isn’t hidden or lost. It’s our contemporary take on what the original owners would potentially have done to the house today,” he adds. As for the colour palette, it remains largely neutral with contemporary greys and greens used throughout. “Stronger tones were used in the hallway areas and boardroom to give a sense of grandeur and occasion, while softer tones have been used in dining areas to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere,” says Clayton. The

155

CASE STUDY

minimalist tones allow the rich wooden panelling to take centre stage, and also provide a clean backdrop for the artwork. Indigo Art, a consultancy service which sources, design and manufactures artwork for projects such as this, provided an array of prints and photographs. Generously displayed in varied frame sizes on the walls, these include precious family photos as well as snapshots of famous visitors - a fascinating insight into the zoo’s past. With the dark panelling prevalent throughout, lighting the rooms well was also an important task. Spatialized worked with Chantelle Lighting, and its 48-arm brushed nickel chandelier creation makes a striking addition to the double-height bar area. “The whole space reads so cohesively that it’s hard to pin down my favourite element, but if pushed, I would have to say the giant chandelier,” Clayton confesses. Three further eight-arm black chandeliers hang above tables in the restaurant’s Garden Room, complemented by a Tiffany-inspired table and floor lamps. Another

unique feature to look out for is the carpet in the boardroom; its intricate pattern was directly inspired by the room’s original stained glass windows. Meanwhile, the furniture is an intriguing mix of old and new, with dining tables hosting mismatched sets of chairs. “We reclaimed as much as we could, so genuine 1930s and 40s pieces are mixed in with the newer pieces. The wingback chairs were reclaimed and left in their found state, to add to the illusion you were genuinely in the home of the Mottersheads,” says Clayton. It is this careful consideration for the building’s history as a family home that makes the gastropub such an inviting new addition to the zoo. That, and dining while surrounded by over 20,000 animals.

”It was hard not to be enchanted by the building’s history” 156

BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED KITCHENS DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU

BEAUTIFUL BESPOKE KITCHENS & BEDROOMS Showroom:

6 Kingsway, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1PJ www.wellsandhewitt.co.uk

0161 279 1670

Kitchen Kitchen Architectureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Architectureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinctive distinctive interpretation interpretation of luxury of luxury living living TheThe Farmhouse Farmhouse TheThe Colony Colony Altrincham Altrincham Road Road Wilmslow Wilmslow SK9SK9 4LY4LY Tel:Tel: 01625 01625 544544 890890

kitchenarchitecture.co.uk kitchenarchitecture.co.uk

New Showroom Store Street Bollington Cheshire SK10 5PN t: 01625 466200 e: showroom@portraitpools.com w: portraitpools.com

Janey Butler Interiors & Llama Architects form part of the Llama Group. Creating award winning residential and commercial projects in the UK and abroad.

I n t e r n at i o n a l A wa r d W i n n i n g A rc h i t e c t s & D e s i g n e r s The Coach House, Capesthor ne Hall, Nr Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK11 9JY

l l a m ag ro u p . c o . u k

T: 01625 861935 E:

h e l lo @ ja n e y bu t l e r . c o . u k

l l a m ag ro u p . c o . u k

T: 01625 861936 E:

i n f o @ l l a m ag ro u p . c o . u k